Several sermons wherein is shewed, I. That Jesus Christ is a mighty Saviour. II. That God converts his elect some at one age, and some at another, commonly before old age. III. That when godly men dye, angels carry their souls to another and a better world. : With a preface in which there is a brief and true character of the Reverend Mr. Thomas Bridge a lately deceased pastor in one of the churches in Boston. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]

JESƲS CHRIST IS A Mighty Saviour.

Isaiah LXIII. 1.

— Mighty to Save.

THE Prophet Isaiah be|ing in an Ecstasy, had a Vision of a glorious Conqueror. (1) He speaks of the Enemies that were subdued and destroyed by him 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The Edomites. Edom and 〈…〉〈…〉 mentioned. Edom is 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ites the Posterity of 〈…〉〈…〉 Edom. B••rah wa•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Capital City belonging to the Edo|mites: These are mentioned because they were next Neighbours to the Children of Israel, and the most inve|terate, and implacable, and are by a Synechdoche, put for all the implacable Enemies of the People of God. (2) The Prophet gives a description of the Conqueror which he had a Vi|sion of. He is described. [1.] From his Garments and Apparel: His Gar|ments were dyed, viz. dyed with the blood of his Enemies over whom he was Victorious, and therefore in the next Verse 'tis said, He was red in his Apparel: He is also described as Glori|ous in his Apparel; for so great Gene|rals and Conquerors are wont to be, especially when they have been Victo|rious. [2.] From the manner of his Marching along: He walked in State. Travelling in the greatness of his Strength. As a Lion that knows the greatness of his Strength, walks along in a state|ly manner. Thus is the Conqueror whom the Prophet had a Vision of described.

In this Verse, we have a Question,

and the Answer to it. The Prophet propounds the Question, Who is this? This wonderful Conqueror that comes thus gloriously arayed, who is it? Christ Answers, It is I. In his Answer he gives a description of himself. (1.) From his Fidelity: I that speak in Righteousness: What he speaks, he does faithfully perform. He is always as good as his Word. He has promised Salvation to his People, and he does accomplish it: He has threatned Destruction to his implacable Enemies, and he does accomplish that also, and is Righteous therein. (2.) From his Power and Ability: He is Mighty to Save.

The Doctrine to be insisted on, is,

DOCT. That the Lord Jesus Christ is a Mighty Saviour.

For the Opening and Confirming the Truth before us, we shall.

1. Shew, How it does appear that Christ is a Mighty Saviour.

2. Who are the Subjects of that Salvation, which this Mighty Saviour is the Author of.

Quest. 1. How does it appear that Jesus Christ is a Mighty Saviour?

Answ. 1. The Scripture does abundant|ly declare this. The great design of the Book of God is to make known unto Men that there is a Saviour for them, and that Jesus Christ is He. We find in the Gospel, that Angels from Heaven have Preached this Doctrine. Luk. 2.10, 11. The Angel said, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all People, for unto you is born this day a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And there was a great Mul|titude of the Heavenly Host, Praising God for it. The Names whereby Christ is called in the Scripture de|notes His being a Saviour. The Name of Shil•• is given to Him, Gen. 49.10 Which imports His being a Saviour, and a Great Peace giver. The

Latin Word Salus which signifies Sal|vation, is supposed to come from the Hebrew Shilo. And the Name of Jesus is given to Him. The Angel gave this Reason, why he should be called by that Name, Mat. 1.21. Thou shalt call His Name Jesus, for He shall Save His People from their Sins▪ He is in the Scripture called Salvation it self, which imports his being a Sa|viour in the highest Degree. As soon as Simeon had seen the Lords Christ, he sayes, Mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation, Luk. 2.30. It was said, Salvation is of the Jews, because Christ w•• of them, Joh. 4.22. The Scripture call•• Him a Great Saviour, Isai. 19.20. Whoever might be Firstly and Typi|cally meant, Christ is the Saviour and the Great One there Chiefly intended. And not only in the Text before us, but in other Scriptures, He is said to be Mighty. Psa••. 24.8 Who is the King of Glory? The Lord Strong and Mighty, The Lord Mighty in Battel. 45.3. Gird thy Sword upon thy Thigh•• O Mighty. And 89.19. I have laid

help on One that is Mighty. It is meant of Christ Eminently.

2. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God. And therefore He is a Mighty Savi|our. Very often in the Scripture, He is said to be God; and we may not think that he is so in respect of His Office or Authority only, as Princes are said to be Gods, but in res|pect of Nature, He is called The Migh|ty God, Isai. 9.6. Unto us a Child is Born, a Son is given, His Name shall be called, that is he shall be, The Mighty God. And he is said to be The Great God. Tit. 2.13. The glorious appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. He then is not only a Migh|ty but an Almighty Saviour. We all need such Salvations as no Creature, yea, as all the Creatures in the World cannot help us unto. But Christ has a Mighty Arm able to Save us, Isai. 59.1. Behold, the Lords Hand is not shortened that it cannot save Christ is that God which made the World. All things were made by Him, and

without Him was not any thing made that was made. ••e that made the World is able to save the World.

3. If we 〈…〉〈…〉 Sa|viours, we shall 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ra|bly Greater and Migh•• 〈…〉〈…〉 any of ••m all. God raised up Sa••s for His People Israel Neh 9 •• Thou gavest them Saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their Enemies These were Types and Shadows of Christ, the great Saviour which was to come into the World M••ses was an Instru|mental Saviour to the Children of Is|rael. By that Prophet God brought Israel out of Egypt, and by that Pro|phet he preserved them. In that he was a Figure of Christ. It was Pro|phesied of the M••s••ah that he should be like unto Moses 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 17.15. The Hebrew Doctors 〈◊〉〈◊〉 well, That Christ shall be like unto Moses only greater than he, w•• was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greatest Pro|phet that ever was in the W••ld, un|•• Christ came 〈…〉〈…〉 speaks the Apostle, Heb. 3.3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Man 〈◊〉〈◊〉

counted worthy of more glory than Moses. Moses did by Divine Appointment introduce a new Religion into the World, so did Christ, and in that re|spect was like unto Moses. No Man was ever admitted to such familiarity with God, as was Moses, but Christ much more. The Law was given by Moses, Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time, no not Moses himself so as Christ has, the only begotten Son which is in the Bosome of the Father He hath declared Him, Joh. 1.17, 18. Moses was a shadow of Christ. The shadow re|presents the Body whose shadow it is, so in Moses we see some Represen|tation of Christ shadowed to us. He was a Deliverer, but not comparable to Christ. The Judges in Israel were Saviours, and on that account Types of Christ. In a special manner Samp|son was so. Jacob in his dying Prophesy concerning the Tribe of Dan, breaks forth into this Expression, I have waited for thy Salvation, O Lord. Sampson was of that Tribe, he was a Type of Christ,

whose Salvation was that which the holy Patriarch waited & longed for. Sampson signifies a Little Sun: Christ is a great Sun: He is the Sun of Righ|teousness, that has healing (Salvation) under his Wings: He is the Light of the World. Sampson saved his People with the loss of his own Life: At and by his Death he Conquered more E|nemies, than in all his Life. So has Christ by his Death Conquered the Enemies, and accomplished the Sal|vation of his People.

