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
wanton kick against him c. And therefore having given us an Antidote against the evil and destructiveness of them in his Son and his Word as setting him before us he pleaseth still to continue them to us It is better for us in such cases to imitate our pattern the Lord Jesus who when he was to drink that bitter Cup which his Father gave him to drink did not pray absolutely that he might not drink it or that it might pass from him but with a thorough resignation of himself to his Fathers will prayed Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me nevertheless not my will but thy will be done 3. But view we now the person setting it up and that was Moses concerning whom I shall only note his obedience in doing Gods Commandement without disputing it He said not how can a piece of Brass made in the likeness of a Fiery Serpent heal them or would it not be better that the people look only to thee for their healing then to direct their eyes to any such mediums whereby they may be moved to ascribe their healing or preservation to the medium rather then to thy self But laying aside all the exercise of his own wisdom and reason against the command and will of God he obeys him As our Saviour here saith and the History in Numb 21.8 9. shews Moses lifted up the Serpent And so it may be instructive to us all and to the greatest Princes or Officers in Gods Church not to lift up our reasonings and understandings against the will and word of God but to do all things that he by Jesus Christ and in his name by his Apostles have given us in Commandment Without murmuring or disputing Phil. 2.14 As judging God wiser then we The only wise God and worthy to be obeyed however absurd his commands may seem to our wisdom The foolish things of God being wiser then the wisdom of man and his weakness stronger then mans strength Obedience is better then Sacrifice and to hearken is better then the fat of Rams Or then any the most desireable or advantageous ways of honouring him that our wisdom and reason proposes to us Saul and Jereboam by preferring their seeming and appearing pious intentions and carnal pollicies before Gods Commandments lost their Kingdoms And Nadab and Abihu by offering strange fire lost their lives when as others have always met with blessing in obeying him 4. The place where Moses lifted up the Serpent to the end and upon the accounts afore-mentioned was the Wilderness Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness God when he brought his people out of Egypt led them into and through the Wilderness a waste and howling Wilderness a Land of drought and of the shadow of death a Land where no man passeth through and where no man dwelt Gods way that he leads people in and by is not without Tryals and Temptations and therefore we are not to judgeâ— we are out of Gods because or when we meet with tryals Or that we are in his way because or when we meet with none The way to know our way is to mind his Word even his way that leads to his heavenly rest and eternal Kingdom is a way that lies out of the road of the world a way of exercise for faith a way of trials and temptations And yet as God in that Wilderness shewed himself alsufficient for his people provided for them bread and water clothes and physick or a way to cure their wounds and prevent their perishing So God is alsufficient for us too in all our trials and temptations and hath provided for us all grace and blessing in Christ Jesus and will not fail to dispence it to them whose hearts are perfect with him For the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield He will give grace and glory and no good thing will he with hold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 And therefore it is good for us to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth though through Floods and Seas and Wildernesses though into straights and exercises tryals and temptations knowing and believing him to be such as he hath manifested himself to be in that Wilderness able and faithful to supply and save us in all conditions and that he hath promised to be with us when we pass through water and fire to preserve us from being hurt of them Isa 43.2 3. Oh Lord God of hosts blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee for thou Lord hast not failed them that seek or follow after thee Psal 84.12 9.10 There is no State or place so barren of provision or relief wherein in obeying and following after Christ he cannot or will not provide and afford such help and succour to us as he sees fit for us which may serve both to fault our unbelief and fearfullness to betrust our selves with him and to follow him whithersoever he calls us and also to stir up and excite our faith and confidence in him and our willingness to obey and follow him But I shall add no more to this first point but come to the second which is the main CHAP. III. The second Point in part considered who is the Son of Man and three Reasons propounded why Christ is so called THE Second point is That the Son of Man must be lifted up To which Point the other two may also be reduced they holding forth but the way wherein or manner after which and the end to which he is to be lifted up In speaking to this Second Point we may consider 1. Who is meant here by the Son of Man 2. Why he is so called 3. What is and what is implyed in the lifting of him up and in part 4. Why he must be lifted up and lifted