and despised knowledge brought to them by him to turn at his reproofs promising to pour out his Spirit to them and make known his words In which is implied that upon their turning he would forgive their former sleightings of him and sinnings against him which if they had not been to be forgiven and overlooked by him would have hindred them of such dispensations of his Grace and Spirit to them Prov. 1.22 23. As thence also the wicked are called upon to forsake their ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turn to the Lord and he will have mercy upon them and abundantly pardon them Isa 55.7 And Christ tells the unbelieving Jews that would not come to him that they might have life that he would not accuse them to his Father and that if any man heard his voice and believed not he judged them not now because he came not into the world to judge the world but to save the world John 5.40 45. 12.47 In which saying it 's evident that the world he came to save includes also the now unbelieving persons in it while it 's yet a day of Grace he is saving them Also by his Intercession for transgressours as the Propitiation for the sins of the whole world and by renewed dispensations of patience forbearance and further grace to them as appears 1 John 2.1 2. Isa 53.12 Luke 13.8 Yea he prayed for such as actually abused and crucified him and in the repenting of such afterward he actually pardoned and forgave them Luke 23.34 with Acts 2.37 38 39. 3.19 20. 2. As Moses lifted up the Serpent that whosoever were stung with the fiery Serpents might have advantage and opportunity there-through to look upon it he declaring and informing them that it was set up as a means of healing and that it was Gods mind for giving healing by it that they look up to it and that it would not give forth any healing-virtue to them if not beheld by them yea probably if not beheld till they were healed if they turn'd their eye from it before its virtue had its force in and upon them though the Serpent was the same whether beheld or not beheld Even so is and must the Son of Man be lifted up that men may have an advantage and opportunity of beholding him he being not to be beheld if not lifted up How can they believe on him of whom they have not heard And how can they hear without a Preacher Or how can they preach except they be sent For Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10.14 17. Which makes it needful that they that know him and are commissionated of God as every one that hears hath commission to say to others Come Rev. 22.17 do hold him forth commend and magnifie him to men It 's true that the Apostle there in Rom. 10.18 propounding that question Have they not all heard answers Yes doubtless their voice is gone into all the world and their words to the ends of the earth Alluding to Psal 19.2 3 4. Where the Holy Ghost speaks of the Heavens declaring the glory of God and the firmament shewing his handy-work And so of Gods Works and Providences setting him forth and uttering knowledge as elsewhere it 's said All his works shall praise him To which also they are often called upon Psal 145.8 9. 148. 150. And the Lord they commend and praise is doubtless the same of and to whom he saith Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the heavens are the works of thine hands c. Psal 102.25 Which the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews applies to the Lord Jesus the Son of Man by whom the Lord hath spoken to us in these last days and by whom he made the worlds Heb. 1.1 2 10 11. And surely whosoever beholds him as there lifted up and praised so as to betake themselves to him for help they do and shall find mercy with him Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved In every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him Rom. 10.12 Acts 10.34 They that by nature or without verbal or vocal instruction do the things contained in the Law that love God and their neighbour though uncircumcised or not under the outward Regiment of Gods Kingdom and Ordinances their uncircumcision shall be accounted circumcision that is they shall be accepted and accounted of as Gods Church Rom. 2.25 26. And of those that by such means also are won in to God I understand in part what our Saviour saith That many shall come from the East and from the West even such as are not the children of the Kingdom and born under the distinct knowledge and Ordinances of God as the opposition to them in the following words do manifest wherein he adds and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac in the Kingdom of God when the children of the Kingdom such as are born and brought up in the professed Church and so are professedly under Gods Government or Ordinances shall be cast out Matth. 8.12 But I say notwithstanding whatever of this nature may be true however God in his lifting him up in his Providences and Works and the manifestations of him implicitely therein may do for the rendring him visible to men that they may behold him look to him and be saved by him Yet it concerns us as our duty and is that which God requires of us that we so lift up Christ in our distinct Preaching of him to men that men through our ministration may behold him in the distinct express declaration of him and be saved from their errours ignorances and iniquities which while they by their wisdom know him not in the wisdom of God as manifested in his works and providences they run into As to that purpose and for that cause it hath pleased God to appoint the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 It was not another light John bare witness to then that which enlighteneth every man coming into the world and that shined in the darkness before he bare witness to it It was not made another in or by his witness only more plainly declared and pointed to It was the same that was in the world though the world knew him not that came to his own and by his own was not received which whosoever received whether of the world or of his own were made the sons of God It was the same Word which was in the beginning with God that in due time was made flesh to bring us through his Sufferings in the flesh unto God in whom was the life and from whom the light came that always shined and in all the world But God to help men to discern him whom otherwise in his wisdom or more wise way to the view of the world as the way of his Creation and Providence is they usually overlook and
upbraid the weakness and timerousness of new beginners Let us learn to follow his good Example and entertain any that come to seek Christ with us though they come trembling at the first and shew some fearfulness to be known by others to do so well It s an evidence of an hearty love when men will venture after Christ notwithstanding they know they therein go cross to the worlds opinion and do that which they would turn upon them as a reproch though yet its a symptome of weakness to be afraid or ashamed it should be taken notice of Let us incourage what is good and bear with and overlook the weakness cleaving to men therein So did our Saviour here taking occasion meekly to instruct Nicodemus into that which concerned both him and us to know viz. the necessity of Regeneration without upbraiding his weakness in the time of his coming for Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again or from above he cannot see the kingdom of God There is an heavenly Kingdom or Kingdom of Heaven or of God spoken of by the holy Prophets chiefly by Daniel which was believed and looked for of the Iews though they mistook many things about it as to the spiritualness of it and the way to it Nicodemus therefore makes no question of that as to its being for indeed both the Baptist and our Saviour had preached its nighness and thereupon exhorted the people to repentance Mat. 3.2 and 4.17 yea the Pharisees afterward inquired of him of the time of its coming as taking it for granted that it would certainly come in its time Luk. 17.20 And the people thought it should shortly be manifested Luk. 19.11 And doubtless Nicodemus desired to see and enter it and therefore our Saviour here instructed and informed him what is requisite and necessary thereto affirming his Doctrine with a double asseveration Verily verily I say unto thee that except a man be born again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or from above he cannot see the Kingdom of God That happy state in which God more immediately ruling and bearing sway fills those that are subject and obedient to his Government with Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost here and with Life and Glory Everlasting in Soul and Body for ever hereafter is not to be seen known or injoyed but by new Creatures those that are born from above This earthly and carnal birth is so much defiled and ushers in such pollution of sin and mortality because of sin that we are not fit without another higher birth for the priviledges of Gods Kingdom into which no unclean or unrighteous thing as we all are by nature may find admission In this natural birth we descend of the first Adam as fallen from God and begetting in his own sinful and mortal likeness but its necessary to our injoyment of Gods Kingdom that we be born of the second Adam who begets Children in his image and likeness holy and heavenly ones Birth of Abraham Isaac and Jacob might suffice to give admission into the outward form and court of the Church and unto the Land of Canaan but to Heaven and the joys and glory thereof nothing but a birth from Heaven Nicodemus stounding at this Doctrine and yet believing Christ to be a Teacher come from God doth not reject it as false but inquires further into it of him who taught him it and who he thought also was fittest to inform him further about it and therefore asked him how it could be How can a man be born saith he when he is old as probably he himself was can he enter into his Mothers Womb the second time and be born in which he shews the grosness of his understanding as not being yet acquainted with our Saviours manner of teaching He its likely-thought and not amiss that our Saviour meant it of some more unwonted thing then were the legal observations or any thing they could confer on men and whether it might be some strange birth over again in the Flesh and perhaps in the Resurrection according to some fancies of the Platonists of all things after some long periods of time to be acted over again as before he might not know nor could conceive how a man could be born again but by such a reduction to his first entrance into the world again But it s better to shew our grosness of understanding and inquire into truths proposed to us of those that teach us them though we speak like fools therein then by an over-bashfulness or a desire to be thought wiser then we are to conceal our doubts and to pretend that we do apprehend what we are ignorant off for by so doing we deprive our selves of the help and instruction which by propounding our doubts however gross and ignorant our proposing of them may make us appear might be received and sure as the Apostle Thomas his doubting and expressing his hardness to believe occasioned a more full demonstration of the reality and verity of Christs Resurrection to the great benefit and advantage not only of himself but also of the whole Church in the present and following ages So Nicodemus his proposing his doubt here tho therein shewing the grosness of his understanding occasioned and received such further instruction into the nature and necessity of Regeneration as tended not only to his but also to our greater helpfulness and advantage For in ver 5.6 Jesus answered verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit In which our Saviour shews that his words are not to be grosly taken as if he spake of a fleshly birth from the Mothers Womb but of a Spiritual and Divine birth the Principles whereof are Water and Spirit By Water signifying that knowledge of God that is often in the Scriptures compared to Water as Psal 1.2 3. Ezek. 47.3 4 5 c. Isa 11.9 Hab. 2.14 Or the free grace and love of God held forth and declared in the said knowledge word or doctrine The Water in the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 5.26 Grace being powred into the lips of Christ Psal 45.2 Or else also a submission to Christ in receiving him and his word and ordinances in being baptized into his name may also be implied and then the Spirit is that holy breath inspiration and working of the holy Spirit of God in and with the Doctrine of Christ which is afforded in his name working effectually upon the heart to the framing it unto the Faith and into the likeness of Christ and so effecting therein a new man a new mind judgment heart affection confidence and frame of Spirit Created after God in righteousness and holiness of truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Could a man be born never so often of the Flesh
