and blood vers 16. For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham Christ assumed the common nature of man and not of any particular person The Apostle doth here purposely use this word seed to shew that Christ came out of the Gen. 46. 26. Exod. 1. 5. Heb. 7. 5. 1 King 8. 19. loins of man as Jacob's children and their children are said to come out of his loins and as all the Jews are said to come out of the loins of Abraham and as Solomon is said to come out of the loins of David in a man's loins his seed is and it is a part of his substance Thus it sheweth that Christ's humane nature was of the very substance of man and that Christ was the very same that was promised to be the Redeemer of man for of old he was foretold under this word seed as The seed of the woman Gen. 3. 15. Gen. 12. 18. Rom. 9. 7. Heb. 11. 18. 2 Ram. 7. 12. Joh. 8. 58. the seed of Abraham the seed of Isaac the seed of David This word he took on him as it setteth out the humane nature of Christ so it gives us a hint of his Divine Nature for it presupposeth that Christ was before he took on him the seed of Abraham He that taketh any thing on him must needs be before he do so is it possible for him that is not to take any thing on him Now Christ in regard of his humane nature was not before he assumed that nature therefore that former being must needs be in regard of his divine nature in that respect he ever was even the eternal God being God he took on him an humane nature Christ's Eternal Deity shines in this 16. verse and so does his true humanity in that he took upon him the seed of man it is most evident that he was a true man Seed is the matter of man's nature and the very substance thereof The seed of man is the root out Isa 11. 1. Luk. 1. 35. of which Christ assumed his humane nature The humane nature was not created of nothing nor was it brought from heaven but assumed out of the seed of man The humane nature of Christ never had a subsistence in it self At or in the very first framing or making it it was united to the Divine nature and at or in the first uniting it it Creanâ—â—â— fundiâ—ur inâ—undâ—ndo creatuâ— was framed or made Philosophers say of the uniting of the soul to the body in creating it it is infused and in infusing it it is created Much more is this true concerning the Humane nature of Christ united to his Divine Fitly therefore is it here said that he took on him the seed of Abraham So Joh. 1. 14. The word was made flesh and dwelt among us The Evangelist having proved the Divinity of Jesus Christ comes now to speak of his humanity incarnation and manifestation in the flesh whereby he became God and Man in one person Flesh here signifies the whole man in Scripture ye all know that man consisteth of two parts which are sometimes called flesh and spirit and sometimes called soul and body Now by a Synecdoche either of these pâ—rts may bâ— put for the whole And so sometimes the soul is put for the whole man and sometimes the body is put for the whole man as you may see by comparing the Scriptures in the Margin Aâ—l. 27. 37. Gen. â—6 27. Râ—m 12. 1. cap. 3. 20. Christ put himself into a low siâ— leprous suit of ours to expiate our pride and robbery in reaching after the Dâ—ity and to heal â—â— of our spiritual Leprosie for if â—â— had nâ—t assumed our flesh he had not saved us Nâ—zianz together Christ did assume the whole man he did assume the soul as well as the body and both under the term Flesh And indeed unless he had assumed the whole man the whole man could not have been saved if Christ had not taken the whole man he could not have saved the whole man Christ took the nature of man that he might be a fit Mediator if he had not been man he could not have died and if he had not been God he could not have satisfied So great was the difficulty of restoring the Image of God in lost man and of restoring him to God's favour and the dignity of sonship that no less could do it than the natural son of God his becomeing the son of man to suffer in our nature and so great was the Father's love and the Son's love to fallen man as to lay a foundation of reconciliation betwixt God and man in the personal union of the Divine and Humane nature of Christ so much is imported in those words the word was made flesh The person of the Godhead that was incarnate was neither the Father nor the Holy Ghost but the Son the second Person for the Word was made Flesh There being a real distinction of the Persons that one of them is is not another and each of them having their proper manner of subsistence the one of them might be incarnate and not the other and it is the Godhead not simply considered but the Person of the Son subsisting in that Godhead that was incarnate And it was very convenient that the second or middle Person in order of subsistence of the blessed Trinity should be the Reconciler of God and man and that he by whom all things Celes 1. 16 17. Heb. 1. 2 3. were made should be the Restorer and Maker of the new World and that he who was the express Image of his Father should be the Repairer of the Image of God in us Oh the admirable love and wisdom of God that shines in this that the second Person in the Trinity is set on work to procure our Redemption Though reason could never have found out such a way yet when God hath revealed it reason though but shallow can see a fitness in it because there being a necessity that the Saviour of man should be man and an impossibility that any but God should save him and one Person in the Trinity being to be incarnate it agrees to reason that the first Person in the Trinity should not be the Mediator for who should send him he is of none and therefore could not be sent There must be one sent to reconcile the enmity and another to give gifts to friends two proceeding Persons the Son from the Father and the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son Accordingly the second Person which is the Son he is sent upon the first errand to reconcile man to God and the third person the Holy Ghost he is sent to give gifts to men so reconciled so as to reason it is suitable and a very great congruity that God having made all things by his Son should now repair all things by his Son that he that was the middle Person
applicable to the person of Christ He that by his office is to be Emmanuel God with us he must in regard of his person be Emanuel also that is God-man in one person He that by office is to make peace between God and man he must be God-man he that by office is to stand and minister between God and men he must be God and Heb. 2. 17 18. cap. 4. 15 16. man that so he might not be only zealously faithful towards God's justice but also tenderly merciful towards men's errours Look as he must be more than man that he may be able so to suffer that his sufferings may be meritorious that he may go through-stitch with the work of Redemption and triumph over death Devils difficulties discouragements curse hell wrath c. All which Christ could never have done had he been but a mere man So it was requisite that he should be man that he might be in a capacity to suffer die and obey for these are not works for one who is only God A God only cannot suffer a man only cannot merit God cannot obey man is bound to obey wherefore Christ that he might obey and suffer he was man and that he might merit by his obedience and suffering he was God-man now such a person and only such a person did the work of Redemption call for That is a mighty Scripture Phil. 2. 6 7. Who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God here 's Christ's pre-existing in the nature of the Godhead and then after comes his manhood But made hiâ—self of no reputation Greek he emptied Isa 53. 6. 9. himself as it were of his divine dignity and majesty he did disrobe himself of his glory and became a sinner both by imputation and reputation for our sakes for our salvation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men All this Christ did upon his father's prescription and in pursuit of the great work of Redemption The blessed spirit fitted the man Christ Jesus to be a meet Mediatour and Redeemer for poor sinners The spirit formed the nature of man Luk. 1. 