incouraged himselfe in him so Jehoshaphat Art not tho◠our God 2 Chron. 20. 7. And again O our God wilt thou not judge them v. 12. Hence it was that Balaam with all his inchantments and divinations could do the people of Israel no hurt The Almighty God was the God of that people The Lord his God is with him said Balaam Num. 23. 21. And therefore surely there is no inchantment against Jacob nor any divination against Israel v. 23. Now if we would have interest Gen. 17. 7. in God we must have interest in Christ I will be a God to thee this is Gods Covenant and it is fulfilled in Christ In whom all the promises of God are Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. they that are without Christ are also without God Eph. 2. 12. There is no Mediator betwixt God and Man but Christ 1 Tim. 2. 5. No man cometh unto the Father but by me saith Christ Joh. 14 6. And as by Christ we must have interest in God so by faith we must have interest in Christ Faith is that whereby we receive Christ Joh. 1. 12. whereby Christ doth dwell in us Eph 3. 17. Vse 3. Thirdly Let this make us to fly unto God in all our necessities and in our greatest dangers and distresses to trust in him Our condition cannot be so dismall nor so deplorable but he is able to deliver us He is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we can either aske or thinke Eph. 3. 20. Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands said Nebuchadnezzar to the three Nobles but our God said they whom we serve is able to deliver us c. Dan. 3. 15. 17. Though there be never so many against us yet if God be with us there are more with us then with those that are against us as Elisha told his servant 2 King 6. 16. and so Ezekiah in like manner comforted and incouraged the people 2 Chron. 32. 7. Hereupon the Saints and Servants of God triumph saying God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble Therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea Though the waters thereof roare c. The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Iacob is our refuge Psal 46. 1 2 3 7. What time I am afraid saith David I will trust in thee In God I will praise his Word in God I have put my trust I will not feare what flesh can do unto me Psal 56. 3 4. And again In God have I put my trust I will not be afraid what man can do unto me v. 11. So the Apostle saith We may boldly say the Lord is my helper and I will not feare what man shall do unto me Heb. 13. 5. If God be for us who can be against us Rom. 8. Ne existimemus plus ad impugnandum posse humana conamina quà m ad protegendum valet divina tutela 31. that is so against us as to prevail against us Let us not thinke as Cyprian saith excellently that man can be more able to hurt then God is able to defend Vse 4. Finally this consideration of Gods omnipotency should make us to feare him and not to dare to provoke him as we use to do but to study to please him and to approve our selves before him We labour that whether present or absent whether alive or dead we may be accepted of him saith S. Paul 2 Cor. 5. 9. And great reason why we should all so labour God being Almighty and therefore able abundantly both to reward those that obey him and also to avenge himselfe on those that rebell against him Wherefore camest thou not unto me Am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour said Balak to Balaam because he made him send the second time before he came unto him Num. 22. 37. How much more may God thus expostulate with us when we are slow and negligent to do what he requires For this reason did God tells Abraham that he is the Almighty God that so he might be the more incited to obey him knowing that he should lose nothing by his labour but that his reward should be exceeding great as God told him Gen. 15. 1 And as God is able to blesse those that fear him so is he to curse those that despise him Do we provoke the 1 Cor. 10. 22. Lord to jealousie saith the Apostle are we stronger then he Indeed if we were stronger then God we might be the more bold to provoke him but he being stronger infinitely stronger then we it is madnesse for us to provoke him Can thy heart indure and can thy hands be strong when I shall have to do with thee saith God Ezek. 22. 14. Thou even thou art to be feared saith David unto God for who may stand when once thou art angry Psal 76. 7. Who can stand before his indignation and who can abide in the fiercenesse of his anger his fury is powred out like fire and the Rocks are throwne down by him Nah. 1. 6. Let us therefore fear the Lord and walk humbly with him even in all holinesse and obedience before him that so his Almighty power may be for us and not against us to our comfort and salvation not to our terror and destruction THE SIXTH SERMON HEB. 3. 4. He that built all things is God THe Apostle speaking of Christ and setting forth his excellency compares him with Moses who was of great account with the Jews to whom the Apostle wrote Who was faithfull to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithfull in all Gods house v. 2. But least any should conceive an equality betwixt Christ and Moses he goes on and shewes the excellency of Christ above Moses For this man was counted worthy of more glory then Moses in as much as he who hath builded the house hath more honor then the house v. 3. Moses was but a part of the house viz. the Church but Christ the builder of the house and so the Lord and Master of it whenas Moses though he had a great place in it yet was but a servant v. 5. 6. Now having thus occasionally mentioned house and building he inserts as by way of Parenthesis these words For every house is builded by some man but he that built all things is God That built That is made as Gen. 2. 22. And the rib c. made he woman In the Originall it is built and that which 2 Sam. 7. 11. is He will make thee an house is 1 Chron. 17. 10. will build thee an house All things Calvin liketh rather to limit this to all things belonging to the Church the house of God mentioned both before and after yet he confesseth that it may be extended to the whole Creation This sense seems most agreeable to the words that as every house hath some man or other by whom it is