lips shall be right things c. Prov. 8.1 2 6. And having said Her delights are with the Sons of men She adds Now therefore ye Children hearken unto me blessed are they that keep my words ver 31 32. Any of mans nature during the day of grace and patience may in listning to and obeying his Councels expect and hope for succour and blessing from this excellent person he being the Son of Man indefinitely considered yea and such a Son as hath also the relation of a Father Brother Friend to us and not of this or that man only That 's a Second Reason Reason 3. A Third may be this that he stiles himself not only a Son of Man For so any of us may do we being all of us Sons of Adam descended and sprung out of his Loyns as the holy Spirit stiles us when he saith O Sons of men how long will ye change my glory into shame how long will ye love vanity and follow after leasings Psa 4.2 But the Son of Man emphatically and in a choise and peculiar sense the most excellent Son of Man who is such a Son of Man as there is none other besides like to him The Son the Heir of Man He to whom all his Inheritance falls But what is that which man hath to leave or bequeath to him or that he could fall Heir to by being his Son Surely man is become so miserable poor that he can leave him or conveigh to him nothing of worth no riches or excellency by which he might be benefited by him as he had from God his Father Yet being the Son he is the heir of Man as well as of God If Sons then Heirs saith the Apostle Rom. 8.17 And so as Christ is the Son of God he is the Heir of God the Heir of all things Heb. 1.2 The inheritor of his Fathers Riches Power Glory c. And as he is the Son of Abraham he is Heir of his Covenant Heir of the World Rom. 4.13 And as the Son of David the Heir of his Throne and Kingdom which therefore God will give him Luk. 1.32 The Lord God will give him the Throne of his Father David So as the Son of Man generally and indefinitely what Inherits he but what Man Adam left as a natural Heritage so far as was derivable to him That is his great debt that he fell into even his sin as to the guilt of it he being sanctified and seperated from the filth and defilement of it in his Conception by the power of the holy Ghost therefore called That holy thing conceived in the Virgin Luk. 1.35 And so the Curse and punishment due to us This Christ was the Son and Heir of Man in For God made him that knew no sin to be sin for us that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 And he Redeemed us from the Curse of the law being made a Curse for us Gal. 3.13 And therefore was made under the Law obnoxious to all our debts forfeitures and penalties That he might redeem us from under the law that we by him receiving and believing in him might receive the Adoption of Children even of the Children of God and so being Sons become Heirs of God in and through him Gal. 4.4 5. Rom. 8 17. So that this was for our great advantage also he hereby becoming the Son the most excellent redeeming infranchising inriching Son of Man upon whom all the hope and help of Man lyeth That 's a Third CHAP. IV. Two other reasons and they the Principal ones of Christs calling himself the Son of Man Reas 4 FOurthly He stiles himself the Son of Man to signifie as is implyed also in the two foregoing reasons That he was and is really Man and not only Man in appearance That he partook with us in Flesh and Blood Heb. 2.14 And had not only a shew and likeness of them He was indeed in the likeness and but in the likeness of sinful flesh his Flesh having no sinfulness in it but he had more then the likeness of Flesh even the stubstance or reality of Flesh in him We find that in former times the Angels appeared in the likeness of Men yea Christ himself might and doubtless did sometimes as to his Spiritual Being so appear also before he was Incarnate and made of a Woman as in Josh 5.13 14 15. And such appearances are often in the Scripture also called Men though they were really Angels and Spiritual Beings and not of the same species or kind with us of this we have instances in Gen. 18.1 2 3 and 19.1 2. Judg. 13.6 8 10. Mat. 28.2 5. With Mark 16.5 6. Luk. 24.4.23 Act. 1.10.11 But these were never born of a Woman nor reckoned their Genealogy from Men when they so appeared and therefore the Title of the Son of Man is never attributed to Angels so appearing That Title implying a discent from Adam or Man and so a real participation of Mans Nature Only I conceive God may also send any of the Spirits of the deceased Prophets or holy men if he pleaseth as Angels to Men to bring his messages to them the name of Angel being not a name of Nature but of Office signifying a Messenger a Title that may agree to any natural imploy'd and sent of God on his messuages as the Angels of the Seven Churches Rev. 1.20 As to me seems probably by that saying of the Angel Rev. 19.10 I am one of thy fellow Servants and of thy Brethren that have the Testimony of Jesus c. And more plainly that in Rev. 22.9 I am thy fellow Servant and of thy Brethren the Prophets and of those that observe the words of this Book c. But for those that were indeed Angels of a distinct kind of Creature from Man though they might appear as men yet they were not Sons of men born of Women as Christ was born of a Woman and so the Son of Man Now Christ implies the reality of his Manhood here to signifie to us or give us occasion to call to mind the greatness of his grace and of the grace of his Farher shewed to us in his being made and becoming a real man one of us even One chosen out of the People Psal 89.19 20. Grace and love worthy to be minded and remembred always by us for in that he is very Man the Son of Man therein is manifest 1. Gods great love and condescention to us in giving us the most excellent advantage of knowing him and his will concerning us in a more full satisfying and familiar way then by any other or former dispensation for revealing himself to us God in former times by sundry ways and in diverse manners spake to the Fathers by the Prophets to whom he made known himself by Dreams Visions Angels and such like appearances And especially by a more visible Demonstration of his presence and audible speaking of his voice to them out of the midst
from henceforth and for ever That he should be Gods first-born higher then the Kings of the Earth Having an everlasting Throne and Kingdom Preaching peace to the Heathen bringing forth Judgment to them and affording glorious rest and blessing to all that trust in him Psal 2.6 12. 89.3 4 19 20 25 26 27. 132.11 17 18. Isa 6.9 10. 11.1 10. 42.1 4. Zech. 9.9.10 That he should be a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck Psal 110.3 And many such excellent and high commendations as may be seen in what he fore-signified to and by the Prophets of his Sufferings and of the Glory that should follow in all the Scriptures 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12. With Luk. 24.27 And so the Apostle saith speaking of the perfection of the Sacrifice and Priesthood of Christ Whereof the holy Ghost is a Witness to us for after he had said before This is the Covenant that I will make with them After those days saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their hearts and in 〈◊〉 minds will I write them He adds And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 10.15 16 17. As it is also said that in ordering the Sanctuary or holy place with the Ordinances of it The holy Ghost this signified that the way into the holy of holies was not yet made manifest while the first Tabernacle was standing Heb. 9.8 In a word Whatever things the holy men of God did foreshew of the coming of the Just One and the things to be found and effected by him they spake not of themselves but as they were moâ—ed thereto by the holy Ghost Whence they who resisted them in their Testimony resisted the holy Ghost 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12. 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. Act. 7.51 52. 2. In preparing and Sanctifying that blessed Body taken by him in which he was made the Son of Man Luk. 1.35 And appearing visibly to Descend and rest upon him in it in the likeness of a Dove as a Sign and signification of his being the Christ Mat. 3.17 John 1.31 32 33. In his anointing filling and working in and by him in all his Doctrine and Miracles assisting and strengthening him in all his temptations sufferings and services Matt. 4.1 Luk. 4.1.14.18 21. Mark 3.29 30. And in his raising and carrying up his body into Heaven For in the Eternal Spirit he offered up himself without spot to God Heb. 9.14 Rom. 6.4 But these things were evident some of them but to few Therefore I add that he witnessed to him more openly 3. In his gifting and furnishing the Apostles and Prophets and Servants of God for their work and service in the Gospel and for that purpose miraculously descending upon and working in many of them strengthning and helping them yea doing great Miracles and Signs by them and through their Doctrine and Miracles working upon the World to convince them of sin for not believing on him c. As our Saviour said When the Comforter shall come even the holy Ghost he shall bear witness of me and he shall convince or reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment c. And in that he did Baptise or Wash and Sanctifie the Apostles so preparing and fitting them for their holy Work and Service lead them into all truth glorifie Christ taking of his things and shewing them John 15.26 27. 16.8 9 13 14 15. Act. 1.5 8. 2.2 3 4 17 18. 4.31 And that the holy Ghost that God gave to them that believed on or obeyed Christ was a witness to him and to his glory is said Act. 5 32. And this also was a Testimony from God the Father as it is said God bare them witness by Signs and Wonders and divers Miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost Heb. 2.4 As also the holy Ghost bears witness to the hearts and consciences of men concerning him Rom. 8.15 16. 2 Cor. 3.3 6 8 18. Causing the believing heart to see his glory as in a glass with open face to the changing it into his likeness from glory to glory But this he doth chiefly 4. In his Doctrine and teaching in and by the Gospel in his Revelation of him to and by the Apostles and to the World and Churches gathered out thereof As to them also the Spirit hath said Great and Glorious things as may be seen in those Epistles to the Seven Churches Rev. 2. 3. And thus the Three in Heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost bare witness of and to and therein lifted up the Son of Man and so is he lifted up of God and must be fully lifted up at his glorious coming and Kingdom when he shall appear in his own glory and in the glory of his Father and of his holy Angels Luk. 9.26 For the Great God the blessed and holy Potentate who only hath immortality dwelling in the Light which no man can approach unto and which no man hath seen nor can see to whom be honour and power for ever and ever Amen will in his time shew him When he shall come and appear sitting on the right hand of God with Power and great Glory and pâ—ssâ—ss the great and glorious Kingdom which God hath promised to possess him of and to Admâ—nister by him but â—â—sâ—e ms to be beyond what this Text speaks of which speaks of his being lifted up that men might in believing on him not perish but have eternal Life And so of that which is in order of Nature if not also of time before mens believing on him And these particulars chiefly of the Spirits witnessing to him and lifting him up were and are needful and such as must be 1. That he might receive the Glory promised For God said that he would glorifie him Isa 49.7 55.5 And God cannot lye Yea he hath sworn by his holiness that he will not lye unto David his Seed shall endure for ever and his Throne as the Sun which is all glorious bright and lightsome before him Psal 89.35 36. Yea and 2. That men might run unto him and believe on him As it is said Kings shall see and arise Princes shall also worship him because of the Lord that is faithful and he shall chuse thee Isa 49.7 And thou shalt call a Nation whom thou knewest not and Nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the holy one of Israel for he hath glorified thee Isa 55 5. But unto this it was and is needful also that he be lifted up 2. Subordinately by Creatures and here we might consider 1. The holy Angels they have lifted him up in their honourable Testimony of him as the Son of Man The Word made Flesh They having also seen this Mystery and peeped down curiously to pry into it 1. Tim. 3.16 1 Pet. 1.12 And they have brought down honourable messages and discoveries concerning him He being as the Son of Man the Ladder
