Palaces wherewith they have made him glad Psal 45.8 And we find his Spouse clothed and adorned by him and for him too in Ezek. 10 11 12 13. and in Rev. 19.7 8. But of these things I shall not speak more largely III. We have seen the perfections of man Let us a little as we may view also those of the Angels He is also called the Angel of the Covenant Angel is in English a Messenger and therefore so translated in our later Editions of the Bible in Mal. 3.1 The Angel of Gods presence that saved Israel Isa 63.9 And that redeemed Jacob out of all evil and had power of blessing Gen. 48.16 And surely He is the highest and best Messenger or Angel that was ever sent of God being his only Son Nor can we find any excellency in the Angels in which he doth not out-strip them They are said to excel in strength doing Gods commandments Psal 107.20 but they excel not nor equalize him in either They cannot uphold all things by the Word of their Power as He doth Heb. 1.3 Nor could they stand under the weight of our sins as He did 1 Pet. 2.24 Therefore they give him the preheminence and judge him only Worthy to receive the Power Riches Wisdom and Strength Honour Glory and Blessing Rev. 5.12 Nor do they Gods Commandments like or equally to him who obeyed to the death the Death of the Cross laying down his life at his Fathers commandement and delighting to do his will therein so as to bear and take away our sins by the sacrifice of himself Philip. 2.8 Joh. 10.18 Heb. 9.26 and 10.5 6. Psal 40.48 Joh. 14.31 They are also intelligent and understanding spirits great in knowledge and excellent in speech 1 Cor. 13.1 yet far short of him for God hath found folly in them saith Job 4.18 but Christ is the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1.24 knowing his Father whom none else so knows Matth. 11.27 and grace is poured into his lips so as God hath blessed him for ever Psal 45.2 They are also great in power especially such of them as are called Principalities and Powers Eph. 1.20 21. but not equal with Christ to whom all of them are commanded to give worship He hath obtained a far more excellent name by inheritance then they as may be seen Heb. 1.5 6. to the end They are indeed Spirits but ministring Spirits to him He is the Lord that Spirit the quickning Spirit so as none of them are 2 Cor. 3.16 17. 1 Cor. 15.45 So that in him are all the perfections and more then all the perfections of Creatures Yea CHAP. XXII Secondly That in Christ are all things Answering the Needs of Fallen man all things that pertain both to Life and Godliness AGain he is and in him are all things answering the Needs of his fallen Creatures of Mankind All things pertaining to Life and Godliness and they are given us in the knowledg of him 2 Pet. 1.3 Let us view that in either Branch First All things pertaining to Life he is and are in him for us And that both as 1. Necessary to the Being and Upholding of it not only as by his Death and Sacrifice we are and this Old World for us is upholden so as that we may subsist and Live as it were from Death or the state thereof which we were Obnoxious to under a comfortable Injoyment of a natural Life and Being and have therein opportunities of seeking the Lord Psal 73.3 Acts 17.26 27. But also in reference to a Spiritual life and happy being in and from him And so whereas First It 's necessary to our so Living that we be Begotten from the Dead to live to God he is the Begetter of men thereto the everlasting Father Isa 9.6 Who Begets in his own likenes as Adam did in his but far better Children because Adam Begat none till he was fallen into Sin and Misery whereas Christ Begets as one acquit of sin and raised from Death in and unto Righteousness and Life an holy Seed a blessed off-spring Children of Light and heirs of Life everlasting Yea he is the very Seed of Regeneration as held forth in his Testimony by the holy Spirit the Immortal Seed whereof the Sons of God are Begotten the Word preached in the Gospel 1 Pet. 1.23 24 25. And as he himself is the first Begotten from the Dead so by his Resurrection from the Dead he Begets from Death and quickens to a Lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 with Ephes 2.1 Col. 2.12 John 5.21 25. And this as to the Soul here as he will also by his powerful Voice quicken the Dead in Body to Life again at his Coming being the quickning Spirit John 5.28 29. 1 Cor. 15.45 And in both respects the Resurrection and the Life John 11.25 Yea and he gives Power to others and makes them Instruments to Beget Children to God and to bring them forth for him too as in 1 Cor. 4.15 The Apostle tells the Corinthians he was their Father for in the Gospel he had Begot them yet so as in Christ Jesus there is none can Beget Children to God but in him and his Virtue And as they are the Fruit of the travail of his Soul Isa 53.10 So in and from him others are instrumental Mothers to Travail in Birth with them also Gal. 4.19 2. The Children Born must be Nursed up and he is the prime in Nursing what he Begets and brings forth for he can no more forget them then no nor so much as a Mother her sucking Child Isa 49.14 15. He nourishes them principally though he makes his Servants Instruments of Nursing them up too with the sincere Milk of his Word which he also primarily is as more understandibly discovered to the weak in his heavenly Doctrin 1 Pet. 2.2 Isa 55.13 Heb. 5.13 Yea and he comforts his Children as one whom his Mother comforts Isa 66.13 And surely its by manifesting himself to them that he gives them comfort John 14.16 17 21. And in this Nursing up and causing to live as the living Child must have So 1. He is the Bread and Water of Life John 6.35 and 4.10.14 his Flesh meat indeed and his Blood drink indeed And as the living Child needs clothing So 2. He is the Clothing and Apparrel For he as our Righteousness put on by us in believing on him and his Virtues as adorning us is our Raiment and Ornament too Whence that So many of us as have been Baptised into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 And Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 13.14 And he bids us Buy of him white Raiment that our Nakedness may be covered and that our shame may not appear Rev. 3.18 3. It must have harbour and Lodging And he is the Dwelling-place for his Children in all Generations Psal 90.1 Where is sweet Peace Rest and Safety Psal 4.8 and 91.1 He being a house of Stone a strong habitation to defend and save us from our Enemies Psal 31.4
they might none of them ascend upon the Cherubims and sit down upon the Throne of God no it would have been high Arrogance and Luciferian pride and presumption to have assumed that place which was proper and peculiar to God alone The Priests or high Priests under the Law might not fit at all in the Temple but always stood and Ministred Heb. 10.11 much less on that Seat of God Only the Antichrist under the Gospel-times the man of sin presumes to seâ— himself in the Temple of God and likes to be worshipped as if he were God and exalts hâ—mself above all that is called God or that is worshipped He only of all that we read of dares to assume that Power and Place 2 Thes 2.4 A Wickedness the worst of the High-priests under the Law durst not presume to commit for this Place was reserved peculiarly to Christ Gods High-Priest Who having offered one Sacrifice once for all is set down on the Right-hand of God or of Power even on the Throne of Majesty in the highest Heb. 10.12 13. 1.3 8.1 12.2 The Father fully possessing him and putting on him all his own Power and Glory so as he the Father Judgeth no man but hath committed all Judgment to him the Son that all men might honour the Son even as they honour the Father that hath sent him John 5.22 23. So as That he that believeth on the Son believeth not on him but on him that sent him and he that seeth him seeth him that sent him John 12.44 45. And so we have an Object to worship even the same to whom all the Gods or Angels of God are commanded to do honour Worship him all ye Gods Psal 97.7 Heb. 1.6 Him we may Worship without Idolatry against God nay it 's rebellion against God and a refusing to Worship God not to Worship him for God is in him and he is God And therefore 1. We are Baptized into his Name and therein stand ingaged to Believe Depend on and Worship him yea the Father Son and Holy Ghost have but one and the same Name Mat. 28.19 And are one 1 John 5.7 2. The Apostles therefore joyn the Lord Jesus Christ with the Father in saluting the Churches Grace and Peace or Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and to him also together with the Father and the holy Spirit they commend them 2 Cor. 1.2 and 13.14 2 Tim. 1.2 and 4.22 And well they may For First The Father and all his fulness is in him Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in me saith he to Philip John 14.9 10. The Wisdom Holiness Grace and Glory yea and all the Power of the Father is in and on him And therefore also Secondly The Works of God are attributed to him As the Father raiseth up the Dead and quickneth whom he will so the Son quickneth whom he will And as the Father hath Life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have Life in himself and he hath given him Authority to execute Judgment also because he is the Son of man John 5.21.26 27. Yea he is the Creator and Maker of all things in Heaven and Earth Visible and Invisible Col. 1.16 And the Upholder of all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1.3 For he is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1.17 Is God the Repairer and Redeemer of his Creature He is so by Christ the great Repairer of the Breaches and Restorer of the Paths to dwell in the Ransome and Redeemer from Sin Death Hell Devil and Destruction 1 Tim. 2.6 Tit. 2.14 Gal. 1.4 and 3.13 and 4.4 5. The Father worketh hitherto in the works of Providence and he worketh also John 5.17 Yea what is said of Jehovah the Lord in that respect in Psal 146 6 10. is applicable to him as was above noted For he feeds the hungry with himself The Bread that he gives being bis flesh which he hath given for the Life of the World As he opened the eyes of the bodily Blind in the days of his flesh so he Preacheth the opening of the eyes to them that are spiritually blind Luke 4 18 19 And the Opening of the Prison to those that are bound raiseth up the bowed in Spirit loveth his Disciples as the Father loveth