up in such acts as we shall mention leaving the fuller consideration of it to the last Point 1. Who is this Son of Man or who is meant and pointed at by that phrase or Title and that appears every where in the wrightings of the Evangelists to be no other then he who spake even the Lord Jesus Christ himself And so both other expressions of the Evangelists and those that are about this Text do evidence For First For other expressions we have our Saviour himself as related in Matthew plainly signifying it Mat. 16.13 For there the Evangelist tells us That Jesus asked his Disciples Whom do men say that I the Son of man am plainly calling himself the Son of Man As also in the same Chapter ver 27. Saying The Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall render to every one according to his Works But he that shall come with his Angels and whose Father God is and shall come to Judge the World and shall render to every one according to his Works is evidently asserted to be the Lord Jesus Christ See for that Rom. 2.6 16. Act. 10.42 17.31 2 Thes
Pharaohs Court as the Son of Pharaohs daughter yet through faith believing on the Son of Man he was not snared so as to perish from the way thereby but refusing to be called the Son of Pharaohs daughter chose rather to suffer adversity with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproches of Christ greater riches then all the treasures of Egypt for he had respect to the recompence of reward Heb. 11.24 25 26. 5. In case of Gods giving honour power and authority to men they are in a danger to and often do perish from the way either neglecting and sleighting and so missing it or if they were somewhat in it before they wander out of it not believing in the Son of Man to steer them evenly and uprightly in it as is to be seen in many Kings and Princes that are or have been corrupted by power and greatness Instances we have in Saul and Vzziah Solomon and other Kings of Judah and Israel but now if any such believe on the Son of Man and in God through him he will preserve them from perishing from the way as may be seen in David Asa Jehosaphat Hezekiah and Josiah though they all had their stumbles and falls in the way and this is that that is implyed in the second Psalme when he saith Be wise now therefore O ye Kings understand or be instructed ye that Judge the Earth Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce before him with trembling Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish out â—f the way if his wrath be kindled but a little Kiss that is imbrace honour submit to believe on the Son even him that is set upon Gods holy hill of Sion to whom God said Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Gods Son this Son of Man the Lord Jesus But then in adding Blessed are all they that trust in him He implies that they who do so in an exercise of faith in or believing on him they shall be happy in this that they shall be preserved from such perishing out of the way as befalls others that do not kiss or believe on him I may also add 6. In case of Gods honouring and lifting up men with great spiritual gifts and favours as knowledg utterance experience and such like priviledges The heart not exercising faith in the Son of Man and living upon him as nothing in and of itself notwithstanding them and as needing always to be found in him upheld and supplied by and presented in him is in danger to perish out of the way As is implied in that counsel and warning of the Apostles to the Gentiles Rom. 11.20 21. 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 And as was exemplified in Jerusalem Ezek. 16.16 17 18. That trusting in her own beauty and excellency received from Christ her husband and not living upon and trusting only to and in him plai'd the harlot and perished from the way as is to be seen in the following verses there and in Jer. 2.5 6 7 31. Whereas the living by the faith of the Son of God and exercising it by believing on him preserves and saves there-from as the Apostle Paul and all that in all ages lived by faith in their injoyments of Gods gifts favours and priviledges were Gal. 2.20 Heb. 10.38 7. In case of difficulties and seeming hardness in the words or works of God or Christ so as we cannot find them out or comprehend them by our understanding from want of believing on the Son of Man many perish from the way of truth and righteousness So we find that Israel fell in temptations and provocations not knowing Gods way erring in their hearts through unbelief of his words not mixed with faith in them Psal 95.10 Heb. 3.15 16 18. with 4.2 When Caleb and Joshua that believed followed God with a full heart and were not offended at any of his ways Asaph had like that way to have slipt but that going into the Sanctuary of God through believing what he there met with he was recovered Psal 73. Jeremiah also though he would reason with God of his judgments yet holding fast faith and believing that God was righteous in all his ways was not in danger of miscarrying Jer. 12.1 Yea in a word Great peace have they that love Gods Law and nothing shall offend them either in Gods words or works for they believe that his word is right and all his works are done in truth Psal 119.165 with 33.4 That God is a Rock his work perfect and all his ways judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32.4 But a most eminent instance of this we have in Christs Disciples Joh. 6. where at a hard saying of his about