Pet. 3.18 As it follows here That whosoever believes ◠him might not perish but have Eternal Life 3. As to his abundant Love Charity Goodness and Grace in all this such as passeth Knowledge Eph. 7.18 19. And therein the love of God the Father in appointing preparing sanctifying and furnishing him to all this great business and undertaking John 3.16 1 John 4.9 10 14. It was by the grace of God that He tasted Death for every one Heb. 2.9 And his own grace even The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ it was to abase himself And when rich to become poor for our sakes th◠we through his poverty might be made rich 2 Cor. 8.9 And so to lay down his life for us even when and though ungodly and enemies worthy of no love at all much less of such and so great love 1 John 3.16 17. Rom. 5.6 7 8. John 3.16 Love worthy admiration acceptation and imitation by us Eph. 5.1 2 3.18 19. Stronger then death such as many waters could not quench it nor the flouds drown it Cant. 8.6 7. Fourthly In the preciousness of his Abasement Obedience Bloud Death Sufferings and Sacrifice for us That however he was therein made low and despicable among men and became an offence to the worldly-wise and honourable yet He in and by them was a most acceptable Sacrifice to God an offering of a sweet smelling savour 1 Cor. 1.22 23. Eph. 5.2 That for which we all have great cause to love and admire him and flee for refuge and sanctuary to him He having therein made peace for us slain the enmity broken down the wull of partition between God and man and between Jew and Gentile wrought Reconciliation or that where-through we may be reconciled or made at one with God Col. 1.20 Eph. 2.14 15 16. 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. having therein given himself a Ransome for all 1 Tim. 2.6 and being become there through the Propitiation for our sins yea for the sins of the whole world 1 John 2.1 2. and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propitiatory or Mercy-seat through faith in his bloud for remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God and for the declaration of his righteousness therein that he is just and the justifier of those that believe in Jesus Rom. 3.25 26. There being therein Redemption and through that Redemption a free Justification 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to or for all and upon all that believe v. 22.24 There-through the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us being blotted out and what was contrary to us taken out of the way and nailed to his Cross and Principalities and powers thereby spoiled and triumphed over by him Col. 2.14 15. So that great is the power and vertue of that his despised and reproched Cross So as that it 's accepted of God far before and above all the Sacrifices and Services ordained by him in the Law of Moses they being not able to take away sin But this one Sacrifice is so powerful and prevalent a purgation and expiation of it that Christ hath by that one Sacrifice once offered perfected for ever those that are sanctified So that the Consciences of the comers to God there-through are purged from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 1.3 9.14 10.2 3 4 5 10 14. So as that there-through we may have access to God in the holy of holies and may draw nigh to him and call upon him with full assurance of faith and confidence Heb. 10.19 22. His precious Bloud being the Bloud of sprinkling for sprinkling the heart from an evil conscience and speaking better things then the bloud of Abel Heb. 12.24 Therefore also the Cross of Christ the onely thing to be gloried in by us Gal. 6.14 Fifthly In the exceeding greatness of that Glory that God hath given him as a reward of his sufferings and hard service sustained against the World and Sathan for us Wherein also is further evidenced the exceeding preciousness of his Bloud and Sufferings the infinite value of them and the force and vertue they have in them with him They set forth his Glory to be far above all the glory of the world yea or the glory of Moses or any of the former glorious ones then the Glory of Solomon and the Glory of his Ministration Far transcending that of the Law as being more powerful in the discoveries of it for transforming the beholders of it into his likeness so as when we see him as he is we shall there-through be made like him 2 Corinthians 3.3 8 9 18. 1 John 3.2 Col. 3.4 For they declare that God hath glorified him with his own self filled him with all his fulness so as all the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily and so as that in him we are compleat Col. 1.19 2.9 Oh let us go out and see this King Solomon this excellent Prince of Peace the Peace and Peace-maker of whom and of whose Glory Solomon of old was but a type and figure and the glory and lustre of his Kingdom but a type and figure of the the Glory of his which passeth all our conceptions and expressions let us go forth I say and behold him with the Crown wherewith his Mother the infinite Wisdom Love and Grace of God as also his Disciples who have heard and received the Word of God and kept it who are to him as his Mother Brethren and Sisters Matth. 12.49 50 have crowned him in the day of his espousals and of the gladness of his heart When being espoused to the nature of man he received the holy Spirit and poured it forth upon them Cant. 3.13 Matth. 22.1 Acts 2.33 But indeed it is not to be fully seen and known till the great day of his appearance the time of the appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2.13 1 John 3.2 Sixthly In his perfect and compleat Furniture wherewith he is furnished for executing and performing the works of his glorious Offices and bringing about the end of them the salvation of man the eternal salvation of all that obey him in which they present us as compleatly provided for of all things pertaining to life and godliness as given to him and dwelling in him for us I shall here onely touch upon something thereof in some few Particulars As First They declare him to be the great Prophet and as such fully and perfectly accomplished with ability fitness and faithfulness for teaching us the knowledge of himself and of God and of all things As being filled to that purpose with the fulness of God the gift of the Holy Ghost being so immeasurably received by him that he hath the seven spirits that are before the Throne Rev. 1.4 3.1 The fulness of the Holy Ghost and of all spiritual gifts for both giving forth to men and enabling and moving men to receive the exact and perfect knowledge of God and for gifting whom
he pleaseth to be Apostles Prophets or otherwise useful for perfecting the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the acknowledgment of the Son of God unto a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the age of Christ Eph. 4.8 11 12 13. Col. 2.3.9 That it is He that hath prevailed to open the book in the right hand of God and unâ—rose the seals and discover and declare the hidden Wisdom and secret Mysteries contained therein Rev. 5.1 6. The great Apostle faiâ—hful in all things to him that appointed him as Moses in all his house accounted worthy of more honor then Moses to be more acquainted and intimate with God even as his Son in his bosome and so fullier furnished for declaring his Glory and glorious grace and good-will and more faithful even as a son in his own house built by himself Whereas Moses was faithful but as a servant therein Wherefore as the Holy Ghost also saith to day if ye will hear his voice even his that is Gods own Son the heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds his who is the express character of his Fathers person and the brightness of his glory giving forth the fullest and brightest discovery of God and of his holy mind and will and speaking to us from heaven harden not your hearts c. Heb. 3.1 2 3 4 7. with 1.3 12.25 Secondly As the Priest in and High Priest over the house of God the most authorized and consecrated person consecrated with the Word of Gods Oath and after the power of an endless life by a sacrifice once offered for ever and that never needs to be iterated made a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck an everlasting Priest in the vertues of his once endured Death for us and therefore able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Heb. 7.25 A Priest upon the throne and so both a King and Priest the true Melchisedeck being both King of Righteousness and after that King of Peace working performing and commanding righteousnes and so commanding and prevailingly making and giving Peace far greater then Aaron Levi or Abraham Such a Priest as we needed and it behoved us to have being holy harmless undefiled and separated from sinners and made higher then the heavens Heb. 7.1.26 â—7 A great High Priest entred into the heavens even into Heaven it self by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle and by vertue not of the bloud of others as Aaron did into the figure of the heavens onely but of his own precious bloud and sacrifice Where he now appears in the presence of God for us having obtained eternal redemption Heb. 4.14 9.11 12 24. A faithful High Priest and therefore made like is brethren in all things that he might be so to make atonement and reconciliation for the people and to succour and help the tempted Heb. 2.17 18. To which end also he is both perfectly furnished with knowledge of our cases and conditions by reason both of his exceeding quickness and powerfulness as the VVord of God for searching into all things and piercing even to the dividing asunder the soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow being a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart So as there is not any creature that is not manifested in his sight but all things are naked and opened as things anatomized and laid perfectly before his view Heb. 4.12 13. The Spirit that rests upon him making him quick of understanding Isa 11.2 3 4. And also as having had an experimental feeling of our infirmities and temptations as man in himself having himself suffered and been tempted yea tempted in all points like to us yet without sin and so the more acceptable and prevalent in his mediating and interceding with God for us And also perfectly merciful and compassionate towards us ready to plead for us and help us Heb. 2.17 18. with 4.15 5.1 2. So as we have great ground of encouragement from this consideration of his Priesthood and its perfection and his fitness by the vertues of his Sacrifice to make the worshippers of and comers to him and to God by him perfect to draw nigh and come with boldness to the throne of grace with true hearts and full assurance of faith to ask and receive grace and mercy to help us seasonably in all our trials and temptations Heb. 4.14 16. 9.14 10.19 22. Thirdly As a King he is set forth as furnished with the most sovereign Authority over all creatures in heaven earth and under the earth all things being put under him and the Throne and power of God given him in the manhood So as also to be every way accomplished to be the Law-giver Saviour and Judge He being indued also with all the fulness of the Spirit of counsel and might which resting upon him renders him both infinitely quick in understanding in the fear of the Lord and perfect in Righteousness in all his Government and the exercise of it Girded up in his loyns with righteousness and in his reins even in all his thoughts purposes and desires from whence issue all his words and motions for action with faithfulness Isa 11.2 3 4 5. Having a white horse under him as supported by his own Righteousness or as riding on the Heavens and having them at his command for the help of his subjects and riding swiftly and prosperously in all his Government Deut. 33.26 27. being called faithful and true and in righteousness judging and making war His eyes as a flame of fire discovering and trying all things And on his head are many Crowns Either as denoting his superlative Power or Jurisdiction over the many Countreys brought into an acknowledgment of him yea Kings and Kingdoms Or the many great Victories gotten by him over his enemies whether evil spirits or evil men engaging themselves against him and gotten by his truth against errour and impiety Or also the many praises ascribed to him And he hath a name Dignity Title Power which none knoweth but himself as signifying that he is exalted above all blessing and praise Neh. 9.5 and that none can set forth all his praises Ps 106.2 And he is clothed in a vesture dipt in bloud either because all his appearance in his Government to the spiritual eye is such as in which is manifested the vertue of his most precious Bloud Sufferings and Sacrifice for us Or because it represents the overthrow of his and our enemies And his name is called the Word of God as being the great speaker forth and Interpreter of the knowledge of God to us And he hath a sword that goeth out of his mouth A sharp cutting word full of killing convincing efficacy to all that stands cross to him which is therefore said to go out
