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PROV. 23 10 Remoue not the old land-marke, and en∣ter not within the feild of the fatherlesse, for their Re∣deemer (or Goel) is mightie, and he will plead their cause.
HE that was the Goel in Israel, was bound to doe three things for his brethren; first, he was vindex
sanguinis, the revenger of the bloud; secondly, he re∣deemed the morgaged lands of his kinsman: thirdly, he delivered him out of prison. These three things he was bound to doe jure propinquitatis, because he was his neerest kinsman.
Now let us apply these to Christ our Goel, first our Goel, or vindex sanguinis, the revenger of our bloud, revengeth all our wrongs. When the heart of the reven∣ger of the bloud was hot within him, Deut. 19. 6. it was a terrible thing for the manslayer to meet him, he pur∣sued eagerly after him. So Iesus Christ pursueth after his enemies, who shed the bloud of his Church.
Secondly, the Goel redeemed the morgaged Land, Ruth 4. 4. and Iere. 32. 7. Ieremie cousin to Hanameel redeemed his morgaged Land; we haue morgaged our inheritance in heaven, but our Goel Iesus Christ, who is flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone, will redeeme it to us againe.
The the third thing which the Goel did to his kins∣man, was to relieue him out of prison. So we being condemned to that everlasting prison, Christ hath bai∣led us.
Now the priviledges which the first-borne who was the Goel had done to him were two; First he had the double portion of his Fathers goods; And secondly, his second brother was bound to raise up seed to him.
Iesus Christ our eldest brother, he is annointed with gifts aboue his fellowes, Psal. 45. and from him we receiue grace for grace, Ioh. 1.
The second thing which was due to the Goel was this, if he died without children then his second bro∣ther was bound to raise up seed to him: and if he refu∣sed to doe it, they pulled off his shoe and spit in his face. The application of this is; Christ our Eldest brother shall never want a seed in his Church to the worlds
end. When Onan refused to raise up seed to his bro∣ther, then Selah was bound to doe it, Gen. 38. So there shall be still some who shall performe this dutie to our Eldest brother.
Againe the children were not called their children, but the eldest brothers children The application is, the Preachers are Christs younger brethren, therefore they should beget children to Christ, and not seeke their owne honour.
If they refused to raise up seed to their brother, then their shoe was pulled off, and they did spit in their face. Great shall be the shame of these who refuse to doe this dutie to their elder brother Christ: their shoe shall be pulled off, and they shall loose their part of that hea∣venly inheritance.
The Church having such a Goel, men should be loth to meddle with her. Prov. 23. 10. Remoue not the old [Conclusion.] markes, and enter not within the field of the fatherlesse, for their Goel, or redeemer, is mightie, and hee will plead their cause: here he alludeth to that place, Deut. 25. 8. The Lord is a Goel to all his poore and distressed mem∣bers: he was Iosephs Goel when he was in prison: The armes of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Iacob. Gen. 49. 24.
The priviledges of the neerest kinsman.
Christ our neerest kins∣man hath taken all their priviledges upon him for us.
The priviledges of the neerest kinsman as he was first borne.
VVhat the second bro∣ther was bound to doe for the eldest.
Ministers are Christs second brethren.
The portion of a sloth∣••ull Minister.