Egypt and its Bondage and the Law-giver from God to whose Laws they were bound in all ages to yeild obedience till the Messiah should be revealed So also the Son of man was appointed and is made of God the Redeemer and Deliverer of us Mankind from the hands of our Spiritual Enemies and from all that hate us Luk. 1.70 72 73. Especially his followers and obeyers those that believe in him and are made the Seed or Israel of God in and by him He being also as Abraham and Israel was their Father The Everlasting Father of this Spiritual off-spring Isa 9.6 And he is the great Law-giver to the World for whose Laws the Iles or Gentiles are to wait and to them to yeild obedience to the end of the World For the Lord is our Law-giver Isa 33.22 42.1 4. 2. Again as Joshua was a Saviour and the bringer of them into the Inheritance which God had promised to their Fathers delivering them from the Inhabitants of that Land the Cananites utterly destroying them before them and dividing their Land to them by Lot So also Jesus the Son of Man was to be and is exalted and lifted up of God to be the expeller and driver out of Sathan and his Angels the powers of darkness out of their possession and the bringer in of his People the Israel of God that follow him into the heavenly Country and City of God which he hath promised to the spiritual Israel that are subject to him driving out all the power of Sin and Corruption from them Yea and in due time driving out all the Tyrants of the World with their Captains and Ring-leaders into Destruction he shall possess his People of the glorious Kingdom and divide to them their several portions and rewards in giving the Kingdom and Dominion and greatness of the Kingdom to the Saints of the most high God whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and his dominion that that shall have no end Dan. 7.27 3. As they had Judges also to be their helpers and Saviours from their enemies and to judge and avenge them of them and order their Affairs So Christ the Son of Man is raised up and appointed of God to be the great Judge the pleader of the Causes and avenger of Man-kind against Sathan and the Powers of Darkness And more especially of his Israel the Seed and Sons of God through the faith of him against all their Enemies Yea the great Judge of quick and dead who shall raise up all from their Graves and gather them together from all quarters of the World determining all Cases deciding all controversies and finally disposing to every man according to his Works everlasting rewards or punishments in Justice and Righteousness And seeing his Sentences put in execution with great and irresistible Power and Authority Act. 10.42 17.30 31. But perhaps we might as well have reduced these last mentioned offices or honours unto that that follows Viz. That 4. Whereas they had Kings set over them to go in and out before them to be their Captains and Leaders and to appoint Officers under them giving them Laws and Commands fighting their Battels and so to subdue their enemies protect them in peace and quietness in the peaceable possession of their Inheritances and enlarge their borders c. And so Moses also was said to be King in Jesurun So Christ this Son of Man is lifted up of God to that Authority and Sovereign dignity made his King by him set upon his holy hill of Sion Psal 2.1 2 6 7. And Maugre all opposition made by the Heathen and People the Kings and Rulers the Jews and Gentiles Herod and Pontius Pilate and all or any of their Successors that set themselves against him Act. 4.26 29. The King of Nations Jer. 10.7 Yea Of all the Earth Psal 47.7 And the King of Saints Rev. 15.4 5. A Great King above all Gods Psal 95.2 The Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our Judge The Lord is our King and he will save us Isa 33.20 Yea and further 5. Whereas their Priests and Kings and once we find a Prophet was anointed by Gods appointment to their several offices and so designed of God to them upon which also as we sometime find God gave his Spirit to fit them for the discharge of them as thereby also they were seperated from others to attend unto God to serve him and his People therein and receive his help and supplies for the same So also the Son of Man Christ Jesus was to be and is and was anointed of God with the holy Ghost and Power Act. 10.38 To design seperate and authorize him to and furnish him for all those Offices and undertakings to which God appointed and called him As for the discharge of his Prophetick Office and work it is said The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to Preach glad tidings to the poor to bind up the broken hearted c. Isa 61.1 2. With Luk. 4 18 19. for by his word and the Divine force and power of his holy Spirit breathing forth his grace therein He is as a great yea the great and only Phisician of the Soul and his