Redeemer when the good Angels are so ready to attend him at his beck and command and that in the meanest services and ministries Shall poor worms make bold with his Laws slight his doctrine despise his benefits Heb. 2.2 3. If the word spoken by angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation 4. And lastly to make us more reverend in our approaches to him for he sits in the Assembly of the Gods the holy Angels are round about him Psal. 138.1 Before the Gods will I sing praise to thee That is in the presence of the holy Angels 1 Cor. 10.10 Eccl. 5.6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin neither say thou before the angel that it was an Error The Angels in heaven observe our behaviour in Gods worship what vowes we make to God what promises of obedience But above all there is our glorious Redeemer himself Heb. 12.28 29. with what reverence and godly fear should we approach his Holy Presence II. Use. Is to quicken us to Thankfulness for our Redemption that our Creator is our Redeemer None of the Angels did humble himself as Christ did do to do so great a piece of service and yet he is far above them There is a congruity in it that we should be restored by him by whom we were made but he made the Angels as well as men but he did not restore them No they were not so much as in a condition of forbearance and respite he assumed not their nature he created all things but he redeemed mankind His delights were with the sons of men he assumed our nature and for a while was made a little lower then the Angels Heb. 2.9 We cannot sufficiently bless God for the Honour done to our Nature in the person of Christ for it is God incarnate that is made head of Angels Principalities and Powers God in our nature whom all the Angels are called upon to adore and worship The devil sought to dishonour God as if he were envious of mans happiness Gen. 3.8 God doth know that in the day that ye â—at thereof ye shall be aâ— Gods And he fought to depress the nature of man which in innocency stood so near to God now that his humane nature should be set so far above the Evangelical in the person of Christ and be admitted to dwell with God in a personal Union this calleth for our highest love and thankfulness III. Use. Is an encouragement to come to Christ for sanctifying and renewing Grace I have three Arguments 1. The Person to whom we come To whom should we come but to our Creator God infinitely Good Wise and Powerful The creation sheweth him good and whatever is good in the Creatures is wholly derived from his goodness It is but like the odour of the sweet Ointments or the perfume that he leaveth behind him where he hath been Iam. 1.19 He is infinitely wise when he created and setled the World He did not jumble things in a Chaos and confusion but setled them in a most perfect order and proportion Which may be seen not only in the Fabrick of the World but in the disposition of the parts of Mans Body yea or in any Gnat or Fly Now cannot he put our disordered souls in frame again If the Fear of God be true Wisdom to whom should we seek for it but from the Wise God His Infinite Power is seen also in the Creation in raising all things out of nothing And if a Divine Power be necessary to our Conversion to whom should we go but to him who calleth the things that are not as though they were Rom. 4.17 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness 2 Pet. 1.7 2. From the work it self which is a new Creation which carrieth much resemblance with the old Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Iesus unto good works 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined into our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ. It is such an effect as comes from a Being of Infinite Power Wisdom and Goodness that man may be in a capacity to love please and serve God What was lost in Adam can onely be recovered by Christ. 3. From the relation of the Party that seeketh it Psal. 119.73 Thine hands have made me and fashioned me give me understanding that I may learn thy commandments We go to him as his own Creatures This plea hath great force because of Gods goodness to all his Creatures Not onely the Angels but every worm and fly had their being from Christ there is a great variety of living things in the World but they are all fed from the common fountain therefore we may comfortably come to him for life and quickning Ioh. 1.4 We need not be discouraged by our baseness and vileness for the basest worm had what it hath from him 2. That Christ as Creator beareth such Affection to man as the work of his hands Is it good unto thee that thou shouldst despise the work of thy hands Iob 10.3 Artificers when they have made an excellent work are very chary of it and will not destroy it and break it in pieces Iob 14.15 Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands As Creatures beg relief and help if you cannot plead the covenant of Abraham plead the covenant of Noah 3. God forsakes none of the faln creatures but those that forsake him first 2 Chron. 15.2 The Lord is with you while you be with him and if ye seek him he will be found of you but if ye forsake him he will forsake you 1 Chron. 28.9 If thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake â—im he will cast thee off for ever 4. Especially will Christ be good to man seeking after him for Grace that we may serve and obey him For he is no Pharaoh to require brick and give no straw Creating Grace layed the debt upon us and his redeeming Grace provideth the power and help that we may discharge it Now when we acknowledge the debt and confess our impotency to pay it and our willingness to return to our duty Will Christ fail us A consciencâ— of our duty is a great matter but a desire of grace to perform it is more Therefore come as creatures earnestly desiring to do their Creators will and to promote his Glory God will not refuse the soul that lyeth so submissively at his feet SERMON IV. COL 1.17 And he is before all things and by him all things consist THE Apostle had asserted the dignity of Christs Person by ascribing the work of Creation to him now the work of Conservation and Providence By the same divine power by which Christ made all things he doth