him John 15 9 Receiveth and Preserveth them that were Strangers to the Commonwealth of Israel and makes them fellow Citizens with the Saints Yea What things the Father doth the same doth the Son likewise John 5.19 Yea Thirdly He is what ever God is He and the Father is one one thing John 10.30 And he hath all that the Father hath For the Father loves the Son and hath given all things into his hands John 16.15 Fourthly The attributes of God are ascribed to him as Eternity He is that Eternal life that was with the Father and is manifested unto us 1 John 1.1 2. And he in the beginning laid the foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the Works of his hands and when they perish yet he endures and his Years fail not nor have an end Immutability for he is the same and alters not yesterday and to day and the same for ever Heb. 1.10 11 12. and 13.7 Omnipotency for he upholds all things by the word of his Power Heb 1.3 The Alpha and the Omega the first and the last he that was and is and is to come the Almighty Rev. 1.8 Omnisciency Now know we that thou knowest all things and needest not that any man ask thee any thing c. John 16.30 He knew all men and needed not that any man should testifie of what is in man for he knew what is in man John 2.24 25. All things are naked and opened unto him with whom we have to do Heb. 4.12 13 Ubiquity or Omnipresence Where two or three are met together in my Name there am I in the midst of them Mat. 18.20 Yea Is God the Law-giver So is he Isa 42 4. The Isles shall wait for his Law Is God the Judg So is he Judg of Quick and Dead Acts 10.42 Is God the King So is he King of all the Earth Psal 47.2 3. Yea he is All and in all in the New Creature Col. 3.11 Again as for Spirit to Enlighten Quicken and Inable us to Worship acceptably The holy Spirit in the fulness thereof dwells in and rests upon him The Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding the Spirit of Counsel and of Might the Spirit of Knowledg and of the Fear of the Lord Isa 11.2 And with him and by him he Inlightens Quickens Teaches and so fits for Worshipping God creates a clean Heart renews a right Spirit raises from spiritual death to spiritual life and so to Worship and serve God in the Spirit which Service he makes acceptable and he by that Spirit will raise the Body from the Dead and fashion it into the likeness of his
shall pluck my feet out of the Net Psal 25.15 And when he had in vain looked for refuge to other things and they failed him then he looked to the Lord for refuge who never fails them that seeks him Psal 142.4 5. and 9.10 For indeed in vain is Salvation either in Grace unto Glory or from Enemies as Sin Satan and their Instruments or Designs looked for from any thing else and therefore it 's good to look to the Lord in whom alone is our Salvation and to wait for him the God of Salvation as in Jer. 3.23 Mich. 7.7 Yea in a word 8. Look to him for all Grace and Blessing the Promises of this Life and of the Life to come For in him all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen to the Glory of God 2 Cor. 1.20 And he is the God of all Grace all the fulness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in him the Fountain of Living Waters who gives freely and liberally and upbraids no man Look therefore for the Mercy of this our Lord Jesus Christ even for the blessed hope and his glorious appearance unto Eternal life Jude 21. Tit. 2.13 And look we to him for all this Secondly In all means As to say 1. In minding his Word and looking into that perfect Law of Liberty as it is called James 1.26 There he is exercising his Spiritual power and affording his help that being Spirit and Life Rom. 1.16 John 6.63 A Ministration of Spirit that quickens and gives Life Strength and Grace 2 Cor. 3.6.8 Ephes 3.16 Heb. 10.29 And gives Wisdom and makes wise the simple Psal 19.9 and 119 130. Yea as it is written The holy Scriptures are able to make a man wise to Salvation through Faith in Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 3.15 And he that hath the Doctrine of Christ in his heart so as to Believe Mind Love and Obey it hath Christ nay both Father and Son 2 John â— There he is Discovered Pourtraied or set forth so as there-through we may see what an One he is and behold his Grace and Glory with open face as in a Glass through the help of his Spirit as is signified Isa 52.15 Gal. 3.1 2 Cor. 3.18 Look upon him there therefore and there wait on and for him And with this 2. In meditating on him as there set forth musing on and pondering his words and on him as declared therein So it 's said Kings shall shut their mouths at him for what they had not been told shall they see and what they had not heard shall they consider Isa 52.15 They shall understand or mind with themselves namely as looking herein and considering them as Preached in the Gospel for unto that the Apostle applies it Rom. 15.21 Spiritual meditation being as it were an inward Contemplation and wister looking into the Law of Liberty and upon him as set forth therein My meditations of thee shall be sweet saith David Psal 104.34 3. In Praying to him and to God in and through him Then we lift up our faces to him Job 22.26 And therein a man may see his Face oft-times with joy lifting up pure hearts and hands to him Job 33.26 In Prayer we both look up to him and upon him fixing the eyes of our mind upon him we lift up our eyes unto and our eyes are upon the Lord our God till he have mercy on us Psal 123.1 2. There we are to take notice of and know his Name in calling upon it Psal 91.14 15. Exercising Faith which is the exercise of the eyes of the mind also to behold as well as of the hand to lay hold of him in him and his Name otherwise it 's not a Prayer of Faith as it should be and as it 's called Jam. 5.15 4. In his Sacraments or Ordinances of Communion together with him In Baptism we may behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world John 1.29 And in the Supper we have to do with his Body and Blood and his Death shewed forth therein it being a Communion of his Body and Blood held forth there to be taken notice of by us and received of us 1 Cor. 10.16 and 11.26 And for and in all these it 's good to look to him 5. In the Unity of the Spirit with his people and in Fellowship with them in his House his Church his Temple those that have his Name upon them and with them Many people shall say Come ye and let us go up to the Mountain of the House of the Lord to the House of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his Ways c. Isa 2.3 And Oh how good is it for Brethren to dwell together in unity for there the Lord commandeth the Blessing even life for evermore Psal 133.1.4 Thirdly Look we to him and upon him at all times Hear in season and out of season for that 's implied in that the Word is to be Preached in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.2 for there is no Preaching but to some hearers meditate on him as set forth in it night and day Psal 1.2 whether literally understood for so David Seven times a day will I praise thee Psal 119.164 Consider my meditation in the morning will I direct it unto thee and will look Psal 5.1 3. And Mine eyes prevented the night watches that I might meditate in thy Word Psal 119.148 Or Metaphorically for times of Prosperity and Adversity when we are merry beholding his Goodness set forth in his Word or proved in his Works The Word of Christ dwelling in us will lead us to sing Psalms and when sad and heavy then considering in the day of Adversity him that is able to help us Pray Col 3.16 with James 5.13 Eccles 7.14 Yea that we may Bless him at all times and his praise be continually in our mouth it 's needful that the thought of Him and his Name and so the Consideration and Contemplation of him be always habitually in our hearts That out of the abundance of the heart the mouth may speak and we may out of the good treasure there bring forth good things Psal 34.1 2. and 145.1 2. Mat. 12.34 35. 4. With all earnestness and serious diligence even with the whole heart as Psal 119 10. Jer. 29.13 for this is not a matter of sport and divertisement only from some weightier matters but the main and chief thing of all our whole lives Matth. 6.33 The one thing needful or necessary Luc. 10.42 to be looking up to and upon the Lord Jesus therefore the one thing desired by David to dwell in his House that he might behold the fair beauty of the Lord as was noted before Psal 27.4 The things of greatest moment depending hereupon as to say 1. The deliverance of our Souls from the stings and venome of the old Serpent even from sin and death spiritual death and guilt and filth now and everlasting curse and misery hereafter And is this a thing to be trifled
with-hold no good thing c. Psal 84.11 4 Nor shall this happy state be ever taken from him but though through workings of the flesh a man may not be always sensible of these things nor have always actual rejoycing while here yet his state is always such and shall hereafter appear and be most sensibly and perfectly such for this life here begun by Christ and by his Spirit never shall terminate or end but increase and be more full as to the injoyment and perception of it in the abiding believer on the Son of Man till it be most immutably perfect They that seek God shall Praise him their hearts shall live for ever Psal 22.26 Death shall not put an end to this life when the body dies the man even then shall be in a living state of the Spirit or inner man in a truly happy and joyful condition though it appear not upon the body of man or to the view of the natural man much less shall it terminate after death to the Spirit made perfect for it being with Christ shall be in a better state then while here Phil. 2.21 23. To be dissolvd and to be with Christ is far better then to be here much less shall this life cease fail or terminate in the state of the resurrection for that state is most properly and fully called Eternal Life Mark 10.30 In the world to come Eternal life because then neither Soul nor Body shall die any more but then 1. The body shall be in an eternally unchangeably happy and blessed state of life a glorious body like the glorious body of Christ. Phil. 3.20 Raised up in honour incorruptibility power and glory so as it shall never feel or be capable of feeling hunger thirst pain weariness weakness decay sickness old age or any other trouble any more forever For there shall be no more death nei-neither sorrow nor crying c. for the former things are passed away Rev. 21.3 with 7.16 1 Cor. 15.42 43 44. 