and Born a-new changed from evil to good But this Son of whom I am speaking was neither by Creation Adoption nor Regeneration but by Eternal Generation out of himself in which respect God hath no Son but this and therefore he is called The Son of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Discriminatively †Joh. 1.18 The onely begotten Son of God of which Generation I presume not to make any Declaration for I see not how we can understand farther of this Mystery than that it is the Communication of the Divine Essence or Personality or both by the Father by which he hath Begotten the Son but the Manner how we shall never understand while we are in these Houses of Clay Christ is called ‖ Luk. 1.35 The Son of God by which words is meant that he took not his beginning when he was Born of the Virgin Mary but that he was the Eternal Son of God that he was True God as the Father is and bath the same Nature Essence Will and Power with him and because this Truth was so opposed by the Arrians a Council of 318 Bishops Assembled at Nice and Expounded this Article of our Faith in Larger Terms as you may Read in your Common-Prayer-Books I Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Nicene the onely Begotten Son of God Begotten of his Father before all Worlds God of God Very God of very God Begotten not Made c. When St. Peter had made his Confession of Faith †Matt. 16.16 Acknowledging Christ to be the Son of the Living God it is worthy our Serious Observation that not onely was this Confession made the Standard of Faith by those words * Vers 18. Vpon this Rock will I Build my Church but our Saviour did also declare that the Knowledge of this Great Truth came to Peter from above †Vers 17. Flesh and Blood hath not revealed this unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven From whence it is obvious to a very ordinary capacity that if the Virgin Mary's Son had been the Son of God no other way but by Eminency in respect of the Excellent Gifts that were in him there had been no occasion for this Revelation from Heaven seeing that those Gifts and Graces were sufficient to testifie this this Revelation therefore amply declares his Filiation or Sonship to be of a more Transcendent Nature He was a Son by Real and Eternal Generation he was a Son Consubstantial with the Father the thing Begotten being of the same Essence and Substance with that which Begets it and for this cause our Saviour Averr'd * John 10.30 I and the Father are one Vnum not Vnus not one in Will but in Nature he is not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Like Being but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same Substance Thus hath it appear'd that the Names Ascribed to the Son of the Virgin Mary as Jesus Christ Emanuel The Word the Son of God do all Assert and Prove his Deity Our next undertaking was to show that the Properties of the Deity are attributed to him from whence his Deity will necessarily be Inferr'd There are not properly speaking any Attributes Properties or Qualifications in God because whatsoever is in God is God but in compliance to the capacity of our shallow Understandings they are admitted and here the Caution takes place that we should not account these Properties parts of the Divine Essence because that every Property is really his very whole Essence as for Instance the Wisdom of God is no other but the Wise God the Mercy of God includes the Merciful God c. The use of these Properties or Attributes is to declare and set forth unto us the Essence of God I have already manifested the Eternity of Jesus Christ and shall distinctly speak next of his Immense Power Wisdom Mercy and Goodness discernible in those Great Works of Creation and Redemption I shall not so confine my self to those but that in handling I shall give you such light into his other Attributes that you may thereby gather a clear Manifestation of his Deity I. The Work of Creation is ascribed to Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary To Create is to make something out of nothing to doe which requires an Infinite and Uncontroulable Power such as can no where be found but in God St. John brings this as a farther Proof of the Deity of Christ whom he had called the Word * Joh. 1.3 All things were made by him as if he had said The Word or Jesus Christ whom he meant by the Word was certainly God for he made all things and without him was not any thing made which was made This was so manifest and withal so full a Proof of his Assertion that he reinforces it ‖ Vers 10. The World was made by him and the World knew him not It is sad that the Generality of Men did not formerly nor will not latterly take notice of him in the Capacity of a Creator That this Jesus Christ when he lay in the Bosom of his Father was a Principal Coagent or Efficient with the Father and the Holy Ghost in the Work of Creation Solomon declares it for †Prov. 8.22 23 c. Christ is there called the Wisdom of the Father by whom the World and all things were made For all Interpreters not excusing Arrius himself agree that these Words of the Wise Man were spoken concerning Christ but being intended to oppose the Deity of Christ that Arch Heretick though he had not the Impudence to deny the words to be spoken of Christ yet such was his Perverseness that he Corrupted the Text and for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He Possessed me Verse 22d he Read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He Created me and so Blasphemously from his own Corrupted Text Argued That Christ was no more than a Creature We have great need to look well to our Bibles to Read Mark Learn and Inwardly Digest the Sound Doctrine thereof because there are too many in the World besides those of Rome who could they get all our Bibles into their hands would soon Teach them to speak a strange Language The Apostle St. Paul does as plainly Ascribe the Creation to Jesus Christ * Col. 1.16 For 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 All things both those that are the Subject of our Sight as the Corporeal and those whose Nature and Spiritual Being as Angels and the Souls of Men submits not to Mortal Intuition That which most chiefly makes for our Present Purpose is to declare That this Creator was Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary and this is Justified †by calling him v. 15. That Created the Image of God and the First-born of every Creature and ‖ he is stiled v. 18. The
