Psal 16.10 When it testified aforehand The sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow Yea Christ himselfe foretold the same Ioh. 20 9. Mar. 26.54 Matth. 20.18.19 saying They shall condemne him to death crucifie him and the third day hee shall rise againe Secondly in regard of those types that went before of his exaltation that should follow As that of Isaac being bound Gen. 22. yet not slaine That of Sampson Iudg. in carrying away the gates of the City by the which hee escaped the malice of his enemies Leuit. 16.5 Of the scape Goate and that of Ionas All which pointed at this thing Mat. 12.39 the exaltation of Christ Thirdly the Exaltation of the Lord Iesus was necessarie in respect of himselfe in regard of the dignity of his person Act. 2.24 being the Lord of life and of glory in which regard it was impossible he should bee holden downe of death And wherein might hee proue himselfe the Sonne of God more then by raising himselfe from the dead Fourthly hee was a Iust man and without sinne and in his death and fully satisfied the Iustice of his Father for sinne and therefore God could not keepe him in the prison of the graue for nothing Fifthly the Offices of Christ shewed the necessitie of his resurrection and this Exaltation of his 1. He must be the Euerlasting King of glory and of his kingdome there must be no end 2. He must be that high Priest for euer Psal 110 4 after the order of Melchisedech 3. Hee must be that Prophet that perpetually must teach and instruct his Church vntill the end of the world vntill we all meete in the vnity of faith and knowledge of the Sonne of God All which Christ could neuer haue beene had he abode still amongst the state of the dead And last of all Death which is the last enemie that is to bee destroyed had neuer beene destroyed nor vanquished had not Christ triumphed ouer death in the graue and rose againe Hitherto of the Reasons shewing the necessitie of the exaltation of Christ The fruites and benefits that arise from this Exaltation of Christ The benefits of Christs exaltation are diuers First this Exaltation of Christ doth assure vs of our Iustification from all our sinnes according to that of the Apostle Paul Christ dyed for our sinnes and rose againe for our Iustification God the Father deliuering vp his Sonne to death in our flesh hereby condemned sinne in the flesh Rom. 8.3 Euen so by letting him out of the prison of his graue which he did in this his glorious resurrection he did discharge him of that bond of obligation that lay against him and therein acknowledged himselfe to be fully satisfied For if Christ had not payed our full debt so as any one sinne had beene left behinde Christ could not haue risen from the dead the guiltinesse of that one sinne would haue kept him in the prison still of his graue and then had wee beene yet in our sins and so of all men most miserable But now Christ being risen from the dead 1 Cor. 15.17 and exalted on high God the Father declareth himselfe herein fully satisfied for our debts in the enlargement of our Suretie Secondly by this glorious resurrection and exaltation of Iesus Christ from the dead we come to haue part in the first resurrection which is to newnesse of life From the death of sinne to the life of grace for so saith the Apostle God which is rich in grace Eph. 2.4.5 euen when wee were dead in trespasses and sinnes hath he quickened together with Christ and hath raised vs vp together Col. 2.17 c. Againe And you being dead in your sinnes and the vncircumcision of your flesh hath hee quickened together with him hauing forgiuen you all your trespasses Againe Rom. 6.4.5 As Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father so wee also should walke in newnesse of life As it is a shame for the seruant to lye in bed when the master of the house is vp So Christ being risen it shall be our shame if we lye still asleep in sinne Know ye not saith the Apostle that so many of vs as are baptised into Iesus Christ Rom. 6.3 are baptised into his death And wee are buried with him by baptisme so as now if our sinnes bee brought into his graue they will not away and consume daily more and more as it doth with a dead carcasse lying in the graue Thirdly by this glorious resurrection and exaltation of the Lord Iesus we come to our assurance that these bodies of ours shall rise againe being members of Christ and liuing by the same Spirit that â—â—â—ed vp Christ from the dead For so saith the Apostle If the Spirit of him that raised vp Iesus from the dead dwell in you Rom. 8.11 he that raised vp Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortable bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Can the head and the members be seuered Seeing that Christ which is the head is raised from the dead no one of his members then can be left vnder the power of death His resurrection being full of power drawes after him all his members for so saith the Apostle 1. Cor. 15.20 21.22 Christ is risen from the dead and is made the first-fruites of them that sleep for since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead For as in Adam all dye euen so by Christ shall all be made