eating his Flesh and drinking his Blood many of his Disciples were so offended that they perished from the way turning back from and no more walking with Christ and that because they believed not hung not upon him as the Christ tho Son of God trusted not to his leading beyond what they could see and comprehend with their own understandings as one they were perswaded of that he would not deceive or mislead them Whereas Peter the other Apostles being asked If that offended them also and if they would go away too replied Whither shall we go Thou hast the words of eternal Life and we know and are sure that thou art the Christ the Son of the living God and would not depart from him Joh. 6.60 61 64 67 68 69. Abraham also believing according to what was said and giving glory to God staggered not through unbelief either at the strangness or greatness of what was promised or at the unlikeliness of its being performed and so turned not out of the way however he may be said to have tripped in it by listening to Sarahs advice Gen. 16. Rom. 4.16 17 18. Whereas Israel in the Wilderness as is noted afore not believing for the words sake nor for Gods sake upon the account of his power and faithfulness but judging by sight and appearance and accordingly believing or distrusting turned aside and perished from the way many of them And to say no more in case of temptations generally men not believing on Christ the Son of Man and so on God are in danger to perish out of the way being overcome of their lusts and of Sathan And so all the diverse ways of the people of Israel falling into sin and perishing from the way as by lusting after evil things by Idolatry by murmuring against Christ by tempting Christ and by fornication mentioned 1 Cor. 10. are resolved generally into their unbelief as the grand root and cause of them Heb. 3.19 Jude 5. When as they who hold fast faith in Christ and depend on him continually are thereby preserved from every evil way As it is
subsistence here withdrawing from oâ— not singly depending on Christ and God in him 1 Tim. 6.17 Ier. 9.23 24. Psal 62.9 10. and 146.3 4. Prov. 3.5 5. In a word by taking any relyance on God and Christ wherein the heart is not from the belief of Gods testimony carried up to Christ and God in Christ to depend on him and to be guided and governed by him to be that believing on him Such a relyance and staying upon God without that dependance on submission for guidance to him the Prophets sometimes tax Israel with as a false deceitful trust and confidence Isai 48.1 Mich. 3.10 11. Ier. 7.4 5 c. And all such relyance is false though it look back to what God hath done in and by Christ formerly or to any present testimony of his mercy and goodness which lead to love and submit to him as well as and not without them to expect help from him For this believing on the Son of man is a single hearty belief of Gods Testimony concerning Christ so as to like come and seek to rest and depend upon him as the sole full compleat and perfect Saviour in all things and in all cases and conditions in listening to and obeying him in his wholesome counsels and instructions and as the full ground and foundation of our expectation of Gods help and salvation in such a way of obeying him And so He and He only and upon his own account that is upon account of what He is hath done is doingâ— and is become with God for us and is made of God to us is to be believed on 1. For all forgiveness pardon of sin and justification therefrom as it 's said Through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins and by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Act. 13 38 39. And he is set forth for a propitiatory through faith in his blood for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God Rom. 3.25 and being justified through his blood much more shall we be saved from wrath Chap. 5.9 And in him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of our sins Eph. 1.7 Col. 1.14 2. For all acceptance with God in our access to and service of him as also all our liberty thereto we have through him He hath made us accepted in his beloved Eph. 1.6 And having liberty or boldness to the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus by a new living way which he hath consecrated through the vail his flesh and having an High Priest over the House of God Let us draw nigh with true hearts and full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water let us draw nigh as believing our welcome and with full assurance of faith as in respect of the truth of the faith believed so also in respect of confident expectation of acceptance coming with such truth of heart sprinkling of conscience and washing of our body as grace requireth and worketh Heb. 10.19 20 21 22. And so our Spiritual sacrifices are acceptable through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 For Christ is made to us of God righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 3. For all spiritual blessings in heavenly things for our comfortable and acceptable walking with God here in this life and usefulnesse towards men As for instance 1. For all light and knowledge of God and understanding in all things He being come a light into the World that whosoever believeth on him might not walk in darkness but see the light of life Joh. 8.12 and 12.46 Psal 34.5 He will teach us his ways Isa 2.3 2. For all wisdom for making a right and profitable construction and use of Gods truths and