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
I begotten thee And Sit thou on my right hand till I make thy foes thy foot-stool Heb. 1.5.13 Yea All the fullness of the God-head dwells in him bodily Col. 2.9 2. A State of greater Authority Power and Majesty For he is set above all Authorities Principalities Powers Thrones Might or Dominion yea and every name that is named not only in this World but in that which is to come Eph. 1.21 For He hath put all things under his feet And Given him to be Head over all things to his Church ver 22. The Head top or chief of all Principality and Power Col. 2.10 Not only Lord of Lords and King of Kings Gods first-born higher then the Kings of the Earth As Rev. 17.14 19.16 Psal 89.27 But he is also A great King above all Gods Psal 95.2 Angels and Principalities and Powers being made subject to him 1 Pet. 3.22 Lord of all Act. 10.36 Being made in the Nature of Man so much better higher and more glorious then the Angels at he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they being not only owned of God as his Son begotten by him from the dead to all this excelâ—ent glory dignity and majesty even to be set at his right hand on the Throne of Majesty in the highest Heb. 1.3 4 5 13. 8.1 But as set on Gods own Throne Rev. 3.21 So as it 's said to all other Potestates and Powers Let all the Angels of God Or as in Psal 97.7 Worship him all ye Gods And again to him it is said Thy Throne O God endureth for ever The Sceptre of thy Kingdom is a Sceptre of Righteousness or a right Sceptre Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity Therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows Above all other Gods Potentates or Powers among either Men or Angels And thou Lord Jehovah in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the work of thy hands they shall perish but thou remainest they shall all wax old as a Garment as a Vesture shalt thou change them Or fold them up And they shall be changed but thou endurest and thy years shall not fail Heb. 1.6 8 9 10 11 12. Yea the Angels are all Ministring Spirits to him commanded by him and with one consent proclaim him the excellent and worthy one Worthy to receive Power and Riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing Rev. 5.11.12 In a word All Authority and Power in Heaven and over the Earth is given unto him And all that the Father hath is his Even all the Authority Power and fullness of the Father and it pleases to dwell in him Mat. 28.18 John 16.14 15. Col. 1.19 2.9 So that it may well be said as the Prophet foresaw That He is exalted extolled and very high Higher then Moses then Adam or David as some Jewish Criticks observe from the letters of the word Translated very being made up of the initial letters of those three Names Yea and should they to Adam joyn Abraham too whose name begins with the same letter their observation might hold true Isa 52.13 And herein also he is lifted up and so it behoved that he should be that he should suffer such things as he did and so should enter into Glory Luk. 24.26 That he might exercise and discharge the most glorious Offices most useful for us and most honourable for himself for and concerning our welfare and happiness Such as wherein he answers to all the most excellent and honourable things and persons under the Law and among the Israel after thâ— flesh that was lifted up to any honourable and useful Office or Service as the Covenant of Circumcision the Sabbaoth Sacrifices Temple c. Of which I may say more elsewhere I shall here only mention such Offices as were estated upon and exercised by most honourable persons amongst them as 1. The Prophets were holy and honourable persons and the office of a Prophet a most excellent useful and honourable imployment they having intercourse and Power with God and receiving their message from him for directing the people into the knowledge of him and of his mind and will concerning them Whence that of God to Abimelech concerning Abraham Restore the man his wife For he is a Prophet and he shall pray for thee Gen. 20.7 And Do my Prophets no harm Psal â—05 15 The Son of Man was to be and is lifted up into that honour and office For this is he of whom it was said A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you from among your Brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Deut. 18.15 18. With Act. 3.22 23. The Great Prophet And The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy Rev. 19.10 The Great Light In his Testimony Word and Doctrine and the true Light lightning every man coming into the World Who came a Light into the World that whosoever believeth on and followeth him may not abide in darkness but see the Light of Life John 1.9 8.12 12.46 And so I might say also of the Apostles That they were highly honourable and useful as to their office and he is the Great Apostle of our Profession Heb. 3.1 2. The Priests were holy and honourable Persons under the Law in respect of their Office And the Priesthood a most honourable and useful Office for making attonement and Reconciliation for the People by offering gifts and Sacrifices for them to that purpose their lips keeping Knowledge also and teaching the People the Law And Christ the Son of Man was to be and is exalted to that Honour and Office to be the Priest the great High Priest after the order of Melchisedech As God did raise him up to be his Prophet and Apostle giving him that honour and glory that no man in Heaven or Earth or under the Earth was found worthy of even to open the book of Gods Counsels and unloose the Seals of it and unfold the Mysteries therein contained Rev. 5.2 3 6. So he gave him also the honour and Office of the Priest-hood For no man takes to himself that honour of the High Priest-hood but he that is called of God as Aaron was Wherefore Christ also glorified not himself to be made an High Priest but he that said to him Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Said also to him Thou art a Priest to me for ever after the Order of Melchisedec Yea the Lord sware and will not repent saying Thou art a Priest for ever c. Heb. 5.3 4 5. c. 3. Whereas some of the Prophets or Priests had other additional honours beside merely their being Prophets and Priests or the like Christ is lifted up in this his glory unto such honour also As to say 1. Whereas Moses was also a Deliverer of them by the Power of God out of
of his mouth with which he is furnished to smite the Nations even all Nations over whom he hath power to rule them with a rod of iron Such a force and power as is able to and at his pleasure doth and will break in pieces what is against him And he also treads the Wine-press of the wrath of Almighty God and on his vesture and on his thigh he hath this Name written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS Even the most absolute and Sovereign Lord and King and with the foresaid Sword out of his mouth He and his followers or Disciples fight against and shall subdue his enemies the Beast and false Prophet and all their power either worldly or pretendedly religious that stands opposite against him Rev. 19.11 12 13 15 16 21. And this suits with what the Prophet Isaiah prophesied concerning him as the Son of man the great King sprung up as a rod out of the stem of Jesse and as a Branch out of his roots that he should with righteousness judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth and smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his mouth slay the wicked Isa 11.1 4. A mighty King indued with righteousness to punish sinners and destroy the wicked and wickedness and give peace safety and quietness to the good and righteous both in inward and outward man as he pleaseth yea both here as he sees good and hereafter fully and for ever at his glorious appearing and in his everlasting and most blessed Kingdom Isa 32.1 2. with 2 Thess 1.4 5 10. 2 Tim. 4.1 Seventhly As for his fulness of grace and truth for his saving and satisfying all that obey him he being set forth as the Author of eternal Salvation upon the account of and in the vertues of his most precious Death or Bloud of his Cross and in the exercise of his glorious Offices and Authority Heb. 5.9 They have declared that in him there is forgiveness of sins in his bloud even plenteousness of redemption for forgiving all trespasses and cleansing from all sins and unrighteousness Col. 1.14 2.14 Eph. 1.7 with Psal 130.4.6 7. 1 John 1.7 9. 2.1 2. and the fulness of all other spiritual blessings in heavenly things Eph. 1.3 Election is in him ver 4. Predestination to grace or glory ver 5. Acceptation into favour and fellowship with God ver 6. All spiritual wisdom and understanding Both as to himself for manageing his government and furnishing men in their looking and listening to him according to his good pleasure ver 8 9. Col. 2.3 And for making us wise and of an understanding heart Isa 42.1 1 John 5.20 All fulness of glorious power for strengthning with all might Col. 1.10 11. and subduing all things to himself Phil. 3.21 And what ever else may be named we might distinguish this grace into First Personal Graces and Perfections fitting him for his personal exercise of his glorious Offices as Love Mercy Truth Righteousness Patience Meekness Gentleness Strength Power Wisdom Holiness c. 2 John 3. Jude 21. 1 John 2.1 1 Tim. 1.14 16. Matth. 11.29 2 Cor. 10.1 Phil. 3.21 4.13 1 Cor. 1.24 Acts 3.14 c. Secondly Communicative Grace or Grace treasured up in him for us to be imparted to us such as Wisdom Righteousness Holiness Redemption the Spirit of God and all spiritual Gifts Efficacies or Vertues as Love Joy Peace Patience c. Gifts for Usefulness also and Edification as Knowledge Utterance Prophesie c. All the fulness of them dwell perfectly in him and all for our benefit and advantage Col. 1.19 1 Cor. 1.30 31. Eph. 1.7 8. Eighthly As to his glorious appearance and the effects of it or what he shall then manifest and bring to to pass they lift him up very highly also testifying That First He shall come again in great Majesty and Glory attended with all his mighty Angels and in the Power and Glory of God his Father to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe on him 2 Thes 1.7 8 10. Jude 14. 1. Thes 4.14 15 16. Secondly He shall raise up the dead Saints and change the then living and destroy their enemies the ungodly and wicked and the man of sin by the brightness of his appearing 1 Thes 4.16 2 Thes 2.8 2 Pet. 3.7 Thirdly He shall sit upon the Throne of his Glory and judge the world in righteousness Matth. 25.31 Psal 96.13 Acts 17.30 And then Fourthly He shall possess the Saints his followers of the Kingdom with him who shall reign with him a thousand years without any opposition threatning them and after the total destruction of all enemies they shall reign for ever and ever without disturbance or opposition in the New and Heavenly Jerusalem in inexpressible joy and happiness Dan. 7.26 27. Rev. 5.10 20.6 10. 22.5 Matth. 25.26 Such but far more excellent and glorious is the honour and glory that the Apostles in their testimony ascribe to him Lifting up the Horn the horn of his people the praise of all his Saints and his Kingdom and Dominion Psal 148.14 for 1. Largeness 2. Righteousness 3. Peace 4. Prosperity 5. Glory and 6. Endless happiness beyond all expression Of which I shall not inlarge here particularly to speak And so must and ought he also to be lifted up Fourthly Of their Followers the Ministers and Servants of the Lord in his Gospel in the exercise of their several Gifts and Administrations They that stand in his house and Courts are to praise his name and make his praise glorious Psal 134 1 2. 135.1 2 3. Not preaching and exalting themselves and seeking their own glory and honour to be adored and worshipped of men and called of them Rabbi and Master as Lords of their faith and ruling over Gods heritage but preaching Jesus the Lord and themselves servants for Jesus sake As the Apostles did 2 Cor. 4.5 being followers and imitaters of them and of the Prophets continuing in their Doctrine and the form of wholesome and sound words that they have delivered according to the furniture and assistance of the Holy Spirit to that end afforded them upon whom they are to depend and by whom to be acted and ordered therein Acts 20.28 31 35. 1 Pet. 5.2 3 4. Fifthly Yea and the Bride and whole Church and all that hear and receive his words as all ought to do and are professed followers and Disciples of him and his Doctrine ought to exalt and lift him up seeking his glory 2 Thes 1.12 Psal 99.5 6. Rev. 22.17 Living to him as all ought also to do who dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5.15 And this 1. In their hearts sanctifying him there 1 Pet. 3.15 That is thinking highly and honourably of him blessing and lauding him with all that is within them Psal 103.1 2. without grudging or murmuring in their hearts against him but keeping judgment and doing righteousness
