upbraid the weakness and timerousness of new beginners Let us learn to follow his good Example and entertain any that come to seek Christ with us though they come trembling at the first and shew some fearfulness to be known by others to do so well It s an evidence of an hearty love when men will venture after Christ notwithstanding they know they therein go cross to the worlds opinion and do that which they would turn upon them as a reproch though yet its a symptome of weakness to be afraid or ashamed it should be taken notice of Let us incourage what is good and bear with and overlook the weakness cleaving to men therein So did our Saviour here taking occasion meekly to instruct Nicodemus into that which concerned both him and us to know viz. the necessity of Regeneration without upbraiding his weakness in the time of his coming for Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again or from above he cannot see the kingdom of God There is an heavenly Kingdom or Kingdom of Heaven or of God spoken of by the holy Prophets chiefly by Daniel which was believed and looked for of the Iews though they mistook many things about it as to the spiritualness of it and the way to it Nicodemus therefore makes no question of that as to its being for indeed both the Baptist and our Saviour had preached its nighness and thereupon exhorted the people to repentance Mat. 3.2 and 4.17 yea the Pharisees afterward inquired of him of the time of its coming as taking it for granted that it would certainly come in its time Luk. 17.20 And the people thought it should shortly be manifested Luk. 19.11 And doubtless Nicodemus desired to see and enter it and therefore our Saviour here instructed and informed him what is requisite and necessary thereto affirming his Doctrine with a double asseveration Verily verily I say unto thee that except a man be born again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or from above he cannot see the Kingdom of God That happy state in which God more immediately ruling and bearing sway fills those that are subject and obedient to his Government with Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost here and with Life and Glory Everlasting in Soul and Body for ever hereafter is not to be seen known or injoyed but by new Creatures those that are born from above This earthly and carnal birth is so much defiled and ushers in such pollution of sin and mortality because of sin that we are not fit without another higher birth for the priviledges of Gods Kingdom into which no unclean or unrighteous thing as we all are by nature may find admission In this natural birth we descend of the first Adam as fallen from God and begetting in his own sinful and mortal likeness but its necessary to our injoyment of Gods Kingdom that we be born of the second Adam who begets Children in his image and likeness holy and heavenly ones Birth of Abraham Isaac and Jacob might suffice to give admission into the outward form and court of the Church and unto the Land of Canaan but to Heaven and the joys and glory thereof nothing but a birth from Heaven Nicodemus stounding at this Doctrine and yet believing Christ to be a Teacher come from God doth not reject it as false but inquires further into it of him who taught him it and who he thought also was fittest to inform him further about it and therefore asked him how it could be How can a man be born saith he when he is old as probably he himself was can he enter into his Mothers Womb the second time and be born in which he shews the grosness of his understanding as not being yet acquainted with our Saviours manner of teaching He its likely-thought and not amiss that our Saviour meant it of some more unwonted thing then were the legal observations or any thing they could confer on men and whether it might be some strange birth over again in the Flesh and perhaps in the Resurrection according to some fancies of the Platonists of all things after some long periods of time to be acted over again as before he might not know nor could conceive how a man could be born again but by such a reduction to his first entrance into the world again But it s better to shew our grosness of understanding and inquire into truths proposed to us of those that teach us them though we speak like fools therein then by an over-bashfulness or a desire to be thought wiser then we are to conceal our doubts and to pretend that we do apprehend what we are ignorant off for by so doing we deprive our selves of the help and instruction which by propounding our doubts however gross and ignorant our proposing of them may make us appear might be received and sure as the Apostle Thomas his doubting and expressing his hardness to believe occasioned a more full demonstration of the reality and verity of Christs Resurrection to the great benefit and advantage not only of himself but also of the whole Church in the present and following ages So Nicodemus his proposing his doubt here tho therein shewing the grosness of his understanding occasioned and received such further instruction into the nature and necessity of Regeneration as tended not only to his but also to our greater helpfulness and advantage For in ver 5.6 Jesus answered verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit In which our Saviour shews that his words are not to be grosly taken as if he spake of a fleshly birth from the Mothers Womb but of a Spiritual and Divine birth the Principles whereof are Water and Spirit By Water signifying that knowledge of God that is often in the Scriptures compared to Water as Psal 1.2 3. Ezek. 47.3 4 5 c. Isa 11.9 Hab. 2.14 Or the free grace and love of God held forth and declared in the said knowledge word or doctrine The Water in the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 5.26 Grace being powred into the lips of Christ Psal 45.2 Or else also a submission to Christ in receiving him and his word and ordinances in being baptized into his name may also be implied and then the Spirit is that holy breath inspiration and working of the holy Spirit of God in and with the Doctrine of Christ which is afforded in his name working effectually upon the heart to the framing it unto the Faith and into the likeness of Christ and so effecting therein a new man a new mind judgment heart affection confidence and frame of Spirit Created after God in righteousness and holiness of truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Could a man be born never so often of the Flesh
and the Salvation of his Soul And if he perish as to any other hope and design which is carnal which as a man yet subject to infirmity and in many things offending he may as Abraham did in his hope and design of bringing about Gods promise by his going in unto Hagar and the birth and life of Ishmael Gen. 16 such perishings of such hopes and designes though causing some grief shall not hurt them It may be said of such as it is of the hay and stubble built upon the good foundation which shall be burnt and the builder of it suffer loss but himself shall be saved so as by fire 1 Cor. 3.12 15. The believer himself as to his great hope and design shall not perish nor shall he his Soul perish as they that draw back but his believing is to the Salvation of that both in his Death wherein he hath hope that will not make him ashamed or fail him Prov. 14.32 Rom. 5.5.6 And in the Judgment when he shall be adjudged to and enter into everlasting life Mat. 25.35 46. Qu. 2. As to the Second Querâ— How the believer shall be saved from this perishing either from the way or in the end in his Death or in the Judgment We may say 1. He shall be saved from perishing from the way by Christ 1. By his giving in light and truth faithfully to direct him and shew him the way that he should go in As it is said The meek will he guide in judgment the meek will he teach his way And what man is he that fears the Lord him shall he teach the way that he shall chuse his Soul shall dwell at ease or lodge in goodness shall not fall into snares and mischiefs Psal 25.8 12 13 14. And in beholding him who is Gods Servant upon whom he hath put his Spirit to bring forth Judgment He that is Christ will not fail to teach him and to bring forth Judgment into truth or victory Isa 42.1 3 4. Christ being come a Light into the world that whosoever believeth on him should not abide in darkness but see the light of Life John 8.12 And his word being believed and abid in as it is in believing on the Son of man keeps from sinning against him Psal 119.11 Yea it cleanseth their way and makes it more perfect ver 9. And so gives a continuance in the Father and in the Son both in dependance on them and in their favour and protection from what might harm them whether it be the World or any Antichristian principles or Doctrine 1 John 2.24 And that because Christ also therein and there-with 2. Gives in his holy Spirit to work in men both a right discerning of his truth and love and affection to it and so conformity to him in and by it his Doctrine being a ministration of Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 Yea his words are Spirit and Life John 6.63 And he hath promised that they that believe on him as the Scripture hath said to them he will give so as they shall receive his holy Spirit Joh. 7.37 38 39. Act. 5.32 We have not now his blessed Body of Flesh to see and converse with sensibly or to shew and testifie our love to as his Disciples and Mary had but instead thereof he hath left us his words and therein his mind and Commandment and we may shew love to him therein though we cannot anoint his head kiss his feet take his body in our armes which his enemies might do and one that pretended love to him in some such actions betrayed him yet we have that in which we may testifie love even his word we may attend to him in that hear him and hugg him too as it were therein take that and lay it up in our hearts keep it in our breasts and diligently observe and follow it And he that hath his Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth him and he that loveth him shall be loved both of the Fathe and of him and he will manifest his own self to him praying the Father for them and sending his holy Spirit to lead and guide them into all truth and abide with them for ever John 14.15 16 17 21. And he will so glorifie Christ to the Soul and shew it things to come as to make afflictions and persecutions light and bearable to it and give it peace and comfort in them and carry them above and keep them from being harmed by the prosperity and allurements of this World or by any baits or temptations It being the spirit of wisdom will make wise and fill with such discretion and understanding as will preserve from the way of the evil Man and of the strange woman and so from every false way as was noted before Prov. 1.23 2.10 11 12 15 16. Psal 119.104 17.4 And the Soul that trusts to and follows its conduct shall not miscarry To these ends also 3. He preserves them by mediating with God his Father from them that the weaknesses and infirmities and through infirmity neglects and wanderings from him being seen confessed and turned from might not be imputed to hinder or with-hold his grace and Spirit from being given forth to lead instrust reprove reduce comfort and work the works of God in them till it perfect what concerns them Heb. 7 25. And there-through he saves them to the utmost So he helped Peter Luk. 22.31 32. 4. By the exercise also of his glorious power and authority over all things he keeps off what might be too hard for us in our depending on him he will be faithful to us and will not fail nor be discouraged Isa 42.1 4. He will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able but with the temptation will give an issue that we may escape 1 Cor. 10.11 12. Surely the wrath of man shall praise him and the remainder thereof he can and will restrain Psal 76.11 Yea and 5. By ordering merciful and faithful corrections and Chastisements to us to break us off from our purposes and hide pride from us to purge away our sins purifie and make us White and so to be partakers of his holiness that we might be kept from going down to the Pit and our life might see the light and that we being made holy might see the Lord. Job 33.16 17 29. Dan. 11.35 Heb. 12.10 11. Thus he delivers the believer on him from every evil way and preserves him to his heavenly Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.18 And then 2. He preserves him from perishing in the end 1. By receiving his Spirit when it departs hence washing it in his precious Blood and presenting it pure and glorious to himself Eph 5.25 26. Psal 49.15 Acts 7.59 Rev. 6.10 11. 2. By redeeming him from the power of the Grave raising him up from death and redeeming the body from all corruption and mortality Psal 49.15 Rom. 8.23 2 Cor. 4.15 3. By his adjudging him being raised to a better condition fully blotting out
deprive our selves of such unspeakable bliss and happiness as cannot be conceived and plunge our selves into such miseries as cannot be imagined And yet evident it is that such folly and madness the world is greatly guilty of For evident it is that it generally rejects and treads under foot the Lord Jesus and the doctrine that declares him and is left to us by him in which is included our salvation and happiness Deut. 32.46 47. Prov. 4.13 Joh. 12.49 50. That the world generally slights both him and his doctrine the bleatings of the sheep and the lowings of the Oxen testifie that is the general Atheism Prophaneness Disorder and Wickedness the false Religions and Worships generally practised commanded or countenanced do loudly proclaim it Use 3. It may also provoke such as do believe on the Son of Man the Lord Jesus Christ to hold fast the faith and so their believing on him and by no means to suffer themselves to be withdrawn therefrom For let us consider with our selves that Consideration 1. If we turn away and fall from our dependance on him we turn after vain things and things that cannot profit because vain 1 Sam. 12.19 20. and so we deprive our selves of all the good in him and plunge our selves into all the misery that can be incurred by us For this eternal life being in the Son of Man Christ Jesus in departing from him we depart from it and losing him we lose it and he being the Saviour and Salvation in withdrawing from him we withdraw from it and lie open to all the evil that the unbeliever may fall into Nay indeed better never to have known the way or word of truth or the holy commandement or to have had fellowship with him then to turn away again therefrom for the latter end in that case is worse than the beginning 2 Pet. 2.20 Luk. 11.26 27. For as all that are far from him do and shall perish So he doth and will destroy them who go a whoring from him Psal 73.27 The consideration then of the certain danger of loss and misery yea of the greatest loss because of the greatest and longest abiding good and of the greatest misery because of the greatest and longest continued evill may move us all with all earnestness to hold fast the profession of the faith and the exercise thereof And that is one consideration often urged by the Apostles So in Heb. 10.23 24 25 26 29 39. Let us hold fast the profession of the faith without wavering not forsaking the Assembling our selves together as the manner of some is For if we sin wilfully after the knowledge of the truth received there remains no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearfull looking for of fiery indignation which shall devour the Adversary For if they that sinned against so as they despised Moses Law dyed without mercy under two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy that hath troden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace It is a fearfull or terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God And if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him As also the Consideration of Consid 2. The exceeding profit and benefit accruing from the holding fast the faith and believing on him and the great incouragements we have thereunto These may more powerfully move us to it What is there better than safety from destruction and the injoyment of Eternal life in which there is an everlasting injoyment of God and Christ and of all that is or can be good and desirable and what have we to incourage to it and assure us of it To that consider Encouragement 1. We have to encourage us to this believing and holding fast the faith all the Trinity for us God the Father gave his Son to that end that we might believe on him and be saved and live for ever Joh. 3.16 And he fills strengthens and upholds his Son in and unto all his undertakings for us in order to the bringing us to that safety and eternal life and happiness Isa 42.1 5 6. Psal 89.20 21 22. And gives his holy Spirit in and through him to strengthen and help us therein against all that would harm us or pull us from it The Son himself or Word is for us in all he hath done and suffered and in all he now doth in heaven or earth in his mediation and intercession with God for us and in his government of the World in the name and power of God about us and his ordering of his providences to us Joh. 14 2 3 18. and 16.33 and dispences his Word and Spirit to that purpose to animate and hearten us thereunto and therein is working in us the works of God for us even what he requires of us Joh. 14.16 17 26. and 16.13 14 15. And the holy spirit encourages us by his word and by his heavenly and powerful working in us therewith and gives us all motives and inducements that may be with exhortations counsells promises c. to perswade and strengthen us And what shall we say to these things If God be for us herein who is he that is against us Or what is there that can be presented to our view that may so much discourage us as the consideration that God both Father Son and Spirit are for us may encourage us and hearten us Rom. 8.31 32 33. 1 Joh 5.6 9. Encour 2. Having God for us we have his creatures the best of them and all that are on Gods side to encourage us too We have the holy Angels to protect and defend us therein Psal 34.7 and 91.11 12. Heb. 1.13 14. This they will do for us while we are here and when we go hence they will carry us up to Christ or into Abrahams bosome to be at rest with Christ and his holy ones Luk. 16.22 We have the holy Apostles and Prophets and so the Spirits of just men made perfect for us both to encourage us by their testimonies instructions provocations and all means used in their writings left on Record for us animating and heartning us in believing on the Son of man and by their own practice and examples in all ages we have in them a cloud of witnesses going before us as a guide to us all witnessing to this That the just shall live by faith and shewing us by their examples how to exercise it and live by it Heb. 10.38 with 11 throughout and 12.1 and we have the living Saints the holy men led by the spirit of God to encourage and hearten us on For whatsoever difference there may be among such in any by-opinions or apprehensions yet they all agree in this That he that believeth on the Son of man the Son of God is in a good and right way in the certain way to happiness and shall in holding