4. Jesus Christ is a Mighty Saviour in respect of the Multitude of Subjects which are saved by him. There are a World of them. Joh. 4.42. This is in|deed the Christ the Saviour of the World. No Saviour that ever was in the World, saved so many as Christ has done. Cyrus was an instrument in the hand of God, to accomplish a great Tem|poral Salvation for a whole Nation. He set at liberty Nine and forty thou|sand Captives at once, Ezra 2.64. But Jesus Christ has saved a far greater

Number of the Captives of Hell; He is a Saviour not only of Jews, but of Gentiles dispersed throughout the World. Wherefore the Apostle says, 1 Joh. 2.2. He is a Propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only. Not for ours only who are Jews, but also of the whole World; meaning the Gentile World: Great Numbers among the Jews have been saved by Christ: In the Apostles days, there were Myriads of them. Act. 21.20. Many thousands of Jews believe: but far more thou|sands of that People shall ere long believe on Christ, and so become the Subjects of his Salvation. It is sup|posed by some Learned Men, that if the Jews which are scattered over the face of the whole Earth, were gathe|red together, they would be the most Numerous Nation in the World: but this Nation shall turn to the Lord, and then all Israel shall be Saved. But among the Gentiles Christ has had ••r more Subjects than among the Jews. Many Millions of them have been Converted to Christ, and Saved

by him. And among the Gentiles also, there are whole Nations that shall ere long become Christs Subjects. He will be their King, and he will Save them. All the Ends of the World shall turn to the Lord. The Lord shall be King over all the Earth; In that day shall there be One Lord and his Name One, Zech. 14.9. Then all the World will see and know and believe that Jesus Christ is a Mighty Saviour. His Elect, altho' they are but few com|pared with the Reprobate World, Ne|vertheless, in themselves considered they are a Mighty Number, and all Saved by Christ. Rev. 7.9. I beheld a great Multitude which no Man could Number, of all Nations, and Kindreds, and Tongues, clothed with white Robe••. They had never had those Robes of Salva|tion given to them, if it had not been for Jesus Christ. Well might the Angel say that Christs coming into World was matter of great Joy to all People, Luk. 2.10.

5. Jesus Christ is a Saviour of Souls, and therefore a Mighty Saviour. He is called the Shepherd of Souls, 1 Pet. 2.25. Sin has brought death not only on the Bodies of Men, but on their Souls. Ezek. 18.4. The soul that sinneth shall dy. And a woful death it is that Sin brings on the Souls of Men. In|deed the Soul does not dy a natural death as the Body does, but it may be a subject of great wo and misery, and that's death. Isal. 3.9. They declare their sin as Sodom, wo to their soul. But Jesus Christ saves both Soul & Body. Who is able to redeem a Body that is dead from the Power of the Grave? Jesus Christ the Son of God can do it, has done it, and will do it. Joh. 5.25. Verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. But to quicken and save a Soul that has been dead in Trespasses and Sins, is a Mightier work, than to raise all the dead Bodies in the World, yet this Jesus Christ has Power to do.

Therefore he says, Isai. 55.3. Come unto me, hear, and your souls shall live. Christ has redeemed Souls as well as Bodies by a Mighty Price. 1 Cor. 6.20. You are bought with a price, therefore glo|rify God in your body, and in your spirit. And what it that price, which has bought both Body and Spirit? It is the price of blood, and the most pre|cious blood that ever was, or that pos|sibly can be, the blood of Christ which is the blood of God. And as Christ has saved the Souls of his People by Price, so likewise by Power. His All-powerful Arm has vanquished all the Powers of darkness. Col. 2.15. Having spoiled Principalities and Powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them. He has led Captivity Captive: He has dis-armed the Devil and all his Angels and as it were tied them to his triumphal Chariot, and exposed them openly in the sight of Heaven and Earth: So has he set the Souls that were the Captives of Hell at Li|berty. The Salvation of a Soul is a Mighty thing. It is so, considering

the worth of the Soul: One Soul is more worth than all this World. Has not Christ said, What is a man profited, if he gain the whole World, and loose his own soul? or; what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mat. 16.26. A Scripture which a Religious Man advised a King that he would think on it, a quarter of an hour every day, The Soul is of invaluable worth, con|sidering the Immortality of it. Every Man has a Mortal Body, and an Im|mortal Soul: A body that must dy, and shall dy, and a Soul that shall ne|ver dy. To Save such a Soul is a Mightier thing than to save all the Bodies in the World. To redeem one Soul is such a Mighty thing, as that all the Men on Earth, and all the An|gels in Heaven cannot do it. Psal. 49.8. The redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever. But what a Mighty Saviour then is Jesus Christ, who has Redeemed Thousands of Millions of Precious and Immortal Souls?

