God is said to (q) Col. 1.20 reconcile all things unto himselfe by him i. e. Christ whether they be things on earth or things in Heaven The Angels they were stablished confirmed in their state and stations They that shall be saved were perfectly (r) 2 Cor. 5.19 Rom. 5.9 justified and reconciled by his death Those that perish had their (Å¿) Joh. 1.9 Luk. 9.56 naturall lives and the enjoyment of the Creatures here on earth by vertue of his death also the (t) Rom. 8 1 19.20 1 22. whole creation that now groaneth by reason of its bondage caused by the sinne of man shall be restored unto a glorious liberty which would never have beene had not Christ suffered Having thus briefly opened the first Doctrine I will shew you one Use only that you are to make of it and so I will come to the second Observation The Use is to exhort you to make Christ your example pattern Was he humbled before he was exalted did hee stoop to goe through this low door to his honour then learn of him this Lesson of all other Lessons for hee would have you learn it Learn of me saith he for I am meeke and lowly or meeke and humb e as the [v] Translated humble in Jam. 4.6 Greek hath it If you would be high then begin low as a builder that intends to build a great and stately Edifice hee doth first digge the foundation low Solomon (u) Prov. 15.33 saith that before honour is humility And in another place that (w) Pro. 22.4 honour is the reward of humlity Those that would looke after honour let them come by it as Mordecai came by his honour he first puts on on sack-cloath and fasted and mourned and then waited at Ahashuerus gate till he was called to honour he did not sue nor seeke for it but made it his businesse to honour God and to help the poore people of God and so hee was content to take his turn and to come to honour after God was honoured and when his people were advanced There is an excellent (x) Isa 37.31 promise made to the remnant of Judah which I shall allude to That they should take roote downeward and bring fruit upward As those trees whose boughes and branches grow and spread most doe take deepest root and spread in the earth most So those that are most exalted and advanced they are first humbled and afflicted for where humility is not before honour there will bee a humbling and abasing after honour I beseech you now you are come together to humble your souls labour to be humbled for this is one maine end why wee now are met together let 's take heede then lest wee depart with unhumbled hearts And that you may be humbled looke upon Jesus Christ for there are 2. speciall sights of Christ that do tend much to humble men The first is the sight of his misery or the sight of him in his answerable low and suffering condition (y) Rev. 1.7 They shall see him whom they have pierced And what followes All the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him The 2d sight is the sight of his glory or of him in his glory When Isaiah had seen this he cries out (z) Isa 6.5 Woe is me for I have sten the King the Lord of hosts And this sight was a sight of him in his (a) Vers 3. glory as appeares in the third verse These two sights of Christ my Text represents to you viz. a sight of him in his humiliation and a sight of his exaltation But I come to the 2d Doctrine Doct. 2. God the Father hath exalted his Sonne Christ above all creatures and ha h put and will put all persons and things under him This Doctrine flows naturally from the words and this God foretold by his Prophet in the Old Testament saying Behold my b i.e. Christ see Isa 42.1 53.11 servant shall deale prudently he shall be exalted and c Isa 52.13 extolled and be very high This also the Apostle confirms That Christ is d Col. 1.17 18. before all things and that among all hee hath the pre-eminence And in another (e) 1 Cor. 15 27. place that he i. e. God hath put all things under him But for the further proof of this I will come to Particulars and there be three particulars in the Doctrine to be proved 1 That God the Father hath exalted his Sonne Christ above all creatures 2 That hee hath put all persons and things already under him institutively virtually c. 3 That hee will put all persons and things under him really and actually For the first that God the Father hath exalted his Sonne Christ above all creatures appears as by severall Scriptures so by two undeniable reasons 1 In that hee hath put him to sit upon his owne right hand 2 Reason-To prove that God hath exalted Christ above all creatures which is the highest dignity power soveraignty and glory that he could give and which he hath not given to any creature besides and this exaltation Christ did not assume of himselfe but the Father said unto him f Ps 110.1 Sit thou on my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy foot-stoole Yea note this that the Scriptures mention this his being on Gods right hand obove g Ps 110.1 Mat. 22.44 26.64 Mar. 14.62 Lu. 16.19 20.42 22.69 Act 2.34 7.55 56. Heb. 1.13 8.1 12 2. 