2 The Soul and inward man shall be perfect in its knowledge of conformity to and joy in God and in Jesus Christ our Lord For then we shall see as we are seen know as we are known Then that which is perfect being come that which is in part shall be done away 1 Cor. 13.10 12. Then we shall have fulness of joy in Gods presence and pleasures at Gods right hand for evermore Psal 16.12 1 Joh. 3.2 There shall then be no more ignorance or envy nor sorrow nor care nor whatever may render the Soul in the least defective in its happiness but the favour of God and of the Lamb as a clear River of pure waters pure and immixed and never failing shall fill it perpetually with all Heavenly and Spiritual fruitfulness in every good thing Rev. 21.4 11. and 22.1 Isa 11.9.13 Deut. 33.23 Yea 3. The whole state of the man both in Body and Soul and with respect both to God and Men a state of perfect freedom from all evil Nothing in themselves to treuble or disquiet and nothing from without themselves either of wrath and curse from God he shall neither inflict any evil upon or with-hold any good from them but as one perfectly well pleased with them perpetually fill and satisfie them with his favour and blessing afford them his fellowship and the fellowship of the Lamb and whatsoever so happy a Spring may pour forth to them and therefore neither shall any evil befall them either positively from any man or from any other Creature Angel Devil or any other thing to molest or annoy them the Devil and all his Instruments their Enemies and all evil things being for ever removed from out the Creation or what of it the Saints shall have to do with except so as they may look upon and behold their miseries Isa 66.24 And as the happiness of the Saints may be seen by their Enemies for aggravating their miseries Luke 13.28 16.23 and all other things and persons filled with good for and towards them and not with any thing that may in the least be evil and troublesom to them nor privatively for they shall be in no danger to loose any thing of the good they have or shall have none of those deprivations and losses that here afflict and exercise them shall they then be capable of being exercised and tried with no more Widdowhood or loss of Children or of Fathers Mothers Friends no loss of Riches Honours Pleasures Habitations Ornaments or any thing but what they here lost or were deprived of shall in a better manner and more to their comfort be restored if they were such as appertain to the Kingdom their Relations Husbands Parents Wives Children c. shall be restored then with Christ though not as such Relations or as having such dependance then on them as here but in a far more perfect satisfying and glorious manner Nor shall any one thing or person in the world with-hold from them or any of them any one thing that they may have any need of or good by so that their state then shall be a state of perfect life and that everlasting a spiritual and spiritually sensible and intelligent life an holy life an happy and Eternal life wherein the shall have full knowledge of God and his favour blessing righteousness in the full perfect and perpetual performance of all his blessed promises a full and perfect injoyment of the Lamb and of all the virtues and products of his Cross and sufferings and fellowship of his joys and glory and of and with one another even all the whole company of them in the most perfectly united peaceable satisfying way and manner for ever the fulness of the Spirit filling them all and every one with all Spiritual excellencies and satisfactions for ever and in that their fellowship with Christ and one another they shall have an everlasting full and perfect glory glorious Kingdom and Inheritance such as from the beginning of the world men have not heard of or perceived by the Ear or the Eye seen besides God himself being the glorious things which God hath prepared for them that wait for him Isa 64.5 A life worthy our most constant and earnest seeking after laying hold of and embracing But now Quest 4. How shall they that believe on Christ the Son of man have this Eternal Life Answ I may answer to this diversly with respect to 1. The way to their having it 2. The maner of their having it 1. In respect of their way they have and shall have it 1. Through sufferings and death even as our Lord Christ himself that way entred into his glory It is a faithful saying or the word is faithful for if we be dead with him we shall also live with him And if we suffer with him we shall also Reign with him If we even we who at present believe in him deny him he will also deny us 2 Tim. 2.11 12 13. Through much
requisite that the doer thereof obtain for us and give to us the Spirit of Life and power from God to quicken and enliven us to hope in and love God and there-through to be Holy to God and preserve in that holy state against all Oppositions and Enemies yea and to raise the dead and possess them of the everlasting Kingdom and the fulness of God and of Divine joys and satisfactions therein which be works of Omnipotency agreeable only to Divine Nature and Majesty 2. For his being called forth to and suffering death for us the necessity thereof we have seen before in order to our salvation We must have perished in the first Death and Judgment had not he endured it and given himself the ransom for us much less could he have offered up himself a spotless Sacrifice through the Eternal Spirit to make a purgation of our sins and obtain Eternal Redemption for the taking away the following sins committed by us against the Grace and Mercy of God exercised towards us and extended to us in our several persons and making reconciliation for us nor could there have been an improvement of his Sacrifice by making intercession or mediation for preparing us for and bringing us to Eternal Life Indeed there could have been no sins of that nature last mentioned and therefore nothing to save from them nor any Oblation or Offering of him self had he not suffered for his offering himself supposes a suffering first Heb. 9.24 25 26. And therefore without this that would have found no place nor any thing that follows thereupon unto Eternal Life for which no Roome had we perished in and never been raised from the first death 3. And without his Resurrection neither had the Redemption from the first Judgment been perfected that Death had not been Abolished or Evacuated and he that had the power of it destroyed nor the Resurrection from it obtained Much less could he have received in the Nature of man any power or authority to meditate with God and work in and with men in order to the preserving the Sinners from perishing or for the obtaining and giving to any or bringing them to Eternal Life These being the works of a living not of a dead Person 4. Nor could he have appeared for us as the great High Priest in the presence of God for us in the Holy of Holies upon the Mercy Seat and Cherubims of Glory set down on the Throne of Majesty on the right of God unless he had been Exalted with Gods Right Hand being raised again And without that he could not have sent forth the Holy Ghost and given Gifts to men for making him known nor meditated with God for men that their Sins might be forgiven their Consciences purged their Hearts purified and so they prepared and fited for and brought by him through the Resurrection of the Dead and by his just Doom and Award as the great Judge of all unto Eternal life Yea in a word seeing it is his being every way perfected through his sufferings and so being made the Author of eternal Salvation to all that obey him that renders him a meet Object to be believed on and affords sufficient ground thereto That which was needful to render him an Object to be believed on must needs be understood also to have been needful or necessary to his preserving from perishing and giving eternal life to any For if he be able to preserve from perishing and to give Eternal life without these things then would he also without these things be an Object meet to be for them believed on And so what was said on the former Branch proves the truth of this also CHAP. XVIII Another Conclusion proving the necessity of his being Lifted up by way of Demonstration to men by God and men both unto mens-believing on him and abiding in that believing Conclusion 2 THe lifting up of the Son of Man by way of Declaration of his Worth and Excellency and Commendation of him to men rendring him Glorious and an Object worthy and fit to be believed on for Life and Salvation is Necessary to the begetting and furthering distinct and explicite Faith or belief on him in order to their attainment of Salvation and Eternal life by him This I shall speak to in two Branches either of which is also evident and manifest Branch 1. Necessary it is for mens believing that he be so lifted up by way of Demonstration for necessary it is for mens believing on him that they know him and understand good ground and reason for believing on him For Faith or Believing is not only an Act of the Heart and will closing with an Object coming to seeking help of and relying and trusting upon it for that help but also of the understanding Such an Act of the Will aforesaid as proceeds and springs from the Understanding Discerning and Perceiving good reason and ground for what it doth therein as may be seen in what was Noted in the Acts and things included or contained in believing on him and as may be seen in what both the Prophet David saith in saying They that know thy Name will trust in thee Psal 9.10 And in what our Lord Jesus Christ saith in John 6.44 45. That no man can come to him namely to seek and help and Salvation in and from him believe in him and depend on him for it except the Father that sent him draw him And that that drawing is by the Fathers teaching so as that Whosoever hears and learns of him comes to Christ For Hearing and Learning of him pertains to the right informing of the understanding in the things Taught as also in that it s said Faith cometh by hearing and hearing is of the Word of God Rom. 10.17 Only here it is to be minded that we speak of Explicite Faith or Actual Believing and not of an Implicite Believing or of Gods gracious Imputation of Faith to Children or the like â—â—cepting them in their not Acting against as if believing on him For certain it is that the actual Faith that is by hearing is such as proceeds from an information of the Understanding and so an apprehension of some good cause or reason to Believe the thing informed of and in or upon the Object commended to us in such Information Clear it is that no man believeth on any thing or Person for any help or good to be received there-from unless he apprehend there is Ability and Probability of finding help or good from it Now no man can come to or believe to find such great effects as preservation from Destruction Misery and Wrath deserved by our sins and threatned of God to us because of them and a being raised up from Death and Grave to eternal Life and Happiness from an ordinary man that nothing differs from another but is in the same state of Sin and Death and of the same Infirmity and Impotency with others Nor from an ordinary Prophet or good man that