35. Gal. 4. 4. of the substance of the Virgin after an extraordinary manner for the service of the Lord Christ he sanctined the humane nature which Christ assumed after such a perfect manner that it was free from all sin in the very Luk. 1. 35. moment of conception he united this pure humane nature with the divine in the same person the person of the Heb. 10. 5. son of God that he might be a fit head Mediatour and Redeemer for us But The Eighth Proposition is this viz. That there were commandments from the father to the son which he must obey and submit to God the father did put forth his paternal authority and lay his commands upon his son to engage in this great work of redeeming and saving poor sinners souls he had a command from the father what to teach his people as the Prophet of the Church For I have not spoken of my self saith Christ but the father which sent me he gave me a commandment what I should say and Joh. 12. 49. what I should speak Christ declares that he had received a Commission from the father who sent him concerning his Doctrine and what to say and speak and that he was perswaded that this Doctrine delivered to him by the father points out the true way to eternal life and that he had exactly followed this Commission in preaching both for matter and mannor The two words of saying Between saying and speaking there is this difference saith à Lapide that to say is to teach and publish a thing gravely to speak is familiararly to utter a thing and speaking may be taken comprehensively pointing out all the ways of delivering his commission by set and solemn preaching or occasional conferences and the whole subject matter of his preaching in precepts promises and threatnings and so it will 〈…〉 port that his commission from the father was full both for matter and manner and his discharge thereof answerable Christ is a true Prophet who speaks neither more or less in the Doctrine of the Gospel than what was the father's will should be delivered to us For whatsoever I speak even as the father said unto me so I speak Christ keeps close to his Commission without adding or diminishing and herein Christ's practice should be every faithful minister's patternâ— Again Christ had a command to lay down his life for those that were giu 〈…〉 No man taketh it from Joâ— 1â— 18. 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 commundment have I received of my father The father is so well pleased with the reconciliation of lost sinners that he loveth Christ for the undertaking thereof and is fully satisfied with his suffering for attaining that end in both these respects it holds good Therefore doth my father love me because I lay down my life vers 17. The father is pleased with him that he undertook this service and is content with his death as a sufficient ransom Christ having laid down his life for the Redemption of lost man did take it again as a testimony that the father was satisfied with his sufferings Now the way of the accomplishment of our Redemption was agreed on betwixt the father and the son before the accomplishment thereof Therefore saith he this commandment have I received of my father which Psal 40. 6 7. with Heb. 10. 6 7 8. makes it clear that he came into the world fully instructed about carrying on the work of Redemption It pleased Christ to suffer death not only voluntarily but in a way of subjection to his father's command that so the merit thereof might every way be full and acceptable to the father for this commandment have I received he was content to be a servant by paction that so his sufferings might be accepted for his people And so when Christ was going to die he saith That the world may know that I love the Joh. 14. 31. father and as the father gave me commandment even so I do arise let us go hence As if he had said power is permitted to Satan and his accomplices to persecute me to death that dying for man's Redemption the world may see the obedience and love I bear to the father who hath thus determined All that Christ suffered for the Redemption of sinners was by the order and at the command of the father who did covenant with him concerning this work For as the father gave me a commandment even so do I In this Scripture as in a crystal-glass you may see that Christ did enter the lists in his sufferings with much willingness and alacrity with much courage and resolution that so he might commend his love to us and encourage
of Isa 63. 3. John 17. Luke 23. 34. Math. â—6 28. his Fathers wrath for souls he prayed for souls he payd for souls and he bled out his heart-blood for souls The soul is the breath of God the beauty of man the wonder of Angels and the envie of Devils 'T is of an Angelical 1 Pet. 5. 8. nature 't is a heavenly spark a celestial plant and of a Divine off-spring Again weigh well the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the incomparable price which Christ payed for the redemption of the soul what are the riches of the East or West Indies the spoil of the richest Nations rocks of 1 Pet. 1 18 19. Diamonds mountains of gold or the price of Cleopatra's draught to the price that Christ laid down for souls 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. 1 John 1. 4 12. Heb. 22. 23. The soul is a spiritual substance capable of the knowledge of God of union with God of communion with God and of an eternal fruition of God There is nothing can suit the soul below God nor nothing that can satisfie the soul without God nor nothing that can save the soul but God The soul is so choice so high and so noble a piece that it Divinely scorns all the world in point of acceptation justification satisfaction dilectation and salvation Christ made himself an offering for Heb. 9. 11 12 13 14. Cap. 10 10 14 Ga. 4 4 5 6. Heb. 2. 8. sin that souls might not be undone by sin The Lord dyed that slaves might live The Son dyed that servants might live The natural Son dyed that adopted sons might live The only begotten Son dyed that bastards might live Yea the Judge dyed that malefactors might live Ah Friends as there was never sorrow like Isa 53 3. Gal. 2. 20. Christs sorrow so there was never love like Christs love and of all his love none to that of soul-love to say much in a little room The spiritual enemies which daily war Eph 6. 11 12. 1 Pet. 2. 11. Heb. ult Rom. 1â— 17. 1 Cor. 11. 23. 27. against the soul the glorious Angels which hourly guard the soul and the precious ordinances which God hath appointed as means both to convert and nourish the soul The soul is capable of a Crown of life Rev. 2. 10. Of a Crown of glory 1 Pet. 5 4. Of a Crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4. 8. Of an incorruptible Crown 1 Cor. 9. 25. The Crowns of earthly Princes stand as Queen Elisabeth is said to swin to her Crown through a Sea of sorrow a Sophisters cap on one side of the head Many may say of their Crowns as that King said of â—is O Crown more noble than happy In the time of Galienus the Emperour Anno Christi 260. there were thirty Competitors on foot for the Roman Crown and Throne who confounded and destroyed one another A Princely Crown is oftentimes the mark for envy and ambition to shoot at Henry the VI. was honoured with the Crowns of two Kingdoms France England the first was lost through the faction of his Nobles the other was twice plucked from his head Earthly Crowns have so many cares fears vexations and dangers that daily attend them that oftentimes they make the heads and hearts of Monarchs Prov. 27. 4. Doth the Crown endure to all generations Heb. To generation and generation ake which made Cyrus say You look upon my Crown and my purple robes but did you but know how they were lined with thorns you would not stoop to take them up But the Crowns that immortal souls are capable of are Crowns without crosses they are not attended with care of keeping or fear of losing there are no evil persons nor evil spirits that haunt those Crowns Darius that great Monarch fleeing from his enemies he threw away the Crown of gold from his head that he might run the faster but a sincere Christian 1 Pet. 1. 