Prodromus he was 2. That Christ himself might be anointed or installed to his Function Isa 61.1 2. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to Preach good tidings unto the meek c. As Aaron and his Sons were anointed with material Oyl when they entred into their Offices so Christ was by the Spirit as it were anointed that so he might receive this Consecration and Institution for the Office that he was to enter on viz. the Preaching and Ministry of the Gospel 6. Upon what account was it that the Holy Ghost should reveal himself at this time and why in form of a Dove rather than some other form To the first I answer the Holy Ghost now revealed himself because the Spiritual Kingdom and Scepter of Christ in and by which he was to rule all Nations for ever was now at hand Dr. Lightf Harm of the Evang. It was agreeable saith my Author that the spiritualness of this Kingdom should be sealed and confirmed by the Holy Spirits shewing himself even in the beginning of it The carnal Rites of Moses were now to vanish and his Corporal and Ceremonial Observances were now to be changed into a Spiritual Worship and neither at Jerusalem or at Mount Gerazim nor elsewhere must there be any more adoration with fleshly and earthly Ceremonies John 4.21 24. but he that will Worship God must worship him in Spirit and Truth and therefore it is no wonder if now the Holy Ghost doth reveal himself I say now when his Spiritual Dominion by sanctification is to begin Secondly Because the Holy Ghost was now in especial manner to be restored again Some observe that he was visibly departed from Israel after the Death of the last Prophets and therefore now at his restoring he comes in a visible and apparent form and he lights on him to whom it belongs to give the Spirit and his gifts to whom he pleaseth As John had preached that Christ should baptize with the Holy Ghost so now the Holy Ghost comes and abides on Jesus Christ in the sight of John as if the Father should have said Now I seal that Power and Priviledge to Christ my Son which John hath spoken now the Holy Ghost is upon himself and hereafter he shall baptize others with the same Holy Ghost Thirdly Because at the beginning of the Gospel it was most sutable that a full clear and sensible demonstration of the whole Trinity should be made The Learned observe that the Holy Ghost in Scripture hath a special regard to express this Mystery of the Trinity upon singular occasions so the very first thing that is taught in all the Bible Gen. 1.1 2 3. is this same Mystery In the Begining God Created there is the Father and God said there is the Word or the Son and the Spirit of God moved there is the Holy Ghost And the very first word of the Bible that speaks of a man it holds out the Trinity as creating him and God said Let us make Man in our own Image he saith let us to shew the Trinity of persons Gen. 1.26 and he saith in our Image not in our Images to shew the Unity of Essence And when Moses begins to rehearse the Law to Israel the first thing he teacheth them is the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity Hear O Israel the Lord our God Deut. 6.4 the Lord is one The last word One denotes the Unity the three words the Lord our God answer the three Persons and the middle word our God deciphers fitly the second Person who assumed our Nature how fit then was it that at the beginning of the new world and the new Law and the Baptism of Christ the three persons should be revealed especially since he ordained Baptism to be admitted in all their names Baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son Mat. 28.19 and of the holy Ghost But where is it revealed see Mat. 3.16 17. where the Father speaks from Heaven the Son comes out of the water and the holy Ghost appears in the likeness of a Dove This was the greatest meeting that ever was upon the earth every person of the Trinity gives some sensible evidence of his presence at it To the second why in the form of a Dove rather than some other form Many reasons are given as 1. To shew Christs innocency purity simplicity charity and love 2. To shew what innocency and harmlesness should be in those that are baptized 3. To answer the Figure in Noahs Flood for as a Dove at that time brought tidings of the abatings of the waters so now it brings tidings of the abating of Gods wrath upon the preaching of the Gospel the first Dove we find in the Bible is Noahs Dove with the Olive-Branch in her Bill proclaiming peace the next is Davids Dove with Feathers silver-white as noteing sincerity then Esays Dove mourning with her voice as signifying patience and lastly Christs Dove innocent and harmless now all these properties meet in this Dove the Spirit of God Much more might I add to these but I desire to hasten to some more edifying truths From this Baptism of Christ we may learn a practical necessary Truth Vse There is a Generation that cries down Baptism of water and upon this score because they suppose it was proper to John to Baptise only with water and to Christ to Baptise only with the holy Ghost and with fire Indeed Christ in his own person