1. 24. Luk. 4. 34. He was called Jesus of Nazareth because he dwelt there with his Mother Mary and her Husband Nazareth was his City where he had been brought up whither for shelter Joseph carried him when he came up out of Egypt with him in Nazareth was his common Abode until the time that John was cast into Prison Luk. 4. 16. Mat. 2. 23. Chap. 4. 12 13. Wherefore he might well say I am Jesus of Nazareth Yea though he was now in Heaven for Heaven shall not make us forget what Country-men we were when we lived in the World Jesus you see here though Glorified in Heaven yet forgets not what Countrey-Man he was when he dwelt in the World I am Jesus of Nazareth saith he I am the Jesus that thou hatest and that thou mayest know I am he I tell thee I dwelt once in the City Nazareth in Galilee Joseph and my Mother Mary brought me up there and there I dwelt with them many years I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest Quest. 2. Secondly What was it for Jesus to come into the World Ans. 1. Not his coming in or by his Spirit in his People for so he was never out of the World 2. Neither is it his Appearance in his Ordinances 3. Nor that coming of his by which he destroyeth Antichrist 4. Nor his Appearing in his dreadful Providences or Judgments But by the coming of Jesus according to the Text we are to understand that or such a Coming whereby he was manifest to be God-Man in one Person God in our Flesh without us or distinct in his own Person by himself Such a Coming by which he was manifested to be in all points like as men are Sin only excepted Such a Coming wherein or by which the Son of God became also the Son of Man For the further clearing of this you find it expresly said he was born into the World Mary of whom was born Jesus Now when Jesus was born it 's said Where is he that is born King of the Jews Herod demanded of them where Christ should be born Mat. 1. 16. Chap. 2. 1 2 4. Luk. 1. 35. Chap. 2. 11. Now that this was fulfilled according to the very word of the Text without any juggle evasion or cunningly-devised Fable consider 1. He is called the First-Born of this Woman The Male Child that opened her Womb Luk. 2. 7 23. 2. He was not born till nourished in her Womb the full time according to the time of Life And so it was that while they were at Bethlehem the days were accomplished that she should be delivered and she brought forth her First-born Son and wrapt him in swadling Clothes and laid him in a Manger Luk. 2. 4 5 6 7. 3. She also continued in her Separation at the Birth of Jesus as other women at the Birth of their Children until the days of her Purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished Luk. 2. 22. 4. Himself also as other Hebrew Children was brought to Jerusalem to present him unto the Lord As it is written in the Law of Moses every Male that openeth the Womb shall be called Holy unto the Lord Luk. 2. 23 24. 5. Thus Jesus also as other Hebrew-Children when the set Day was come was Circumcised And when eight days were accomplished for the Circumcising of the Child his Name was called Jesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb Luk. 2. 21. 6. After this he is often called the Young-Child the Child Jesus and further it is said of him that he grew that he increased in Wisdom and Stature Mat. 2. 20 21. Luk. 2. 40 52. Behold with what diligence even to a Circumstance the Holy Ghost sets forth the Birth of the Lord Jesus and all to convince the incredulous World of the true Manner of the coming of the Saviour into the World Secondly The Reality of the Manhood of this Lord Jesus is yet further manifest and that First By those natural Infirmities that attend Human Flesh. Secondly By the Names the Prophets gave him in the Days of the Old-Testament and the New First By those natural Infirmities that attend Human Flesh. As 1. At his Birth he could not go but as carried by his Parents 2. He was sensible of Hunger Luk. 4. 2. 3. He was sensible of Thirst John 19. 28. 4. He was sensible of Weariness Joh. 4. 6. 5. He was nourished by Sleep Mar. 4. 34. 6. He was subject to Grief Mar. 3. 5. 7. He was subject to Anger Mar. 3. 5. 8. He was subject to Weep Joh. 11. 35. Luk. 19 41 9. He had Joy as a Man and rejoyced Mat. 11. 27. Luk. 10. 21. These things I say Jesus was subject to as a Man as the Son of the Virgin Secondly The Reality of his Manhood is yet made manifest by the Names the Prophets gave him both in the Old-Testament and in the New As 1. He is called the Seed The Seed of the Woman the Seed of Abraham the Seed of David by which is meant he was to come of their Children Gen. 3. 15. Chap. 12. Chap. 22. Gal. 3. 16 17. Rom. 1. 4. 