own Orthodox Confession and Regular Life and doth not contribute what lieth in him to Discountenance and Suppress such Blasphemers and their Blasphemy is but Almost not so Altogether a Christian * Jude 3. We are Exhorted Earnestly to contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints Once delivered so that when once delivered and received if it be corrupted or lost we have great Assurance of a Second Edition It was Israel's Fault that when Elijah was Contending hard with the Prophets of Baal for the Honour of the God of Israel * King 18.21 The People answered him not a word they seemed wholly unconcern'd as if Religion had been a Matter onely for the Men of God the Prophets and Priests to trouble themselves about or as if it were all one to them to Serve God or Baal The Prophet had called them to Recollect themselves and Judge which was the True God and to Follow Him I grant the People were so Mannerly as not to oppose the Prophet but what was this when in a matter of so great Importance they should have spoken on his side But in this untoward Generation How unconcernedly doth one Christian hear another Nay How patiently doth the Magistrate hear most Men Rend Tear and Blaspheme the Precious and Honourable Names of this Holy Son of God yet show little or no zeal exert not the least shadow of their Power to Controul them and which aggravates the matter by so doing they are Injurious both to God and the Poor Such Persons may be reputed Civil Magistrates but their over-much Civility is the Shame of their Office the Growing Contempt of their Power and the General Reproach of Christianity I will yet Pray against this Wickedness that if such Careless Magistrates may not be overthrown in Stony places for their too great Easiness and Connivence yet that the Accustomed Swearers would hear my Words and they must find them sweet You that can Deafen Mens Ears and even Chill the Blood of Conscientious Christians with the Vollies of most Desperate Oaths and Curses what Answer will you shape at the last day Think you that you shall not blush and be confounded when you behold him Arrayed with Glorious Majesty and sit on the Great Tribunal whose Name you have made so Vile and Trivial whose Blood you have despised and Trampled under Feet whose Wounds your Mouths have Torn Wider and Rankled here Men look'd upon you as desperate Fools so Often so Loudly so Heartily to Imprecate what you would not for the World should have befallen you there you shall find your Jest converted into Earnest and feel that Punishment Inflicted that had you Ten thousand Worlds to give you could get no Release from Oh that Men were wise and would consider what shall befall them in the end who in stead of Confessing Jesus Christ the Son of God so Monstrously Blaspheme his Name and Deity Upon this Foundation that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary is the Son of God and Head of the Church next to that of our open Confessing of him we may raise this other Story * Rom. 13.14 Put on the Lord Jesus Christy and make not provision for the Flesh to fullfill the Lusts thereof Their Conversations who are called by the Name of Christ and profess to believe him to be God ought to be in all Purity as becometh the Gospel of Christ they are oblig'd to act as is most suitable to their being Members of that Body of which the Son of God is Head they must in all things live as true Disciples in that School of which the Holy Jesus is the head Master not entertaining themselves with carnal and sensual Delights Hypocrates ordered each of his Followers to take this Oath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will maintain my Professtion unspotted and my Conversation uncorrupted If he judg'd it so expedient for the Honour of Physick that the practisers thereof should be so Upright and Vertuous how much greater care may the Institutor of our Religion challenge from us that in no good thing we come behind other Men insomuch as the Precepts he has commended to our Observation are of a more Sublime and excellent Nature and lead to a greater perfection than ever was attainable by that or any other Art whatsoever A Christian ought to be no other than a lively pattern or representation of Christ exhibiting daily in his Conversation those admirable Graces and Vertues which were so eminent in the Original therefore are such commanded to put on Christ by a most strict imitation of him Qui Christum induit omnem virtutem habet he that puts on Christ must become Holy in every respect as he was moreover this putting on must be without any intentions of depositing again I grant there are some would their number were less who put on Christ after the same manner that the resemblance of a man's Face is put on a Glass which is but for a moment no longer than the Person stands by thus some have put on Christ by Baptism and others for a fit ad Sacramenti perceptionem in order to receive the Sacrament but this is not the putting on which is required for that ought to be usque ad vitae sanctificationem to the sanctifying of the whole life their Souls and Bodies Minds and Spirits their Thoughts Words and Deeds ought to be influenced and directed altogether by their Profession We Christians are bought with a price * 1 Cor. 6.20 viz. The Blood of the Son of God and therefore must glorifie God in our Bodies and in our Spirits which are Gods our Bodies as well as Souls were his purchase and therefore both are to be devoted to his service no Christian is Vir sui Juris his own free Man we are not to serve our selves nor to live unto our selves but unto the Lord. It is said of Scipio that when at a Feast where it might have been thought his Blood had been heated an Harlot beautiful and gay presented her self such a Temptation together with such an Opportunity was gallantly resisted upon this single consideration Vellem si non essem Imperator were I not a General I should comply Menedemus preserved Antigonus in the like Assault by timely advising him to remember that he was a King's Son Christians have the advantage of far greater considerations to put back all evil Suggestions we are Sons of God Friends of Christ we are a peculiar People a Royal Priest-hood nay Co heirs with Christ and therefore as saith the Apostle * Phil. 2.5 The same mind ought to be in them as was in Christ i. e never to condescend to any thing repugnant to their Principles or beneath their present Dignity and future Expectations How monstrous a sight is it to see such who believe in God offering themselves in Vassalage to Sin and Satan or such who are acquainted that it is God's pleasure to give them an Heavenly Kingdom losing themselves
Imprimatur March 12th 1693 4. Ra. Barker JESUS is GOD OR THE DEITY OF Iesus Christ VINDICATED Being an Abstract of some Sermons Preach'd in the Parish-Church of St. James Clerkenwell By D. Pead Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without Wavering LONDON Printed for George Conyers at the Golden Ring and Will. Newton over against Bartholomew-Close Gate in Little Britain 1694. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOHN EARL of CLARE Baron Haughton of Haughton Grace and Mercy from our Lord Jesus Christ My Lord THAT I Presume to Usher this Small Piece into the World under so Great a NAME proceeds not from any Opinion that the Author his Labours have Right to your Patronage But having Receiv'd an Honour from your Lordship without Desert I was unwilling it should be also without Gratitude The Subject of the following Discourse Jesus Christ is so Noble so Useful and Comfortable that it were Unpardonable in me to doubt a Free and Candid Reception seeing that he is Worthy of All Acceptation and that God doth with this his SON freely give the Worthy Receiver All things A more Precious Pearl is not to be found And if God shall vouchsafe so great a Blessing that within your Noble Heart these Lines may kindle an Ambition for the PURCHASE the way will be to Imitate the Merchant in the GOSPEL to Sell all things to Make it The Wealth the Pleasures and the Honours of this World must be Sold Dismissed and Parted with if ever they shall dare to stand in Competition with the Riches of his GRACE or in the least attempt to draw