he came and was born into the World for the publick general and universal benefit of Mankind And that so far as the nature of Man extendeth so far hath he relation and favour so as for the good of his Creature he came in and stands to the nature of man and not only of this or that person of it in the notion relation and affection of a Son And so we may understand that saying of the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 9.6 To or for us a Child is born To or for us a Son is given and the Government shall he upon hiâ— shoulder c. To or for us Men namely not Jews only though more immediately and directly to or for them as of them and first sent to them Rom. 9.5 Act. 3.26 To be their glory as it is said Salvation is of the Jews John 4.22 And he was born to be the glory to or of his People Israel Luk. 2.29 30 31 32. And so it is said Of them came Christ after the flesh who is God over all blessed for ever Amen But though he was of them so â—as not only of them some of the Gentile stocks as to his Mothers side were in his Geneology also Mat. 1.3 5. So much less was he for Salvation to them only but to be also a light to lighten the Gentiles as a Son or Child is called a Light or Lamp to the Parents or Family 1 King 11.36 15 4. And to be for Salvation to the ends of the Earth Luk. 2.32 Isa 49.6 And so a Child born To or for mankind the Son of Man as owning Man generally in a larger sense as his Mother though in a choice sense or more Spiritually they only are so that hear the Word of God and do it Luk. 8.21 He is so given to man and owns a Relation to Man as that he is the Saviour of all men especially of those that believe 1 Tim. 4.10 And so he puts an honour and dignity upon the Nature of Man though in a special sense he is the glory of his people Israel As before Both as to Israel after the flesh as after the flesh he came of them and also and most especially and chiefly of Israel after the Spirit whose Saviour and Portion in the most full and choice sence he is for ever But I say his being made Man puts an honour upon the Nature of Man and shews him to be a lover of Man even of that Nature and Creature above all others even Angels too whose Nature he took not Heb. 2.16 And that his delight is with the Sons of Men. As is said Prov. 8.31 For as it was a great honour that man was made in the Image and likeness of his Maker So it was a great honour and shewed yet more respect to Man and his Nature that God even the Word which was and is God the Son of God and Mans Maker For all things were made by him Joh. 1.2 Should be made in the likeness of men and in the habit of a man Phil. 2.7 8. Though as it 's twice said so it s twice true with respect to either Adam that Man being in honour and without understanding or not considering to walk worthy of it becomes like or is compared to the Beasts that perish Psal 49.12 20. But sure it 's a great priviledge to our nature to have such a Son begotten on and brought forth by it and to it as it were And he being also the Son of the Father in love and Truth full of goodness righteousness and charity What may not men expect from him as being his Brethren For so he is not ashamed to call us from such a Son from such a Brother who is also the Everlasting Father and so the wonderful one ready to cherish and provide for us for ever Sure he will and doth honour both his Father and Mother both God his Father and the man-hood or man as his Mother as in doing all things to his glory and renown so in doing what may be for her that is mans honour support and benefit Whatever a poor decayed decrepid Mother may expect from a loving Child that 's rich and honourable for her maintainance and support man may expect from this Son of Man yea in him the honour and dignity conferred upon the nature of Man in the first Adam is fully and with advantage restored And that which was truly affirmable of us in that first Adam Lord what is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of man that thou visitest him for thou hast made him a little lower then the Angels thou hast crowned him with glory and honour thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thine hands thou hast put all things under his feet c. Is now applyed to man in Christ Jesus with advantage I say because Angels and Authorities and Powers are also made subject to him Psal 8.4 5. With Heb. 2.5 6 7 8. 1 Pet. 3.22 1 Cor. 6.3 And what ever poor and perishing Brethren may hope for from a rich and powerful Brother that is good and righteous that may men expect from Christ the Son of Man only as in case such a Mother and Brethren be unruly proud scornful refuse to be helped by or receive relief from and be beholden to such a Son or Brother in such a way as is just and honourable to Himself and to his Father but will rather rejecting his help shirk elsewhere through their stubborness contempt and scorn they may ruine themselves so is it with man here But because his delight is with the Sons of men as his Brethren and he loves and honours the nature of man as his Mother in a sort therefore he calls to men and counsels them to be ruled by him that he might by relieving them make them happy As it is said Doth not wisdom cry and understanding lift up her voice As who would say can that be denied or doubted of surely no it 's a matter beyond controversie She stands upon the top of high places where she may with the most and greatest audibleness and advantage call by the way in the places of the paths She is not far from any one of us but in all mens ways and walkings though she walk not with them nor can go in their paths she is by her Spirit striving in man judging reproving and calling to him She cryeth at the Gates at the entry of the City As and when men come to the years of discretion and are entring as it were into the World to be conversing there-with choosing and refusing for themselves at the coming in at the dores The entring into or upon their several conditions or states wherein they are seeking rest To you ô men I call and my voice saith she is to the sons of men O ye simple understand wisdom and ye fools be the of an understanding heart hear for I will speak of excellent things and the opening of my
as the Son of God without Being made the Son of Man had not therein been low or abased but had a bid in his proper height uncapable of higher exaltation in himself but it was the Son of God become the Son of Man that was abased and low and therefore as the Son of Man though also the Son of God in that form or state that was to be exalted or lifted up Which is worthy to be noted against those who make the humanity of Christ to be but a dispensation made use of for a time that is till the Spirit was sent forth to be the Comforter and then as Moses and his ministration passed away to give place to Christ and his Ministration when he came in the flesh So Christ his flesh or his being in it was to pass away and cease And mens minding his flesh humanity or dispensation therein to pass away in the coming of the Spirit Indeed his appearing in the flesh to Minister in it and as a man by personal acting preaching and working Miracles visibly among men was to cease not at the coming of the Spirit but before it and to make way for it to be powred forth upon the Disciples that they in and by it might be inabled and strengthned to minister in his stead But his Flesh or Body neither ceased to be in him nor to be useful to and for us and needful to be known understood and considered by us even after the Spirit was sent forth upon the Apostles for the Spirit when he came witnessed of him who was in the Flesh and confessed him not come in the Spirit but come in the Flesh Saith 1 Joh. 4.2 And every Spirit that confesseth not Christ come in the flesh but lays him aside in that consideration as no more needful to be eyed or known and so that speaks of him as gone out of the flesh except they thereby only mean out of his frail infirm state is not of God but is that Spirit of Antichrist that was to come into the World and now is in the World ver 3. It is the Son of Man which the Spirit cannot be said to be that is to be lifted up Let that be minded by us 3. I might also note that in saying the Son of Man must be lifted up there is implied some agent to lift him up for where there is a subject to be wrought upon there is also in what is wrought upon or about it something that acts or works as when any thing is heated there is something heats it When any thing is beaten there is something or person beats it So when any thing is exalted or lifted up there is some thing or person exalts it As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so there is some body some persons or person that must lift up the Son of Man which we shall inquire into and consider who or what it is in our speaking further to the act it self of lifting him up Which we come now to consider more fully as taken in the second sense of that expression as the lifting up signifies to Exalt or Magnifie CHAP. VI. A Twofold way of Exalting the Son of Man either by real Action upon his person namely Or by demonstration of him and his worth and excellency to others The former of these is here inlarged upon NOW Christ the Son of Man may be capable of lifting up or being exalted two ways suitable to the twofold way of his being low that is 1. As to real and Personal Exaltation by something acted upon himself Or 2. As to Demonstration and Manifestation of him to others for exalting him in their views and esteems Let us consider these Two ways distinctly And so 1. 1. As to the former He was exalted and lifted up of God even the Father He exalted lifted up and glorified him as was behoveful and needful for us in diverse Acts. As to say 1. In his taking the Humanity or Seed of David Abraham and so of the Woman The Son of Man into unity of Person with his Eternal Word or only begotten Son As was hinted by the way before And this was a great favour to and exaltation of that Seed As it is said I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have Exalted one chosen out of the People Psal 89.19 And that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Luk. 1.35 Though indeed this was rather a lifting up that Nature then that Person 2. In his calling him forth to suffer for us or rather his accepting him and his sufferings for us as a valuable price of our Redemption a satisfaction to his Justice and Sacrifice or Atonement for our sins And so our Saviour himself may be understood to say when speaking of the hour of his sufferings he saith John 12.23 The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified And when Judas was gone out to betray him into the hands of sinners he said Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him John 13.31 And with that agrees the Apostle in Heb. 2.9 Where he saith That Jesus was Crowned with glory and honour for the suffering of Death that he by the Grace of God might cast Death for every man Not only that he was glorified through sufferings but that he might taste Death And indeed as the other so this also was a great glory and honour though a great abasement in the World and suffering in himself as he was the Son of God that the Father should account and value him at so high and great a rate as to judge him this Son of Man of sufficient value to answer for and expiate the sins of the World Whereas all other Sacrifices though all the Beasts of Lebanon could not be sufficient for a burnt sacrifice nor all the Wood in that mighty Forest sufficient to burn to kindle that fire that should consume that that should be pleasing to him for any mans sin Isa 40.16 Not thousands of Rams nor ten thousand rivers of Oyl no nor the fruit of the body even the first-born for the sin of the Soul Mic. 6.7 No nor the richest wealthiest man in the world how ever full of riches or high and mighty could by all his riches though he offer them all or lay them all out in Sacrifices to be offered up to God for any one man though his dearest brother could make an expiation of his sins so as to give thereby a sufficient price to God for him that he might live for ever and not see Corruption So precious is the Redemption of the Soul Psal 49.7 8. Yet God hath accepted the abasement sufferings and sacrifice of his Son the Son of Man as a valuable sufficient Ransome for all men so as through him to preach remission of their sins to them and justifie all that believe on him upon that account from all things from which they could not