providences and for chusing the good and refusing the evil and ordering our conversations aright before him and towards others improving all providences mercies chastisements and occurrences to the right and best advantage and acting wisely in all things Jam. 1.5 Col. 4.3 and 2 3. Psal 144.1 He being made of God wisdome to us 1 Cor. 1.30 3. For all sanctification and holiness The subduing of corruptions renewing of our minds hearts and spirits and conforming us unto God Christ is made unto us of God holiness or sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 Ye are sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 Sanctified by the faith that is me said Christ Act. 26.18 4. For all strength to walk with God and in his ways against all discouragements and difficulties and to bear and indure all troubles and exercises that he orders to us I am able to do all things through Christ that strengthneth me Phil. 4.13 He shall strengthen them in the Lord and they shall walk up and down in his name Zach. 10.12 Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2.1 who is made unto us of God redemption 5. For all peace of conscience and quiet of mind and spirit He is our peace Eph. 2.24 and being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 And these things have I spoken saith Christ that in me ye might have peace Joh. 16.33 6. For all joy and consolation in our hearts and spirits from and in God That ye may be filled with joy and peace in believing Rom. 15.13 By Christ we have accesse into the grace of God in which we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Yea we joy also in tribulations and not only so but we joy also in God through Jesus Christ by whom also we have received the atonement Rom. 5.2.3.11 And so 7. For all hope in and confidence toward God and for the performances of his gracious promises Thence he is called our hope 1 Tim. 1.1 Iesus Christ our hope and Christ in you the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 in believing ye may be filled with hope through the power of the Holy Ghost Rom. 15.13 8. For all useful gifts by which we may be fitted to be useful and profitable in our Generation in that place of the body of Christ in which he sets us For it is he who being ascended up on high gives gifts unto men distributing to every one according as he will Ephes 4.7 8 11. 4. For all supplies also of outward mercies necessary for our present subsistance here so as we may seek after wait upon and walk with God cheerfully and comfortably and be useful to and among men My God will supply all your needs according to the riches of his glory by Jesus Christ Philip 4.19 All the promises of God are in Christ yea and in him Amen to the glory of God 2 Cor. 1.20 And the promises of God are some of them for the life that now is 1 Tim. 4.8 Therefore the living God is to be trusted in through Jesus Christ
and upon his account for all things which he knows needful for us in this life also and not uncertain riches 1 Tim. 6.17 19. Whether food raiment counsel courage health friends or what else he may see good for us with submission to his wisdom and will and so 5. For outward defence and safety in our ways and services not coveting after or trusting in mans friendship and defence Psal 146.3 4 5 6. So Ezra was ashamed to ask a Guard of the King to secure him in his way to Jerusalem but sought it of God having said to the King That the hand of the Lord is for good to and with them that seek him but his power and wrath against them that forsake htuâ— Ezra 8.22 And Christ sending out his Apostles incouraged them to believe on him for safety in his work telling them All power in Heaven and Earth is given unto me and lo I am always with you to the end of the world Mat. 28.18 20. Let our conversation therefore be without covetousness and be we content with such things such things for defence and protection also as we have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say The Lord is my helper I will not fear c. Heb. 13.5.6 6. For Eternal Life the receiving our Spirits in death Acts 7.59 Psal 31.4 5. The resurrection of our bodies from the death when he appears in glory John 11.25 26 5.28 29. 1 Cor. 6.14 15.21 22. The glory then to be revealed and enjoyed Col. 3.4 1 Thes 4.15 16. Rom. 5.2 Thence he is in the believers the hope the ground of their hope of Glory Col. 1.27 And where he is so looked to and depended on for all these things and in a word for all grace and glory that in the looking to and depending on him the heart and life is yielded up to him to be ordered directed and framed by him according to his Word and Will through the grace brought to us by him there the believing is right and such as hath the promise and shall have the performance of Gods salvation from perishing and of Eternal Life And great care is to be taken herein that we be not deceived with a pretence of Religion wherein yet the heart is going after and relying on or hoping in other Objects instead of Christ and God in him or upon other accounts then of the grace in him or the heart and life is not yielded up to be ordered by him And surely if in worldly things men are careful not to be paid with Copper instead of Silver and Gold or to have their Bags filled with Counters instead of currant money and that they have not false and counterfeit Deeds and Conveyances instead of what is good and valid in the Law for their Estates How much more should we be careful in the