brought into the World and set before the Face of God such a Righteousness that out-weigheth and goeth far beyond that Sin and so did hide sin from the Sight of God Hence he that is justified is said to have his Sins HID and covered Blessed is the Man whose Transgressions are forgiven and whose Sin is covered Rom. 4. 7. covered with the Righteousness of Christ. I spread my skirt over thee and covered thy Nakedness thy Sins Ezek. 16. 8. Christ Jesus therefore having by the Infiniteness of his Merit taken away put away or hidden our Sins from the Face of God therefore he raised him up from the Dead You find in that 16th of Leviticus mention made of two Goats one was to be slain for a Sin-Offering the other to be left alive The Goat that was slain was a Type of Christ in his Death the Goat that was not slain was a Type of Christ in his Merit Now this living Goat HE carried away the Sins of the People into the Land of forgetfulness And Aaron shall lay both his Hands upon the head of the Live-Goat and confess over him all the Iniquities of the Children of Israel and all their Transgressions in all their Sins putting them upon the Head of the Goat and shall send him away by the Hands of a fit Man into the Wilderness and the Goat shall bear upon him all their Iniquities unto a Land not inhabited Levit. 16. Thus did Jesus Christ bear away by the Merit of his Death the Sins and Iniquities of them that Believe wherefore when God came to him in the Grave he found him Holy and Undefiled and raised him up from the Dead And observe it As his Death was for our Sin so his Rising again was for our Discharge for both in his Death and Resurrection he immediately respected our Benefits he died for us he rose from the Dead for us He was delivered for our Offences and was raised again for our Justification Rom 4. 25. By his Death he carried away our Sins by his Rising he brought to us Justifying Righteousness There are five Circumstances also attending his Resurrection that shew us how well-pleased God was with his Death 1. It must be solemnized with the Company Attendance and Testimony of Angels Mat. 28. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Luk. 24. 3 4 5 6. John 20. 11 12. 2dly At or just upon his Resurrection the Graves where many of the Saints for whom he died lay asleep did open and they followed their Lord in full Triumph over Death The Graves were opened and many Bodies of Saints which slept arose and came out of their Graves after his Resurrection and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many Mat. 27. 52. These Saints coming out of their Graves after him what a Testimony is it that he for them had taken away Sin and destroyed him that had the Power of Death yea what a Testimony was it that he had made amends to God the Father who granted him at his Resurrection to have presently out of the Grave Of the Price of his Blood even the Body of many of the Saints which slept He was declared to be the Son of God with Power by the Spirit of Holiness and the Resurrection from the Dead Rom. 1. 4. It saith not by his Resurrection though that be true But by the Resurrection meaning the Resurrection of the Bodies of the Saints which slept because they rose by vertue of his Blood and by that he was with power declared to be the Son of God They I say were part of his Purchase some of them for whom Christ died Now for God to raise them and that upon and by vertue of his Resurrection what is it but an open Declaration from Heaven that Christ by his Death hath made amends for us and obtained Eternal Redemption for us 3thly When he was risen from the Dead God to confirm his Disciples in the Faith of the Redemption that Christ had obtained by his Blood brings him to the Church presents him to them alive shews him openly sometimes to two or three sometimes to eleven or twelve and once to above five hundred Brethren at once Acts 1. 3. Chap. 10. 40. Luk. 24. 13 14 15 16. 31. John 20. 19. Chap. 21. 1 2 3 c. 1 Cor. 15. 3 4 5 6 7 8. 4thly At his Resurrection God gives him the Keys of Hell and of Death Revel 1. 16 17. Hell and Death are the Effects and Fruits of Sin The Wicked shall be turned into Hell and the Wages of Sin is Death But what then are Sinners the better for the Death and Blood of Christ O! They that dare venture upon him are much the better for they shall not perish unless the Saviour will damn them for he hath the Keys of Hell and of Death Fear not saith he I am the First and the Last I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore and have the Keys of Hell and Death These were given him at his Resurrection as if God had said My Son thou hast spilt thy Blood for Sinners I am pleased with it I am delighted in thy Merits in the Redemption which thou hast wrought in token hereof I give thee the Keys of Hell and of Death I give thee all Power in Heaven and Earth save who thou wilt deliver who thou wilt bring to Heaven who thou wilt 5thly At Christ's Resurrection God bids him ask the Heathen of him with a Promise to give him the uttermost parts of the Earth for his Possession This Sentence is in the second Psalm and is expounded by Paul's Interpretation of the Words before to be spoken to Christ at his Resurrection Thou art my Son this Day have I begotten thee I have begotten thee that is saith Paul from the Dead He hath raised up Jesus again as it is also written in the Second Psalm Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Act. 13. 