of understanding and every way accomplished for his fulfilling the will of God in the exercise of the aforesaid Offices He is in Scripture called the Messiah Dan. 9.25 John 1.41 And which is the same by interpretation the Christ. Both those words the Messiah which is an Hebrew and the Christ which is a Greek word signifying in English The Anointed one And so what the Psalm hath The Lord and his Anointed Psal 2.2 The Apostles in Greek in Acts. 4.26 Calls The Lord and his Christ. And because the anointing was a consequent and declaration of Gods choice of such a person to be King or Priest or Prophet therefore the Rulers of the Jews add as an Epethite to the Christ The chosen one of God Luk. 23.35 And all this honour and office was to be put upon him of necessity That he this Son of Man might be Gods Salvation to the ends of the Earth Isa 42.1 6. 49.6 The Saviour of the world John 4.42 The Saviour of all men but especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4.10 Not only or not so much from temporal and bodily evils and bondages as from Spiritual and Eternal from Sins Matt. 1.21 And from the Wrath of God and curse of the Law and power of Sathan Gal. 3.13 1 Thes 1.10 Heb. 2.14 1 John 3.5 8. As afterward may be more fully considered when we if God grant us to come at it consider the end of this his Exaltation As also That in all this God might be glorified As it is said God hath given him a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee might bowe of things in Heaven and things on Earth and things under the Earth and that every tongue might confess that he is the Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2.10 11. Yea and further so it was behoveful and needful that he should be lifted up to fulfil the Scriptures in which it was fore-prophesied of him that thus he should be Exalted for there he is called The mighty God Isa 9.6 The Immanuel God with us Isa 7.14 And that he should be called forth to the satisfying Gods Justice for us by his death and sufferings is largely shewed Psal 22. Isa 53. And in other places And so it 's said He dyed for our Sins according to the Scriptures And that he was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.3 4. And therefore when he opened the Scriptures to the Disciples and their understandings to understand them He said unto them So it behoved that Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead and that repentance and remission of Sins should be preached in his name Luk. 24.46 47. And so for his Ascention to Gods right hand and sitting there till all his foes be made his foot-stool Psal 110.1 With Act. 2.33 34 35 36. Yea both his sufferings and the glory that followed was fore-signified by his Spirit to the Prophets 1 Pet. 1.10 11. But yet we may not think that it was the Prophets fore-seeing and foreshewing these things that was the proper cause of their being ordered of God to be done no but they therefore fore-saw and fore-shewed them because God had ordered them to be so done and they were so ordered of God 1. Because he loved us and was loth that we should perish As the next verse informs us Where it is said God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son rendring that as the reason why he must be so lifted up Because God so loved us as to give him to be our Saviour therefore accordingly he must be lifted up as God in his love to us had designed him And Gods love led him so to design 2. Because our needs required it we were so fallen and lost by our sins and iniquities that no other way could be sufficient for us to succour and save us But these things being included in the end of his being lifted up viz. That whosoever believeth on him might not perish but have everlasting life I shall God willing further consider them there Only adding that 3. He must be lifted up as to his glorious Resurrection and Exaltation in Heaven which is most properly the lifting of him up in this sense here spoken of because as God had promised to him that he would uphold him and his right hand should be with him and help and strengthen him and he would give him for a Covenant to the People for a light to the Gentiles And to such glory as is fore-spoken of as foreshewed in the Scriptures of the Prophets So he also deserved all this glory and it would have been unrighteousness to him had he not been lifted up in that manner He was worthy for his being slain for us to receive of God Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing Rev. 5.11 12. And God is a just God and without iniquity He can do no unrighteousness and therefore to be sure none to his only Son whom he called in Righteousness both to his work and service and to this honour and glory in the reward and recompence of it Isa 42.5 6. 53.12 Phil. 2.9 10 11. And thus he was to be and is lifted up really and personally in himself by God his Father acting upon him which was the first way The second follows CHAP. VII Of the second way of lifting him up Viz. By demonstration of him and his glory unto men â—y whom that was and is to be performed and wherein SEcondly he was to be lifted up and must be so in the demonstration of him to men in order to the lifting him up in their hearts and esteems and that was to be and was done 1. Principally of God both Father Son and Holy Spirit 2. Of God his Father and so he was lifted up by him in his bearing testimony to him by commending him unto men as his only begotten Son peculiarly owned and approved of him and this he did diversly as 1. In his audibly witnessing to him from Heaven that he is his well-beloved Son in whom he is well-pleased and whom he would have men to hear And this he did both to the Baptist with visible Testimony also accompanying it as the opening of the Heavens and descent of the holy Ghost upon him in a visible appearance like a Dove As God when he sent John to Baptize had foretold him he should see as a demonstration of the Person of the Son of God and the Saviour of the World Matt. 3.17 John 1.32 33 34. As also to the three Disciples who went up into the holy Mount with him and see him Trans-figured before them as is mentioned in Matt. 17.1 5. Mark 9.2 7. Luk. 9.28 35. And by the Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 1.16 17 18. As also he did bear witness to him when by an audible voice from heaven he said He had both glorified his name and would glorifie
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
upon which they Ascend and Descend John 1.51 Rev. 19.10 And so we find the Angel Gabriel lifting up and commending the Messiah in his work and business Dan. 9.24 27. where he speaks both of the cutting off the Messiah and of the fruits and consequents thereof as the finishing transgression making an end of Sin making reconciliation for iniquity bringing in everlasting Righteousness c. The Angel Gabriel also brought down an honourable Testimony of him in which he lifted him up in Luk. 1.26.31 32 33. Where he said to the Virgin concerning him That He should be great and be called the Son of the highest and the Lord God should give him the Throne of his Father David and he shall Reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end c. As also an Angel lifted him up to the Shepheards at his Birth Saying to them Fear not for I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people For unto you You men in distinction from us Angels is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Luk. 2.10 11. Yea A multitude of the heavenly Host then also immediately being with that Angel honoured and lifted him up at his Birth Praising God and saying Glory to God on the highest and on Earth peace and good will toward men Luk. 2.13 Angels also witnessed to his Resurrection Mat. 28.2 5 6 7. Luk. 24.4 5 6 7 23. And to his Ascending up to Heaven and return from thence Act. 1.10 11. Yea and of his Glory there received as is evident in those Doxologies or Glorifyings of him mentioned Rev. 5.11 12. 7.11 12. Worthy is the Lamb that was stain to receive Power Riches Wisdom Strength Honour Glory and Blessing 2. I might add also That all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth and such are in the Seas do exalt and lift him up for so John tells us he heard them all saying Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth on the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever Rev. 5.13 But I only briefly mention those and come to those Creatures that are most concerned in him and his praises even our selves Men. And so he hath been is and must be lifted up By 3. Holy men his holy Apostles and Prophets as also by all his Messengers Servants and Saints even his whole Church through the helpfulness and by the power and strength of the holy Ghost as instruments in his hands And so he was lifted up and exalted 1. By the holy Prophets which were before his coming For To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name all that believe in him shall receive the forgiveness of sins Act. 10.43 And the Apostle Peter speaking again of the Death Resurrection and Exaltation of Christ tells us That all the Prophets from Samuel and those that followed spoke of those days Aâ—â— 3.24 Namely those in which those things were done and accomplished And that they Prophesied of the grace brought now unto us 1 Pet. 1.10 Whence also the Apostle Paul saith That he testified to small and great saying no other things then those which Moses and the Prophets did say should come to pass Viz. That Christ should suffer and be the first that should rise from the Dead and shew Light to the Gentiles and to the People Act. 26.22 23. 2. By John the Baptist who was the immediate forerunner of Christ a Prophet and more then a Prophet Being the Man sent of God to bear witness to Christ the Light That messenger sent before his face to prepare the way for him And his work and business was in bearing Witness of him to exalt and lift him up that all men through him might believe And he did highly lift him up and bare an honourable testimony of him as that he was before John and he himself not worthy to unloose the latchet of his Shoes That He is the Christ the true Light the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World the Baptizer with the holy Ghost the Bride-groom that hath the Bride c. John 1.6 7 8 9 15. 