10.12 Rom. 8 34. Col. 3.1 twelve times as sometimes on the right hand of his power and sometimes on the right hand of the throne of God When Bathsheba Solomons mother came to him hee had no way to shew his respect more to her then by h 1 Kings 2.10 causing a seat to be set for her that shee might sit on his right hand And amongst us you know that to set one upon our right hand is to prefer him and to have the right hand of fellowship was an i Gal. 1.9 honour among the Apostles Obj. But are none copartners with Christ in this honour and doth hee alone sit on Gods right hand Ans There is none but hee that sits upon the right hand of the Father It is true in deed that the Queen or the Church is said to k Psal 45.9 sit on the Kings or on Christs right hand also hereafter the Saints shall bee upon his right hand But this prerogative is peculiar to Jesus Christ alone who is not only said to sit upon his Fathers right hand but is also l Exod. 15.16 called the right hand of God and the m Psal 80.17 man of his right hand 2 A second Reason to prove that God hath exalted his Son Christ above all Creatures Reas 2 is Because he hath appointed the chiefest Creatures to worship him and serve him as the Angels God commanded them to worship him n
and graces and above all earthly spirituall excellencies and glory 22. verse He i. e. God hath put all things under his i. e. Christ his feet So in the 1 Cor. 15.28 you have the same words Thus much in answer to the first question 2. Quest Wherein is Christ exalted above all Creatures Answ First Doubtlesse in all things he hath the preheminence but more particularly in regard of his Divine Nature I may I hope safely thus expresse although it is true that the Divine Nature doth not properly admit of degrees yet neverthelesse the Divine Nature of Christ to speake with reverence was much vailed clouded As a peece of Gold covered with earth or the Sun darkned by a cloud or a candle hid under a bushel and ecclipsed by his humain Nature that few did account him God till after his Resurrection by which he was (f) Rom. 1.4 declared to be the Sonne of God with power And so much our Saviours owne words in the seventeenth of John vers 5. imply Obj. But you will say The Divine Nature was never humbled therefore it was still exalted alike Answ It is true the Godhead of Christ did not nor could not suffer nor be humbled yet he that was God suffered as those words in Acts 20.28 import But note this when I say Christ was exalted above all in respect of his Divine Nature I meane that none had that fulnesse and measure of Divinity or the Divine Nature as Christ had Secondly Jesus Christ was exalted in his humane Nature above all Creatures 1 In that Christs humane Nature was created and begotten in a supernaturall way even by the over-shadowing of the Holy Ghost Luke 1.35 or as David speakes in his person Psal 139.140 Wonderfully was I made 2 He was exalted in his humane Nature above all others in regard his humane Nature was without sinne as the Apostle speakes (g) 1 Pet. 2.22 He did no sinne neither was guile found in his mouth 3 Jesus Christ his humane Nature or his Body saw no corruption Act. 2.27 Though he was in the Grave yet the Grave could neither putrifie him nor prevaile to keep him within it 4 The humane Nature of Christ is exalted above all in respect of place to wit upon the right hand of God as I have shewed before Obj. Is Christs humane nature or the very body that he had on earth now in heaven Answ Yes sure he that (h) Eph. 4.8 descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens and the same Jesus which rose from the dead and that appeared to his Disciples after his Resurrection was (i) Act 1.8,9 taken up before them into heaven and that same Jesus will hereafter in that very person and nature (k) Jud. v. 14. Rev. 1.7 come from heaven Fiftly and lastly Christ is exhalted in his humain nature above all because in that nature he will judge the world according to the saying of the Apostle He wil judge the world in righteousnesse by that man i.e. Christ whom he hath ordained this is the second way wherein Christ is exalted above all creatures Thirdly Jesus Christ was exalted in his name above al creatures as the Apostle speaks God his father hath given him a name Phil. 2.9 above all other names that at the name of Jesus Christ every knee should bow Now whether by name be understood the Power Majesty and Authority of Christ or those names by which he is called in the Scripture as Jehovah and Immanuel yet this is most true that there is not attributed to any creature what is attributed to him in respect of his name Object But you will say is not the Church called Jehovah she shal be called Jehovah-tzidkenu the Lord our Righteousnesse Ier. 33.16 Answ It s true that with relation to Christ she is called Jehovah as in Ezek. 48.35 Jehovah-shammah the Lord is there Yet that Text in Jeremiah is not rightly translated For it is in the Hebrew Jer. 33.