that at length they may acquiesce in the injoyment of one that is God as their chiefest good Alass without this union with the head and among themselves in necessary things what can they expect but wrath and the curse and Everlasting destruction 2. With respect to dependance on one head Rom. 12.5 We being many are one body in Christ and every one members of one another that is all things make up one body of which Christ is the Head and are fellow members in respect of one another As necessary and as desirable as it is to be united to God to Life and Glory Everlasting so necessary and desirable it is to depend upon Christ the Head for no man after the entrance of sin can return to God or enjoy God without Christ the Mediator Iohn 14.6 I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father but by me Acts 4.12 There is no other name under Heaven by which we can be saved but only Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundation can no man lay but that which is layed Iesus Christ 1 Iohn 5.12 He that hath the son hath Life and he that hath not the son hath not Life God proclaimed from Heaven Matth. 3.17 This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased he being one God with the Father and the Spirit of the same substance and essence he only can procure merit and effect our union with God He first assumed our nature and united it to his own Person and so became one flesh with us but then all those that belong to that nature if they believe in him and enter into his Covenant are not onely literally one flesh but Mystically one body and so also one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 That is by the bond of the spirit he hath brought them into the state and relation of a body to himself To gather up all Mans return to God is necessary to his blessedness that he may be inseparably conjoyned to him as his chiefest good to this purpose the son of God assumed our nature in the unity of his person and thereby bringeth about the union of the Church with himself as our Head and our communion with one another in Faith and charity if we desire to be blessed and so is according to Christs Prayer Iohn 17.21 That they may be all one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us verse 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one so that as there is one God and one Mediator between God and Men and one Church united to Christ as his body to this Church we must every one of us be united if we mean to be saved and in the Church with Christ and by Christ with God therefore out of this Mysticall body there is no Salvation 2. How is Christ an Head to this Body This must be explained by answering two question 1. What are the parts of his headship 2. According to what nature doth this office belong to him divine or humane 1. The parts and branches of this headship he is our head with respect to Government and sovereignty and in regard of causality and influence he governeth he quickneth 1. It implyes his Authority to Govern as is manifest by Eph. 5.22 23. Wives submit your selves to your own husbands as unto the Lord for the husband is the head of the Wife even as Christ is the head of the Church So that to be the Churches Head implies superiority or right to govern 2. For the other notion in regard of influence that is evident in Scripture also Col. 2.19 Not holding the head from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increases with the increase of God the head is the root from whence the vital faculty is disfused to all the members We use to say 〈◊〉 arbor inversa a Tree turned upsided 〈…〉 if this be so the Head is the 〈…〉 Tree So doth Life flow from 〈…〉 the Church the spirit is from 〈…〉 begin the union or to conâ—â—nue the 〈…〉 But let us speak of these branches apart 1. His Authority and power to govern his excellency gives him fitness but his Office right to rule and govern the Church When he sent abroad his Officers and Embassadors to Proselyte the World in his name he pleadeth his right Math. 28.18 All power is given to me both in heaven and in Earth Now the acts which belong to Christ as a Governour may be reduced to these heads 1. To make Laws that shall universally bind all his people 2. To institute Ordinances for Worship 3. To appoint Officers 4. To maintain them in the exercise of these things 1. The first power that belongeth to a governing head is Legislation or making Laws now Christs Headship and Empire being novum jus Imperii a new right which he hath as Mediator for the recovery of lapsed mankind his Law is accordingly It is lex remedians a Law of grace which is given us in the Gospel of our Salvation The sum of his own proper remedial Laws are Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and Repentance towards God Acts 20.21 Without Repentance our case is not compassionable without Faith we do not own our Redeemer by whom we have so great a benefit yet because this new right of Empire is accumulative not privative beneficial to us indeed but not destructive of our duty to God therefore the whole Law of God as purely moral hath still a binding force upon the consciences as it is explained in the Word of God Now to these Laws of Christ none can add none diminish and therefore Christ will take an account of our fidelity at the last day 2 Thess. 1.8 2. He hath instituted Ordinances for the continual exercise and regulation of our worship and the Government of his people that they may be kept in the due acknowledgement and obedience to him such as the preaching of the Word Sacraments and the exercise of some Government now all the Rules and Statutes which Christ hath made for the ordering of his people must be kept pure until his coming his institutions do best preserve his honour in the World great charges are left 1 Tim. 5.21 I charge thee before God and our Lord Iesus Christ and his Elect Angels that thou observe these things where he speaketh of Ecclesiastical Censures and Disciplines he conjureth him by all that is sacred and holy that it be rightly used 1 Tim. 6.14 Keep this commandment without spot and unrebukaâ—le unto the appearing of Iesus Christ. The Doctrines are so determined by Christ that they cannot be changed the Worship not corrupted the Discipline not abused to serve partial Humors and private or worldly Interests 3. God hath appointed Officers who have all their ministries and services under Christ and for Christ Eph. 4.11 He gave some apostles some prophets and some evangelists and some