Teachers for perfecting the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the Edifying the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith and acknowledgment of the Son of God to a perfect man c. Ephes 4.7 8.11 12. And it was needful he should give such Gifts to men to the end that he might be Lifted up by men in the Exercise of them Yea and that they be faithful to men therein making it the great Business Work and end of all their exercise of their Gifts and so of all their Ministry and Conversation to Lift up and Magnifie the Son of Man to glorifie Jesus Christ our Lord by and from whom they have all their said Gifts and all their Mercies and Injoyments bestowed upon them Heb. 13.7 8. 2 Thes 1.12 Yea and of all that know and believe in him to confess him with their Mouth and magnifie him both in Word and Work calling in others to him And so it 's said The Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come Rev. 22.17 And this Witnessing to him and Lifting him up as the Son of God the Christ the Saviour of the World the Lord the Ransom of our Souls who hath given himself the Ransom or Price of Redemption for all the Testimony in due time the Reconciliation and Reconciler the Propitiatory or Mercy Seat through whom God doth cover the Sins of men through Faith in his Blood and the Propitiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole World The Peace-maker and Peace between God and man and between men and men The great Prophet and Apostle Light and Leader of men into the Truth true Knowledg Faith and Worship of Cod the great High Priest over the House of God the Mediator of God and man that makes Intercession for Transgressors and for all that come to God by him the great King of Saints and Nations the Procurer and Giver of Remission of sins and of the Holy Ghost and of all Spiritual Grace and Blessing the great God and our Saviour who hath the Fulness of God yea all the Fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him Bodily and hath the Government of all things committed to him so as he hath all Power and Authority over all things in Heaven and Earth and hath the dispose of all Mercies for this Life and that to come Spiritual and Corporal the only Way to the Father to be worshipped by us and from the Father to Convey all Grace and Blessing to us the Resurrection and the Life yea the All I say the lifting him up as such a one is exceeding useful and behoveful yea necessary for begetting in mens hearts an exceeding high apprehension of him so as to render him precious to them more precious then the fine Gold of Ophir or the Mountains of Prey and to lead them to account all things loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledg of him and so to come to and believe on him And though in all Ages nor in all Places there hath not been given forth a like Express and full Testimony of and to him as there is given in these Ages and these Places wherein we live having the Testimony of the Apostles and of the holy Spirit by them nor where we have that is there in every one the same fulness of understanding firmness of belief and clearness of declaration of what is said and contained therein Yet this in the fulness of it and all that is in it is very needful and behoveful for bringing men in to believe on him explicitly and firmly against and because of all the oppositions of the Devil and evil Spirits and of the reason and wisdom and stubbornness of the Flesh and carnal Heart and the course and principles of the world tending to keep men therefrom as to mens more distinct full and comfortable exercise of Faith in him Indeed as it is not of absolute necessity to Salvation and Eternal life that every one have the same fulness and comfortable exercise of believing so also neither is it of absolute necessity that they have every one the same clearness and fulness of understanding and perswasion of the commendations pertaining to him Yea as to Gods power to save men through him I cannot assert a necessity of a distinct knowledg of the Name and particular Acts of Christ at all for doubtless many who died before his Incarnation and had no distinct knowledg of his Person and personal Acts in the flesh were saved as well as many Infants and others since But yet generally needful it is that he be so far Lifted up and made known and there-through that the heart be so far perswaded of his Being Fulness Power Excellency Sufficiency as that the heart see him the only excellent and sufficient Object of Faith and Confidence the only powerful One to be looked to and hoped in by us or else he cannot be distinctly believed on to Salvation and Life everlasting Where there is no Vision the people perish but where there is so much as that people may see the Law and Doctrine of Christ or the Mind of God concerning them through him he that keeps the Law is happy Even that of the Law that concerning him or by and through him is made known Prov. 29.18 with Rom. 2.26 Acts 10.34 And where men have the clear knowledg of him to declare to others for their helpfulness in believing on him and they conceal it from men woe to them for so doing 1 Cor. 9.16 Br. 2. As the Exalting and Lifting up of Christ by way of Declaration of him as aforesaid is necessary for mens believing on him for Life and Salvation at the first and further then he is made known in his Being and Excellency no man can have any Faith in or belief on him So this is necessary also to the abiding and growth in him and recovery of the Back-sliders to Faith in him again that he be still and always Lifted up and Magnified in the Eyes of men even of those that have begun to believe or have formerly believed on him For if by any means the Lifting of him up and the Preaching and praises of him being with-held or neglected the Serpent foist in high thoughts of some other thing or things as better and fuller then he or as necessary besides him and the Grace in and by him for our Life and Salvation or for our Welfare and Happiness either here or hereafter so as the thoughts or mind be corrupted from the simplicity in him And he begin to appear or be looked upon as less Full Precious and Desirable the soul is in present danger to be withdrawn from him and be gone ceasing to believe and depend on him or to do so singly and rightly for the Salvation and Life that is in and by him which occasioned the Apostles godly jealousie of the Corinthians least by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve their minds should
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
Egypt and its Bondage and the Law-giver from God to whose Laws they were bound in all ages to yeild obedience till the Messiah should be revealed So also the Son of man was appointed and is made of God the Redeemer and Deliverer of us Mankind from the hands of our Spiritual Enemies and from all that hate us Luk. 1.70 72 73. Especially his followers and obeyers those that believe in him and are made the Seed or Israel of God in and by him He being also as Abraham and Israel was their Father The Everlasting Father of this Spiritual off-spring Isa 9.6 And he is the great Law-giver to the World for whose Laws the Iles or Gentiles are to wait and to them to yeild obedience to the end of the World For the Lord is our Law-giver Isa 33.22 42.1 4. 2. Again as Joshua was a Saviour and the bringer of them into the Inheritance which God had promised to their Fathers delivering them from the Inhabitants of that Land the Cananites utterly destroying them before them and dividing their Land to them by Lot So also Jesus the Son of Man was to be and is exalted and lifted up of God to be the expeller and driver out of Sathan and his Angels the powers of darkness out of their possession and the bringer in of his People the Israel of God that follow him into the heavenly Country and City of God which he hath promised to the spiritual Israel that are subject to him driving out all the power of Sin and Corruption from them Yea and in due time driving out all the Tyrants of the World with their Captains and Ring-leaders into Destruction he shall possess his People of the glorious Kingdom and divide to them their several portions and rewards in giving the Kingdom and Dominion and greatness of the Kingdom to the Saints of the most high God whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and his dominion that that shall have no end Dan. 7.27 3. As they had Judges also to be their helpers and Saviours from their enemies and to judge and avenge them of them and order their Affairs So Christ the Son of Man is raised up and appointed of God to be the great Judge the pleader of the Causes and avenger of Man-kind against Sathan and the Powers of Darkness And more especially of his Israel the Seed and Sons of God through the faith of him against all their Enemies Yea the great Judge of quick and dead who shall raise up all from their Graves and gather them together from all quarters of the World determining all Cases deciding all controversies and finally disposing to every man according to his Works everlasting rewards or punishments in Justice and Righteousness And seeing his Sentences put in execution with great and irresistible Power and Authority Act. 10.42 17.30 31. But perhaps we might as well have reduced these last mentioned offices or honours unto that that follows Viz. That 4. Whereas they had Kings set over them to go in and out before them to be their Captains and Leaders and to appoint Officers under them giving them Laws and Commands fighting their Battels and so to subdue their enemies protect them in peace and quietness in the peaceable possession of their Inheritances and enlarge their borders c. And so Moses also was said to be King in Jesurun So Christ this Son of Man is lifted up of God to that Authority and Sovereign dignity made his King by him set upon his holy hill of Sion Psal 2.1 2 6 7. And Maugre all opposition made by the Heathen and People the Kings and Rulers the Jews and Gentiles Herod and Pontius Pilate and all or any of their Successors that set themselves against him Act. 4.26 29. The King of Nations Jer. 10.7 Yea Of all the Earth Psal 47.7 And the King of Saints Rev. 15.4 5. A Great King above all Gods Psal 95.2 The Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our Judge The Lord is our King and he will save us Isa 33.20 Yea and further 5. Whereas their Priests and Kings and once we find a Prophet was anointed by Gods appointment to their several offices and so designed of God to them upon which also as we sometime find God gave his Spirit to fit them for the discharge of them as thereby also they were seperated from others to attend unto God to serve him and his People therein and receive his help and supplies for the same So also the Son of Man Christ Jesus was to be and is and was anointed of God with the holy Ghost and Power Act. 10.38 To design seperate and authorize him to and furnish him for all those Offices and undertakings to which God appointed and called him As for the discharge of his Prophetick Office and work it is said The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to Preach glad tidings to the poor to bind up the broken hearted c. Isa 61.1 2. With Luk. 4 18 19. for by his word and the Divine force and power of his holy Spirit breathing forth his grace therein He is as a great yea the great and only Phisician of the Soul and his words do good like a Medicine being words of grace words of eternal life pleasant words that are like a honey-comb pleasant to the taste and healing to the bones Prov. 15.14 16.24 Wholsome and sound and healing words are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine that is according to Godliness 1 Tim. 6.3 4 Again it is said Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my holy Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles c. Isa 42.1 And as the great King the Great God and our Governour He is Gods Christ or Anointed whom he hath set upon his holy hill of Sion Psal 2.2 6. And anointed with the Oyl of gladness above his fellows Psal 45.6 7. And as the most holy even the most holy High Priest who is holy harmless undefiled seperated from Sinners He may be understood to be the Anointed or Messiah spoken of by Daniel Dan. 9.24 When he saith To Anoint the most holy And so that he was Consecrated that way also as well as by the word of the Oath Though the former was tipyfied in Aaron and his Sons Sanctified and Consecrated with the holy anointing Oyl powred upon and anointing them Exod. 30.29 30. Levit. 8.12 And the latter exceeded them Heb. 7.20 21 28 To Minister before the Lord for ever Sure it is that Through the Eternal Spirit he offered up himself as the spotless Sacrifice Heb. 9.14 And with reference to this anointing him and furnishing him with the fullness of the holy Ghost The Spirit of wisdom and of understanding the Spirit of counsel and of might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord that rests and abides upon him and makes him quick
it again When the People some of them said that it Thundred others that an Angel spake to him John 12.28 29. But these things were known to few 2. In his speaking and working by him such things as never any spake or did for the words that he spake he spake not from himself as man alone but of or from the Father who dwelt in him and he it was that did the Works John 14.10 Whence he saith to Philip Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me or else believe me for the works sake ver 11. With Chap. 15.24 7.46 And that God did magnifie him in this and lift him up among men The Apostle Peter testifies Act. 2.22 Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God by Miracles Wonders and Signes which God did by him c. As also 3. By his raising him from the dead glorifying him and maintaining his cause and name against all oppositions and gathering in a Church to him and upholding it in the midst of Persecutions c. Of which things I shall not inlarge 2. Of God the Word or Son also even by himself or his Divine Being or Deity exerting and putting forth it self and so glorifying him as the Son of Man And so it behoved him and he did it Both 1. In Work As in his working glorious Miracles Thus it s said upon his turning Water into Wine at that Marriage in Cana of Galilee This beginning of Miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory But more fully in his rising from the dead and ascending into Heaven and giving gifts from thence unto men as some Apostles some Prophets c. Whence he saith No man takes my life from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again This Commandement have I received of my Father John 10.18 For as it is said that he was raised again from the dead by his Father and his glory So also it is said that he rose again in and by the power of his divine Spirit And that he died rose and revived that he might be Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Lord it over the quick and dead Rom. 14.9 And he rose again the Third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.3 4. Being put to death in the flesh but quickned in the Spirit 1. Pet. 3.18 And so that he Ascended and went up on high and gave gifts unto men Psal 68.18 Eph. 4.8.9 2. In his Word Preaching forth himself and his own excellencies As he saith I am one that bear witness of my self and my Father that sent me he beareth witness of me Though he said If I bear witness of my self my witness is not true As implying that of himself as man only he bare not witness of himself if as Man only he had so done his Witness might have been slighted But he as the Word though made flesh witnessed of himself as in his works so in his word too and his witness as witnessing so was true For he knew whence he came and whither he went John 5.31 8.14 18. And so he declared himself in the Man-hood as the Son of man or the Word made Flesh to be the Son of God to be in Heaven and come from Heaven and to know the things of Heaven John 3.11 12 13 16. And so when he said here he must be lifted up we may understand him to say in such intimations and declarations of his excellencies as those were So he testified of himself that he is the Light of the World John 8.12 12.46 The bread of Life the bread that came down from heaven The living bread His Flesh meat indeed and his Blood drink indeed Necessary to be fed upon to the obtaining everlasting life And such as 〈◊〉 gives everlasting life to all that feed thereupon John 6.35 48 50 51 55 56. c. That he knows the Father and is known of the Father John 7.29 10.15 That he gives the water of Life which whoso drinks it shall be in him a spring of living waters springing up unto eternal life And causing Rivers of living waters to flow out of his belly or inward man as being the Baptizer with and giver of the holy Ghost John 4.14 7.37 38 39. Act. 1.5 With John 15.26 That he is The good Shepherd The door of the sheep knowing his sheep and giving to them in their following him Eternal Life John 10.3 9 11 15 28 29. That he is the Resurrection and the Life So as that He that believeth on him though dead he shall live he that liveth and believeth on him shall not dye for ever John 11.25 26. That he is The way the truth and the life John 14.6 The true vine John 15.1 4. And many the like But chiefly he is and was lifted up And that I might have referred the two former to the testimonies of the Father and Word as being brought to us and our cognizance by him 3. By the holy Spirit whose business it is to witness of Christ taking his things and shewing them and so glorifying him John 15.27 16.14 And so it is prophetically said of him That when the Enemy shall come in like a stood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard against him which Standard or Ensigne is Christ of the Seed of David of the Root of Jesse Isa 11.1 10 11. And put him to flight Isa 59.19 And he was to lift him up and hath and doth diversly as 1. By fore-testifying glorious things of him As that he as the Seed of the Woman and so as the Son of Man should bruise the head of the Serpent Overthrow his plot against us and our well-fare and take away his acquired power and jurisdiction over us and open the way for us into Paradise and so to God again Gen. 3.15 That he as the Seed of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob and so as the Son of Man should be the blessing of or bringer forth of blessing to all the Nations or families of the Earth Gen. 22.18 26.4 28.14 With Gal. 3.8 That he as proceeding out of the Tribe of Judah should be the Shiloh the peaceable one or peace-maker Vnto whom should be the gathering of the People Gen. 49.10 That he should be the Prophet raised up from among the People and so as the Son of Man whom all the People should hear in all things that he should say unto them Deut. 18.15 18. That he should be as the Seed of David and so as the Son of Man the Great King and Governour upon whose shoulders the Government should be The Wonderful the Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace Of the increase of whose Government and Peace there should be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order and to establish it with justice and with judgment
Pet. 3.18 As it follows here That whosoever believes ◠him might not perish but have Eternal Life 3. As to his abundant Love Charity Goodness and Grace in all this such as passeth Knowledge Eph. 7.18 19. And therein the love of God the Father in appointing preparing sanctifying and furnishing him to all this great business and undertaking John 3.16 1 John 4.9 10 14. It was by the grace of God that He tasted Death for every one Heb. 2.9 And his own grace even The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ it was to abase himself And when rich to become poor for our sakes th◠we through his poverty might be made rich 2 Cor. 8.9 And so to lay down his life for us even when and though ungodly and enemies worthy of no love at all much less of such and so great love 1 John 3.16 17. Rom. 5.6 7 8. John 3.16 Love worthy admiration acceptation and imitation by us Eph. 5.1 2 3.18 19. Stronger then death such as many waters could not quench it nor the flouds drown it Cant. 8.6 7. Fourthly In the preciousness of his Abasement Obedience Bloud Death Sufferings and Sacrifice for us That however he was therein made low and despicable among men and became an offence to the worldly-wise and honourable yet He in and by them was a most acceptable Sacrifice to God an offering of a sweet smelling savour 1 Cor. 1.22 23. Eph. 5.2 That for which we all have great cause to love and admire him and flee for refuge and sanctuary to him He having therein made peace for us slain the enmity broken down the wull of partition between God and man and between Jew and Gentile wrought Reconciliation or that where-through we may be reconciled or made at one with God Col. 1.20 Eph. 2.14 15 16. 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. having therein given himself a Ransome for all 1 Tim. 2.6 and being become there through the Propitiation for our sins yea for the sins of the whole world 1 John 2.1 2. and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propitiatory or Mercy-seat through faith in his bloud for remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God and for the declaration of his righteousness therein that he is just and the justifier of those that believe in Jesus Rom. 3.25 26. There being therein Redemption and through that Redemption a free Justification 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to or for all and upon all that believe v. 22.24 There-through the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us being blotted out and what was contrary to us taken out of the way and nailed to his Cross and Principalities and powers thereby spoiled and triumphed over by him Col. 2.14 15. So that great is the power and vertue of that his despised and reproched Cross So as that it 's accepted of God far before and above all the Sacrifices and Services ordained by him in the Law of Moses they being not able to take away sin But this one Sacrifice is so powerful and prevalent a purgation and expiation of it that Christ hath by that one Sacrifice once offered perfected for ever those that are sanctified So that the Consciences of the comers to God there-through are purged from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 1.3 9.14 10.2 3 4 5 10 14. So as that there-through we may have access to God in the holy of holies and may draw nigh to him and call upon him with full assurance of faith and confidence Heb. 10.19 22. His precious Bloud being the Bloud of sprinkling for sprinkling the heart from an evil conscience and speaking better things then the bloud of Abel Heb. 12.24 Therefore also the Cross of Christ the onely thing to be gloried in by us Gal. 6.14 Fifthly In the exceeding greatness of that Glory that God hath given him as a reward of his sufferings and hard service sustained against the World and Sathan for us Wherein also is further evidenced the exceeding preciousness of his Bloud and Sufferings the infinite value of them and the force and vertue they have in them with him They set forth his Glory to be far above all the glory of the world yea or the glory of Moses or any of the former glorious ones then the Glory of Solomon and the Glory of his Ministration Far transcending that of the Law as being more powerful in the discoveries of it for transforming the beholders of it into his likeness so as when we see him as he is we shall there-through be made like him 2 Corinthians 3.3 8 9 18. 1 John 3.2 Col. 3.4 For they declare that God hath glorified him with his own self filled him with all his fulness so as all the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily and so as that in him we are compleat Col. 1.19 2.9 Oh let us go out and see this King Solomon this excellent Prince of Peace the Peace and Peace-maker of whom and of whose Glory Solomon of old was but a type and figure and the glory and lustre of his Kingdom but a type and figure of the the Glory of his which passeth all our conceptions and expressions let us go forth I say and behold him with the Crown wherewith his Mother the infinite Wisdom Love and Grace of God as also his Disciples who have heard and received the Word of God and kept it who are to him as his Mother Brethren and Sisters Matth. 12.49 50 have crowned him in the day of his espousals and of the gladness of his heart When being espoused to the nature of man he received the holy Spirit and poured it forth upon them Cant. 3.13 Matth. 22.1 Acts 2.33 But indeed it is not to be fully seen and known till the great day of his appearance the time of the appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2.13 1 John 3.2 Sixthly In his perfect and compleat Furniture wherewith he is furnished for executing and performing the works of his glorious Offices and bringing about the end of them the salvation of man the eternal salvation of all that obey him in which they present us as compleatly provided for of all things pertaining to life and godliness as given to him and dwelling in him for us I shall here onely touch upon something thereof in some few Particulars As First They declare him to be the great Prophet and as such fully and perfectly accomplished with ability fitness and faithfulness for teaching us the knowledge of himself and of God and of all things As being filled to that purpose with the fulness of God the gift of the Holy Ghost being so immeasurably received by him that he hath the seven spirits that are before the Throne Rev. 1.4 3.1 The fulness of the Holy Ghost and of all spiritual gifts for both giving forth to men and enabling and moving men to receive the exact and perfect knowledge of God and for gifting whom