away the Heart from his Love and Service He that would be Purchaser of this INESTIM BLE MERCHANDICE must sell All must tread under-foot all Opinion of Self-Righteousness or Merit and with a Lively Faith lay hold on the Sufficiency of his Righteousness onely He must Sell All he must Devote his Time Health Estate Parts Life and all that he is or hath to Advance the Honour Glory and Praise of the Son of God Jesus Christ and of the Father through him Hoping to be somewhat Serviceable to so Pious yet Difficult Undertakings these Following Lines are Most Humbly Presented thereby intending not onely your PERSONAL but the General Advantage While others from your Unshaken Faith in and Constant Obedience to the ever Blessed JESVS may observe that though it be Hard yet it is not Impossible for the Rich to enter into the KINGDOM of GOD. Where in God's Time may your Temporary Coronet be Exchanged into an Incorruptible CROWN of GLORY is the Humble Prayer of Your Honours Most Faithful and Most Obedient Chaplain D. Pead For the PARITIONERS Especially of St. James's Clerkenwell as likewise any other into whose Hands this Book shall come the Author heartily prays growth in Grace and the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I Am not insensible what Hazards he runs who in this Nature appears in Publick the Critical Remarks and Reflections which daily come forth are warning enough to all that indulge their peace to keep within but when I consider how ready the faithful Shepherd is to adventure his Life for his Sheep I dare not judge the fear or fore-sight of Censure and Cavils sufficient to suppress my Endeavours for the General Good much less to keep from the Light this which you once having heard with the Ear now desire may be open to the Eye We live if not in the last yet to be sure in the loosest of times wherein our Saviour's Prediction as also that of the Apostles is exactly accomplished Truth is already pout up and trampled under Foot of Errour and Falsehood Hypocrisie hath got the upper hand of Religion and it is now so much out of Fashion to be really Good that Men are shy of but appearing so and therefore take great care to prevent the least suspicion thereof Piety Sobriety and Vertue are condemn'd as infallible signs of a Phanatick but excess in Drinking Pride in Apparel and Behaviour Ranting and Swearing Leudness and Vanity in Discourse are taken for the effects of Christian Liberty and the surest marks of Loyalty This corruption of Manners among Christians calls loud for a Deluge of Tears that a Deluge of Judgments wash us not away But though this be as I noted deplorable yet in our Age the Devil seems to strive for the compleat Victory His Envy at God's Glory was formerly satisfied in beholding Men to Prophane the Days to despise the Word and Ordinances and to Blaspheme the Name of God with various Oaths and Imprecations but now although they are most desperately improv'd in these yet his Arms are higher for he and his Agents have dared openly to Impugne the Trinity and deny the Deity of our Blessed Saviour Time was the Jew for his barbarous Rejecting the Messiah was every where look'd upon with an evil Eye though by what means I know not they have roosted among us till we see our Faith as much corrupted as our Coin but it were a shame to be Angry with them when Professours do the same I confess for my own part could I be once perswaded to doubt whether Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary were God I see not which way to find Sence or Comfort in the rest of the Creed It must be terrible to think of God cut of Christ and but fondness to believe him Reconcil'd through Christ if this Christ were not God as well as Man I highly Reverence the Wisdom and Piety of the Honourable House of Parliament which condemn'd that late Hellish Pamphlet to the Flames in so ignominious a Manner but it is my judgment the Son of God himself hath also more sufficiently Vindicated his doubted Deity in that signal Cure wrought much about the same time upon the Cripple for it was Faith in his Name only which hath brought this strange thing to pass that we have seen even in our Days I am not free nor do I think it necessary to engage in the justifying this to be according to the exactest Rules of a Miracle nor will I be so rash on the other hand to deny its being one for though I find where the first and second Miracle that Jesus wrought are Recorded yet I no where find the last that shall be this were not only to rob our Faith and fervent Prayers of the Efficacy we are told is in them but to determine that Divine presence which was promised should continue to the end I have not been large upon this Point because my chief Design was to furnish you with an Antidote against the poison of Theism which hath so much infected this Generation From my weak Labours I hope you may gather some strength to help you in contending for the Faith deliver'd unto the Saints and now greviously assaulted by incarnate Devils An unconcernedness in this great Quarrel I could not dispense with because I observe that every Faithful Ambassadour no sooner discovers a
Phrase called implies a being really the thing so called is that †Rom. 9.25 26. I will call them my People which were not my People i. e. I will make them my People who were not so before This being Premis'd I come to the Names or Appellations given to the Son of the Virgin Mary I. Jesus Mat. 1.21 This was the proper Name of the Son of God when he took humane Flesh I confess others as Types of him had bore this Name yet never did the Signification of the Name fully agree with the Bearer till now This name Jesus shows him to be of Heavenly Extract in that it was given him from Heaven Probat Angelus caelitùs conceptum cui nomen caelitùs imponitur none but God knew the Dignity of this Person and therefore he particularly Assigns him this Name as sufficiently comprehending his Dignity This Name coming from Heaven did plainly demonstrate him to be the Son of God in that none on Earth had Power over Him to give Him a Name The Etymological Reason which the Angel gave of this Name illustrates the Deity of Him to whom it was given †Mat. 1.16 Thou shalt call his name Jesus for He shall save his People from their Sins so that he really was Sui nominis he in all things answered his Name Salvation in other Jesus's was either an empty Name or at most but a faint shadow of the Salvation which was found in him * Acts 4.12 For neither is there Salvation in any other neither is there any other Name under Heaven given among Men whereby we must be saved Salvation from Sins is God's Peculiar for so it is said †Isa 45.21 There is no God else beside me a just God and a Saviour there is none beside me so again * Hosea 13.4 For there is no Saviour beside me Thus we see God challenging Salvation as his peculiar Prerogative and hence I Argue Since by God's special Command this Name Jesus was conferr'd on the Son of the Virgin Mary because he should give Salvation from sins it is plain that he was God for he must necessarily be believed to be the Lord of Life in whose power it was to bestow Life Secondly He was called Christ and from hence also it will appear that the Son of the Virgin Mary was God Christ is a name of Dignity it is a Greek Word and of the same Signification with Messiah in the Hebrew For him