6. Christ Saves his People from the Mightiest Enemies, and from the greatest Evils, therefore he is Mighty to Save. The Miserable Captives of Hell were in woful slavery under Mighty Op|pressors. The Almighty Lord Jesus Christ has set th•• at Liberty. Isai. 49.24, 25. Shall the prey be taken from the Mighty, or the lawful Captive be deli|vered? The Captives of the Mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible ones shall be delivered. Sinners are said to be lawful Captives, in that the Justice of God had delivered them in|to the hands of Satan, and his evil An|gels, who were terrible Ones. They had never been delivered from those terrible Ones, nor the prey taken out of the hands of the Mighty, if Christ had not done it. Satan is a powerful Enemy; the Scripture speaks of the power of that Enemy, Luk. 10.19. But this Conqueror whom the Text speaks of, has Conquered the Devil, and ta|ken his armour from him, in which he trusted. Heb. 2.14. He has destroyed

him that had the power of death that is the Devil; not as to his Being, but as to his Dominion. We find in the Gos|pel, that Christ delivered many that were under bodily Possession by De|vils, thereby declaring that he would deliver Souls that were under Spiritual Possession by Evil Spirits. Spiritual Plagues are the greatest, therefore de|liverance from them is a Mighty Sal|vation. Blindness of Mind is a Spiri|tual Judgment. Sin and Satan has blinded the Minds of Men. 2 Cor. 4.4. The God of this World has blinded the Eyes of them that believe not. Jesus Christ saveth from this Spiritual Judg|ment. For one that is blind to have his sight restored to him is a Mighty thing especially if he was born blind. Joh. 9.32. Since the World began was it not heard, that any man opened the Eyes of one that was born blind: But Christ has opened the Eyes of many a one that was born blind; that came into the World with a dark Soul. To give sight to a dark Soul, is a greater thing than to restore sight to a dark Body:

But to how many Thousands ••s Christ done this? He was sent to Preach Deliverance to the Captives, and recovering of sight to the Blind, Luk. 4.18. Again, Hardness of Heart is a Spiritual Judgment; No Plague on Pharaoh was so great as that of the Hardness of his Heart. Who can deliver from this Evil? Who can turn an Heart of Stone into an Heart of Flesh? Can any Creature do it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 No, but Jesus Christ can do it. Ma|ny a Rocky Heart, that has been as Hard as an Adamant Stone, He has broken it, and then healed it. He was sent to bind up the broken hearted, Isa. 61.1. Deliverance from the second Death is a mighty Salvation. There are some concerning whom it is said, Of such the second Death hath no power, Rev. 20.6. There is a first Death, which is a Death of the Body, no Man is exempted from that: What Man is there that lives, and shall not see Death. The second Death is that which follows upon the first, as to the Soul of the Sinner, immediately upon its

separation from the ••dy and of both Soul and Body in Hell after the day of Judgment, a part in that Lake which burns with fire and brimstone which is the second death. This is that which Sinners are condemned unto. If it had not been for Jesus Christ, no Sinner in the World had been delivered from that terrible death: But Jesus Christ the Son of God has saved a World of Perishing Souls from it. Joh. 3.17. God sent not his son into the World to condemn the World, but that the World through him might be saved. The most formidable Thing that can possibly be thought on, is the Wrath of the Infinite God. Who can save from it? It is too mighty for any Creature in Heaven or Earth to undertake. Who can quench that Devouring Fire? Christ has done it with his own Blood. Be|ing Justified by his Blood, we shall he sa|ved from Wrath through him, Rom 5.9. It is a Wrath to come, and will be Eter|nally coming. But Jesus has delivered us from the Wrath to come, 1 Thes. 1.10.