he pleaseth to be Apostles Prophets or otherwise useful for perfecting the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the acknowledgment of the Son of God unto a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the age of Christ Eph. 4.8 11 12 13. Col. 2.3.9 That it is He that hath prevailed to open the book in the right hand of God and unâ—rose the seals and discover and declare the hidden Wisdom and secret Mysteries contained therein Rev. 5.1 6. The great Apostle faiâ—hful in all things to him that appointed him as Moses in all his house accounted worthy of more honor then Moses to be more acquainted and intimate with God even as his Son in his bosome and so fullier furnished for declaring his Glory and glorious grace and good-will and more faithful even as a son in his own house built by himself Whereas Moses was faithful but as a servant therein Wherefore as the Holy Ghost also saith to day if ye will hear his voice even his that is Gods own Son the heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds his who is the express character of his Fathers person and the brightness of his glory giving forth the fullest and brightest discovery of God and of his holy mind and will and speaking to us from heaven harden not your hearts c. Heb. 3.1 2 3 4 7. with 1.3 12.25 Secondly As the Priest in and High Priest over the house of God the most authorized and consecrated person consecrated with the Word of Gods Oath and after the power of an endless life by a sacrifice once offered for ever and that never needs to be iterated made a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck an everlasting Priest in the vertues of his once endured Death for us and therefore able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Heb. 7.25 A Priest upon the throne and so both a King and Priest the true Melchisedeck being both King of Righteousness and after that King of Peace working performing and commanding righteousnes and so commanding and prevailingly making and giving Peace far greater then Aaron Levi or Abraham Such a Priest as we needed and it behoved us to have being holy harmless undefiled and separated from sinners and made higher then the heavens Heb. 7.1.26 â—7 A great High Priest entred into the heavens even into Heaven it self by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle and by vertue not of the bloud of others as Aaron did into the figure of the heavens onely but of his own precious bloud and sacrifice Where he now appears in the presence of God for us having obtained eternal redemption Heb. 4.14 9.11 12 24. A faithful High Priest and therefore made like is brethren in all things that he might be so to make atonement and reconciliation for the people and to succour and help the tempted Heb. 2.17 18. To which end also he is both perfectly furnished with knowledge of our cases and conditions by reason both of his exceeding quickness and powerfulness as the VVord of God for searching into all things and piercing even to the dividing asunder the soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow being a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart So as there is not any creature that is not manifested in his sight but all things are naked and opened as things anatomized and laid perfectly before his view Heb. 4.12 13. The Spirit that rests upon him making him quick of understanding Isa 11.2 3 4. And also as having had an experimental feeling of our infirmities and temptations as man in himself having himself suffered and been tempted yea tempted in all points like to us yet without sin and so the more acceptable and prevalent in his mediating and interceding with God for us And also perfectly merciful and compassionate towards us ready to plead for us and help us Heb. 2.17 18. with 4.15 5.1 2. So as we have great ground of encouragement from this consideration of his Priesthood and its perfection and his fitness by the vertues of his Sacrifice to make the worshippers of and comers to him and to God by him perfect to draw nigh and come with boldness to the throne of grace with true hearts and full assurance of faith to ask and receive grace and mercy to help us seasonably in all our trials and temptations Heb. 4.14 16. 9.14 10.19 22. Thirdly As a King he is set forth as furnished with the most sovereign Authority over all creatures in heaven earth and under the earth all things being put under him and the Throne and power of God given him in the manhood So as also to be every way accomplished to be the Law-giver Saviour and Judge He being indued also with all the fulness of the Spirit of counsel and might which resting upon him renders him both infinitely quick in understanding in the fear of the Lord and perfect in Righteousness in all his Government and the exercise of it Girded up in his loyns with righteousness and in his reins even in all his thoughts purposes and desires from whence issue all his words and motions for action with faithfulness Isa 11.2 3 4 5. Having a white horse under him as supported by his own Righteousness or as riding on the Heavens and having them at his command for the help of his subjects and riding swiftly and prosperously in all his Government Deut. 33.26 27. being called faithful and true and in righteousness judging and making war His eyes as a flame of fire discovering and trying all things And on his head are many Crowns Either as denoting his superlative Power or Jurisdiction over the many Countreys brought into an acknowledgment of him yea Kings and Kingdoms Or the many great Victories gotten by him over his enemies whether evil spirits or evil men engaging themselves against him and gotten by his truth against errour and impiety Or also the many praises ascribed to him And he hath a name Dignity Title Power which none knoweth but himself as signifying that he is exalted above all blessing and praise Neh. 9.5 and that none can set forth all his praises Ps 106.2 And he is clothed in a vesture dipt in bloud either because all his appearance in his Government to the spiritual eye is such as in which is manifested the vertue of his most precious Bloud Sufferings and Sacrifice for us Or because it represents the overthrow of his and our enemies And his name is called the Word of God as being the great speaker forth and Interpreter of the knowledge of God to us And he hath a sword that goeth out of his mouth A sharp cutting word full of killing convincing efficacy to all that stands cross to him which is therefore said to go out
of his mouth with which he is furnished to smite the Nations even all Nations over whom he hath power to rule them with a rod of iron Such a force and power as is able to and at his pleasure doth and will break in pieces what is against him And he also treads the Wine-press of the wrath of Almighty God and on his vesture and on his thigh he hath this Name written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS Even the most absolute and Sovereign Lord and King and with the foresaid Sword out of his mouth He and his followers or Disciples fight against and shall subdue his enemies the Beast and false Prophet and all their power either worldly or pretendedly religious that stands opposite against him Rev. 19.11 12 13 15 16 21. And this suits with what the Prophet Isaiah prophesied concerning him as the Son of man the great King sprung up as a rod out of the stem of Jesse and as a Branch out of his roots that he should with righteousness judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth and smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his mouth slay the wicked Isa 11.1 4. A mighty King indued with righteousness to punish sinners and destroy the wicked and wickedness and give peace safety and quietness to the good and righteous both in inward and outward man as he pleaseth yea both here as he sees good and hereafter fully and for ever at his glorious appearing and in his everlasting and most blessed Kingdom Isa 32.1 2. with 2 Thess 1.4 5 10. 2 Tim. 4.1 Seventhly As for his fulness of grace and truth for his saving and satisfying all that obey him he being set forth as the Author of eternal Salvation upon the account of and in the vertues of his most precious Death or Bloud of his Cross and in the exercise of his glorious Offices and Authority Heb. 5.9 They have declared that in him there is forgiveness of sins in his bloud even plenteousness of redemption for forgiving all trespasses and cleansing from all sins and unrighteousness Col. 1.14 2.14 Eph. 1.7 with Psal 130.4.6 7. 1 John 1.7 9. 2.1 2. and the fulness of all other spiritual blessings in heavenly things Eph. 1.3 Election is in him ver 4. Predestination to grace or glory ver 5. Acceptation into favour and fellowship with God ver 6. All spiritual wisdom and understanding Both as to himself for manageing his government and furnishing men in their looking and listening to him according to his good pleasure ver 8 9. Col. 2.3 And for making us wise and of an understanding heart Isa 42.1 1 John 5.20 All fulness of glorious power for strengthning with all might Col. 1.10 11. and subduing all things to himself Phil. 3.21 And what ever else may be named we might distinguish this grace into First Personal Graces and Perfections fitting him for his personal exercise of his glorious Offices as Love Mercy Truth Righteousness Patience Meekness Gentleness Strength Power Wisdom Holiness c. 2 John 3. Jude 21. 1 John 2.1 1 Tim. 1.14 16. Matth. 11.29 2 Cor. 10.1 Phil. 3.21 4.13 1 Cor. 1.24 Acts 3.14 c. Secondly Communicative Grace or Grace treasured up in him for us to be imparted to us such as Wisdom Righteousness Holiness Redemption the Spirit of God and all spiritual Gifts Efficacies or Vertues as Love Joy Peace Patience c. Gifts for Usefulness also and Edification as Knowledge Utterance Prophesie c. All the fulness of them dwell perfectly in him and all for our benefit and advantage Col. 1.19 1 Cor. 1.30 31. Eph. 1.7 8. Eighthly As to his glorious appearance and the effects of it or what he shall then manifest and bring to to pass they lift him up very highly also testifying That First He shall come again in great Majesty and Glory attended with all his mighty Angels and in the Power and Glory of God his Father to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe on him 2 Thes 1.7 8 10. Jude 14. 1. Thes 4.14 15 16. Secondly He shall raise up the dead Saints and change the then living and destroy their enemies the ungodly and wicked and the man of sin by the brightness of his appearing 1 Thes 4.16 2 Thes 2.8 2 Pet. 3.7 Thirdly He shall sit upon the Throne of his Glory and judge the world in righteousness Matth. 25.31 Psal 96.13 Acts 17.30 And then Fourthly He shall possess the Saints his followers of the Kingdom with him who shall reign with him a thousand years without any opposition threatning them and after the total destruction of all enemies they shall reign for ever and ever without disturbance or opposition in the New and Heavenly Jerusalem in inexpressible joy and happiness Dan. 7.26 27. Rev. 5.10 20.6 10. 22.5 Matth. 25.26 Such but far more excellent and glorious is the honour and glory that the Apostles in their testimony ascribe to him Lifting up the Horn the horn of his people the praise of all his Saints and his Kingdom and Dominion Psal 148.14 for 1. Largeness 2. Righteousness 3. Peace 4. Prosperity 5. Glory and 6. Endless happiness beyond all expression Of which I shall not inlarge here particularly to speak And so must and ought he also to be lifted up Fourthly Of their Followers the Ministers and Servants of the Lord in his Gospel in the exercise of their several Gifts and Administrations They that stand in his house and Courts are to praise his name and make his praise glorious Psal 134 1 2. 135.1 2 3. Not preaching and exalting themselves and seeking their own glory and honour to be adored and worshipped of men and called of them Rabbi and Master as Lords of their faith and ruling over Gods heritage but preaching Jesus the Lord and themselves servants for Jesus sake As the Apostles did 2 Cor. 4.5 being followers and imitaters of them and of the Prophets continuing in their Doctrine and the form of wholesome and sound words that they have delivered according to the furniture and assistance of the Holy Spirit to that end afforded them upon whom they are to depend and by whom to be acted and ordered therein Acts 20.28 31 35. 1 Pet. 5.2 3 4. Fifthly Yea and the Bride and whole Church and all that hear and receive his words as all ought to do and are professed followers and Disciples of him and his Doctrine ought to exalt and lift him up seeking his glory 2 Thes 1.12 Psal 99.5 6. Rev. 22.17 Living to him as all ought also to do who dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5.15 And this 1. In their hearts sanctifying him there 1 Pet. 3.15 That is thinking highly and honourably of him blessing and lauding him with all that is within them Psal 103.1 2. without grudging or murmuring in their hearts against him but keeping judgment and doing righteousness
according to the testimony of God by his Holy Spirit concerning him Psal 106.3 and accordingly in their hearts liking loving and desiring after the knowledge and enjoyment of him trusting in and cleaving to him with purpose of heart Psal 31.23 Cant. 1 2 3 4. 2.4 5. 5.7 8. 8.6 7. 1 Cor. 16.22 Isa 26.8 9. Phil. 3.7 8 9 10.1 John 3.23 Acts 11.23 24. 2. In their word speaking nothing but what is high holy and honourable concerning him Holding forth the word of life and blessing and speaking well of his name Psal 47.6 7. 98.1 4. 66.1 2 3. 100.1 2 4 5. 3. In their Life and Conversation for there also he may be lifted up and glorified and magnified of us yea both in life and in death Phil. 1.20 As therein also he may be blasphemed dishonoured and denied as is implied 1 Tim. 6.1 Tit. 2.5 1.16 But surely he ought not to be denied blasphemed or put to reproch by us or by occasion of us He hath not so deserved of any man but to be blessed and highly honoured And that is best done when to a high commendation of him in our words we add also such a conversation and carriage as speaks him excellent in our esteems and experiences of him When we shew that he is upright and that there is no unrighteousness in him Matth. 5.16 2 Thess 1.12 Psal 92.15 1 Pet. 2.9 11 12. Now though the lifting him up by his Father in the acts done to him in his personal body in his calling him to upholding and accepting him in raising him from and rewarding him for and after his Sufferings and the obedience and service done and performed by him for us be the main and most fundamental lifting him up absolutely necessary with respect to us and our Regeneration and Salvation Yet I apprehend That the lifting him up also as to manifestation and commendation of him to and in the eyes of others both by the Spirit of God and by men especially his holy Saints and Servants that desire and are set for his Glory and the good of others is here also with the former way and acts directly included and intended And indeed as to his being lifted up of God both Father Word and Spirit it must be so as we have partly said because it was so purposed and decreed of God It was his purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus before the world that is made manifest now by his appearance in what God hath wrought by and done to him for us 2 Tim. 1.9 10. And as for mans exalting him and lifting him up in his ministration and service in the Gospel and in heart and life it 's no more then God requires of us and his love and the excellency in and love of Christ to us obliges us to and challengeth of us And therefore so it must and ought to be also Psal 96.3 4. But because that must be lifted up the necessity of his being lifted up hath direct and main respect to the end whereto he is to be lifted up that is That whosoever believeth on him may not perish but have eternal life As also the necessity that he be so lifted up As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness hath reference thereto Therefore I shall not more fully speak to the necessity of his being lifted up and so lifted up till after the speaking to those two following Points The Son of Man must be lifted up that 's the second Point The other two follow in order The manner how and the end to which he must be and must be in such manner lifted up For I shall also leave the Use of all this till we have considered and viewed those Points also they both appertaining to the full view of this which is the main Point CHAP. VIII The third Point That the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness Where several Analogies and Agreements between them are considered Point 3 HOw the Son of Man is to be lifted is the next Point to be spoken to and that is As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness In which may be implied 1. As verily and certainly as that was done so must this be done also and indeed that lifting up of the Serpent being a type and figure preaching forth this lifting up of the Son of Man must not be made frustrate for then as a type it should have failed and been false Where the shadow goes before the body follows And where the type and figure was fore-ordained to instruct into the truth that was to be revealed there the truth also thereby signified must in its time take place and be accomplished all things written of him in the Law of Moses also whether Prophecy or Type and Figure must be fulfilled Luke 24.46 But not onely so but also 2. As so As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness So even after such a sort and manner must the Son of Man be lifted up There is agreeableness correspondency and answerableness between the one and the other as may be seen in many Particulars As 1. In the occasion of it There the people walking in the Wilderness were disobedient murmured against God despised his mercy bounty and goodness and provoked him in wrath to send fiery serpents among them to bite and kill them and as a remedy there against that Serpent was commanded to be and accordingly was lifted up And so here men in the wilderness of thâ—s world being ransomed by Christ out of that sentence of Condemnation that lay upon us all for our first Fathers Transgression and under a state of much mercy and bounty from God yet not without trials and temptations are found sinning against God and despising the Heavenly Manna Christ Jesus and the knowledge of God in him and discontent with Gods dealings through the temptations of sin and Satan and so fall under his power and are obnoxious to destruction This occasions a necessity of lifting up the Son of Man both in his exaltation by God and unto men for their healing Yea our first Parents and we all in them being tempted though in a Paradise listening to the Tempter and siding with him to a discontent with Gods allowance to us in the Creation because one Fruit was forbidden and to a desire of and coveting after what was unlawful and forbidden us fell under the power of the old Serpent the Devil and Satan So as by him to be stung and wounded to death even a death of our souls and spirits from the life and favour of God and of both body and soul to be exposed to and filled with misery and mischief to destruction and as a remedy against that Bite it was necessary Christ should be lifted up on the Cross and dye for us and be raised up again and exalted to a state of Power and Glory for raising us up and so he is