the Jews looked and him they did really believe to be no other than the Son of God and this may reasonably be concluded in that they interpreted the second Psalm to be a Prophecy of him wherein we find it declared †Psalm 2.2 That he was the Anointed of God And of this Christ this Messiah it is expresly said by God himself * v. 7. Thou art my Son this Day have I begotten thee That Christ and the Messiah were Synonymous Terms and that both belonged to the Son of the Virgin Mary is evident from * Joh. 1.41 We have found the Messiah which is being interpreted the Christ both these Names signifie Anointed Kings Priests and Prophets under the Law were Anointed with Holy Oyl thereby intimating that they were Separated Sacred and Consecrated to God in the discharge of their respective Offices and were therefore called Messiae or Christi but this Son of the Virgin Mary was Messiah or Chris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 emphatically as being both appointed to perform all those Offices and moreover anointed extraordinarily above any or all of them for * Joh. 3.24 God gave not unto him the Spirit by measure To give by Measure or Weight implies giving with a cautious or sparing Hand and contrarily to give without measure argues giving plentifully even the whole others albeit they were anointed yet were limited they had the Spirit by measure some having one Grace others another but this Jesus the Son of the Virgin Mary was anointed with the fullness of the Spirit for saith the Apostle †Col. 2.9 In him dwelled all the fullness of the God-head bodily Whosoever allows the Son of the Virgin Mary to be the Messiah the Christ must allow him to be the Son of God that the Jews did ever believe the Christ to be the real Son of God is very perspicuous * Joh. 1.49 where Nathanael allowing Jesus to be the Christ i. e. anointed to be King of Israel immediately concludes he must be the Son of God his Words are Rabbi thou art the Son of God the King of Israel and that he as Honestly as Rationally spoke what he believed there is not the least cause to doubt seeing that this Christ who knew what was in Man and needed not that any should testifie v. 47. declared of him * That he was an Israelite indeed in whom was no guile Hear we also Martha's confession of Faith grounded upon the same Reason †Joh. 11.27 I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of God What shall we say the High Priest though enraged had not forgot this truth that The Christ must necessarily be the Son of God * Mat. 26.63 I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ the Son of God for he was satisfied if he was the one he must be the other also Now that the Son of the Virgin Mary was The Christ is evident in that he so punctually executed the Office of King Priest and Prophet to those that would hear and believe he taught the Will of God to those who would submit to his Sceptre he became a King ruling in their Hearts by Faith and Love for he acknowledged his Kingdom was not of this World and to such he was a Priest not only in offering himself a Sacrifice for them but in Blessing them and turning them from their sins so that the Son of the Virgin Mary thus manifesting himself to be The Christ must by the Jews own concession be acknowledged to be the Son of God Thirdly The Son of the Virgin Mary was called Emanuel and this was likewise a demonstration of his Deity Emanuel * Mat. 1.23 which being interpreted is God with us i. e. He that was God from all Eternity hath now assumed humane Nature and is become one with us in all things sin excepted This name does plainly imply the Union of the two Natures in the one Person of our Redeemer it doth moreover point at his mediatory Office between God arid Man and demonstrates him a compleat Saviour able to save to the uttermost In him there were two Natures and yet nec inferiorem consumpsit Glorificatio nec superiorem minuit Assumptio the Deity did not swallow up his Humanity the Humane Nature was not swallowed up and lost in the Deity nor did the Deity suffer Debasement or Diminution by the Assumption of the humanity but both Natures remain whole and intire constituting but one
a Sacrifice truly Propitiatory He that recovers for others the Lost Favour of God must be one that never did Displease Him He that can Remove Natural and to Humane Power Invincible Ignorance must be the fountain of Knowledge he that can reform unruly Wills must be the God of Spirits and he that can open the Kingdom of Heaven which Sin had shut must find out a new and a living way to it But all this Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary did and much more in order to redeem us he must be therefore God Man cannot Redeem his Brother * Psal 49.7 nor make an Atonement for him no though he should live long viz. in God's Service and to his Glory man cannot find a Ransom to give to God which he will accept of the Reason follows †v. 8. For the Redemption of their Soul is Precious or as it is in another Translation It cost more to redeem it God required more than Man could give so that Man must let the redeeming of his Brother's Soul alone for ever Man become guilty of the breach of God's Holy Law and consequently subject to the Penalty Eternal Condemnation it was impossible upon the account of God's Justice he should be restor'd i. e. acquitted received into God's Grace here and Glory hereafter unless a Righteousness were found sufficient to satisfie that Law as well in respect of the Obedience required by it as the Punishment justly due upon the Violation of it The reason of this is plain in that the Law was part of God's Will and must therefore have its Effect that is to say Man must either punctually observe it or suffer for the contempt of it otherwise God must depart from his Nature and leave his Justice unsatisfied which were Blasphemy to suppose * Mat. 5.18 now no Creature Man being fallen from his Integrity was in a capacity for either of these and had Man sought for help to the Angels he had been deceiv'd seeing that they were chargeable with Folly †Job 4.18 and for the suffering part if their Love could have engag'd them to the undertaking which is not Rational to conjecture yet having a nearer access to and a more intuitive Knowledge of God than Man was capable of they could not but have clearer Apprehensions of the fierceness of his Wrath than to expose themselves to the bearing of it and if which is too great a Peradventure their Love could have surmounted their Fear yet their Imbecillity would have sunk under the Burthen But we will go farther admit they could have sustained it yet the Dignity of their Persons being no way proportionable to the Honour of the offended Deity this would have occasion'd their Sufferings to fall short of their necessary Merit and so the Redemption by them hoped for must have been imperfect and of no sufficient Validity We are told farther * Heb. 10.4 That it is impossible the Blood of Bulls and Goats should take away sins should by any Virtue inherent in them Expiate or Atone for sins these were but Typical nor can the blood of one Man though never so Righteous have satisfied for the sins of others because there could not be in his performances or sufferings a sufficient Merit He must be God therefore as well as Man that there may be found an infinite Value in all things