30 31 32 33 34. Now mark at his Raising him from the Dead he bids him ask ASK of me and that the Heathen As if God had said My Son thy Blood hath pacified and appeased my Justice I can 〈◊〉 in justice for thy sake forgive poor Mortals their Sin ASK them of me ASK them though they be Heathens and I will give them to thee to the utmost Ends of the Earth This is then the First Demonstration to prove that Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid full price to God for the Souls of Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them namely his being Raised again from the Dead The Second Demonstration SEcondly A Second thing that demonstrateth this Truth is That he Ascended and was received up into Heaven So after the Lord had spoken to them he was received up into Heaven Mar. 16. 19. This Demonstration consisteth of two parts 1. Of his Ascending 2. Of his being Received First For his Ascending He is ascended on High Ephes. 4. 8.
of Jesse and a Branch shall grow out of his Roots and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him This answereth the Text David was the Son of Jesse and Christ the Son of David Isa. 11. 1 2. 4. He is promised under the Title of a King Behold a King shall rule in righteousness and a Man shall be for a hiding-place from the Wind and a covert from the Tempest as Rivers of Waters in a dry place as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land Isa. 32. 1 2. 5. He was promised under the name of an Elect Servant Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles he shall not cry nor lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the Streets a bruised Reed shall he not break and smoking Flax shall he not quench Isa. 42. 1 2 3. Matt. 12. 18. 6. He was promised to Jeremiah under the name of the Lord our Righteousness Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a Righteous Branch and a King shall reign and prosper he shall execute Judgment in the Earth in his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the name wherewith he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23. 5 6. 7. He was promised by the Prophet Ezekiel under the name of David a Shepherd And I will set one Shepherd over them and he shall feed them even my Servant David he shall feed them and he shall be their Shepherd and I the Lord will be their God and my Servant David a Prince among them I the Lord have spoken it Ezek. 34. 24. Joh. 10. 1 2 3. 8. He was promised by the Prophet Daniel under the name of Messias or Christ the most Holy And after threescore and two weeks shall the Messiah be cut off but not for himself Dan. 9. 26. 9. He was promised by the Prophet Micha under the name of the Ruler of Israel But thou Bethlehem Ephratah though thou be little among the thousands of Judah yet out of thee shall be come that is to be Ruler in Israel Mic. 5. 2. Matt. 2. 6. 10. He was promised to Haggai as the desire of all Nations I will shake all Nations and the desire of all Nations shall come and I will fill this house with Glory saith the Lord of Hosts Hag. 2. 7. 11. He was promised by Zechariah under the name of Servant and Branch For behold I will bring forth my Servant the Branch and again Behold the Man whose name is the Branch he shall grow up out of his place and he shall build the Temple of the Lord and he shall bear the Glory Zech. 3. 8. 12. He was promised by Malachi under the name of the Lord and the Messenger of the Covenant Behold I send my Messenger and he shall prepare the way before thee and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his Temple even the Messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in behold he shall come saith the Lord of Hosts Malachi 3. 12. Indeed the Scriptures of the Old-Testament are filled with Promises of the Messias to come Prophetical Promises Typical Promises For all the Types and shadows of the Saviour are virtually so many Promises Having therefore touched upon the Prophetical I will briefly touch the Typical Promises also for as God spake at sundry times to the Fathers so also in divers manners Prophetically Providentially Typically and all of the Messias Heb. 1. 1. The Types of the Saviour were various 1. Sometimes he was typed out by Men. 2. Sometimes by Beasts 3. Sometimes by Insensible Creatures First He was typed forth sometimes by Men. 1. Adam was his Type in many things especially as he was the Head and Father of the first World He was the Figure of him that was to come Rom. 5. 14. 2. Moses was his Type as Mediator and as Builder of the Tabernacle Heb. 3. 2 3. Aaron was his Type as he was High-Priest and so was Melchisedec before him Heb. 5. 4 5. Chap. 7. 1 21. 4. Sampson was his Type in the effects of his death for as Sampson gave his life for the deliverance of Israel from the Philistins Christ gave his Life to deliver us from Sin and Devils 5. Joshuah was his Type in giving the Land of Canaan to Israel as Jesus will give the Kingdom of Heaven to the Elect Heb. 4. 8. 