5. is in no danger of losing his Crown 2 Tim. 4. 8. His Crown is laid up in a safe hand in an omnipotent hand Now what do all these things speak out but the preciousness and excellency of the soul Once more the excellency of the case or cabinet viz. the body intimates a more than ordinary excellency of this Jewel the body is of all materials the most excellent how does David admire the rare texture and workmanship of his body I am wonderfully made I was curiously wrought in Psal 139. 13 15. the lowest parts of the earth When curious workmen have some choice piece in hand they perfect it in private and then bring it forth to the light for men to gaze at so here The greatest miracle in the World is Man in whose very body how much more in his soul are miracles enow betwixt head and feet to fill a volume One complains that men much wonder at the high Austin The Stoick thought it was better to be a fool in the form of a man than wise in the shape of a beast mountains of the Earth the huge waves of the Sea the deep falls of Rivers the vastness of the Ocean and at the motions of the Stars c. but wonder not at all at their wonderful selves Galen a prophane Physician and a great Atheist writing of the excellent parts of mans body he could not chuse but sing an Hymn to that God whosoever he were that was the Author of so excellent and admirable a piece of work he could not but cry out Now I adore the God of Nature Now if the Cabinet be so curiously wrought what is the Jewel that is contained in it O how richly and gloriously is the soul embroydered How Divinely inlaid and enamel'd is that Princes impress their images or effigies upon the choicest mettals viz. gold and silver God hath engraven his own Image with his own hand upon Gen. 1. 26. Damaâ—cen Angels and Men. The soul is the glory of the Creation a beam of God a spark of celestial brightness a vessel of honour a bird of Paradise a habitation for God The soul is spiritual in its essence God breathed it in God hath invested it with many noble endowments he hath made it a mirrour of beauty and printed upon it a Gen. 2. 7. Heb. 12 9. Eccles 12. 7. Zach. 12. 1. surpassing excellency The soul is spiritual in its object it contemplaces God and Heaven God is the orb and center where the soul doth fix God is the Terminus ad quem the soul moves to him as to his rest Return to thy rest O my soul this Dove can find no rest but in this heavenly Ark nothing can fill the soul but God nothing can quiet the soul but God nothing can satisfie the soul but God nothing can secure the soul but God nothing can save the soul but God The soul being spiritual God only can be the adequate object of it The soul is spiritual in its operations it being
immaterial doth not depend upon the body in its working the rich and rare endowments and the noble operations of the soul speak out the excellency of the soul The soul saith one hath Aristotle a nature distinct from the body it moves and operates of it self though the body be dead and hath no dependence upon or coexistence with the body The soul hath an intrinsecal principle of life and motion though it be separate from the body And doth not the immortality of the soul speak out the excellency of the soul against that dangerous notion of the souls mortality Consult the Scriptures in the margin and seriously and Luke 23. 43. 1 Thess 4. ult Phil. 1. 23. Acts 7. 59. frequently think of this one argument among a multitude of arguments that might be produced to prove the immortality of the soul That which is not capable of killing is not capable of dying but the soul is not capable of killing ergo Our Lord Jesus proves the minor proposition that it is not capable of killing Fear not Luke 12. 4. them them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do Therefore the soul not being capable of killing is not in a possibility of dying the essence of the soul is Metaphysical it hath a beginning but no end it is Eternal à parte post it runs parallel with Eternity the soul doth not wax old it lives for ever which we cannot affirm of any sublunary created glory To conclude this first word of counsel what Job saith of wisdom I may fitly apply to the soul Man knows not the price thereof Job 28. 13 16 17. it cannot be valued with the Gold of Ophir with the precious Onyx or the Saphir the Gold and Chrystal cannot equal it and the exchange of it shall not be for Jewels of sine Gold O my Friends it is the greatest wisdom policy equity and Justice to provide for your precious souls to secure your precious souls for they are Jewels of more worth than ten thousand worlds all the honours riches greatness and glory of this world are but chips toyes and pibbles to these glorious pearls But The second word of counsel is this as you would be safe here and saved in the great day of the Lord as Actâ— 2. 20. â—â— 22. 21. ◠〈…〉 poth 1. 15. Joâ— 13. 15. 2 Cor. 2. 11. you would be happy here and blessed hereafter take up in nothing below a gracious acquaintance with Christ a choice acceptation of Christ a holy relyance upon Christ a full resignation of your selves to Christ and a real and glorious union with Christ If you do you are lost and undone in both worlds First Some take up in a name to live when they are dead dead in trespasses and sins dead God-wards and Revel 3 1. Ephes 2. 1. dead Christ-wards and dead Heaven-wards and dead holyness-wards The Sadducees derive their name from Zeduchim or Zadducaeus a just man But the worst Men saith the Historian got the best names The Alcoran of the Turks hath its name from brightness Al in the Arabick being as much as Kazan in the Hebrew to shine or cast forth in brightness when it is full of darkness and fraught with falshoods It will be but a poor comfort to any for the world to commend them as gracious if God condemn them as graceless for the world to commend them as pious if God condemn them as impious for the world to commend them as sincere if God condemn them as hypocrites But Secondly Some take up in a form Godliness when 2 Timoth. 3. 5. they are strangers to the power when they deny yea when they oppose and persecute the power such Monsters this Age has abounded with but their seeming Acts 13. 45 50 goodness is but a Religious cheat Thirdly There are some that take up in their Religious Matth. 9. 22. Luke 18. 12. Cap. 13. 26. Matth. 6. cap. 23. Luke 36. 15. Ezeck 33. 31 32. duties and services in their praying fasting prophesying hearing receiving they make a God a Christ a Saviour of their own duties services this was the undoing and damning sin of the Scribes and Pharisees and is the undoing and damning sin of many thousands in our dayes Fourthly There are many that take up in their common gifts and parts in a gift of knowledge and in a gift Math. â— 22. Rom. 2. 17. 21. 1 Cor. 12. â—eb 6. 4â—5 of teaching and in a gift of knowledge and in a gift of teaching and in a gift of utterance and in a gift of memory and in a gift of prayer and this proves ruinous and destructive to them Fifthly There are many that take up in their riches Prov. 10. 15. Psalm 73. 19. Matth. 20. 26. Diviâ—â—bus i 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rich mens wealth proves an hinderance to their happiness Eccles 5. 13. James 5. 1 2. prosperity and worldly grandure and glory Prov. 18. 11. The rich mans wealth is his strong City it is hard to have wealth and not trust to it Mat. 19. 24. Wealth was never true to those that trusted it There is an utter uncertainty in riches 1 Timoth. 6. 17. A non entity Prov. 23. 5 6. An impotency to help in an evil day Zephan 1. 18. An impossibility to stretch to Eternity unless it be to destroy the owner for ever There is nothing more clear in Scripture and History than that riches prosperity and worldy glory hath been commonly their portion who never have had a God for their portion Luke 16. 