Possession both of body and soul the body is cleansed and sanctified by the spirit as well as the soul and therefore it is quickned by the Spirit Rom. 8.11 If the spirit of him that raised Iesus from the dead dwell in you he shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit which dwelleth in you The Holy Ghost will not leave his Mansion or dwelling-place the dust of Believers belongs to them who were once his Temple So it is a pledge of the Resurrection Now therefore labour with your selves think often of it SERMON VII Col. 1.19 For it pleased the father that in him should all fulness dwell With Chap. 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily THese words are produced to prove that there is no defect in the Evangelical Doctrine and therefore there needeth no Addition to it from the Rudiments of men That there is no defect he proveth from the Author of it Jesus Christ who was not onely Man but God and beyond the Will of God we need not look If God will come from heaven to teach us the way thither surely his Teaching is sufficient his doctrine containeth all things necessary to salvation This is the Argument of these words For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily In which words observe three things First The House In Him Secondly The Inhabitant All the fulness of the Godhead Thirdly The manner of dwelling in the Word Bodily First The House or place of Residence in Him In the Man Christ Jesus or in that Humane Nature in which he carried on the business of our Salvation As despicable and abject as it was in the eyes of men yet it was the temple and seat of the Godhead Secondly The Inhabitant The fulness of the Godhead Not a portion of God onely or his Gifts and Graces as we are made partakers of the Divine Nature 1 Pet. 1.4 but the whole Godhead Thirdly the Manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bodily The word may relate 1. To the shadows and figures of the Law and so it signifieth Essentially Substantially God dwelt in the Tabernacle Temple or Ark of the Covenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because of the figures of his Presence In Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bodily As his Humane Nature was the true Tabernacle or Temple in which he residâ—th Christ calls his Humane Nature a Temple Ioh. 2.19 Or else 2. With respect to the intimacy and closeness of the Union so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be rendred personally For body is often put for a person the two Natures were so united in him that he is one Christ. Doctrine That Iesus Christ is True God and True Man in one Person I shall prove the Point I. By Testimonies of Scripture II. By Types III. By Reasons taken from Christs Office I. By Testimonies of Scriptures I shall pass by those that speak of the reality of either nature apart and onely alledge those that speak of both together Now these do either belong to the Old Testament or the New I begin with the former the Tâ—stimonies of the old Testament because this union of the two Natures in the Person of Christ is indeed a Mystery but such as was foretold long before it came to pass and many of the places wherein it was foretold were so understood by the ancient Iews The controversie between them and Christians was not whether the Messiah were to be both God and man they agreed in that but whether this was fulfilled or might be applied to Jesus of Nazareth But the latâ—er Iews finding themselves not able to stand to the issue of that plea say that we attribute many things to Jesus of Nazareth which were not foretold of the Messiah to come as namely that he should be God-man in one person Therefore 't is necessary that this should be proved that the old Testament aboundeth with predictions of this kind Let us begin with the first Promise touching the Messiah which was made to Adam after his Fall for the restoring of Mankind Gen. 3.15 The seed of the woman should bruise the serpents Head That is to say one of her seed to be born in Time should conquer the Devil Death and Sin Now when he is called the seed of the woman 't is apparent he must be Man and made of a woman And when 't is said that he shall break the serpents head who can do this but onely God 'T is a work of Divine Omnipoâ—â—ncy for Satan hath much more power than any bare man Therefore 't is said Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Come we next to the Promise made to Abraham Gen. 12.3 In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed In thee that is in thy seed as it is often explained Gen. 22.18 In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed This seed was Christ the Messiah to come Now he was to be God-man He was to be Man for he is the seed of Abraham God because that blessedness is remission of sins or Justification For 't is said Gal. 3.8 The Scripture fore-seeing that God would justifie the heathen through faith preached before the Gospel unto Abraham saying In thee shall all nations of the earth be blessed Regeneration and the Renovation of our natures is also included in it as a part of this blessing Acts 3.25 26. Ye are children of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our fathers saying unto Abraham in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed Therefore unto you first God having raised up his son Iesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities There is also Redemption from the curse of the Law and the gift of Eternal Life included in it Now all these are works proper to God alone Let us come to the Promise made to David 2 Sam. 7.12 13. I will set up thy seed after thee and I will establish the throne of thy kingdom for ever 'T is spoken in the Type of Solomon but in the Mystery of Christ who is true Man as Davids seed and true God for his Kingdom is everlasting And so David interpreteth it Psal. 45.6 Thy throne O God is for ever and ever The Kingdom of the Messiah is never to have an end And the Apostle affirmeth expresly that those words are spoken to Christ the son of God Heb. 1.7 Let me next alledge Iobs confession of Faith which was very Ancient Iob 19.25 26. I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh I shall see God His Redeemer was true Man as appeareth by his Title Goel and because he shall stand on the Earth and be seen by his bodily eyes True God for he calleth him so I shall see God Go we on in the