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He the Lord Jehovah that is our Righteous one or Righteousnesse shall call her that is the Church should be called by Christ her Righteousnesse And though many bee called Gods in the Scripture as the Apostle speakes yet no one is called Immanuel but Christ onely Esa 7.14 Mat. 1.23 Fourthly Jesus Christ was exalted above all creatures in his Office as he was Mediator For there was and is but one Mediator between God and Man the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.6 T is true there were other typicall Mediatours as Moses c. but no true and reall Mediator save Jesus Christ In Christs Mediatourship consider 1 That none was fit to be a Mediator or Saviour but he for all creatures had need of a Mediatour and Saviour and therefore could not bee their owne Mediatours and Saviours 2 None could or can forgive sins but he for he only is exalted to give repentance and forgivenesse of sinnes Act. 5.31 Object But had not the Apostles of Christ and have not the Ministers of the Gospell power to forgive sins For Christ saith whatsoever sinnes ye forgive shal be forgiven c. Joh. 20.23 Answ The Apostles and Ministers had and have power to forgive sins but then it is declaratively upon their beleeving in Christ and no other wayes For as the Jewes said who can forgive sins but God 3 None can give Lawes to the Church but Christ alone and therefore he is called the (a) Esa 33.22 Jam. 4.12 Law-giver and (b) Ephes 4.15 5.23 Col. 1.18 head of the Church Note this that no person or persons Civil or Ecclesiasticall were ever called Head or Heads of the Church but Christ It is true the Magistrates are sometimes called the Heads of the People but not of the Church but under the Law Ecclesiasticall persons were not so much as called Heads of the people nay none of the Tribe of Levi were ever chosen or called Heads how much then doe men in our dayes imagine and assume power to themselves over Christs Church more then is given them by Christ so that they thinke they may enjoyne and impose what Laws they please upon Christs Church and people But let such looke to themselves 4 None can discerne and know the thoughts of the Children of men but Christ for he only is the (c) Heb. 4.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Discerner Tryer and knower of the thoughts and imaginations of men and he whose (d) Rev. 1.14 eyes are as a flame of fire sees through and through the hearts reines and inward parts of men 5 None have power (e) See Gen. 18.25 2 Tim. 4.8 Jam. 4.9 to Judge men for ever but Christ the Pope pretends he can send some to Heaven some to Hel and some between both yet a day will come when hee poore man or rather beast must and shall have a sentence past upon his owne soule and then where is he
only doe their worke in a right manner and to a right end Fourthly and lastly the Scriptures declare that Christ shall reigne in the world and in the Nations of the world To instance in a few in the second of Daniel the 44. verse The God of heaven will set up a Kingdome which shal never be destroyed which shal stand for ever And this Kingdome which is called the stone hewne out of the Mountaine shal destroy and breake in peeces all the remaining powers of the other foure Monarchies So in the 11. of the Revelation 15. vers The Kingdomes of this world shal become the Kingdomes of the Lord and of his Christ And else-where it is said His Dominion shal be from Sea to Sea and that he should have the utmost parts of the earth for his possession And in Esaiah the second and Micha the fourth there are promises that his Kingdome called the Mountaine of the Lord should be set upon the top of the Mountaines Surely these and many more Scriptures have somewhat of speciall concernment in them that relate to this Kingdome of Christ Obj. But you will say Iesus Christ himselfe when he was on earth denyed and resused an earthly Kingdome Joh. 18.36 for he saith My Kingdome is not of this world Answ T is true that Christ did then deny and refuse an earthly Kingdom for then was his comming in his humiliation rather then in his exaltation and to purchase a Kingdome rather then to possesse it The time when Christ spake those words was at his departure out of the world It is more then probable that Christ will come in great power and glory as the Jewes did expect him to call and redeeme them Mar. 24.30 Luk. 21.2 Mark 13.26 Zach. 12.10 Rev. 1.7 but he told the Jewes elsewhere and at another time That they should see him and say Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord Luk. 13.35 Let us take heed that we doe not over-looke Christs exalted state on earth as the Iewes did formerly his state of Humiliation but I doe observe that many people in these dayes doe stumble at three things 1 That the Saints should rule and governe the world but is there not all the reason in the world they should seeing that the world is upheld for their sakes also that they have been Sufferers in times past and are Conquerers of some parts of it at present and doth not Christ promise that he that over commeth and keepeth his works unto the end to him will be give power over the Nations Rev. 2.26 Object But some will say The weapons of the Saints anciently were faith teares prayers and patience and they did then rather choose afflictions and persecutions then make resistance and seek to reign over others Answ It s true that faith