None but Christ,: or A plain and familiar treatise of the knowledge of Christ, exciting all men to study to know Jesus Christ and him crucified, with a particular, applicatory, and saving knowledge, in diverse sermons upon I Cor. 2. 2. / By John Wall B.D. preacher of the word of God at Mich. Cornhill London.

CHAP. XI. That the knowledge of Jesus Christ and him crucified is the most comfortable know∣ledge.

3. NOw followeth the third and last reason why we ought to study to know Jesus Christ and him crucified; Be∣cause it is the most comfortable know∣ledge in the world; In other things, He that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. But the more a man knowes of Christ, and his part in him, the greater is his joy; A poor godly man that knowes Christ is his, hath more joy in his heart, and lives a more

comfortable life, then the greatest rich man that hath all abundance, great man∣nors, is rich in gold and silver, but knows not that he hath any part or portion in Ie∣sus Christ. 1 Pet. 1. 8. After you beleeved, you rejoyced with joy unspeakable and glorious; yea such a man carries heaven about him, and the joyes of it; for the King∣dome of heaven is righteousnesse, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Rom. 14. 17. and this appeares especially in foure con∣ditions.

1. In time of spirituall distresse, when our sinnes are gone over our heads, like mountaines & milstones, too heavy for us to bear. Come to me saith Christ, though thy heart be never so heavy, and I will ease thee, when all other things will be bit∣ter and miserable comforters to thee. A sword shall pierce through thy soule (saith Simeon to Mary) that the thoughts of many hearts may be opened, that is, may be eased; as a sore when it is opened it is eased. When I was scorched with the heat of Gods anger, I sate under thy shadow (saith the spouse, Cant. 2. 3.) with great delight; Like as Ionas Gourd, or a tree with broad leaves, shadowes from the heat of the sunne, so doth Christ from the heat of Gods hottest displeasure when he seemeth most angry with us.

2. The knowledge of Christ is most comfortable in time of greatest persecuti∣on, imprisonment, banishment. &c. (like as the Unicornes horns sweetens all poyson∣ed waters) for then we know he will be our God, to comfort us▪ in all our tribulation. 2 Cor. 1. 4.

The three children we know were in the fire, but unto them it was no fire, be∣cause Christ was with them in the fire; And Daniell was in the lions denn among the lions; But to him they were no lions, but as so many lambes insteed of lions, because Christ was with him in the den of lions.

Paul and Silas were whipt indeed, but it was with Rosemary branches, because they found more pleasure then pain, more ••oy then sorrow: Yea and they were in prison too; but it was sweeter to them then a parlour, where at midnight they Sung psalmes for joy, because Christ was with them in the prison.

The holy martyrs amidst the flames of fire clapt their hands for joy, because Christ was with them in the fire. Me∣thinks said one, I tread upon pearles (when he trod upon ••ott burning coles,) And, I feele no more paine then if I lay in a bed of Doune; and yet he lay in flames of fire. Ac∣cording

as the Lord hath promised, he will lay no more upon us then he will enable us to beare 1. Cor. 10. 13.

3. The saving knowledge of Christ is most comfortable in our greatest affliction, sicknesses, losses, crosses, disgraces; for lik∣ly as our afflictions abound, our com∣forts abound much more, as the stars shine brightest in the darkest night.

This comforted the Church in her Captivity when she walked in garments rouled in blood: Yet, (saith she,) Vnto us a Child is born. Esa. 9. 6. Alas but cold com∣fort a man would think for her to remem∣ber a Christ to come 6 or 700 yeeres af∣ter, especially in respect of her present mise∣ry: Yet this was their greatest stay & com∣fort; for while Christ came not, so long they were sure they could not totally be rooted out because; God had promised the scepter should not depart from Iudah till Shiloh (that is till Christ) should come; (And indeed they were never totally ru∣ined till Christ came) And also because by Christ, all temporall punishments are sweetened and made comfortable unto us. What comforted Iob amidst all his heavy and grievious afflictions, but this? Yet I know my redeemer liveth. &c. yea even this alone supported Habback∣kuck,

in the time of his own, and the Churches misery, Hab. 3. 17. 18. Though the figtree shall not blossome, nor shall fruit be in the vines, the laboure of the Olive shall faile, the feild shall yeeld no meat, the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stals, yet will I rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

And the reason is, because if we know Christ savingly, we are sure of two things.

