7 25. The life and kingdome and glory of Christ are destinated to this end as their scope the salvation of the beleevers not onely by his kingly power but by execution of his preistly office in glory making requests for us thus the Apostle comforts the Elect of God beleeving in Christ Rom. 8 33. 34. Against feare of condemnation yea of accusation to secure them of salvation And to lay the comfort downe in the best force of it whereas the direct opposition is of accusation and Christs patronage or intercession of condemnation and Gods justification but hee makes a traiection willing to fence Gods Children from the toppe to the bottome and to arme them with such confidence as may chase away to the furthest anxieties feares Hee gathers more emphatically that they are not obnoxious to any accusation of guiltinesse that may hurt them before God by Gods justifying of them then by Christs intercession for the way to judgement is shut up aforehand when the judge hath pronounced them just and guiltlesse clearing them from all faults that any would lay to their charge And so in the second opposition It is not to bee feared that they should bee condemned for whom Christ by his death hath satisfyed divine justice and expiated their sinnes to prevent that judgement of God and by his intercession not onely abolished death but brings their sinnes to bee forgotten so as never to come into account How doth Christ make intercession now for us being in heavenly glory in his humiliation hee prayed for us Iohn 17 20. For all which shall beleeve in him through the word of the Apostles doth he so now Being our high Priest it is his office still to pray for us as it were by name whereof the high Priest under the Law was a type who going in to the most holy place had by appointment the names of the Children of Israel in the names of the tribes under the heads were all contained So answering to the type Christ is entred into the true holy place into the very heavens within the veile Heb. 6 20 and 9 24. Not in his owne name onely but in the name of every particular beleever Exod. 28 12 Hee shall beare the names of the Children of Israel before the Lord upon his shoulders for a remembrance that hee might remember them to Godward and for this there were two Onix stones set and imbossed in gold and in either stone sixe names graven according to the names of the Children of Israel He had also in his Brest plate foure rowes of stones three in every row with the names of the twelue tribes to beare them upon his heart when hee goeth into the holy place I doe not say I will pray for you Christs intercession considered whether as vocall The praying of Christ in heaven may bee understood this presenting his humane nature assumed unto unitie of person with the Sonne of God unto his father for that end to save his A body hast thou ordained me By the which will we are saved by the offering of the body of Christ. 2. Setting his merit of obedience to the Law and crosse in the sight of God for remembring him of them whom hee hath reconciled Though God suffers not oblivion of those whom he hath justifyed yet thus Christ mediates for them still by presenting to God his sacrifice his obedience for them with the everlasting vigor and merit of it 1 Iohn 2 2. 3. As God declaring his will as man desiring of God that as his sacrifice is of a sweete savour so they that beleeve in him may be such by the merit of it in his acceptance he delightes in them his love and pleasure is in them 4. And as the incense and sweete perfume ascended and gave a sweete smell so the workes and specially the prayers and prayses of the faithfull through the odour of his sacrifice and the intercession of Christ are sweete to God Thy voice is sweete Cant. 4. How much better is the savour of thine oyntments than all spices Thy lipps droppe honie combes and thy plants are as an Orchard of Pomegranets and sweete fruites and with all the cheife spices in themselves they are not so sweet but in Christ who obtaines by his intecession pardon of the corrupt mixture as the high Priest having on his forehead a plate of pure gold with this graven in it Holinesse to the Lord that hee might beare the iniquitie of the offerings which the Children of Israel should offer in all their holy offerings to make them acceptable before the Lord Exod. 28 36. 38. 2. As Christ saveth by his merit so hee saveth by his Spirit and efficacie application of his merit It is required that unto the enjoying of benefits purchased by Christ we bee first partakers of and possessed of himselfe Here is the comfort of a soule that the testimonie of God is within it so as it can truly say my beloved is mine We must bee in Christ before hee bee to us that which hee is made of God 1 Cor. 1 30. Hee is the Saviour of his body Ephes. 