unspeakable excellency and the injoyment of his favour and presence the very end and reward of all the virtue and goodness to be attained to by all his lifting up for and to us and being looked to by us for he is not only the Medium or means to an end though his flesh or humanity and so the things done by it may be so looked upon but he is also the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End the First and the Last The Way the Truth and the Life Rev. 1.8 17. John 14.6 6. As Moses lifted up the Serpent upon the Pole so highly as that it might be seen or looked to by the people that were wounded distinctly from all other things putting nothing between to hinder the sight of it and lifting it up above all that might hinder its being seen Even so is Christ to be lifted up above all other things so as nothing may hinder the sight and beholding of him by the sinful and perishing Soul but so as he may be seen and discerned of it to be the only excellent and all-sufficient remedy for it So hath God lifted him up above all as well as him only and nothing with him either on the Cross or on his own right hand That there is nothing so high as he no thing to be compared to him nothing no person no virtue no frame work ordinance nothing visible or invisible no Angel Principality or Power He is set down in the Heavenly places or injoyments fâ— above all Principalities Powers Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in the World to come Eph. 1.20 21. Yea he is lifted up above the Law of Moses both as the Lord of the Law for the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath Mat. 12.8 And as able and sufficient to do for us that which the Law could not nor can do that is make Attonement for us justifie sanctifie and save us Rom. 8.3 1 Cor. 1.30 Heb. 7.14 19. 10 4 5 6 c. Act. 13.38 39. And so is he also to be lifted up by the Preachers of the Gospel for so is he by the holy Spirit in the Gospel as Ministred by the holy Apostles and Prophets above all other things and persons whatsoever both as the means to our happiness and the Spring and Ocean of our happiness it self as to the knowledge and injoyment of him and his glory And they that lift up any other thing above him or any otherwise then in him they do not lift him up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness nor they that put a veil over his face or dress the discoveries and preaching of him with the wisdom of man or of words for that is as if Moses should have drest the Serpent in some curious wrought cloth or painted him over with Vermilion as the Idolaters did their Idols least the simplicity of their matter should be seen Thence the Apostle who lifted him up as Moses did the Serpent tells us That Christ sent him to Preach the Gospel not with wisdom of words least the Cross of Christ should be made of no effect 1 Cor. 1.17 And that when he came declaring the Testimony of God he came not with the excellency of speech or of wisdom for he determined to know nothing among them but Jesus Christ and him Crucified and that his speech and his Preaching was not with the inticeing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and Power that their Faith might not stand in the wisdom of man but in the Power of God 1 Cor. 1.1 2 3 4 5. As implying that the presenting Christ with such paintings and garnishments of speech hinders mens seeing and beholding him while the eye is drawn by the wisdom of the words from the simplicity and nakedness of the matter and so the efficacy of the Cross may be hindred Like as the healing efficacy of the Serpent might have been by any intervening Garment clothing it or Paint dawbing it over so as the nakedness or substance of the Brass could not have been seen And that the faith begot through such wisdom of words oâ— inticeing words of Mans wisdom is but a human not a divine Faith and so could not have such divine and saving efficacies as where it is divine and such as the nakedness and simplicity of the Truth discovered and discerned doth effect 7. As Moses lifted up the Serpent to and for all the wounded Israelites that so who ever of them were wounded what ever were their wounds might looking to it live not excluding any of them from the intent of good by it as setting it up for some certain number of them only seperated from the rest and excluding the rest so as that if any other then that number looked to it they might not get the healing benefit of it it being not set up for them but it was lifted up for all and every one of them without respect of persons not as if it were for the richer rather then for the poor for the wise rather then for the foolish and without exclusion of any So that it could be nothing but mens own refusal of looking to it or neglect of it that would hinder them of its healing efficacy Even so is Christ the Son of Man to be lifted up to and for all and every one that is stung by the old Serpent the Devil who or what ever they be or how ever many or great their wounds sins or sorrows without respect of persons or exclusion of any but inclusion of all that all may see a way of healing as well as know that they are wounded and be induced to seek healing in the forgiveness of their sins and renewing of their hearts and natures thereby So as therein the goodness of God may be commended to all and all have and see in crediting the Testimony concerning him cause to thank and bless him as all Nations and People frequently are called upon in the Scriptures to do As in Psal 66.1 98.4 100.1.4 117.1 2 And to apply their hearts to him in whom there is certain and undoubted healing for them of which in so doing they shall not fail And that if any perish it may be evident that it is through their own voluntary neglect of that Salvation and refusing to seek help in him And so shall God loose nothing of his glory in their destruction forasmuch as he prepared his Salvation before the face of all people so as all might see it but they refused it and by observing lying vanities deprived themselves of their own mercies And so God hath lifted him up and his holy Spirit and Servants have set him forth not as one that dyed only for an elect number or chosen people leaving the rest as unprovided for of help but for all and every one 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9 2 Cor. 5.14 15. For the World John 1 29.
and despised knowledge brought to them by him to turn at his reproofs promising to pour out his Spirit to them and make known his words In which is implied that upon their turning he would forgive their former sleightings of him and sinnings against him which if they had not been to be forgiven and overlooked by him would have hindred them of such dispensations of his Grace and Spirit to them Prov. 1.22 23. As thence also the wicked are called upon to forsake their ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turn to the Lord and he will have mercy upon them and abundantly pardon them Isa 55.7 And Christ tells the unbelieving Jews that would not come to him that they might have life that he would not accuse them to his Father and that if any man heard his voice and believed not he judged them not now because he came not into the world to judge the world but to save the world John 5.40 45. 12.47 In which saying it 's evident that the world he came to save includes also the now unbelieving persons in it while it 's yet a day of Grace he is saving them Also by his Intercession for transgressours as the Propitiation for the sins of the whole world and by renewed dispensations of patience forbearance and further grace to them as appears 1 John 2.1 2. Isa 53.12 Luke 13.8 Yea he prayed for such as actually abused and crucified him and in the repenting of such afterward he actually pardoned and forgave them Luke 23.34 with Acts 2.37 38 39. 3.19 20. 2. As Moses lifted up the Serpent that whosoever were stung with the fiery Serpents might have advantage and opportunity there-through to look upon it he declaring and informing them that it was set up as a means of healing and that it was Gods mind for giving healing by it that they look up to it and that it would not give forth any healing-virtue to them if not beheld by them yea probably if not beheld till they were healed if they turn'd their eye from it before its virtue had its force in and upon them though the Serpent was the same whether beheld or not beheld Even so is and must the Son of Man be lifted up that men may have an advantage and opportunity of beholding him he being not to be beheld if not lifted up How can they believe on him of whom they have not heard And how can they hear without a Preacher Or how can they preach except they be sent For Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10.14 17. Which makes it needful that they that know him and are commissionated of God as every one that hears hath commission to say to others Come Rev. 22.17 do hold him forth commend and magnifie him to men It 's true that the Apostle there in Rom. 10.18 propounding that question Have they not all heard answers Yes doubtless their voice is gone into all the world and their words to the ends of the earth Alluding to Psal 19.2 3 4. Where the Holy Ghost speaks of the Heavens declaring the glory of God and the firmament shewing his handy-work And so of Gods Works and Providences setting him forth and uttering knowledge as elsewhere it 's said All his works shall praise him To which also they are often called upon Psal 145.8 9. 148. 150. And the Lord they commend and praise is doubtless the same of and to whom he saith Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the heavens are the works of thine hands c. Psal 102.25 Which the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews applies to the Lord Jesus the Son of Man by whom the Lord hath spoken to us in these last days and by whom he made the worlds Heb. 1.1 2 10 11. And surely whosoever beholds him as there lifted up and praised so as to betake themselves to him for help they do and shall find mercy with him Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved In every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him Rom. 10.12 Acts 10.34 They that by nature or without verbal or vocal instruction do the things contained in the Law that love God and their neighbour though uncircumcised or not under the outward Regiment of Gods Kingdom and Ordinances their uncircumcision shall be accounted circumcision that is they shall be accepted and accounted of as Gods Church Rom. 2.25 26. And of those that by such means also are won in to God I understand in part what our Saviour saith That many shall come from the East and from the West even such as are not the children of the Kingdom and born under the distinct knowledge and Ordinances of God as the opposition to them in the following words do manifest wherein he adds and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac in the Kingdom of God when the children of the Kingdom such as are born and brought up in the professed Church and so are professedly under Gods Government or Ordinances shall be cast out Matth. 8.12 But I say notwithstanding whatever of this nature may be true however God in his lifting him up in his Providences and Works and the manifestations of him implicitely therein may do for the rendring him visible to men that they may behold him look to him and be saved by him Yet it concerns us as our duty and is that which God requires of us that we so lift up Christ in our distinct Preaching of him to men that men through our ministration may behold him in the distinct express declaration of him and be saved from their errours ignorances and iniquities which while they by their wisdom know him not in the wisdom of God as manifested in his works and providences they run into As to that purpose and for that cause it hath pleased God to appoint the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 It was not another light John bare witness to then that which enlighteneth every man coming into the world and that shined in the darkness before he bare witness to it It was not made another in or by his witness only more plainly declared and pointed to It was the same that was in the world though the world knew him not that came to his own and by his own was not received which whosoever received whether of the world or of his own were made the sons of God It was the same Word which was in the beginning with God that in due time was made flesh to bring us through his Sufferings in the flesh unto God in whom was the life and from whom the light came that always shined and in all the world But God to help men to discern him whom otherwise in his wisdom or more wise way to the view of the world as the way of his Creation and Providence is they usually overlook and
him and accept him heartily being discovered and Preached to us to which end also God added the Law for discovering of our sins that so we might look after accept and imbrace the Saviour whom he had fore-promised to us Gal. 3.19 22 24. Yea the very promise and declaration of that Saviour shews us to have been miserable Yea and yet if we neglect him to be in a most miserable condition for in that one died for all It 's most brightly testified that All were dead Yea and in that it 's such a one that died for us as Gods only Son it signifies and testifies yet more The greatness of our misery in our selves and of that death we were fallen into that put us into a need of such a ones dying for us 2 Cor. 5.14 But that will fall in in the third proposition or observation CHAP. X. The second Observation briefly spoken to and some Objections against it answered Obser 2 THe Second Observation is That God hath no pleasure in the death or perishing of men but that they rather should have eternal life And this is evident 1. By his own assertion under his oath that we might be the more confirmed in it as was noted above in Ezek. 33.11 Where he swears As he lives he hath no pleasure in the death of the Wicked but rather that he turn and live And sure if not in the wickeds in no mans death seeing it's the wicked that he every where threatens with Death As he saith to the wicked in the same Chapter Vers 8 Thou shalt surely die And The Soul that sinneth it shall die Chap. 18.3 20. And the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him ver 21. And yet he saith and sweareth that he hath no pleasure none neither secret nor revealed that the wicked should die 2. And his holy servants assert the same who have had his mind and grace in their hearts and declared it faithfully The Apostle Paul asserts That God wills all to be or that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2.4 And the Apostle Peter that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3.9 And the Prophet Isaiah represents the Lord calling all the ends of the Earth to look to him and be saved Isa 45.22 3. The many addresses that God in and through Christ by his Word and Spirit makes unto sinners to call and bring them to Repentance that they might live and not die are so many evidences and convincing demonstrations of his love to Mankind and that he hath no desire or delight that they should perish but have everlasting life For we may not think such a wicked and impious thought of the Almighty who is love and charity truth and goodness it self as if he should pretend one thing and intend another That he signifies one thing to be his desire and will outwardly and desires and intends the contrary inwardly and so dissembles with his lips seeing he protests the contrary Viz. That the opening of his lips are right things That he speaks right things and wickedness is an abomination to his lips That his words are all right and that there is nothing froward or preverse in them Prov. 8.7 6 8. Isa 45.19 Far be it from us to think that he is like to the wicked whom his Soul abhorreth to cover hatred with deceit As is said Prov. 26.26 Now thinking holily of God and according to truth we shall perceive the desire he hath of mens welfare abundantly testified in his addresses to us diverse ways As 1. In his calls and counsells frequently given us As it s said Wisdom cries out she lifts up her voice in the streets crying how long ye simple turn at my reproofs c. Prov. 1.20.23 And doth not Wisdom cry and Understanding lift up her voice Can that be denied Is not that evident and that to men indefinitely yea and to the worst of them therefore it follows that she stands in the top of high places where and whence she may best be heard and cries To you O men I call and my voice is to the Sons of Men. O ye simple understand wisdom and ye fools be ye of an understanding heart Prov. 8.1 2 4 5. And so Turn ye turn ye why will ye die O house of Israel Ezek. 33.11 Yea this was one great end of our Saviours coming into the World in order to his saving the World Viz. To call sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 John 12.47 2. In his promising them great and glorious things upon their hearing and obeying his calls Turn ye at my reproofs behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words Prov. 1.23 So in Prov. 8.32 33. Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my Gates waiting at the posts of my doors For whoso findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Aske and ye shall receive seek and ye shall find Mat. 7.7 8. And abundance the like 3. In his threatning sinners if they will take the course to perish and will not listen to his counsels As Because I have called and ye refused I stretched out my hands and no man regarded I also will laugh at your calamities I will mock when your fear cometh Prov. 1.24 26 c. O wicked man thou shalt surely die Ezek. 33.8 And many the like 4. In his reproving expostulating and reasoning the case with men that he might perswade them to their own good Why will ye die O house of Israel Ezek. 33.11 Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters and ye that have no money come buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Why will ye lay out money for that that is not bread and your labour for that that satisfieth not c. Isa 55.1 2 3. 5. In his chastening men also for their follies in neglecting and refusing their own mercy in order to their awakning to Repentance that they might live As he saith I smote them thus and thus yet they turned not to me saith the Lord. As implying that he smote them to that end they might turn Amos 4.6 7 11. All these things doth God twice and thrice with men that he might keep them from going down to the pit c. Job 33.29 6. In his exercising long patience and forbearance towards them with much bounty and goodness to the same end that is To lead them to repentance As is exprest Rom. 2.4.5 With 2 Pet. 3.9.15 Isa 30.18 Waiting that he may be gracious Yea 4. The next Observation is an evident confirmation of the truth of this Namely the gift of Gods only Son the Son of Man for if he gave his only begotten Son to be the Saviour of the World evident it is then that he loved the World and if he loved it he desired not that it should perish but rather be saved