25. Ricâ—es are called thiâ—k clay Hal. 2. 6. which will sooner break the back than lighten the heart It was an excellent saying of Lewis of Bavaria Emperour of Germany Hujusmodi comparandae sunt opes quae cum naufragio simul enatent Such goods are worth getting and owning as will not sink or wash away if a ship-wrack happen Solus sapiens dives Only the Wise man is the rich man saith the Philosopher Another saith Divitiae Austin corporales paupertatis plenae sunt That earthly riches are full of poverty they cannot enrich the soul for oftentimes under silken Apparel there is a thred-bare soul He that is rich in conscience sleeps more soundly than he that is richly clothed in purple No man is rich which cannot carry hence that which Ambros lib. 8. Ep. 10. he hath that which we must leave behind us is not ours but some others The shortest cut to riches is by their contempt it is Seneca great riches not to desire riches and he hath most that covets least If there were any happiness in riches the Gods would not want them saith the same Author When one was a commending the riches and wealth of Merchants I do not love that wealth said a poor Heathen which hangs upon ropes for if they break the ship miscarrieth and then where is the Merchants riches If I had an
espouse a suffering state as how they shun a suffering state I am not to go to prison upon choice but upon a Call but upon a Warrant under God's own hand though it be an argument of a gracious Spirit to be always of a ready and forward mind to suffer for Christ And when he demands who will go 〈◊〉 with me who will bear my Cross chearfully to answer I will go Lord let me bear it yet should we take heed that as we hang not back when he says go so that we run not before he sends us before he calls us Quest But how shall I know when I am called to suffer when I am called to lay down Life Liberty and All for the Profession of Christ and the Gospel To this I answer First When the Truth will sufer and the Name of God suffer and the Gospel will suffer should we decline suffering then we are called to suâ—â—er 't is our duty to suffer any thing to suffer the worst of things that the worst of men can inflict rather than that the Truth should suffer or the name of God suffer or the Gospel suffer Secondly When the case stands so with us that we cannot keep Life Estate Liberty c. without denying of Christ or the Gospel or without concealing this precious Truth or that or without turning our backs upon this Ordinance or that c. then we are called to suffer when we cannot preserve our Lives our Liberties our Estates without denying of Christ or the Concerns of Christ in one degree or another in one kind or another then we are called to lay down our Lives our Liberties our Estates c. at the feet of Christ as the Saints and Martyrs of old have done before us Thirdly when our way is so hedged up with thorns that we must either sin or suffer when sin and sufferings surround us so Hos 2. 6. that we cannot get out or come off but we must either sin or suffer Dan. 3. 17. then I must with the three Champions chuse rather to burn than to bow and with Daniel to the Lyon's Den than to omit my duty and with Moses chuse to suffer afflictions with Heb. 11. 24 25 26 the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin which are but for a season I may safely and groundedly conclude that Christ calls me to suffer when I must either sin or suffer When the case stands thus then I may be confident of the singular Presence of God with me the special blessing of God upon me and a gracious or a glorious deliverance out of all my sufferings But Fourthly and lastly When a Christian to the best of his understanding has seriously weighed all things and circumstances and is well satisfied in his mind and conscience that his sufferings will be the exaltation of Christ the furtherance of the Gospel the stopping of the mouths of the wicked the confirmation of those that are strong and the strengthening and encouraging of those that are weak then he may safely conclude that Christ calls him to suffer But Eightly Consider that the Sufferings of the Saints in these days are light and easie to the sufferings that were inflicted upon the Maccab. 6. 9 10. cap. 7. 1 2 3 4. Euse◠〈◊〉 Hist 〈◊〉 6. Jews in the days of Antiochus and on Christians in the times of the ten notorious Persecutions under the Roman Emperours and to those that have been inflicted upon the Martyrs since So cruel was the sight of those Tortures which Persecutors inflicted as exceeds all expression Constant Christians had their flesh â—orn from their backs with Rods Scourges Whips and Cords to as their bones lay bare and the raw parts of their bodies were washed with Vinegar and Salt They were stretched on Racks their legs were broken and so left miserably to perish They were goared with sharp pricks undeâ— the lowest parts of their Hym. 10. de Rom. Anno. Mart. Laddelacerda computeth forty four several kinds of Torments wherewith the Primitive Christians were tried Adv. Saâ—r cap. 128. nails their bodies were scraped with thels to death their backs were fleaed their skins were pulled over their heads from the brow to the chin Their noses lips ears hands and feet were cut off and they as Sacrifices cut in gobbeâ—s Their tongues were cut out by the roots and pulled out of their jaws Their eyes were boared and digged out Their bodies were rent and pulled in peices by strong boughs forced together by instruments and let loose when the limbs of the bodies of Martyrs were tied fast unto them Their limbs were also pulled to pieces with wild horses Their brains were knocked out with Fullers clubs Their legs were broken in pieces They were burnt with fire They were a long while together parched with hot burning coals Being hanged by the heels and their heads downward over a soft fire they were choaked with smoak They were rosted at the fire as flesh to be eaten used to be rosted They were leâ—â—urely broiled on Grid-irons set over the fire They were fryed in read hot iron chairs as in a frying-pan which annoyed the standers by with a stench Hot boiling lead was poured down their throats They clapped fiery plates of Brass upon the most tender parts of their bodies A persecuting Tyrant considering the nature of the Basil in 40. Mar. Coâ—c 〈…〉 Greg. Nyssen de iijd m Oraâ— â— Countrey that it was terrible cold and the time of the year that it was Winter and a night wherein the cold extreamly encreased and that the North Wind then blew there commanded forty Christians to be set slark naked under the open Air in the midst of the City to freeze to death Then when they heard that charge with joy casting away even their innermost Vestment they went on to their death by Cold. They endâ—â—ed the Eccl 〈…〉 Hiâ—i â— 5. cap. â— violence of Libbaâ—ds Bears Wild Boars and Bulls Attalus and Alexander were twice baited with Wild Beasts to be torn in pieces by them as Eusebius repâ—rts Attalus escaping the Beaâ—ts was reserved to other torments to be burnt to death in an Iron Chair heated red-fire hot Macedonius Theodulus and Socra Hist l. 3. cap. 13. Tatianus were laid upon a Grid iron and broiled to death There were many Christians together stopped up in Lakes or Caves Mag. Cent. 4. cap. 3. Ex Theodâ—reâ—â— artificially made close which Lakes or Ditches were filled with a company of Dormise kept hungry to gâ—aw and feed upon the poor Christians they being all the while bound hand and â—oot that they could not keep of those hunger-starved creatures which were kept without meat also purposely that they might fasten with the more eagerness upon the bodies of those precious Christians They were destroyed with hunger thirst and cold Such Euseb 〈◊〉 Hist l. 5. c. 1. l. 8. c. 6 7 〈◊〉 Niâ—eph l. 7. â— 11 12. as were stistled in