Baptized none otherwise but with the holy Ghost immediately after his Ascension he sent his Spirit upon the Church and baptized them with fire the spirit appearing like a flame and to this day though not visibly he Baptizeth all his Saints with the Holy Ghost and with fire but for all this he appointed John and not only John but all his Apostles and their Successors for ever to Baptise with water and they did so and yet do so obeying the preceptive words of Christ which are almost the last words that he spake upon the earth And though Christ did not Baptize with water yet Christ himself we see here was Baptized with water he himself enters at that door by which his Disciples must for ever follow after him and indeed therefore he went in at that door of Baptism that he might hallow or sanctifie the entrance which himself made to the house he was now a Building And for the difference they make betwixt Christ's Baptism and John's Baptism what 's this to the purpose we all know that in Baptism are two parts the outward part and the inward part you may call them if you please the outward Baptism and the inward Baptism the outward Baptism is of the Minister but the inward Baptism is of Christ But must we separate these or rather Joyn them if these in ordinary must be joined as we find them in Christ Mark 1.4 and as we desire they may
rich mercy of Christ that he would admit a Dog to his Kingdom O grace O mercy that Christ should black his fair hands in washing foul and defiled Dogs what a motion of free mercy was this that Christ should lay his fair spotless and chast love upon the black defiled and whorish souls O what a favour that Christ maketh the Leopard and Ethiopian white for Heaven Matth. 16.19 4. Now he discovered his bounty in giving the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven to his Apostles and to their Successors this was a power which he had never communicated before it was a gift greater than the great Charter of Nature and the Donative of the whole Creation Indeed at first God gave unto man a dominion over the Fish of the Sea Gen. 1.26 and over the Fowl of the Air and over the Cattel and over the Earth but till now Heaven it self was never subordinate to humane Ministration herein was the acting of Christ's bounty he gives unto his Ministers the Keys of Heaven that Whatsoever they shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever they shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven 5. Now he discovered his patience in suffering all injuries from hence forward to the death of Jesus we must reckon his dayes like the Vigils or Eves of his Passion for now he began and often did ingeminate those sad predictions of the usage he should shortly find Matth. 16.21 that he should be rejected of the Elders and chief Priests and Scribes and suffer many things at Jerusalem and be killed and be raised up the third day and in the mean time he suffers both in word and deed they call him a Glutton a Drunkard a Deceiver a Sinner a Mad-Man a Samaritan and one possed with a Devil sometimes they take up stones to stone him and sometimes they lead him to an Hill thinking to throw him down headlong and all this he suffereth with patience yea with much patience he possesseth his soul 6. Now he discovered his glory in being transfigured on the Mount however the Person of Christ was usually depressed with poverty disgrace ignominy so that neither Jews nor Gentiles nor the Apostles themselves could at first discern the brightness of his Divinity yet now Christ gave an excellent probation of that great Glory which in due time must be revealed to all the Saints For taking with him Peter James and John Luke 9.28 29 30 31. he went up into the Mountain to pray and while he prayed he was transfigured before them and his face did shine like the Sun and his garments were white and glistering and there appeared talking with him Moses and Elias speaking of the decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem the embassie of Christs death was delivered in forms of Glory that so the excellency of the reward might be represented together with the sharpness of his sufferings Now if ever whiles he was upon Earth was the beauty of Christ seen at height Peter saw it and was so ravished at the sight that he talked he knew not what In respect of this glorious beauty his face is said to shine like the Sun I cannot think but his shine exceeded Sun and Moon and Stars but the Sun is the brightest thing we know and therefore it is spoken to our capacity Here 's one strain of exaltation though mostly all Christ's life was a state of humiliation it learns us to be content with yea to expect most humiliation little exaltation here we may have a taste but no continued comforts till we come to Heaven 7. Now he discovered his meekness in riding upon an Ass and a colt the foal of an Ass which was according to the Prophesie Behold thy King cometh unto thee meek Math. 21.5 and especially in rebuking the furious intemperate zeal of James and John who would fain have called for fire from Heaven to have consumed the Inhabitants of