it self and his excellencies as therein discovered for the believing in or on the Lord is an effect of the believing God and therefore that phrase or saying Abraham believed in the Lord. Gen. 15.6 Is by the Apostle rendred Abraham believed God Rom. 4.3 As implying that then God is heartily believed in his Testimony when he whom he testifies of is believed in as also that the believing in the Lord is an evidence and product of believing God 2. Here is mentioned also the several causes of this perswasion and so by consequent of that perception and believing on Christ that follows upon it As 1. The principal and first cause the Author and begetter of this faith belief or perswasion and of all that follows upon it is God himself testifying of Christ As it is said Ye are saved by grace through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 And this is the work of God both that which he requires of us and that which he works in us That ye believe on him whom he hath sent Joh. 6.29 Yea and our Saviour further testifies it to be the work wrought of God in saying No man can come to me except the Father that hath sent me draw him v. 44. And No man can come to me except it be given to him of my Father Ver. 65. Of him descendeth and cometh down every good and perfect giving And therefore both this perswasion and all therethrough effected But he works mediately and so here is 2. The subordinate and mediate cause of this perswasion and believing on Gods part which is the same that is also the object believed even the Word and Testimony of God the very clearness excellency and evidence of which as manifested of God to the heart perswades the heart to embrace and credit it As by the light of the sun a man sees the sun so the goodness and truth of Gods Testimony is seen by its own brightness and that draws in the heart to receive it By his word God wrought at first in making the world and by his word he works in making new creatures And that this is that by which he works in the heart and perswades it to believe on Christ our Saviour himself testifieth in saying John 6.45 They shall all be taught of God every one therefore that hears and learns of the Father comes to me Thence also his word the Testimony he beareth of Christ the Gospel is called the word of faith Rom. 10.8 But yet this produceth not this believing without some act of man which is and may be called 3. The subordinate cause or means on mans part that without which this believing is not effected and that is expressed to be a serious listening to that word Whence that in Isa 55.3 Hear and your souls shall live And in Rom. 10.17 Faith is of hearing and hearing is of the word of God They that stop their ear lest they should hear deprive themselves of the efficacy of God and his word even of the Spirit of God breathing and working in the word and are justly left of God to their perverseness and unbelief Matth. 13 14 15. I add the word serious to signifie that it is not a careless formal hearing but a diligent attentive hearing Such as our Saviour signifies in that double expression Every one that heareth and learneth so heareth as also to learn of the Father comes to me Such a hearing as includes that which Moses called on the people to do when he said Set your hearts to all these words Deut. 32.46 Or as that in Heb. 2.1 A giving earnest heed to the things spoken in the Gospel And this leads to the next viz. 3. The proper subject of this perswasion belief and so also of the perception and all that follows upon it and that is the heart as it is said With the heart man believes to righteousness Rom. 10.10 And indeed when men set their hearts to attend to Gods words and to consider them God will perswade their hearts and the heart perswaded and believing is there-through both framed to do righteousness in believing on Christ and also is accepted and justified of God therein and the man accounted of God righteous And in both these senses the words may be understood that with the heart man believes unto righteousness Many there are that profess and say they believe and are perswaded of the truth of Gods word and yet they are far from believing on Christ as their lives make manifest in many of them because they believe not with the heart their hearts are not set to or ingaged in the matter They may learn so much of the form of Knowledge in subserviency to some other designs as of getting a livelihood honour and respect with men ease from troubles of mind c. as that they may draw nigh with their mouths and honour him with their lips and yet their hearts be removed far from him going after their covetousness or what they mainly design Isa 29.13 Ezek. 33.31 And these attain not to righteousness They neither render to God and Christ that which is right just and meet viz. that honour fear faith trust and affection that he is worthy of Nor are they therefore justified and accepted of God as righteous persons But when men so receive Gods Testimony as to believe on Christ their minds wills and affections are all ingaged therein and through the presence and operation of the Spirit of God which is always ready to help and save and to that purpose to effect what he requires and is needful to their Salvation in them that attend to him and as he is preventing them by his grace yield up themselves to him they are strengthened and framed to all the acts and exercises both conducing to and contained in this believing on Christ the Son of Man Which are also in this description expressed both 4. The acts productive of and the acts contained in the believing on Christ 1. The acts productive of it are 1. An heart-perswasion or belief of the truth of God or of the word that he speaks and testifies concerning Christ as of him we have largely shewed that he testifieth This is properly the believing God and the believing Christ and the believing his Prophets and Servants in their testimony as speaking forth the word of God and of Christ and they that so do are in the way to prosper 2 Chron. 20.20 This is that by which the faith or belief of the Patriarchs is expressed Heb. 11.13 They see the promises afar off and were perswaded of them And they whose hearts are perswaded of God to believe his testimony as God will perswade Japheth or the perswasible as some render Gen. 9.27 those that meekly hear and attend Psal 25.8 James 1.18 19 21. in them also is certainly effected 2. A heart-perception of the Excellencies of Christ Eor as God in his Doctrine beareth witness to his Son the Son
of Man so there is nothing to be said of Christ because nothing in him but what is excellent for in him all fulness dwells and he is fairer then the children of men the chiefest or he that carries the banner among ten thousand The most powerful wise just holy merciful and gracious one And the entrance of Gods word concerning him gives light discovers the excellencies in him the Forgiveness of sins Redemption Spirit and Spiritual Blessings the Grace and Glory in him and it gives understanding to the simple It gives sight to discern the light and what is discovered in and by it It opens the eyes of the blind and makes wise the simple Psal 19.7 8 9. 119.130 And so the Soul perceives the excellencies of Christ That he is the excellent and precious one Beautiful and glorious excellent and comely Isa 4.2 however he appears to others whose eyes are not opened but they are yet spiritually blâ—â—d or are blinded of Sathan for their not believing 2 Cor. 4.4 Yet the enlightened Soul sees him worthy to be adhered to above all other things and persons worthy above all to be loved and to be believed on Thus the Apostles whose eyes were blessed because they see saw in him as the glory of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and of truth And therefore pronounced of him Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God and whither should we go thou hast the words of eternal life c. John 1.14 6.68 69. Matth. 16.16 Now from this perswasion of the truth of Gods Testimony I say and this perception of his Excellencies discovered therein flow 2. The acts contained in the believing on Christ wherein the believing on him properly stands and is exercised which the Scripture variously expresseth To take in all which I say 1. It 's a hearty betaking of the Soul or of a mans self to Christ In which expression I include and intend what our Saviour or the Evangelists expresses in two used by them viz. 1. The receiving Christ which hath respect or reference to his being given of God to us and coming in his name and tendring himself to us to be our Saviour Helper Healer and in order thereto our Prophet Master or Teacher our King Commander Protector and Defender our precious Sacrifice and perfect High Priest yea our Lord and our God Now he that betakes himself to him receives him with all acceptation as such a one as the great gift of God and of himself unto and for all those exercises of his authority over us and grace toward us unto which he is given and which he tenders And this is interpreted in the Scripture it self to be believing on him or on his name John 1.12 He came to his own and his own received him not but to as many as received him he gave power to become the sons of God even to them that believed on his name This phrase also our Saviour uses to signifie the believing on one John 5.43 44. And so he that believes on him receiving him as the Prophet and Teacher sent of God receives also his sayings instructions reproofs counsels c. and receiving him as the Lord and King receives his commands yea receiving him as the great High Priest receives him so as to come to God by his Sacrifice yea receiving him as God receives his sayings and commands as the most sovereign and absolute sayings and commands of God To which also tends 2. The coming to him This also is included in believing on him and so in the betaking a mans self to him yea so as to go from all other to him For receiving him as such a one the Soul comes to him or betakes it self to him from all others that may stand in competition with him to be taught instructed counselled commanded and so to be helped healed protected and saved by him and to obtain blessing from God by his Sacrifice and Mediation And this phrase also is often used to express and signifie the believing on him As when it 's said Ye will not come to me that ye might have life John 5.40 He that cometh to me shall not hunger John 6.35 If any man thirst let him come to me and drink which in the next verse is He that believeth on me John 7.37 38. and many beside Now this coming is 1. First and principally of the heart and inward man liking prizing loving and looking to him for all grace and blessing and such is the believing heart a heart drawing nigh or cleaving to him with purpose or resolution Heb. 10.22 Acts 11.24 As the unbelieving heart is called an evil heart withdrawing or departing from the living God Heb. 3.12 10.39 An heart removed far from the Lord Isa 29.13 or departing from him Jer. 17.5 8. 2. Secondarily as the way to and an effect of the former it contains and leads to a coming to him in his Ordinances and the appointments of God as to the Assemblies and Societies of Gods people where he is spiritually present and exercising his power and dispensing his grace and blessing in a bodily coming thereto Matth. 18.20 2 Cor. 6.16 Rev. 1.13 Heb. 10.24 25. Psal 133. II. It 's a yielding up a mans self to him which as it is also included in the receiving Christ the admitting or entertaining him in his Doctrine counsels reproofs commands and so in the exercise of his Priestly power with God and Princely Authority over us and all things so it also hath in it that resigning up a mans self to his gracious guidance and government which is required of us and that obeying him which is to be exercised by us as is implied in that saying Heb. 5.8 9. That being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him which is put there for that which here and in other places is believing on him Obedience to him in yielding to his counsels and commands and so in being ruled and governed by him being a necessary and indispensible fruit or exercise of the faith or believing on him to which the promises are made exercised also and practised by the antient and approved believers recorded in the Scripture whose faith we are to follow as is to be seen in Heb. 11.7 8 17. Whence the unbelievers are called the children of disobedience and judgment threatned to them as such Eph. 5.6 Col. 3.6 2 Thess 1.7 8 9. This expression of yielding a mans self to the Lord we have in 2 Chron. 30.8 Yield your selves or as the Margent hath it Give your hands to the Lord who is stretching out his hand to us to succour and supply us to pull us out of the snares of sin and Sathan and to bring or lead us into his Sanctuary c. III. It 's an attendance to him also called in Scripture sometimes a looking to him as seeking and expecting all grace and blessing from him Isa 45.22 Psal 34.5 and a waiting
upon and for him in observing all his Ordinances and Appointments and him in them all and to receive commands counsels and help from him and waiting patiently upon him for them Whence those expressions of Wait on the Lord and wait I say on the Lord Psal 27.14 37.34 And they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength c. Isa 40.31 Yea and in this waiting a diligent listening to him and observing his sayings and looking for his help Psal 85.8 130.5 6. IV. It 's a dependance or reliance on him as believing him and him onely able willing and faithful to help and save And this includes in it as also the betaking a mans self to him doth 1. A renouncing it self and all confidence in it self it s own power strength wisdom righteousness worth or merit as altogether weak and unprofitable to help save or satisfie it denying a mans self Matth. 26.24 And 2. A rejecting all confidence or dependance on others whether things or persons besides Christ and God in him as believing also an utter insufficiency or unfaithfulness in them and every of them to help save or satisfie us either by way of mediation for obtaining favour or dispensation of favours obtained either as to teaching and counsel or as to power and strength for defence and safety c. that in vain salvation is looked for to the hills or mountains or any thing besides him Jer. 3.23 And also 3. In betaking and yielding up it self to him there is a leaving it self wholly with him to his guidance government dispose and ordering as believing it shall find what it wants or is good for it in and with and from him Psal 62.1 2. 121.1 2. 84.11 12. Rom. 8.32 And 4. Going forth to act and obey bear and suffer what he orders not in its own wisdom and strength or in other creatures but in his light and direction strength and sufficiency expected and given as it was said to Gideon Go forth in this thy strength namely that which God in looking upon him gave him Judg. 6.14 So David saith I will go in the strength of the Lord God and make mention of his righteousness and of his onely Psal 71.16 And they shall walk up and down in the name of the Lord Zech. 10.12 Yielding up themselves to obey and follow him and relying on him for his direction and guideance therein to go before them shewing and leading them in the way and for his strength to enable support and save them harmless therein As Israel did when they followed God in the wilderness through the sea and over Jordan This is also called a staying on the Lord or on his arm or name or a leaning thereon Isa 10.20 50.10 Cant. 8.5 or on the worth and prevalency of his Sacrifice and Mediation for all our acceptance And this with trust or confidence And so V. It 's a committing a mans self and way and all his concernments to the Lord with an hope trust expectation and confidence that he will not fail or forsake him so as to check all arising fears either of Gods failing or of any mans or devils prevailing against him I will trust and not fear for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and song and he also is become my salvation Isa 12. â— We may boldly say The Lord is my helper I will not fear what man can do unto me Psal 56.3 4 10 11. Heb. 13.56 Fears and doubtings though they may be in believers yet they argue want or weakness of faith or of believing on him Mat. 8.26 14.31 Psal 42.5 6. This for the acts of this believing But we have also in this description 5. The extent of the exercise of this faith and that both 1. For matters or cases and that is for all grace and blessing The promises both of the life that is and of that which is to come being all in him and in him yea and in him Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 with 1 Tim. 4.8 We are in our selves empty and destitute of all things and of all ability to help our selves in or unto any thing poor miserable wretched blind and naked Rev. 3.15 16 17. Nor is there help any where else in any thing to purpose for us He onely is the Saviour ordained and perfected of God for us His merit righteousness and worth onely procures all and he onely dispenses all by his Word Spirit and Divine Power and Providence And in his way onely even in listening to his word and obeying his counsels and commandments all good and blessing is to be met with and received of us 2. For duration And so in all this is included continuance or perseverance For in these kind of speeches that is implied As when it is said He that believeth not is damned or the wicked man shall dye it s meant if they persevere to do or be so So it 's here He that continueth to the end shall be saved Matth. 24.13 He that abideth in him sinneth not that is misses not the promised blessing 1 John 3.6 But he that abideth not in him is like a branch that abides not in the Vine that withers and is gathered and is cast into the fire and burned John 15.5 6. And thus much about that believing that is required of us and is needful to our Salvation Now that this believing is both required of us by and is acceptable unto God is also evident 1. That God requires it these following Considerations among divers others make it evident 1. In that God calls to and commands it Look to me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth Isa 45.22 And the same is implied in all those calls and commands to make a joyful noise to the Lord to serve him with gladness c. Psal 47.1 62.1 2. 98.4 100.1 2 4. Yea in 1 John 3.23 it 's expresly said This is his commandment that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another 2. In that he hath given forth his word and raised up a multitude of Preachers of it Psal 68.11 Men and Angels and all creatures in their kinds praising him and preaching forth his excellencies Psal 145.9 10. 148. John heard them do so though few have so good a hearing as he had and therefore perhaps some may deny it Rev. 5.13 Especially his holy ones the holy Apostles and Prophets and their followers out of whose mouth God hath ordained praises Psal 8.2 And this for the obedience of â—aith in all nations Rom. 1.5 16.25 26. 3. In that he gives his holy Spirit to work in and upon men to strive with or judge in them as is implied in his saying My Spirit shall nâ—t always strive with man Gen. 6.3 See also Neh. â— 20 30. 1 Pet. 3.19 1.12 Acts 7.51 And in this Spirit and wisdom it is that Wisdom is said to cry without and call to men yea and to stretch forth
saith is of hearing and hearing is of the word of God not of every hearing nor of every word but of hearing the word of God From which word hearing or the hearing Ear also is effected and proceeds Rom. 10.17 For no man can come unto Christ this Son of Man unless it be given to him of God unless he draws him and he draws by his teaching men the knowledge of him whence it is said every one that heareth and learneth of the Father comes unto him Joh. 6.44 45 65. It is of his own good will that he begets men through the word of truth to be of a contemptible vile worthless creature as man hath made himself by his sin a kind of first-fruits of his creatures a more noble and prime creature to him a new creature a first-fruits of his future new creation therefore it behooves men every one to be swift to hear slow to speak slow to wrath slow to murmur and be angry at the word of truth and the instructions reproofs and counsels of it because clashing with the wisdom and will of the flesh the principles thoughts and practices of the world and of the wise men thereof but with meekness to receive the ingraffed word the word as God puts and ingraffs it into the heart which is able to save the Soul being not only hearers of the word but doers of it as it is working and so God in and with it to will and to do of good pleasure Jam. 1.18 19 21. Phil. 2.12 13. turning at Gods reproofs therein given from whatsoever in conceit apprehension or opinion we hold or imagine that clashes with the truth discovered in the word and its instructions that we may so conceive judge and believe as that declares and informs us of all things and from whatsoever in affection desire purpose or practice we naturally or through evil principles or customs affect desire purpose or practice disagreeing with and reproved by the light and instruction of that blessed word that so we may obey its counsel and instruction and affect desire purpose and practice what it commends and leads us to seeking after that and so the wisdom of God will pour out his spirit to us and make known his words Prov. 1.22 23. and so hearing the Soul shall live Isa 55.3 there through attaining to know the name of the Lord the Son of Man we shall be strengthened framed and have the will set to trust in him Psal 9.10 in meditating in the law and doctrine of the Lord and exercising our selves in it day and night the heart will be fixed to trust in the Lord and to make him its hope Yea and therein to be rooted grounded and fixed like a Tree planted by the water side so as to abide in the blasts of temptations and be fruitful in every good work increasing in the knowledge of God strengthened with all might according to his glorious power to all patience and long suffering with joyfulness Psal 1.1 2 3. Jer. 17.7 8. Col. 1.10 11. for the Gospel of Christ the preaching of the cross is the power of God to salvation even from unbelief and all the power of darkness to every one that believes it Rom. 1.16 1 Cor. 1.22 23. So as that in taking diligent heed thereto and yeilding up our selves to the power that worketh therein we shall be helped and framed to believe on the Son of God it s through his name that men receive power to believe on him Acts 10.43 and therefore it behooves all men as they would avoid the perishing from Gods way and the everlasting misery and destruction at the end and as they would obtain the everlasting life and happiness propounded and promised to give serious and diligent heed and obedience thereto who would willingly incur pain grief and affliction here or to perish by hunger cold prison gallows or the like and yet these things are infinitely short of the evil of perishing from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power for ever Yea who that is travelling to some remote place where if he go right on to it he shall find great riches honours or gain would be willing or through carefulness expose himself to loose and be lost out of the way and to wander in a Wilderness among bryers and thorns boggs and lakes yea among wild and savage creatures as serpents lyons tygers c. when in a diligent careful inquiry after and attendance to some faithful direction and guide he might go right and safe and attain the good proposed and miss that perishing by hunger cold the teeth of the wild beasts that he is otherwise in danger off and yet that perishing from the way and danger of finally perishing by the ways or means forementioned are little evils in comparison of perishing from Gods way and by what that perishing exposes to who again that hath proffer and opportunity of being made rich honourable living pleasantly and delightfully for a long time so long suppose as was the life of Methuselah would willingly refuse and loose such enjoyments and incur answerable miseries and yet this eternal life which God hath promised to give to them that believe on and follow after the Son of Man is infinitely more excellent then all the honours riches pleasures and most excellent enjoyments of this world though they might be enjoyed safely not only so long as the life of Methusalah but also so long as from the beginning of this world to the end thereof without interruption Oh therefore how concerns it all men to come and believe on the Son of Man and to that purpose to listen to and receive the teachings of God concerning him that such miseries may be missed and such mercies enjoyed that they may not perish in the way and from the end but may have everlasting life Vse 2. How doth this then reprove the vanity folly pride and wickedness of the world which rejects and puts from them and matter not to believe on this most excellent one whom God to such glorious ends hath raised up for us If it be folly and madness in men who may in hearing their Fathers and freinds good instructions in matters of this world live well and comfortably have and get yet more of the good things of this world to maintain them and preserve them from want and beggery and make them live in credit and repute to turn their backs upon such good counsels and thereby willingly and wilfully through their pride folly slothfulness love of bad company or the like bring themselves into debt poverty prisons and nothing but a Series of miseries How much more is it folly and madness for the world or any of us to neglect Gods word and Gods Son and that great Salvation wrought and preached and brought to us by so great and glorious a hand as that of this Son of Man being also the Son of God the mighty God and our Saviour and thereby to