all the goodliness of man is like the Flower of the Grass the Grass withereth and the Flower fadeth but the Word of the Lord even that word that in the Gospel is Preached to us the Word made Flesh abideth for ever That we might only look to and believe on him Isa 41.29 with 42.1 2 3 4 8. and 40.6 7. Acts 4.10 11 12 1 Pet. 1.24 25. 11. With this Doctrine and Exaltation of the Son of man therein is also the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit whose Word it is and whose work and business it is to Lift up this Standard in and by all Means and Mediums for Working and Begetting Confirming and Strengthening Increasing and Giving growth to this Faith or Belief on the Son of man He I say is present in and with it to make it Powerful and Effectual to in and upon the Heart of the Hearer that in hearing he might believe and live That he in hearing opening the Mouth to take in this Word of Faith he might strengthen and cause the Soul to Eat and feed upon Christ held forth therein EZek. 3.1 2. Whence it is called The Ministration of the Spirit and the Words of Christ said to be Spirit and Life because of the Spirit Ministred therein and there-with which Spirit quickneth and giveth Life whence also it is a Ministration of Righteousness and Life 2 Cor. 3.6 8 9. John 6.63 The Spirit is Ministred not in the works of the Law but by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3.2 In the lifting up of the Son of man or report given in the Gospel of and concerning him is the Arm of the Lord revealed Isa 53.1 And this Spirit being the Arm of the Lord must needs be powerful for all that it is given or put forth to either for begetting preserving strengthening or increasing this Faith or believing on the Son of man Whence it is also called the Spirit of Faith We having the same spirit of Faith we also believe and therefore we speak knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up by him 2 Cor. 4.13 14. And God hath not given us the spirit of Fear but of Power and Love and of a sound mind 2 Tim. 1.7 As implying that it is the Effect and Fruit of the holy Spirit working in and received by men that they believe and stand strongly and stedfastly in the Faith though under Temptations and Oppositions to the contrary Whence it also follows as a further Conclusion Conclusion 4. That the lifting up of the Son of man in the sense aforesaid viz. the Magnifying and Exalting him in the view of men is the proper and effectual means though not for putting any thing into Christ for us more then God hath put into him and upon him in his real Exalting and Lifting him up in his Person for in that respect he is compleat and perfect before the Preaching and Testifying of him The preparation for the poor was perfect before God gave the word and raised up the multitude of Preachers Psal 68.10 11. Even as the Serpent was perfect in it self as to what Moses was to make it before he set it up on the Pole Yet for the conveying Grace and Blessing to men and putting his Salvation and Life Eternal into them This in part was spoken to and its truth shewed in what was said above to the way of Christs saving the Believer from perishing from the way And in what we said of the Believers receiving and having Eternal life yet something we shall further here note And so I say this way of Exalting though it puts nothing into Christ but only ascribes and attributes to him what is in him yet it brings something into men even of Gods salvation to preserve them from perishing from the way of Life and Righteousness and so from the second Death in the Conclusion and of the Eternal life that is given us in him And this may be further Evidenced and Confirmed from the Titles given to the Gospel as that it s called the Word of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 The Gospel of Peace Ephes 6.15 The Gospel of our Salvation Ephes 1.13 The Word of Life Phil. 2.16 The Word of Righteousness Heb. 5.13 Yea The Words of Eternal life John 6.68 Which Names are given to it not only because it declares what God hath done in Christ for Reconciling us to himself and making Peace Or what Peace and Peaceableness is in the Heart of God towards us or what salvation righteousness and life are given us in him but also because it is it self the way Medium or power of God for reconciling the hearts of men to himself and creating peace in them Isa 57.17 and of saving quickning and giving life Num. 1.16 James 1.21 1 Cor. 15.2 Psal 119.93 Isa 55.3 c. Let us view the effects and fruits produced thereby in Men. 1. Therein and thereby Christ gives forth his voice and divine light to declare and discover to Men where and what they are what case and state they are in and where their safety lies and which way they may attain it Yea what not that may be useful for Men to see and know for saving them from the powers of darkness and what ignorance and error expose them to Thus as Christ is called the Light of the World so his word that declares and lifts him up is a light too a light to our feet and a lanthorn to our steps Psal 119.105 Whatsoever makes manifest is light Eph. 5.13 and this word manifests God and Christ Sin and Righteousness Life and Death and all things and therein also is the voice of God and Christ calling to us to awaken and stand up from the dead that Christ may give us light that so our feet may be directed into the ways of peace Ephes 5.13 14. yea this makes the Preachers of and walkers in it Lights too to Men as the Baptist who bare witness to Christ as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World and lifted him up as the true light the Christ preferring him before him as one who was before him was therein a burning and a shining light Joh. 1.6 7 8 9 28 29. 5.32 33. And the Apostles whose work it was to witness to and preach forth Christ and his excellencies were called the light of the World and were sent forth to open mens eyes by their word and turn them from darkness to light Matth. 5.16 Act. 26.18 For with this voice and light in the exalting of Christ is given forth 2. A certain divine force power and operation of and by the spirit to inliven quicken and so indue the hearer and receiver thereof with a capacity 1. Of seeing and discerning the light and hearing the voice of the Lord discovering and directing into the way of peace and safety and so saving from the way of errour and deceit that leades to destruction thence the light of Christ which he gives
That he might be capable of suffering such things as Death and Curse for us to redeem and deliver us from death and curse and from the fear of them And to the same purpose he speaks of his offering in Chap. 8.3 With 10.5 6 10. Every high Priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices wherefore also it was necessary that this man should have something to offer And what that was is said Chap. 10.5 6 10. Namely the body that God prepared for him the body of his flesh that died This through the eternal Spirit being raised from the dead he offered up unto God for us as an offering of a sweet smelling savour unto him In which God finding rest and well-pleasedness through him he is gracious and propitious to us Upon this account therefore and upon this mainly it was needful that Christ should be the Son of man very man for us For as Adam was something before he was a man namely dust and clay something below the nature of man and therefore in that form incapable of knowing and praising God till being made into a man indued with a reasonable and understanding Soul he was made capable so even so Christ also was something before he was a man something higher and better then earthly man even the Lord in heaven and therefore not capable as being in the form of God of dying and so of being an offering and sacrifice for man so as in the Nature of man he was and this is that wherein the greatness of Gods grace was testified toward us in making his only begotten Son the propitiation or propitiatory Sacrifice for our sins to prepare him a body for us and to lay the iniquities of us all upon him therein And this is the foundation and bottom as well as also the great and main matter of his declaration to us of what concerns us to know and the foundation and ground of his appearing for us with his Father as Mediator of God and Man and the great high-Priest over his house and his being Man the Son of Man Verily man fitted him for this both as thereby he had what to suffer in and what to offer as also I might adde as therein he became our Brother and Kinsman as is said before and so according to the Law of Moses Levit. 