said he Bishop Ridley as the breath is in my body I will never deny my Lord Christ and his known Truth Another used such a speech to one that advised Father Latimer him to spare himself as Christ did to Peter on the like occasion Get thee behind me Satan There are a world of other Instances of the like nature but enough is as good as a Feast By all these Instances you may see that Blessed Word verified They loved not their lives unto the death They were willing to Rev. 12. 11. lay down their lives for the Glory of Christ and for the Truth of Christ So that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They loved not is put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they neglected or contemned their life as Brightman hath well observed They slighted yea despised their lives and rather exposed them to hazard and loss than to deny Christ or their holy Profession It is a Paraphrase of the constancy of their Faith even unto Martyrdom for the name of Christ But Tenthly Consider That God puts a great deal of honour Phil. 1. 29. upon suffering Saints To suffer for Christ is honourable God will not put this honour upon every one he puts this honour only upon those that are Vessels of Honour by Grace God makes men 2 Tim. 2. 20 21. Vessels of Silver and Vessels of Gold and then casts them into the fire to melt and suffer for his name and a higher Glory he cannot put upon them on this side Glory The Crown of Martyrdom is a Crown that the Blessed Angels those Princes of Glory are not capable of winning or wearing And O who art thou and what art thou O man that God should set this Crown upon thy head Mark at what a rate Peter speaks If ye â—e reproached 1 Pet. 4. 1 〈…〉 for the name of Christ happy are ye for the spirit of â—lory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he iâ— glorified The very suffering condition of the people of God is at the present a glorious condition For the spirit of Glory rests upon them and therefore they must needs be glorious yea very glorious upon whom the spirit of Glory falls Rom. 8. 9 11. Dan. 3. and in whom the Spirit of Glory dwells What a Glorious Mold and Mettal were the three Children made up of that were cast into the fiery Furnace and what a deal of honour and glory did God put upon them in the eyes of all the world The Apostles all along accounted their own sufferings and the sufferings of the Saints for Christ to be the highest honour and glory that God could put upon them in this world as will be evident by our comparing Heb. 11. 36 37 38 2 Cor. 11. 23 to 28 Heb. 10. 32 to 26. the Scriptures in the Margin together To suffer for Christ is the greatest honour and promotion that God gives in this world said old Father Latimer and therefore when sentence was pronounced against him he cryed out I thank God most heartily for this great honour So Saunders I am the unmeetest man for Act. and Mâ—n 1361. Ibid. 1744. this high Office that ever was appointed to it So Careless the Martyr this is such an honour said he as the greatest Angel in Heaven is not permitted to have God forgive me mine unthankfulness c. John Nâ—yâ—s took up a Faggot at the fire and kissed John Nâ—yâ—s it Saying Blessed be the time that ever I was born to come to this preferment So when they had fastned Alice Driver with a Alice Driver chain to the stake to be burnt Never said she did Neck-kerchief become me so well as this Chain So Balilus the Martyr when Balilus he was to die requested this favour of his Persecutors 〈◊〉 That he might have his chains b 〈…〉 ed with him as the Ensigns of his honour What are we poor worms full of vanities and lies Calvin said Calvin that we should be called to be maintainers of the Truth for Suâ—â—erings for Christ are the Ensigns of Heavenly Nobility To die for Christ is the greatest promotion that God Philpot. can bring any in this Vale of Misery unto said Mr. Philpot the Martyr A French Soldier for his zealous Profession of the reformed Thuan. Hist l. 11. Anno 1553. Religion was condemned to the fire with others only he should have the favour of going to the Stâ—ke without a Wyth but he desired that he might wear such a Chain as his fellows did esteeming this rebuke of Christ more glorious than the Ensigns of St Michael's Order 'T was an excellent saying of Prudentius Prudentius Their names saith he that are written in red letters of Blood in the Churches Calendar are written in Golden Letters in Christ's Register the Book of Life The Passion-days of the Martyrs were anciently called the Natalitia salutis the Birth-days of Salvation the Day-break of Eternal Brightness We count it a great honour Isa 9 6 7. Dan. 3. 24 25. Isa 43. 2. cap. 63. 9. to have Princes to be our Companions Christ the Prince of Peace and the Angels those Princes of Glory are our Companions in all our Sufferings Such is the honour that God puts upon his Suffering Saints that nothing shall hinder him from being their Companion in all their Sufferings in all their afflictions in all their Temptations and this believe it is no small honour I have read how that in the Primitive times when some Euseb Eccles Hist l. 5. good people came to comfort some of the Martyrs that were in Prison and ready to suffer they called them blessed Martyrs O no said they we are not worthy of the name of Martyrs These holy humble hearts thought Martyrdom too high an honour for them And Luther writing to those which were condemned to death saith the Lord will not do me that honour after all that bustle I have made in the world In the Primitive times they were wont to call Martyrdom by the name of Corona Martyrii the Crown of Martyrdom We read of a Woman-martyr who having her Child in her hand gave it to another and offered her self to Martyrdom Crowns said she are to be dealt out this day and I mean to have one You see what high and honourable thoughts the Saints had of their Sufferings in those days and O that all suffering Saints would labour to write after that noble Copy that they have left upon Record But Eleventhly Consider that suffering Saints do put a great deal of Honour and Glory upon God Christ Religion and upon God's Truth Worship and Ways What a spreading Fame and Glory of God did the Sufferings of the three Worthies scatter all the world over God is acknowledged and adored by Nebuchadnezzar a Decree is made That Every People Nation and Language Dan. 3. 28 29. which speak amiss against the God of
us our sins our burdens and such constant ailments as takes away all the pleasure and comfort of life Here both our outward and inward conditions are very various sometimes heaven is open and Lamen 3 8 44 54 55 56 57. Psal 30. 7. 1 Thes 4 17 18. Isa 35. 10. sometimes heaven is shut sometimes we see the face of God and rejoyce and at other times he hides his face and we are troubled O but now death will bring us to an invariable Eternity It is always day in heaven and joy in heaven Sixthly and lastly You shall gain a clear distinct and full knowledge of all great and deep Mysteries the Mystery 1 Cor. 13. 10 12. of the Trinity the Mystery of Christ's Incarnation the Mystery of Man's Redemption the Mysteries of Providences the Mysteries of Prophecies and all those Mysteries that relate to the Nature Substances Offices Orders and Excellencies of the Angels If you please to consult my String of Pearls or the best thing reserved till last with my Sermon on Eccles 7. 1. Better is the day of death than the day of ones birth which is at the end of my Treatise on Assurance both which Treatises you have by you There you will find many more great and glorious things laid open that we gain by death And to them I refer you But Sixthly Look upon death as a sleep the Holy Ghost hath phrased it so above twenty times in Scripture to 1 Cor. 11. 30. cap. 15. 51. Joh. 11. â—â— Mark 5. 39. The Greeks call their Church-yards Dormitories sleeping places and the Hebrews 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—im the house of the living shew that this is the true proper and genuine notion of death When the Saints die they do but sleep Mat. 9. 24. The maid is not dead but sleepeth The same phrase he also used to his Disciples concerning Lazarus our friend Lazarus sleepeth Joh. 11. 