is also and confesseth himself a sinner and subject to like Passions with others and standing in need of Gods Salvation for himself as well as others much less from any man appearing and traduced and judged by others and they also Persons of great Repute with men for Wisdom and Piety to be not only an ordinary man but also a Worsman or greater Sinner than many other men And yet so was the case with our Lord Jesus the Son of Man in respect of these last Expressions for he in his appearance nothing differed from other men being born of a Woman growing up by degrees in Stature Wisdom and Favour as others and subject to like infirmities of Humane Nature as Hunger Thirst Weariness Sadness and therefore also Eating Drinking Sleeping Resting himself as others and so found in Fashion as a Man and in the Habit of Men of other ordinary Men nay below most men being poor as to his Parentage Education and Injoyments not having whereon to lay his Head Mat. 8.20 Yea though not confessing himself a sinner personally yet repreached and traduced as a sinner John 9.24 A Wine-bibber and a Glutton a Friend of Publicans and Sinners Mat. 11.19 A Sabbath-breaker a Samaritan and one that had a Devil and acted in his extraordinary Miracles by the power of the Devil John 5.16.18 and 8.48 and 9.16 Mat. 12.24 A Deceiver and Seducer of the People and a Blasphemer Joh. 7.12 10.33 Mat. 27.63 And therefore impossible it was that any man should come to him and believe on him for so great things as Salvation from Sin and Wrath and for Eternal life unless he was some way lifted up and commended as a Person far beyond and above that outward Appearance and Opinion of him Nor however he might be lifted up and commended to men by either Spirit or men yet unless those commendations of him should be true though they might beget a believing on him for even such as have been indeed Deceivers and false Christs have through some false Prophets commendations of them or their own pretensions and boastings of themselves been believed on by men as is implied also Mat. 24.5.23 24. John 5.43 yet the believing on him in such case could neither be Divine nor profitable to Salvation But here the commendations necessary to beget a right and Divine believing on him and to nourish it are and must be true and those effects are worthily expectable from him as we have seen in the former Proposition and Conclusion And it was necessary that such commendations should be given him by such as rightly knew him for none other could indeed rightly commend him and none knew him fully but God his Father as it is said No man knoweth the Son but the Father Mat. 11.27 And his holy Spirit which searcheth all things even the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 11. And himself who knew whence and what he was John 8.14 And therefore it was necessary that these in the first place should exalt and lift him up by their Testimony and Witness of him unto men And so as we see before the Father bears Witness to him John 5.32.36 37. And he Testified of himself John 8.14.18 And the Spirit bears Witness of him both in the Scriptures John 5.39 and by and in his miraculous Gifts and Operations and the mouths of his Messengers and Instruments by whom he chose to speak John 15.26 27. and 16.13 14 15. Heb. 2.4 1 John 5.6 It was necessary I say that by these he should be Demonstrated and Lifted up above what he otherwise appeared to be above what men of themselves apprehended him to be and all that have apprehended or do apprehend of him aright are and have been begotten and brought to those right apprehensions of him by the Testimony of Gods divine Teaching Whence it is said to Peter confessing him to be The Christ the Son of the Living God Flesh and Blood hath not revealed this unto thee but my Father that is in Heaven Mat. 16.17 And to the Jews murmuring at him No man can come to me except the Father which hath set me draw him And to the Disciples No man can come to me except it be given him of my Father John 6.44.65 Which Gift is given in and by his Teaching and Demonstrating him Vers 45. And No man can say that is knowingly and heartily say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 But forasmuch as God is pleased ordinarily to Speak by men his immediate and audible speaking after the manner of God being unbearable to men to which purpose he hath Revealed himself to men by Dreams Visions Angels and by his Word ordered by such ways to men whereby he made them Wise men and Prophets and last of all by his only Son made the Son of man hath given forth his Word and the knowledg of it and the Holy Spirit with it to open it to them and fit them to declare it to others therefore as such ways of giving forth his Word and the knowledg of Christ to men was needful and necessary for Lifting him the Son of man up that they might believe on him So also the Witnessings and Declarations of such men that by Christ and his Spirit and by such other Ways and Means as God formerly made use of were fitted for it were necessary for the holding him forth Commending and Lifting him up to other men among whom they are and to whom God sent them and so it was necessary there should be the Ministery of men even of the Prophets and Apostles to Commend and Lift him up to men And they being Dead and gone though their Words as to the main and substance of them be left still with us in which they have Lifted up Praised and Commended him in their faithful Declarations and Expressions of what by Divine Inspirations and Teachings concerning him they knew and those their Declarations are needful to be minded by us Yet forasmuch as all cannot Read their Writings left to Posterity nor all that do Read them do know or understand them or what is said or signified in them therefore needful it is not only that some men should be helped to Read but also that some by the help of Gods Spirit which is the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding or Revelation in the knowledg of Christ and opens his Words and gives understanding Job 32.8 Ephes 1.18 19. Prov. 1.23 in such means as he is pleased to make use of and breath in should be helped to understand them and be gifted to declare their understanding of them and the knowledg of him according to them to other men that they also may hear and believe on him through the help of the same holy Spirit going along with the Instructions given them And so he being ascended on high gave Gifts to men and he hath given as some Apostles some Prophets so also some Evangelists or Gospel Preachers some Pastors and
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
in and by his Gospel declaring and preaching him forth is called the light of life Joh. 8.12 as giving sight also and perception where admitted yea even some that receive or retain it not are said to see and hear and to close their eyes least they see with their eyes and stop their eares least they should hear with them and to harden their hearts least they should understand and be converted c. Matth. 13.15 Acts 28.26 27. and the Apostle Paul in that of Acts 26.18 above cited was sent to give them sight by the Gospel as well as light a power to see what is shewed them that they might flee from the evils and dangers of perishing discovered and follow after the life proposed and so for hearing his voice The hour comes saith our Saviour and now is wherein the dead hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Joh. 5.25 Yea Christ in his word by his divine power and force is giving also 2. Understanding to the heart as is implyed in that even now mentioned passage in Matth. 13.15 and in Act. 28.26 27. as also is implyed in wisdomes call O ye simple understand wisdom and ye fools be ye of an understanding heart as implying that she is in her calls ready at hand in their hearing and consenting to her to give them to be wise and of an understanding heart Prov. 8.4 5. See also Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy words giveth light and it giveth understanding to the simple and Psal 19.7 The testimony of the Lord is sure and makes wise the simple yea and here-through 3. He is turning the heart to the Lord or there is that given forth which tends to and will in the receiver turn and convert the heart to him as it is said The Law of the Lord is perfect even that Doctrine which sets forth the Lord as well as is given forth by him for it is both converting the Soul It hath power virtue and tendency in its instructions and is offering and effecting it though men winking with the eye and stopping the eare least they should see and hear and understand and be converted deprive themselves of the efficacy of that conversive force and are not converted as many whom the goodness of the Lord leads to repentance through their hardness and impenitency are not led by it Rom. 2.4 5. and some whom God was purging he saith were yet not purged Ezek. 24.13 But the eyes that see and the eares that hear be blessed Matth. 13.16 So as they shall see and hear more the mysteries of the Kingdom shall they understand Ver. 17. Thus also Paul who was a chosen Vessel to lift up the Son of Man by carrying his Name among the Gentiles and People was sent as we see in what was before quoted from Act. 26.18 to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God as many were actually and effectually so turned by him 1 Thes 1.9 10. by which it is evident that the power and presence of Christ by his Spirit was in and with his Preaching to that purpose And truly when any are so turned to God in Christ they are then in a state of salvation and are partakers of no small or despicable a portion of that saving from perishing for which Christ is lifted up being now out of the ways of falshood and destruction and in the way to happiness being reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5.18 Rom. 5.10 and so in the way of life and righteousness wherein in the further or still lifting up the Son of Man and not otherwise He is yet saving and giving life 1. By powâ—ing out further of his Spirit and making known his words so as to give them to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom the Name of God in Christ his secret and his Covenant Matth. 13.11 Prov. 1.23 Psal 25.12 14. Joh. 17.6 7 8. wherein Christ becomes to the Soul wisdome induing it with a principle of wisdome by his words put into it which wisdome entring into the heart and making knowledge pleasant to the Soul gives it such understanding and discretion as saves and preserves it from the way of the evil man and from the evil or strange Woman yea from every evil way Prov. 2.10 11 12 15 16. Psal 119.104 Yea and there is in it the spring of life and immortality a tree of life to them that find it and makes happy every one that retaineth it Prov. 3.13 18. for she leads and frames the heart to hope and trust in the Lord and believe dependingly upon him as somewhat known and understood in his Name and goodness yea she yet further leads to the riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God the Father and Christ bringing the Soul into his marvelous light 1 Cor. 1.30 Prov. 22 18 19 20. Psal 1.2.3 with Jer. 17.7 8. Eph. 1.13.18 19. Col. 2.2 1 Pet. 2.9 2. By justifying and acquitting from all fore-past trespasses and blotting out all offences and interesting in all the blessings and promises in Christ wherein Christ is made to the believer righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 with Act. 10.43 13.37 38 39. Gal. 3.29 and so the Soul is saved from the state of death and condemnation in which it was still turned into God and is translated into a state of life and brought to be a subject of Christs gracious Kingdom and an Heir of his Glorious Kingdom Joh. 5.24 Col. 1.12 13 14. Tit. 3 6 7. yea and herein He by this his word saves it from fears and droopings giving it peace with God through Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 Heb. 2.15 3. By giving in to the Soul the spirit of holiness washing renewing and making it a new creature in Christ Jesus and changing it into his image and likeness wherein also he saves the spirit of the believer from the bondage of sin and corruption and is bringing it into an Heavenly freedome and liberty to righteousness giving it so to behold the glory of the Lord with open face as in a glass as transformes it by degrees into his image from glory to glory as by his spirit 2 Cor. 3.18 and so the new man is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created it the old man being put off and the spirit of the mind renewed to the putting on the new through the learning of the truth as it is in Jesus Col. 3.10 Eph. 4.21 22 23. and in this Christ is made to the soul sanctification in a sense and in some part redemption 4. By giving it liberty and freedome from the Law and the servitude of it as a Rule of righteousness or justification and as to its ceremonial and typical observations even by the truth as it is in Christ known and received and giving it liberty to God and the priviledg and title of the Children of God which are given in by the Faith of Jesus Christ to
1 Pet. 2.9 I do not say that all that hear the Gospel are made so but I say they have the Door opened to them that in Hearing and Believing they might be made so Yea when this Gospel is brought to a Person Family or People Salvation it self comes therein to them and life even Eternal life As it was said to Zaccheus Luke 19.9 This day is salvation come to thy house For the Gospel is the Power of God to salvation to every one that believeth for which believing also God therein opens the Door and Ministers Grace as is before shewed Rom. 1.16 And therefore also it is sometime called as the Word of salvation Acts 13.26 So also the Salvation of God Acts 28.28 Be it known unto you that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles and they will hear it And How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which began to be published by the Lord himself c. Heb. 2.3 For as God is discovering and setting before us to move to Repentance and quicken to Life the great Salvation Redemption and Deliverance from under the first Death and Judgment so as that none shall perish therein and upon that account mearly Rom. 5.10 That none might keep themselves out from hoping in and coming to God because their first Fathers sinned and they inherit their guilt and filth without remedy And also that Power and Readiness in God and Christ upon the account of his perfect Obedience Sacrifice and Righteousness to save or deliver the Believers from the Guilt of new sins fore contracted in and by our personal disobediences during the time past of Gods forbearance though committed against former and other lesser manifestations of God and of his Power and Goodness Will and Commandment as in the Works of Creation continued and his Providences mercifully ordered and especially in the Dispensation of the Law and Prophets that none might Pine away in the conscience of such sins and be kept out thereby from believing and hoping in God and in that hope Worshipping him and to accept them graciously and justifie them freely from all things from which they might not otherwise no not by the Law of Moses be justified and so to save and preserve them from the Wrath to come and from the snares of Sin and Satan which lead thereto So also in the Preaching and making known this great Grace he is saving the Receiver of it who closeth not his Eye nor stops his Ears against but obeys its discoveries from the power of Satan and Darkness and Translates him into the Kingdom of his dear Son and preserves him unto everlasting Life as is before shewed This is the Medium and Instrument whereby he effects this Salvation in and upon men yea even those who by former and lower Dispensations of the knowledg of God are wrought upon so as they do there-through Fear God and work Righteousness as they that by Nature or without outward verbal Instruction do the things contained in the Law their Vncircumcision shall be counted Circumcision That is they shall through Christ though not distinctly known be accepted of God Rom. 2.26 Yet they by the coming of the greater Means the more open revelation of the Gospel of Christ in its distinct and clear sound may be and are in receiving it saved by it that is they are delivered from former Ignorances Mistakes Fears Griefs and Dangers which the lesser means of Light sufficed not to remove So we find that Cornelius though an Angel of God testified to him that his Prayers and Alms were accepted of God and by the Spirit in the Scriptures he is recorded to have been a Godly or as we render it a Devout man one that feared God and gave much Alms to the People and Prayed to God continually Yet was directed to send for Peter that he and the other Gentiles with him might hear the word of the Gospel by him and believe and be saved for so it is said He shall speak words to thee by which thou shalt be saved and all thine house Acts 11.14 with 10.1 2 3 4. and 15.7 So that Salvation both to those who never before rightly understood closed with or obeyed any other means of knowledg and of the Fear of God vouchsafed to them as appears not that any other of Cornelius Kindred did however its evident of the Jaylor Acts 16.28 29. and of some of the Corinthians being Fornicators Idolaters c. 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. And to those also who under and by former and lesser means are wrought upon and in complying with God in them are accepted of him is the effect of the Gospel And they have a great and wonderful mercy afforded them who have the clear lifting up of the Son of man vouchsafed them that is to say the Word of the Gospel of Christ It being a fuller saving Manifestation and a more quickning Word and Discovery as now in the fulness of it come forth since the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ then by any other way of Gods bearing Witness to himself as he left not himself without Witness to the Gentiles in times past when he suffered them to walk in their own ways and they had not the Scriptures or plain Gospel-preaching Acts 14.17 Yea or then in the Prophets or Johns Ministration which Ministration of John Cornelius is said to have known though he was not thereby made a Circumcised Proselite Acts 10.36 37 was afforded For this Doctrine is also called the Word of Life not only as most plainly discovering Life given us from the Dead through the Death and Resurrection of Christ but also as infusing a spiritual Life into the receiver thereof begetting him to a lively hope as is said 1 Pet. 1.3 And to be a kind of first-fruits of his Creatures as Jam. 1.18 Whence that Exhortation ver 19. Let every man be swift to hear Yea and the Wisdom of God thence exhorts Lay fast hold of Instruction and let it not go keep her for she is thy life Prov. 4.13 And the Words of Christ are said to be Spirit and Life John 6.63 Yea Eternal Life For so Christ himself said I know that his Commandment namely which I speak is everlasting Life John 12.49 50. So Christ knew it whether others know so or believe that his Knowledg was right or not Thence also the Jews putting away this Word of God are said to have judged themselves unworthy of Eternal life Acts 13.46 And must it not needs be so when the Holy Ghost tells us that Christ himself is herein offered or given to men to be Gods salvation to them as in the very next Verse the Apostle implies when having told the Jews that they would turn to the Gentiles he adds For so hath the Lord commanded us saying I have given thee for a Light to the Gentiles that thou mightest be for salvation or as in Isa 49.6 My salvation to the ends of the Earth vers 47.