matters of our Souls that we content not our selves with a faith or believing that is not aright a believing in vain instead of a reall unfeigned believing on Jesus Christ the Son of man and the Son of God Now that we may believe on the Son of man as the Scriptures have said and as they approve and so be preserved from perishing and obtain eternal life the son of man must be lifted up And so we come to CHAP. XVII The Sixth and last Observation proposed and 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 Obser 6 THe Sixth and last Observation is That it is needful and behoveful to the end that men may both believe in Christ and also therein be preserved from perishing and have eternal life therefore also its Gods good will that Christ the Son of man be lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness How that was we have in some measure seen by whom He is and is to be so lifted up that which remains here to be considered is that it 's necessary and behoveful that he be so lifted up both with reference to mens believing on him as the next end of it and with reference to their not perishing but having eternal life who believe on him and in their believing on him which is the last and Ultimate end and to demonstrate this I shall briefly lay down and prove two or three conclusions Conclusion 1. That the lifting him up both by men upon the cross as ordered of God and by God himself in his uniting the nature of man in him to the eternal word and his calling him forth to upholding him in raising him out of and rewarding and glorifying him at his right hand after his sufferings was of absolute necessity both as to mens believing on him and as to their being saved from perishing and having life eternal in believing on him In which conclusion be two branches Branch 1. That this lifting him up was necessary to mens believing on him and that is clear because otherwise he could not have been an Object to be believed on for any of those things which we need in order to our salvation and ever-living For 1. Had he not been made one with the Word the seed of David made the Son of God he had been but a Creature and so not meet to be believed on with a divine faith or dependance on him either for procuring for us or conferring on us the things pertaining to salvation and eternal life no meer creature being so to be believed on by us or able to save us nor had he been such a one as had answered the prophesies foregoing concerning the person in whom we are directed to have our trust For he in the prophesies is described to be the Son of God I wil declaree the decree the Lord hath said unto me thou art my Son this day have begotten thee Psal 2.6 And this Son is he of whom its is said Kiss the son lest he be angry and blessed are all they that put their trust in him vers 11 12. The Son given is He that is the mighty God Isai 9.6 and if he were not so he should be looked upon but as a meer creature and so as a meer medium by whom and by which God extends his mercy and goodness and not as the extender and procurer of it we are counselled and sometimes people have been commended for believing the Prophets of the Lord who were but men indued with the spirit or gifts of the spirit of the Lord. As it is said Believe his Prophets so shall ye prosper 2 Chron. 20.20 And they believed God and his servant Moses Exod. 14.31 But not any where to believe on any man that 's a meer man but always in or on the Lord Jehovah As in the same 2 Chron. 20.20 Where he saith Believe his Prophets He saith Believe in or on
Grace heartily repent and turn to God by him Yea of such Value and Force was and is his Obedience and Righteousness therein with his Father that upon account and in the virtue thereof he is both the Propitiation for our sins that believing have him our Advocate with the Father taking away our defects sins and failings from before him so as we walking in the Light as God is therein we have fellowship with God and God with us and his blood cleanseth us from all sin yea if through temptation sinning we confess it he is here-through just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness And also he is the Propitiation for the sins of the whole world So as he obtains here-through a day of Grace and Patience towards them and keeps off destruction therein from them and obtains the holding open as it were of a door of Repentance to them and a Readiness in God to accept of any of them in heartily repenting and turning to him Yea he here-through obtains all that Goodness Bounty Long-suffering and Patience towards them which is afforded them with whatsoever Calls Counsels means of Repentance and Grace with Dispensations and Operations of the Holy Spirit to Move Lead Excite Provoke and strengthen to Repentance and Faith are afforded to them that they might be Saved 1 Tim. 2.6 Isa 53.4 5 6 9 10. Heb. 2.9 and 9.26 and 10.5.10 Rom. 3.24 and 5.18 1 John 2.1 2. and 1.7 9. Acts 10.43 and 13.38 39. Psal 68.18 19 20. Yea 6. And also as it declares by virtue hereof and as a reward therefore God having taken him up and he being gone into Heaven to Gods Right-hand whereon he hath set him and where he hath glorified him even the Man Christ Jesus with himself with the Glory he had with him before the world was all Authority in Heaven and upon Earth is committed to him and all the fulness of the Godhead bodily dwells in him So as he is the Great God and our Saviour the Saviour of the World even of all men and especially of all those that believe Having the Power of forgiving sins and justifying from them all that come to and believe on him As also all Power of Teaching and Guiding into and in all right Ways and preserving from all hurt and evil of doing us good by and seasonably bringing us out of all Troubles Afflictions and Death subduing all Enemies within or without working all good for and in us and filling us with all Good and Blessing In a word of doing all things to and for us that may prevent our Perishing and promote our eternal Happiness Phil. 2.9 10 11. Isa 53.12 John 17.4 5. 