Scriptures Isa. 4.2 Christ is prophesied of In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely When he is called the Branch of the Lord his Godhead is signified when he is called the fruit of the earth his Manhood So again Isâ— 7.14 A virgin shall conceive and bear a son and thou shalt call his name Immâ—â—uel That is to say God with us which can agree to none but to hiâ— that is God and Man So that this Mystery of God Incarnate was not hid from the Church of the Old Testament for his very Name did import God with us or God in our Nature reconciling us to himself So Isa. 9.6 To us a child is born to us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called The wonderful Counseller the mighty God the everlasting father the prince of peace Who can interpret these speeches and Aâ—â—ributes but of one who is God-Man How could he else be a child and yet the Everlasting Father born of a Virgin and yet the Mighty God So Isa. 11.1 with the 4th Verse A rod out of the Sâ—em of Iesse and a branch out of his roots Therefore Man And verse 4. He shall smiâ—e the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall be slay the wicked Therefore God So Isa. 53.8 He shall be taken from prison and judgement therefore Man yet who shall declare his generation therefore God So Ier. 23.5 6. A branch raised unto David from his deaâ— stock therefore Man yet the Lord or Iehovah our righteousness therefore God Shall I urge that speech whereby Jesus did silence divers of the Learned Pharisees Psal. 110.1 The Lord said to my Lord sit thou on my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool He was born in the mean Estate of humane Flesh and King Davids seed and yet Davids Lord which he could not be if he were not God himself the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Well then he was Davids Son as Man but Davids Lord as he was God And so do many of the Ancient Iewish Rabbins interpret this place So again Micah 5.2 Thou Bethlehem Sphratah Though thou â—e little among the thousands of Iudah yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel whose goings forth have been from old from everlasting He is born in Bethlehem yet his goings forth are from everlasting He came out of Bethlehem and therefore Man his goings forth are from everlasting and therefore God So Zech. 12.10 I will pour out the spirit of grace and supplication and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced He is God because he giveth the spirit of grace Man because he is pierced or crucified So Zech. 13.7 Against the man my fellow A man he was but Gods companion his only begotten son and co-essential with himself and so God Secondly Come we now to the New Testament in which this mystery is more plainly and fully demonstrated There often the son of Man is plainly asserted to be also the Son of God Thomas calleth him his Lord his God Ioh. 20.28 We are told that the word was made flesh Ioh. 1.14 That God purchased the Church with his own blood Acts 20.28 which can be understood of no other but Christ by whose blood we are redeemed and who being Incarnate hath blood to shed for us But God as a pure Spirit hath not flesh and blood and bones as we have So Rom. 1.3 4. Iesus Christ was made of the seed of David according to the flesh but declared to be the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness c. In respect of his Divine subsistence he was begotten not made in regard of his humane Nature made not begotten True Man as David was and True God as the Spirit and Divine Nature is Again Rom. 9.5 Whose are the fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever Than which nothing can be said more express as to that nature which is most apt to be questioned for surely he that is God over all cannot be said to be a mere Creature The Jews confessed him to be Man and one of their blood and Paul asserteth him to be God over all They accounted him to be accursed and Paul asserteth him to be blessed for ever They thought him inferiour to the Patriarchs of whom he descended and Paul over all so that no word is used in vain and when he saith according to the flesh he insinuateth another Nature in him to be considered by us The next place is 1 Cor. 2.8 They Crucified the Lord of Glory He was Crucified there his humane nature is acknowledged but in respect of the Divine nature he is called the Lord of Glory as in the 24th Psalm The Lord or King of Glory is Iehovah Sabaoth The Lord of Hosts Go we farther Phil. 2.6 7. Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with Gon but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of men By the form of God is meant not only the divine Majesty and Glory but also the divine essence it self for without it there can be no true divine Majesty and Glory Now this he kept hidden under his humane nature letting onely some small Rayes sometimes to shine forth in his Miracles but that which was most sensible and conspicuous in him was a true humane Nature in a low and contemptible estate Again 1 Tim. 3.16 Great is the Mystery of Godliness God manifested in our Flesh. That is the Eternal Son of God became Man and assumed the humane nature into the unity of his person Once more 1 Pet. 3.18 He was put to death in the flesh but quickned in the spirit That is dyed according to his humane nature but by his divine nature raised from the Dead 't is not meant of his soul quickned signifies not one remaining alive but made alive that power belongeth to God Secondly By Types Those that come to hand are these 1. Melchisedec Gen. 14.18 Melchisedec King of Salem brought forth bread and wine to Abraham Which Type is interpreted by the Apostle Heb. 7.2 3. First being by interpretation King of Righteousness and after that also King of peace Without Father and without Mother having neither beginning of dayes nor end of Life but made like unto the Son of God abideth a priest continually What Melchisedec was is needless to dispute The Apostle considereth him only as he is represented in the story of Moses who maketh no mention of his Father or Mother Birth or Death Certainly he was a very Man but as he standeth in Scripture there is no mention of Father or Mother beginning or end what he was or of whom