aliue c. Nay to put it out of all doubt he hath carried vp our flesh into heauen as anearnest of the whole and is himselfe possest of that kingdome in the name of the whole body his Church What greater comfort then this to bee assured before wee go to lay downe our bodies in the dust that the Lord will raised them vp againe by his owne Almighty power and that howsoeuer they taste of corruption they shall not perish in corruption for that at the last day this corruptible shall put on incorruption 1. Cor. 1â— 53 and this mortall shall put on immortality And last of all Christs resurrection and exaltation on high at the right hand of his Father doth minister vnto vs a comfortable expectation of our owne glorification at the last day according to that petition of our Sauiour Father Ioh. 17.24 I will that those that thou hast giuen me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory For as a friend takes possession in anothers name and it is good in Law as if he had done it himselfe Euen so Christ in our name and in our stead hath entered into heauen and taken possession of that glorious and immortall kingdome not for himselfe alone but also for all his members that beleeue in his name which through Christ are as sure one day to bee put into the reall possession of the
ye and when they said Iesus of Nazareth Christ plainely affirmed and denyed not saying I am he Yea by how much the more he feared so lately in the Garden when Gods wrath was poured out vpon his soule and hee constrained to sweat water and bloud and to pray thus vnto his Father Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me By so much the more vndaunted is he when that soule-affliction of his is ouer to meet his aduersaries in the face that sought his life that so hee might accomplish the will of his Father And albeit the Maiestie of his word were such that when hee said Ioh 18. I am he the Souldiers that came to take him fell backwards to the ground And that hee was able as hee told Peter to command a legion of Angels if hee pleased Yet notwithstanding Christ suffers himselfe to bee led by them to bee carried to Pilate the Romane Iudge and when he comes before him what saith Paul 1. Tim. 6.13 He confessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate And when he came to the place where he was to suffer how doth he behaue himselfe but praying vnto his Father for his very enemies Father forgiue them Non compulsu patris sed consensu sui Bern. they wot not what they do And so readily and willingly resigneth vp his soule into the hands of his Father Not more by his Fathers command as with his owne voluntary consent Vse 1 Seeing then that Christ so readily and willingly did vndergo his death It may teach vs first of all to admire his loue towards sinners that thus willingly himselfe became a sacrifice for sinne This loue of Christ wee are neuer able to comprehend If Dauid in contemplation of Gods goodnesse towards man in the worke of Creation could say Psal â— 4 Lord what it man that thou hast such respect vnto him or the sonne of man that thou so regardest him O how much more haue we cause to cry out and say considering his wonderfull and vnspeakable mercy towards vs in the worke of Redemption Lord what is man 1. Ioh. 4.9 c. In this saith Saint Iohn appeareth the loue of God towards vs because he sent his onely begotten Sonne into the world It was the Lords manner of reasoning with Abraham Now I know thou louest me Gen. 22.12 because thou hast not spared thine owne sonne c. How much more haue wee cause to say Hereby we know the loue of Christ Iesus towards vs c. and to breake out with the Apostle Paul and say Rom. 9. O the deepnesse c. Vse 2 Secondly this loue of Christ towards vs thus willingly laying downe his life a ransome for vs should fire vs to an holy resolution to suffer any thing for his sake that hath suffered so great things for ours What are we that wee should think it much to part with goods name libertie and life it selfe for his sake who hath readily and willingly layed downe his life for our sakes Excellent was that resolution of Ignatius I value not my life at such a price that I should loue it more then my Lord. And being to bee deuoured by wilde beasts I am saith he Gods corne let me be ground between the teeth of the Lyons that I may be fit to make pure bread So shall I bee a true disciple of Christ And let euery Christian labour to get this resolution in his owne soule that neither tribulation nor distresse Rom. 8.35 nor persecution nor famine nor nakednesse nor perill nor sword c. can be able to separate him from the loue of Christ Vse 3 If Christ thus readily and willingly dyed for vs then there is no other satisfaction for sinne If men or Angels or any other creature if Masses or merits or any such like could haue satisfied the iustice of God then needed not Christ to haue suffered all these things at the hands of sinners But there is nothing in Gods account auaileable to put away sinne saue onely the death and suffering of the Lord Iesus And as a Lambe Here we haue the second part of the illustration as Christ is resembled vnto a Sheepe so hee is likewise vnto