a little Village who refused to give Christ entertainment Ah saith Christ Luke 9.55 Ye know not of what spirits ye are of q. d. you must learn to distinguish the spirit of Christianity from the spirit of Elias why Christ came with a purpose to seek and to save mens lives Ver. 56. and not to destroy them it were rashness indeed to slay a man on some light displeasure whose redemption cost the effusion of the dearest heart-blood of the Son of God See here the meekness of Christ in opposition to the fury and anger of his own Disciples 8. Now he discovered his pity and compassion in weeping over Jerusalem Luke 19.41 42. And when he was come near he beheld the City and wept over it saying if thou hadst known even thou c. We read of Joseph Gen. 43.30 Gen. 45.1 that there was in him such a brotherly and natural compassion that his bowels yearned upon his Brethren and he could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him his love was like an hot Furnace now Jesus Christ hath the same heart and bowels of a man and I conceive as Christ was a man void of sin so the acts of natural vertues as to pity the afflicted to compassionate the distressed were stronger in him than possibly they could be in any other man sin blunteth natural faculties especially such as incline to laudable and good acts as to love and pity and compassionate the miserable in this respect Joseph was nothing to Christ when Christ saw Jerusalem he wept and wept his compassion strangled and enclosed within him it must needs break out it may be in some measure it eased Christ's mind that his bowels of mercy found a vent we read that pity kept within Gods bowels pains his very heart so that it must needs come out Mine heart is turned within me Hos 11.8 my repentings are kindled together 9. Now he discovered his humility in washing his Disciples feet Supper being ended Joh. 13.4 5. he laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself and poured water into a bason and began to wash his Disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded In this ceremony and in the discourses following he instructs them in the Doctrine of humility yea he imprints the lesson in lasting Characters by making it symbolical But why would he wash their feet rather than their hands or heads I answer it is probable on this account that he might have the opportunity of a more humble posture See how he layes every thing aside that he might serve his servants Heaven stoops to Earth on abiss calls one another the miseries of man which were next to infinite are excelled by a mercy equal to the immensity of God It is storied of one Guericus that upon the consideration of this humility of Christ in washing his Disciples feet he cried out Thou hast overcome me O Lord thou hast overcome my pride this example hath mastered
Mary yea seek and weep and weep and seek and never rest satisfied till Christ appear If thou art but in the use of means he will appear sooner or later or what if thou never sawest a good day on earth one sight of Christ in heaven will make amends Surely if thou knewest the joy of Christ's presence thou wouldst run through death and hell to come to Christ it was Paul's saying I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is far better Phil. 1.23 he cared not for death so he might go to Christ for that was better than very life it self 2. Muse on his Apparition to the Ten Disciples John 20.19 When the doors were shut for fear of the Jews then came Jesus and stood in the midst saying to them Peace be unto you Before his Apparitions sorrow and fear had possessed all their spirits sometime they walked abroad and were sad and sometimes they kept within and shut the doors upon them as being exceedingly afraid In this condition Jesus Christ that knows best the times and seasons of grace and comfort comes and stands in the midst of their Assembly he comes in they know not how and no sooner he is in but he salutes them in this manner Peace be unto you This was the prime of all his wishes no sooner is he risen but he wisheth peace to all his Apostles no sooner meets he with them but the very opening of his lips was with these words they are the first words at the first meeting on the very first day A sure sign that peace was in the heart of Jesus Christ howsoever it is with us peace or war there is a Commonweal where Christ is King and there is peace and nothing but peace come sift try and examine art thou O my soul a member of this body a subject of this Common-weal hath the influence of Christ's peace wrought and declared at his resurrection any force on thee hast thou peace with God and peace within and peace without dost thou feel that ointment poured upon Aaron's head and running down to the skirts of his garments dost thou feel the dew of Hermon and the dew that descends upon Mount Sion dropping as it were upon thy heart doth the spirit assure thee that Christ the Prince of peace hath made peace and reconciliation betwixt God and thee betwixt the King and thee a rebel to his Crown and dignity Isa 52.7 O how beautiful upon the mountains would the feet of him