words do good like a Medicine being words of grace words of eternal life pleasant words that are like a honey-comb pleasant to the taste and healing to the bones Prov. 15.14 16.24 Wholsome and sound and healing words are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine that is according to Godliness 1 Tim. 6.3 4 Again it is said Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my holy Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles c. Isa 42.1 And as the great King the Great God and our Governour He is Gods Christ or Anointed whom he hath set upon his holy hill of Sion Psal 2.2 6. And anointed with the Oyl of gladness above his fellows Psal 45.6 7. And as the most holy even the most holy High Priest who is holy harmless undefiled seperated from Sinners He may be understood to be the Anointed or Messiah spoken of by Daniel Dan. 9.24 When he saith To Anoint the most holy And so that he was Consecrated that way also as well as by the word of the Oath Though the former was tipyfied in Aaron and his Sons Sanctified and Consecrated with the holy anointing Oyl powred upon and anointing them Exod. 30.29 30. Levit. 8.12 And the latter exceeded them Heb. 7.20 21 28 To Minister before the Lord for ever Sure it is that Through the Eternal Spirit he offered up himself as the spotless Sacrifice Heb. 9.14 And with reference to this anointing him and furnishing him with the fullness of the holy Ghost The Spirit of wisdom and of understanding the Spirit of counsel and of might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord that rests and abides upon him and makes him quick
from henceforth and for ever That he should be Gods first-born higher then the Kings of the Earth Having an everlasting Throne and Kingdom Preaching peace to the Heathen bringing forth Judgment to them and affording glorious rest and blessing to all that trust in him Psal 2.6 12. 89.3 4 19 20 25 26 27. 132.11 17 18. Isa 6.9 10. 11.1 10. 42.1 4. Zech. 9.9.10 That he should be a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck Psal 110.3 And many such excellent and high commendations as may be seen in what he fore-signified to and by the Prophets of his Sufferings and of the Glory that should follow in all the Scriptures 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12. With Luk. 24.27 And so the Apostle saith speaking of the perfection of the Sacrifice and Priesthood of Christ Whereof the holy Ghost is a Witness to us for after he had said before This is the Covenant that I will make with them After those days saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their hearts and in 〈◊〉 minds will I write them He adds And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 10.15 16 17. As it is also said that in ordering the Sanctuary or holy place with the Ordinances of it The holy Ghost this signified that the way into the holy of holies was not yet made manifest while the first Tabernacle was standing Heb. 9.8 In a word Whatever things the holy men of God did foreshew of the coming of the Just One and the things to be found and effected by him they spake not of themselves but as they were moâ—ed thereto by the holy Ghost Whence they who resisted them in their Testimony resisted the holy Ghost 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12. 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. Act. 7.51 52. 2. In preparing and Sanctifying that blessed Body taken by him in which he was made the Son of Man Luk. 1.35 And appearing visibly to Descend and rest upon him in it in the likeness of a Dove as a Sign and signification of his being the Christ Mat. 3.17 John 1.31 32 33. In his anointing filling and working in and by him in all his Doctrine and Miracles assisting and strengthening him in all his temptations sufferings and services Matt. 4.1 Luk. 4.1.14.18 21. Mark 3.29 30. And in his raising and carrying up his body into Heaven For in the Eternal Spirit he offered up himself without spot to God Heb. 9.14 Rom. 6.4 But these things were evident some of them but to few Therefore I add that he witnessed to him more openly 3. In his gifting and furnishing the Apostles and Prophets and Servants of God for their work and service in the Gospel and for that purpose miraculously descending upon and working in many of them strengthning and helping them yea doing great Miracles and Signs by them and through their Doctrine and Miracles working upon the World to convince them of sin for not believing on him c. As our Saviour said When the Comforter shall come even the holy Ghost he shall bear witness of me and he shall convince or reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment c. And in that he did Baptise or Wash and Sanctifie the Apostles so preparing and fitting them for their holy Work and Service lead them into all truth glorifie Christ taking of his things and shewing them John 15.26 27. 