3. By the holy Apostles also whose office and business it was to be witnesses to him John 15.27 And to Preach and proclaim him so as to set him forth lift him up exalt and magnifie him in and unto all things And they by the holy Spirit and the holy Spirit in an by them and their Ministry according to the Doctrine of the Prophets fore-given forth by the holy Spirit concerning him Rom. 1.1 2 3 have highly extolled and lifted him up Preaching him 1. As to his person The Son of God Even the same that according to the Spirit and Divine Nature was in the beginning with God and God He by whom and for whom all things were made whether in Heaven or Earth visible or invisible Thrones Dominions Principallities or Powers all things were Created by him and for him and that by him all things consist he being before them That he is the Heir of all things the express character of the Fathers Person and the brightness of his glory The Wonderful the Councellor the Mighty or great God and our Saviour The Immanuel God with us John 1.1 2 3. Col. 1.15 16 17. Heb. 1.2 3. 1 Tim. 3.16 Tit. 2.13 Isa 9.6 That he is the Christ the Messiah He that was prophesied before of and promised by all the Prophets of God from the beginning of the World The only excellent person designed of God and promised from the beginning to be the Author Procurer and Dispenser of all grace and blessing to us John 1.41 45. Mat. 1.21 22 23. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. The very Christ Act. 9.20 22. He that was in the form of God not thinking Robbery to be equal with God but was sent of God in the nature and fashion of a man to be the Saviour of the world Phil. 2.6 7. John 3.17 Gal. 4.4 5. 1 John 4.14 2. As to his work and business that it was totally for us and our good a work of exceeding advantage to us and necessity for us Not to Condemn the World but that the World might be saved by him John 3.17 Not to judge the World but to save it John 12.4 7. And that by taking away its Sin John 1.29 And that by the Sacrifice of himself Heb. 1.3 9.26 Giving his flesh for the life of the World John 6.51 And so that he might by his death destroy him who had the power of Death the Devil and deliver those who by reason of the fear of Death were all their life-time subject to Bondage Heb. 2.14 15. That he might abolish or evacuate the destructive power and force of Death and bring life and Immortality to light 2 Tim. 1.10 Taking away Sin and destroying the works of the Devil 1 John 3.5 8. That so he might bring us to God 1
and trusted to as the great Devise and Ordinance of God for our Salvation attended after an especial and singular manner with his divine presence and blessing â— Cor. 1.21 22.23 24. Rom. 1.16 And so the Preaching of him and his Cross is the effectual means for saving them that believe Even as Moses did not nor might lay by the Serpent because made of Brass nor the people upon that account slight it as knowing it after the Flesh after the wisdom of the flesh or the outward matter and substance of it but knowing it after the Spirit as the Ordinance of God and accompanied with his presence and power He was to and did set it up and they were to look to it So ought we not knowing Christ after the flesh but after the Spirit not as many deluded persons who judging of him and all his ordinances and Messengers according to the Flesh that is after their own carnal Wisdom and according to the meanness of the outward and appearing substance both of him and them do therefore slight and fall off from both him and them not making use of or reverencing them nor looking for grace and blessing from him the Son of Man But as Gods holy ones who beheld him as Gods appointment and according to his Divine being and perfection and as commended by the holy Spirit so let us look to him for all help and Salvation in those Ordinances and ways that are of his appointing 5. As Moses lifted up the Serpent only and nothing with it or besides it as the appointment of God for healing those that were stung no medicine or plaster did he commend besides or with it nor any other Mettal however to appearance more pretious did he add or joyn to it nor any invention of his own or of any other mans whatsoever but simply and singly lifted up the Serpent of Brass and directed the people to behold it Indeed in lifting up the Serpent he lifted up the Pole also upon which it was or set it on an end but not as having any virtue of or in it self nor as any thing to be looked to for healing but only as a medium or means of lifting up the Serpent that it might be seen and that it not the Pole might have the wounded peoples eyes fixed upon it Even so must Christ be lifted up and nothing but He. Nothing with him or besides him the simplicity of the faith of him is to be kept Nothing else to be Preached â—or pointed to for any man to fix his eye upon and expect help from but only Christ Crucified as lifted up only and alone upon the Cross and so out of the Grave to Gods right hand for us No work of ours nor any other order or Ordinance of God or Man is to be joyned with him herein as the thing or person appointed of God to heal or save us or as the thing to be viewed eyed or trusted in for forgiveness life or righteousness No other name whether of thing or person given under Heaven whereby we must be saved but only the name of the Lord Jesus Because there is Salvation in none other besides him 2 Cor. 11.2 3. Act. 4.11 12. 1 Cor. 2.2 If we look for life on either side of him Crucified we view a Thief that which robs him of the honour due alone to him and us of his grace and blessing Indeed the Ordinances of God are to be observed by us even as Moses also observed the command of God in taking a Pole and putting the Serpent upon it but as that was in order to the lifting up the Serpent not as attributing any thing of medicinableness to the Pole but only as a means to lift up the Serpent that it might be seen which God gave the virtue to or by So also Baptism and the Supper and Preaching and Prayer are to be used but not as if they of themselves were of any benefit to us but as Christ the Son of man is discovered to us and exhibited to our view by them or eyed in them They that use them or lift them up otherwise making them the objects of their hopes and the things as in themselves eyed by them abuse them and erre from the truth Those observations as Preaching namely though otherwise never so eloquent pithy witty zealous and so Baptism or the Supper though as to the outward observation never so right if any way they may be practised so as that they present not or men look beside the Son of Man they are but as if the Pole had been lifted up without the Serpent upon it And the eying them or prayer or any thing else beside or without Christ but as if the Pole had been eyed below or without the Serpent upon it It 's Christ only that should be the great object of our Preaching or commendation to people no work order or ordinance of and for it self nay no zeal humility love or the like are the things in which we are to seek our healing they may if right be of the effects and included in the health to be sought in and by Christ or pious frames in and for the lifting up of Christ but not the Medicine It 's only Christ that is to be shewed forth to men and looked upon by men that they might find healing and so that they might be rightly humble zealous loving holy c. And yet as the lifting up the Serpent alone did neither hinder the honour of God who had not been honoured if his order had been slighted and who was honoured in giving virtue and power to such his appointment however in it self unlikely and unable otherwise to produce such an effect nor was any hindrance to the desireableness or goodness or to mens actual desires of health and sound recovery but was a means to satisfie mens desires in obtaining the good and benefit of health So neither doth the lifting up only the Son of Man either dishonour nay but it highly honours God that sent him and gave him to us He that honoureth the Son honoureth the Father also Nor any whit detracts or derogates it from the desirableness excellency and usefulness or the desires after or pressing men to desire and follow after right holiness charity peace joy c. which are things only to be sought and obtained by and through the lifting up of and looking to Jesus as so lifted up only for us and therefore such lifting him up is the direct way to and furtherance of such virtues and virtuous desires and indeavours contrary to some mens ignorant suspicions and false accusations of such Doctrine and teaching But yet there is this great difference that the Serpent had no worth or usefulness in it self to speak of but in order to that health and safety through it to be effected in the looker on it But Christ is not only a means to virtue in us and to the reward of it but is in himself a person of
affliction we must enter into Gods Kingdom Acts 14.22 No partaking of this life but through death and that 1. Through a Spiritual Death or death in and of our Spirits to false life as to the life of or in sin life to the world and to the Law as thinking to have life thereby as in our own righteousness according thereunto No living to righteousness and to God but in dying to sin and to the world so as to cease to be slaves or servants to them Rom. 6.10 11. Gal. 6.14 1 Pet. 2.24 nor is there any living to Christ and so to God but through dying to the Law as to our hopes and rejoycings in our own righteousness according thereunto Gal. 2.19 And in these kinds of deaths there are pains in self-denials taking up our cross for Christs sake Mat. 16.24 2. Through the bodily Death for neither is there any entring into the joys and glories of Heaven and of the life to come so as to the actual full fruition of them but through bodily Death and Grave except of such as shall be found alive at his appearing 1 Thes 4.15 16. that so we may be made conformable to the death of Christ and be planted therethrough into the likeness of his Resurrection in our body also For the way to this life is also 2. Through the Resurrection from the dead otherwise if we should dye in our selves to false lives and never rise up in a true and divine life we could not have eternal life The life of Christ is a life from the dead whence he is called the first begotten or first-born from the dead Col. 1.18 Rev. 1.5 and so all that share with him therein are raised up to a life from the dead too First raised up in their spirits with him through the faith of the operation of God Col. 2.12 3.1 crucified with Christ to self and flesh and sin and all false life but yet so as they live yet not they but Christ liveth in them Gal. 2.20 And then also at the great day of Christs glorious appearing their dead bodies shall be raised up by him and be made like his Thence the Resurrection said to be to those that have done good a Resurrection to Life Joh. 5.28 29. and Christ in telling us that they who believe on him shall have everlasting life once and again adds And I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6.40.44 as implying that they must pass through death and be raised up again thereunto 2. In respect of the manner of their having it they have it as they have Christ himself who is their life the ground foundation authour and the fountain of it Col. 3.3 4. and so only in receiving abiding in and enjoyment of him and so 1. They have it here in a sense not in the fulness and perfection of the fruition of it for we are not capable of having it so now and here while we have not Christ in Person with us but they have it now 1. In Christ the Heir of it and the root and spring of it that eternal life that was with the Father and was manifested to us 1 Joh. 1.2 5.11 12 13. as they have him theirs and have union with and interest in him through whom also they have it 2. In a first fruits of the Spirit and of the Life that is in and by it and so in a begun life or happy state of forgiveness acceptance spiritual quickning c as before said 3. In the promise of the whole even of the full fruition of it to be had hereafter God and Christ have given it them in his Will and Testament so as in believing on the Son of Man they are made Heirs of it Tit 1.2 3.7 1 Joh. 2.25 This is the promise that he hath promised us even eternal life 1 Joh. 2.25 See also Gal. 3.29 And so they have it 4. In the hope of it Tit. 1.2 1 Pet. 1 3 4. 