onely affirmes that there being but onely one true God the Father is he he denies not but that the Son and so the Holy Ghost is so also even as when he addes and one Lord Jesus he only affirmes Jesus to be the only Lord he denies not but that the Father is so likewise Vse 1. Thus the truth of the Doctrine concerning Christs Divinity and consubstantiality with the Father being sufficiently demonstrated and vindicated here we may see and ought to consider the excellency of Christ and so learn to give him the glory due unto his Name We cannot honour the Father except we in like manner honor Christ also he being one and the same in substance and Godhead with the Father That all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him Joh. 5. 23. Whosoever denieth the Son the same hath not the Father 1 Joh. 2. 23. The Jewes both now and of old have vilified and despised Christ He came unto his own and his own received him not Joh. 1. 11. For the most part they did not yet some did as the Evangelist there immediately after sheweth And so the Iewish writings testifie that some of the ancient Rabbines have spoken very honourably of Christ and indeed have said that of him which shewes that they believed him to be God though the later Rabbines reciting their words indeavour to pervert the meaning of them descanting upon those words which are meant of Christ Abrabaneel in Isaiam Esa 52. 12. He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high they say that Christ should be exalted above Abraham and extolled above Moses and be higher then the Angels And in the new Testament the dignity of Christ is thus comparatively set forth by preferring him to all these to Abraham when the Iews said unto Christ Art thou greater then our Father Abraham Ioh. 8. 53. Christ answered v. 56. Your Father Abraham rejoyced to see my day and saw it and was glad And v. 58. Verily verily I say unto you before Abraham was I am So to Moses For this man Christ was counted worthy of more glory then Moses inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour then the house And Moses verily was faithfull in all Gods house as a servant for a testimony of those things that were to be spoken after But Christ as a Son over his own house c. Heb. 3. 3 5 6. And so to the Angels Christ is likewise preferred to them Being made so much better then the Angels as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they For to which of the Angells said God at any time Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee And againe I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son And again when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1. 4 5 6. But not only the Iews and such like professed infidells and enemies of Christ but also many that have professed themselves Christians have impugned his Divinity and Equality with the Father so robbing him of the glory due unto his Name Thus Arrius and Photinus with their followers of old and Servetus and others of late and some even at this day And therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware least ye also be carried away with the error of the wicked and fall from your own stedfastnesse but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be glory both now and for ever Amen 2 Pet. 3. 17 18. Vse 2. Here again we may see what cause we have to trust in Christ as a most sure Redeemer and Saviour with that courage and confidence in all our troubles and distresses whatsoever whether inward or outward we may come unto Christ and unto God by Christ that we may have help from him and by him he being such a Mediator betwixt God and Man as is not only Man but also God coessentiall and coequall with the Father Hence it is and must needs be that he is a stone a medstone a precious corner stone a sure foundation See before Serm. 9. Esa 28. 16. mighty to save Esa 63. 1. a horn of salvation Luk. 1. 69. able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling consider the Apostle and high Priest of our profession Chrst Jesus Heb. 3. 1. Seeing then we have a great high Priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need Heb. 4. 14 16. THE ELEVENTH SERMON MAT. 1. 20. For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost IN the two Verses going before S. Matthew relates how Mary being espoused unto Joseph before they came together was found with child which Joseph not knowing how it came to passe was so troubled at that he thought to put her away though privily But as he addes in this Verse God by his Angell let him know that he had no reason to be troubled as he was nor to to take such a course as he intended for though Mary was with child yet it was far otherwise then he suspected even by the miraculous power of the Holy Ghost working in her But while he thought on these things behold the Angell of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream saying Josph thou Son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost In this last part of the Verse which I am only to insist upon we have first Who it was that conceived Christ viz. Mary the wife of Ioseph he was conceived in her Secondly how she conceived him viz. not by any naturall and ordinary means but by the supernaturall and extraordinary power of God For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost First therefore let us observe from hence That Doct. 1 Mary the wife of Joseph was the Mother of Christ our Saviour He was conceived in her and so in her as that he was conceived of her that is of her substance It 's said of Christ that he took upon him the seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. And that according to the flesh he was raised up of the fruit of Davids loines Acts 2. 30. But this could not be except that Christ did receive the substance of his body from Mary who did descend from Abraham and from David A more direct testimony to this Geen 3. 15 Christ is called the seed of the woman purpose is that Gal. 4. 4. where it 's said of Christ that he was made of a woman which