5 As the woman is first possessed of the person of her husband and thereby becometh partaker of his dignitie and riches The promise of blessednesse is made to Abrahams seed not seedes That is Christ Gal. 3 16. We must be parts of Christ as the seed before wee bee blessed v. 29. Vnto this 〈…〉 ion with Christ there bee certaine joynts and bands Coloss. 2 19. As the members of the body are tyed to the head These bands by which the Elect are tyed to Christ are the Spirit and faith Children that cannot actually beleeve are united to him as to their head by an unspeakeable way by his Spirit so as they are of his body of his flesh and bones one spirit with him Ephes. 5 30. 1 Cor. 12 13. They that are of yeares and capable of faith are knit unto him by the Spirit and faith To both Christ is given of God Who is the gif◠of God in two respects 1. As hee was sent into the world to worke our redemption so God loved the world that hee gave his Sonne Iohn 3. and Rom. 8. Hee gave him for us all to death Secondly particularly unto union with us that is in our calling by the first our redemption was wrought by the second wee enjoy him and all things with him Rom. 8 32. And this gift of Christ is the cause why God first before wee seeke it giveth us faith By his merit and on his behalfe it is given us to beleeve in him as also to suffer for his name Philip. 1. And because we cannot beleeve unlesse wee be chosen to it faith is of Gods Elect the Election being in Christ. For execution of the decree saith is given to them that are given him as the hand to take hold of him as the mouth to take him in to dwell in us for life and nourishment
Iohn 18. 6. Hee saith to Peter that if he would bee delivered hee could obtaine of his Father more than twelve Legions of Angels and we reade of one Angell that in a night sâ—ote an hundred fourescore and five thousands that became dead corpses He saith Ioh. 10. 18. that his life was so in his own power that none could take it from him if hee would resist Secondly hee is said to powre out his soule unto death which is more than simplie to dye it is from his heart and of his owne will to give himselfe to death Isay. 53. 12. which appeares in his expression of a great desire to dye for mans salvation Luke 12. So How am I straitned till it be accomplished Which hee expressed also in his desire to eat the last Passover with his Disciples before his death Luke 22. 15. when he was upon the Crosse at his time of his owne will when hee would conserve his bodily nature no longer in vigour he bowed his head and gave up the ghost dyed sooner than they that were crucified with him and so soone as Pilate not knowing the mysterie marveiled at it as extraordinary and the Centurion obserâ—ing his yeelding up the ghost instantly upon a lowde cry concluded that surely hee was the sonne of God There was some thing divine in him for when men breath their last commonly they utter either none or a very weake and low voyce Thirdly hee died in love and obedience to his Father laid downe his life as he had received commandement of his Father Iohn 10 18. So his Father is said to deliver him to death for us all Rom. 8 32. First ordaining his passion for mans salvation Hee is said to have beene delivered by the determinate counsell and foreknowledge of God Act. 2 23. and Herod Pilate the gentiles and people of Israel are said to do what his hand and counsell determined before to be done Act. 4 28. This way in which God declared his wisedome to bee just in the forgiving of sinnes Rom. 3 25 26. And to set forth his bountifulnesse love and mercie to man in appointing a satisfier for him was ordained before the world unto our glory 1 Cor. 2 7. Secondly though as God hee delivered himselfe to death with the same will action with his Father yet as man his Father inspired the willingnesse and love of which he yeelded himselfe to leath for it was repugnant to his naturall will whereby hee declared some desire to decline it Abba Father â—l things are possible to thee take away this cuppe from mee Yet submitted himselfe to his Fathers will neverthelesse Not what I will but what thou wilt God so made him for a little time inferiour to the Angels for suffering of death Heb. 2. 9. and that the world might see how hee loved his Father and as hee commanded him so hee did even went to meet the Prince of the world comming to him having nothing in him and in this respect hee is called Gods servant the Chosen of God to raise up the tribes of Iacob to restore the preserved of Israel to bee a light to the Gentiles his salvation to the end of the earth Isayaâ— 49. 