a lamb Which prophecie wee see fulfilled in Christ who being asked of the chiefe Priest and Elders the Text saith Hee answered them nothing Mat. 27. â—â— So meeke and quiet was Christ as a Lambe in his death And as a Lambe Christ may well be resembled vnto a Lambe in diuers respects 1. In regard of harmelesnesse no creature being of the like harmelesse disposition as a Lambe is 2. In regard of meeknesse and patience and in that respect especially is Christ here resembled vnto a Lambe And as in the whole course of his life so especially in his death according to that prophecie of old He did not cry Isa 42.2 nor lift vp nor cause his voyce to bee heard in the street Ier. 11.19 I was like a Lambe or an oxe that was brought to the slaughter 3. In regard it was that sacrifice that aboue all others doth most clearely point out Christ who is called the Lambe slaine Reu. 13. â— from the beginning The paschall Lambe aboue all other sacrifices in the Law was the clearest representation of Christ 1. The bloud thereof must bee first shed 2. Sprinkled vpon the doore-posts that so those families might escape the destroying Angell So is it the sprinkling of Christs bloud by the which the Lords wrath is appeased and we come againe to be reconciled vnto him 4. A Lambe was one of those cleane creatures in the time of the Law No creature is more free from pollution then the Lambe is his feeding is sweet and cleane delights not in mire and filth as the Swine doth Thus is it with Christ and thus is his holinesse and purity shadowed out vnto vs by the similitude of a spotlesse Lambe slaine from the beginning Seeing that Christ is thus resembled vnto a Lambe Vse in regard of his harmlesse disposition his meeknesse and patience In regard that by his bloud the destroying Angel passeth by vs as also in respect of that holinesse and purity of his nature This may serue to admonish vs. Wherein we are to imitate Christ as a Lambe 1. To labour to bee like vnto Christ in our sufferings that is that we put on vs the same mind that is with meeknesse and patience to suffer wrongs imprisonment disgrace from the world 1 Reu. 12.11 who suffered so many things for our sakes 2. That we get our hearts besprinkled with the bloud of Christ as the Israelites with the bloud of the Lambe and our consciences purified from dead workes to serue the liuing God whose bloud cleanseth vs from all sinne and frees vs from the wrath to come 3. And last of all that we bee holy as he is holy and rest onely vpon him who is our righteousnesse hauing in him all
admittance into the kingdome of heauen By that new and lining way which he hath prepared for vs through the veile that is his flesh Heb 10 19 20. Whereas in the sacrifice of the Masse there is no benefit at all to any of these vses And last of all this great worke that Christ hath wrought for vs should worke in vs thankfulnesse towards God there is nothing in all the world should affect our hearts more with thanksgiuing then this The common blessings that we receiue should at all times moue vs to thankfulnesse as our meat drinke c. but this aboue all Christs sufferings are the Christians treasure let our hearts be there and neuer let this worke of his be forgotten of vs. So opened he not his mouth Here we haue the reddition or application of the whole vnto the person of Christ that as the sheepe goeth vnto the slaughter and Lambe to haue his fleece shorne off so was it with Christ in the putting off of his tabernacle and laying downe of his life And herein hath left vs in his admirable patience of his an admirable paterne of patience and an example as the Apostle Peter saith of suffering affliction 1. Pet. 2.21 Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that we also should follow his steps who when he was reuiled reuiled not againe when he suffered Vers 23 he threatened not but committed it to him that iudgeth righteously Now should we thinke much to take vp his crosse and to follow him to suffer afflictions for his sake and for his Gospels sake that hath suffered so great things for vs. Shall we not bee content to loose a little nay all if need be seeing wee shall receiue an hundred fold Mat. 29. And what though we meet with mockings and scoffings at the hands of men say with Dauid It may bee that God hath bid him do it 2. Sam. 16.11 Num. 12 Mat. 11.29 Moses suffered Aarons and Miriams reproofe patiently Take my yoke vpon you saith Christ The greatest honour that can betide any of Gods children is to suffer for Christ Phil. 1.29 So Paul To you it is giuen not only to beleeue on him but also to suffer for his sake But of this before VERSE 33. In his humiliation his iudgement was taken away and who may declare his generations for his life is taken from the earth THe Spirit of God hauing spoken of Christs humiliation of his death and passion how he was smitten and afflicted of God his Father for our sinnes Now lest any should bee dismayed beholding nothing but his death and those vnsufferable sorrows he vnderwent and think that he was swallowed vp of these as the nature of man is to feare at such a spectacle Hee therefore comes here to shew the notable victory