2. Therefore it is added where mention is made of the Fathers of whom as concerning the Flesh Christ came He was made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh And hence again he calleth himself the Off-spring of David therefore I say he is said to be of their Flesh their Loins and is called their Son Rom. 1. 4. Chap. 9. 5. Acts 2. 30. Revel 22. 16. 3. He therefore is frequently called a Man and the Son of Man Then shall you see the Son of man coming in the Clouds of Heaven When the Son of man shall come in his Glory and all the Holy Angels with him This Man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood It is therefore necessary that this Man have somewhat also to offer Mat. 26. 63. Chap. 25. 30 31. Heb. 7. 24. Chap. 8. 3. Chap. 10. 12. 4. What shall I say Himself gave undeniable Demonstration of all this when he said he was dead when he called to Thomas to put his Finger to and behold his Hands to reach to him his Hand and thrust it into his Side and bid him he should not be faithless but believing At another time when he stood in the midst of the Eleven as they were troubled with the thoughts of Unbelief he said Behold my Hands and my Feet that it is I my self handle me and see for a Spirit bath not Flesh and Bones as ye see me have Joh. 20. 27. Luk. 24. 39. Thus have I shewed you what it was for Jesus to come into the World namely To be born of a Woman to take flesh and to become God-man in one Person I come now to the third Question but before I speak particularly to that I will produce further Testimony that we find upon record concerning the Truth of all this Particular
Name And hence again he is called a LAMB upon the Throne In the midst of the Throne of the four Beasts and in the midst of the Elders stood a Lamb as it had been slain having seven horns a Demonstration of Kingly Power But mark he was a Lamb upon the Throne he had his Horns as a Lamb. Now by LAMB we are to understand not only his meek and sweet Disposition but his Sacrifice for he was as a Lamb to be slain and Sacrificed and so his having a Throne and seven Horns as a Lamb giveth us to understand that he obtained this Dignity of King by his Blood When he had by himself purged our Sins he sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty in the Heavens When he had offered up one Sacrifice for Sins for ever he sat down on the Right Hand of God Revel 5. Heb. 4. Chap. 10. Now put all these together to wit his Resurrection from the Dead his Ascension and Exaltation to Office and remember also that the Person thus Exalted is the same Jesus of Nazareth that sometime was made accursed of God for Sin and also that he obtained this Glory by vertue of the Blood that was shed for us and it must unavoidably follow That Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them The Third Demonstration BUt to proceed A Third Demonstration That Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them is because he hath received for them the Holy Spirit of God Thus Jesus hath God raised up whereof said Peter we are all Witnesses Therefore being by the Right Hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth that which ye now see and hear Act. 2. 32 33. The receiving of the Holy Ghost at the Hand of the Father who had bruised him before for the Transgressions of his People The receiving of it I say upon his Resurrection and that to give them for whom just before he had spilt his Blood to make an Atonement for their Souls argueth that the Divine Majesty found rest and content in that Precious 〈…〉 od and found it full price for the Sinners for whom he shed it And if you consider the necessity of the giving of this good spirit to Men and the benefit that they receive by his coming upon them you will see yet more into the Truth now contended for First Then of the Necessity of giving this good Spirit 2. And then of the Benefit which we receive at his coming First Of the Necessity of its being given 1. Otherwise Jesus could never have been proved to be the Saviour for the Promise was that Messias should have the Spirit given him given him to communicate As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit which is upon thee and my Words which I have put in thy Mouth meaning the Redeemer ver 20. shall not depart out of thy Mouth nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed nor out of the Mouth of thy Seeds Seed from henceforth and for ever Isa. 59. 21. Here is the Promise of the Spirit to be given to Christ and by him to his Seed for ever And this was signified long before in the Anointing of Aaron and his Sons And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his Sons and consecrate them Exod. 30. 