according to the testimony of God by his Holy Spirit concerning him Psal 106.3 and accordingly in their hearts liking loving and desiring after the knowledge and enjoyment of him trusting in and cleaving to him with purpose of heart Psal 31.23 Cant. 1 2 3 4. 2.4 5. 5.7 8. 8.6 7. 1 Cor. 16.22 Isa 26.8 9. Phil. 3.7 8 9 10.1 John 3.23 Acts 11.23 24. 2. In their word speaking nothing but what is high holy and honourable concerning him Holding forth the word of life and blessing and speaking well of his name Psal 47.6 7. 98.1 4. 66.1 2 3. 100.1 2 4 5. 3. In their Life and Conversation for there also he may be lifted up and glorified and magnified of us yea both in life and in death Phil. 1.20 As therein also he may be blasphemed dishonoured and denied as is implied 1 Tim. 6.1 Tit. 2.5 1.16 But surely he ought not to be denied blasphemed or put to reproch by us or by occasion of us He hath not so deserved of any man but to be blessed and highly honoured And that is best done when to a high commendation of him in our words we add also such a conversation and carriage as speaks him excellent in our esteems and experiences of him When we shew that he is upright and that there is no unrighteousness in him Matth. 5.16 2 Thess 1.12 Psal 92.15 1 Pet. 2.9 11 12. Now though the lifting him up by his Father in the acts done to him in his personal body in his calling him to upholding and accepting him in raising him from and rewarding him for and after his Sufferings and the obedience and service done and performed by him for us be the main and most fundamental lifting him up absolutely necessary with respect to us and our Regeneration and Salvation Yet I apprehend That the lifting him up also as to manifestation and commendation of him to and in the eyes of others both by the Spirit of God and by men especially his holy Saints and Servants that desire and are set for his Glory and the good of others is here also with the former way and acts directly included and intended And indeed as to his being lifted up of God both Father Word and Spirit it must be so as we have partly said because it was so purposed and decreed of God It was his purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus before the world that is made manifest now by his appearance in what God hath wrought by and done to him for us 2 Tim. 1.9 10. And as for mans exalting him and lifting him up in his ministration and service in the Gospel and in heart and life it 's no more then God requires of us and his love and the excellency in and love of Christ to us obliges us to and challengeth of us And therefore so it must and ought to be also Psal 96.3 4. But because that must be lifted up the necessity of his being lifted up hath direct and main respect to the end whereto he is to be lifted up that is That whosoever believeth on him may not perish but have eternal life As also the necessity that he be so lifted up As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness hath reference thereto Therefore I shall not more fully speak to the necessity of his being lifted up and so lifted up till after the speaking to those two following Points The Son of Man must be lifted up that 's the second Point The other two follow in order The manner how and the end to which he must be and must be in such manner lifted up For I shall also leave the Use of all this till we have considered and viewed those Points also they both appertaining to the full view of this which is the main Point CHAP. VIII The third Point That the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness Where several Analogies and Agreements between them are considered Point 3 HOw the Son of Man is to be lifted is the next Point to be spoken to and that is As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness In which may be implied 1. As verily and certainly as that was done so must this be done also and indeed that lifting up of the Serpent being a type and figure preaching forth this lifting up of the Son of Man must not be made frustrate for then as a type it should have failed and been false Where the shadow goes before the body follows And where the type and figure was fore-ordained to instruct into the truth that was to be revealed there the truth also thereby signified must in its time take place and be accomplished all things written of him in the Law of Moses also whether Prophecy or Type and Figure must be fulfilled Luke 24.46 But not onely so but also 2. As so As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness So even after such a sort and manner must the Son of Man be lifted up There is agreeableness correspondency and answerableness between the one and the other as may be seen in many Particulars As 1. In the occasion of it There the people walking in the Wilderness were disobedient murmured against God despised his mercy bounty and goodness and provoked him in wrath to send fiery serpents among them to bite and kill them and as a remedy there against that Serpent was commanded to be and accordingly was lifted up And so here men in the wilderness of thâ—s world being ransomed by Christ out of that sentence of Condemnation that lay upon us all for our first Fathers Transgression and under a state of much mercy and bounty from God yet not without trials and temptations are found sinning against God and despising the Heavenly Manna Christ Jesus and the knowledge of God in him and discontent with Gods dealings through the temptations of sin and Satan and so fall under his power and are obnoxious to destruction This occasions a necessity of lifting up the Son of Man both in his exaltation by God and unto men for their healing Yea our first Parents and we all in them being tempted though in a Paradise listening to the Tempter and siding with him to a discontent with Gods allowance to us in the Creation because one Fruit was forbidden and to a desire of and coveting after what was unlawful and forbidden us fell under the power of the old Serpent the Devil and Satan So as by him to be stung and wounded to death even a death of our souls and spirits from the life and favour of God and of both body and soul to be exposed to and filled with misery and mischief to destruction and as a remedy against that Bite it was necessary Christ should be lifted up on the Cross and dye for us and be raised up again and exalted to a state of Power and Glory for raising us up and so he is
unspeakable excellency and the injoyment of his favour and presence the very end and reward of all the virtue and goodness to be attained to by all his lifting up for and to us and being looked to by us for he is not only the Medium or means to an end though his flesh or humanity and so the things done by it may be so looked upon but he is also the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End the First and the Last The Way the Truth and the Life Rev. 1.8 17. John 14.6 6. As Moses lifted up the Serpent upon the Pole so highly as that it might be seen or looked to by the people that were wounded distinctly from all other things putting nothing between to hinder the sight of it and lifting it up above all that might hinder its being seen Even so is Christ to be lifted up above all other things so as nothing may hinder the sight and beholding of him by the sinful and perishing Soul but so as he may be seen and discerned of it to be the only excellent and all-sufficient remedy for it So hath God lifted him up above all as well as him only and nothing with him either on the Cross or on his own right hand That there is nothing so high as he no thing to be compared to him nothing no person no virtue no frame work ordinance nothing visible or invisible no Angel Principality or Power He is set down in the Heavenly places or injoyments fâ— above all Principalities Powers Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in the World to come Eph. 1.20 21. Yea he is lifted up above the Law of Moses both as the Lord of the Law for the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath Mat. 12.8 And as able and sufficient to do for us that which the Law could not nor can do that is make Attonement for us justifie sanctifie and save us Rom. 8.3 1 Cor. 1.30 Heb. 7.14 19. 10 4 5 6 c. Act. 13.38 39. And so is he also to be lifted up by the Preachers of the Gospel for so is he by the holy Spirit in the Gospel as Ministred by the holy Apostles and Prophets above all other things and persons whatsoever both as the means to our happiness and the Spring and Ocean of our happiness it self as to the knowledge and injoyment of him and his glory And they that lift up any other thing above him or any otherwise then in him they do not lift him up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness nor they that put a veil over his face or dress the discoveries and preaching of him with the wisdom of man or of words for that is as if Moses should have drest the Serpent in some curious wrought cloth or painted him over with Vermilion as the Idolaters did their Idols least the simplicity of their matter should be seen Thence the Apostle who lifted him up as Moses did the Serpent tells us That Christ sent him to Preach the Gospel not with wisdom of words least the Cross of Christ should be made of no effect 1 Cor. 1.17 And that when he came declaring the Testimony of God he came not with the excellency of speech or of wisdom for he determined to know nothing among them but Jesus Christ and him Crucified and that his speech and his Preaching was not with the inticeing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and Power that their Faith might not stand in the wisdom of man but in the Power of God 1 Cor. 1.1 2 3 4 5. As implying that the presenting Christ with such paintings and garnishments of speech hinders mens seeing and beholding him while the eye is drawn by the wisdom of the words from the simplicity and nakedness of the matter and so the efficacy of the Cross may be hindred Like as the healing efficacy of the Serpent might have been by any intervening Garment clothing it or Paint dawbing it over so as the nakedness or substance of the Brass could not have been seen And that the faith begot through such wisdom of words oâ— inticeing words of Mans wisdom is but a human not a divine Faith and so could not have such divine and saving efficacies as where it is divine and such as the nakedness and simplicity of the Truth discovered and discerned doth effect 7. As Moses lifted up the Serpent to and for all the wounded Israelites that so who ever of them were wounded what ever were their wounds might looking to it live not excluding any of them from the intent of good by it as setting it up for some certain number of them only seperated from the rest and excluding the rest so as that if any other then that number looked to it they might not get the healing benefit of it it being not set up for them but it was lifted up for all and every one of them without respect of persons not as if it were for the richer rather then for the poor for the wise rather then for the foolish and without exclusion of any So that it could be nothing but mens own refusal of looking to it or neglect of it that would hinder them of its healing efficacy Even so is Christ the Son of Man to be lifted up to and for all and every one that is stung by the old Serpent the Devil who or what ever they be or how ever many or great their wounds sins or sorrows without respect of persons or exclusion of any but inclusion of all that all may see a way of healing as well as know that they are wounded and be induced to seek healing in the forgiveness of their sins and renewing of their hearts and natures thereby So as therein the goodness of God may be commended to all and all have and see in crediting the Testimony concerning him cause to thank and bless him as all Nations and People frequently are called upon in the Scriptures to do As in Psal 66.1 98.4 100.1.4 117.1 2 And to apply their hearts to him in whom there is certain and undoubted healing for them of which in so doing they shall not fail And that if any perish it may be evident that it is through their own voluntary neglect of that Salvation and refusing to seek help in him And so shall God loose nothing of his glory in their destruction forasmuch as he prepared his Salvation before the face of all people so as all might see it but they refused it and by observing lying vanities deprived themselves of their own mercies And so God hath lifted him up and his holy Spirit and Servants have set him forth not as one that dyed only for an elect number or chosen people leaving the rest as unprovided for of help but for all and every one 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9 2 Cor. 5.14 15. For the World John 1 29.