for as he is true Man flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone he will not be strange to us and as he is God he is able to help us Two things I will press you to 1. Consider what a fit object he is for your Faith to close with 2. Own him as your Lord and your God 1. To raise your trust and confidence consider what a fit object he is for your Faith how he is qualified for all his offices of Prophet Priest and King 1. As your Prophet consider how necessary it was that God dwelling in mans nature should set a foot the Gospel Partly because when ever you come seriously to consider this matter this thought will arise in you that this blessed Gospel could not be without repealing the Law of Moses given with such solemnity by God himself and it was not fit it should be abrogated by any but him who was far above Moses to wit by the Son of God himself not any fellow servant equal to Moses The Apostle telleth us that Moses was Faithful in Gods House as a servant but Christ as a Son over his own House Heb. 13.5 6. The servant must give place when the Son and Lord himself cometh but rather take it from what Moses foretold himself Deut. 18.18 19. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren like unto thee and I will put my words into his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I command him and it shall come to pass that he that will not hearken to my word which he shall speak in my name I will require it of â—im Now these words cannot be verified in any other Prophet after Moses untill Christ for that of these Prophets there arose none in Israel like unto Moses Deut. 34.10 They had no authority to be Lawgivers as Moses had but were all bound to the observation of his Law till Christ should come whom Moses calleth a Prophet like unto himself that is a Law-maker exhorting all men to hear and obey him None of the Prophets did take upon them that priviledge they must let that alone till the Messiah should come whose office it is to change the Law given upon Mount Sinai and instead thereof to propagate or promulgate a new Law to begin at Sion Isa. 2.3 The Law shall go forth of Sion and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem And in another place the Isles shall wait for his Law Isa. 42.4 Well now this is a mighty confirmation of our Religion and bindeth both our Faith and Obedience to consider Christs Authority that a greater then Moses is here Partly because it concerneth us to receive the Gospel as an eternal Doctrine that shall never be changed For 't is called an everlasting Covenant and nothing conduceth to that so much as to consider that it is promulgated by the eternal God himself by him in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily Partly because the Gospel if we would profit by it is to be received by all Believers not only as an everlasting Covenant but as certain perfect and saving Now if the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him who gave this Covenant we cannot deny either the certainty or the perfection or the savingness of it for if we receive it from him who is Truth it self we cannot be deceived 'T is certain if he Taught us in person surely all his works are perfect subordinate Ministers may mingle their weaknesses with their doctrine if we have it from a Saviour surely it is a Doctrine that bringeth Salvation 2. Consider what a fit object here is for your Faith as Christ is a Priest so his great business is to reconcile us to God in the body of his flesh through death who once were strangers and enemies Col. 1.21 consider how fit he was for this God and Man were first united in his Person before they were united in one Covenant If you consider the fruits of his Redemption and Reconciliation The evil from whence we were to be delivered the good that was to be procured Christ is every way a commodious Mediator for us as God man If you consider the evil from whence we are delivered he was man that the chastisement of our peace might be put upon his shoulders God that by his stripes we might be healed Isa. 53.5 Or if you consider the good to be procured he doth it as God-man He was a man that as by the disobedience of one many were made sinners so by the obedience of one many might be made righteous God that as sin reigned unto death so Grace might reign through righteousness unto Eternal Life by Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 5.19 21. As he is God his merit is full as he is Man we are partakers of the benefit of it 3 Consider how fit an object he is for our Faith as King For as the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily he is the greatest and most glorious person that ever was in the World Infinitely superior above all power that is named in this World or in the World to come The Man who is our Shepherd is fellow to the Lord of Hosts The thought of Immanuel maketh the Prophet startle and brake out into a Triumph when Senacherib break in with his forces like a deluge in the Land of Iudah They fill thy Land O Immanuel Isa. 8.8 Then verse 9 10. Associate your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces take counsel together it shall come to nought speak the word it shall not stand For God is with us Or because of Immanuel Surely Christ is the foundation of the Churches happiness and may afford us comfort in the most calamitous condition we are in his hands under his Pastoral care and protection Ioh. 10.28 I give unto them eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand Neither Man nor Devil can break off totally and finally their union with him In short he that assumed our nature to himself will communicate himself to us All union is in order to communion here is a commodious and a blessed Saviour represented unto you Secondly Own him as your Lord and your God This was the Profession of Thomas's Faith Iohn 2â— 28 My Lord and my God I shall insist on that Scripture In the History there are these remarkables 1. Thomas his absence from an Assembly of the Disciples when Christ had manifested himself to them verse 24. Being absent he not only missed the good news which many brought but also the comfortable sight of Christ and was thereby left in doubts and snares 2. When these things were told him he bewrayes his incredulity v. 25. when they told him he said unto them except I see in his hands the print of his nails and put my finger into the print of the nailes and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe This
