Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	divine_a	humane_a	suffering_n	3,220	5	9.4553	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A74987	The glory of Christ set forth in several sermons from John III.34, 35, 36 and V.25 : and The necessity of faith in order to pleasing God, from Hebrews XI.6 / by Mr. Thomas Allen, late pastor of a church in the city of Norwich.	Allen, Thomas, 1608-1673.; Finch, Martin, 1628?-1698.	1683 (1683)	Wing A1046; ESTC R43595	136,370	269

people righteous before God Christ was sent to fulfill the Law for his people by his Active and Passive obedience He came to do and procure all that is required to the compleat and perfect salvation of his people In a word Jesus Christ was sent into the World not meerly as a Prophet to teach the Mind and Will of God or to be an example of holiness but he was sent to be a Priest in a proper sense to make atonement and satisfaction for the sins of his people and to obtain eternal redemption for them Application Use 1. We may see here that the work of Redemption was a great work Not the highest Angel of Heaven nor all of them put together were able to perform this but God sent his Son about this work Use 2. We may see here that the heart of God the Father was in this great work of redeeming and saving the elect The Father himself loved them for he sent his Son he gave his only begotten Son that they might live through him Use 3. We may see here the love of Christ unto those that the Father had given him That he was willing to be their Mediator for as he is often said to be sent of the Father so he is said to come Heb. 10.7 Lo I come to do thy will O God Christ was so sent as that he came freely came with alacrity and chearfulness for his delight was with the Sons of men his heart was in this work Lastly Let this encourage sinners to come to Christ to venture their souls upon him Do not question whether God will accept of you by anothers righteousness discharge you by a payment made by a Surety deliver you from going down to the Pit upon a ransom given by another for all this was the contrivement of the Lord himself to glorifie both his Justice and his Mercy for ever Therefore let sinners cast themselves upon Christ and fear not this Rock will never fail that Soul that is built upon it I come now to the next words where it is said that Christ speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him Doct. 2. That Jesus Christ our Mediator hath the spirit given him by the Father without measure This is a great and glorious truth and very sweet and comfortable to the Saints that the Lord Jesus their Mediator hath a fulness of the spirit Psal 45.7 Anointed with the oyl of gladness above his fellows Christ hath the spirit above what any of the Saints have and see Isa 61.1 Isa 2.11 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of council and might the spirit of knowledg and of the fear of the Lord. And you have a visible fulfilling of those Prophecies John 1.32 And John bare record saying I saw the spirit descending from Heaven like a Dove and it abode upon him And so Acts 10.3 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed with the Devil for God was with him And in another place It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell All fullness of the Spirit all fullness of Grace dwells in Christ Three Things for the opening of this point 1. What is here meant by the Spirit 2. How the Spirit is said to be given to Jesus Christ seeing he is God How can any gift be said to be conferred upon him seeing he is God and infinite in himself 3. How it may be said that the spirit is given unto him without measure 1. What is here meant by the spirit 1. The Gifts and Graces of the Spirit these are given to Christ not by measure but without measure 2. The Spirit it self Luke 4.14 And Jesus returned in the power of the spirit full of the Holy Ghost Believers have not only the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit but the Spirit it self Rom. 8.9 If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his and the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you v. 11. And if the Spirit be in Believers and dwells in them much more in Christ himself 2dly How can Christ who is God and so infinite and uncapable of addition be said to have the spirit given unto him I answer briefly in a word or two It is true that Jesus Christ as God is infinite and as God he is not capable of having the spirit given unto him but the spirit was given unto Jesus Christ as man the spirit was given to his humane nature which he took upon him 3dly If the spirit was given to the humane nature of Christ how can the humane nature hold the fullness of the spirit the humane nature is finite how can it receive an infinite how then is it said that God hath not given the spirit by measure unto him I answer The expression in the Text is not to be understood without any limitation as if the Spirit were given to the humane nature of Christ in an infinite manner and as if the humane nature were of an infinite capacity the Divine nature of Christ is infinite but though the Divine and humane nature in Christ are eternally united yet they are not confounded This then I say that the spirit was given to the humane nature of Christ beyond all comparison beyond all the Saints on Earth or in Heaven and above all the Angels put them all together The spirit is given to Christ as man incomparatively and transcendently beyond what ever men or Angels have had or shall have It pleased the Father that in him all fullness should dwell which cannot be said of any other Object It is said that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man Luk. 2.52 How had he such a fullness of the Spirit and yet is said to increase in Wisdom I Answer The Word being made Flesh he was full of Grace full of the Spirit from his very birth but he is said to increase in Wisdom in respect of the effects and opperations expressions and declarations of his Wisdom One Question more How comes it to be so that the Lord Jesus is so filled with the spirit in his humane nature Answer 1. One reason is taken from the nearness of his humane nature to the Divine Brethren Jesus Christ is the Son of God the natural Son of God he hath the very essence of God the nature of God and the humane nature of Christ is brought very near to the God-head It is brought as near as our Bodies to our Souls and therefore it is said that in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily that is personally The Sun is the Fountain of light and the nearer we come to the Sun the more we partake of light so the humane nature of Christ being brought so near to the God-head as to be taken into