25.48 49. The The right of redeeming us appertained to him For the man that hath sold himself for a servant must be redeemed by one of kin to him as is there said And that he might hint to us all this grace of God in these forementioned branches we may understand him stiling himself the Son of Man That 's the Fourth Reas 5. Lastly he stiles himself the Son of Man or as some read it That Son of Man with reference to that Prophecy of Daniel that went before of him in which he was represented in such an appearance and so declared that he might signifie that he is that Son of Man of whom the said Prophet wrote and spoke in his said Vision And so to shew himself to be what is therein signified which what it was may be perceived by considering the place It is in Dan. 7. Where God shewed to Daniel the things that were to come to pass in the World The Kingdoms that should be set up and take place therein And so he saw first four great Beasts arise up out of the Sea which the Angel afterwards tells him should be four Kings that is succesionâ— of Kings or Kingdoms with their Kings as may appear by comparing ver 17. With ver 23. Now those four Beasts Kings or Kingdoms were the four Kingdoms or Empires of the Gentiles or Heathen that should with their Kings and Emperours have the great command of the Earth and they are represented like Beasts there or as the word properly signifies Wild or Savage Beasts as the Lyon Bear Leopard and the fourth a composure of them all Ver. 7. With Rev. 13.2 To signifie and imply the Savageness Brutishness and unreasonableness of those Governments That they should rule by Might Will and Power more then by yea with a neglect and contempt of right reason and equity as indeed they have generally done But then in ver 13. There is a Vision of one said to be like the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven brought near to the ancient of days to whom was given dominion and glory And a Kingdom that all Nations Peoples and Languages should obey and serve him Now this is afterward interpreted to be the Kingdom of the Saints or of the People of the Saints of the most high God ver 26 27. In which Christ shall be the great King and Governour and he therefore is principally and properly denoted by that one like to the Son of Man to whom was given the Dominion Glory and Kingdom as was before expressed But by the opposition of this mention of his appearance to the mention of the appearance and resemblance of the other Kings and Kingdoms is denoted doubtless not only that he should be a real Man as to the verity of his human nature to whom the Kingdom should be given But also that he should be as the Son of Man as to his Government and ordering of the Kingdom in distinction from or opposition to those that would be and Govern like Savage and Ravenous Beasts Namely that he should Govern and his Kingdom be governed or ordered by right reason equity mildness gentleness and discretion c. Which things belong to man as made of God and in distinction from the Bruit and Savage Beasts And so that He should reign in righteousness and his Princes the Saints reigning with him should decree Justice and govern with Law and equity Isa 32.1 2. Now our Saviour in calling himself the or that Son of Man May and as I apprehend did therein imply and signifie that he was that person spoken of in that Vision and Prophecy to whom the Kingdom and Glory and Dominion was appointed and should be given of God To whom all Peoples Nations and Languages owe obedience and service And who should and will Judge the Nations of the Earth both as to that Judgment exercised in his Word and Providences and by his Spirit now And as to his ordering the Government of God judging disposing and reigning at the last in his glorious Kingdom with his Saints in equity and righteousness according to the rules of that reason that is sound indeed even according to the word and mind of God To this purpose it is also that our Saviour said John 5.22 23 26. That the Father Judgeth no man but hath committed all Judgment or Government to the Son that all men might honour the Son even as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that sent him And he hath given him power to execute Judgment also because he is the Son of man even the or that Son of Man who in the
as the Son of God without Being made the Son of Man had not therein been low or abased but had a bid in his proper height uncapable of higher exaltation in himself but it was the Son of God become the Son of Man that was abased and low and therefore as the Son of Man though also the Son of God in that form or state that was to be exalted or lifted up Which is worthy to be noted against those who make the humanity of Christ to be but a dispensation made use of for a time that is till the Spirit was sent forth to be the Comforter and then as Moses and his ministration passed away to give place to Christ and his Ministration when he came in the flesh So Christ his flesh or his being in it was to pass away and cease And mens minding his flesh humanity or dispensation therein to pass away in the coming of the Spirit Indeed his appearing in the flesh to Minister in it and as a man by personal acting preaching and working Miracles visibly among men was to cease not at the coming of the Spirit but before it and to make way for it to be powred forth upon the Disciples that they in and by it might be inabled and strengthned to minister in his stead But his Flesh or Body neither ceased to be in him nor to be useful to and for us and needful to be known understood and considered by us even after the Spirit was sent forth upon the Apostles for the Spirit when he came witnessed of him who was in the Flesh and confessed him not come in the Spirit but come in the Flesh Saith 1 Joh. 4.2 And every Spirit that confesseth not Christ come in the flesh but lays him aside in that consideration as no more needful to be eyed or known and so that speaks of him as gone out of the flesh except they thereby only mean out of his frail infirm state is not of God but is that Spirit of Antichrist that was to come into the World and now is in the World ver 3. It is the Son of Man which the Spirit cannot be said to be that is to be lifted up Let that be minded by us 3. I might also note that in saying the Son of Man must be lifted up there is implied some agent to lift him up for where there is a subject to be wrought upon there is also in what is wrought upon or about it something that acts or works as when any thing is heated there is something heats it When any thing is beaten there is something or person beats it So when any thing is exalted or lifted up there is some thing or person exalts it As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so there is some body some persons or person that must lift up the Son of Man which we shall inquire into and consider who or what it is in our speaking further to the act it self of lifting him up Which we come now to consider more fully as taken in the second sense of that expression as the lifting up signifies to Exalt or Magnifie CHAP. VI. A Twofold way of Exalting the Son of Man either by real Action upon his person namely Or by demonstration of him and his worth and excellency to others The former of these is here inlarged upon NOW Christ the Son of Man may be capable of lifting up or being exalted two ways suitable to the twofold way of his being low that is 1. As to real and Personal Exaltation by something acted upon himself Or 2. As to Demonstration and Manifestation of him to others for exalting him in their views and esteems Let us consider these Two ways distinctly And so 1. 1. As to the former He was exalted and lifted up of God even the Father He exalted lifted up and glorified him as was behoveful and needful for us in diverse Acts. As to say 1. In his taking the Humanity or Seed of David Abraham and so of the Woman The Son of Man into unity of Person with his Eternal Word or only begotten Son As was hinted by the way before And this was a great favour to and exaltation of that Seed As it is said I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have Exalted one chosen out of the People Psal 89.19 And that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Luk. 1.35 Though indeed this was rather a lifting up that Nature then that Person 2. In his calling him forth to suffer for us or rather his accepting him and his sufferings for us as a valuable price of our Redemption a satisfaction to his Justice and Sacrifice or Atonement for our sins And so our Saviour himself may be understood to say when speaking of the hour of his sufferings he saith John 12.23 The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified And when Judas was gone out to betray him into the hands of sinners he said Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him John 13.31 And with that agrees the Apostle in Heb. 2.9 Where he saith That Jesus was Crowned with glory and honour for the suffering of Death that he by the Grace of God might cast Death for every man Not only that he was glorified through sufferings but that he might taste Death And indeed as the other so this also was a great glory and honour though a great abasement in the World and suffering in himself as he was the Son of God that the Father should account and value him at so high and great a rate as to judge him this Son of Man of sufficient value to answer for and expiate the sins of the World Whereas all other Sacrifices though all the Beasts of Lebanon could not be sufficient for a burnt sacrifice nor all the Wood in that mighty Forest sufficient to burn to kindle that fire that should consume that that should be pleasing to him for any mans sin Isa 40.16 Not thousands of Rams nor ten thousand rivers of Oyl no nor the fruit of the body even the first-born for the sin of the Soul Mic. 6.7 No nor the richest wealthiest man in the world how ever full of riches or high and mighty could by all his riches though he offer them all or lay them all out in Sacrifices to be offered up to God for any one man though his dearest brother could make an expiation of his sins so as to give thereby a sufficient price to God for him that he might live for ever and not see Corruption So precious is the Redemption of the Soul Psal 49.7 8. Yet God hath accepted the abasement sufferings and sacrifice of his Son the Son of Man as a valuable sufficient Ransome for all men so as through him to preach remission of their sins to them and justifie all that believe on him upon that account from all things from which they could not
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