1 Pet. 3.22 Acts 5.31 Col. 1.19 and 2.9 Mat. 28.18 Isa 9.6 and 63.1 Tit. 2.13 1 Tim. 4.10 Ephes 1.3 c. As also 7. That he is unspeakably Merciful Gracious and Loving to Mankind ready to do us good and save us yea actually doing great good to and for all and ready to do all good to all that will listen to and be ruled by him having received his Power and Offices to that purpose and that having ingaged and promised to God and men to do whatever may be requisite to the Salvation and Eternal Life of all that listen look to and obey him he is also Infinitely Faithful to both for performing all his Ingagements and Promises to them Heb. 2.17 18. and 3.1 2. and 4.14 15. and 5.9 Isa 42.1 2 3 4. Yea and further that 8. He abides for ever an everlasting unchangeable Priest after the order of Melchisedeck and an everlasting King whose Kingdom shall continue for ever and his Dominion have no end nor shall his Divine Power as God ever alter So that he is perfectly able to save to the utmost and for ever all that come to God by him being unchangeably the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 1.10 11 12. and 7.1 24 25. and 13.7 8. to whom that in Psal 146. may be applied Where having asserted the happiness of him that hath the God of Jacob for his help and whose hope is in the Lord his God upon the account of his Power and Greatness shewed in his having made Heaven and Earth the Seas and all therein and of his Faithfulness in keeping truth for ever and of his Mercy and Goodness in Executing Judgment for the Oppressed giving Food to the hungry loosing the Prisoners opening the Eyes of the Blind raising up those which are bowed down loving the Righteous preserving the Strangers relieving the Fatherless and Widow and turning upside down the way of the Wicked All of them works of Mercy and Goodness to men and such as argue his special Care over them that have him for their God He shuts up all with the consideration of his Eternity or Ever-abiding saying The Lord shall reign for ever even thy God O Sion to all Generations praise ye lift ye up the Lord. Whereto we may yet add 9. That herein is declared how by his Death and Sacrifice he hath purchased and obtained and in his Word and Testimony promised and assured not only supply of all good things and defence from evil so as he sees good in this Life and World but also a glorious and perfectly happy state and blessed condition for ever in a World to come in an everlasting Kingdom to be brought in and manifested by him as the certain and infallible Portion of all that love and look to and believe on him and wait for him Such as is beyond all our present Capacities to conceive of much more to express and set forth to the understandings of others so as the Excellency and Glory thereof may be perceived by them Ephes 4.14 Isa 53.12 Rom. 2.7 10. Rev. 2.26 27. and 3.21 Jam. 1.12 and 2.5 Heb. 6.12 13 18 19. Isa 64.5 1 Cor. 2.9 And in those things are contained all that may allure the heart to seek after and believe on him yea and to further that also there is further in this Testimony of him 10. A discovery of our unspeakable Wretchedness Lostness and Misery in our selves and the Emptiness Weakness and Insufficiency of all other Things and Persons to Help Save and Satisfie us None other in Heaven or Earth having been Crucified and Died for our sins nor is any else Exalted of God to Relieve and Save us There is none of them therefore that have in them Redemption Remission of sins Deliverance from wrath and vengeance None of them have the fulness of the Holy Spirit and of the Godhead in them nor any thing thereof but as he extends of it by them and so no Thing or Person else hath Power Riches Wisdom Strength Honour Glory and Blessing but only he who is judged of God and all his holy Angels worthy to receive of God all fulness This Voice is in this Testimony to take us off from all other things that might detain or withdraw us from him viz. All flesh is Grass and
glorious Body according to the working of that glorious Power by which he is able to subdue all things to himself Rom. 8.10 11. Phil. 3.21 Yea The Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 Oh how Excellent a Person then is Christ that is so comprehensive of all Good and Excellency even from the highest to the lowest Who is both Creator and Creature and hath the Nature and Perfections of both And hath had as well the Infirmities of the one sin excepted out of his great Love and Pity to us as the Form and Excellency Majesty and Glory of the other He that is the high and holy One the Great and Mighty God hath also cried out and acknowledged I am a worm and no man the very scorn of men and the out-cast of the people For he hath had the Experiences of Fallen man the Snares and Bitterness of Death and the Pangs of Hell as well as he hath had and hath experience and full injoyment of the infinite