1. First that whatsoever befals us, it shall come in his love to us; For we are chastened, that we might not be condemned. And is it not mercy and love to be but whipt or branded, when a man should be hanged? To be but chastened when he should be damned?

And secondly we are sure that it shall do us good Rom. 8. 28. All things shall co∣work together with God for our good though we are not sure of prosperity; nay we know not what afflictions we may meet withall nor what cup we shall drink, yet we are sure of this, that Goodnesse and mer∣cy shall follow us all the dayes of our lives. If we be poore, it shall be good poverty; If sick, it shall be a good sicknesse; If in disgrace and reproch, it shall be good dis∣grace, &c. Blessed is he whom thou chasti∣sest and teachest, saith David. God will turn

all our water into wine? And (like Samp∣sons riddle) Out of the eater shall come meate, and out of the strong shall come sweet∣nesse: even lion-like afflictions that would seeme to tear us in pieces, and devour us, will bring hony and sweetnesse to us; As the Israelites that were forty yeeres going through a wildernesse full of trou∣bles, (when they might have gone it in 40 dayes) but God tels them the reason was, That he might humble them, and prove them, and doe them good in the latter end. As in∣deed he did. So likewise Ioseph tels his brethern, You intended evill against me, but the Lord turned it to good, Genes. 50. 20.

Question. But you will say what good shall afflictions work for us?

Ans. I Answer, somtimes they shal work temporall good for us in this life. Ioseph had his time to be under a cloud, and was thirteen yeeres in prison by false accusati∣on, but God in due time remembred him, and caused his sunne to break out of a cloud, as God hath promised. Psal. 37. 5 6. Commit thy way to the Lord, trust in him, and he shall bring it to passe, and he shall bring forth thy righteousnesse as the light, and thy judgement as at noon-day: Who for 13. yeeres imprisonment, raigned four scoure

yeeres like a King in Egipt.

David you know had seaven yeeres banishment, yet it ended in a glorious raigne of 40. yeeres continuance.

Ruth a while like a servant, may gleane among the sheaves, but ere long she is mi∣stris of all those fields wherin she gleaned.

And Iob awhile may be stript of his goods, Children, and all his comforts, but ere long he doth enjoy them doubled to him, even as much more of every com∣fort as he had before. Iob 42. 12, 13.

2. But however, it shall alwayes worke for our spirituall good. By the sad looke the heart shall be made better. Like those in the time of the sweating sicknesse that were smitten with Rosemary branches to keep them waking, and from sleeping to death; though they cryed out at the smart of the blows against those that smot them, O you kill me, you kill me; whereas a∣las they had beene killed with their dis∣ease, if they had not been smitten; Or as tender mothers that give their children sometimes bitter wormwood and Aloes, but tis to kill the wormes (or else they would never let their children tast so bit∣ter a potion) and likely too, it is sweetened with sugar.

There is a foure fold spirituall good by

afflictions to every one that knowes Iesus Christ savingly.

1. They keepe the heart tender and humble, pliable and buxome to God (Re∣membering my wormwood and my gall my soule hath them in remember ance and is hum∣bled in me, Lamenta. 3. 19. 20) as they did David when Shemei cursed him, and when God chastised him with the pestilence, It is I have sinned, what have those sheepe done? And Jonas after he was cast into the sea and restored, the second time he could find his way to go right to Nineveh.

2. They keepe us from backsliding; for else we would lose our graces, as too much sunneshine makes the corne to shale and lose its fruit.