Gentiles Act. 13.47 and 28.28 Surely it 's every way a heavy judgment and to be much cryed and prayed against as Psal 12.1 2. Well might the Prophet Amos from the mouth of the Lord signifie that the Famine of hearing the Word of the Lord is a worse Famine then that of bread and water Amos 8.11 12. For this is but of sustenance for the body and bodily life and that 's but a momentany and uncertain life which must however dye and depart that is indangered thereby in a bodily death out of which there will be a Resurrection again and in the state of which the Soul mean time may be blessed Rev. 14.13 but the other is of the sustenance and salvation of the Soul and the removal thereof lays open to the loss of Eternal Life and indangers the inevitably falling into everlasting destruction out of which is no recovery or redemption Oh how greatly behoves it us then to pray and pray earnestly for our selves and for our Nation that however God may please to correct and chasten us yet he would be pleased to continue with us his glorious Gospel and not take that from us and that he would vouchsafe to give or restore it to the Places or Nations that are without it or have it not so clearly with them as we have it blessed be God for it And let this suffice for the first Use the Discovery of the Excellency of the Gospel-Doctrine and the Inferences therefrom CHAP. XXI A Second Vse The Excellencies of Christ hence inferred and that is viewed First As the Excellencies of the choice Creatures are ascribed unto Him and so He the first-born of every Creature Use 2 THe Second Thing I shall note is for further Information of us from all said upon God's Grand Design of exalting and lifting up Christ the Son of Man and of the necessity and fulness of Him and his Exaltation both as exalted in Himself and as glorified by the Spirit in the Gospel for effecting Faith in us and there-through preserving us from perishing and giving us Eternal Life to inform us of the exceeding preciousness excellency and glory of the Lord Jesus this Son of Man himself from whom and whose excellency all the Glory of the Gospel and its beneficialness and advantagiousness floweth Surely He that renders the Gospel so glorious must needs excell in glory and excellency himself it s nothing but He in it that makes it rich and full and efficacious Let Men speak as gallant words as they can imagine and use all the skill that Art and Industry can suggest yea that the most wise and subtle spirit can teach them Speak with the Tongue of Men and Angels use the most powerful demonstrations Logick can make and the most perswasive arguments Oratory can invent and make use of yet if there be nothing of the Son of Man in it nothing of Christ and him crucified it avails nothing to our Salvation and enjoyment of Eternal Life But He alone discovered and the better the more nakedly and with the less artifice and use of those Sciences is able to effect all in us for God hath made void the wisdom of this world the wise the Scribe and the Disputer of this World are with him mere ciphers 1 Cor. 1.18 19 20. Deceive men they may and therefore the Apostle cautions us to beware least any man spoil us through Philosophy and vain deceit Coll. 2.8 but save men from perishing they cannot much less advance them to Eternal Life No it s this Object held forth in the Gospel that is the life and vertue of it which is the Son of man Christ Jesus Rom. 1.3 and 16.25 and therefore seeing the Gospel is so excellent by his being the matter of it how excellent is He himself who is its matter He must needs be more precious than the Gold of Ophir more glorious and excellent than the Mountains of prey Isa 13.12 Psal 76.4 That hath in him not only the excellencies of all the Creatures but all the excellencies of God also Gods great glory and mans utmost happiness all meeting in him If when Ahasuerus proposed the Question What shall be done to the man whom the King will honour Haman reasonably thought it would be no small matter which would be done to him How much more may it be thought and believed that He whom God not only will honour but honour above all must needs excell in all things that may commend him Yea He honours him with his own with all his own honour and glory which he will not give to any other besides him either thing or person Surely he must needs be infinitely and inexpressibly honourable and glorious seeing God is infinitely honourable and glorious himself and honours him not according to the dictates of the wisest and highest Creatures with whom he takes no counsel in this or any other matter but according to his own wisdom understanding and goodness which are all infinite and boundless unless then we could by searching find out God yea and find him out too to perfection whose Excellency is higher then the Heavens so that What can we do Deeper then Hell and therefore What can we know Longer then the Earth and Broader then the Sea and so altogether Incomprehensible we cannot find out and fathom all the Glory and Excellency of this Man the Son of man the Lord Jesus Well may it therefore be said of him that He hath a Name above every Name and that none knows but himself Rev. 19.12 And as himself saith None knoweth him but his Father Mat. 11.27 Yet many and great and glorious things are said of him by his holy Spirit That searcheth out all things even the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 And Takes the things of Christ and shews them to us John 16.13 14 15. Things that commend him highly to us though yet his Name which is only Excellent Psal 148.13 Is Exalted above all Blessing and Praise Neh. 9.5 So that when we have searched and said all we can in and from what is Recorded of him by his holy Spirit yet we may conclude as in Psal 106.2 Who can declare his mighty Acts Who can set forth all his Praises God hath so poured out Himself and his Fulness and the Fulness of all things therein as it were into him that he is All and in all in the new Creature or Creation Col. 3.10 It hath pleased the Father that in him all Fulness should dwell and it hath pleased all Fulness to dwell in him yea All the Fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily and in him we are compleat Col. 1.19 and 2.9 10. All things in Heaven and Earth hath God pleased to gather together in one even in Christ Jesus Ephes 1.10 That if any thing in either or all things in both of them may like us and satisfie us we may have them fully and transcendently in him Let us essay to View something of his Infinite
the mown Grass those that are taken down and cut off from their Carnal confidences and Fleshly rejoycings in themselves and as the showres that water the Earth So as in his days the Righteous shall flourish Psal 72.6 7. Yea and his Doctrine is as the Rain the small Rain and as the Dew to the tender herb or heart because his Name is therein Proclaimed Deut. 32.1 2. And his Spirit poured out is like Water upon the thirsty and his blessing like floods of water upon the dry Land Isa 44.3 4. so as he causes to grow as among the grass and as the Willows by the water courses And He will be as the Dew to Israel a sweet refreshing so as he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive-tree and his smell as Lebanon Hos 14.5 6. Yea and he makes them that are in him and partake of him to be as the dew too from the Lord and as the showres upon the grass as he is held forth in and by them that tarryeth not for man to help forward by his Art and industry nor waiteth for the Sons of men Mic. 5.7 In the Air also is the cool refreshing breath the winds that sometimes bring clouds and rain and sometimes drive them away sometimes carries on mens endeavours and sometime breaks down what resists And his Spirit is as the wind which bloweth and breatheth where it listeth and brings forth the Clouds that have rain in them his gifted Servants Joh. 3.8 Isa 5.6 and showres of heavenly doctrin and blessing And it is sometime like a mighty rushing wind too strong for all that make resistance there-against Act. 2.2 and 6.10 And he drives away from or brings storms upon men as he sees fitting Rev. 7.1 2. Yea Christ by his Spirit sometimes fills the Soul with a fresh Gale and carries it on with a full Sail of assurance of faith and hope while they as Vessels swim upon the Ocean and Streams of his Goodness and commit themselves to his care and assistance Coll. 2.2 Heb. 6.11 and 10.22 Yea and in the Air there be Thundrings and Lightnings too representing his Voice and the discoveries of Himself and his wrath while He thunders from heaven upon his enemies 1 Sam. 2.10 and answers his people by terrible things in righteousness in the secret place of thunder Psal 65.5 and 81.7 Yea and He makes his Servants and Disciples too sometimes Boanerges Sons of Thunder Mark 3.17 And his Lightnings his suddain forcible discoveries of himself his truth and judgments inlighten the earth Psal 97.4 5. The Fire also represents him who was as devouring Fire in the sight of the Children of Israel Exod. 24.13 and who sits as the Refiners fire to purify the Sons of Levi that they may offer a pure offering Mal. 8.3 And surely He is that light of Israel that is for a Fire and his Holy one that is for a flame to burn and devour his thorns and briars the wicked amongst and against them with all wicked works 2 Sam. 23.6 7. Ezek. 2.6 and 28.24 Mal. 4.1 Heb. 6.8 Isa 10.17 Yea his Law is a fiery law Deut. 33.2 And his word as fire to give light warmth and helpfulness for purifying melting and burning up what is meet for such operations Jer. 23.29 and his spirit a Spirit of burning Isa 4.4 where-with also as also with fiery tryals and afflictions he baptizeth Matth. 3.11 6. View we the Heavens there the bright and the morning star very comfortable to them that watch for the Morning and the Sun pleasant for the eye to behold are to be seen and He is the bright and the morning star Rev. 22.16 The Day spring East or Morning that hath visited us to give light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the ways of peace Luc. 1.77.78 A great light Matth. 4.16 Yea He is the glorious Sun of righteousness that shall arise to those that fear him with healing under his wings and as the Sun in the Firmament hath rejoyced and doth to run his course Mal. 4.2 Psal 19.6 Yea He is far above the Sun in excellency for the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield too and will give grace and glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 7. View we the Animals and living Creatures what excellencies or usefulness is in them that be not far more excellently in him the meekness of the Lamb its cleanness for Sacrifice to God goodness sweetness wholsomness for food and profitableness for clothing to men its patience in suffering c. are far more excellently in him the Lamb of God the spotless Lamb and without blemish that takes away the sin of the World Joh. 1.29 1 Pet. 1.19 Joh. 6.51.53 55. a Lamb against the ravenous Beasts who though hated and hunted by them bears all with patience and meekness dumb before the Shearers and when led to the slaughter opened not his mouth Isa 53.7 and at the last overcomes them Rev. 17.14 The strength and courage of the Lion and the comeliness of his going that turneth not away from any being found in him too who is therefore stiled the Lion of the Tribe of Judah that hath prevailed Prov. 30.30 Rev. 5.5 Yea he overcomes the old Lion and Dragon and all the Beasts of prey which rise up against him The stately Unicorn and his erected Horn is but an emblem of Him and his Kingdom having the strength of the Unicorn Numb 23.22 and 24.8 and his glory and strength called his Horn shall be exalted like the Unicornes horn Psal 92.10 The Roe and the young Hart leaping on the mountains is he in the liveliness of his love Cant. 2.9 17. and 8.14 The Hen or any other Bird most loving to her Chickens or young ones are short of him too in his desire to gather Souls under him for his defence and in keeping warm and safe those that trust under the shadow of his wings Matth. 23.37 Psal 91.3 II. View we Man Gods prime workmanship at the first Gen. 1.26 and Christs delight Prov. 8.31 and we shall find no excellency given Man wherein Christ excells not View we 1. His Body with its Members they are made use of to express or rather figure his excellencies who also was made Man and took an humane body now made glorious under the names of Mans bodily members he hath discovered his perfections but so as far surpasses all that 's in other mens bodies for his Head is as the most fine gold to signify the preciousness of his Deity and Authority his Rule and Government and how exceeding rich and precious his thoughts and inventions 1 Cor. 11.3 Psal 139.17 18. His locks bushie and black as a Raven his thoughts exceeding many to us and deep and so are the acts and exercises of his Authority and Government
and 71.3 Yea and he is Armour of Defence too A Shield to all that trust in him Psal 84.11 Prov. 2.7 4. It must have Rest and Sleep And he is the Rest wherewith the weary may rest Isa 28.12 And in him the true and heavenly Wisdom we may lie down and our sleep be sweet Prov. 3.25 Thirdly Yea all that God afforded to Israel in the Wilderness in their Travels as needful for their Life Christ is made it of God to us the Bread of God that comes down from Heaven that gives power to eat of it self because its living Bread so as that Manna could not do because not living and gives Eternal life to what eats it too whereas they who eat that Manna died John 6.50.58 And he is the true Rock from whence smitten with the Rod of Moses the Curse of the Law for us gushes out the Water of Life for the Rock that followed them was Christ 1 Cor. 10.3 But a far stronger and more lasting Rock then that as being Eternal and affording better Waters that will spring up in them that drink them unto Eternal life John 4.14 They had a Serpent lifted up to heal them when wounded and he is that as here is noted The Cloud too to go before and giving us with himself also a cloud of Witnesses and a refreshing Shadow And a Pillar of fire to give us Light by Night even in our darkness Isa 4.5 Heb. 12.1 Secondly He is also for our well and comfortable being many things we need to make our lives more chearful and we have all good to that purpose in him too As for Instance 1. It 's a comfort to have good Company and Fellowship It was not good for the man to be alone He that hath Christ never wants good Company for he will be with us He will never leave us nor forsake us so that we may boldly say The Lord is my helper I will not fear c. Heb. 13.5 6. Isa 43.2.3 For he is as good as Ten Thousand and more He is enough to set against the greatest Army or Multitude So when Hezekiah would comfort his people against the numerous Army of the King of Assyria he tells them There was more with them then with their Enemy and when he comes to account he mentions none but the Lord their God 2 Chron. 32.8 for he hath all at his Beck If David was worth ten Thousand of the people 2 Sam. 18.3 How much more worth is the Son of David who is Davids Lord He that hath him having the Father also they come together to abide with them who receive and keep his words John 14.23 and so we may have Fellowship with the Father and with the Son 1 John 1.3 4. And to be sure the holy Spirit is not wanting where they Two are for they Three are one 1 John 5.7 And the holy Spirit is upon him Isa 42.1 Yea and an innumerable company of Angels do attend him and the Church of the First-born and the Spirits of Just men made perfect Heb. 12.22 23. 2. It s comfortable to have Friends and Relations and they have all that have him For he is that Friend that loves at all times and the Brother born for adversity Prov. 17.17 Yea he stands in all and affords the comfort of all Relations The everlasting Father and yet the Child born for us and the Son given to us Isa 9.6 That cares for us as a Father 2 Cor. 12.14 1 Pet. 5.7 And comforts us as a Mother Isa 66 12 A Brother to us and not ashamed to be so called Heb. 2.12 And yet owns us as a Mother as well as Brethren and Sisters if we do Gods will hearing his Word and keeping it Mat. 12.49 He bids us call Wisdom our Sister too and Understanding our Kinswoman Prov. 7.4 And he is Wisdom and hath Vnderstanding and gives it to us Prov. 8.1.14 with Luke 11.49 and Mat. 23.34 So then as we are Children begotten by him he is our Father Isa 8.18 with Heb. 2.13 As we are the Fruit of the Travail of his Soul He is to us and pities and loves us as a Mother Isa 49.13 14. As we are made partakers of his Divine Nature and he of our humane he is our Brother and as he is the Wisdom of God our Sister and Mother as we conceive in our hearts in the knowledg and faith of him and he took his humanity of us or of our Nature he is our Child or Son yea he makes his Relations ours his Father our Father his Brethren and Sisters ours and so us to be Brethren to each other Mat. 23.8 John 20.17 Yea as we are his Sheep he is our Shepherd to take care of feed and lead us and preserve us from evil the good Shepherd John 10.15 As we are his Disciples he is our Master and as we are his Servants so he is our Lord not hard and froward but Good Gentle and Righteous our Master in heaven Mat. 23.10 Col. 4.1 John 13.13 As we are a City he is our Ruler and Governour as we are his Subjects he is our King as we are Espoused to him he is our Husband c. Isa 54.5 And Good yea Excellent in all these and affords the Comfort of all these Relations in the most excellent manner 3. It s comfortable to have good Chear rich Provisions and Accomodations Mirth and Pleasures lawful and allowed of God And Christ is and affords all this to us not only Bread to strengthen our Hearts but also a Feast of fat things full of Marrow not only Water but Wine and Milk Wine on the Lees and well Refined Isa 55.1 2. and 25.6 Not only necessaries to keep us alive but fatness too for our souls delight fat things wherewith we may be satisfied and Rivers of Pleasures whereof we may Drink abundantly Psal 36.8 9. 4. Yea in a word Riches and Honours are often comfortable and Riches and Honours are with him yea durable Riches and Righteousness his fruit is better then Gold yea then fine Gold and his Revenues then choice Silver Prov. 8.18 19. For he is the Wisdom that is better then Rubies and all the things to be desired not to be compared with him in whose Right-hand is length of days and in whose Left hand Riches and honours his Ways are ways of Pleasantness and all his Paths peace He is a Tree of Life to every one that lays hold on him and happy is every one that retains him Prov. 3.13.18 He and his Presence gives joy and delight and is a Spring of Content and Comfort in a First-fruit here 1 Pet. 1.6 7 8. But fully in his everlasting Presence and Injoyment of his Glory Jude 24. 5. Yea He like Solomon his Type hath his Royal Palace Psal 45.15 Great Works Vineyards Gardens and Orchards planted with all Trees and all kind of Fruits Cant. 4.10 11. for those that Retain and Appertain to him Pools of Waters also Isa 35.6 7. Servants Psal