be that should publish peace that should bring these good tydings that thou art a Citizen of that Jerusalem Psal 122.3 where God is King and Christ the Prince of peace where all the buildings are compact together as a City that is at unity within it self 3. Muse on his Apparition to all the Apostles when they were all convened and Thomas with them This Apparition was occasioned by Thomas's incredulity except said he I see in his hands the print of the nails John 20.15 and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe Now therefore saith Jesus to Thomas Ver. 27. Come reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing Methinks I see Thomas's finger on Christ's boared hand and Thomas's hand in Christ's pierced side Here 's a strong Argument to convince my soul that Christ is risen from the dead why see this is the same Christ that was crucified the same Christ that had his hands boared with nails and that had his heart pierced with a spear though the wounds are healed as to sense of pain yet the skars and holes and clefts remain as big as ever the hole in his hand is yet so large that Thomas may put his finger not only on it but into it and the cleft in his side is yet so large that Thomas may thrust his whole hand into his side and with his fingers touch that heart that issued out streams of blood for my salvation In this meditation be not too curious whether the print of the nails were but continued till Christ had confirmed his Disciples faith or whether he retains them still for some further use it is a better consideration to look upon them so as to confirm thy own faith is there not too much of Thomas's incredulity in thy breast dost not thou sometimes feel some doubtings of Christ's rising or at least dost thou not question whether Christ's resurrection belongs unto thee is not Satan busie with a temptation is not thy conscience troubled for thy sins and especially for thy sin of unbelief if so and I know not but it may be so with thee and the best of Saints Come then and reach hither thy finger and behold Christ's hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into his side my meaning is come with the hand of faith and lay hold on Christ yea hide thy self in the holes of the rock Be like the Dove that maketh her nest in the side of the holes mouth Jer. 48.28 the Dove that would be safe from the devouring Birds or from the Fowlers snare she flyes to the hole in a rock and thus Christ invites his Spouse O my Dove that art in the clefts of the rock Cant. 2.14 Ber. â—er 61. in Cant. in the secret places of the stairs let me see thy countenance let me hear thy voice In the clefts of the rock I am safe said Bernard there I stand firmly there I am secure from Satan's prey It is storied of a Martyr that writing to his Wife where she might find him Surius in vita Sancti Elzearii when he was fled from home O my Dear said he if thou desirest to see me seek me in the side of Christ in the cleft of the rock in the hollow of his wounds for there have I made my nest there will I dwell there shalt thou find me and no where else but there O my soul that thou wouldst make this use of the wounds of Christ are they not as the Cities of refuge whither thou mayst fly and live Nothing is more efficacious to cure the wounds of conscience than a frequent and serious meditation of the wounds of Christ Bern. ibid. Come be not faithless but believing these Monuments of Christ's resurrection are for the confirmation of thy faith if well viewed and handled they will quiet thy conscience quench the fiery darts of Satan increase thy faith till thou comest to assurance and sayest with Thomas Turbabor sed non perturbabor quia vulnerum Christi recordabor Aug. My Lord and my God I may be troubled but I shall not be overwhelmed because I will remember the print of the nails and of the spear in the hands and side of Jesus Christ 4. Muse on his Apparition to the seven Disciples at the Sea of
World to come and yet fell away and it is said of such others that they trampled upon the Blood of Christ wherewith they were sanctified Thus we find in Scripture-phrase that in an Hypocrite or wicked Man there may be a kind of Faith and repentance a taste of Heaven and of Sanctificatian but where do we find in all the Bible that Christ or the Spirit of Christ is said to dwell in an Hypocrite or wicked Man this only is the great priviledge of a true believer Christ in him the Hope of Glory O the comfort of this in-dwelling of Christ Luke 19.6 If Zacheus hearing that Christ would abide in his House received him joyfully how much greater cause of joy have they who have already lodged him in their hearts John 15.11 These things have I spoken to you said Christ that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full And now O my soul spread thy self on this great good Christ's Ascension Christ's Session and Christs Mission of his Holy Spirit What is joy but an effusion of the appetite whereby the Soul spreads it self on what is good to possess it more perfectly the object is sweet and large and therefore the soul had need to spread it self that