Joys and Glorys and inexpressible Satisfactions of Heaven and God no place is there wherein he is not and hath not been He was aâ— man on the Earth and sometimes Walking on the Seas Yea as to his Body he was in the Grave in the heart of the Earth though not left there to see Corruption and as to his Soul he was in though not left in Hell and yet he was Lord in Heaven and is so for ever 1 Cor. 15.45 John â—3 13 Psal 16.11 with Acts 2.31 Able to save us to the utmost while we are on the Earth and from Grave to Hell and to bring us to the Possession of Heaven and happiness For though he was dead to redeem us from thence yet he is now alive for evermore Amen and hath the Keys of hell and death to keep or bring us out from thence Rev. 1.18 and The Keys of the house of David too so to open as no man shall shut and so to shut as no man can open and he can and will admit into his Kingdom all that are faithful to obey and follow him Greatness and Goodness yea all Perfections and Excellencies are compleatly and everlastingly in him Oh therefore how ought we to admire and love him and with all acceptation to receive and cleave to him honour and obey him Surely that 's the way for us also to be made an excellent and precious People in the sight of God and useful to and among men For this also is of the Commendations of Christ that his Excellencies and Preciousness communicate and contribute an Excellency to all in whom he is It 's his Excellency as we noted before that renders the Gospel a more excellent and glorious Doctrine and so it 's his Excellency and Preciousness derived to them that makes his People those that own and believe on him to be a more excellent People then others as it is said The Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour Prov. 12.26 it is because Christ is in them as it is said again God is in the Generation of the Just Psal 14.5 And the Riches of the Mystery of the Gospel Preached among the Gentiles is Christ in or among them the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 As Christ also prayed for his Disciples that they may be one as the Father and Son are one he Christ in them and the Father in him John 17.23 For as the Comeliness of Jerusalem and her Beauty that was perfect was so through his Beauty and Comeliness put upon her Ezek. 16.14 So the Excellency of his People is his Excellency put upon them who are said to have put on Christ and to be as it were clothed with him Now he being so precious how must they needs be also precious in and by him And indeed others who have not him and much more they who reject and refuse him lifting up themselves or other things and glorying in them are vile persons Psal 15.4 For indeed every thing or person according to the Spirit is to be accounted of as it hath reference to or hath more or less of or conduceth more or less to our injoyment of him And so those things or persons are to be more esteemed or chosen of us and loved by us by whom or by which we are or may be more led to Christ or built up in him or more of him and his excellencies are or may be conveyed to us But I may seem to have insisted too largely upon this Subject and to have made too long a Digression if I may call it a Digression and yet I may too truly say I have spoken nothing in effect to it but rather have but darkned wisdom by words without knowledge his excellencies being indeed such as cannot be so spoken or written of but that all that is spoken and written of them is as far below them as He who would go about to paint the glory and luster of the Sun would necessarily fail and fall short of its proper and native splenâ—or and glory in all his painting Verily though there be very much said of him and of his excellencies in the Scriptures yet it may and will be said when we come to see him and enjoy him if we being found in him shall be accounted worthy thereof as the Queen of Sheba said of Solomon when she saw him and his excellency and glory It was a true report indeed said she which I heard of thee in mine own Land of thy acts and of thy wisdom howbeit I believed not the words till I came and mine eyes have seen and behold the half was not told me thy wisdom and thy prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard So may we say then the Prophets and Apostles knew in part and prophesied in part not in perfection and surely that which is but in part will be found as short of that that is perfect as the capacities of a little child fall below the most perfect capacities of a grown and most accomplished man as the Apostle signifies in 1 Cor. 13.10 12. And surely if they knew and prophesied in part only what then could I do or have I done who have but gleaned some small part of what they have declared Surely I must needs have fallen unspeakably short of his infinite perfections whose Name alone is excellent and whose glory is not only above the earth but above the Heavens also Psal 148.13 For who can declare as I said in the beginning hereof all his mighty acts Who can set forth all his praises Psal 106.2 I should but still fall below him yea and too much darken his glory should I assay to add any thing more hereabout and therefore I shall say no more but rather desire and pray that the spirit of wisdom and revelation may be granted to me in the knowledge of him that the eyes of my understanding being inlightned I may know more distinctly for my self and for the
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