1.10 3. The Father hath shewn all the Benevolence or Beneficence to Christ as Mediator as possibly could be He hath filled him with the Spirit in our Nature as full as the Humane Nature can hold and as he is God manifest in the Flesh hath given all into his hand and hath put such honour upon him as Mediator that whatsoever his People ask in his Name it shall be given them and when he comes at the last Day to judge the World in our humane Nature he shall come in all the Glory of the Father with all his holy Angels Objection How did the Father love Chri●● with such an unspeakable transcendent Love seein● it is said He spared not his own Son but delivered him up to Death for us all Rom. 8 3● And it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hat● put him to grief Isai 53.10 It should seem 〈◊〉 this that he loved the Elect people more than Chris● seeing he laid their Iniquities upon Christ and a●pointed him to suffer for Sins the Just for the u● just that he might bring them to God Answer first In general Take notice Tha● the Gospel our Redemption by Christ is such a M●stery that except we be taught of God we sh●● stumble and cavil at it without end More particularly 1. Consider that all th● Christ suffered it was only in his humane Natur● His Godhead could not suffer the least thing 2. His Godhead backed and supported his H●mane Nature to endure the Cross and despise t●● Shame 3. It was but for a short time that the Humane Nature of Christ suffered 4. It was with his own Consent Lo I come to do thy Will O God Heb. 10.7 5. The Father had no Controversie with Christ he had done no evil neither was any guile found in his mouth all that Christ suffered was as a Surety 6. The Designe of God in not sparing his Son was not merely the Salvation of his People but to make known the Riches of the glory of his Wisdom Justice and Grace and so all this would well consist with his Love to the person of Christ 7. As a consequent of his Sufferings the humane Nature of Christ in which Nature only he Suffered is highly exalted and he in our Nature shall ●udge the world and be adored for ever Application Use 1. Seeing that Christ was so beloved of the Father and yet he suffered so much it may teach ●s that great Sufferings and Afflictions may con●st with the Love of God so long as there was no ●n inherently in Christ and that it was for the ●lory of God and was but for a time a short time ●ll this might consist with the Love of God There●ore let this comfort Believers under all their Afflictions and Sorrows in this Life Object May some poor Believer say If the Lord ●●ved me would he suffer me to be scandalized and ●●proached as I am I am evil-spoken of by many ●nd am the Song of the Drunkard I scarce know ●w to bear it Answ I pray consider how Christ endured ●e contradiction of Sinners They said He was a Deceiver and was mad they said he was a Glutton and a Winebibber they said he had a Devil yet still he was infinitely beloved of the Father Object Ay If I was afflicted but now and then I might hope that God might love me notwithstanding but I am seldom free of one Affliction or another Answer So it was with Christ while he was here in this world He was a man Sorrows Isa 53.3 yet beloved of the Father and so may you Object Ay But it is not only outward Afflictions that I bear but inward bitterness inward Sorrow Answ Christ went through that too Mat. 26.38 My Soul saith Christ is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Object Ay But this is that which makes me fear that I am none of the Lords because he hides his face from me at times that I have not sensible communion with him but in that respect he doth as it were forsake me Answ So it was with Christ for a time He cried out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27.46 Object Ay But I am followed with hideous temptations of the Devil such as I am afraid and ashamed to utter as to take away mine own Life and the like Answ Jesus Christ who was beloved of the Father above all He was tempted in all points as we are yet without Sin Heb. 4.15 Then the Devil taketh him up and setteth him upon a Pinacle of the Temple and saith unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down Mat. 4.5 6. Now as Christ was a Conqueror over all his Sufferings of every kind and lifted up his Head after all so shall Believers through him Christ after a short time sorrowed no more was tempted no more suffer'd no more in any kind and so it shall be with his people after a little time For the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living Fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Rev. 1.17 Use 2. Seeing God the Father loveth Jesus Christ with such a transcendent Love This may teach us what manner of Love the Father hath shewn in giving of his Son to be a Redeemer of his people 1 Joh. 4.9 In this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him Therefore you that are partakers of this Grace why should you fear the want of any thing whatsoever that the Lord seeth convenient for you He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up to Death for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 Therefore trust in the Lord for the supply of all your inward and spiritual wants and trust in the Lord for outward Mercies too Do not put forth your hands to any unrighteous ways for your subsistence but trust in the Lord that he will perform all things for you seeing he hath not spared his own Son but given him to dye for you All other Gifts are small in comparison of his giving his Son to be made a Curse for us Use 3. Seeing the Father loveth the Son in such a wonderful manner Then wo be to those that hate him 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha If any man love him not as he is the Son of God if any man love him not as Mediator if any man hearing this Jesus preached unto him doth not approve of this way of Salvation by Christ and doth deliberately reject him and put him away let him be cursed till the Lord come let him still remain under the curse of the Law and let him be cursed when the Lord cometh let him be put amongst those to whom Christ will say Depart from me ye cursed I