built so the great house of the world that comprehends all things in it had God for the builder or maker of it Hence then the conclusion is this That God is Doct. he who made all things In the beginning God made Heaven and Earth saith Moses Gen. 1. 1. And then he shews distinctly how all the severall kinds of creatures were made of God So Neh. 9. 6. Thou even thou art Lord alone thou hast made Heaven the Heaven of Heavens with all their host the Earth and all things that are therein the Seas and all that is therein And Revel 4. 11. Thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Moses writing of the Creation makes no expresse mention of the Angels It seems that his purpose was onely to expresse the Creation of things visible yet they may be implicitly mentioned in the word Heaven thereby being meant all things in heaven all the host of heaven as it is expressed Gen. 2. 1. Neh. 9. 6. Now by the host of heaven are meant both the Sun Moon and Stars Deut. 4. 19. and also the Angels 1 King 22. 19. Howsoever though it be not so cleare when the Angels were created yet the Scripture is expresse for this that they were created and that they also as all other things are Gods creatures Praise ye him all his Angells Let them praise the Name of the Lord for he commanded and they were created Psa 148. 2. 5. By him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers c. Col. 1. 16. The light of naturall reason is sufficient to demonstrate that God made the world the heaven and earth and all things therein for whatsoever is must either be of it self or be made by some other if it be of it self then it is God for only God is of himself if it be made by some Quòd Deus mundum fecerit nulli tutius crededimus quà m ipsi Deo Aug. de Civit. Dei l. 11. c. 4. Opera Trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa other then either by God immediately or by that which was made by God so that either immediately or mediately all things are of him But as Austine saith that God made the world we do not more safely believe any then God himself His testimony is above all other arguments and ratiocinations whatsoever Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God Heb. 11. 3. The work of the Creation is common to all the three Persons To the Father To us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things 1 Cor. 8. 6. to the Son All things were made by him Joh. 1. 3. By him were all things created c. Col. 1. 16. to the Holy Ghost The Spirit of God hath made me Job 33. 4. Vse 1. Hence let us see and consider the excellency of God and so give him the glory due unto him God is excellent Psal 8. 1. and because of his excellency he is to be glorified Psal 148. 13. Now Gods excellency appears by the creation of the world the world is a glasse wherein to behold Gods excellency His eternall power and Mundus est speculum Deitatis Godhead are clearly seen from the creation of the world being understood by the things that are made Rom. 1. 20. The heavens declare the glory of God Psal 19. 1. His glory is above the earth and Pulchra terra pulchrum coelum sed pulchrior ille qui fecit illa heaven Psal 148. 13. Whatsoever excellency is in any thing is from God and consequently much more in God and therefore the glory of all must be given unto God For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Rom. 11. 36. Blessed be thy glorious Name which is exalted above all blessing and above all praise Thou even thou art Lord alone thou hast made heaven c. Neh. 9. 5 6. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honor and power for thou hast created all things c. Revel 4. 11. More particularly by the Creation of the world we may see 1. The excellency of Gods power that could make all things of nothing Philosophy tells us that nothing is made of nothing It is true in respect Ex nihilo nihil fit of naturall agents they must have some matter to work upon else they can do nothing But Divinity tells us that all things were made of nothing that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear Heb. 11. 3. This is most true in respect of God a supernaturall agent By this God shewes himself to be God doing that which none can do but he One saith excellently If any besides One shall say I am God he must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shew us such a world as this is and say this is mine of my making The Lord saith David is great and greatly to be praised he is to be feared above all gods for all the gods of the Nations are Idols but the Lord made the Heavens Psa 96. 4 5. The gods saith Jeremie that have not made the Heavens and the Earth even they shall perish from under these Heavens He hath made the earth by his power Jer. 10. 11 12. 2. The excellency of Gods wisdome who could make such an infinite variety of creatures and not the least or meanest of them but to have its use and office in the universe He hath established the world by his wisdome and hath stretched out Deus cum sit bonum nullo indigens bono non nisi ex benigno honitatis suae affectu mundum creavit Aug. Confess the heavens by his discretion Jer. 10. 12. 51. 15. O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdome hast thou made them all Psal 104. 24. 3. The excellency of Gods goodnesse Thou art good and doest good saith David unto God Psal 119. 68. This was it that moved him to make the world not that he had any need of the creatures for from all eternity he was most blessed and happy in himself but that he might communicate his goodnesse to the creatures The earth is full of the goodnesse of the Lord saith David Psal 33. 5. And again The earth is full of thy riches so is this great and wide Sea c. Psal 104. 24 25. Moses saith of the severall things that God made God saw that it was good and of them all collectively that they were very good hereby intimating unto us as Austine observes that there was no Scriptura per omnia Dei opera subjungens Et vidit Deus quia bonum est completisque omnibus inferens Et vidit Deus omnia quae secit ecce bona valdè nullam aliam causam faciendi mundi intelligi voluit nisi ut bona fierent Ã