2. In the state to come they shall have it 1. Upon their dissolution and going to Christ in their spirits more fully resting in and with Christ and being blessed Phil. 1.21.23 Rev. 14.13 2. Upon their Resurrection in the full perfect and perpetual possession and fruition of it for ever Mark 10.30 A portion infinitely desirable and worthy the looking after and yet this is the portion of every one that believeth on the Son of Man without exception No respect of persons no difference of stronger or weaker believer as to the future enjoyment or present right to and interest in it by and through Jesus Christ There is neither Male nor Female Jew nor Greek Circumcision nor Uncircumcision bond or free but all are one in Christ Jesus and if Christs then Abrahams Seed and Heirs according to promise Gal. 3.28 29. And yet in the rewards to be received in the Davidical Kingdom or the thousand years reign at the coming of Christ and before he deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father and God be all in all there will doubtless be different degrees of Glory and Honour conferred according to mens different works services faithfulness and fruitfulness in their services and greatness of their sufferings for him as is hinted in those parabolical passages Be thou Ruler over ten Cities be thou Ruler over five Luc. 19.17 19. otherwise it would be all one to serve Christ little or much here to be abundant or sparing in the work of the Lord contrary to that of the Apostle He that soweth liberally shall reap liberally and he that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly 2 Cor. 9.6 Though yet a shorter work more singly done may have equal reward with a larger not so singly done as the Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard Mat. 20. may seem to import Wherefore Let us be always stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the works of the Lord knowing that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord Rev. 20.6 with 5.10 1 Cor. 6.2 3. with 15 24 28.58 CHAP. XV. The application of the two former viz. the fourth and fifth 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 THE consideration of the two last mentioned observations shewing the necessity and advantage of believing on the Son of Man as also the nature of this believing is and may be very useful upon diverse accounts As to Use 1. Exhort and press all men to believe on the Son of Man the Lord Jesus Christ as declared and set forth unto them in and by the discoveries teaching and operation of God and his Spirit vouchsafed to them And that they may believe on him to listen to mind and embrace and hold fast the Faith or Doctrine of him in which is the power spirit and hand of the Lord moving and enabling to believe yea begetting in the heart this faith that is so necessary and profitable for men For
saith is of hearing and hearing is of the word of God not of every hearing nor of every word but of hearing the word of God From which word hearing or the hearing Ear also is effected and proceeds Rom. 10.17 For no man can come unto Christ this Son of Man unless it be given to him of God unless he draws him and he draws by his teaching men the knowledge of him whence it is said every one that heareth and learneth of the Father comes unto him Joh. 6.44 45 65. It is of his own good will that he begets men through the word of truth to be of a contemptible vile worthless creature as man hath made himself by his sin a kind of first-fruits of his creatures a more noble and prime creature to him a new creature a first-fruits of his future new creation therefore it behooves men every one to be swift to hear slow to speak slow to wrath slow to murmur and be angry at the word of truth and the instructions reproofs and counsels of it because clashing with the wisdom and will of the flesh the principles thoughts and practices of the world and of the wise men thereof but with meekness to receive the ingraffed word the word as God puts and ingraffs it into the heart which is able to save the Soul being not only hearers of the word but doers of it as it is working and so God in and with it to will and to do of good pleasure Jam. 1.18 19 21. Phil. 2.12 13. turning at Gods reproofs therein given from whatsoever in conceit apprehension or opinion we hold or imagine that clashes with the truth discovered in the word and its instructions that we may so conceive judge and believe as that declares and informs us of all things and from whatsoever in affection desire purpose or practice we naturally or through evil principles or customs affect desire purpose or practice disagreeing with and reproved by the light and instruction of that blessed word that so we may obey its counsel and instruction and affect desire purpose and practice what it commends and leads us to seeking after that and so the wisdom of God will pour out his spirit to us and make known his words Prov. 1.22 23. and so hearing the Soul shall live Isa 55.3 there through attaining to know the name of the Lord the Son of Man we shall be strengthened framed and have the will set to trust in him Psal 9.10 in meditating in the law and doctrine of the Lord and exercising our selves in it day and night the heart will be fixed to trust in the Lord and to make him its hope Yea and therein to be rooted grounded and fixed like a Tree planted by the water side so as to abide in the blasts of temptations and be fruitful in every good work increasing in the knowledge of God strengthened with all might according to his glorious power to all patience and long suffering with joyfulness Psal 1.1 2 3. Jer. 17.7 8. Col. 1.10 11. for the Gospel of Christ the preaching of the cross is the power of God to salvation even from unbelief and all the power of darkness to every one that believes it Rom. 1.16 1 Cor. 1.22 23. So as that in taking diligent heed thereto and yeilding up our selves to the power that worketh therein we shall be helped and framed to believe on the Son of God it s through his name that men receive power to believe on him Acts 10.43 and therefore it behooves all men as they would avoid the perishing from Gods way and the everlasting misery and destruction at the end and as they would obtain the everlasting life and happiness propounded and promised to give serious and diligent heed and obedience thereto who would willingly incur pain grief and affliction here or to perish by hunger cold prison gallows or the like and yet these things are infinitely short of the evil of perishing from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power for ever Yea who that is travelling to some remote place where if he go right on to it he shall find great riches honours or gain would be willing or through carefulness expose himself to loose and be lost out of the way and to wander in a Wilderness among bryers and thorns boggs and lakes yea among wild and savage creatures as serpents lyons tygers c. when in a diligent careful inquiry after and attendance to some faithful direction and guide he might go right and safe and attain the good proposed and miss that perishing by hunger cold the teeth of the wild beasts that he is otherwise in danger off and yet that perishing from the way and danger of finally perishing by the ways or means forementioned are little evils in comparison of perishing from Gods way and by what that perishing exposes to who again that hath proffer and opportunity of being made rich honourable living pleasantly and delightfully for a long time so long suppose as was the life of Methuselah would willingly refuse and loose such enjoyments and incur answerable miseries and yet this eternal life which God hath promised to give to them that believe on and follow after the Son of Man is infinitely more excellent then all the honours riches pleasures and most excellent enjoyments of this world though they might be enjoyed safely not only so long as the life of Methusalah but also so long as from the beginning of this world to the end thereof without interruption Oh therefore how concerns it all men to come and believe on the Son of Man and to that purpose to listen to and receive the teachings of God concerning him that such miseries may be missed and such mercies enjoyed that they may not perish in the way and from the end but may have everlasting life Vse 2. How doth this then reprove the vanity folly pride and wickedness of the world which rejects and puts from them and matter not to believe on this most excellent one whom God to such glorious ends hath raised up for us If it be folly and madness in men who may in hearing their Fathers and freinds good instructions in matters of this world live well and comfortably have and get yet more of the good things of this world to maintain them and preserve them from want and beggery and make them live in credit and repute to turn their backs upon such good counsels and thereby willingly and wilfully through their pride folly slothfulness love of bad company or the like bring themselves into debt poverty prisons and nothing but a Series of miseries How much more is it folly and madness for the world or any of us to neglect Gods word and Gods Son and that great Salvation wrought and preached and brought to us by so great and glorious a hand as that of this Son of Man being also the Son of God the mighty God and our Saviour and thereby to
the great thing that the Gospel-Believers and Obeyers have to do is to hold fast what they have and go on in the way that they are in till Christ come As is said Rev. 2.24 25. Infer 3. And surely since the Doctrine that lifts up Christ is so excellent a Doctrine and is of so great usefulness to Men where it comes and of such blessed an advantage to those that receive it it most be a choice priviledge and an high honour for any to be betrusted with and employed of God in this Doctrine to be acquainted with the contents of it and to have it committed to them and they furnished to declare and preach it and to be the servants of God and Christ therein for they are betrusted with exceeding great riches and precious treasures as the Apostle saith We have this treasure in earthen Vessels 2 Cor. 4.7 It 's a treasure they are betrusted with the choice commodities of Heaven are put into their hands to dispense in subordination to Christ therefore the Apostle mentions it as a great grace bestowed upon him to be an Apostle We have received grace and Apostleshâ—p by Jesus Christ Rom. 1.5 And to me who am less than the least of all Saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ Eph. 3.8 See how he valued and highly esteemed this favour of Christ also in 1 Tim. 1.13 14. Where speaking of the glorious Gospel of the blessed God committed to his trust he adds And I thank Christ Jesus my Lord for that he hath inabled me and counted me faithful putting me into the Ministry an high favour especially to be conferred on worthless persons who have deserved the quite contrary as there he adds of himself whither we respect 1. God and Christ who betrust and imploy them in it It s an high favour to be Gods and Christs Banner-bearers Stewards Ministers Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 His Embassadors sent and employed by him in his choice Messages even to treat with the World about their making peace with Heaven and to wooe and take a Spouse and People for Christ out of the World to be united with him and live with him in joy and happiness for ever 2 Cor. â— 18 19 20. An honourable employment an office worthy to be magnified Rom. 11.13 Or 2. Men in respect of them they are betrusted with their choice commodities which God hath prepared for and gives forth to them they are in a fort betrusted with their Souls to seek them in the name of the Lord and to be instruments of the greatest good to them even salvation and life everlasting to watch for them and wooe them for their utmost happiness and thence they are in a subordinate sense to Christ called Saviours Obad. 16. Yea they have their choice riches and jewels in their hands or Ministry to dispense to them for their inriching the choice medicine of Gods own providing for them to administer to them They are in the name and stead of Christ in and to the World in respect of Ministration and have his glory and power given