11. The death of the Godly is as a sleep Stephen fell asleep Act. 7. 60. And David fell asleep Act. 13. 36. And Christ is the first fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15. 20. Them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thes 4. 14. The Saints of God do but sleep when they lay down in the Grave that which we call death in such is not death indeed it is but the image of death the Shadow and Metaphor of death death 's younger Brother a mere sleep and no more I may not follow the Analogy that is between death and sleep in the latitude of it the Printer calling upon me to conclude Sleep is the Nurse of Nature the sweet Parenthesis of all a man's griefs and cares But Seventhly Look upon death as a departure 2 Tim. 4. 6. For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand He makes nothing of death It was Deut. 32. 49 50. no more betwixt God and Moses but go up and die and so betwixt Christ and Paul but launch out and land immediately at the fair Haven of heaven Phil. 1. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Paul longed for that hour wherein he should loose Anchor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 solvâ—râ— Anch ram Or it may be rendered to return home or to change rooâ—s â—t is a similitude â—aken from those that depart out of an Iâ—n to take their journey towards their own Countrey and sail to Christ as the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports It is a Metaphor from a Ship at Anchor importing a sailing from this present life to another Port. Paul had a desire to loose from the shore of Life and to launch out into the Main of Immortality The Apostle in this phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath a reference both to his bonds and to his death and his meaning is I desire to be discharged and released as out of a common Goal so also out of the prison of my body that I may presently be with Christ my Saviour in heaven in rest and bliss After Paul had been in the third heaven his constant song was I desire to be with Christ Nature teacheth that death is the end of misery but grace will teach us that death is the beginning of our felicity But Eighthly and lastly Look upon death as a going to Bed The Grave is a Bed wherein the body is laid to rest with its curtains close drawn about it that it may not be disturbed in its repose So the Holy Ghost is pleased to phrase it He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds every one walking in their uprightness Isa 57. 2. As the souls of the Saints pass to a place of rest and bliss so their bodies are laid down to rest in the Grave as in a Bed or Bed-chamber there to sleep quietly until the morning of the Resurrection Death is nothing else but a Writ of ease to the weary Saints 't is a total cessation from all their labour of nature sin and affliction Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord that they may rest Rev. 14. 13. from their labours c. Whilst the souls of the Saints do rest in Abraham's bosom their bodies do sweetly sleep in their beds of dust as in a safe and consecrated Dormitory Every sincere Christian may like the weary child call and cry to be laid to bed knowing that death will send him to his everlasting rest Now you should always look upon death under Scripture Notions and this will take off the terrour of death yea it will make the King of Terrours to be the King of desires it will make you not only willing to die but even long to die and to cry out O that I had the wings of a dove to fly away and be at rest At death you shall have an eternal Jubilee and be freed from all incumbrances Now sin shall be no more nor trouble shall be no more nor pain nor ailments shall be no more Now you shall have your Quietus est now the wicked shall cease from Job 3. 17. troubling and now the weary shall be at rest now all Rev. 7. 17. tears shall be wiped from your eyes now death shall be the way to bliss the Gate of Life and the Portal to Paradise It was well said of one so far as we tremble at death so far we want love it 's sad when the contract is made between Christ and a Christian to see a Christian afraid of the making up the Marriage Lord saith Austin one I will die that I may enjoy thee I will not live but I will die I desire to die that I may see Christ and refuse to live that I may live with Christ The broken Rings Contracts and Espousals contents not the true Lover but he longs for the Marriage day It is no credit to your Heavenly Father for you to be loth to
Redemption bringing in the father and the son as conferring and agreeing together about the terms of it and the first thing agreed on between them is the price and the price that God the father stands upon is blood and that not the blood of Bulls and Goats but the blood of his son which was the best the purest and the Hâ—b 10. 4. cap. 9 22. Jâ—h 10. 11 15 17. 18. Jâ—â— 1. 29. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. noblest blood that ever run in veins Now Christ to bring about the redemption of fallen man is willing to come up to the demands of his father and to lay down his blood The Scripture calls the blood of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 precious blood Oh! the vertue in it the value of it through this Red Sea we must pass to heaven Sanguis Christi clavis coeli Christ's blood is heaven's key Isal 116. 15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the blood of the Saints and truly precious in the sight of the Saints is the blood of Christ Vna guttula plus valet quam coelum terra Luther One little drop is more worth than heaven and earth Christ's blood is precious blood in regard of the dignity of his person it is the blood of God himself it is the blood Act. 20. 28. of that person who is very God as well as very man Christ's blood was noble blood and therefore precious he came of the race of Kings as touching his manhood but being withal the soh of God This renders his nobility Isa 19. 11. matchless and peerless It was Pharaoh's brag that he was the son of ancient Kings who can lay claim to this more than Christ who can challenge this honour before him he is the son of the ancientest King in the Dan. 7. 9 13 2â— world he was begot a King from all Eternity and the blood of good Kings is precious Thou art worth ten thousand 2 Sam. 18. 3. of us said David's subjects to him and therefore they would not suffer him to hazard himself in the battâ—l The nobleness of his person did set a high rate upon his blood and whom doth this argument more commend unto us than Christ And the blood of Christ is precious blood in regard of the vertues of it by this blood God and man are reconciled by this blood the chosâ—n of God are redeemed It was an excellent saying of Leo The effusion of Christ's blood is so rich and available that Leo de pâ—s sâ—rm 12. c. 4. if the whole multitude of captive sinners would believe in their Redeemer not one of them should be detained in the Tyrant's chains This precious blood justifiâ—s our Act. 13. 38 39. Râ—m 3. 24 25. 1 Jâ—h 1. 7. 1 Iâ—â—s 1. 10. persons in the sight of God it frees us from the guilt of sin and it frees us from the reign and dominion of sin and it frees us from the punishments that are due to sin it saves us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from that wrath that is to come Now were not Christ's blood of infinite value and vertue it could never have produced such glorious effects the blood of Christ is precious beyond all account and yet our Lord Jesus did not think it too dear a price to pay down for his Saints God the father would be satisfied with no other price and therefore God the son comes up to his father's price that our Redemption might be sure But Secondly Observe that God rejects all ways of satisfaction by men Could men make as many prayers as there be stars in heaven and drops in the Sea and could they 1 Cor. 13. 