done by him as a Redeemer We can never be assured that our Reconciliation is perfected that a compleat Reparation is made to the Honour and Justice of God except we are assured that the person who undertook this be of the same infinite Dignity as the offended for weak Causes can produce but weak Effects So that if our Redemption did not proceed from an infinite Power it would be imperfect and uncertain Therefore are we Taught that our Souls are Redeemed * 1 Pet. 1.19 With the precious Blood of Christ as of a Lamb without Blemish and without Spot We might collect a farther Justification of the Deity of Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary from his Omniscience It is proper to God only to know all things Yet it is apparent that the Holy Jesus knew all things Past Present and Future without the help of Discourse or Reasoning they were all present to him David ascribes to God as an Excellency of his Nature that he knew his Thoughts the Ideas and Reasonings that skulked in the most secret Recesses of his Mind †Psal 139.2 Thou knowest my thoughts afar off even before I know them my self and how often did our Saviour reprove the malicious Thoughts of the Scribes and Pharisees thereby manif sting that he made the Heart seeing he was so privy to it It was an impertinent Question which the Jews put forth * Joh. 7.15 They marvelled saying How knoweth this Man letters having never Learned i. e. How does he thus understand the Law and the Prophets whenas we know he never was brought up in the School of the Prophets This I say was very ridiculous in them when they were daily sensible as is Recorded †Luk. 6.8 That he knew their Thoughts he could tax them with their evil Conceptions not yet brought forth in Words * Mat. 9.4 Wherefore think ye evil in your Hearts He that did understand what was conspir'd in the secret Cabinet of their Hearts could be no stranger to what was open and legible in the Books of their Law For our full satisfaction of the Son of the Virgin Mary's Omniscience let us hearken to the Samaritan Woman †Joh. 4.29 Come see a Man that told me all things that ever I did Is not this the Christ He hath discovered those things that it is not to be imagined how he should know them I had thought my Heart had been deeper than the Well but yet he whom I concluded uncapable to come at Water because he wanted a Bucket to draw with hath fetched up from the bottom of my Heart things that have been long kept Secret things that have been hid from others by Fear and Care and from my Self by the forgetfullness of many Years What can he be less than God to whose Eyes all things are so open and naked Heb. 4.13 If any judge the forecited instance not satisfactory to the point before us let them consult * Jo. 21.17 Lord thou knowest all things c. This Jesus not only heard what Men were speaking but saw also what they were thinking If we reflect upon his Nativity such was the Mystery of his Incarnation a Virgin to become a Mother such the Majesty and Attendance as gave ample Testimony of his Deity St. John dances in the Womb a new Star arises in the East three great Kings led as may be supposed by Balaam's Prophecy * Num. 24.17 undertake a tedious Journey to pay their Homage to the King of Glory become incarnate a Choire of Angels usher'd in this King of Israel with their
†2 Sam. 7.12 And when thy days shall be fulfilled I will set up thy Seed after thee which shall proceed out of thy Bowels and I will establish his Kingdom Isaiah received a Message from God that this Son of God should be born of a Virgin * Isa 7.14 A Virgin shall conceive Micah had notice of the place of his Nativity †Micah 5.2 * But thou Bethlehem Ephratah though thou be litle among the thousands of Judah yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be Ruler in Israel All these Prophecies were exactly accomplished in the person of Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary Was it said the Seed of the Woman This was punctually perform'd in the strictest Sence * Mat. 1.18 The Birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise when as his Mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with Child of the Holy Ghost Was he to be of Abraham's Posterity it is accordingly Recorded †Mat. 1.1 The Book of the Generation of Jesus Christ the Son of David the Son of Abraham To this purpose the Apostle Argues * Gal. 3.29 They that are Christs viz. true Believers are Abraham's seed being one in Christ they must be so accounted in that he was so Was he to be of the Tribe of Judah So saith the Scripture he was †Heb. 7.14 It is evident our Lord sprang out of Judah Was he to be of the Family of David This was so manifestly true of the Son of the Virgin Mary that even the Blind saw it Hear them * Mat. 9.27 Thou Son of David have Mercy on us Was he to be born of a Virgin You heard it proved †Mat. 1.18 Was he to be born in Bethlehem So testifie the Scriptures he was * Mat. 2.1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the King Again The Scriptures Testifie that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was God because to that very end they had their being †Joh. 20.31 These things are Written not only what I have wrote but what Matthew Mark and Luke have Wrote also that you might believe Jesus is the Son of God and that believing you might have life through his Name they must therefore necessarily testifie sufficiently of him what they were intended to induce us to believe of him viz. that he is God There want not plenty of other Arguments to evince the Deity of Jesus Christ As that we are Commanded to be Baptized in his Name and Baptism ought not to be Administred in the Name of any Creature We are also Commanded to Believe in his Name and it were bootless to Believe in any Name but the Name of God We are called Christians from him and it cannot be thought that the Church of God hath so far degenerated as to lay down the Name of God and submit to be called by the Name of a Creature We might have Argued that Divine Honour Praise and Glory are Ascribed to him We have that Knowledge that God hath declared himself Jealous of his Honour and he hath said expresly †Isai 42.8 He would not give his Honour to another Nay we have known his Jealousie burn like Fire against such as have presumed upon his Glory for this cause the Angels were thrust out of Heaven * Isai 14.12 13 14 15. Herod Alexander Caligula and Domitian have paid dearly for their Usurpation in this Kind Ascribing Glory and Honour was by the Jews allowed an Acknowledgment of the Deity When-ever the Priest in she Sanctuary made Mention of the Name of God the People used some Forms of Blessing or Praising God This may be gathered from ‖ Deut. 32.3 where Moses said Because I will publish the Name of the Lord Ascribe ye Greatness unto our God In this cafe we shall find the like Glory Ascribed to the Son of the Virgin Mary †Matt. 21.9 Hosanna to the Son of David The Jews were ordered to observe the Feast of Tabernacles which as Expositors agree not onely remembred them of their Dwelling in Tents but did also Prefigure God's pitching his Tabernacle in our Flesh At this Feast when-ever any Name or Title of God was recited by the Priest the People Repeated Hosanna which signified Save us we beseech thee St. Jerom was of opinion That much about the time of Christ's Incarnation