3. They make us feare to sin that have so smarted for sin: The burnt child dreads the fire; exellent is that speech of Iob; Iob▪ 34. 31, 32. Surely it is meet to be said un∣to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more; That which I see not, teach thou me, and if I have done amisse, I will doe no more. As a child will feare to commit that fault for which he hath well smarted.

4. They make us grow in holinesse, and weane us from earthly delights (as the Israelites bondage made them weary of Egypt) They are but Gods pruning knives,

to let us bleed, and purge us that we might bring forth more fruit, John 15. 2. like as we see flowers smell sweetest after a show∣er; Or, as the burning bush that burned yet consumed not, but was the brighter for the fire; Or as gold▪ put into fire, loseth its drosse, but nothing of its substance and is made the purer gold; Or as grapes under the presse make the sweeter wine; Or as wheat under the flaile hath its chaff beat∣en off and is the purer corne: So are affli∣ctions to all that are in Christ, and know Christ theirs; They make them like Roses, which though sweet alwayes, yet they never drop sweet water but when the fire is under them; Or as spices, when beaten to pouder, then they smell the sweetest.

3. Thirdly, Afflictions shall increase our crown of glory; the deeper our die is in affliction, the better shall we weare our scarlet robes in heaven, Rom. 8. 18. I reck∣on saith Paul our sufferings in this life are not worthy our glory that shall be revealed. Chry∣sost. said, if one man did suffer all the sor∣rowes of all the Saints in the world, yet they are not worth one houres glory in heaven.

4. Fourthly and lastly, The knowledge of Christ and him crucisied with a saving

applicatory knowledge is most comfor∣table in the hour of death: Such a one can triumph over death, saying, Death where is thy sting? Hell, where is thy victory? Be∣cause though death in it self be full of an∣guish, and is the destruction of nature, yet if thou art in Christ, and knowest Christ is thine, the cup is sweetned with good in∣gredients. For thou art sure of two things.

1. Thou art sure to die comfortably (or∣dinarily) and not fearing, but longing for death; we know saith Paul when this our tabernacle is broken, we have a house not made with hands eternall in the heavens; wherfore we sigh and grone to be clothed with our house which is in heaven. When I walk through the the valy of the shadow of death (saith David) I will feare no evil, for thou art with me, and thy rod and staff comforteth me, Psal. 23. 4. And Simeon. Now lettest thou thy servant de∣part in peace, for mine e••es have seene thy Sal∣vation.

Yea somtimes before they go into hea∣ven, they are rapt up into the third heaven with joy as Paul was in his rapture 2 Cor. 12. (though in another manner) Some have professed they never felt such joy in all their lives as at the hour of their death.

Paula that noble Lady, when one did read to her (Cant. ••. 11.) The winter is past, and the singing of Birds is come, yes, she replyed, the singing of birds is come, and so she went singing into heaven; another being as they thought in a swound a little before her end, they cryed give her some Rosa Solis; but she put it back, saying I have Rosa Solis you know not off.

Ambrose said to his friends about him when he died, I have not so lived that I am ashamed to live, nor yet feare I death, because I have a good Lord.

Glover from whom God did hide his face long before, yet when he was going to the stake, said to his frind Austen, he is come, he is come.

But you will say, [Object.] do such alwayes die comfortably? I answer, [Answ.] Not alwayes, but ordinarily; for sometimes God hides his face from his own at death, as a just pu∣nishment for their want of close walking with God in the time of their prosperity, &c. and besides we know death is fearfull in its best lookes (called the King of feares) as is a lion, though his teeth and claws be beaten out, or as the Hauk to the Partridge, who trembles at the very fight of her scattered feathers, or like a serpents skin that is formidable though stuft with straw.

The vertuous Lady Jane when she co∣vered her eyes with her handkerchief, and was to ly down on the block to receive the stroake of death, she cryed out O what shall I do, where is it, where is it? she was filled so full of feare, though her faith failed not; yea Christ himselfe feared death with a naturall holy feare.