teares prayers c. are the best weapons and with these the Saints doe cheifly warre But yet it is as true that the Saints may lawfully fight for wee read that they are to have a two edged sword in their hands Psa 149.6 as well as the high prayses of God in their mouthes and in another place we read that they that lead into captivity meaning the Roman party should be led into captivity themselves But you will say by whom Rev. 13.10 Surely by the Army of the Lamb who are called and chosen Rev. 17.14 and faithfull There is a Generation of new upstart Courtiers that would beg the Saints for fooles and deale with them as Ziba did with Mephibosheth and by false wayes get what appertaines unto them out of their hands Or as a cunning fellow that would come to a rich man and tell him it is hard for him to go to heaven with all that riches and this he doth that he may dispossesse him of his riches that so he himselfe may have them but I hope the Saints are more wise then to be cheated out of their rights and priviledges by a generation of men who would have Saints to be their slaves who are themselves slaves to Satan 2 Some stumble at present proceedings and at the dealings of God in these dayes Saying we have neither precept nor example for what we do I will not speake particularly and largely to this point yet I would stirre up and provoke people to look upon the hand of God which is so evidently and eminently exalted lifted up though as the Prophet said of some They will not see but yet they shalsee and shal be ashamed But let us peruse a few Scriptures instead of many that might be produced that justifie this to be no other then the hand of God in the 110 Psal 5. verse The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath So it is in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in gentibus So in the 149. Psal 7 and 8. verses there judgement is said to be executed in the Nation and thein Kings to bee bound with chaines and their Nobles with fetters of iron So in Rev. 19.18 The foules of the aire were called to eate the flesh of Kings of Captaines and of mighty men c. So in Isay it is prophesied That Kings should shut their mouthes and bow before Christ and his Church What are all these Scriptures to be understood allegorically No sure it is more then probable that in the same manner as Christs great and wicked enemies opposed him and destroyed his people they shall be opposed and destroyed 3 Many stumble at this That meane men are exalted and the great and noble ones laid aside and not made use of But if the Scriptures be searched and considered this will not appeare any new or strange thing In the 21 of Ezek. 26. Thus saith the Lord God remove the diadem and take off the Crowne this shall not be the same exalt him that is low and abase him that is high So in Dan. 4.17 The most high said Nebuckhadnezar ruleth in the King dome of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will and setteth up over it the basest of men Also in Psa 113.7 8. God is said to raise up the poore out of the dust and to lift the needy out of the dunghill that hee may set them up with Princes Is this so strange unto men what have we not examples enough to wipe off this aspersion What were Moses Josuah Gideon Jephtha Saul David and many others were they not mean men and not tramed up or educated either for Civil or Military imployment who would have thought a Thresher as Gideon was a Keeper of his fathers Asses as Saul was or a poor Sheepheard as David was should be sit to lead rule such a people and Nation as Israel was Let us not then looke so much upon men for the Lord seeth not as man 1 Sam. 1. 6 7. for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart And the reason why God exalts
not be with enticing words of mans wisdome but in the demonstration of the Spirit and power Or further when our maine worke is to prepare a fine peece as they call it or a handsome quaint Sermon or Oration composed of Divinity History ancient sayings and witty sentences and all these neatly compiled and put together like a Posie and then delivered and acted like a Play then the blessed Word of God In the Primitive times and for two or three hundred years after Christ as a learned and godly man observed the Ministers of the Gospel spake as the Holy Ghost gave them utterance but when Antichrist began to prevaile that blessed plaine and ancient way of preaching was lest and lost and since even till now men have made a meere trade of preaching and it s become the fruit of study and brain-knowledge and the exercise of naturall gifts and parts rather then the breathings and teachings of Gods Spirit 2 Ministers declare that they have much of Selfe when they appropriate and assume to themselves a power over the Saints and Churches of Christ so as to give rules to them and to impose Lawes upon their Consciences 2 Cor. 1.24 but Paul having a more speciall Call professed That he had no dominion over the faith of the Saints but was a constant helper of their faith and joy but never exercised power but with the common consent of the Church where he was 3 Selfe appeares much