3. weep as much blood as there is water in the Ocean and should they give all their goods to the poor and their bodies to be burnt as some have done yet all this would not satisfie for the least sin not for an idle word not for a vain thought Heb. 10. 5. Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not that is thou wilt not accept of them for an expiation and satisfaction for sin as the Jews imagined The Apostle shews the impotency and insufficiency of legal sacrifices by God's rejecting of them the things here set down not to be regarded by God as sacrifices offerings burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin together with other legal ordinances comprised under them do evidently demonstrate that God regards none of those things in a way of satisfaction they are no current price they are no such pay that will be accepted of in the Court of heaven Remission of sin could never be obtained by sacrifices and offerings nor by prayers tears humblings meltings watchings fastings penances pilgrimages c. Remission of sins cost Christ dear though it cost us nothing Remission of sins drops down from God to us through Christ's wounds and swims to us in Christ's blood It was well said by one of the Ancients I have not whence Ambros de Jacob 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 1. cap. 6. pag. 290 291. I may glory in my own works I have not whence I may boast my self and therefore I will glory in Christ I will not glory that I am righteous but I will glory that I am redeemed I will glory not because I am without sin but because my sins are forgiven I will not glory because I have profited or because any hath profited me but because Christ is an Advocate with the father for me but because the blood of Christ is shed for me Certainly the Popish Doctrine of man's own satisfaction in part for his sins is most derogatory to the blood and to the plenary and complete satisfaction of Jesus Christ But Thirdly Observe that nothing below the obedience and sufferings of Christ our Mediator could satisfie divine Justice Heb. 10. 5. But a body hast thou prepared me the Hebrew text Psal 40. 7. saith Thou hast boared through mine ears but the Apostle follows the Greek Translation seeing the same sence is contained in both Christ having declared what his father delighted not in he further sheweth affirmatively what it was wherein he rested well pleased in these words but a body hast thou prepared me In this phrase A body hast thou prepared me Christ is brought in speaking to his father By body is meant the humane nature of Christ Body is Synecdochically put for the whole humane nature consisting of body and soul the body was the visible part of Christ's humane nature A body is fit for a sacrifice fit to be slain fit to have blood shed out of it fit to be offered up fit to be made a price and a ransom for our sins and fit to answer the types under the Law Pertinently therefore to this purpose is it said of Christ He himself bare our sins 1 Pâ—t 2. 24. Hâ—b 2. 9 14 17. in his own body and those infirmities wherein he was made like unto us were most conspicuously evidenced in his body and hereby
Christ was manifested to be a true man he had a body like ours a body subject to manifold infirmities yea to death it self That body which Christ had is said to be prepared by God the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is translated prepared is a Metaphor from Mechanicks who do artificially fit one part of their work to another and so finish the whole God fitted his son's body to be joyned with the Deity and to be an expiatory sacrifice for sin The word prepared implies that God the father ordained formed and made fit and able Christ's humane nature to undergo suffer and fulfil that for which he was sent into the world God the father is here said to have prepared Christ a body because Christ having received of his father the humane nature out of the flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Mat. 1. 20. Luk 1. 31. 35. Holy Ghost here gives up the same unto the service of his father to do to suffer to die that he might be a sacrifice of expiation for our sins As for the words of the Psalmist Psal 40. 6. Mine ear hast thou opened Heb. digged open It is a proverbial manner of speech whereby there is implyed the qualifying or fitting a man unto obedience in service the ear or the opening of the ear Isa 50 5. Job 3. 16. being an emblem or symbol or a Metaphorical sign of obedience Now St. Paul following the translation of the Septuagint and being directed by the spirit of God expounds this of God's sanctifying and fitting a body unto Christ wherein hs was obedient even unto the shameful death of the Cross These words thou hast bored through mine ears do import that Christ now becoming man gives up himself to be a willing servant of his father to obey him unto the death of the cross And it is a similitude taken from the servants of the Hebrews who after that they had served their masters six years would not depart out of their master's service the seventh year but abide in it continually until death for a testimony whereof their ear was bored thorow on the posts of the door as may be seen Exod. 21. 6. It is therefore as much as if he should say thou hast given me a body that is willing and ready in thy service even unto death But to conclude this head the Apostle speaking of disanulling the sacrifice of the Law he uses this word body to set out a sacrifice which should come in stead of the legal sacrifices to effect that which the legal sacrifices could not effect But Fourthly Observe that Christ our Mediator freely and readily offers himself to be our pledg and surety Then said I lo I come to wit as surety to pay the ransome and to do thy will O God Every word carrieth a special emphasis as 1. The time Then even so soon as he perceived that his father had prepared his body for such an end then without delay this speed implyeth forwardness and readiness he would lose no opportunity 2. His profession in this word said I he did not closely secretly timorously as being ashamed thereof but he maketh profession before-hand 3. This note of observation Lo this is a kind of calling Angels and men to witness and a desire that all might know his inward intention and the disposition of his heart wherein was as great a willingness as any could have to any thing 4. An offering of himself without any enforcement or compulsion this he manifesteth in this word I come 5. That very instant set out in the present tense I come he puts it not off to a future and uncertain time but even in that moment he saith I come 6. The first person twice expressed thus I said I come he sendeth not another person nor substituteth any in his room but he even he himself in his own person cometh All which do abundantly evidence Christ's singular readiness and willingness as our surety to do his father's will though it were by suffering and by being made a sacrifice for our sins God's will was the rule of Christ's active and passive obedience Jesus Christ our only Mediatour and surety by free and ready obedience and death did make a proper real and full satisfaction to God's justice for the sins of all the Elect. Christ hath by his death and blood as an invaluable price of our redemption made sure the favour of God the pardon of our sins and the salvation of our souls Christ hath freed his chosen from all temporal spiritual and eternal punishments properly so called so that now the mercy of God may embrace the sinner without the least of wrong to his truth or justice But Fifthly Observe that Jesus Christ our surety does not only agree with his father about the price that he was to lay down for our redemption but also agrees with his father about the persons that were to be redeemed and their sanctification Heb. 10. 