unto them in his name unto men to open the eyes of the blind and to turn them from darkness unto light and from the power of Sathan unto God that they may receive remission of sins and inheritance among the sanctified by the faith which is in him Joh. 17.22 Act. 26.18 with Isa 42.6 7. Indeed these things agree principally to the Apostles but they also reach to others as they share in and take part of the same ministry which is one and the same committed in whole to the Apostles and in parts and parcels to the succeeding Ministers of this Gospel-doctrine So as they are all in their measure the Apostles more immediately and fully others more mediately and as deriving by them Gods instruments for converting regenerating or begetting Children unto God yea and of bringing them forth and nursing them up with his Heavenly Doctrine Yea and with respect to 3. Both God and men they are as Angels ascending and descending upon the Ladder that reacheth from earth to Heaven namely the Son of Man the Mediatour of God and Man Gen. 28.12 13. with Joh. 1.52 1 Tim. 2.5 through and upon him they have access to God to behold his face see his glory with open face as in a Glass hear his voice be acquainted with his secrets decrees and purposes his will and mind concerning men and to receive commissions and commands messages and errands from him to them a very high favour and priviledge Yea they are and have liberty in their minds and spirits to dwell in Heaven and converse therewith And then they are messengers from God to men upon the same Ladder to bring down and impart his mind words and commandments to them and take care as tutelary Angels of them that no harm befall them who will be guided by them in what they say from God and Christ to them Rev. 1.20 An high honour in each respect it is sure and in its place far greater then to be Kings and Princes in the world though not as to the commanding obedience in their own name or requiring worldly respect and worship to be given them for in that respect they are to be as servants to all as Christ the great Prophet Apostle Gospel-preacher and Angel of God was but their honour and dignity is meerly heavenly and divine in things pertaining to God and to the souls of men except only for order and decency among men in which yet they are servants to God and are not to defire to share in his honour and glory from men with him but only to seek the honour of him that sends them Joh. 7.16 and yet in respect to 4. Themselves they want neither honour comfort or safety herein desirable by them For 1. As for honour its honour enough that they are Gods servants in so high and excellent employment and that he is not nor will be honoured with disrespect to them if faithful to him they that honour God and receive his word by them do also necessarily honour them as conveyors of it to them and for their works sake highly respect them as our Saviour saith If any Man will serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be that is where he is received entertained and honoured there is his servant for his and his message sake also If any Man serve me him will my Father honour Joh. 12.26 2. As for comfort they have it in the very matter of their employment the Doctrine committed to them and delivered by them that affords them with others the comforts of Heaven it being tidings of great joy to all people and they preach nothing to the world of that nature but what they have and may have a share with them in like the Oxe that trod out the Corn they
may eat of what they labour in and then 3. As for safety they serve a Master so Great as is sufficiently able and so Good that he will not fail to uphold them and save them in all difficulties and against all dangers in their faithful serving him And surely both as betrusted with God's name and honour and as betrusted with and employed about Mens highest concernments it behoves them to be 1. Faithful both to him and them to do the will of God and Christ and speak his words he gives them faithfully so as not to conceal the words of the Holy One Job 6.10 Psal 40.10 but to make known the whole counsel of God and Christ to them as Christ did to his Disciples Joh. 15.14 15. And the Apostle Paul to the Churches who shunned not to declare to them the whole counsel of God Act. 20.26 27. Yea and to declare it as God orders them to do it with such plainness putting away the hidden things of dishonesty or guile flattery and wisdom of words that may obscure and darken the truth and tender the cross of Christ ineffectual Not casting a Veil over their Faces as Moses did hiding from men the messages which they carry that they may not see to the end and tendency of them though what Moses did was done in faithfulness but using all openness and freeness of speech sincerity and soundness of doctrine without adding ought thereto or diminishing ought there-from or changing or altering any thing therein but as of sincerity and as of God commending themselves to every mans conscience and approving themselves as in the sight of God and Christ who imploy them 1 Cor. â— 17 18. 2.1 4 5. 2 Cor. 2.17 and 3.12 13. and 4.1 2. Not seeking or pleasing themselves but seeking to please God and profit men yea and please them too for their good that they might be saved 1 Cor. 9.19 22. and 10.33 Rom. 15.2 3. Not seeking Riches or Honours to themselves nor for any Pleasures of the Flesh or Injoyments of the World nor for Ease Liberty or any thing turning aside from either their attendance to God or faithful discharge of their trust towards him or towards men nor dealing unfaithfully with the Word of God as Persons partial in his Law but leaving themselves to God to provide maintenance and give honour to them as he pleases and contenting themselves with what he by his providence orders them to do the work and service to which he calls them not making merchandize of Gods Word and of the Souls of men for gain honour or livelihood and so deny the Lord who bought them but seeking only the honour that comes of God and the glory of God and good of men in all things depending on God and Christ contentedly to honour and reward them who also will do it abundantly as shall be good for them here but most fully hereafter when the great Shepherd shall appear from heaven 1 Pet. 5.4 2. Greatly diligent and industrious not giving up themselves to sloth and idleness or to follow the lusts and appetites or intangle themselves with the affairs of this World but that they may please him that imploys them seeking diligently by prayer and supplications to God for themselves and all Saints and more especially for those that they are more especially betrusted with and giving attendance to reading meditation c. that they may in their converse with God know and perceive his mind and receive the word from his mouth and be strengthned to declare it faithfully and boldly unto men not fearing their faces or being flattered from it by them and to be useful to and have cause of joy in them in their service toward whom also they are to use great diligence and therefore they are compared to and stiled by the name of Labourers to signify that they must not be idle and loyter and give themselves to ease carelesness and effeminacy they are to digg and plow sowe and plant and water and do all the work of the Lords husbandry which the people are and of his building Vineyard and Garden which his Church is Yea as Shepherds they must watch their Flocks and that by Night and by Day least any ravenous Beast devour them or disease infest or any Thief steal them or any harm from one another come to them Yea and so much the more as the souls of men are more precious then their bodies about which the earthly husbandry building and other acts and manufactures are employed the loss of the soul is of wonderful great concernment and God will require it of whomsoever the loss of it proceedeth if he would require the blood of men at the hands of men as is said Gen. 9.7 Surely much more will he require the Souls of men at the hands of men with whom they are betrusted if lost by their negligence seeing he hath valued them so highly as that he hath not spared his own Son nor Christ his own Life and Soul but hath poured it out to death to save them And shall thy Brother for whom Christ dyed perish through thy meat For thy sloth thy ease thy will or pleasure Surely if this were considered it would make men careful how they undertake the Ministry and having undertaken it how they discharge it it would make them watch and labour with diligence least any should miscarry through want thereof or through want of skill the product of sloth and idleness or some such miscarriage and so the blood of their Souls should be required at their hands as God threatned the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 3.17 18 19 20 c. 3. Great humility and lowliness of mind bewaring of pride least being puffed up they fall into the condemnation of the Devil Indeed while they look upon the heighth and honourableness of their Employment their Liberty to and Intelligence with Heaven the secrets they see into above others and the excellent discoveries they have and make of the great and high things of the Gospel and the like they may have Temptations to be proud and lifted up and many there are that are apt to miscarry that way but it is a dangerous deceit a Rock earnestly to be shunned and indeed none have cause to be less proud Considering 1. The exceeding heighth and weightiness of their place and work and their exceeding imbecility of themselves as of themselves for the discharge thereof This made Paul cry out Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2.16 Especially considering too the great woe will befall them as guilty of betraying Cods Name and Honour and his great Design the work and business of highest consequence and as guilty of the lose of Souls that are most precious in Gods sight if through their miscarriage they be lost and perish Oh therefore with what care and humbleness of mind should they walk Indeed their honour is great and their reward will be great if faithful and successful but the difficulty
of doing their work aright and obtaining the reward and of walking worthy of their honour should keep them lowly and humble As also 2. That they have all that honour not of desert but of Grace and all their fitness for it help and success in it not of or from themselves but from him that calls and imploys them they have nothing but what they have received and received not as of Merit but of Grace and what they must also give an account of 1 Cor. 4.6 7. 