bono Deo Aug. de Civ Dei lib. 11. cap. 23. Rerum creatarum causa non est nisi bonitas Creatoris Ibid. cap. 21. other cause moving God to make the world but that he being good might make things that are good The goodnesse of the Creator as the same Author speaks is the cause of the creatures 4. Gods eternity He that made all things must needs be before all things he that made all things in the beginning must needs himselfe be without beginning and consequently eternall Before the mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God Psal 90. 2 These excellent attributes of God shine forth and shew themselves in the work of the Creation and therefore let 's take notice of them let 's look upon the world and the creatures in it so as to see God his power wisdome goodnesse and eternity in them and let us praise and glorifie him for them Let us consider 1. That God expects this of us He made all things for himself Prov. 16. 4. that is for his owne glory that we might know and acknowledge so far forth as he is pleased to reveal it the excellency that is in him 2. That the other creatures in their kind do glorifie God by keeping the order in which God hath set them and by ministring matter unto us whereby to praise God Thus the Heavens declare the glory of God Psal 19. 1. and all his works do praise him Psal 145. 10. But we ought to praise and glorifie God not only objectively but effectively as being indued with reason and understanding whereby to do it All thy works praise thee O Lord and thy Saints shall blesse thee Psal 145. 10. Gods Saints will do it and so all should do it And even Galen a heathen man admiring Beza in Rom. 1. 20 the frame and composure of mans body could not but praise and extoll the Maker of it for his goodnesse that did move him his wisdome that that did direct him and his power that did inable him to make it so exquisitely as he hath done besides God hath made all the other creatures for us and therefore we are bound to glorifie him as for our selves so for them also When I consider thy Heavens saith David the work of thy fingers the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained What is man that thou art mindfull of him and the son of man that thou visitest him For thou hast made him a little lower then the Angells and hast crowned him with glory and honour Thou madest him to have dominion over the workes of thy hands c. Psal 8. 3 4 5 6. But alas how many turne Gods glory into shame as he complaines Psal 4. 2. Instead of glorifying him for the creatures they dishonor him by the creatures setting their hearts and affections on the creatures rather then on him They assemble themselves for corn and wine but they rebell against me saith he Hos 7. 14. Excellent to this purpose is that of Austine Deum ex illis lauda in artificem eorum retorque amorem ne in his quae tibi placent tu displiceas Aug. Confess Take occasion by the creatures to praise God and bring back your love from them to him that made them least in those things which please you you your selves displease God Vse 2. Secondly we must take heed how we judge of the creatures seeing they are Gods creatures The Apostle fore-tells that some would forbid the use of meats which God hath created to be received with thankesgiving 1 Tim. 4. 3 But he addes that every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thankesgiving v. 4. So Rom. 14. 14. I know and I am perswaded saith he by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of it self c. I feare not saith Austine the uncleannesse of the Non ego immunditiam obsonâ—â— timeo sed immunditiam cupiditatis Aug. Confess meat but the uncleannesse of the appetite The superstition of some is exceeding grosse who think they should be polluted if they should eat a little flesh in Lent or on a Friday though it be Gods creature at one time as well as at another and no more forbidden by him at one time then at another yet they will lie swear c. and fear no pollution See Mar. 7. 14. c. to 23. Vse 3. Thirdly we must have a care how we use the creatures we may use them but we may not abuse them 1 Cor. 7. 31. Vse the world as not abusing it We must use the creatures 1. Soberly Take heed least at any time your hearts be over-charged with surfetting and drunkennesse Luk 21. 34. We must so use the creatures as that we may be more fit to glorifie the Creator and to do him service Whether ye eat or drinke or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31. 2. Righteously so as not to oppresse defraud or any way wrong others in the use of them It must be our bread Mat. 6. 11. we must come lawfully by it have a just right to it We command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietnesse they worke and cat their own bread saith the Apostle 2 Thes 3. 12. Bread of deceit saith Solomon is sweet unto a man but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravell Prov. 20. 17. And again to use the creatures righteously is to use them not only not to the hurt of others but also to the good of others viz. so as to succour and relieve others with them He that hath two coats let him impart to him that hath none and he that hath meat let him do likewise Luk. 3. 11. This is a work of righteousnesse Break off thy sins by righteousnesse and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor Dan. 4. 27. He hath dispersed abroad See Beza on Mat. 6. 1. and given to the poor and his righteousnesse indureth for ever Psal 112. 9. 2 Cor. 9. 9. Nabal argued like a fool as he was saying Shall I take my bread and my water and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers and give it unto men whom I know not whence they be 1 Sam. 25. 11. Cast thy bread upon the waters Eccles 11. 1. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry Isa 58. 7. It is not so thine but that thou must communicate to such as stand in need all thou hast is Gods he is the Lord of all and thou art but his steward and therefore must dispense that which he hath committed unto thee not as thou pleasest but as he appointeth As every one hath received the gift so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God 1 Pet. 4. 10. 3. Religiously 1. In faith so as to be perswaded of the lawfulnesse of the use