all that trust in him should be happy Psal 2. Yea all Nations are exhorted to gladness upon the account of his Victories and Reigning Psal 47. 97.1 2 c. 98.1 4 c. Yea they only point to one that should be the Seed of the Woman the seed of Abraham of Isaac of Jacob of David a root of Jesse c. Who should yet be the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Gen. 3.15 22.18 26.4 28.14 Psal 89.3 4 19 20. Isa 9.6 11.1 10. 2. In the writings of the Apostles the accomplishment of those Prophecies is declared to be made in the raising up Jesus He being the Son of God sent forth by him made of a Woman and made under the Law Act. 13.32 33. Gal. 4.4 Made in the similitude of sinful flesh and an offering for sin to condemn sin in the flesh Rom. 8.3 Delivered up to Death for our offences and raised again for our Justification Rom. 4.25 That there is Salvation in no other nor any other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved Act 4.11 12. The Law being not able to help us being too weak and unprofitable Rom. 8.3 Heb. 7.14 19. 10.4 5. God therefore prepared a body for his own Son and made him therein the Son of man that he might be able to do that for us and to us that none other could that He in the nature of man might bear our sins and make satisfaction to Gods Justice therein and atonement for us and offering up himself to God as a spotless Sacrifice through the eternal spirit receive into himself the fulness of the grace and blessing of God his Father that as the head of us men he might derive it to us and we receive it from him both Light and Teaching for renewing our minds and directing us unto peace and happiness and Spirit to inliven quicken and strengthen us to walk in the way he directs us in unto them And for working all the works of God in us and giving protection and defence against all adversaries and adverse power and whatever grace and blessing may be necessary for us and advantagious to us which as the Great High Priest in the virtues of that his Sacrifice appearing in the presence of God for us he obtaines to be given us And who so fit to be mans Saviour as such a one as is also man and so as our kinsman had right to redeem us and having proved our infirmities and miseries can pity and Sympathize with us and will not terrifie or affright us And what man could be able to satisfie Gods Justice by any Sacrifice yea though of himself and obtain his grace and blessing for us or be able to receive the fulness of Gods grace and blessing for us and derive it to us besides him that is also God Gods only begotten Son such a one being our Prophet must needs be able to speak forth the mind and counsel of God to us being one with him and in his bosom and so acquainted fully and most certainly with all his secrets as we have before considered Heb. 1.2 3. And is most worthy to be hearkned and diligently attended to in all things by us Heb. 2.1 3. 3.1 7. 12.25 Such an High Priest must needs be great with God as well as pitiful to us who is both the Son of God passed into the Heavens and made higher then the Heavens and is holy harmless undefiled and seperated from sinners and yet hath had experience of our infirmities and temptations Heb. 4.14 15. 7.26 And such a King and Lord as is Gods only begotten Son is and must needs be able to Protect and save us from what may harm us and being one chosen out from the People will be ready to hear and save when we call upon him and to redeem us poor men from the deceits and violences of Sathan and his instruments and account of our lives as precious and come down like showers of blessing upon the humble and obedient Subjects Psal 2.6 89.19 20. 72.4 5 6 14. 20.9 And what need is there or can there be of any other Saviour when he is so every way fit powerful and all-sufficient for us therefore He and He alone is propounded to us and to Him alone God and his Spirit and his Servants direct and call us None else did God elect and chuse to this office and service but him who alone was crucified for us Isa 4â— 1 1 Cor. 1.13 To none else hath he given nor will give his honour and glory Isa 42.8 None else hath received a name above every name into which we may be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins and the gift and blessings of the Holy Spirit to be given us Phil. 2.10 11. 1 Cor. 1.13 Yea seeing it hath pleased God that all fulness of grace and blessing and of the Godhead should dwell in him bodily what can all other things and persons of themselves be and as in competition with him or any other ways but as in subserviency to him and as made use of by him as instruments for conveying grace and vertue to us from him but meet emptinesses and vanities Col 1.19 2.9 Psal 4.2 Joâ— 2.8 Surely as the Brazen Serpent was the onely Medicine prepared for the cure of the stung and wounded Israelites and the River Jordan the onely remedy for Naamans Leprosie So this Son of Man being such a one may well be the onely Salvation for us miserable sinners Vse 1. And this may be a sufficient testimony evidence to us both of the exceeding greatness of our misery needing such a remedy as was hinted in the first Observ And also that God loves us that he hath raised up such an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David Luke 1.69 Herein is the love of God manifested to us that â—e sent his onely begotten Son into the world and made him the Son of Man for us that we might live through him Herein is love noâ— that we loved God but God loved us and gave this his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins 1 John 4.9 10. This this was a far greater testimony of his good will to us and that he desired not our perishing but eternal happiness then if he should have sent down Angels to us in our particulars to tell us he loves us He did send divers of his Angels with gracious messages and his Law was given by the disposition of them But the best news that any of them ever brought was what they brought concerning this Son of man and his being appointed sent forth and impowred of God to save us Luke 2.10 11. That this Lord of men and Angels looked after us as the good Shepherd and came to deliver us from our destructions If God said to Abraham that he knew he feared him in that he withheld not Isaac his onely Son from
glorious Body according to the working of that glorious Power by which he is able to subdue all things to himself Rom. 8.10 11. Phil. 3.21 Yea The Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 Oh how Excellent a Person then is Christ that is so comprehensive of all Good and Excellency even from the highest to the lowest Who is both Creator and Creature and hath the Nature and Perfections of both And hath had as well the Infirmities of the one sin excepted out of his great Love and Pity to us as the Form and Excellency Majesty and Glory of the other He that is the high and holy One the Great and Mighty God hath also cried out and acknowledged I am a worm and no man the very scorn of men and the out-cast of the people For he hath had the Experiences of Fallen man the Snares and Bitterness of Death and the Pangs of Hell as well as he hath had and hath experience and full injoyment of the infinite Joys and Glorys and inexpressible Satisfactions of Heaven and God no place is there wherein he is not and hath not been He was aâ— man on the Earth and sometimes Walking on the Seas Yea as to his Body he was in the Grave in the heart of the Earth though not left there to see Corruption and as to his Soul he was in though not left in Hell and yet he was Lord in Heaven and is so for ever 1 Cor. 15.45 John â—3 13 Psal 16.11 with Acts 2.31 Able to save us to the utmost while we are on the Earth and from Grave to Hell and to bring us to the Possession of Heaven and happiness For though he was dead to redeem us from thence yet he is now alive for evermore Amen and hath the Keys of hell and death to keep or bring us out from thence Rev. 1.18 and The Keys of the house of David too so to open as no man shall shut and so to shut as no man can open and he can and will admit into his Kingdom all that are faithful to obey and follow him Greatness and Goodness yea all Perfections and Excellencies are compleatly and everlastingly in him Oh therefore how ought we to admire and love him and with all acceptation to receive and cleave to him honour and obey him Surely that 's the way for us also to be made an excellent and precious People in the sight of God and useful to and among men For this also is of the Commendations of Christ that his Excellencies and Preciousness communicate and contribute an Excellency to all in whom he is It 's his Excellency as we noted before that renders the Gospel a more excellent and glorious Doctrine and so it 's his Excellency and Preciousness derived to them that makes his People those that own and believe on him to be a more excellent People then others as it is said The Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour Prov. 12.26 it is because Christ is in them as it is said again God is in the Generation of the Just Psal 14.5 And the Riches of the Mystery of the Gospel Preached among the Gentiles is Christ in or among them the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 As Christ also prayed for his Disciples that they may be one as the Father and Son are one he Christ in them and the Father in him John 17.23 For as the Comeliness of Jerusalem and her Beauty that was perfect was so through his Beauty and Comeliness put upon her Ezek. 16.14 So the Excellency of his People is his Excellency put upon them who are said to have put on Christ and to be as it were clothed with him Now he being so precious how must they needs be also precious in and by him And indeed others who have not him and much more they who reject and refuse him lifting up themselves or other things and glorying in them are vile persons Psal 15.4 For indeed every thing or person according to the Spirit is to be accounted of as it hath reference to or hath more or less of or conduceth more or less to our injoyment of him And so those things or persons are to be more esteemed or chosen of us and loved by us by whom or by which we are or may be more led to Christ or built up in him or more of him and his excellencies are or may be conveyed to us But I may seem to have insisted too largely upon this Subject and to have made too long a Digression if I may call it a Digression and yet I may too truly say I have spoken nothing in effect to it but rather have but darkned wisdom by words without knowledge his excellencies being indeed such as cannot be so spoken or written of but that all that is spoken and written of them is as far below them as He who would go about to paint the glory and luster of the Sun would necessarily fail and fall short of its proper and native splenâ—or and glory in all his painting Verily though there be very much said of him and of his excellencies in the Scriptures yet it may and will be said when we come to see him