of Man so there is nothing to be said of Christ because nothing in him but what is excellent for in him all fulness dwells and he is fairer then the children of men the chiefest or he that carries the banner among ten thousand The most powerful wise just holy merciful and gracious one And the entrance of Gods word concerning him gives light discovers the excellencies in him the Forgiveness of sins Redemption Spirit and Spiritual Blessings the Grace and Glory in him and it gives understanding to the simple It gives sight to discern the light and what is discovered in and by it It opens the eyes of the blind and makes wise the simple Psal 19.7 8 9. 119.130 And so the Soul perceives the excellencies of Christ That he is the excellent and precious one Beautiful and glorious excellent and comely Isa 4.2 however he appears to others whose eyes are not opened but they are yet spiritually blâ—â—d or are blinded of Sathan for their not believing 2 Cor. 4.4 Yet the enlightened Soul sees him worthy to be adhered to above all other things and persons worthy above all to be loved and to be believed on Thus the Apostles whose eyes were blessed because they see saw in him as the glory of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and of truth And therefore pronounced of him Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God and whither should we go thou hast the words of eternal life c. John 1.14 6.68 69. Matth. 16.16 Now from this perswasion of the truth of Gods Testimony I say and this perception of his Excellencies discovered therein flow 2. The acts contained in the believing on Christ wherein the believing on him properly stands and is exercised which the Scripture variously expresseth To take in all which I say 1. It 's a hearty betaking of the Soul or of a mans self to Christ In which expression I include and intend what our Saviour or the Evangelists expresses in two used by them viz. 1. The receiving Christ which hath respect or reference to his being given of God to us and coming in his name and tendring himself to us to be our Saviour Helper Healer and in order thereto our Prophet Master or Teacher our King Commander Protector and Defender our precious Sacrifice and perfect High Priest yea our Lord and our God Now he that betakes himself to him receives him with all acceptation as such a one as the great gift of God and of himself unto and for all those exercises of his authority over us and grace toward us unto which he is given and which he tenders And this is interpreted in the Scripture it self to be believing on him or on his name John 1.12 He came to his own and his own received him not but to as many as received him he gave power to become the sons of God even to them that believed on his name This phrase also our Saviour uses to signifie the believing on one John 5.43 44. And so he that believes on him receiving him as the Prophet and Teacher sent of God receives also his sayings instructions reproofs counsels c. and receiving him as the Lord and King receives his commands yea receiving him as the great High Priest receives him so as to come to God by his Sacrifice yea receiving him as God receives his sayings and commands as the most sovereign and absolute sayings and commands of God To which also tends 2. The coming to him This also is included in believing on him and so in the betaking a mans self to him yea so as to go from all other to him For receiving him as such a one the Soul comes to him or betakes it self to him from all others that may stand in competition with him to be taught instructed counselled commanded and so to be helped healed protected and saved by him and to obtain blessing from God by his Sacrifice and Mediation And this phrase also is often used to express and signifie the believing on him As when it 's said Ye will not come to me that ye might have life John 5.40 He that cometh to me shall not hunger John 6.35 If any man thirst let him come to me and drink which in the next verse is He that believeth on me John 7.37 38. and many beside Now this coming is 1. First and principally of the heart and inward man liking prizing loving and looking to him for all grace and blessing and such is the believing heart a heart drawing nigh or cleaving to him with purpose or resolution Heb. 10.22 Acts 11.24 As the unbelieving heart is called an evil heart withdrawing or departing from the living God Heb. 3.12 10.39 An heart removed far from the Lord Isa 29.13 or departing from him Jer. 17.5 8. 2. Secondarily as the way to and an effect of the former it contains and leads to a coming to him in his Ordinances and the appointments of God as to the Assemblies and Societies of Gods people where he is spiritually present and exercising his power and dispensing his grace and blessing in a bodily coming thereto Matth. 18.20 2 Cor. 6.16 Rev. 1.13 Heb. 10.24 25. Psal 133. II. It 's a yielding up a mans self to him which as it is also included in the receiving Christ the admitting or entertaining him in his Doctrine counsels reproofs commands and so in the exercise of his Priestly power with God and Princely Authority over us and all things so it also hath in it that resigning up a mans self to his gracious guidance and government which is required of us and that obeying him which is to be exercised by us as is implied in that saying Heb. 5.8 9. That being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him which is put there for that which here and in other places is believing on him Obedience to him in yielding to his counsels and commands and so in being ruled and governed by him being a necessary and indispensible fruit or exercise of the faith or believing on him to which the promises are made exercised also and practised by the antient and approved believers recorded in the Scripture whose faith we are to follow as is to be seen in Heb. 11.7 8 17. Whence the unbelievers are called the children of disobedience and judgment threatned to them as such Eph. 5.6 Col. 3.6 2 Thess 1.7 8 9. This expression of yielding a mans self to the Lord we have in 2 Chron. 30.8 Yield your selves or as the Margent hath it Give your hands to the Lord who is stretching out his hand to us to succour and supply us to pull us out of the snares of sin and Sathan and to bring or lead us into his Sanctuary c. III. It 's an attendance to him also called in Scripture sometimes a looking to him as seeking and expecting all grace and blessing from him Isa 45.22 Psal 34.5 and a waiting
requisite that the doer thereof obtain for us and give to us the Spirit of Life and power from God to quicken and enliven us to hope in and love God and there-through to be Holy to God and preserve in that holy state against all Oppositions and Enemies yea and to raise the dead and possess them of the everlasting Kingdom and the fulness of God and of Divine joys and satisfactions therein which be works of Omnipotency agreeable only to Divine Nature and Majesty 2. For his being called forth to and suffering death for us the necessity thereof we have seen before in order to our salvation We must have perished in the first Death and Judgment had not he endured it and given himself the ransom for us much less could he have offered up himself a spotless Sacrifice through the Eternal Spirit to make a purgation of our sins and obtain Eternal Redemption for the taking away the following sins committed by us against the Grace and Mercy of God exercised towards us and extended to us in our several persons and making reconciliation for us nor could there have been an improvement of his Sacrifice by making intercession or mediation for preparing us for and bringing us to Eternal Life Indeed there could have been no sins of that nature last mentioned and therefore nothing to save from them nor any Oblation or Offering of him self had he not suffered for his offering himself supposes a suffering first Heb. 9.24 25 26. And therefore without this that would have found no place nor any thing that follows thereupon unto Eternal Life for which no Roome had we perished in and never been raised from the first death 3. And without his Resurrection neither had the Redemption from the first Judgment been perfected that Death had not been Abolished or Evacuated and he that had the power of it destroyed nor the Resurrection from it obtained Much less could he have received in the Nature of man any power or authority to meditate with God and work in and with men in order to the preserving the Sinners from perishing or for the obtaining and giving to any or bringing them to Eternal Life These being the works of a living not of a dead Person 4. Nor could he have appeared for us as the great High Priest in the presence of God for us in the Holy of Holies upon the Mercy Seat and Cherubims of Glory set down on the Throne of Majesty on the right of God unless he had been Exalted with Gods Right Hand being raised again And without that he could not have sent forth the Holy Ghost and given Gifts to men for making him known nor meditated with God for men that their Sins might be forgiven their Consciences purged their Hearts purified and so they prepared and fited for and brought by him through the Resurrection of the Dead and by his just Doom and Award as the great Judge of all unto Eternal life Yea in a word seeing it is his being every way perfected through his sufferings and so being made the Author of eternal Salvation to all that obey him that renders him a meet Object to be believed on and affords sufficient ground thereto That which was needful to render him an Object to be believed on must needs be understood also to have been needful or necessary to his preserving from perishing and giving eternal life to any For if he be able to preserve from perishing and to give Eternal life without these things then would he also without these things be an Object meet to be for them believed on And so what was said on the former Branch proves the truth of this also CHAP. XVIII Another Conclusion proving the necessity of his being Lifted up by way of Demonstration to men by God and men both unto mens-believing on him and abiding in that believing Conclusion 2 THe lifting up of the Son of Man by way of Declaration of his Worth and Excellency and Commendation of him to men rendring him Glorious and an Object worthy and fit to be believed on for Life and Salvation is Necessary to the begetting and furthering distinct and explicite Faith or belief on him in order to their attainment of Salvation and Eternal life by him This I shall speak to in two Branches either of which is also evident and manifest Branch 1. Necessary it is for mens believing that he be so lifted up by way of Demonstration for necessary it is for mens believing on him that they know him and understand good ground and reason for believing on him For Faith or Believing is not only an Act of the Heart and will closing with an Object coming to seeking help of and relying and trusting upon it for that help but also of the understanding Such an Act of the Will aforesaid as proceeds and springs from the Understanding Discerning and Perceiving good reason and ground for what it doth therein as may be seen in what was Noted in the Acts and things included or contained in believing