him like Princes God never made any of them universal and eternal King for he set Christ at his right hand not the Angels To sit at Gods right hand is not only to be blessed and happy in enjoying those pleasures which are there for evermore not onely to be advanced to the highest place of Dignity and Honour next to God but to be invested with a supream and universal Power above all Men and Angels Take these or any one of these and he is above the Angels though they be the most noble and excellent creatures that ever God made 3. Because Christ hath a ministry and service to do by them He makes use of them partly to exercise their obedience without which they forsake the Law of their creation and swerve from the end for which they were made Psal. 103.20 They do his commandments hearkening to the voice of his word They do whatsoever he commandeth them with all readiness and speed immaginable and therein they are an example to us Matth. 6.10 Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven They are our fellow-servants now in the Work hereafter in the Recompence when we are admitted into one Society under one common Head and Lord Heb. 12.27 who shall for ever rejoyce in the contemplation of Gods infinite Excellencies Well then if these Excellent creatures so great in power be alwayes so ready and watchful to do the Will of God and count it their honour to assist in so glorious a work as the saving of Souls or do any other business he sendeth them about how should we that hope to be like the Angels in happiness be like them in obedience also 2. Because the Churches safety dependeth upon it We stand in need of this Ministry of Angels The service of the Angels is protection to the people of God vengeance on their Enemies 1. For protection Christ hath the heavenly host at his command and sendeth them forth for the good of his People Psal. 68.17 The chariots of the Lord are twenty thousand even thousands of Angels the Lord is among them in Sinai in the holy place Mark that thousands of Angels are his Chariots conveying him from Heaven to Earth and from Earth to Heaven and mark the Lord is among them that is God incarnate for he presently speaketh of his ascending up on high Thou hast ascended up on high and led captivity captive thou hast received gifts for men ver 18. Among them in his Holy place that is in heaven It is added as in Mount Sinai that is as at the giving of the Law they were then there and still attend on the propagation of the Gospel For more particular Cases see Heb. 1.14 Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation So Psal. 34.7 The angel of the Lord incampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them All that obediently serve and wait on God have the promise of his protection 2. The other part of this Ministry and Service is to restrain and destroy the Devil and his Instruments The Scripture often speaks of Gods executing Judgements by the Angels Their influence doth not always personally appear yet it is great and powerful Though the Powers and Authorities on Earth and their Messengers and Forces be ofâ—en imployed against the Saints yet the Captain of our Salvation is in Heaven and all the mighty Angels are subject to him and at his disposal By this means the Prophet Elisha confirmed himself and his servant when the King of Syria sent Chariots and Horses a great host to attacque him in Dothan â— King 6.14 15. And when his servaâ—t saw it early in the morning he said Alas my master what shall we do The Prophet answered Verse 16. They that â—e with us are more than they that be against us And then Verse 17. he prayed Lord open his eyes that he may see And the Lord opened his eyes and behold the mountain was full of chariots and â—orses of fire round about Elisha These fiery Horses and Chariots were nothing else but the Angels of God Here is force against force chariots against chariots horse against horse if we could open the eye of Faith and shut that of Sense We read Acts 12.23 that an Angel smote Herod in the midst of his Pride and Persecution The Angel of the Lord smote him VSES I. Let us more deeply be possessed with the Majesty of our Redeemer He is the Creator of all things of Angels as well as Men and so more excellent than all the Men in the World whether they excel in power or holiness which the Psalmist expresseth thus fairer than the children of men Psal. 45.29 But also then the most excellent and glorious Angels he is their Creator as well as ours head of principalities and powers as well as of poor worms here upon Earth Surely the representing and apprehending of Christ in his glorious Majesty is a point of great consequence 1. Partly to give us matter for praise and admiration that we may not have mean thoughts of his Person and Office he is a most glorious Lord and King that holdeth the most powerful Creatures in subjection to himself If Christians did know and consider how much of true Religion consists in admiring and praising their Redeemer they would more busie their minds in this work 2. Partly To strengthen our Trust and to fortifie us against all fears and discouragements in our service When we think of the great Creator of Heaven and Earth and all things visible and invisible Angels Men Principalities c. Surely the brightness of all creature-glory should wax dim in our eyes Our God is able to deliver us Dan. 18. and will as he did by his Angel This was that which fortified Stephen Acts 5.55 56. He saw Iesus standing at the right hand of God It is easie for him who made all things out of nothing to help us See Psal. 121.2 My help standeth in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth The Almighty Creator Ruler and Governour of the World what cannot he do As long as I see those glorious monuments of his power standing I will not distrust he can afford me seasonable help by his Holy Angels through the intercession of his Son who hath assumed my Nature 3. Partly To bind our duty all Creatures were made by him and for him therefore we should give up our selves to him and say with Paul Acts 27.23 His I am and him I serve His by Creation and redemption therefore every thing we have and do ought to have a respect to his glory service There is â— variety of Creatures in the World of different kinds and different excellencies In the whole and every kind there is somewhat of the glory of God and Christ set forth Now this should strike our hearts shall we onely who are the persons most obliged be a disgrace to our Lord both Creator and