And this He does by saving from Sin. Mat. 1.21. Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his People from their sins. It is Sin that has caused the Displeasure of God against a sin|ful sinning World, and caused his Wrath to burn to the bottom of Hell. Christ by saving from Sin, has saved from Wrath, and from all the dread|ful direful Effects of that Wrath. Sin is the greatest Evil. He that saves from the greatest Evil is the greatest Saviour. Other Evils other Saviours may possibly deliver from, but Sin is that Evil which none but Christ can save from.

7. Jesus Christ is an Everlasting Sa|viour. No other Saviour is so. All others were but Temporal, Christ is an Eternal One. Heb. 13.8. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to day and for ever. He was a Saviour Yesterday, and is a Saviour to Day, and will be a Saviour for ever. He is the Savi|our of his People in all Ages of the World. They may for ever Trust in

him. Isa 26 4. Trust ye in the Lord for ever, 〈…〉〈…〉 Lord Jehovah is ever|lasting 〈…〉〈…〉 There never was any Man 〈…〉〈…〉 the World began, but 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ved by Jesus Christ. The Patri••hs under the Old Testament, were saved by Christ, as well as we in these Days of the New Testament. They did not obtain Heaven in one way, and we in another, but both by Christ. Heb. 11.40. That they without us should not be made perfect. The Redemption which he has ob|tained for us, is an Eternal Redempti|on, Heb. 9.12. The Life which he has purchased is not a Temporal, but an Eternal Life. He says concerning his Sheep, I give unto them Eternal Life, and they shall never perish, Joh. 10.28.

8. Jesus Christ is the only and alone Saviour of Men. As there is no God besides Christ; the Father and the Son are the same God, so there is no Saviour besides him, Isa. 43.11. I, e|ven I am the Lord, and beside me there is

no Saviour. God has sent no other Sa|viour for Men but his Son Jesus Christ. Acts 4.12. There is none other Name un|der Heaven, given among Men, where|by we must be saved. They that will not own him shall Perish Eternally. Christ therefore said to the Jews, If you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins, Joh. 8.24. He is not on|ly a Saviour, but the Saviour, impor|ting that he only is so. Phil. 3.20. Our Conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. And as Christ, and no one else is the Saviour of the World, there is one God, and one Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus, so he is such an one by himself alone, without the assistance of any Creature. Temporal Saviours have had many to assist them, or they could have done nothing. But Christ had no Man to assist him in the mighty Work of our Redemption. Isa. 9.16. He saw that there was no man, therefore His own arm brought Sal|vation to Him. In making satisfacti|on

for the sins of his People, none joyned with him. The high Priest went alone into the Sanctuary, not with|out Blood, Heb. 9.7. By that signifying, that Christ alone by his Blood, has made Atonement for the sins of his People. No one else did in the least contribute towards that Salvation. Nor did any Man help him in con|quering the Enemies of our Salvation. He says in the Context before us, Isa. 63.3. I have troden the wine Press a|lone, and of the People there was none with me, I looked, and there was none to help. Hence it is said of Christ, that he saves to the uttermost, Heb. 7.25. For that he has not left any part of our Salvation to be accomplish'd by ano|ther, but he has done it all by himself alone. We see that Jesus Christ is a Mighty Saviour.

We proceed to the Second Enqui|•• viz.

Who are the Subjects of that Salvation which this Mighty Saviour is the Author of▪

Take the Answer in Three Parti|culars.