16.8 9 13 14 15. Act. 1.5 8. 2.2 3 4 17 18. 4.31 And that the holy Ghost that God gave to them that believed on or obeyed Christ was a witness to him and to his glory is said Act. 5 32. And this also was a Testimony from God the Father as it is said God bare them witness by Signs and Wonders and divers Miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost Heb. 2.4 As also the holy Ghost bears witness to the hearts and consciences of men concerning him Rom. 8.15 16. 2 Cor. 3.3 6 8 18. Causing the believing heart to see his glory as in a glass with open face to the changing it into his likeness from glory to glory But this he doth chiefly 4. In his Doctrine and teaching in and by the Gospel in his Revelation of him to and by the Apostles and to the World and Churches gathered out thereof As to them also the Spirit hath said Great and Glorious things as may be seen in those Epistles to the Seven Churches Rev. 2. 3. And thus the Three in Heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost bare witness of and to and therein lifted up the Son of Man and so is he lifted up of God and must be fully lifted up at his glorious coming and Kingdom when he shall appear in his own glory and in the glory of his Father and of his holy Angels Luk. 9.26 For the Great God the blessed and holy Potentate who only hath immortality dwelling in the Light which no man can approach unto and which no man hath seen nor can see to whom be honour and power for ever and ever Amen will in his time shew him When he shall come and appear sitting on the right hand of God with Power and great Glory and pâ—ssâ—ss the great and glorious Kingdom which God hath promised to possess him of and to Admâ—nister by him but â—â—sâ—e ms to be beyond what this Text speaks of which speaks of his being lifted up that men might in believing on him not perish but have eternal Life And so of that which is in order of Nature if not also of time before mens believing on him And these particulars chiefly of the Spirits witnessing to him and lifting him up were and are needful and such as must be 1. That he might receive the Glory promised For God said that he would glorifie him Isa 49.7 55.5 And God cannot lye Yea he hath sworn by his holiness that he will not lye unto David his Seed shall endure for ever and his Throne as the Sun which is all glorious bright and lightsome before him Psal 89.35 36. Yea and 2. That men might run unto him and believe on him As it is said Kings shall see and arise Princes shall also worship him because of the Lord that is faithful and he shall chuse thee Isa 49.7 And thou shalt call a Nation whom thou knewest not and Nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the holy one of Israel for he hath glorified thee Isa 55 5. But unto this it was and is needful also that he be lifted up 2. Subordinately by Creatures and here we might consider 1. The holy Angels they have lifted him up in their honourable Testimony of him as the Son of Man The Word made Flesh They having also seen this Mystery and peeped down curiously to pry into it 1. Tim. 3.16 1 Pet. 1.12 And they have brought down honourable messages and discoveries concerning him He being as the Son of Man the Ladder
but is the Spirit that enlivens and works in and for Antichrist according as the Apostle saith Gal. 1.8 9. If I Paul or an Angel from Heaven preach another Gospel to you then that which we have preached let him be accursed Many People judg of Teachers and Ministers either by their Authority from Men or their Learning in Worldly or Humane Sciences or the Zeal or seeming Innocency or Piety in their walkings but these the Apostle implies may possibly be in those that are not of God they may be like Angels in their appearance or they may also pretend and seem to have immediate mission and furniture from God without such ordinary ways and means as others attain to understanding and fitness by for as the Apostle elsewhere saith Sathan is transformed into an Angel of light and therefore it is no great matter if his Ministers be transformed into the Ministers of righteousness 2 Cor. 11.14 And yet be Messengers of Sathan still those things which most men look upon of the conversation and walking of men may be included in the sheeps clothing the Sheep is distinguished from the Wolf by his bleating rather then by his clothing joyned with the innocency meekness in him the holy men of God had the end of their conversation Jesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for ever It s good for us to mind them and to follow their Faith and such as so walk and not to be carried about with divers and strange doctrines Doctrines different from that whereof Christ is the great matter and end Heb. 13.8 9. The Gospel preached by the Apostles was a Doctrine setting forth to Men and calling them into the grace of Christ Gal. 1.6 and that which swarves there-from is another Gospel or a perverting of the Gospel of Christ and is not to be heard who ever he be and how-ever he be gifted or walk that brings it no nor is he to be received to house or bid God speed to He that so doth being therein a partaker of all his evil deeds saith 2 Joh. 10 11. Implying that they be evil doers as indeed they must needs be and so they are called Philip. 