on him and as may be seen in what both the Prophet David saith in saying They that know thy Name will trust in thee Psal 9.10 And in what our Lord Jesus Christ saith in John 6.44 45. That no man can come to him namely to seek and help and Salvation in and from him believe in him and depend on him for it except the Father that sent him draw him And that that drawing is by the Fathers teaching so as that Whosoever hears and learns of him comes to Christ For Hearing and Learning of him pertains to the right informing of the understanding in the things Taught as also in that it s said Faith cometh by hearing and hearing is of the Word of God Rom. 10.17 Only here it is to be minded that we speak of Explicite Faith or Actual Believing and not of an Implicite Believing or of Gods gracious Imputation of Faith to Children or the like â—â—cepting them in their not Acting against as if believing on him For certain it is that the actual Faith that is by hearing is such as proceeds from an information of the Understanding and so an apprehension of some good cause or reason to Believe the thing informed of and in or upon the Object commended to us in such Information Clear it is that no man believeth on any thing or Person for any help or good to be received there-from unless he apprehend there is Ability and Probability of finding help or good from it Now no man can come to or believe to find such great effects as preservation from Destruction Misery and Wrath deserved by our sins and threatned of God to us because of them and a being raised up from Death and Grave to eternal Life and Happiness from an ordinary man that nothing differs from another but is in the same state of Sin and Death and of the same Infirmity and Impotency with others Nor from an ordinary Prophet or good man that
Grace heartily repent and turn to God by him Yea of such Value and Force was and is his Obedience and Righteousness therein with his Father that upon account and in the virtue thereof he is both the Propitiation for our sins that believing have him our Advocate with the Father taking away our defects sins and failings from before him so as we walking in the Light as God is therein we have fellowship with God and God with us and his blood cleanseth us from all sin yea if through temptation sinning we confess it he is here-through just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness And also he is the Propitiation for the sins of the whole world So as he obtains here-through a day of Grace and Patience towards them and keeps off destruction therein from them and obtains the holding open as it were of a door of Repentance to them and a Readiness in God to accept of any of them in heartily repenting and turning to him Yea he here-through obtains all that Goodness Bounty Long-suffering and Patience towards them which is afforded them with whatsoever Calls Counsels means of Repentance and Grace with Dispensations and Operations of the Holy Spirit to Move Lead Excite Provoke and strengthen to Repentance and Faith are afforded to them that they might be Saved 1 Tim. 2.6 Isa 53.4 5 6 9 10. Heb. 2.9 and 9.26 and 10.5.10 Rom. 3.24 and 5.18 1 John 2.1 2. and 1.7 9. Acts 10.43 and 13.38 39. Psal 68.18 19 20. Yea 6. And also as it declares by virtue hereof and as a reward therefore God having taken him up and he being gone into Heaven to Gods Right-hand whereon he hath set him and where he hath glorified him even the Man Christ Jesus with himself with the Glory he had with him before the world was all Authority in Heaven and upon Earth is committed to him and all the fulness of the Godhead bodily dwells in him So as he is the Great God and our Saviour the Saviour of the World even of all men and especially of all those that believe Having the Power of forgiving sins and justifying from them all that come to and believe on him As also all Power of Teaching and Guiding into and in all right Ways and preserving from all hurt and evil of doing us good by and seasonably bringing us out of all Troubles Afflictions and Death subduing all Enemies within or without working all good for and in us and filling us with all Good and Blessing In a word of doing all things to and for us that may prevent our Perishing and promote our eternal Happiness Phil. 2.9 10 11. Isa 53.12 John 17.4 5. 1 Pet. 3.22 Acts 5.31 Col. 1.19 and 2.9 Mat. 28.18 Isa 9.6 and 63.1 Tit. 2.13 1 Tim. 4.10 Ephes 1.3 c. As also 7. That he is unspeakably Merciful Gracious and Loving to Mankind ready to do us good and save us yea actually doing great good to and for all and ready to do all good to all that will listen to and be ruled by him having received his Power and Offices to that purpose and that having ingaged and promised to God and men to do whatever may be requisite to the Salvation and Eternal Life of all that listen look to and obey him he is also Infinitely Faithful to both for performing all his Ingagements and Promises to them Heb. 2.17 18. and 3.1 2. and 4.14 15. and 5.9 Isa 42.1 2 3 4. Yea and further that 8. He abides for ever an everlasting unchangeable Priest after the order of Melchisedeck and an everlasting King whose Kingdom shall continue for ever and his Dominion have no end nor shall his Divine Power as God ever alter So that he is perfectly able to save to the utmost and for ever all that come to God by him being unchangeably the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 1.10 11 12. and 7.1 24 25. and 13.7 8. to whom that in Psal 146. may be applied Where having asserted the happiness of him that hath the God of Jacob for his help and whose hope is in the Lord his God upon the account of his Power and Greatness shewed in his having made Heaven and Earth the Seas and all therein and of his Faithfulness in keeping truth for ever and of his Mercy and Goodness in Executing Judgment for the Oppressed giving Food to the hungry loosing the Prisoners opening the Eyes of the Blind raising up those which are bowed down loving the Righteous preserving the Strangers relieving the Fatherless and Widow and turning upside down the way of the Wicked All of them works of Mercy and Goodness to men and such as argue his special Care over them that have him for their God He shuts up all with the consideration of his Eternity or Ever-abiding saying The Lord shall reign for ever even thy God O Sion to all Generations praise ye lift ye up the Lord. Whereto we may yet add 9. That herein is declared how by his Death and Sacrifice he hath purchased and obtained and in his Word and Testimony promised and assured not only supply of all good things and defence from evil so as he sees good in this Life and World but also a glorious and perfectly happy state and blessed condition for ever in a World to come in an everlasting Kingdom to be brought in and manifested by him as the certain and infallible Portion of all that love and look to and believe on him and wait for him Such as is beyond all our present Capacities to conceive of much more to express and set forth to the understandings of others so as the Excellency and Glory thereof may be perceived by them Ephes 4.14 Isa 53.12 Rom. 2.7 10. Rev. 2.26 27. and 3.21 Jam. 1.12 and 2.5 Heb. 6.12 13 18 19. Isa 64.5 1 Cor. 2.9 And in those things are contained all that may allure the heart to seek after and believe on him yea and to further that also there is further in this Testimony of him 10. A discovery of our unspeakable Wretchedness Lostness and Misery in our selves and the Emptiness Weakness and Insufficiency of all other Things and Persons to Help Save and Satisfie us None other in Heaven or Earth having been Crucified and Died for our sins nor is any else Exalted of God to Relieve and Save us There is none of them therefore that have in them Redemption Remission of sins Deliverance from wrath and vengeance None of them have the fulness of the Holy Spirit and of the Godhead in them nor any thing thereof but as he extends of it by them and so no Thing or Person else hath Power Riches Wisdom Strength Honour Glory and Blessing but only he who is judged of God and all his holy Angels worthy to receive of God all fulness This Voice is in this Testimony to take us off from all other things that might detain or withdraw us from him viz. All flesh is Grass and
them who through the lifting up of him are begotten to believe on his name and therewith also the spirit of adoption framing it to child-like love reverence confidence and boldness to cry Abba Father Joh 1.12 13. Gal. 3.26 27 28 29. 4.4 5. Rom. 8.15 16. and his Children find a place of refuge in him Prov. 14.26 And in this also Christ is made to the Soul redemption and in a sense sanctification as to sanctify signifies to devote to God to be in a choice relation to him 1 Cor. 1.30 5. By begetting in the heart a lively hope of glory and of the glorious inheritance which he doth through the lifting up of Christ as one raised from the dead through the power of the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.2 3. 1 Pet. 1.3 4. Rom. 15.13 and we are saved by hope as by an anchor sure and stedfast keeping the Soul from being blown away and dasht upon and split against the Rocks Rom. 8.24 25. Heb. 6.19 20. from and with which hope also is effected joy in the Holy Ghost in which the heart is saved through this lifting up of the Son of Man from its fears and griefs also Rom. 52 3. We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and not only so but we rejoyce also in tribulation yea we joy also in God through Jesus Christ our Lord by whom we have received the atonement Rom. 5.3 11. 6. Yea upon any loss or decay of these things the holy spirit in the lifting up of the Son of Man drawing the eye from its idols and iniquities to which it was wandered to behold and believe on him again restores the Soul and renews his pardoning and justifying acts with renewed peace and other gracious effects and so He I. Saves the Soul from perishing in a threefold way 1. In pulling it out and delivering it from its sinful fearful perishing estate at the first turning of it in to God and Christ to believe on him Tit. 3.4 5. 2. In keeping it from falling back again into Sin and Guilt and Disquiet in preserving it in believing As we shewed largely in Branch 2. Rom. 1.16 3. In recovering it from Falls and Lapses and Restoring it again as by this way he recalled the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2.4 5. And the Angel of the Church of Sardis from his Spiritual deadness by remembring how he had Received and Heard Rev. 3.2 3 Yea and the Angel of the Church of Laodicea is called from his Lukewarm state by the proposal of Christ before him and the good things in him ver 14.15 16 17 18 20. Yea and herein also he II. Gives Eternal Life In that 1. He hereby imparts the Spirit of Life as is forenoted with the Fruits and Operations of it in newness of Life as Righteousness Peace Holiness Hope and Joy in the Holy Ghost Yea all the Fruits of the holy Spirit in which he manifests his presence and in which the virtues of the Divine and holy Nature are evidenced are effected or infused in and by his glorifying Christ and leading the Soul in to him as Love Joy Peace Patience Meekness Temperance c. Gal. 5.22 23. 