the Jews were wont often to Read the Hundred and Eighteenth Psalm which they Interpreted of Christ in the Twenty fifth Verse whereof this word Hosanna is found this was frequently Sung in their Synagogues and the Jews being at this time big with Expectation of the Messiah met him Riding to Jerusalem and Saluted him with Hosanna the very word they used to Salute the Majesty of God on their Feast of Tabernacles a Type of Christ's Incarnation so that by this Salutation at this Time they cannot be thought to have meant any other than an owning That GOD was come among them To Justifie this Opinion I have Two Reasons 1. Because in the latter part of the Verse viz. * Matt. 21.9 it is said Hosanna in the Highest 2. Because we Read †Luk. 19.40 That if they should have held their peace and have forborn to Ascribe this Honour and Glory to Christ the Stones out of the Wall would have done it So that if Men had been obstinate and would not have Acknowledged him as God their Redeemer the Stones would have Glorified him as God their Creator The Christian Church hath continued even to our days Two Representations of the Deity of Christ which the Prince of Darkness hath laboured to get decry'd as too Superstitious and Ceremonious onely that they growing out of Request he might gradually obliterate the Sense and Belief of the Deity of the Holy Jesus the one of these is Bowing at the Name of Jesus and the other is the Eulogy given unto him when-ever his Gospel is Read in the Church saying when the Gospel is named GLORY BE TO THEE O LORD and when it is ended THANKS BE GIVEN TO THEE O LORD FOR THIS GOSPEL I referr it to modest men to Judge whether laying aside the use of these be not a Departing from one kind of Evidence of the Deity of Christ I might have added that in the end as also in other places of the Epistles Writ to the Church of God by the Apostles Christ is Prayed to as God for God the Father is Supplicated for Love Jesus Christ for Grace and the Holy Ghost for the Communication of his Gifts †2 Cor. 13.13 The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen * Gal. 1.3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ But next to Plainness my great Care hath been Brevity as much as so weighty a
Point will admit of Having thus Vindicated the Deity of Jesus Christ and from the Names given him from the Properties of the Deity Attributed to him that is to say from his Infinite Power Wisdom c. visible in the Great Works of Creation and Redemption as also from the Testimony of God the Father God the Holy Ghost and from the holy Scriptures proved that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was and is True and Perfect God Now permit me to speak unto you in the words of St. Peter ‖ 2 Pet. 1.16 I have not followed cunningly devised Fables nor have I offered you any other Arguments or Proofs than what are Proper and tend naturally to evince this Article of our Faith I have in the whole management of them followed the plainest method hoping that in so doing I have spoke to your Understanding if I have shewn any zeal or warmth it is upon the account that I take it for granted could the Wit of Men or Malice of Devils overthrow this Foundation it could not be long before the Gates of Hell would prevail against the Church of Christ And now blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who by making known to us that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was also the Eternal Son of God hath Taught us First That we Christians of the Gentiles as it is Written ‖ Ephes 2.19.20 Are no more Strangers or Foreigners but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God and are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the Chief Corner-stone so that he that ever was still is the Head of the Church viz. Jesus Christ God blessed for evermore I find our Saviour declaring ‖ Matth. 16.18 Thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church Thou art Peter I so Surnamed thee †Mark 3.16 and as thy Name imports so thou art viz. a Living Stone in my Spiritual Temple upon this Rock this Confession of me to be the Son of the Living God * Matt. 16.16 I will build my Church The word Rock I take here to be mentioned Allegorically onely alluding to that Memorable Rock in the Wilderness and thus taken it signifies that as that Rock then Refreshed the Israelites in the Parched and Barren Wilderness so now the Knowledge and Confession of my Deity shall be as Refreshing Comfortable and Satisfactory to all Believers to allay the heat and burning of their Guilt to quench the fire of Divine Wrath and Vengeance as were the Streams that issued out of that Rock to cool your Forefathers Thirst and to satisfie their Appetites It were certainly a great mistake with the Church of Rome to take such notice of the Affinity of words as to Interpret Peter and the Rock to be the same thing as if Christ had here Promised to Build his Church upon Peter or were weary of his Spouse and did now intend to give her a Bill of Divorce and leave her to another this must be the consequence of that Interpretation which our Adversaries so highly favour and before we can consent to it we must Contend with Two such Difficulties as I judge Unconquerable I. If we say that Christ Promised to build his Church upon Peter How shall we answer that of the Apostle †1 Cor. 3.11 Other Foundation can no Man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ yet not him but Peter say the Romanists but let these wise Master-Builders know that the Stone they refuse is Realy and Rightfully the Head-stone in the Corner and so dangerous is it here to stumble that he that falleth on this Stone that maketh this a Rock of Offence that doubteth and will not admit Christ to be the Head of the Church shall be broken shall be wounded in his Soul but on whomsoever it shall fall viz. such as through Pride or Contumacy shall strive to shake or pull this Stone out of its place it shall grind them to Powder divine Vengeance shall dash them into a thousand pieces How will they who expound these Words Vpon this Rock of Peter and not of Christ or that Confession made of him by Peter get over the clause of that Verse where it is said The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it viz. the Church built on this Rock i. e. neither the Power nor Policy of Hell should prevail against it yet it is visible that against Peter the Gates of Hell greatly prevailed Then how must the Church totter and shake when according to them this famous Rock on which it was built did so tremble and reel But to put an end to this Controversie we have a sure Rule to which all Christians do well to have regard †Eph. 1.22 God the Father of Glory hath given his Son Jesus Christ to be Head over all things to the Church Which words do abundantly condemn the Impudence of such as presume upon a Power to order things in the Church contrary to the Revealed Will of the Head thereof On the other hand seeing the Son of God is Head of the Church how Blame-worthy nay how Audacious and Inexcusable are they who spurn against and deny any of his Ordinances I mean such whose Froward Zeal hath Exploded the Lord's Prayer as a Form Obsolete and have laid aside the Sacraments as useless which the Head of the Church Instituted as Generally Necessary for Salvation Seeing Jesus Christ is Head of the