and enjoy him if we being found in him shall be accounted worthy thereof as the Queen of Sheba said of Solomon when she saw him and his excellency and glory It was a true report indeed said she which I heard of thee in mine own Land of thy acts and of thy wisdom howbeit I believed not the words till I came and mine eyes have seen and behold the half was not told me thy wisdom and thy prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard So may we say then the Prophets and Apostles knew in part and prophesied in part not in perfection and surely that which is but in part will be found as short of that that is perfect as the capacities of a little child fall below the most perfect capacities of a grown and most accomplished man as the Apostle signifies in 1 Cor. 13.10 12. And surely if they knew and prophesied in part only what then could I do or have I done who have but gleaned some small part of what they have declared Surely I must needs have fallen unspeakably short of his infinite perfections whose Name alone is excellent and whose glory is not only above the earth but above the Heavens also Psal 148.13 For who can declare as I said in the beginning hereof all his mighty acts Who can set forth all his praises Psal 106.2 I should but still fall below him yea and too much darken his glory should I assay to add any thing more hereabout and therefore I shall say no more but rather desire and pray that the spirit of wisdom and revelation may be granted to me in the knowledge of him that the eyes of my understanding being inlightned I may know more distinctly for my self and for the
what He hath done for us and to us that He is the Son of God whom we neglect and trample under foot therein that He is the Lord that bought us whom we therein deny that it 's his precious blood the blood of the Covenant by which He procured a gracious Covenant of great and precious promises to be made for us and confirmed and ratified it and the blood wherewith we are sanctified and rendred meet to have liberty and access to and acceptance with God that is therein prophaned by us that its the spirit that discovers his grace and is of his great grace sent forth to call and cleanse us that is despited by us Heb. 10.29 2 Pet. 2.1 That they are his Members who is the Christ and his Temple who hath bought us with a great price for himself that are defiled by us 1 Cor. 6.18 19 20. Case 8. Would we see the emptiness of all our own righteousness that we do or could do for our selves for making our peace with God and obtaining his favour and acceptance Behold Christ crucified as set forth in the Gospel and that declares it and that it will not profit us Isa 57.12 for if righteousness be or could have been that way obtained then Christ died in vain but that may not be supposed therefore no other righteousness could avail us but He to be our righteousness through his Death and Sacrifice no Law could give life to us none but Christ crucified for us upon which account it was that the Apostle cryed out so of the folly and bewitchedness of the Galathians who having had Jesus Christ evidently set forth among them as crucified for them yet would turn to beggerly observations to seek to be justified by them Gal. 3.1 21. with 2.21 Case 9. Would we see our duties either to God or men what 's meet to be performed by us and how short we are in answering his engagements upon us Behold the Son of man and mind the teachings of his grace bringing salvation to us obtaining by his death and sufferings all the freedome from misery and curse and all the enjoyment of the good things vouchsafed to us and what is also for the future set in hope before us yea for ever and then we shall see our selves bound to live to him that dyed for us and rose again and to offer up to God our bodies a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable and that that 's a reasonable service to him that it behoves us to enquire and take notice of his will as our lawful Lord by vertue of his Death Resurrection and Reviving again for us and that we ought to glorify him both in body and spirit as being his purchase and so to use all freedomes mercies and enjoyments with all sobriety righteousness and godliness that we may in nothing dishonour or disserve him but glorify him in all things looking after and waiting for giving diligence that we may be found worthy of the blessed hope set before us and to be revealed at his appearance Tit. 2.11 12 13. 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Rom. 12.1 2. and 14.9 1 Cor. 6.18 19 20. and the looking upon and discerning the Lords body as crucified for us and given to be the Bread of Life to us is the best way to examine our selves and discern our defects and evils and to judge our selves accordingly for them that we may not be judged by Him 1 Cor. 11.28 29 30. Case 10. Would we be quickned up in our duties and way of seeking for and serving the Lord and not faint therein or be slothful or tired out through discouragements The way is to behold and look upon the Son of man lifted up for and before us that we may cast away every weight and the sin that so easily besets us and run with patience the race set before us look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of the Faith There we may see his Example and Pattern and also both Ingagement from his Love to us as the Author and hope of both success and of an infinite recompence of reward as the Finisher of the Faith set down on the Right-hand of Majesty that may make us gird up the loyns of our minds and run with Patience and Courage hoping perfectly for the Grace to be brought in at his appearance as obedient Children c. 1 Pet. 1.3 4 10 11 12 13 14. Heb. 12.1 2. Case 11. Would we be recovered from any Relapses and Decays to our former Strength and be helped to go forward in Christ Jesus Our way is to look upon the Son of man and therein to look to him for healing Virtue Thus the Apostles sets Christ Crucified and the Grace in him before the Galatians when he was in fear of them to recover them Gal. 3.13 14 16. and 4.4 5 6. and 5.1 And so Christ sets himself before the declining Angel of the Church of Ephesus wishing him to remember call to mind look back upon what he was fallen from Remember whence thou art fallen and repent Rev. 2.4 5. And so to the Angel of the Church of Sardis Dead while he had a Name to Live he presents himself as he that hath the seven Spirits of God and so Power to Revive him and as one that holds the seven Stars in his Right-hand signifying his love to and care of his Servants and yet power to do his pleasure with them and wishes him to remember or look back upon how he had received and heard and to hold fast Rev. 3.1 2 3. And to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea grown Luke-warm and in danger to be spewed out of his mouth he presents himself as the Amen the faithful and true Witness to quicken up his zeal in minding the firmness of his Promises and truth of his Reproofs and that he is the beginning of the Creation of God to mind him of his Power and Ability to stablish him or give being as he pleases to him and after declaration of his misery sets before him and directs his Eye to behold his Riches Fulness and Freeness and to buy of him what he wanted and his Love and Patience in Rebuking Correcting and standing with patience at the door knocking and waiting for admission and his readiness to come in and Feast with men upon their hearing and opening to him And to him as to all the rest he presents his Love Power and Faithfulness to Reward them that overcome and the greatness of the Rewards he will give them to Cure or Incourage them Rev. 3.14 18 19 20 21. Case 12. Would we be directed to and quickened up in the Love of God and of one another or Charity to the World of Mankind yea or to our Enemies Our way is to behold the Son of man as lifted up for and to us for there we may see his love to God his Father laying down his Life on the Cross in obedience to him as a perfect pattern for our imitation Phil. 2.8 9. John
there a little neglecting the vision of All the Foundation and Rest wherewith the weary should be caused to rest Isa 28.12 13 16. and 29.11 They that so do are so far from being healed and saved in and by such ways that they fall under reproof as taking the wrong course for themselves because not looking to yea are under greater misery and judgment for neglecting and despising this healing Object These things then being considered let us be exhorted to look off from other things as vain and unprofitable as being neither Crucified for us nor having a Name Power and Virtue able to afford Relief to us Yea oftentimes bewitching of and destructive to us as the Tree of Knowledg of Good and Evil was to Evah and the Wedg of Gold and Babylonish Garment proved to Achan and to look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of the Faith c. Yea let us look to him in all cases for all things in all means at all times and with all diligence and perseverance I say First Let us look to him in all cases for all Grace and Blessing needful for us As to say 1. For pardon of our sins for in him is forgiveness of sin Preached to us and to him give all the Prophets witness c. as we noted before in speaking to the believing on him to be exercised by us It is not for us to pore upon our selves and sins and think that way to get rid of them without looking to him in believing on him Nor is it for us to run to other Means or Medicines or trust to any Popes or Priests to pardon us but look to him directly as our only Saviour that having Suffered and Died for our sins hath there-through both Power and Readiness to forgive them and so we shall receive it of and in him 2. Let us look to him for cleansing from the filth of our sins For he is filled with Spirit and Power to that purpose the Spirit of the fear of the Lord is upon him to inable and furnish him to frame our hearts to fear him and in his Mediating and Ministring the New Testament or Covenant he puts the fear of God into the heart which is clean and leads to cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit and to perfect holiness before him Jer. 32.39 40. with Heb. 8.6.10 Psal 19.9 2 Cor. 7.1 And to that purpose look we to him 3. For Light and Direction in the Truth of God as it is in him and to receive from him that Unction by which we may know all things and be lead into all