know that you are elected until you believe in Christ by this you may know your Election if the Gospel of the Grace of God come to your heart with such Power of the Holy Ghost as to draw and fix your heart to Jesus the Mediator Though God's Eternal Election be a great Truth which you may find of great use for your establishing in the Grace of God afterwards yet that which now concerns the convinced ●●●er is to cast himself upon Christ to belie●●● Christ and when you have received him 〈◊〉 are in a state of acceptation with God through him then you shall know in due time that this great Love of God towards you is not of yesterday but that he ordained and appointed you to obtain this Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord before the Foundation of the World was laid Use 4. This Doctrine concerning believing in Christ may teach us our great Blindness and Ignorance of the way of Life and Salvation until some Gospel-light shine upon us Men are more easily convinced that it is their Duty to pray to God and to live soberly and righteously than they are convinced of the necessity of going out of themselves to Christ that they may have Everlasting Life by believing on him The way of the Gospel is new and strange until the Holy Ghost convinces us of this way of Righteousness and Life Therefore study the Gospel study upon Jesus the Mediator hear him Preached and the Lord draw our hearts effectually unto Jesus Christ that so believing on the Son we may have the beginning of Everlasting Life here and the full enjoyment of it in Heaven SERMON II. John V. 25. Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live I Shall spend but a little time in the coherence of these words only take notice of two main things in this Chapter 1. A Narration of a great Miracle that Christ wrought in healing a man that had an infirmity thirty and eight years vers 8 9. 2. Christ's Apology that he made for himself against the Jews for what he had done It being upon the Sabbath-day that Christ healed the man they pretended that Christ had broaken the Sabbath Vers 16. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay him because he had done these things on the Sabbath-day The men of the world will always make some pretence to persecute Christ and his People but Christ Justifies his Action in making the man whole upon the Sabbath-day and though he might have Justified the act as being a work of mercy which may consist with the most strict observation of the Sabbath yet our Saviour vindicates himself upon a higher Ground and Reason namely by asserting his Divine Nature and God-head Saith he Vers 17. My Fath●● worketh hitherto and I work Therfore the Jews sought the more to kill him because he had not only broken the Sabbath as they Ignorantly thought he had done but said also that God was his Father making himself equal with God Our Saviour sheweth that the Father worketh upon the Sabbath-day in doing good shewing mercy and kindness yet with perfect rest in himself and so doth the Son He sheweth how he being the Son of God and equal with God doth co-operate with the Father in all his works which the Father doth Vers 20. yea and that as Mediator God-man the Father hath committed all unto him He raiseth Dead Bodies and he raises Dead Souls Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall Live In the 28. Vers Our Saviour speaks of his raising those that are dead in their Graves But in the Text he speaks of raising those that are dead in their Sins You have this great work of Christ in raising dead souls set forth by Four circumstances 1. By the Time when The hour is coming and now is 2. By the Means and way by which he would do this great work of raising dead Souls and that is by his voice The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live 3. By the Certainty of it I say unto you I that am the Truth 4. By an Attestation and Asseveration Verily verily It shall be so I attest it Verily verily I say unto you The Hour is coming and now is Christ did always gather and call and make alive the Elect people But the time was now come when he would send forth his Apostles to Preach amongst the Gentiles to gather the Elect people that were scattered abroad And therefore he saith The hour is coming and now is when the dead even amongst the Gentiles shall hear the voice of the Son of God and live And our Saviour speaks to the same purpose Joh. 10.15 16. I lay down my Life for the sheep And other sheep I have which are not of this fold which are not of the people of the Jews them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice Doct. That those that are spiritually dead dead in trespasses and sins by hearing the voice of the Son of God are made to live Ephes 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins that is the estate of all men by nature But Christ can make dead Souls alive He can do it by a word and as easily as we can speak a word You read of several that Christ raised up from bodily Death when he was here upon the Earth and he did it by speaking to them Mark 5.41 one was Jairus his Daughter And he took the Damsel by the hand and said unto her Tabitha cumi which is being interpreted Damsel I say unto thee arise And straightway the Damsel arose And the Widows Son Luk. 7.14 15. And he came and touched the Bier and they that bare him stood still and he said I say unto thee youngman arise and he that was dead sate up and began to speak And so Lazarus Joh. 11. when he had been dead four days vers 43 44. He cried with a loud voice Lazarus come forth and he that was dead came forth And as Christ raised up those that were bodily dead by his Voice by his Word So if he say the word if he say to one that is dead in sin Rise up Come forth the dead Soul shall live Verily verily the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live For the opening the Point 1. That by Nature we are Spiritually dead 2. What that Life is that Christ gives to dead sinners 3. What this Voice of the Son of God is by which dead sinners are made to live 4. What the Lord doth work upon those that are dead in sin when he makes them spiritually alive 5.