10. By the which will that is by the execution of which will by the obedience of Christ to his heavenly father we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all Jesus Christ agrees with the father that all those shall be sanctified for whom he has suffered and satisfied The vertue efficacy and benefit of that which ariseth from the aforesaid will of the father and of the son is expressed under this word sanctified To pass by the notation and divers acceptations of this word sanctified let it suffice to tell you It is not here to be taken as distinguished from justification or glorification as it is else where taken but 1 Cor. 1. 30. cap. 6. 11. so as comprising under it all the benefits of Christ's sacrifice In this general and large extent it is sometimes Heb. 10. 14. cap. 2. 11. A◠26. 18. taken only this word sanctified here gives us to understand that perfection consisteth especially in holiness for he expresseth the perfection of Christ's sacrifice under the word sanctified which implyeth a making holy this Eccles 7. 31. was that special part of perfection wherein man was made at first and whereunto the Apostle alludeth where Eph. 4. 2◠he exhorteth To put on that new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness for this end Christ gave himself even unto death for his Church that he might sanctifie it The principal thing under this Eph. 5. 25. word sanctified in this place is that Christ's sacrifice maketh perfect in this respect Christ's sacrifice is here opposed to the legal sacrifices which could not make perfect So that Christ's sacrifice was offered up to do that which they could not do for this end was Christ's sacrifice surrogated in the room of the legal sacrifices now this surrogation had been in vain if Christ's sacrifice had not made us perfect if the dignity of his person that was offered up and his
understand it of the whole time of his manifestation in the world when he was sent forth as a Prophet to teach them and was declared evidently to be the son of God both by his miracles and ministry Joâ— 1. 14. and by that voice that was heard from heaven This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased Others do understand it of the day of Christ's Resurrection and with them I close for this seems to be chiefly intended partly because it seems to be spoken of some solemn time of Christ's manifestation to be the son of God and he was declared to be the son of God with power according to the Rom. 1. 4. spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead that is by the power and force of the Deity sanctifying and quickening the flesh he was raised from the dead and so declared mightily to be the son of God but mainly because the Apostle doth clearly affirm that this was in Christ's Resurrection He hath raised up Jesus again as it is also written in the second Psalm Thou art my son this Act. 13. 32 33. day have I begotten thee In the day of Christ's Resurrection he seems to tell all the world that though from the beginning he had been hid in the bosom of his father Jâ—h 1. 18. and that though in the Law he had been but darkly shadowed out yet in the day of his Resurrection they might plainly see that he had fully satisfied Divine Justice finished his sâ—fferings and compleated the Redemption of his Elect and that accordingly his father had arrayed him with that glory that was sutable to him Before the Resurrection the Godhead was veiled under the infirmity of the flesh but in the Resurrection and after the Resurrection the Godhead did sparkle and shine forth 2 Cor. 13. 4. very gloriously and wonderfully least the humane nature of Christ upon its assumption should shrink at the approach of sufferings God the father engages himself to give Jesus Christ a full and ample reward And to exalt him far above all principality and power and to put all things Eph. 1. 21 22. â—â—il 2. 9. Name is put for person and bowing of the knee a bodily ceremony to express inward subjection Estius 〈◊〉 under his feet and to make him head over all things to the Church And to give him a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and all because to give satisfaction to his father he made himself of no reputation and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross that is to his dying day He went thorough many a little death all his life long and at length underwent that cursed and painful death of the Cross upon which account the father rewards him highly by exalting him to singular glory and transcendent honour Look that as the assumption of the humane nature is the highest instance of free mercy so is the rewarding thereof in its state of exaltation the highest instance of remunerative justice Oh how highly is the humane nature of Christ honoured by being exalted to a personal union with the Godhead though vain men may dishonour Christ yet the father hath conferred honour upon him as Mediator that it may be a Testimony to us that he is infinitely pleased with the Redemption of lost man Although Christ be in himself God all-sufficient God blessed for ever and so is not capable of any access of glory yet it pleased him to condescend so far as to obscure his own glory under the veil of his flesh and state of humiliation till he had perfected the work of Redemption and to account of his office of Mediator and the dignity accompanying it as great honour conferred upon him by the father Jâ—l 8. 54. And it is observable that Christ having finished our Redemption on earth he petitions his father to advance him to the possession of that glory that he enjoyed from all eternity And now O father glorifie thou me Joh. 17. â— with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was Now for the clearing up of this Text we are to consider that as Christ was from all Eternity the glorious God the God of glory so we are not to conceive of any real change in this glory of his Jesus Christ is true God and was infinitely glorious from all eternity for he had glory with his father before the world was and therefore he was no upstart God and of a later standing as the Arians and Mahoâ—etans make of him Godhead as if by his estate of humiliation he had suffered any diminution or by his state of exaltation any real accession were made to his glory as God But the meaning is this That Christ having according to the paction past betwixt the father and him obscured the glory of his Godhead for a time under the veil of the form of a servant and our sinless infirmities doth now expect according to the tenour of the same paction that after he hath done his work as Mediator he be highly exalted and glorified in his whole person that his humane nature be exalted to what glory finite nature is capable of and that the glory of his Godhead might shine in the person of Christ God-man and in the man Christ Jesus Thus you see the promises the encouragements and rewards that God the father sets before Jesus Christ And let thus much suffice concerning the Articles of the Covenant on God's part In the last place let us seriously consider of the Articles of the Covenant on Christ's part and let us weigh well the promises that Jesus Christ has made to the father for the bringing about the great work of our Redemption that so we may see what infinite cause we have to love the son as we love the father and to honour the son as we honour the father and to trust in the son as we trust in the father and to glorifie the son as we glorifie the father c. Now there are six observable things on Christ's part on Christ's side that we are to take special notice of c. First Christ having consented and agreed with the father about our Redemption accordingly he applies himself to the discharge of that great and glorious work by taking a body by assuming our nature Heb. 2. 14. For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same He who was equal with God did so far abase himself as to take on him the nature of man and subjected himself to all manner of humane frailties so far as they are freed from sin even such as accompany flesh and blood and this is one of the wonders of mercy and love that Christ our head should stoop so low who was himself full of glory as to take part of flesh and blood that he might suffer for flesh