30. This Spirit Jesus promised to send unto his at his Exaltation on the Right Hand of God The Spirit I say in the plentiful Pourings of it out True the Church in all Ages had something of it by vertue of the Suretyship of the Lord Jesus but this in comparison of what was to come into the Church after his Resurrection is not reckoned a Pouring forth therefore Pourings forth thereof are reserved to the time of the Ascension and Exaltation of this Jesus I will pour out of my Spirit in THOSE Days Hence Jesus reserves it till his going away and 't is expresly said The Holy Ghost was not yet given because Jesus was not yet Glorified Accordingly did the Apostles wait after his Resurrection for the pouring forth of the Holy Ghost and at the set time did receive it by the giving of which he declared himself to be the son of God and Saviour of the World John 14. 26. Chap. 15. 26. Chap. 16. 7. Act. 1. 4. 5. Joel 2. 28. Acts 2. 16 17. Joh. 7. 39. Rom. 1. 4. 2. Without the giving of the Holy Ghost there had wanted a Testimony that his Gospel was the Gospel of Messias Moses his Ministration was confirmed by Signs and Wonders and mighty Deeds both in Egypt in the Wilderness and at the Red-Sea wherefore 't was necessary that the Doctrine of Redemption by Blood which is the Doctrine of the Gospel of this Jesus should be also confirmed with signs following Hence both himself and Apostles did as frequently work Miracles and do mighty Deeds as his Ministers now do preach which Signs and Miracles and Wonders confirmed their Doctrine though themselves both Master and Scholar was in appearance the most considerable mean yea they by the means of the Holy Ghost have so ratified confirmed and setled the Gospel in the World that no Philosopher Tyrant or Devil hath been able hitherto to move it out of its place He confirmed the Word with Signs following Mar. 16. 20. Heb. 2. 4. 3. As the giving of the Holy Ghost was necessary thus so was it necessary also to strengthen them that were intrusted with his Gospel 1. To preach it effectually 2. To stand to it boldly 3. And to justifie it to be the Doctrine of Messias incontroulably 1. To preach it effectually in demonstration of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2. 4. 2 Cor. 6. 4 5 6. Joh. 16. 8 9. 2. To stand to it boldly Then Peter filled with the Holy Ghost said And they saw the Boldness of Peter and John Act. 8. 13. 3. To justify the Doctrine incontroulably I will give you a Mouth and Wisdom which all your Adversaries shall not be able to resist or gain say And they were not able to resist the Wisdom and Spirit by which he spake Luk. 21. 15. Act. 6. 10. Now I say that God should give the Holy Ghost to Jesus to confirm this Gospel Redemption from sin by his Blood what is it but that by his Blood he hath paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them But again the Benefit which we receive at the Coming of the Holy Ghost doth more demonstrate this Truth hath Christ purchased Sinners and are they the Price of his Blood Yes But how doth that appear Why because by the Holy Ghost which he hath received to give us we are fitted for the Inheritance which by his Blood is prepared for us 1. By the Spirit of God we are quickned and raised from a state of
Sin but that we could not be were it not that an Atonement is made for us first by the Blood of Christ our Saviour This is true for they that are quickned by the Holy Ghost are quickned by it through the Word of the Gospel which offereth Justification to Sinners through Faith in his Blood yea we are said to be quickned together with him dead and risen with him yet so as by the Spirit of God 2. We are not only quickned by the Holy Ghost but possessed therewith it is given to dwell in our Hearts Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts Gal. 4. 4 5 6. which Spirit is also our earnest for Heaven until the Redemption of the purchased Possession that is until our Body which is the purchased Possession be redeemed also out of the Grave by the Power of the same mighty Spirit of God Ephes. 1. 13 14. 3. By this Holy Spirit we are made to believe Rom. 15. 13. 4. By this Holy Spirit we are helped to pray and call God Father 5. By this Holy Spirit we are helped to understand and apply the Promises 6. By this Holy Spirit the Joy of Heaven and the Love of God is shed abroad in the Heart of the Saved 7. By this Holy Spirit we are made to wait for the hope of Righteousness by Faith that is to stand fast through our Lord Jesus in the day when he shall judg the World And all this is the Fruit of Redemption by Blood of Redemption by the Blood of Christ. This is yet further evident 1. Because the Work of the Spirit is to lead us into the sayings of Christ which as to our Redemption from death are such as these I lay down my Life that you may have Life I give my Life a Ransom for many And the Bread which I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the Life of the World Joh. 6. 