2 Cor. 5.10 3. That in all their Service and for all success they need to lean upon another even Christ and be helpen by him they cannot flie up to Heaven by their own wings their Wit Learning Industry c. will not inform them of the mind of God it must be from God himself and they cannot lift up themselves into the sight and hearing of him so as to receive messages from him but only by the strength and length of the Ladder that is erected for their ascent if they neglecting to look to relie and lean upon that aspire to know and understand otherwise thinking by their own Wit Learning Philosophy c. to attain it they will perish from the way and fall in their attempts and be destroyed Isa 40.30 and when they have by Christ as the Ladder mounted up and ascended and received information they cannot profitably to themselves and others descend again but on the same Ladder on and by the strength support and assistance of the Son of Man John 1.52 Gen. 28.12 So that no cause to be high-minded but with humility and the fear of the Lord depend on Christ for all things both towards God and towards men see Prov. 22.4 And indeed 4. The very things they see and speak of may move them to be humble and not lift up themselves either in the sight of God or of men For do they not behold the glory of God in the view whereof how low are they so as they cannot utter what they see and hear how vile and short are they then in comparison of him with whom they have to do the sight of his Glory and Majesty his infinite Holiness and Purity how might it make them cry out with the Prophet Isoiah Chap. 6.5 Woe is me for I am a man of polluted Lips c. The greatness of his Goodness How can they see and not be abased to see how far they fall short of answering it And the greatness of his Terrour How should it not make them fear least they should fall under it 2 Cor. 5.9 10 11. Yea the greatness of his Humility Preached by them in the Grace he shewed to us men is such as may both instruct them to imitate him therein seeing that 's the Way by which he obtained his Glory and Honour and did so much Service to his Father and good to us men and is declared to be our way to Honour too Prov. 15.33 Mat. 23.12 And may cast shame upon us if after the so great Humility of so honourable a One we be proud and haughty who have nothing of our own that 's fit to be gloried in and are infinitely short of what he was in all the good we receive from him and do through him Yea and 5. It 's not the place of Ministry and the excellency of the Work and Office committed to a man not the Office of an Apostle or Prophet much less of an inferiour Minister of the Gospel nor the excellency of Gifts and Furniture for discharging it that is any mans Justification or the thing for which God accepts him but his being found in Christ believing on him and obeying him faithfully in what ever place God sets him or rather Christ himself as so believed in and obeyed by him It 's not either the Hearer or the Preacher of the Word that is thereby Justified but the doer of it Yea. and 6. For and by Pride and other Miscarriages many highly Honoured and excellently Gifted Persons have fallen from their highest Places to deepest Miseries The Angels who lest their first habitation were thrust down to Hell and are reserved in Chains of Darkness to the Judgment of the Great day 2 Pet. 2.4 And Judas who had a part in the Apostleship yet falling down headlong burst asunder and all his Bowels gushed out Acts 1.17 18. And Christ shall say to many that will plead They have Prophesied in his Name and in his Name cast out Devils depart from me I know you not ye workers of Iniquity Mat. 7.22 23. Such a consideration moved the Apostle Paul and may move us and others to the like Care and Practise To be at down his own Body and bring it into subjection lest having Preached to others he himself should be a Cast away 1 Cor. 9.27 As also on the like consideration of Gods dealing with the Jews he gives us this advice Thou standest by Faith be not high minded but fear for if God spared not the natural Branches take heed lest he also spare not thee Rom. 11.21 22. For which is Infer 4. Seeing the Gospel Doctrine is that in which the Son of man is Lifted up and therefore of such Excellency as is fore-shewed It follows too that they who withhold Abuse or hinder the Preaching of the glorious Gospel are in a sad way and expose themselves to great Condemnation I say 1. Such as being betrusted with it do withhold it whether they do as Onan because they know it is to raise up Seed to their Elder Brother spill it on the Earth Because not they but Christ shall have the glory are unfaithful with their Talent conceal the Words of the Holy One. Or like the slothful wicked Servant hide their Talent in the Earth and refuse or after they have begun turn aside from Preaching the Word and Doctrine of Christ We read what our Saviour saith shall be the Judgment of such Persons viz. Take away the Talent from him and bind the unprofitable Servant hand and foot and cast him into the outward Darkness where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 25.18 24 28 30. Thence the Apostle having a Dispensation of the Gospel committed to him cries Woe is me if I Preach not the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.16 If a man fitted for it for the love of this World embracing it like Demas and desirous to follow the Riches Honours Pleasures of it or to avoid the labour and work of Preaching Winning and Watching over Souls or to avoid the Crosses and Sufferings that attend it here keep silence or forbear and decline from Preaching it as God opens doors and gives him opportunities Surely such a man greatly displeases God as one injurious to and dishonouring him as if he were an hard and unjust Master and his Service disadvantagious and he wrongs the Souls of men from whom he withholds what is for their Profit and Benefit And therefore this high Calling is upon no such ground to be Omitted Neglected
Gentiles Act. 13.47 and 28.28 Surely it 's every way a heavy judgment and to be much cryed and prayed against as Psal 12.1 2. Well might the Prophet Amos from the mouth of the Lord signifie that the Famine of hearing the Word of the Lord is a worse Famine then that of bread and water Amos 8.11 12. For this is but of sustenance for the body and bodily life and that 's but a momentany and uncertain life which must however dye and depart that is indangered thereby in a bodily death out of which there will be a Resurrection again and in the state of which the Soul mean time may be blessed Rev. 14.13 but the other is of the sustenance and salvation of the Soul and the removal thereof lays open to the loss of Eternal Life and indangers the inevitably falling into everlasting destruction out of which is no recovery or redemption Oh how greatly behoves it us then to pray and pray earnestly for our selves and for our Nation that however God may please to correct and chasten us yet he would be pleased to continue with us his glorious Gospel and not take that from us and that he would vouchsafe to give or restore it to the Places or Nations that are without it or have it not so clearly with them as we have it blessed be God for it And let this suffice for the first Use the Discovery of the Excellency of the Gospel-Doctrine and the Inferences therefrom CHAP. XXI A Second Vse The Excellencies of Christ hence inferred and that is viewed First As the Excellencies of the choice Creatures are ascribed unto Him and so He the first-born of every Creature Use 2 THe Second Thing I shall note is for further Information of us from all said upon God's Grand Design of exalting and lifting up Christ the Son of Man and of the necessity and fulness of Him and his Exaltation both as exalted in Himself and as glorified by the Spirit in the Gospel for effecting Faith in us and there-through preserving us from perishing and giving us Eternal Life to inform us of the exceeding preciousness excellency and glory of the Lord Jesus this Son of Man himself from whom and whose excellency all the Glory of the Gospel and its beneficialness and advantagiousness floweth Surely He that renders the Gospel so glorious must needs excell in glory and excellency himself it s nothing but He in it that makes it rich and full and efficacious Let Men speak as gallant words as they can imagine and use all the skill that Art and Industry can suggest yea that the most wise and subtle spirit can teach them Speak with the Tongue of Men and Angels use the most powerful demonstrations Logick can make and the most perswasive arguments Oratory can invent and make use of yet if there be nothing of the Son of Man in it nothing of Christ and him crucified it avails nothing to our Salvation and enjoyment of Eternal Life But He alone discovered and the better the more nakedly and with the less artifice and use of those Sciences is able to effect all in us for God hath made void the wisdom of this world the wise the Scribe and the Disputer of this World are with him mere ciphers 1 Cor. 1.18 19 20. Deceive men they may and therefore the Apostle cautions us to beware least any man spoil us through Philosophy and vain deceit Coll. 2.8 but save men from perishing they cannot much less advance them to Eternal Life No it s this Object held forth in the Gospel that is the life and vertue of it which is the Son of man Christ Jesus Rom. 1.3 and 16.25 and therefore seeing the Gospel is so excellent by his being the matter of it how excellent is He himself who is its matter He must needs be more precious than the Gold of Ophir more glorious and excellent than the Mountains of prey Isa 13.12 Psal 76.4 That hath in him not only the excellencies of all the Creatures but all the excellencies of God also Gods great glory and mans utmost happiness all meeting in him If when Ahasuerus proposed the Question What shall be done to the man whom the King will honour Haman reasonably thought it would be no small matter which would be done to him How much more may it be thought and believed that He whom God not only will honour but honour above all must needs excell in all things that may commend him Yea He honours him with his own with all his own honour and glory which he will not give to any other besides him either thing or person Surely he must needs be infinitely and inexpressibly honourable and glorious seeing God is infinitely honourable and glorious himself and honours him not according to the dictates of the wisest and highest Creatures with whom he takes no counsel in this or any other matter but according to his own wisdom understanding and goodness which are all infinite and boundless unless then we could by searching find out God yea and find him out too to perfection whose Excellency is higher then the Heavens so that What can we do Deeper then Hell and therefore What can we know Longer then the Earth and Broader then the Sea and so altogether Incomprehensible we cannot find out and fathom all the Glory and Excellency of this Man the Son of man the Lord Jesus Well may it therefore be said of him that He hath a Name above every Name and that none knows but himself Rev. 19.12 And as himself saith None knoweth him but his Father Mat. 11.27 Yet many and great and glorious things are said of him by his holy Spirit That searcheth out all things even the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 And Takes the things of Christ and shews them to us John 16.13 14 15. Things that commend him highly to us though yet his Name which is only Excellent Psal 148.13 Is Exalted above all Blessing and Praise Neh. 9.5 So that when we have searched and said all we can in and from what is Recorded of him by his holy Spirit yet we may conclude as in Psal 106.2 Who can declare his mighty Acts Who can set forth all his Praises God hath so poured out Himself and his Fulness and the Fulness of all things therein as it were into him that he is All and in all in the new Creature or Creation Col. 3.10 It hath pleased the Father that in him all Fulness should dwell and it hath pleased all Fulness to dwell in him yea All the Fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily and in him we are compleat Col. 1.19 and 2.9 10. All things in Heaven and Earth hath God pleased to gather together in one even in Christ Jesus Ephes 1.10 That if any thing in either or all things in both of them may like us and satisfie us we may have them fully and transcendently in him Let us essay to View something of his Infinite