6. In which service hee employed himselfe and tooke the forme of a servant assumed our nature to unitie of person for the worke of the mediatorship and became obedient to the death even the death of the crosse According to the will of his Father fulfilling the ceremoniall Law in his sacrifice and the morall in fulfilling all righteousnesse by the which will of God wee are sanctified through the offering of the body of Iesus Christ once for all Heb. 10 9 10. Fourthly hee died of his owne love to man Pro. 8 31. Whose delights were with the sonnes of men hee gave his life for his friends in the greatnesse of his love Iohn 15 13. So his love is set before the gift of himselfe for us Gal. 2. 20. To wash us from our sinnes in his blood to make us kings and Priests to our God Revel 1. 5. As his Father loved him and appointed him to be the mediator in whom whosoever were received into favour should bee received and no otherwise so hee loved us and gave himselfe a ransome for us that the Father might love us with the love wherewith he loved him and that love also bee in us Iohn 17 23 24 26. It was expedient that his death should bee voluntary First for mans justification that as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one many might bee righteous as wee were sinners in Adam by imputation of his disobedience before wee had inherent sinne so in Christ by faith wee might bee righteous by imputation of his obedience before wee have inherent righteousnesse as sinne reigned unto death even over theÌ„ that sinned not after the similitude of Adams transgression so grace may reigne through righteousnesse by Iesus Christ unto eternall life Rom. 5 14 19 21. Thus was Adam the figure of Christ. Thus was Christ Gods righteous servant in his obedience righteous in himselfe and the righte ousnesse of them that effectually know him Esay 53 11. Secondly it was expedi ent for his sacrifice that his death should bee in obedience not onely for innocencie not to need to offer for himselfe as the priests of the Law did Heb. 7 26 27. But because obedience with God is more than all burnt offering and sacrifice this being the obedience of such a person being the Sonne hee learned obedience in the things which hee suffered The Lord of the Law willingly submitting himselfe to the Law it did greatly please God His sacrifice was a sweete smelling savour Ephes. 5 2. His father loved him because he laid downe his life for his sheepe such as were given him of his Father Thirdly it was meete also for his victory that his death should bee in obedience and voluntary that as death and the Divell who had the power of it reigned by disobedience so hee by obedience might overcome and tryumph in his Crosse where hee shewed obedience hee spoiled principalities and powers disarmed them and made a shew of them openly and tryumphed over them so they have no more power to accuse them that are in Christ or to require them of Gods justice to punishment for their disobedience Sinne is put out of authoritie in the flesh of Christ and the whole right of the Law fullfilled in them that walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8 3 4. Because Christs obedience or righteousnesse which is reall and inherent in him is so imputed to them as if they had done it themselves Which well knowne and digested may be a great encouragement to come to Christ for salvation seeing hee gave himselfe so willingly and with such great desire to death in obedience to his Fathers will to save the world by him and salvaton being
personall and particular Rom. 12 4 6 8. That it may bee said it appertaines unto us Luke 12 14. Man who made me a judg or a divider over you Lest wee in curre blame of curiositie Iohn 21 22 What is that to thee Of busy bodies in other mens matters 1 Thess. 4 11. 1 Tim 5 13. 1 Pet. 4 15. Or into daunger out of which we hardly can tel how to deliver our selves Prov. 26 17. If wee walke in our calling and trouble befall us yet our conscience will comfort us But if medling out of our calling wee meete with knockes we have the blame laid upon us even by our consciences and by men of common light Wee have no assurance to bee in safetie 2 Sam. 6 7 Vzzah was smitten of God in such a case even with death and many of Bethâ—hemesh even 50000. and 70. Because they looked into the Arke 1 Sam. 6 19. Which was not lawfull but for Aâ—ron and his sonnes who must appoint others what to doe Numb 4 19. 20. Vzziah smote hee with leprosie for medling with the Priests office 2 Chron. 