1. Fallen sinful Man is the Objects of Christ's Salvation. There is a World of Fallen Angels which kept ou•• their first Estate; they are in Chain•• of Everlasting Darkness. Christ is not a Saviour to them. The Son of God took not on him the Nature of Angels, but He assumed the Nature of Man, and is therefore a Saviour not of An|gels that have sinned, but of Men that have sinned. And His Salvation does extend to all sorts of sinful Men High and Low, Rich and Poor. Where|fore it is said, God our Saviour will have all Men, (meaning some of all sorts of Men) to be saved, •• Tim. 2.4. There is not a Man in the World, but what needs a Saviour. For all Men are sinners. God in His holy Word de|clares that they are so. Gal 3.21. The Scripture has concluded all under sin. Now Christ came to save sinners. This is a saying worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. If Men were not sinners they would not

need a Saviour. When the Pharisees said to the Disciples, ••y Eateth your Master with Publicans and Sinners, Jesus said to them, The whole have no need of a Physician but the sick. I am not come to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance, Mat. 9.12, 13. Men have gone astray in the way of sin. They are lost, their Souls are lost, in a woful Wilderness of sin & misery. But that Son of Man who is also the Son of God, came to seek and to save that which was lost, Luk. 19.10. The most wretched and forlorn sinners in the World, are not excluded from partaking in His Salvation. For unto such He does offer it, in the Gospel. To the Poor, the Maimed, the Halt, and the Blind, Luk. 14.21. There are some sinners which have a greater Load of Guilt upon their Souls than others have. Christ will be a Saviour to these, if they will come to Him for His Salvation, and He bids them all come. Mat. 11.28, 29. Come unto me all you that Labour and are Heavy Laden, and you shall find rest for your souls. Who can save from the

heavy Burden of the Guilt of sin? That's a Burden intollerable to be born: a Burden that has broke the Backs of Million of Angels. Christ can deliver from it, though none but an Almighty Saviour can do it. He came to Save not only Sinners, but the Chief of Sinners. Nay, such as have been guilty of all sorts of sins. We read in the Gospel: Mat. 4 23. That he healed all manner of sickness, and all manner of diseases; thereby signify|ing that all sorts of sins, all manner of Soul-diseases should be healed by him. This notwithstanding, we may not suppose that all the Sinners in the World shall be Saved by Jesus Christ: Indeed he is able to Save them all. And there is Merit enough in his blood to make Atonement for the sins of the whole World, yea tho' there were a thousand Worlds Nevertheless, the greatest part of Men will not be Saved by him, because they will not obey him.

Wherefore,

2. Believing Sinners are they unto whom this Mighty Saviour will be the Author of their Eternal Salvation. Their Salvation is begun as soon as they believe. He that believes has Ev••••|lasting Life. It is not only true 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he shall have Everlasting Life, but he hath it already in the beginnings ••f it, and is in respect of the Promise of God as sure of Heaven ••s if he were there already. Joh. 3.16. God gave his only begotten s••n that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting Life. All Believers shall be saved, whoever they be. By him all that be|lieve are Justified and none else No Unbeliever dying in his state of Un|belief can be Saved. God has not only said but Sworn that Unbelievers shall not be Saved. Heb. 3.19. To whom 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he that ••e•• should not enter into his m••st, but to them that believe not.

3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Elect of God shall be Saved by 〈…〉〈…〉 ••viour. For they either do o•• ••ll believe. Hence the Scrip|ture

speaks of the Faith of Gods Elect, Tit. 1.1. Many of the Elect of God are already in Heaven: They were Believers on Christ before they came there. Many of the Elect still abiding on the Earth are Believers, and many of them are not as yet Be|lievers, but they shall be such. Christ therefore said, O her Sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice. Joh 10 16. They are the subjects of Christs Inter|cession, and therefore shall be the sub|jects of his Salvation. Joh. 17.20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me. The Lords People Israel which he singled out from all the Nations of the World, did Typify Gods Elect, who are there|fore called, The Israel of God, Gal. 6.16. The Son of God, who is the King of Israel, is the Saviour of Israel. To thee be Glory, O thou Saviour of Israel, and the Hope thereof!