he came So is Christ as God without Mother as Man without Father As God without beginning as God Man without ending of Life 2. Another Type of him was Iacobs Ladder The top of which reached Heaven and the bottom reached Earth Gen. 28.12 And the Angels of God were ascending and descending upon it This Ladder represented Christ the Son of Man upon whom the Angels of God ascend and descend Iohn 1.51 The bottom which reached the earth represented Christs humane nature and conversing with Men The top which reached Heaven his heavenly and divine nature and in both his mediaation with God for Men Ascende per hominem per venies ad Deum Christ reaches to Heaven in his divine original to Earth in his Manhood and him the Angels serve By his dwelling in our nature this commerce between Earth and Heaven is brought about The third Type is the Fiery cloudy pillar Exod. 13.21 And the Lord went before them in the day in a pillar of a cloud and by night in a pillar of Fire to give them light to go by day and night this figured Christs guidance and protection of his Church travelling through this World to his heavenly rest The cloud signified his humanity the fire his divinity There were two different substances the fire and the cloud yet but one pillar So there are two different natures in Christ his divinity shining as fire his humanity darkning as a cloud yet but one Person That pillar departed not from them all the while they travelled in the Wilderness so while the Churches pilgrimage lasteth Christ will conduct us and comfort and shelter us by his presence His Mediatory conduct ceaseth not The fourth Type is the Tabernacle wherein God dwelt symbolically as in Christ bodily There God sat on the mercy seat which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 9.5 so Christ Rom. 3.25 A propitiation He there dwelt between the Cherubims and did exhibit himself graciously to his people as now he doth to us by Christ. The next shall be of the Scape Goat on the day of expiation Lev. 16.10 One Goat was to be slain the other kept alive The slain Goat signified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Flesh or humane nature suffering the Live Goat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Immortal Deity or as the Apostle expresseth it 2 Cor. 13.4 That Christ was to be crucified through weakness yet to live by the power of God or as we heard before 1 Pet. 3.18 Put to death in the Flesh and quickned by the Spirit Because these two things could not be shadowed by any one Beast which the Priest having killed could not make alive again and it was not fit that God should work mirâ—cles about Types therefore he appointed â—wo that in the slain Beast his death might be represented in the Live Beast his immortality The like mystery was represented also in the two birds for the cleansing of the Leper Lev. 14.6 7. Thirdly I prove it by Reasons taken from his office which may be considered in the general And so it is expressed by one Word Mediator or in particular according to the several functions of it expressed by the terms of King Priest and Prophet or with respect to the persons that are to be considered and concerned in Christs Mediation 1. His Office considered in the General so he is called Iesus the Mediator of the New Testament Heb. 12.24 It was agreeable that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Mediator should 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a middle person of the same essence with both parties and that his operative Mediation should presuppose his substantial Mediation that being God Man in the same person he should make an atonement between God and Man Sin hath made such a breach and distance between us and God that it raiseth our fears and causeth backwardness to draw nigh unto him and so hindreth our love and confidence in him How can we depend upon one so far above us and out of the reach of our commerce therefore a Mediator is necessary one that will pity us and is more near and dear to God then we are One in whom God doth condescend to man and by whom Man may be encouraged to ascend to God now who is so fit for this as Jesus Christ God manifested in our flesh The two natures met together in his person and so God is nearer to Man then he was before 〈◊〉 the pure Deity for he is come down to us in our flesh and hath assumed it into the unity of his person and man is nearer to God for our nature dwelleth with him so closely united that we may have more familiar thoughts of God and a confidence that he will look after us and concern himself in our affairs and shew us his grace and savour for surely he will not hide himself from his own flesh Isa. 58.7 This wonderfully reconcileth the heart of Man to God and maketh our thoughts of him more comfortable and doth encourage us to free access to God 2. Come we now to the particular offices by which he performeth the work of a Mediator and they all shew the necessity of both natures these offices and functions are those of Prophet Priest and King 1. Our Mediator hath a Prophetical office belonging to his Administration that he may be made Wisdom to us and therefore he must be both God and Man God that he may not onely teach us outwardly as an ordinary Messenger or Minister but inwardly putting his Law into our minds and writing it upon our hearts Heb. 8.10 and 2 Cor. 3.3 Ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with Ink but with the spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in the fleshly Tables of the heart Men may be the instruments but Christ is the Author of this Grace and therefore he must be God To convince mens understandings of their duty and to incline their hearts to perform it requireth no less then a divine power If such an infinite vertue be necessary to cure the blindness of the body how much more to cure the natural blindness and darkness of the mind And man he must also be for the great Prophet of the Church was to be raised up among his brethren like unto Moses Deut. 18.15 Till such an one came into the World they were to hear Moses but then they were to hearken to him he that was to come was to be a Lawgiver as Moses was but of a far more absolute and perfect Law a Lawgiver that must match and overmatch Moses every way He was to be a man as Moses was in respect of our infirmities such an one as Moses was whom the Lord had known face to face but of a far more divine nature and approved to the World by Miracles Signs and Wonders as Moses was Again 't was prophesied of him that as the great Prophet of the World he should be anointed that he might