truth That Light that will guide our feet into the Paths of Peace at all times and in all cases for He is come a Light into the World that whosoever believeth on him might not abide in darkness John 12.46 And he Will bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles and cause his Judgment to rest for a Light to the people Isa 42.1 and 51.4 They looked to him and were enlightned and their faces were not ashamed Psal 34.5 All others are vanity and their works wind and confusion none of them where he is not can answer any thing Isa 41.28 29. Let us look to him for direction in our ways as well as for instruction to our minds that we may know and understand his will concerning us in what he requires of us as well as what he is and hath done for us for he is the Counsellor to Action and Practice as well as the Teacher of us in Faith and Doctrine and he will teach us his ways that we may walk in his paths Isa 2.3 It 's good to seek to him both in matters of Faith and Practice and not to lean to our own understandings nor take things on trust from men simply on the account of their Authority or Wisdom 4. For Spirit and Grace to incline our hearts to believe on him and walk in his ways For the Spirit is put upon him and he is the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost John 1.33 which he gives to them that obey him Acts 5.32 Thus we find David looking to him for by Lord he oft-times signified the Son see Psal 97.1.5.7 and 68.17 18 19. and 102.12.25 with Heb. 1.6.10 11. Ephes 4.8.11 for the holy Spirit and for its inclining his heart to his fear and way Witness these and the like Expressions Uphold me with thy free Spirit Psal 51.11 Thy Spirit is good lead me into the Land of uprightness Psal 143.10 Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments incline my heart unto thy Testimonies and not to Covetousness turn away mine eyes from beholding Vanity quicken me in thy ways Psal 119.35 36 37. 5. Look we also to him For strength to strengthen us unto every good way and work and to uphold us in all difficulties and against all oppositions for the Spirit that is upon him is as well a Spirit of Might as of Vnderstanding and Counsel Isa 11.2 And the holy Men of God have looked to him for strength both unto all good so David In the day when I cried unto thee thou strengthnedst me with strength in my soul Psal 138.3 Strengthen me according to thy word Psal 119.28 And against all evil and opposition as Vphold me according to thy word that I may live and let me not be ashamed of my hope hold thou me up and I shall be safe c. Psal 119.116 117. And so it s promised that they who wait on the Lord the Lord will strengthen their hearts and they shall renew their strength they shall mount up as with wings like Eagles they shall run and not be a weary walk and not faint Psal 27.14 and 31.24 Isa 40.29 30 31. 6. For comfort in Distresses Troubles and Temptations For it s he that prays the Father for and obtains and sends the Comforter even the Spirit of Truth John 14.16 17. and 15.26 And in his seeing his people or visiting them with his Salvation he makes their hearts rejoyce so as their joy shall no man take from them John 16.22 Thus David looked up to the Lord for comfort When wilt thou comfort me Psal 119.82 and When wilt thou come to me Psal 101.2 And Rejoyce the soul of thy Servant for unto thee do I lift up my soul O Lord Psal 86.4 But in looking to him for this and all other things take we heed to love him and keep his Commandments as our Saviour instructs us John 14.15 16 21. 7. For help and succour in dangers and deliverance from evils and from all enemies whether they be men or Devils For all Power and Authority in Heaven and upon Earth is his and he stands and feeds or rules in the strength of the Lord and in the Majesty of his Name and is both mighty to save his Servants and to destroy his and their enemies Mat. 28.18 Mich. 5.4 Isa 63.1 James 4.12 Thus David Mine eyes are evermore to the Lord for he
1 Cor. 1.17 and 2.1 2 5. 3. Now if they be reproveable that lift him not up as they ought or not at all much more then are they so who instead of lifting Him up endeavour to cast him down as is said of some Psal 62.3 4. They only consult to cast him down from his excellency they delight in lies they bless or praise with the mouth but they curse inwardly or underneath And this they do 1. Either by bringing in damnable Heresies denying the Lord that bought them and these bring upon themselves swift destruction 2 Pet. 2.1 Such as deny or confess not Christ come in the Flesh but throw him by as useless or as one gone out of the Flesh and so Preach up a God or Spirit without Him taxing deriding or blaspheming those that confess Him come in the Flesh and the so confessing or acknowledging of Him and so all expectation of any thing from or by his Person as exalted and glorified and as having received Gifts in the man as of the Seed of David the Son of man or any looking for him in Person to appear again from Heaven mocking at the faith of his coming as is said of some 2 Pet. 3.4 5. 1 Joh. 4.3 2 Joh. 7.8 2. Or by their lives and doings exposing Him to shame scorn and reproach and so denying and decrying him while by their fruitless lives and sinful demeanours and abuses of the grace of God they blemish the profession which they make of him walking in lusts of uncleanness riotous excesses rebellious against and disobediences towards Magistrates and Princes covetousness pride fraud and the like who are the enemies of the Cross of Christ while in deeds they deny him making their Bellies their Gods and minding earthly things crucifying him to themselves afresh and putting him to open shame Heb. 6.4 5 6 7. 2 Pet. 2.1 5 6 7. Jude 1.2 7 8 c. And all these with others are faulty as guilty of not lifting up Christ the Son of man though of these some make it a piece of Religion to lift up a wooden cross and carry it in Procession and follow after and look to it and some Image or Picture of him as crucified set upon or fastened to it or so lift up and look to the Bread or Host which they call the very Body it self that was crucified or rather the whole Christ yet of the true Cross of Christ and the true and right lifting him up as crucified they are ignorant yea and enemies thereto and so are all such as are here mentioned as reproved Vse 5. And here we might also before we pass to the other Branch of Persons to be reproved take notice that in all aforesaid we have a Discovery of Doctrines Spirits or Teachers here hinted to us Our Saviour bids us beware of false Prophets who come to us in Sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravening Wolves Matth. 7.15 And to take heed least any deceive us for saith he many shall come in my Name and say I am Christ and deceive many yea and that there shall come false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders so as to deceive if possible the very Elect Matth. 24.4 5 24. And the Apostles have told us of a man of sin whose coming should be after the working of Sathan Yea that as we have heard that Antichrist shall come in the last times so there are many Antichrists and false Prophets come into the World 1 Joh. 2.18 and 2 Joh. 7.8 And therefore they also have warned us to take heed to our selves Now this is one good Character by which they may be known and discerned their denying or not lifting up the Son of man but exalting themselves or some other thing or person in opposition to or instead of him according as the Apostle John giving that warning to the Churches not to believe every spirit but to try the spirits whether they be of God because many false spirits are gone out into the World adds this as a Rule for discerning the false spirits or Prophets from the true Every spirit that confesseth that is acknowledgeth praiseth speaketh out Jesus Christ come in the flesh is of God He suits with and pursues Gods design who in his Doctrine and in the drift and scope of it makes it his work and business to commend and speak forth Jesus Christ come in the flesh not only God in his naked consideration as in himself and not in Christ Jesus nor only Christ as he was before the foundations of the World or as in the Word or Prophecy only but as come in the Flesh both acknowledging that he is come in the Flesh and lifting him up as so come as the only powerful sufficient Saviour Medicine and Cure of miserable Man that men might address themselves to Him and Him only as evidencing himself in his testimony and attend upon him for his help and salvation in all his ways and appointments ordered by him as come in the flesh and having their foundation in him witnessing of and leading to him as in attending to him in his Word and waiting upon Him in his Ordinances and Gifts given and appointed for the perfecting the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ c. But on the other hand Every spirit that confesseth not Jesus Christ come in the flesh is not of God but is that spirit of Antichrist that should come into the World that is every Doctrine and Spirit breathing therein and so every Teacher preaching any doctrine however otherwise he may appear full of spirit force zeal and efficacy in his teaching and doctrine for moving and working upon his Auditory yea though he should speak yea or walk like an Angel in his outward conversation and appearance among men yet if he bring not this Doctrine of Christ come in the Flesh if he do not confess acknowledge speak out so as to set forth glorify and lift up Jesus Christ as come in the Flesh to be the only Saviour the Great Design and Devise of God for his bringing in or reconciling men to himself as the power and wisdom of God that in which the only wise God hath shewed forth the riches of his wisdom and that in which is the greatness of his power for destroying and overthrowing the Kingdome of Sin and Sathan and delivering men from destruction and for making them wise and able to every good thing that man is not sent of God or authorized of him in his Ministry and Doctrine nor is owned of him as acted by his Spirit but inasmuch as he lays by hides and conceals owns or acknowledgeth not that great mystery He is of Antichrist and the Spirit that acts and leads him out to and in all his zeal and fervour for promoting any other way for bringing men to God laying by this design of God this Doctrine of Christ come in the Flesh is not of God