he got ouer these In his humiliation his iudgement was taken away The meaning is Christ hauing beene thus humbled and brought so low not willingly but voluntarily seeing he had power to resist hee could haue commanded legions of Angels to fight for him for by his owne word he made those that apprehended him to fall backward to the ground yet was he content to be humbled to the death And in this his humiliation so meeke and humble so perfect and so exceeding great His iudgement was taken away that is the sentence he vnder went by Pilate vnder whom he suffered was remoued For that it was impossible he should be held downe by death Act. 2.24 He was at last taken away from prison Isa 53 and from Iudgement for as Christ saith Ioh. 19.18 I haue power to lay downe my life and to take it to me againe And who shall declare The meaning is that now that he is deliuered and set at libertie from the graue and from death Pilats Iudgement being remoued and the bitternesse of death being ouer past Who shall declare That is who shall set forth or expresse to the sonnes of men the meaning is it is beyond all humane art and Science to demonstrate the number of his dayes the length of his life or the perpetuitie of his kingdome the exceeding glorious successe of his death and resurrection againe according to that of the Prophet Who can number his seed Isa 53.10 or measure his dayes For his life is taken from the earth That is he liues now no longer vpon earth a place of mortalitie but in heauen a place of immortality he layed downe his life that he might take it to him againe He was cut off from the land of the liuing not for his owne transgressions for his very Iudge pronounced him innocent Mat. 27.24 But hee was taken off for the transgressions of the people euen for those whom God had giuen him to redeeme by that death of his according to that of the Prophet For the transgressions of my people he was smitten Isa 53.8 9. And now his Iudgement being remoued and hee againe raised from the dead dyeth no more Death hath no more dominion ouer him for he indeed dyed vnto sinne or for sinne once but now liueth vnto God or for God The summe then of this verse is this That Christ so humbling himselfe and meekly submitting himselfe to death and the graue in the very depth of his humiliation he was extolled his iudgement remoued the bands of death broken and himselfe set at libertie And now being raised vp againe his life is euerlasting his dayes past numbring and his kingdome shall neuer haue an end And therefore no man can be found that is able fully to expresse his generation for his life is no longer on earth but in heauen He is no longer subiect to mortality but is he who onely hath immortalitie and shall enioy the same for euermore Thus of the sense of the words In his humiliation was hiâ— Iudgement c. The Spirit of God hauing spoken of the death of Christ and how he was afflicted of God his Father for our sinnes lest any should now thinke the state of the Church desperate and forlorne or that Christ was swallowed vp of these miseries He comes now to shew the happy victory hee got ouer them all And herein will teach vs Doct. As Christs death is cause of mourning Christs resurrection is cause of reioycing That to behold Christs death that he dyed for our sinnes and not to consider his resurrection will cause nothing but sorrow vnto vs. It is the consideration of his glorious resurrection That he arose againe for our Iustification that yeelds the most solid comfort vnto a Christian soule And hence is it that the Apostle Paul doth vsually ioyne these two together Christs death and Christs resurrection that as the one doth cast downe the other might raise vp as the one might cause vs to mourne the other might cause vs to reioyce So Paul Phil. 2.8.9 He humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the Crosse rests he
are set forth and represented vnto vs. First of all The diuers mysteries represented in baptisme our washing and clensing by the bloud of Christ according to that of the Apostle Christ loued his Church and gaue himselfe for it Eph 〈…〉 2â— that he might sanctifie it and clense it with the washing of water by the word According to his mercy hee saued vs by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost And againe Such were ye but ye are washed ye are iustified ye are sanctified Not simply by water but by the holy Ghost and the Spirit of our God Secondly our Mortification for so saith the Apostle Rom. 6 3. Know ye not that so many of vs as are baptised into Iesus Christ were baptised into his death And againe Being buried with him in Baptisme Col. 2 â— wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead That euen as the body being once dead hath in it no motion at all euer after to sin euen so such as are baptised into Christs death become as dead men in respect of sinne Thirdly herein is represented vnto vs our spirituall resurrection to newnesse of life â—ol 2 1â— We are risen with him And againe Rom. 6.4 We are buâ—ried with him by Baptisme into his death that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead by the glory of the Father euen so we