Yet I say thou art sure at the least to be freed from despairing feare, and to be able to say with Iob, Though he kill me I will trust in him; as our blessed Saviour on the crosse, stil called the Lord his God, when he felt no comfort from God; my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And the reason is, because Christ hath promised that neither life nor death shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ our Lord, Rom. 8. ult.

2. And secondly, If thou knowest Christ to be thine, thou art sure to dye a blessed death (Reve. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord. &c.) because that day and houre thou diest, that day thou art sure thy soule shall be with Christ in para∣dise; for to all that know Christ savingly, death is but the harbenger to bring their soules to Christ. Ejus est timere mortem qui ad Christum nolit ire. (saith a father) let him fear death that is loth to go to Christ; do not thou feare that desirest to be dissol∣ved

and to be with Christ. Death to thee is but as thy fathers horse to cary thee to thy fathers house; or like Iosephs Cha∣riot ratling with its wheeles ready to car∣ry old Iacob to his son Ioseph, so is death ready to carry thee to thy Saviour Iesus.

Alas, our misery lies in our life (mori∣mur dum non morimur) not in our death▪ therein lies all our happynesse; for we shall not die but live still, onely we shall exchange the place of our living; instead of Egypt to live in Canaan, instead of earth to live in heaven.

Now are wee afraid to live? No, life is sweet; then feare we not to die, for that brings the sweetest and most happy life, and will make an exchange of a life of misery for a life of glory.

Indeed to them that know not Christ, O how bitter is death▪ It must needes sting them like a serpent; because they go from all their hapinesse to all their misery▪ Death of it selfe is bitter; but herein lies the sting and strength of death to all out of Christ, in that it is entailed to eternall death; they may say as once Elisha did, 2 Kings 6. 32. Behold the murtherer death is come to take away mine head; And is not the sound of his Masters feet (even of the divel and hell) behind him? mori non me∣tuo

(said one) sed damnari metuo; I feare not to die, but I feare to be damned.

When Saul was told by Samuel (as he took him to be) to morrow thou shalt be with me (therefore what else but in hea∣ven?) yet the newes pleased him not (his conscience preached otherwise to him) but Saul fell all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, and there was no strength in him, 1 Sam. 28. 20. so Belshazzar did read the hand writing before Daniel read it, and trembled: for his conscience told him there could come no good newes from heaven to such a wretch as he was.

And verily herein lyes the sad conditi∣on of all men, that know not Iesus Christ savingly, That though they may make themselves merry and be pleasant in their lives, yet death makes them miserable, they shall lye down in sorrow, Esa 50. 11.

And though now Christ seemes like a roote out of a dry ground, having no∣thing in him why they should desire him, Esa. 53. 2. (for though he hath made rich promises, yet not of such things as they care or desire to be rich in, and with such hard conditions too as seem unreasonable, even the parting with their dearest lusts) yet at death what would men give for assu∣rance that Christ were theirs? Would

they not prefer this knowledge before all earthly blessings? As Severus said, if I had a thousand worlds I would now give them all to be found in Christ? As crock-back Richard the third in his di∣stresse, cryed a Kingdome for a hors; O then they will cry a Kingdome for a Sa∣viour.

Notes

• Psal. 4. 7. Psal. 66. 3.
• Matth. 11. 28.
• Luke 1. 35
• Nihil sen∣tit crux in nervo, quā do animus est in Cae∣lo.
• Phil. 4. 13. Ier. 30. 11. Psal. 103. 13.
• Gen. 49. 10.
• Rev. 3. 19. 2 Sam. 7. 14.
• Ps. 23. 6.
• Deut. 8. 16
• Eceles. 7. 3 Heb. 12. 10 Iohn 15. 2.
• 2 Sam. 24. me me ad∣sum, &c.
• 2 Cor. 4. 17. Mat. 5. 12▪
• 1 Cor. 15. 56.
• 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 3.
• Luke 2, 29 Phil. 1.
• John 13. 13.
• Cyprian.