it may be more united to the Object and touch the good in more of its parts yea if it were possible in every part There is not any particular here before thee but 't is fewel for joy O what joy was in Heaven when Christ Ascended and when Christ sate down at God's right hand and when Christ sent down the Holy Spirit how stood the Angels wondring and admiring at these several passages how did they stoop and look with the bowing of the Head and bending of the Neck as the Word implies 1 Pet. 1.12 and is not thy interest in these transactions more than Angels O rejoyce and again rejoyce suppose thy self in Heaven and that thou hadst a vision of Christ ascended say is he not a pleasant Object In his face there is fulness of joy Psal 16.11 Suppose thy self to have been in Heaven when he first entred into it and when he first sate down at God's right hand and sent down the Comforter to his Saints was not Heaven full of joy methinks the very thought of Christ's bright Face and Christ's white Throne and Christ's Harpers and Heavenly Troops surrounding the Throne and Christ's welcome to his Father both for himself and all his Saints and Christ's carrying thy name upon his Breast before his Father should fill thy soul as full of joy as possibly it can hold O the first-fruits of Emanuel's land that lyes beyond time and death O the joyes that were in Heaven at Christ's first entrance into Heaven O my soul why dost thou not check thy self and lay aside thy sad complaints and forget this Earth and Earthly troubles why dost thou not look up to Jesus Christ and rejoyce in him who hath done all this for thy Salvation either the Spirit of God is not thy Comforter or thou canst not but receive comfort in these passages SECT VIII Of calling on Jesus in that Respect 8. LEt us call on Jesus I mean 1. Let us pray that we may have our part in these transactions or let us pray for more and more assurance thereof unto our souls for though we do believe yet we may not be without our doubts and in case of doubts what better means than Prayer I believe Lord help my unbelief Lord strengthen my Faith till I come to that plerophory or full assurance of faith that I may know my interest in the Ascension of Christ and Session of Christ and in the Mission of Christ's holy Spirit and if once we are but assured then 2. Praise God for these great transactions of his Son are they not mercies like mountains lying one upon another and reaching up to the very Heavens did not love break out at first in a direct line and as it went along hath it not wound up it self in such a variety of unthought of discoveries as that it amazeth Men and Angels what that Jesus Christ should not only act for us here on earth but also ascend for us into Heaven and sit down there at God's right hand above the Heavens what that all this should be for us and our salvation and to that purpose that he should send down his Spirit into our hearts to fit us and prepare us for his glory Now bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits Psal 103.1 2. I will extol thee my God O King and I will bless thy Name for ever and ever every day will I bless thee and I will praise thy Name for ever and ever One generation shall praise thy works to another Psal 145.1 2 4 7 10 11 12. and shall declare thy mighty acts I will speak of the glorious honour of thy Majesty and of thy wondrous works I will utter the memory of thy great goodness and will sing of thy righteousness Thy Saints shall bless thee they shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy power and make known unto the sons of men thy mighty acts and the glorious Majesty of thy Kingdom Thy glory is above the earth and heaven Psal 148.13 14. thou also exaltest the horn of thy people the praise of all thy Saints and people near unto thy self O that my soul were but in David's temper thus to breath out the praises of Jesus and to bless his Name SECT IX Of conforming unto Jesus in that respect 9. LEt us conform to Jesus in the aforesaid respects A serious beholding of Jesus in his Ascension Session and Mission of his Spirit is enough to change us into the same Image from glory to glory It was the sweet saying of an experienced Saint View a glorified Christ see him as in that relation and condition and you will soon have the sparkles of the same glory on your hearts Christ is now exalted he is now in glory at the right hand of God Col. 3.1 2. O let all our actings be glorious let all our walkings joys breathings be as in glory If ye be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God set your affections on things above and not on things on the earth I shall not in this transaction lay out many particular conformities to Christ's actings but gather all into one contained in this Text which is heavenly conversation seek things above set your affections above Christ is gone up and Christ is set down at God's right hand and herein if you will conform let your hearts be in Heaven let your affections be in Heaven let your conversations be in Heaven it is the Apostles own practise wherein stood his conformity to Jesus Christ for our