also should walke in newnesse of liâ—â— For as Christs death is powerfull in all his members to their mortification of sinne So is his resurrection no lesse effectuall to their viuification and quickening to righteousnesse Fourthly herein and hereby our repentance is set forth for Baptisme is a Symbole of our regeneration for sinne and newnesse of life He came into all the countrey about Iordane Luk. â— 3 preaching the baptisme of repentance for remission of sinnes they were baptised of him in Iordane Mat. 3.6 confessing their sinnes And it is the counsell of the Apostle Peter that hee gaue vnto the Iewes Act. 2.38 Repent saith he and be baptised euery one of you in the Name of the Lord Iesus for the remission of siâ—nes And last of all through our Baptisme our vnion and communion is â—erein signified and represented vnto vs 1 Cor. 12 13. For by one Spirit we are all baptised into one body So that we must now grow vp together with Christ in holinesse So Peter 1. Pet. 3.21 The like figure whereunto euen Baptisme doth also now saue vs not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ Not with water but our consciences being sprinkled with the bloud of Christ So that in Baptisme is represented 1. Our sanctification 2. Our mortification 3. Our first resurrection 4. Our repentance from sinne 5. Our vnion and communion with Christ Which manifold fruits and benefits which accrue vnto euery true beleeuer through the reuerent vse of this sacred ordinance should teach vs to desire it and to prise the same at a high rate as the dearest pledge of Gods loue vnto his Church But doth Baptisme of it selfe conferre all these excellent gifts and graces to such as are baptised Quest No corporall thing properly can worke vpon a spirituall Answ The water in baptisme cleanseth not the pollution of sinne without the Spirit of Christ which in baptisme regenerateth the true beleeuer So that indeed all the worke of inward grace in and through this Sacrament of Baptisme comes properly from the holy Ghost For so saith the Apostle According to his mercy he saued vs by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the holy Ghost So that vnlesse the Spirit of God cooperate and worke together with the outward washing in water in Baptisme the soule remaines still polluted and the conscience defiled and the Sacrament profiteth not at all â— Cor. 12 1 By one spirit saith the Apostle we are all baptised into one body So that it is not water alone but the Spirit accompanying the outward washing that sets vs into the body of Christ by Baptisme The true materiall cause of all our good is the bloud of Christ the holy Ghost applying the same to the soule and conscience of euery true beleeuer VERSE 39. And as soone as they were come out of the water the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip And the Eunuch saw him no more and he went on his way reioycing WE haue in this Verse the happie fruite and effect that followed the ministery of Philip wherein are obseruable two things 1. That miraculous transportation of Philip. 2. The wonderfull ioy that followed First it is said that the spirit of the Lord tooke away Philip. After what manner were curiositie to enquire For as one faith well why should we with danger determine that that without danger we may be ignorant of It is sufficient for vs to know that the Lord hauing effected what was the good pleasure of his owne will in the Eunuchs conuersion he remoued his seruant to another place euen to Azotus to preach the word to another people as we haue it in the last verse of this Chapter Now it came not to passe but by the good prouidence of God that Philip in this strange and miraculous manner should be taken away at this time for herein and hereby the Lord would confirme this Nobleman in the truth that Philip had preached vnto him when he should now consider that he was sent from heauen by a diuine prouidence to instruct him in regard of that his strange and miraculous departure from him Wherein we may take notice Doct. of the wonderfull loue of God towards his people The Lord would haue his seruants setle in the truth that he would not haue them wauer or bee doubtfull in the weightie matter of their saluation but he would haue them to bee grounded and stableshed in the truth and hence is it that the Lord would haue this Eunuch setled in the faith by this miracle that hee wrought Thus he was pleased to confirme his Gospell at the first by miracles from heauen that men might see that it was not from men but from God as our Sauiour saith The works that I do beare witnesse of me And with those signes and wonders we ought to rest satisfied and not to looke for new ones daily as the Church of Rome doth to confirme so cleare a truth For thus to doe were but to calâ— the truth againe into question and to require signes from heauen as the Iewes did We will bee content that the Popish Imposture should bragge and boast of their Miracles as their Straw miracle at Garneis death not worth a straw the miracles daily done by the reliques of some of their he Saints and she Saints this they bragge and boast of this they make a Marke of the true Church