6. David was his Type in many things especially in his subduing of Israels Enemies and feeding them hence he is sometimes called David their King and David their Shepherd Ezek. 34. 23 24. 7. Solomon was his Type in his building the Temple and in his Peaceable Kingdom Hence it is said he shall build the Temple of the Lord and again Of his Government and Peace there shall be no end Beasts were his Types To instance some First The Paschal-Lamb was his Type Exod. 12. 1. In its Spotlesness Christ was a Lamb without blemish and without spot 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. 2. In its being Roasted It was a Figure of the cursed Death of Christ for to be Roasted bespake one accursed Jer. 29. 22. Gal. 3. 13. 3. In that it was to be eaten He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood saith Christ hath Eternal Life John 6. 57. 4. In that its Blood was to be sprinkled upon the doors of their houses for the destroying Angel to look on The Blood of Christ is sprinkled upon the Elect for the Justice of God to look on Heb. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 1 2. 5. By eating the Paschal-Lamb the People went out of Egypt by feeding upon Christ by Faith we come from under the Egyptian Darkness Tyranny of Satan c. Secondly The Red Cow was his Type Numb 19. 2 c. 1. In that she was to be without blemish 2. In that she was to be slain without the Camp Jesus also that he might sanctifie the People with his own Blood suffered without the Gate Heb. 13. 12. 3. In that her Flesh was to be burnt a Type of the grievous Death of Christ. 4. Her Ashes was to be carried into a clean place without the Camp a Type of the clean Sepulcher where the Body of Jesus was laid John 19. 38 39 40 41. There was also divers other Sacrifices as Bulls Goats and Birds which were Types of him which I here omit Thirdly Insensible Creatures were his Types As first The Mannah in the Wilderness Ex. 16. and that 1. As it came down from Heaven for so did Christ I came down from Heaven saith he and again I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven John 6. 51. 2. The Mannah was to be eaten so is Christ by Faith If any man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever and the Bread that I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the life of the World John 6.
us Being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The God of Peace fill you with all joy and peace in believing Rom. 5. 1 2. Chap. 15. 13. This Peace is expressed diversly 1. Sometimes it is called QUIETNESS for it calms the Soul from those troublous Fears of damning because of sin And the work of Righteousness shall be Peace and the Effect of Righteousness Quietness and Assurance for ever Isa. 32. 17. 2. Sometimes it is called BOLDNESS for by the Blood of Christ a Man hath encouragement to approach unto God Having brethren Boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the Vail that is to say his Flesh Heb. 10. 19 20. 3. It is sometimes called CONFIDENCE because by Jesus Christ we have not only encouragement to come to God but confidence that if we ask any thing according to his Will he not only heareth but granteth the Request which we put up to him In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the Faith of Jesus Ephes. 3. 12. 1 John 5. 14 15. 4. Sometimes this Peace is expressed by REST because a Man having found a sufficient Fulness to answer all his Wants he sitteth down and looks no further for satisfaction Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Mat. 11. 28. 5. It is also expressed by SINGING because the Peace of God when it is received into the Soul by Faith putteth the Conscience into a Heavenly and Melodious Frame And the Ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and Everlasting Joy upon their Heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall fly away Isa. 35. 10. 6. Sometimes it is expressed or discovered by an Heavenly glorying and boasting in Jesus Christ because this Peace causeth the Soul to set its Face upon its Enemies with Faith of a Victory over them for ever by its Lord Jesus Let him that glorieth glory in the Lord and My Soul shall make her boasts in the Lord the Humble shall hear thereof and be glad Jer. 9. 23 24. Psalm 34. 2. 7. Sometimes it is expressed or discovered by Joy Joy unspeakable because the Soul having seen it self reconciled to God hath not only quietness but such apprehensions do now possess it of the unspeakable Benefits it receiveth by Christ with respect to the World to come that it is swallowed up with them Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. 8. Lastly It is expressed or discovered by the Triumph that ariseth sometimes in the Hearts of the Believers for they at times are able to see Death Sin the Devil and Hell and all Adversity conquered by and tied as Captives at the Chariot-Wheels of Jesus Christ Taken captive I say and overthrown for ever Thanks be to God who causeth us always to triumph in Christ. O clap your Hands O ye People sing unto God with the voice of Triumph 2 Cor. 2. 14. Psalm 47. 1. Now that all this should be a cheat is impossible that is it is impossible that Believers should thus have Peace with God through the Blood of his Cross he having not paid full price to God for them especially if you consider that the Authors of this Peace are all the three in the Godhead and that upon a double account 1. In that they have given us a Gospel of Peace Rom. 10. 