made Ioh. 1. 3. That by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him And he is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1. 16 17. It is God also that doth preserve all things Neh. 9. 6. Yet this likewise is ascribed unto Christ He upholdeth all things by the word of his power Heb. 1. 3. Only God can raise the dead 2 Cor. 1. 9. Rom. 4. 17. Yet this Christ did as the History of the Gospell sheweth and that not instrumentally and ministerially but authoritatively and by his owne power Young man I say unto thee arise Luk 7. 14. Maid arise Luk. 8. 54. Lazarus come forth Ioh. 11. 43. None can forgive sins but onely God Esa 43. 25. yet this Christ did Mar. 2. 5. 12. The Scribes were right in this that none but God can forgive sins viz. authoritatively as Christ did onely in this they were wrong that from a true principle they inferred a false conclusion viz. that therefore Christ taking upon him so to forgive sins was a blasphemer Christ by the miracle which immediately he wrought before their eyes shewed that he was another manner of person then they took him to be and that he had power to forgive sins as he did To redeem and to save are acts properly belonging unto God Esa 49. 26. I the Lord am thy Redeemer and thy Saviour Yet Christ also is our Redeemer and Saviour as the writings of the Evangelists and Apostles every where do shew 5. Divine worship is given unto Christ such as may not be given to any but to God onely When he was a young Infant the Wisemen fell downe and worshipped him Mat. 2. 11. His Disciples seeing him ascend up into heaven they worshipped him Luk. 24. 52. Of him it was said Let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1. 6. All these places as the circumstances of them do evince speak of religious worship which is peculiar unto God and may not be given to any meer creature Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serve Mat. 4. 10. The Angell would not be worshipped by John but bad him give that honor to God and worship him Rev. 19. 10. 22. 9. More particularly Faith and Hope are onely to be in God 1 Pet. 1. 21. yet they are and ought to be in Christ Ye believe in God believe also in me Ioh. 14. 1. Whosoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed Rom. 10. 11. In him shall the Gentiles trust Rom. 15. 12. Prayer is to be made only unto God Call upon me saith God Psal 50. 15. yet Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost gave this honour unto Christ he prayed unto him saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit Acts 7. 55. 59. Thus both testimonies of Scripture and arguments drawn from Scripture make it most evident that Christ is God truly and properly so called even one and the same God with the Father But divers places there are which may be objected as seeming to make against this truth which therefore are to be cleared that it may appeare that beeing rightly understood they do not make against it Object 1. Mark 13. 32. Christ speaking of the day of Judgement saith Of that day and houre knoweth no man no not the Angells that are in heaven nor the Son but the Father If the Son be ignorant of that which the Father doth know how then is he God consubstantiall and coequall with the Father Answ Some interpret that so as that the Son is said not to have knowne the day of Iudgement because he did not know it so as to make it knowne unto others In which sense the Apostle said I determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. But this Exposition cannot be admitted for so neither doth the Father know that day viz. so as make others also know it Therefore the true meaning of the words is that Christ there spake of himself as Man not denying but that in some other respect he did know that which in respect of his humane nature was not known unto him Object 2. But againe when one came unto Christ saying Good Master what shall I do that I may inherit eternall life Christ said unto him Why callest thou me good There is none good but one that is God Luke 18. 18 19. Here Christ seemes to deny himselfe to be God Answ Not so Christ spake onely in respect of that opinion which he to whom he spake had of him who looked on him as a man and no more neither was it Christs meaning that no meer man may be called good for it is said of Barnabas that he was a good man Acts 11. 24. But his meaning was to teach that when any goodnesse is found in man the praise and glory must be given unto God who alone is essentially good if any besides him be good it is onely by participation from him and therefore the honour is due unto him For of him and through him and for him are all things to him be glory for ever Rom. 11. 36. Object 3. But may some say Doth not Christ himself confesse himself inferiour to the Father saying My Father is greater then I Ioh. 14. 28. Answ Yes but how not simply and absolutely but only in some sort viz. in respect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophylact ad loc of his humane nature whereby he took upon him the forme of a Servant Phil. 2. 7. but otherwise he was in the forme of God and thought it not robbery to be-equall with God v. 6. That Christ there spake of himself as Man may appear by the words immediately going before I go unto the Father this Christ did as Man for otherwise as God he was then with the Father yea in the Father and the Father in him Joh. 14. 11. 10. 38. Object 4. Againe it may be objected that Christ John 17. 3. speaking to the Father saith thus This is life eternall to know thee the only true God and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ where Christ seems to make his Father only the true God Answ Nay he makes his Father the onely It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 true God but there is great difference betwixt these two Propositions The Father is the only true God and Only the Father is the true God The one imports that there is but only one true God and that the Father is this God the other imports that none but the Father is this God which is false for the Son also is this only true God this true God which is only one and so also is the Holy Ghost The same Answer serveth for that 1 Cor. 8. 6. To us there is but one God the Father The Apostle there