3.2 who pervert or change the Gospel of Christ into another Doctrine as was before noted in chap. 21. The Prophets all witnessed to Christ as to come in the Flesh proclaiming Him the Seed of the Woman that was to bruise the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 The Seed of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob that was to be the blessing of all the Nations and Families of the Earth Gen. 22.18 and 26.4 and 28.14 The Prophet to be taken out of Israel like to Moses in all things The Seed of David in whose hands the Kingdom and Peace was to be established for ever Psal 89.3 4. and 132.11 Isa 9.7 A Root out of the stemme of Jesse and a Branch out of his Roots Isa 11.1 A Child born to us and a Son given to us and yet the Wonderful the Counsellor the Mighty God Isa 9.6 A man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs that was to be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities upon whom was to be laid the chastisement of our peace and who by his knowledge should justifie many as bearing their sins c. Isa 53.3 4 5 10 11. And all the Apostles have preached confessed and lifted him up as such a one saying no other things then what Moses and the Prophets did say should come to pass Yea and the end of their walking hath been to commend glorify and win in to him and therefore they who so preach and speak and walk are the true Ministers of God and such as are to be heard whether they have humane authority eloquence of speech and worldly learning or not for even Christ and the Prophets and Apostles at least divers of them had not nor came with those things Joh. 7.15 Act. 4.13 Amos 7.14 Yea though they should have like passions as other men and be men of infirmities as the Prophet Elias Jam. 5.17 And the Apostles were Act. 14.15 Or be Men mean in their Person and Speech as they said of the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 10.10 as on the other side the false Prophets and Teachers may boast of and have an appearance of all the contrary Mind we then what it is that men confess and whether in their word and conversation that be their end to exalt and glorify the Son of man and win in to Christ as come in the Flesh and close we with and receive them that so do but if Any bring not that Doctrine reject and refuse him whether it be that He 1. Deny Jesus to be the Christ or the Anointed one that should come into the World and whom Moses and the Prophets meant and wrote of whether he preach and expect another Person yet to come distinct and diverse from him and to do either the same works that he hath done or some other acts of saving Men by setting up an outward Kingdom for the Jews after the manner of other great Princes and Emperors in the World or whether they look for no other man but turn all into an Allegory of some light or power within whereof that Person was only an outward Representation Type or Figure Or 2. Assert a necessity of Moses Law to be observed and kept that men may be justified and accepted of God and saved as if Christ was not the end of the Law for righteousness for that 's a denying of him come in the Flesh as to the work and business of his coming Act. 15.2 Gal. 1.7 8 9. 2 Joh. 7.8 Or whether He 3. Deny the dispensation of the Spirit and the pouring it out upon all Flesh or the openness of the grace of God in and through him and liberty of access to God in the faith of him and of what he hath done and suffered for us for that 's not a confessing praising and commending him as so come as an All-sufficient compleat Saviour or as the Anointed the Christ furnished for helping and saving Mankind and as a good ground for all or any Man to repent upon and to turn to and hope in God Or whether He 4. Look for and teach to expect another and further Revelation of the truth of God then that given in and by him as if he had not compleated the Vision and Prophecy or was not the Person anointed of God to give the full Revelation of the mystery or had not done it in the Gospel preached by him and by his Servants in his Name and at his appointment and in the Spirit thereunto and therein given forth Or 5. Talk to men of an immediate approach to God and receit of Word and Spirit grace and blessing from Him without looking to him in and by Christ as if He was not in the nature of man or as Man exalted at Gods right hand and there abiding and interceding for us and obtaining for and