2 Pet. 1 5 6 7. with John 16.13.14 15. Yea here-through 2. Christ who is Eternal Life it self liveth in the soul and dwells in it even by this Faith in which he the Son of man is lifted up Gal. 2.20 Ephes 3.16 17. And 3. Inasmuch as Eternal life stands in and springs from the knowledg of God and him whom he hath sent Jesus Christ as is said John 17.3 And God is not known clearly but by and in Jesus Christ the Image of his invisible Majesty and brightness of his Glory And he is known in and by his being Lifted up Discovered and Commended of God to us by his holy Spirit in his Testimony It follows that Eternal life is herein given also in a first Fruits of it here as the soul is also hereby Built up to the Inheritance Acts 20.32 4. Yea surely and the fulness of Eternal life it self as it is to be possessed in Soul and Body hereafter in the Kingdom to come what is it but the influence and effect of Christs being fully and perfectly Lifted up by way of discovery of him and his Glory in his personal appearing when he who is the only Potentate who dwells in the Light which no man hath seen or can see shall manifest him 1 Tim. 6.15 16. When he appears we shall be like him perfectly like him for we shall see him as he is 1 John 3.2 And that Lifting him up and Appearance in his Glory shall probably be accompanied with the greatest Conversions a Nation born in a day Isa 66.6 Zech. 12.10 11. and the perfectest Salvation But that is a distinct way of discovery of him from what is afforded in this day Of how great Necessity Excellency and Usefulness then is the Lifting up of the Son of man in this consideration also and so in both of them both as lifted up of God in himself and with God himself and as lifted up of God and his holy Spirit in and through the Ministration of the Gospel to and by men Both that they may believe and to them that do believe on him that they may still believe and be saved And so that the Son of man must be lifted up and how and why he must be so lifted up is sufficiently shewed Though who can sufficiently lift him up Let us now view what use we may make of this also CHAP. XX. The Application First by way of Instruction from the last Conclusions shewing the excellency and glory of the Gospel with divers inferences there-from ANd first with reference to the last Conclusions about the necessity behoof-fulness and fulness of the Son of Mans being lifted up by way of demonstration and commendation of him to Men forasmuch as the Gospel is that Doctrine in which He is of God and his Holy Spirit and Servants so lifted up it tends to commend greatly the Gospel and its ministry to us as a marvailous Doctrine and of exceeding worth and benefit worthy to be received with all acceptation 1 Tim. 1.15 Well might the Apostles call it the marvailous light of God as that phrase in 1 Pet. 2.9 may be applyed thereto and the glorious Gospel or Gospel of the glory of the blessed God 1 Tim. 1.11 forasmuch as therein such glorious and excellent things are discovered no other Doctrine could or ever did discover the like seeing the glorious Son of God who is the glory even the brightness of the glory of God the King and Lord of glory is herein set forth and lifted up both as to his Person the glorious things undertook and performed by him in his Life and Death and Resurrection therefrom the glory given to and received by him as a reward of his said glorious undertakings and performances and the glory in which he shall appear again at his return And herein
not in this spiritual sense to be Carpenter and Mason and Ingraver too Zech. 3.9 and his house is for us to dwell in and feast in too Psal 84.4 10. and 91.1 and 65.4 and 36.8 9. Yea 4. He is the good Husbandman that tills the Land breaking up the fallow ground and as he is the grain of Wheat that fell into the ground and dyed and brought forth or brings forth much fruit so he is the Sower too The Son of Man is the Sower saith Christ himself Joh. 12.24 with Matt. 13.37 Yea and the great Reaper too though he also make use of the Ministry of Angels therein Isa 28.24 25. Rev. 14.14 Matth. 13.39 Yea the Thresher too else he would not call his People his threshing Instruments wherewith he will thresh the Mountains and his Enemies Isa 21.10 and 41.15 Hab. 3.12 And he makes his People Plowers Sowers Reapers and Threshers too Jer. 4.4 Hos 10.12 Joh. 4.36 38. 1 Cor. 9.10 2 Cor. 9 6 10. Mic. 4.13 He also hath his fan in his hand and fans out the chaff casting it into the unquenchable fire and gathers the good grain into his granary c. Matth. 3.12 Yea he is that good husbandman that plants a Vineyard and dresses it fencing it gathering out the stones from it building a Tower in it digging a Wine-press in it and doing all the works of the Vine-dresser in it so as to challenge any to say what he hath therein omitted Isa 5.2 3. Yea and the great Vine-dresser in the Parable that intercedes for the barren Fig-tree ingaging to dig about it and to dung it Luc. 13.7 8. Yea and the Keeper of the Vine-yard that watcheth it day and night least any harm it Isa 27.2 3. And he reaps the Vintage and treads the Wine-press of the wrath of God Rev. 14.19 and 19.15 Isa 63.1 6. 5. We are naturally unclean and He is both the fountain opened for us to wash in Zech. 13.1 and the washer of us therein too sanctifying and washing us with the washing of Water in the Word Eph. 5.25 26. Yea he disdains not to wash his Disciples feet as really in the spirit as he did once in the flesh having risen from the Table with his Father and holy ones above laid aside his Robes of glory girded himself with a Towel prepared himself for the service poured Water into the Bason even the water in the Word into his Instruments for conveying it his Ministers He stands ready and proffers his service to wash us and waits for our acceptance crying Wilt thou not be made clean when will it once be Joh. 13.4 5 6 7. Jer. 13 35. 6. He is also the purifier of the Sons of Levi that both is as Refiners fire and Fullers sope and that sits as a Refiner and purifier of Silver to that purpose Mal. 3.3 4. 7. He is the great and good Shepherd of us his Sheep Joh. 10.11 Heb. 13.20 The chief Shepherd 1 Pet 5.4 that leads out the Sheep going before them and calling them by their Names and will give them pasture He seeks up the lost strengthens the weak fetches back that which is driven away and doth all the Offices of a good Shepherd Ezek. 34.10 11 12. Psal 23.1 2 3 4. 8. If we be Dishes of his Sanctuary He will wash and wipe us too when defiled as a man wipeth a dish wiping it and turning it upside down 2 Kings 21.13 And 9. He will sweep out the wicked of the earth like dross with the besome of destruction that his and his Fathers house may not be defiled Isa 14.23 As once to the same end also he whipt out the buyers and sellers out of the Temple at Jerusalem Joh. 2.14 15. As also in seeking what is lost he sweeps out of his house what may hinder the Souls being found of him Luc. 15.8 Oh the humility and condescention of this high and holy One to condescend to such ministry and service for us and which adds to all the rest in the exercise of all these relations offices and services He is 1. Infinitely able as to strength and power for them all being the great God and our Saviour Tit. 2.13 The man or Son of man that God hath made strong for himself Psal 80.17 2. Infinitely furnished with wisdom and understanding how to do all things in the most exact way and as is most befitting All his ways are judgment Deut. 32.4 For the spirit of wisdom and understanding rests upon him and makes him quick in understanding in all things Isa 11.2 3. Can we doubt that seeing he is that word and wisdom of God in which the World and all things therein were made and were so admirably disposed as they be Psal 104.24 with Joh. 1.2 3. Heb. 1.2 3. Infinitely faithful to exercise both power and wisdom so as may be best and most pleasing to God his Father and most conduce to our good and welfare in our attending to and being guided by him faithful in all things to him that appointed him Heb. 3.2 Thus all things pertaining to life are in and with him Yea pertaining to and included in 3. The life to come even Eternal Life as we have seen in which he will be 1. The everlasting Rest and Sabbath and give everlasting cessation and rest from all labour sorrow and suffering and in the fruition of God and himself to full satisfaction 2. The Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God giving eternal life an everlasting well and happy being 3. The fountain of life affording a River or rivers of delights and pleasures for ever more Psal 36.9 and 16.11 Rev. 22.1 II. He is and in him also are and in the knowledge of him are given all things pertaining to godliness or the right worshipping and serving God which is the great end of his dying for us and being a Light and Leader to us that being delivered from the hands of our enemies we might serve him without fear in righteousness and holiness before him all the days of hur life Luc. 1.75 All those also he is and affords to us As to say 1. Needful it is that to our right worshipping of God we have a right understanding and knowledge of him his name excellency and greatness love unto us and will concerning us how it is meet for him to be and how he will be served by us and to this purpose we have him made of God wisdom to us 1 Cor. 1.30 Our Great Prophet Act. 3.22 Our Rabbi Master or Teacher Mat. 23.8 10. The great Apostle of our Profession Heb. 3.1 Yea he is both the great Apostle Prophet Evangelist or Gospel-preacher and the great Pastor or Shepherd 1 Pet. 5.4 and Teacher and all these gifts for furniture and helpfulness to others are given forth from and by him according to the measure of his gift and pleasure of his will and by them all it s he that declares the mind of the Lord and his name and