appear clearly and evidently in his proceedings And if it be so equitable that they who neglect or refuse to look to Gods salvation perish how much more will it be so for those who beside their neglects and rejections of this remedy themselves and through so doing either are unfaithful to God in his Design of mercy to men while having some knowledge of it vouchsafed to them and command to help their Brethren therein in setting forth or lifting up this remedy to them they neglect so to do so as through their unfaithfulness they occasion them thorow ignorance and misprisions to erre and perish there from surely it s but just if those Persons bloods also be required at their hands as is threatned Ezek. 3 18. and 33.6 8 or and much more still if they also oppose and set themselves against Christ and the grace of God in him and the testimony of God in the Gospel concerning him Inasmuch as they are not only defective and injurious to their own souls but also betray or offer violence to the souls of others defrauding them of or driving them from their everlasting welfare and salvation yea and as to the latter sort found fighters also against God and his Grand Design 3. And their destruction must needs be inevitable and unavoidable when it befalls them for if they only refuse and neglect to look to Christ that they may be saved by him yet how can they possibly escape destruction there being no other name given under Heaven whereby they may be saved but this of Christ the Son of man lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness If there could have been deliverance from Death and wrath any other way God would not have put his Son upon such abasement and sufferings that we might be saved by him And now if there be but one Medicine that will Cure a Disease and if that be when with much care and cost it is procured rejected how can that Person who rejects it possibly escape dying of his Disease Such is the case here Acts 4.11 12. Heb. 2.3 And they in refusing the grace of God and Christ provoke him to anger how much more if they be unfaithful to others and hinder them of their good And how then can they escape destruction also from him seeing He is so infinitely great in power wisdom and counsel against them A child of three years old may as well or better think to make its party good against the greatest Giant in the World as the greatest and most powerful Man or Company of men in the World may think to make his or their party good against God Who can stand when He is angry whose fury is poured forth like fire and before whom the Rocks are thrown down Noh 1.6 Thence the Prophet proposes to Israel what is good to be always proposed by us to our selves when we be tempted to sin Can thine hands be strong or can thine heart indure in the day when I deal with thee Ezek. 22.14 And the Apostle proposes the like to the Corinthians to perswade them to look singly to God in Christ and not to provoke him to anger by looking to other things and committing Idolatry which is a spiritual adultery with them against him Do we provoke the Lord to jealousie Are we stronger thâ—n He 1 Cor. 10.22 Surely that 's a great folly to ingage so Great Invincible and Almighty a Power against our selves But how then can they prosper and stand against him and not be overthrown by him and perish from his presence who are Enemies and Adversaries to him in his Grand Design If it s his absolute Purpose and Decree to the accomplishment whereof He ingages all his wisdom and counsel power and greatness that the Son of man must be lifted up how then can they but perish who set themselves against him to keep or throw him down either in his Person or Truth or Members Surely they must needs and it s but just right and reasonable that they perish in all their designs purposes and endeavours there being no wisdom understanding or counsel against the Lord Prov. 21.30 No fleeing from his Presence Psal 139.7 8. Nor standing against his Hand or Power None ever resisted or hardned themselves against him and prospered Job 9.3 4. All that rise up against Christ therefore whether in Himself his Truth or People must inevitably and unavoidably be destroyed What got Pharaoh by opposing him and persecuting his People but destruction to himself and all his Armies What got Saul and Haman and Julian and all the Persecutors of Christ and his People but their own Ruine And so shall it be with all others be they never so great or prudent or numerous though Jewes and Gentiles conspire against him yea and though the Kings of the Earth stand up and the Rulers take counsel together they shall not prosper but He will laugh them all to scorn and have them all in derision and when he speaks against them in his wrath and vexes them in his hot displeasure as so he will speak to them if they persist against him they shall perish before Him Psal 2.1 2 3 4 12. and 68.1 2. No weapon formed against Him or his Spouse and People shall prosper because in them also He will be admired and glorified 2 Thes 1.10 And every tongue that riseth up against them shall they also condemn Isa 54.17 Whence Vse 8. This Doctrine also affords matter of comfort and consolation that however men neglect and slight Christ and the Devils with their Instruments and Followers oppose Him and how few soever they be that duely prize him yet He must and shall be lifted up It 's Gods Decree and Ordination and it must take place This Christ comforted himself with the consideration of in John 6.37 when he had said that the Jewes saw and believed not on him He adds as a comfort to himself his Disciples and Lovers All that which the Father giveth me shall come to me and He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out It is in the neuter Gender as to the former Branch not all they that but all that which the Father giveth me we may understand it of all that glory honour fulness of grace salvation blessing power authority c. All this shall come to him in despight of Men and Devils that set themselves against him or any who carry unworthily towards him not believing what or though they see what may commend him to them and draw them and their hearts after him as it is said in Isa 52.13 14 15. Behold all ye that love the Lord Jesus know and behold it for your comfort my Servant shall deal prudently or as the Margin hath it shall prosper He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high He shall be both exalted of God with his right hand and extolled both by the Spirit of God and by his Servants the Holy-men yea 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
the dust shall how before him every one shall confess and give an account of himself to Him see Isa 45.23 with Rom. 14.10 11 12. and Philip. 2.10 11 and none can keep alive his own Soul Psal 22.27 28 29. Yea all Nations that he hath made shall come and worship before him and shall glorify his Name because He is great and doth wondrous things He as all the fulness of the Godhead dwells in Him bodily is God alone Psal 86.9 10. Yea and all Flesh shall worship him and bless his holy Name for ever and ever Psal 145.21 Isa 66.23 Then shall those Prayers and Prophecies be accomplished that we have in Psal 67.3 4 5 6 7. Let all the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee O let the Nations be glad and rejoyce or sing for joy for thou shalt judge the People righteously and govern the Nations upon Earth let the People praise thee O God yea let all the People praise thee then shall the Earth yield her increase for then shall all things be restored and made new new Heavens and new Earth in which shall dwell righteousness Isa 65.17 25. 2 Pet. 3.13 14. Rev. 21.1 5 6 and God even our God shall give us his blessing God shall bless us and all the ends of the Earth shall praise Him And then what our Lord directs his Disciples and Children to pray for daily shall be fully answered God's Name shall be so hallowed and his Kingdome come that his will shall be done on Earth as it is in Heaven as universally perfectly and perpetually for Sin and Satan and all that are wicked and love iniquity and would not let it go shall be thrust down into the Lake and shall have no place either in Heaven or Earth and those that believe on Christ being saved from perishing therein shall enjoy eternal life The sinners shall be consumed out of the Earth and the wicked shall be no more Bless thou the Lord O my soul praise ye the Lord Psal 104.35 CHAP. XXIX A brief Discovery of the True and False Church their distinct Manners and Priviledges And the Conclusion of the whole Treatise in a Brief Exhortation Use 9 HEre also we may take a brief View of the True Church of God who they be and what their Priviledges Many there be who greatly mistake that as well as their Fathers did mistake the Christ the Son of man the Lord and Head of it many cry up and lift up the Church instead of Christ crying the Church the Church the holy Catholick Church calling men as they think to it when they totally mistake themselves and it doing as those in Isa 48.1 2. who Sware by the Name of the Lord and made mention of the God of Israel but not in Truth nor in Righteousness though they called themselves of the holy City the holy Catholick Church and stayed themselves on the God of Israel the Lord of Hosts is his Name This that men usually magnifie as the Holy Church is but the outward Court that is without the Temple which the Beast and False-prophet the Antichrist or man of Sin sits in and sets up their Image in and which the Angel ordered the holy Man to cast out and not to measure as being prophane and no sufficient mark by which to know who is Holy and Accepted of God it being given unto the Gentiles even to those that are Uncircumcised in heart and life boasting in and knowing themselves by and after their flesh and fleshly Priviledges As their Birth Breeding Riches Learning Places Offices and the like and walking in and after the Flesh performing and rejoycing in a carnal fleshly Worship Religion Zeal Devotion and upon such accounts trampling under foot the holy City which they say they are of but Know Own or Love it not but do hate and Persecute it even the true holy Catholick Church indeed because it hath not nor approves and applauds but reproves and faults such carnal rejoycings and confidences as Adulteries and Treacheries against her Lord even the Lord Jesus That which they cry up in stead of it is the Whore that sits upon the many Waters or multitudes mounted stately upon the Beasts back riding him and upheld by him even by the Imperial power of the World Dressing her self partly with Christs Jewels his Scriptures and Ordinances mingled with and marred by her Adulterous additions her Inventions Orders and Impositions in Doctrine and Worship even the Church or Court of Rome and her Daughters that exercise her or a like power which is so far from being the holy Church that it is indeed a Nest and Cage of all unclean and impure Birds as is too evidently seen in the Lives and Practices of those that are of them too generally from the Pope to the Apparitor every where But leaving that filthy Whore with all her Members drunk with the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus the filthy Sink of sin and wickedness both Mother and Daughters we may note here That the true Church is indeed those and all those who through the Lifting up of the Son of man do believe on him obeying and following him and his holy Doctrine All that in their hearts perceiving his Excellency and Goodness do love and cleave to him receive his Commandments and keep them being Ruled and Governed by him and living in dependance on him These as united in and by one Spirit in and with him and so among themselves and one to another in the Faith and Love of him and love of one another for his sake are his holy Church his Body all of them together and Members of him in particular 1 Cor. 12.12 27. Rom. 12.5 And these need not to nor desire to Lift up Preach and commend themselves as the Whore the false Church and her Members do But they make it their business to lift up their Head and Husband the Son of man in whom they think themselves lifted up sufficiently This Church knowing her self to be his Body his Members his Beloved she judgeth that she hath enough in knowing his Worth Height Glory Excellency Power and Authority and that is the thing that She looks after yea looks upon and admires and cannot but talk and boast of to others She desires nothing but his Love and Fellowship to be admitted into the Knowledg of and Acquaintance with him and through him to have Access to and Acceptance with his Father who is through him her Father also and that she may Honour and Serve him and bring forth Children to him Let him have the Glory the Power the Riches the Wisdom the Strength the Honour and Blessing yea though she be Despised Dishonoured Impoverished and made conformable to him in her Use and Intertainment in the World she is well contented therewith for his sake She leans not upon the Power Riches and Authority of Princes and of the Nobles of the Earth though if God perswades any of
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