15. or a New-Testament which propoundeth Peace with God through the Redemption that is in Christ. Now as this is called the Gospel of Peace so 1. It is called The Gospel of God 1 Thes. 2. 9. 2 Thes. 1. 8. 2. The Gospel of Christ Rom. 15. 19. 3. A Gospel indited by the Holy Ghost 1 Thes. 4. 8. I say therefore that Redemption and Salvation being that throw Christ and the Truth thereof proclaimed by the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost in the Word of the Truth of the Gospel it must needs be that we who believe shall be saved if we hold the confidence and the rejoicing firm unto the End 2. As the three in the God-head are the Authors of this Peace by inditing for us the Gospel of Peace or the good Tidings of Salvation by Jesus Christ So they are the Authors of our Peace by working with that word of the Gospel in our Hearts And hence 1. the Father is called the God of Peace now the God of Peace be with you all And the very God of Peace sanctifie you Rom. 15. 33. 1 Thes. 5. 23. And because he is the God of Peace therefore he filleth those that believe in his Christ with joy and peace through believing Rom. 15. 13. 2. Again Christ is called the Prince of Peace therefore the Prayer is Grace be with you and Peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes. 1. 2. 3. The Holy Ghost also is the Author of this Peace this inward Peace Even righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. And I say as I also have already said the procuring or meritorious Cause of this Peace is the doings and sufferings of Christ. Therefore by his Doings and Sufferings he paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them else God would never have indited a Proclamation of Peace for them and the Tenour of that Proclamation to be the Worthiness of the Lord Jesus yea he would never have wrought with that Word in the Heart of them that believe to create in them Peace Peace Secondly As peace with God is an Evidence the Blood of Christ being the Cause thereof that Christ hath by it paid full price to God for Sinners so Holiness in their Hearts taking its beginning from this Doctrine makes this fist Demonstration of double strength 1. That Holiness true gospel Holiness possesseth our hearts by this Doctrine 't is evident because the ground of Holiness which is the Spirit of God in us is ministred to us by this Doctrine When the Apostle had insinuated that the Galatians were bewitched because they had turned from the Doctrine of Christ Crucified he demands of them Whether they received the Spirit by the Works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3. 1 2 3 4. That is whether the Spirit took possession of their Souls by their Obedience to the ten Commandments or by their giving credit to the Doctrine of the forgiveness of their Sins by Faith in this Crucified Christ strongly concluding not by the Law but by the hearing or preaching of Faith that is of the Lord Jesus as Crucified who is the Object of Faith 2. As this Doctrine conveyeth the ground or ground-Work which is the Spirit so also it worketh in the Heart those three Graces Faith Hope Love
god SO to love the World as to send his Son For God SO to commend his love to the World as to send it to them in the Blood of his Son Amazing Love John 3. 16. Rom. 5. 8. 3dly It is the greatest discovery of the Condescention of Christ that ever the World had 1. That he should not come to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his Life a Ransom for many Mat. 20. 28. 2. That he should be manifest for this purpose that he might destroy the works of the Devil 1 John 3. 8. 3. That he should come that we might have life and that we might have it more abundantly John 10. 10. 4. That the Son of God should come to seek and to save that which was lost Luk. 19. 10. 5. That he should not come to judg the World to but to save the World John 12. 47. 6. That Christ Jesus should come into the World save Sinners of whom I am chief 1. Tim. 1. 15. 7. That he should love us and wash us from our Sins in his own Blood Revel 1. 5. What amazing Condescention and Humility is this Phil. 2. 6 7 8 9. How Jesus Christ addressed himself to the Work of our Redemption I Come then in the next place to shew you HOW Jesus Christ addressed himself to the Work of mans Redemption The Scripture saith he became poor That he made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant that he humbled himself unto death even the Death of the Cross. But particularly 1. He took upon him our Flesh. 2. He was made under the Law 3. He took upon him our Sins 4. He bore the Curse due to our Sins First He took upon him our Flesh. I shewed you before that he came in our Flesh and now I must shew you the Reason of it namely Because That was the way to address himself to the Work of our Redemption Wherefore when the Apostle treated of the Incarnation of Christ he addeth withal the reason to wit That he might be capable to work out the Redemption of men There are three things to be considered in this 1st Head 1. that he took our Flesh for this Reason That he might be a Saviour 2. How he took flesh that he might be our Saviour 2. That it was necessary that he should take our Flesh if indeed he will be our Saviour For the First That he took our Flesh for this Reason That he might be a Saviour For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the Flesh Rom. 8. 