Church it is a Riddle to me whence Men derive their Power of Altering Adding to or Diminishing from what he hath Ordained Having now so Sure and Sufficient a Foundation our Main Care must be what we Build upon it We are told †1 Cor. 3.12 if we Build Wood Hay or Stubble that is Wooden and Heterodox Opinions the Trash of Philosophical Notions or the Dry Stubble of Humane Inventions and Fansies these will not abide the Trial but if we Build thereon Gold Silver or Precious Stones Solid Clear and Ornamental Truths such as may Direct Justifie and Adorn our Conversations these will Abide therefore I shall accordingly Rear this Truth upon this Foundation II. Is Jesus Christ the Son of God And is this Son Head of the Church then as saith the Apostle ‖ Phil. 2.11 Let every Tongue Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father Let all the Nations and Kindreds of the Earth Acknowledge his Doctrine to be the Onely Word of Life and that he that Brought it was Rightly Jesus a Saviour Let every Soul Bend the Knee and Submit to his Commands as being the Commands of the Lord of Lords Let this Acknowledgment and Confession be made this Obedience and Homage tendred to the Glory of God the Father for by his Order and Decree this Eternal Son of God became in Fullness of time the Son of Man Now therefore tho there be some who
would Pervert and Change the Gospel of Christ yet if an Angel from Heaven should Preach any other Gospel unto you than that Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God is the Head of the Church Let such Person be Accursed Look upon him as one Excommunicate and with whom consequently none ought to have any Commerce in Sacred Matters The Heathens had a Saying Mutus sit oportet qui non laudârit Herculem He deserves not to Speak who cannot find something to say in the Praise of Hercules Shall not Christians be thought worthy to lose their Tongues if they cleave to the Roof of their Mouths and refuse to sound forth the Noble Praise of the Blessed Son of God our Great Saviour and Redeemer How should our Tongues be Talking of his Praise all the day long It would extreamly well become Christians to be telling one the other What wonderful things this Blessed Jesus hath done for them I do not mean in the General Works of Creation and Redemption onely but his particular Favours also the Peace the Joy the Resolution the Strength the Grace they daily receive from Communion with him It can be no other than a Splendid Entertainment to the Piously Affected for they have Meat to eat that the World knows not of to recount how sweetly they were at first Translated from the Power of Satan into the Kingdom of the Son of God to tell how often and long this Blessed Son of God stood and Knocked by his Word Ministers and Spirit at the door of their hearts before he obtain'd Audience to declare how he put his finger into the hole and lifted up the latch i. e. took care to put back all Obstructions and Impediments with which the Devil the World and the Flesh had bolted up our hearts how pleasant would be the Repetition of those Passionate Perswasions and Loving Promises which the Son of God used notwithstanding the Unkindness he found how he shed abroad in their Hearts his Gracious Influences till at last by the Assiduity of his Courtship the Unweariedness of his Patience and the Fervour of his Love he overcame their Folly and Perverseness If the Shepherd not onely looks with pleasure on the Lamb he wrenched from the Jaws of the hungry Wolf but also believes the Relation of that Exploit acceptable to every Mild and Gentle Disposition Why should not Christians believe it as grateful to Communicate among themselves how often and by what ways this Great Shepherd the Son of God hath delivered them his Sheep from the Paws of that Cruel Lion who daily surrounded the Fold in expectation of his Prey What can be more Joyful than for one Christian affectionately to relate to another in what Combats with the Flesh what Bickerings with the World and in what Buffetings of Satan they have been Supported Relieved and Comforted by this Son of God How delightsome must it be for the formerly Afflicted to comfort one that at present is in the like condition by relating how when he was overwhelm'd with dismal Storms of Grief and Anxiety when he sailed in a Tempestuous Sea of Fears and Agonies and no Comfortable Light could on either hand be espy'd that then this Son of Righteousness brake out upon him his Grace Love and Mercy set them upon a Rock higher than themselves he brought them out and set them in a large place free and far enough from all their Troubles What Grace must such Discourses Minister to the Hearers And moreover this way of entertaining one another would prevent a world of filthiness scurrility foolish and inconvenient talking There is naturally so great Correspondence between the Heart and the Tongue that they are but few who delight not to speak of that Subject which most possesses and pleases their Mind Thus the Husbandman's whole Discourse is of his Land Manurement Team Plough and Crop The Souldier's Tongue runs of his Arms Colours Officers Camps Marches and Engagements and the very Huntsman will deasen your eares with the Names and Qualities of his Dogs the Obstreperous terms of his Art and the Diversity of his Game Must it not therefore argue a great poverty of Grace and that our Souls delight not themselves in the Lord when good and Edifying Discourse is so rare among us Christians especially if it be considered that we have the greatest reason not onely barely to confess but to make our boast of this Son of God all the day long But I must urge this Point farther It is not an Oral Confession onely or an Exultation in Christ the Son of God that I aim at For we Read among the Primitive Christians there were some * Tit. 1.16 viz. the Gnosticks who did profess to know God but in works they did deny him being Abominable and Disobedient and unto every good Work Reprobate too many such Titular Christians are to be found who were it not for the Oaths that fall from their Tongues it were hard to say that they had ever heard of Jesus Christ or did in the least believe him to be the Son of God they are of such Unchristian Tempers such Unsanctified Lives that they can be accounted no other than Enemies of the Cross of Christ I do heartily wish that all loose and dissolute Christians would seriously digest this Consideration How ill does Cursing Swearing Drunkenness Whoredom Prophaneness Envy Malice or whatever else is of Evil Report become them who Profess themselves Servants to the Holy Son of God such Persons notwithstanding their specious Pretences are not his Servants for it is as well the Result of Reason as the Declaration of Scripture †Rom. 6.16 That Men are properly and rightfully their Servants to whom they obey The dishonour must necessarily be very great that Ungodly Professors do to the Son of God for they cause his Name to be Evil Spoken of his Deity Doubted and his Gospel to be Despised for the Grand Reason why neither the Jews among us nor other Infidels abroad make more hast to the Mountain of the Lord is the palpable difference between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Lives of them that Confess him for they cannot escape all Wild and Extravagant Opinions of Christ when they perceive how little Influence his Precepts allow'd for Holy Just and Good have upon their Manners who pretend to be Govern'd by them Moreover to Confess This Jesus Christ the Son of God aright doth imply the suppressing all Contradicting or Blaspheming of his Deity were I worthy I should humbly tender this Note where the power of a Redress is lodg'd Impiety is come to an high pass when openly in our Streets the Blessed and Glorious Trinity is Libell'd and the Deity of Jesus Christ impugn'd this is one but the worst way of saying Farewel to Christianity In this case being God's Cause and Quarrel I must take the liberty of saying No Christian Answers the end of his Profession by a Cold Indifferency he that contents himself with his