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sitting at the right hand of God The expression is metaphoricall and there is a double metaphore in it viz. both in that Christ is said to sit and also in that he is said to sit at the right hand of God 1. For the phrase of sitting as here it is used and applied unto Christ by the consent of all is metaphoricall not denoting the site and posture of Christs body which is the proper acception of the word but the honour and majesty that Christ is in Thus the word is figuratively used because Masters use to sit and servants to stand and wait upon them Whether is greater he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth Is not he that sitteth at meat Luke 22. 27. So Kings use to sit in their Thrones and Judges and Magistrates in their seats of honour Assuredly Solomon thy sonne shall reigne after me and he shall sit upon my Throne said David to Bathsheba 1 Kings 1. 13. So Exod. 18. 13. it is said that Moses sate to judge the people and the people stood by Moses c. Hence metaphorically God is said to sit God reigneth over the Heathen God sitteth upon the throne of his holinesse Psalme 47. 8. So Psalme 2. 4. He that sitteth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn God being a spirit cannot properly either sit Non de corporis constitutione sed de imperii majestate hic agitur Calvin Instit l. 2. c. 16. â—ct 15. or stand they being bodily postures and properly belonging to bodily substances And though Christ having still after his Resurrection and ascension a true humane body as before may properly sit yet that is not the intent of the Holy Ghost in the Scripture to shew what bodily posture Christ is in but to shew what dignity he is in and therefore sometimes in Scripture Christ is said to stand at the right hand of God viz. Act. 7. 55 56. But he being full of the Holy Ghost looked up stedfastly into Heaven and Quid est quod hunc Marcus sedentem Stephanus verò stantem se videre testatur Sed scitis fratres quia sedere judicantis est stare verò pugnantis vel adjuvantis Quia ergò Redemptor noster assumptus in coelum nunc omnia judicat ad extrentum omnium judex veniet hunc post assumptioneÌ„ Marcus sedere describit quia post ascensionis suae gloriam judex in fine vidâ—bitur Stephanus verò hanc in labore certaminis positus stant em vidit quem adjutorem habuit quia ut iste in terrâ persecutorum infidelitatem vinceret pro illo de coelo illius gratia pugnavit Gregor homil 29. in Evang. saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right Hand of God and said Behold I see the Heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right Hand of God He is there described standing as ready to aid and assist Stephen in the great conflict which he indured for his sake but otherwise in the Scripture he is usually said to sit to signifie the honour and authority that he is invested with 2. For the right hand of God it must needs be taken not properly but metaphorically God being a spirit and therefore having no hand either right or left nor any bodily member whatsoever It was a grosse heresie of the Anthropomorphites to hold God to be of humane form and shape whereas Christ saith plainly that God is a spirit Joh. 4. 24. And that a spirit hath not flesh and bones Luk. 24. 39. Therefore when hands eys ears and the like are attributed unto God in the Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is by a figurative kind of speech whereby in condescension to the weaknesse of our capacity that is attributed unto God which properly belongs unto man and not unto God because man doth hear with his ears see with his eyes work with his hands therefore to shew that God doth hear and see and work these bodily parts and members are attributed unto God though properly they do not belong unto him By the right Hand of God is often signified the force might and power of God Thy right Hand O Lord said Moses is become glorious in power thy right hand O Lord hath dashed in pieces the enemy Exod. 15. 6. So David Psal 118. 15 16. The right Hand of the Lord doth valiantly The right Hand of the Lord is exalted the right Hand of the Lord doth valiantly But the right hand also is used to denote the more honourable place as when Bathsheba the mother of Solomon went unto him as he sate on this Throne he rose up to meet her and bowed himself unto her and sate down on his Throne and caused a seat to be set for her and she sate on his right Hand 1 Kings 2. 19. So Psal 45. 9. Vpon thy right Hand did stand the Queen in gold of Ophir Thus Christ is said to be at Gods right Hand as being in highest honour next unto God even as Bethsheba was set in highest place of honour next unto the King Christs sitting at the right hand of God imports his Kingly power and soveraign power over all creatures that all power both in heaven and in earth is given unto him as he said Mat. 28. 18. That he hath a name above every name that at the name ef Jesus every knee should bow c. that is that all should be subject unto him Phil. 2. 9 10. Whereas David speaking of Christ saith The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou thou on my right Hand untill I make thine enemies thy footstool Psal 110. 1. S. Paul in reference to those words saith For he must reign untill his enemies be made his footstool 1 Cor. 15. 25. VVhereby we see that Christ sitting at the right hand of God and his reigning are one and the same thing So what is meant by Christs sitting at the right hand of God the same Apostle sheweth Ephes 1. 20 21 22. Where he saith that God raised Christ from the dead and set him at his own right Hand in the heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church And so likewise S. Peter who speaking of Christ saith Who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God Angels and Authorities and Powers being made subject unto him 1 Pet. 3. 22. Thus then we see both that it is so that Christ doth sit at the right hand of God and also what is meant by it And by this which hath been said it may appear that Christ is said to sit at the right hand of God in respect of his humane nature In that respect he was humbled and in that respect he was exalted the divine