in some Ministers by the contempt they shew to their brethren who are younger then they as esteeming them younglings and terming them upstart boyes that get up into Pulpits But let these men consider how unlike Moses they are who wished that all the Lords people were Prophets Secondly let this be considered by them that God hath not limited and confined his discoveries to old men but as Elihu said Job 31.8 9 There is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding Great men are not alwaies wise neither doe the aged understand judgement Thirdly such men were once young themselves and Paul commands that no man should despise Timothies youth Lastly young men have the promise of the Spirit as well as old men Act. 2.17 Fourthly Phil. 2 21. Ministers for the most part seeke their owne things and not the things of Jesus Christ as the Apostle complaines and it may be said as the Prophet said Esa 56.11 That every man lookes to his owne way and for gaine from his owne quarter Fifthly and lastly There is another roote of bitterneste and appearance of Selfe in the hearts of Ministers the Lord root it out that we love men more because they are of our opinion then because they are Saints and friends of Jesus Christ Hereupon we make opinion and not union with Jesus Christ which ought to be the ground of communion and fellowship one with another Having briefly shewed wherein Selfe appeares in Ministers I now shall humbly take leave to speake to you who are Magistrates whom God hath made honourable and imployed in weighty and honourable undertakings This Selfe doubtlesse is among you also and if you would take the Candle of the Lord and search narrowly in your owne hearts you might finde this enemy harbouring and hiding himselfe in your breasts and bosomes And for a helpe herein consider 1 That Selfe appeares in those who desire and endeavour to creep and get into places of Authority for their owne private interests and gaine They desire their places more then they deserve them and they looke more after their places then their places want them An example hereof you may finde in Absolon and in his words 2 Sam. 15.4 O that I were said he made Judge in the Land that any man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me and I would doe him justice Many are like the bramble in Jothans Parable Judg. 9.15 that would rule over the Trees of the Wood but poore is the service and shelter of a Bramble fit only to stop a hole in a Hedge no better are some that seek and serve in places of trust See whether any of you are guilty herein or any of your Servants and under-officers where-ever this is found it is abominable and odious 2 Magistrates seeke themselves when they make the utmost advantage of their places when they have got into them 2 King 5.21 22. Elisha punished his Servant with the same plague or Leprofie which Naaman had ver 27. a just punishment as Gehazi the Servant of Elisha tooke advantage of getting for himself from Naa man when his Master refused denied it So the case may be with you that though you your selves scorn and despise bribes and gifts yet some of your Officers and Servants may take them but if you doe either winke at approve of or let such things goe unpunished in them God will impute the same to you as well as unto them Neh. 5.15 Who can say there is not a lye in his right hand Esa 44.10 take therefore that blessed Nehemiah for your example who would not suffer his Servants to beare rule over the people as former Rulers did because of the feare of God 3 This is a signe of much Selfe when men will comply with Saints and seeme to be religious out of policy to procure a good name and esteeme among men as it is said in the eleventh of Daniel the 34. vers That many should cleave to the people of God by flatteries A notable example hereof wee finde in Ezra the fourth Chapter and the second vers of some that came unto Zerubbabel and to the chiefe of the Fathers and said unto them Let us build with you for we seeke your God as yee doe c. But marke the answer But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the cheife of the Fathers of Israel said-unto them you have nothing to doe with us to build an house unto our God As for such polititians that come in the evening of the day and at the end of the worke for their owne ends God will discover and confound them with their basenesse and perfidiousnesse 4 Examine whether you keep and detaine in your hands that which is due unto others I doe not speake this in way of reflection or reprehension but in way of caution and examination therefore I beseech you look into your own hearts and see whether it be so or no with you for as you have many opportunities to inrich your selves in these dayes so you will not want temptations to improve them for your owne advantage but observe this that of all times this is not a time to be building our own nests for either shortly we are like to have enough or none at all and honest men shall either share all or be no sharers at all but I do not fear the latter Fiftly and lastly men do exalt themselves when they do oppose the glory of God and