in the pursuit of Earthly things or for such who acknowledge the Son of God to be their only Lord to be led Captives by the Devil at his will let us therefore as becometh Christians cast off every work of Darkness and serve the Lord that bought us in Holiness and Righteousness let us put on Christ in our Affections and Actions let us be renewed in our Minds that our Affections may become Holy and Spiritual let us sanctifie God in our hearts that so our Actions may be pious just and unblameable that all may see the life that we henceforward live in the Flesh we live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us There is a Seemliness or Comeliness proper to every Calling as is very observable but Christianity is a peculiar Calling distinct from and vastly surpassing all other some things may be tolerable in others which are no ways allowable in this and therefore we are called upon * Ephs 4.1 to walk worthy of our Vocation we have more ample Revelations of the will of God than others we have better Principles greater Helps fairer Promises and a most perfect Example and therefore for us after all these to walk after the customs of the present evil World were altogether inexcusable Luther was wont to say that Christians in their strongest Assaults might make much better Defence than they usually do if they reply'd when tempted Christiani sumus we are Christians We are Christians such as are bound by our Baptismal Vow to fight against the World the Flesh and the Devil we above all Men are not to play the Cowards and make a faint Resistance seeing that we have an Armoury and are provided for all points we have an Helmet and Brest-plate a Girdle and Shield and likewise we have the Sword of the Spirit wherewith to Wound and Baffle our Enemies this is an approved Weapon with this our Saviour conquer'd the Devil We are Christians we profess to have our Conversation in Heaven notwithstanding our commoration be on Earth and therefore an Eagle may as soon stoop at a Fly as a Christian to worldly Allurements We are Christians such as declare themselves dead to these things and therefore to give them any room in our hearts were to give the lye to our Profession We are Christians such who have a sure word of promise for things necessary and therefore how unbeseeming us is it to use any indirect means to compass that which is already secured to us in the bountiful Providence of our Heavenly Father We are Christians the Servants and followers of the Son of God and we believe his Eye to be upon us during all our Conflicts with Temptations We cannot likewise but believe our noble resolute and courageous behaviour will be acceptable to him and that to the intent we may prevail and persevere he will in pure Compassion knowing our Frailty proportion the Grate he sends us by the Temptations he permits upon us and so if we are called forth to wrestle against Principalities and Powers all the Ranks of Devils yet Jesus Christ the Son of God and Captain of our Salvation will afford us such supply as we shall be able to stand We are Christians we must therefore Watch and Pray that we fall not under Temptation we must strengthen our selves in the Lord in his Example in his Precepts and in his Promises we must gird our selves unto the Battle because we shall reap if we faint not if we finish our warfare gallantly and as becometh Christians there is certainly a Crown of immarcessible Glory prepared for us this is worth sighting for which brings me to the last and highest Story I shall or can raise upon this Foundation Is Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary God Is he the head of the Church Do all true Christians put him on walking after his Example and to his Will then as true as he is God all such as thus do shall be most plentifully rewarded The Christian Religion was calculated it is true for the Humble and Poor in Spirit but yet not for such mean Spirits as act no farther than they are instigated by a prospect of advantage when we have done all our acknowledgment must be that we are but unprofitable Servants our Lord hath been no gainer by us we have not answered what of right was due from us upon the Score of our Creation therefore not being solvent and in capacity to discharge that first Debt it is no other than Arrogance and Presumption to make Conditions with God and to limit our performances by the Hopes or Emanations of his Bounty yet such is his infinite Condescension that though a Reward may not be the sole Reason yet we permitted to look upon it as the encouragement of our services Moses expressed great Faith and Patience refusing the pleasures of Egypt which were doubtless every way corresponding to the desires of Humane Nature the purchase of these requir'd no farther toil and labour of him than a gratefull acceptance yet these so great so easily acquir'd he forsook and chose rather to endure Afflicton That which chiefly encouraged this exchange was †Heb. 11.26 He had respect unto the Recompence of the Reward Our Blessed Saviour sweetned the burden of his Yoak and the Tortures of his Cross by the proposal as well of present as future Rewards he did assure them that if they would diligently mind the one thing needful all other things should be added to them they might do their Duty and cast the care of themselves upon God and they should find from him Providential Goodness that he did certainly care for them this can inferr no less than that we abound in the Work of the Lord in as much as we are ascertain'd our Labour shall not be in vain in the Lord our Hopes shall not be frustrated He that had the love to promise a Remuneration hath the power to bestow it for now we know he is God and doth as well in Heaven as on Earth whatsoever pleaseth him Hearken we therefore for our encouragement to his gracious Promises * Mat. 10.32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before Men him also will I confess before my Father which is in Heaven He that on Earth shall confess my Deity and by Words and Deeds make an open Confession of me and if thereunto called shall in despite of Danger and Death stick to the same profession of Faith every such Person may rest satisfied his so doing shall not be forgotten but a faithful Reward shall be made thereof in Heaven no wonder therefore to hear St. Paul crying out Wo unto me if I preach not the Gospel of Jesus Christ or to see him and others of the same Principles rejoicing in that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the confessing of Christ for they had the promise of being glorified with him for whom they suffered What therefore though Troubles