come and Preach the Gospel to the poor Isa. 62.1 Which could not be if he had spoken from heaven in thunder and not as a man conversed with men Again he was to approve himself as one who had grace poured into his lips Psal. 45.2 That all might wonder at the gracious speeches that came from his mouth as they did at Christs In short that wisdom of the Father which was wont to assume some visible shape for a time when he would instruct the Patriarchs concerning his will that he might hide his Majesty and put a vail upon his glory was now to assume our nature into the unity of his Person not a temporary and vanishing appearance That God who at sundry times and in divers manners speak in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets might in these last dayes spake to us by his son Heb. 1.1 2. Then God delivered his will by parcels now by him he would settle the whole frame of the Gospel 2. Jesus Christ as he is the Apostle of our profession so also he is the High Priest Heb. 3.1 and so must be both God and Man Man that he might be made sin for us God that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 Man to undertake our Redemption God to perform it Man that he might suffer God that he might satisfie by suffering and make our attonement full We are purchased by the Blood of God Man that he might have a sacrifice to offer God that the offering might be of an infinite price and value Heb. 9.14 Man that he might have a Life to lay down for us God that the power of laying it down and taking it up again might be in his own hands Iohn 10.17 18. I lay down my Life that I may take it agaiâ— no man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again This was sit that his suffering should be a pure voluntary act required indeed by God but not enforced by Man he had a liberty at his own pleasure as to any thing men could do and thereby commendeth his love to sinners What shall I say he was man that he might dye he was God that by death he might destroy him that had the power of death He was Man that by his death he might ratifie the New Covenant God that he might convey to the heirs of Promise these precious Legacies of pardon and Life Man that he might be a merciful High Priest touched with the feeling of our infirmities God that we coming boldly to the Throne of Grace might find mercy and grace to help in every time of need Heb. 9.15 16. 3. His Kingly office he that was to be King of kings and Lord of lords needed to be both God and Man God that he might cast out the Prince of this World and having rescued his Church from the power of darkness might govern it by his Word and Spirit and finally present it to himself a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing Man he needed to be for his own glory that he might be the First-born among many brethren And Head and Members might suit and be all of a piece and for our consolation that we might be heirs of God and joynt heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 And for the greater terrour and ignominy of Satan that the seed of the Woman might break the Serpents Head In short God that he might govern and influence a people so scattered abroad upon the face of the Earth and raise them up at the last day Man that our nature the dignity of which was so envyed by Satan might be exalted at the right hand of Majesty and placed so near God far above the Angelical Thirdly With respect to the persons who are to be considered and concerned in Christs Mediation God to whom we are Redeemed Satan from whom we are Redeemed and we our selves who are the Redeemed of the Lord. And you shall see with respect to God with respect to Satan with respect to our selves our Mediator ought to be both God and Man 1. God he need to be with respect to God that he may be appeased by a valuable compensation given to his Justice no meer man could satisfie the Justice of God appease his wrath procure his favour therefore our surety needed to be God to do this And with respect to Satan that he might be overcome now none can bind the strong one and take away his goods but he that is stronger then he Luk. 11.21 Now no mere man is a match for Satan the Conqueror of the devil must be God that by strong hand he may deliver us from his Tyranny And with respect to Man that he may be saved Not onely because of the two former respects must he be God but also there is a special reason in the cause the two former respects evince it For unless God be appeased Man cannot be reconciled and unless the Devil be overcome Man cannot be delivered If a God be needful for that man cannot be saved unless our Redeemer be God but there is a special reason because of our own obstinacy and rebellion which is onely overcome by the divine power 'T is necessary Man should be converted and changed as well as God satisfyed and Satan overcome Now who can convert himself or changâ— his own heart That work would cease for ever unless God did undertake it by his all conquering Spirit Therefore our Mediator must be God to renew and cleanse our hearts and by his divine power to give us a divine nature 2. Man also he ought to be with respect to these Three parties With respect to God that the satisfaction might be tendered in the nature which had sinned That as by Man came death by man also might come the Ressurection from the Dead 1 Cor. 15.21 22. That as in Adam all dye so by Christ shall all be made alive So with respect to the Devil that he might be overcome in the nature that was foiled by his Temptations And with respect to us That he that sanctifyeth and they that are sanctifyed might be of one Heb. 2.11 The Priest that wrought the expiation and the people for whom 't was wrought were of one stock the right of Redeeming belonged to the next Kinsman Christ is our Goel who Redeemed us not onely jure propreitatis as his creatures to God as God but Iure propinquitatis as his Kinsmen So as Man we are of Kin to Him as he came in our nature and as he sanctifieth doubly a kin not only by vertue of his incarnation but our Regeneration as he was made of a Woman and we born of God These are the Reasons VSE Let me press you to admire this Mystery of Godliness The Man Christ Jesus in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily The life and strength of our Faith depends upon it