3 4. The Sum of the Words is forasmuch as the Law could do us no good by reason of the inability that is in our flesh to do it for the Law can do us no good until it be fulfilled and because God had a desire that good should come to us therefore did he send his Son in our likeness clothed with flesh to destroy by his doing the Law the tendency of the Sin that dwells in our flesh He therefore took our flesh that our Sin with its effects might by him be condemned and overcome The Reason therefore why he took flesh is Because he would be our Saviour For asmuch then as the Children are Partakers of Flesh and blood he also likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 14 15. In these words it is asserted that he took our flesh for certain Reasons 1. Because the Children the Heirs of Heaven are Partakers of Flesh and Blood For asmuch then as the Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself took part of the same Had the Children the Heirs been without flesh he himself had not taken it upon him had the Children been Angels he had taken upon him the Nature of Angels but because the Children were Partakers of Flesh therefore leaving Angels or refusing to take hold of Angels he took Flesh and Blood the Nature of the Children that he might put himself into a capacity to save and deliver the Children Therefore it follows That through death he might destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil This therefore was another Reason that he might destroy the Devil The Devil had bent himself against the Children he is their Adversary and goeth forth to make war with them The Devil your Adversary And he went to make war with the Remnant of her Seed 1 Pet. 5. 8. Revel 12. Now the Children could not destroy him because he had already cast them into sin defiled their Nature and laid them under the Wrath of God Therefore Christ puts himself among the Children and into the Nature of the Children that he might by means of his Dying in their Flesh destroy the Devil that is take away Sin his Work that he might destroy the Works of the Devil for sin is the great Engine of Hell by which he overthroweth all that perish Now this did Christ destroy by taking on him the similitude of Sinful Flesh of which more anon That he might destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil and deliver them This was the thing in chief intended that he might deliver the Children that he might deliver them from death the Fruit of their Sin and from Sin the Sting of that Death That he might deliver them who through the Fear of Death were all their Life-time subject to bondage He took flesh therefore because the Children had it he took it that he might die for the Children he took it that he might deliver the Children from the Works of the Devil that he might deliver them No Deliverance had come to the Children if the Son of God had not taken their Flesh and Blood Therefore he took our Flesh that he might be our Saviour Again In a Saviour there must be not only Merit but Compassion and Sympathy because the Children are yet to live by Faith are not yet come to the Inheritance It behoved him therefore in all things to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a Merciful and Faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God to make Reconciliation for the Sins of the People Heb. 2. 17 18. Two Reasons are rendred in this Text why he must take Flesh namely that he might be their Priest to offer Sacrifice to wit his Body and Blood for them and that he might be merciful and faithful to pitty and preserve them unto the Kingdom appointed for them Mark you therefore how the Apostle when he asserteth that the Lord Jesus took our Flesh urgeth the reason why he took our Flesh. THAT he might destroy the Devil and Death THAT he might deliver them It behoved him to be made
like unto his Brethren THAT he might be merciful and faithful THAT he might make Reconciliation for the Sins of the People The Reason therefore why he took our Flesh is declared to wit That he might be our Saviour And hence you find it so often recorded He hath abolished in his Flesh the Enmity He hath slain the Enmity by his Flesh and you who were sometimes Aliens and Enemies in your Minds by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the Body of his Flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable in his Sight Ephes. 2. 15 16. Col. 1. 21 22. How he took Flesh. I Come now to the Second Question to wit How he took our Flesh. This must be inquired into for his taking Flesh was not after the common way never any took man's Flesh upon him as he since the Foundation of the World 1. He took not our flesh like Adam who was formed out of the Ground Who was made of the Dust of the Ground Gen. 2. 7. Chap. 3. 19. 2. He took not our flesh as we do by Carnal Generation Joseph knew not his Wife neither did Mary know any Man till she had brought forth her First-horn Son Luk. 1. 