26 16 18. It perteineth not to thee Vzziah to burne Incense c. Thou shalt have no honour of the Lord God While he was wroth with the Priests the Leprosie rose in his forehead and hee remained a leper and dwelt in his house apart unto the day of his death The sonnes of Sceva who tooke upon them to adjure evill spirits by naming over them that had them the name of the Lord Iesus were forced to flee away naked wounded with this rebuke from the evill spirit by the man Iesus I acknowledge and Paul I know but who are you The man was carried by the Divell in him by Gods permission to use such strength as seaven young men were overcome to their great shame hurt and it fell out to much advantage of the Gospell as appeares in the chapter The Sonne of man 9. Why so called Dverse judge diversly Some that hee would bee so called that he might shew that hee was that Messiah which the Prophets foretold should take the nature of man whom Daniel called the Sonne of man Dan. 7 13. Theodoret in Dan. 7. Others that it is as if hee called himselfe the Sonne of Adam as drawing his kinde from Adam by the virgin not having any man to his father Nazianzen Others to declare the great benefit of his incarnation for us Aug de consens Euang. l. 2. c. 1. Commendans nobis quid misericorditer dignatus sit esse pro nobis Or because hee was also the Sonne of God hee would hereby distinguish the natures one from another Others to signifie that hee was indeed as hee shewed conversing among men verie man 9. Why Ezechiel onely in particular in the old and Christ in the new testament bee so called Come What. The comming is thus sent of the Fathers love to be the mediatour to reconcile God and man he tooke mans nature into unitie of person of the Sonne of God to performe the office of the mediatour to bring man againe to God To seeke This is the first end of Christs comming to seeke that which is lost Ezech. 34 11 12 16. Hee justifieth his compassion and humanitie to Publicans and Sinners by the practise of men that having an hundred sheepe leave all to seeke one that is lost wandered from the flocke and a woman seeking one gâ—oat with diligence though she have nine left And the joy of a father at the returne and finding of his lost sonne Luke 15. This seeking for lost soules is truly noted in Christs going about all their Cities and townes preaching and teaching the Gospell of the kingdome Math. 9 35. In taking opportunities as they fell out to informe men in the truth not contemning the vilest as the woman of Samaria that lived a whore with one that was not her husband his Disciples marveiled at it whether at his humilitie therein as some thinke or by reason of the basenesse of the woman which was blameable considering themselves from what and whereunto his favour had taken and exalted them but by occasion hee makes his end knowne That is out of great desire and great sweetnesse and delight to take all opportunities of conversion of men and that by two similitudes one by their desiring him to take meat to which he answers he hath meate alreadie that they knew not of and declares what he meant they not understanding inquire about some bringing him meat stil minding meat for his body w c they saw to bee needefull for strength to goe on with his worke hee declares it is the opportunitie present of doing his Fathers will And the sauce to that meat is gathering of the scattered Children of God Hee waited for the issue of his conference with the woman in her bringing of the Samaritans which was they beleeved in a double degree by her report to teachablâ—es by their hearing him to setlednesse The other similitude is from harvest that something obscured by some interpreters yet tends to the same thing Some as if it were proverbially you that is it is usually said there are foure monthes to the harvest as if haste needed not otherwise why doth our Lord say you say yet foure monthes to the harvest Here present occasion requires diligence the regions are white unto the harvest yet that seemes more to bee his meaning as harvest admits not stay but when it is ripe put in the sickle in another sense but agreeing about ripenesse and then putting in the sickle He is said to see men before hee call them as hee saw Matthew at the receit of custome Math. 9 9. Nathaniel under the Figtree before Philip spake a word to him of Christ Iohn 1. 48. His seeing in this kind is not occasionall but of purpose seeking the particulars of the election You have not chosen me But I have chosen you c. Iohn 15. He seekes the elect by the scriptures by his ministers by internall motion either of Anâ—gels or immediate of the Spirit by benefits long suffering by rebuke By corrections so he sought Manasseh So the prodigall is noted to bee brought home Thus Iob 33 He openeth the eare by corrections thus he seekes men unto conversion the coÌ„verted to repentance Because he is sent to this That nothing given him should be lost To admonish us of our naturall state to take true notice of it Wee though extremely miserable were not carried with any care of our owne freedome wee sought not God Psal. 14 2. Wee went astray every one after his owne way Esay 53 6. We have turned every one to his owne way of this more in that hee came to the lost Wee sought not Christ till hee lookt after us to recover us from our state of losse Esay 65 1. We thought not of returning to God so much as by dreame Wee are therefore to give all the prayse of our illumination to see our