in due time of all Men and be very high exceeding high and glorious As many were astonished at thee speaking to him his visage was so marred c. so he shall sprinkle many Nations The Kings shall shut their mouths at him for that which hath not been told them shall they see and that which they had not heard shall they consider Whatsoever the Father giveth him shall come to him nothing shall keep it back or any part of it who or whatever opposes it And then He that person Man or Woman that cometh to him He will in no wise cast them out which is a great incouragement also to any man to come to him Yea here is a double incouragement 1. That He shall have the heigth and greatness that God gives him He shall and must be lifted up and be made high 2. That He being so high and by consequent able to help succour satisfy and save all that come to Him He also is so good and merciful that whosoever cometh to him for help salvation or satisfaction he will in no wise refuse or cast him out which may both comfort us in his behalf and incourage us in our own to look to him who-ever they be that look away from or neglect and slight him For He came not down from Heaven to do his own will but the will of him that sent him and this is the will of him that sent him that of all that which the Father hath given him he should loose nothing nothing of all that honour glory Kingdom c. but should raise it up again at the last day And this is the will of him that sent him that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him should have everlasting life and he will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6.37 38 39 40. And these two Branches of his will answer to those two Branches of his assertion in vers 37. and that given him is distinct from him that seeth and believeth on him and the raising up of the one distinct from the raising up of the other as those words And this is the will of him that sent me in the beginning of vers 40. implies it being spoken of as a distinct business and so we may say As God gave him in the nature of man the Throne of Majesty in the Heavens and a great and glorious Name here on Earth among men notwithstanding all the folly and negligence of the Jews that see and believed not yea and against all the oppositions both of Jewes and Gentiles opposing Him his Doctrine and Servants and persecuting Him and them to Death so God lifted Him up to Heaven both in his Personal Body and as brought forth by his Church in the knowledge and faith of Him wherein he was taken up to the Throne of God Rev. 12.5 As also among men he was exalted extolled and made very high But now by the Anti-christian Beast and false Prophet arisen and grown great in the World He is darkned and diminished again as it were The Beast hath the great Company of followers and worshippers and is wondred after and magnified by them saying Who is able to make War with the Beast and Who is like the Beast even that which appertains to the Lamb the Lord Jesus is attributed to him see Psal 89.6 8. And we may take up that complaint which follows in that Psalm vers 38. Thou hast cast off and abhorred thou wast wrath with thy Anointed or Messiah not as to his Person but as to the appearance of his Name and Glory in the World and as to his Members here as his Name and Glory is upon them and they by his permission and providence are rendred as if they were objects of his wrath and abhorrency Thou hast made void the Covenant of thy Servants the Gospel-covenant at the present takes little place in the World thou hast prophaned by casting down his Crown to the ground c. But now saith our Saviour This is the will of Him that sent me that how-ever low my Crown Glory or Repute seem to lye I should not loose it but raise it up again at the last day and so He will When He arises and lifts up Himself to judge the World and to take to Himself his Great Power and Reign His Enemies shall be scattered Antichrist the Beast and false Prophet shall be discomfited and taken The Lamb shall overcome them and then when they are overcome by him He will thereby raise up his Name Covenant Throne and Kingdom again in the eyes views and hearts of the World as it were or into a more high and glorious form and appearance then before they fell down then before there was such an Apostacy and departure from him even as the Persons and Bodies also of those who see and believe on Him shall be raised into a better state and form then they were in before they fell into the earth by death then God will give him the Throne of his Father David and he shall raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen down and he shall build it up and shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever then shall that be fulfilled which is spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah chap. 2.11 22. That the lofty looks of man shall be humbled and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down and the Lord alone even the Lord Jesus and God in him shall be exalted in that day for the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty and upon every one that is lifted up and he shall be brought low and upon all the Cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up and so upon all that 's high or pleasant to men that now eclipses or darkens his glory and robs him of his honour and they shall all be cast down and the Idols shall be utterly abolished and the Lord even Jesus alone shall be exalted and then great shall be his glory in Gods salvation visibly and apparently in the World also For at that last day he shall appear in glory and all his Saints shall appear in glory with him and then he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high indeed not only in himself but in his appearance in the World also and in the eyes and hearts of all men For then all the Kings of the earth shall praise him even such as now despise and persecute him when they shall hear the words of his mouth yea they shall sing in the ways of the Lord for great shall be his glory Psal 138.4 5. Yea and then all the ends of the World shall remember and turn to the Lord and all the Kindreds of the Nations shall worship before him for the Kingdom shall be and is the Lords and He the Governour then most gloriously among the Nations all they that be fat upon the earth shall eat and worship and all they that go down to
have everlasting life we may well give up our selves unto him and say Truly we are thy Servants we are thy Servants the Sons of thy Handmaid thy perpetual Servants Thou hast loosed our bonds offering up our Bodies a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable to him which is our reasonable service of him Psal 116.16 Rom. 12.1 Yea how doth it become us to accept this his grace with all acceptation and for ever to laud and magnify Him To enter his Gates with thanksgiving his Courts with praises being thankful to him and blessing his Name Lauding and praising him that He hath passed such a Decree as this that as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him might not perish but have everlasting life And as the Son himself our Lord the Son of man hath published and will publish the Decree saying I will proclaim the Decree The Lord hath said unto me thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the utmost ends of the Earth for thy possession thou shalt rule them with an Iron-Rod c. So let us make it our rejoycing and the business we mind to proclaim the same to all calling upon all to hear it and be glad of it to imbrace and submit to it for ever blessing him and calling upon all Creatures to bless him with us who hath so Decreed for us and is so Decreed of for us Let us lift up our voice and sing for the Majesty of the Lord and cry aloud from the Sea glorifying the Lord though in the fires of afflictions and sufferings even the Name of the Lord God of Israel the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all grace comfort and consolation from the Isls of the Sea Yea let us make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth serving the Lord with gladness and coming into his Presence with a Song Giving thanks unto him because he is good his mercy prepared for us and given to us in Christ Jesus everlasting and his truth enduring from generation to generation Calling upon all to take notice of his goodness herein unto all and to praise and laud and bless him with us Yea and upon all Creatures too as in Psal 148. especially the Saints and holy ones who believing on him have title to and interest in his promises of salvation and life everlasting Yea let us praise him every where and in all things chiefly in his Sanctuary or Holy Place and Holy Ordinances looking diligently unto Jesus that we fail not of the grace given us in him through any of the politick workings of Siâ— the World and Satan to that purpose against us but that we may be accounted worthy of it to life everlasting To whom â—e Glory and Dominion Honour and Praise now and in all Ages throughout all Places of his Dominions even for ever and ever Amen And Oh that my Soul may bless the Lord at all times and all that is within me may bless his holy Name and let every thing that hath life and breath praise Him till we all come to sing everlasting Hallelujahs in his glorious Kingdom Amen and Amen Laus Deo Christo suâ— in Eternâ—m c. FINIS THE CONTENTS Chap. 1. BRief Observations upon Nicodemus and our Saviours discourse with him p. 1. Chap. 2. The words of the Teâ—t considered its Parts four main Points then observed The first Point The Type of the Brazen Serpent lifted up spoken to in some brief Notes upon it p. 22. it should have been p. 14. Chap. 3. The Second Point in part considered viz. That the Son of man must be lifted up Who is the Son of man And three Reasons propounded why Christ is so called p. 23. alias 26. Chap. 4. Two other Reasons and they the principal ones of Christ calling himself the Son of man p. 48. alias 40. Chap. 5. A twofold Sense of the Phrase of lifting up viz. putting to Death and Glorifying or Advancing and what is implied in it in the latter Sense especially p. 65. alias 57. Chap. 6. A twofold way of Exalting the Son of man viz. either by Real Action upon his Person or by Demonstration of him and of his Worth and Excellency to others The former of these Enlarged upon p. 77. alias 69. Chap. 7. Of the second way of Lifting him up viz. By Demonstration of him and of his Glory unto men by whom that was and is to be performed and wherein p. 85. Chap. 8. The third point viz. That the Son of man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness and therein several Analogies and Agreement between them considered p. 109. Chap. 9. The fourth and last Point The end of the Son of mans being so lifted up viz. That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting Life Six Observations drawn from hence the first of which concerning mens danger of perishing opened p. 136. Chap. 10. The second Observation spoken to viz. That God hath no pleasure in mens death or perishing and some objections against it answered very briefly p. 147. Chap. 11. The third Observation briefly spoken to shewing Christ to be the only Medicine for our misery and Way to happiness appointed of God for us and what an inducement that consideration is to love God and accept of Christ p. 154. Chap. 12. The fourth Observation considered and therein the necessity and nature of believing on the Son of man unto Salvation with its desirableness and acceptableness to God p. 162 Chap. 13. The fifth Observation viz. That whosoever believeth on the Son of man shall not perish but have Eternal life having two Branches the former of them is here explicated What the perishing is from which the believer on the Son of man is preserved and how he is preserved from it p. 182. Chap. 14. Of the second Branch of the fifth Observation What Eternal life is and how the believer on Christ shall have it p. 202. Chap. 15. The Application of the two former viz. the 4th and 5th Observations in part in Exhortation to believe Reproof for not believing Incouragements to continue in believing on the Son of man and some Directions thereto p. 212. Chap. 16. Some further usefulness of the said Observations in Cautions and Instructions p. 225. Chap. 17. The sixth and last Observation viz. about the necessity of the Son of mans being lifted up spoken to in certain Conclusions the first of which in two Branches shews the necessity of Gods lifting up Christ in himself both as to mens believing on him and as to their being saved and living for ever by him p. 239. Chap. 18. Another Conclusion proving the necessity of his being lifted up by way of Demonstration to men both by God and men both unto mens