nature properly being capable neither of the one nor of the other As man he suffered was crucified dead and buried and descended into hell and so as man he rose again ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God The divine nature is said to be humbled not properly as if it's glory was indeed diminished but that assuming to it self humane nature subject to infirmity its glory did lie hid and not appear So also it is said to be exalted not properly as if any glory indeed were added unto it but by the exaltation of that humane nature which it assumed it 's glory is made to appear and shine forth Now this glorious exaltation of Christs humane nature did belong unto it by vertue of the hypostaticall union and so was due unto Christ at the first moment that the two natures were united together in one person but by dispensation for the working out of our Redemption Christ did not enter into the possession of his glory till after his passion Ought not Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory viz. after his suffering Luk. 24. 26. It was his glory that which of right did belong Quomodo suam si oportuit quomodo oportuit si suam Si glorii ejus fuit quomodo ut aâ— illam intraret pati oportuit Sed suam propterff se oportuit propter nos Si aliter venisset pervenisset sed non subvâ—nisset Hugo de S. Vict. unto him even as man that man being God also yet for our sakes that our Redemption might be essected by him it behoved him first to suffer as he did and then to enter into his glory Vse 1. Here then we may see the glorious and transcendent excellency of Christ even as man and so in him the wonderfull exaltation of our humane nature Lord what is man that thou art mindfull of him and the son of man that thou visitest him Thou hast made him a little lower then the Angels and hast crowned him with glory and honour Psal 8. 4 5. Yea the man Christ is made a great deal higher then the Angels We see Jesus saith the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews having cited these words of David who was made a little 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or for a little while lower then the Angels for the suffering of death crowned with Glory and Honour Heb. 2. 9. Christ for a while that he might suffer death for our Redemption was lower then the Angels being a man subject to infirmity but now he is crowned with glory and honour whereby he is far above the Angels Caution But here we must beware of that errour which some have faln into We must not think that because Christ as man doth sit at the right hand of God therefore Majesty and Glory properly divine and infinite is communicated to Christs humane nature This is exceeding grosse and the very heresie of Eutyches who because he would not with Nestorius divide the person of Christ therefore falling into another extreme he would confound his natures making the humane nature to be swallowed up as it were by the divine nature But Christs glory doth not take away the truth of his humanity it is exalted but not Gloria humanitatem non tollit sed extollit non interfiâ—it sed perficit Gerson abolished And therefore neither must we as some do from Christs sitting at the right hand of God infer the ubiquity of Christs body as if therefore it were every where For ubiquity or being every where is proper and peculiar to the divine nature the humane nature is not capable of it He is not here viz. in respect of the body for he is risen Luk. 24. 6. So he is not here in that respect Secundùm hanc formam non est putandus ubique diffusus Cavendum enim est ne ita divinitatem astruamus hominis ut veritatem corporis destruamus Aug. Epist 57. for he is ascended into heaven and there sits at the right hand of God Indeed Christ as God when he was upon earth was also in heaven Ioh. 3. 13. And so now in that respect being in heaven he is also on earth Mat. 28. 20. But as man he was not in heaven when he was on earth neither is he in that respect now on earth when he is in heaven Vse 2. This also makes exceedingly for the comfort of all such as belong unto Christ and are his they need not fear either to want any good or to suffer any evill seeing he to whom they belong is so exalted over all and therefore able to protect them and to provide for them Are we afraid of the rage and malice either of men or Devills Though they be too strong for us yet Christ is too strong for them and much lesse are they able to resist him then we are to resist them This was enough to animate and incourage Stephen notwithstanding the fury of his adversaries that he saw Christ standing at the right hand of God ready to defend him Acts 7. 55 56. So let us with the eye of faith look up unto Christ and not fear what men or Devills can do unto us When Saul persecuted the members of Christ upon earth Christ from heaven spake unto him and let him know that he did persecute him and that he had a hard match of it Saul Saul why persecutest thou me I am Jesus whom thou persecuiest it is hard for thee to to kick against the pricks Acts 9. 4 5. So Eph. 1. 22. it is said that all things are put under Christs feet and that he is head over all things to the Church or for the Church that is for the comfort and welfare of the Church Again doth the guilt of sin sting and wound our consciences Let us consider what a mighty Redeemer Mediatour and Advocate we have Who when he had by himself purged our sins sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1. 3. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Rom. 8. 34. Again do we want any thing that is good and needfull for us We may go with boldnesse unto God and ask of him in the Name of Christ whom he hath so exalted as to set him at his own right hand Adonijah thought himself sure to speed when he had Bathsheba whom Solomon did so honor to intercede for him and so had his request been just and reasonable it had been granted See 1 King 2. 17 18 19 20. How much more may we be assured that having Christ to mediate and intercede for us we shall obtain what we ask in his Name Whatsoever you ask the Father in my Name he will give it saith Christ Joh. 16. 23. Therefore let us come with boldnesse to the Throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace
be either eternally happy or eternally miserable it would make us to passe our time of sojourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1. 17. And to give diligence to make our calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. Now that we may be partakers of everlasting life 1. We must know that by nature we are estranged from it and have no right unto it For by nature we are dead in trespasses and sins and are the children of wrath Ephes 2. 13. 2. We must be translated out of Adam into Christ For in Adam all die and in Christ must all be made alive 1 Cor. 15. 22. God hath given unto us eternal life and this life is in his Son He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life 1 John 5. 11 12. 3. Holinesse of life here is requisite for the obtaining of the happinesse of the life to come God will render to every man according to his deeds To them who by patient continuance in wel-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life But unto them that are contentious and obey not the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evill Rom. 2. 6 7 8 9. Be not deceived God is not mocked as a man soweth so shall he reap He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shal of the spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6. 7 8. Follow holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Every one that hath this hope purifieth himself even as he is pure 1 John 3. 3. I 'le only adde this in a word to you that are parents As you have been instruments under God whereby your children obtain a temporall life so labour to be instruments whereby they may obtain eternall life As nature doth teach you to provide for them in respect of this life so let grace teach you to provide for them in respect of the life to come As you are careful to bring them up in learning and trades that they may live a while here so be carefull to bring them up in the Eph. 6. 4. nurture and admonition of the Lord that they may live for ever hereafter The six and thirtieth SERMON JUDE V. 3. That you should earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the This Sermon was preached at the Fast which in respect of errours heresies was kept March 10. 1646. Saints THe writer of this Epistle was Iude or Iudas as John 14. 22. or Judah as the word is in the Old Testament they are all one and the same name though diversly pronounced As there were two of the Apostles that were called Iames viz. James the son of Zebedeus the brother of Iohn and Iames the son of Alpheus the Lords brother Zanchius de Scripturâ Non connumeratur inter Apostolos Mat. 10. Judam Apostolum non lego sed Iscariotem Gal. 1. 19. that is his near kinsman so there were also two of them that were called Iudas viz. Judas Iscariot that betrayed Christ and Judas the brother of James viz. James the son of Alpheus and he it was that wrote this Epistle I marvell much at a learned Divine who thinks that the Author of this Epistle was no Apostle and saies that he finds no Judas to have been an Apostle but only Judas Iscariot Nothing to me is more clear then that this Jude or Judas was one of the twelve Apostles viz. the same that is called Thaddeus Mar. 3. 18. and Lebbeus Mat. 10. 3. For Luk. 6. 16. amongst the Apostles is expresly mentioned Judas the brother of James and so also Acts 1. 13. And the writer of this Epistle stiles himself Jâ—de the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James This Apostle after the inscription v. 1. and the salutation v. 2. tells them to whom he writes how desirous and carefull he was to write unto them and for what end v. 3. Beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation it was needfull for me to write unto you and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints And he shewes why there was such need that he should thus write unto them and exhort them v. 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of our God into lasciviousnesse and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will adde no more concerning the Epistle but will come to the words of the Text That you should earnestly contend The simple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verb of which this here used is a compound signifies to strive as they used to do in the Olympian games or such like exercises wherâ—â—n by wrestling running and the like they did strive for mastery as the word is rendred 1 Cor. 9. 25. It is used metaphorically Col. 4. 12. for striving 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with God by prayer it is rendred labouring fervently 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Compound in the Text is more imphaticall the Preposition addes to the signification of the word and increaseth the force o 〈…〉 And therefore it is well rendred not simply to contend but to contend earnestly For the Faith There is faith by which we believe Fides quâ creditur thus is faith taken Româ—â— 1. justified by faith and so in many other places There is also faith which we believe viz. The Doctrine of Fides quae creditur Faith thus it 's said that Paul preached the faith which once he destroyed Gal. 1. 23. And so is it here taken for faith whereby we believe is infused into us but it is faith which we believe that is delivered unto us Delivered viz. first by preaching and then by writing The Apostles did deliver the faith to the Primitive Christians both wayes Gal. 1. 23. Ioh. 20. 31. But to the Christians of succeeding ages they delivered the Faith only by writing for being dead they could not deliver it by preaching neither can we tell what they preached but onely by seeing what they have written Therefore this delivering of the faith here spoken of as it concernes us and the Church ever since the Apostles times must be understood of delivering by writing As for Popish unwritten Traditions how groundlesse they are and how injurious to the written Word of God I shall shew more anon Once That is fully and perfectly as 1 Sam. 26. 8. Let me smite him I pray thee with the speare to the earth at once and I will not smite him the second time Heb. 10. 10. it is expressed once for all This is not so to be taken as if the faith were not again and again even continually while the world lasteth to be delivered but it must be no new faith that