34. Mat. 1. 25. 3. He took flesh then by the immediate working and over-shadowing of the Holy Ghost And hence it is said expresly She was found with Child of the Holy Ghost Now the Birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise When-as his Mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with Child of the Holy Ghost Mat. 1. 18. And hence again When Joseph doubted of her Honesty for he perceived she was with Child and knew he had not touched her the Angel of God himself comes down to resolve his doubt and said Joseph thou Son of David Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy Wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost Mat. 1. 20. But again Though the Holy Ghost was that by which the Child Jesus was formed in the Womb so as to be without Carnal Generation yet was he not formed in her without but by her Conception Behold thou shalt conceive in thy Womb and bring forth a Son and shalt call his Name Jesus Luk. 1. 31. Wherefore he took flesh not only IN but OF the Virgin Hence he is called HER Son the SEED of the Woman And hence it is also that he is called the Seed OF Abraham the Seed OF David THEIR Seed according to the Flesh Luk. 2. 7. Gen. 13. 15. Chap. 12. Chap. 22. Gal. 3. 16. Chap. 4. 4. Rom. 1. 3. Luk. 1. 32. Rom. 9. 5. And this the Work he undertook required 1. It required that he should take our Flesh. 2. It required that he should take our Flesh without sin which could not be had he taken it by reason of a Carnal Generation for so all Children are conceived in and polluted with sin Psal. 51. And the least pollution either of flesh or spirit had utterly disabled him for the Work which to do he came down from Heaven Therefore Such an High-Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from Sinners and made higher than the Heavens Heb. 7. 26. This Mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God was thus compleated I say That he might be in all points like as we are yet without sin for sin in the Fesh disableth and maketh incapable to do the Commandment Therefore was he thus made thus made of a Woman And this the Angel assigneth as the Reason of this his Marvelous Incarnation The Holy Ghost saith he shall come upon thee and the Power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that Holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Luk. 2. 35. The Overshadowing of the Holy Ghost and the Power of the Highest the Father and the Holy Ghost brought this Wonderful thing to pass for Jesus is a Wonderful One in his Conception and Birth This Mystery is that next to the Mystery of three Persons in one God It is a great Mystery Great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifested in the Flesh. The Conclusion is That Jesus Christ took our Flesh that he might be our Saviour and that he might be our Saviour indeed he THUS took our Flesh. That it was necessary that he should take our Flesh if he will be our Saviour I Come now to the Third Thing namely That it was necessary that he should take our Flesh if he will be our Saviour And that first from the Nature of the Work his Work was to save to save man sinking man man that was going down to the Pit Job 34. 24. Now he that will save him that is sinking must take hold on him And since he was not to save a Man but Men therefore it was necessary that he should take hold not of one Person but of the Common Nature clothing himself with part of the same He took not hold of Angels but took on him the Seed of Abraham For THAT Flesh was the same with the whole Lump of the Children to whom the Promise was made and comprehended in it the Body of them that shall be saved even as in Adam was comprehended the whole World at first Rom. 5. Hence we are said to be chosen in him to be gathered being in him to be dead by him to be risen with him and to be set with him or in him in Heavenly Places already I phes 1. 4 10. Rom. 7. 4. Col. 3. 1 2 3. Chap. 2. 12 13. This then was the Wisdom of the great God that the Eternal Son of his Love should take hold of and so secure the sinking Souls of perishing Sinners by assuming their Flesh. Secondly The Manner of his doing the Work of a Saviour did call for his taking of our Flesh. He must do the Work by dying Ought not Christ to have suffered Christ must needs have suffered Luk. 24. 26. Acts 17. 3. or else no glory follows The Prophets testified before-hand the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow 1 Pet. 1. 11. Yea they did it by the Spirit even by the Spirit of Christ himself This Spirit then did bid them tell the World yea testify that Christ must suffer or no man be blest with Glory For the threatning of death and the Curse of the Law lay in the Way between Heaven-Gates and the Souls of the Children for their Sins wherefore he that will save them must answer Divine Justice or God must lye in saving them without inflicting the Punishment threatned Christ then must needs have suffered the Manner of the Work laid a necessity upon him to take our Flesh upon him he must die he must die for us he must die for our Sins And this was effectually foretold by all the Bloody Sacrifices that were offered under the Law The Blood of Bulls the Blood of Lambs the Blood of Rams the Blood of Calves