2. Because IF the Spirit in the Wisdom of Heaven is not counted a sufficient Testimony on Earth but as joyned with the Blood of Christ. There are three that bear witness on Earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood These are the Witness of God The Spirit because it quickneth the Blood because it hath merited and the Watter to wit the Word because by that we are clean as to life and conversation 1 John 5. 8. Ephes. 5. 26. Rom. 8. 16. Psal. 119. 9. 3. Because as by the Spirit so we are sanctified by Faith in the Blood of Jesus Heb. 13. 12. 4. Because when most full of the Spirit when that doth work most mightly in us we are then most in the belief and admiring apprehensions of our deliverance from death by the Blood of Jesus Revel 15. Chap. 5. 9. 5. The Holy Ghost breaheth no-where so as in the Ministry of this Doctrine this Doctrine is sent WITH the Holy Ghost from Heaven yea as I have hinted one of the Great Works of the Holy Ghost under the Old-Testament was to testifie of the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow 1 Pet. 1. 11 12. Put all these things together and see if Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath not paid full price to God for Sinners if he hath not obtained Eternal Redemption for them The Fourth Demonstration THat Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them is evident if you consider how the preaching thereof hath been from that time to this a mighty Conquerer over all kind of Sinners What Nation what People what kind of Sinners have not been subdued by the preaching of a Crucified Christ. He upon the White Horse with his Bow and his Crown hath conquered doth conquer and goeth forth yet conquering and to conquer Revel 6. 2. And I saith he if I be lifted up from the Earth will draw all men unto me but what was it to be lifted up from the Earth Why it may be expounded by that saying As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 12. 32. Chap. 3. 14 15. He was then lifted up when he was hanged upon a Tree between the Heavens and the Earth as the Accursed of God for us The Revelation of this it conquers all Nations Tongues and People And they sang a new Song saying thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation Revel 5. 9. Hence the Apostle Paul chose above all Doctrines to preach up a Crucified Christ and resolved so to do For I determined saith he not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2 3. 1. The Doctrine of Forgiveness of Sin conquered his very Murderers They could not withstand the Grace them bloody ones that would kill him what-ever it cost them could stand no longer but received his Doctrine fell into his Bosom and obtained the Salvation which is in Christ Jesus They shall look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn for him as one mourneth for his only Son they shall be in bitterness for him as one is in bitterness for his first-born Zech. 12. 10. Now was this Scripture eminently fulfilled when the Kindness of a Crucified Christ broke to pieces the Hearts of them that had before been his Betrayers and Murderers Now was there a great mourning in Jerusalem now was there wailing and lamentation mixed with joy and rejoycing 2. Though Paul was mad exceeding mad against Jesus Christ of Nazareth yea though he was his avowed Enemy seeking to put out his Name from under Heaven yet the Voice from Heaven I am Jesus c. I am the Saviour how did it conquer him make him throw down his Arms fall down at his Feet and accept of the forgiveness of Sins freely by grace through Redemption by Faith in his Blood 3. They at Samaria though before Philip preached to them worshipped and admired the Devil in Magus yet when they believed Philip's preaching of Christ unto them and forgiveness of sins through Faith in his Name great joy was amongst them and they were baptized both Men and Women Act. 8. He preached saith the Text the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ that is all the Blessings of Life through the Name of Jesus Christ for he is the Mediator and without his Blood come no spiritual blessings to men 4. How was the sturdy Jailer overcome by a Promise of forgiveness of sins by Faith in Jesus Christ. It stopt his Hand of self-murder it eased him of the gnawings of a guilty Conscience and fears of Hell-Fire and filled his Soul with rejoicing in God Act. 16. 30 31 32 33. 5. How