not in this spiritual sense to be Carpenter and Mason and Ingraver too Zech. 3.9 and his house is for us to dwell in and feast in too Psal 84.4 10. and 91.1 and 65.4 and 36.8 9. Yea 4. He is the good Husbandman that tills the Land breaking up the fallow ground and as he is the grain of Wheat that fell into the ground and dyed and brought forth or brings forth much fruit so he is the Sower too The Son of Man is the Sower saith Christ himself Joh. 12.24 with Matt. 13.37 Yea and the great Reaper too though he also make use of the Ministry of Angels therein Isa 28.24 25. Rev. 14.14 Matth. 13.39 Yea the Thresher too else he would not call his People his threshing Instruments wherewith he will thresh the Mountains and his Enemies Isa 21.10 and 41.15 Hab. 3.12 And he makes his People Plowers Sowers Reapers and Threshers too Jer. 4.4 Hos 10.12 Joh. 4.36 38. 1 Cor. 9.10 2 Cor. 9 6 10. Mic. 4.13 He also hath his fan in his hand and fans out the chaff casting it into the unquenchable fire and gathers the good grain into his granary c. Matth. 3.12 Yea he is that good husbandman that plants a Vineyard and dresses it fencing it gathering out the stones from it building a Tower in it digging a Wine-press in it and doing all the works of the Vine-dresser in it so as to challenge any to say what he hath therein omitted Isa 5.2 3. Yea and the great Vine-dresser in the Parable that intercedes for the barren Fig-tree ingaging to dig about it and to dung it Luc. 13.7 8. Yea and the Keeper of the Vine-yard that watcheth it day and night least any harm it Isa 27.2 3. And he reaps the Vintage and treads the Wine-press of the wrath of God Rev. 14.19 and 19.15 Isa 63.1 6. 5. We are naturally unclean and He is both the fountain opened for us to wash in Zech. 13.1 and the washer of us therein too sanctifying and washing us with the washing of Water in the Word Eph. 5.25 26. Yea he disdains not to wash his Disciples feet as really in the spirit as he did once in the flesh having risen from the Table with his Father and holy ones above laid aside his Robes of glory girded himself with a Towel prepared himself for the service poured Water into the Bason even the water in the Word into his Instruments for conveying it his Ministers He stands ready and proffers his service to wash us and waits for our acceptance crying Wilt thou not be made clean when will it once be Joh. 13.4 5 6 7. Jer. 13 35. 6. He is also the purifier of the Sons of Levi that both is as Refiners fire and Fullers sope and that sits as a Refiner and purifier of Silver to that purpose Mal. 3.3 4. 7. He is the great and good Shepherd of us his Sheep Joh. 10.11 Heb. 13.20 The chief Shepherd 1 Pet 5.4 that leads out the Sheep going before them and calling them by their Names and will give them pasture He seeks up the lost strengthens the weak fetches back that which is driven away and doth all the Offices of a good Shepherd Ezek. 34.10 11 12. Psal 23.1 2 3 4. 8. If we be Dishes of his Sanctuary He will wash and wipe us too when defiled as a man wipeth a dish wiping it and turning it upside down 2 Kings 21.13 And 9. He will sweep out the wicked of the earth like dross with the besome of destruction that his and his Fathers house may not be defiled Isa 14.23 As once to the same end also he whipt out the buyers and sellers out of the Temple at Jerusalem Joh. 2.14 15. As also in seeking what is lost he sweeps out of his house what may hinder the Souls being found of him Luc. 15.8 Oh the humility and condescention of this high and holy One to condescend to such ministry and service for us and which adds to all the rest in the exercise of all these relations offices and services He is 1. Infinitely able as to strength and power for them all being the great God and our Saviour Tit. 2.13 The man or Son of man that God hath made strong for himself Psal 80.17 2. Infinitely furnished with wisdom and understanding how to do all things in the most exact way and as is most befitting All his ways are judgment Deut. 32.4 For the spirit of wisdom and understanding rests upon him and makes him quick in understanding in all things Isa 11.2 3. Can we doubt that seeing he is that word and wisdom of God in which the World and all things therein were made and were so admirably disposed as they be Psal 104.24 with Joh. 1.2 3. Heb. 1.2 3. Infinitely faithful to exercise both power and wisdom so as may be best and most pleasing to God his Father and most conduce to our good and welfare in our attending to and being guided by him faithful in all things to him that appointed him Heb. 3.2 Thus all things pertaining to life are in and with him Yea pertaining to and included in 3. The life to come even Eternal Life as we have seen in which he will be 1. The everlasting Rest and Sabbath and give everlasting cessation and rest from all labour sorrow and suffering and in the fruition of God and himself to full satisfaction 2. The Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God giving eternal life an everlasting well and happy being 3. The fountain of life affording a River or rivers of delights and pleasures for ever more Psal 36.9 and 16.11 Rev. 22.1 II. He is and in him also are and in the knowledge of him are given all things pertaining to godliness or the right worshipping and serving God which is the great end of his dying for us and being a Light and Leader to us that being delivered from the hands of our enemies we might serve him without fear in righteousness and holiness before him all the days of hur life Luc. 1.75 All those also he is and affords to us As to say 1. Needful it is that to our right worshipping of God we have a right understanding and knowledge of him his name excellency and greatness love unto us and will concerning us how it is meet for him to be and how he will be served by us and to this purpose we have him made of God wisdom to us 1 Cor. 1.30 Our Great Prophet Act. 3.22 Our Rabbi Master or Teacher Mat. 23.8 10. The great Apostle of our Profession Heb. 3.1 Yea he is both the great Apostle Prophet Evangelist or Gospel-preacher and the great Pastor or Shepherd 1 Pet. 5.4 and Teacher and all these gifts for furniture and helpfulness to others are given forth from and by him according to the measure of his gift and pleasure of his will and by them all it s he that declares the mind of the Lord and his name and
And surely he in his Divine Nature or Spirit bare up the Sacrifice of his own Body and the fire of his Divine Love kindled it and made it an whole Burnt-offering unto the Lord and on him as our Altar are all our Sacrifices to be offered too Heb. 13.10.15 For as the Divine Nature in him sanctified the humane as the Altar the Sacrifice Mat. 23.19 So it 's he that is our Sanctifier 1 Cor. 1.30 And by the Faith of him are we sanctified to him Acts 26.18 Though as there the Altar could not sanctifie any unclean thing forbidden by the Law nor might it come thereon So here we may not think to offer up any sin or what is in it self sinful by retaining the corruption in it to be sanctified by Christ but that that is made clean in him and through his Word commanding or allowing it and his Spirit springing it up and then the Pollutions thereto cleaving he takes away as he himself was the spotless Lamb and Sacrifice to which was no Pollution adhering 1 Pet. 1.18 19. 8. There was a Laver appointed that the Priests might wash their hands and feet and so go to the Altar and offer the Sacrifice Exod. 30.18 and 40.7 With respect to which David said I will wash my hands in Innocency and so will I compass thine Altar O Lord Psal 26.6 And this we have in Christ who washeth his Church with the Water in the Word as the Greek reads * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 5.26 Which Water what is it but that Free-grace Love and Knowledg of God therein declared 9. Yea all the things in the Tabernacle we have in him as for brevity to say in few words The Table of Shew bread whereon were the Twelve Loaves according to the number of the Children of Israel might signifie him the Bread of God for all the Israel of God John 6.35.48 And making us as Bread to God such as his Love feeds on to the rejoycing of his heart in our welfare as presented in him for by eating of him who is that Bread we also become one Bread and one Body saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.17 The Candle stick and its Lamps giving Light in the Tabernacle or House of God represented that Light which we have and are made to be in him Ephes 5.8 For though the Churches are compared to and represented by the Candlesticks yet they both are so as they are in him for in him it is that any are made a People and Church to God and he and the knowledg of him are the great and true Light shining in and through them John 8.12 The Altar of Gold by the Vail and the Incense burnt thereon to perfume the Services of the Tabernacle we have in him and his Mediation and Intercession in which with the Virtues of his Obedience and Sacrifice he perfumes all our Services done in the Spirit And he himself was an Offering of a sweet smelling Savour to God for us Rev. 8.2 Ephes 5.2 Yea and in him we have 10. What was in the Sanctuary or Holy of holies yea and the Vail between both which is said to be his flesh Heb. 10.20 the Ark of Gods strength wherewith he shewed forth his presence and the strength of it as in drying up Jordan throwing down the Walls of Jericho c. and in which was the Covenant of God was a Type of him the Strength and Arm of God by whom he hath shewed forth strength in overthrowing the strength of Satan and what stood against our happiness and in whom are all the Promises and Covenant of God Yea and Amen 1 Cor. 1.22.24 2 Cor. 1.20 And in a secondary sense through him the Gospel of Christ the power of God to Salvation And the Pot of Manna and Rod of Aaron we have in him for whereof were they Types but of the hidden Comforts in him and of his Rod and Sceptre flourishing and bringing forth much Fruit even his Power and Prevalency as High-priest with God in his Mediation and Blessing men in his Name He also is the Propitiatory or covering Mercy-seat for our sins through Faith in his Blood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Apostle himself tells us Rom. 3.25 And the Cherubims of Glory over that was but a shadow of that shadow of his Protection which he affords them who dwell in his secret place who trust in the Ark and Mercy-seat his Mercy and Truth and are directed and guided by that heavenly Voice that proceeds from him that sitteth on those Cherubims of Glory Rides on the Heavens and useth the Ministry of the Angels for the Protection and Safety of his Servants as is at large expressed Psal 91.1 2 3 4 9 11 c. And now we being furnished in him with all this for our approaching to God having him to teach us the way of his Worship and him as the Person by whom we may present our Worship and that furnisheth us with all that may render our Worship orderly and acceptable What wanteth but that we may Worship God acceptably and live Godlily approaching with Boldness and Confidence by him into his Presence with true hearts and full assurance of Faith Except we shall say there are two things wanting yet viz. a God to Worship and a Spirit of Life and Power to put life and breath into us with an heart to worship him but surely in him we have these two also as follows to be seen For CHAP. XXIII That all the Perfections of God both the Father and holy Spirit are in Christ Jesus IN him are all the Perfections of God even God himself both Father and Spirit for In him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily so that in him we are compleat who is the Head of all Principality and Power He is so glorified with Gods own self that he is the Mighty God Isa 9.6 The great God and our Saviour Tit. 2.13 God over all blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 He even he also sits between or upon the Cherubims of Glory and gives forth the Answers and Commands of God and hears the Prayers and accepts the Services and Sacrifices offered up in his House and with respect to this doubtless it was that Ezekiel in his Visions saw Over the Firmament upon the heads of the living Creatures the likeness of a Throne as the appearance of a Saphire stone and upon the likeness of the Throne as the appearance of a man above it Ezek. 1.22 26. Plainly importing that the Nature of man in him is Exalted to the Throne of God and that the supreme Power and Authority above all Creatures is given to him And indeed the Cherubims and Mercy-seat were the Throne of God the Throne of Grace And he tells us himself That he is set down with the Father in his Throne having overcome all his and our Enemies in and through his Sufferings Rev. 3.21 Being herein infinitely higher then the high Priests under the Law of Moses for
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
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
but is the Spirit that enlivens and works in and for Antichrist according as the Apostle saith Gal. 1.8 9. If I Paul or an Angel from Heaven preach another Gospel to you then that which we have preached let him be accursed Many People judg of Teachers and Ministers either by their Authority from Men or their Learning in Worldly or Humane Sciences or the Zeal or seeming Innocency or Piety in their walkings but these the Apostle implies may possibly be in those that are not of God they may be like Angels in their appearance or they may also pretend and seem to have immediate mission and furniture from God without such ordinary ways and means as others attain to understanding and fitness by for as the Apostle elsewhere saith Sathan is transformed into an Angel of light and therefore it is no great matter if his Ministers be transformed into the Ministers of righteousness 2 Cor. 11.14 And yet be Messengers of Sathan still those things which most men look upon of the conversation and walking of men may be included in the sheeps clothing the Sheep is distinguished from the Wolf by his bleating rather then by his clothing joyned with the innocency meekness in him the holy men of God had the end of their conversation Jesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for ever It s good for us to mind them and to follow their Faith and such as so walk and not to be carried about with divers and strange doctrines Doctrines different from that whereof Christ is the great matter and end Heb. 13.8 9. The Gospel preached by the Apostles was a Doctrine setting forth to Men and calling them into the grace of Christ Gal. 1.6 and that which swarves there-from is another Gospel or a perverting of the Gospel of Christ and is not to be heard who ever he be and how-ever he be gifted or walk that brings it no nor is he to be received to house or bid God speed to He that so doth being therein a partaker of all his evil deeds saith 2 Joh. 10 11. Implying that they be evil doers as indeed they must needs be and so they are called Philip. 3.2 who pervert or change the Gospel of Christ into another Doctrine as was before noted in chap. 21. The Prophets all witnessed to Christ as to come in the Flesh proclaiming Him the Seed of the Woman that was to bruise the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 The Seed of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob that was to be the blessing of all the Nations and Families of the Earth Gen. 22.18 and 26.4 and 28.14 The Prophet to be taken out of Israel like to Moses in all things The Seed of David in whose hands the Kingdom and Peace was to be established for ever Psal 89.3 4. and 132.11 Isa 9.7 A Root out of the stemme of Jesse and a Branch out of his Roots Isa 11.1 A Child born to us and a Son given to us and yet the Wonderful the Counsellor the Mighty God Isa 9.6 A man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs that was to be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities upon whom was to be laid the chastisement of our peace and who by his knowledge should justifie many as bearing their sins c. Isa 53.3 4 5 10 11. And all the Apostles have preached confessed and lifted him up as such a one saying no other things then what Moses and the Prophets did say should come to pass Yea and the end of their walking hath been to commend glorify and win in to him and therefore they who so preach and speak and walk are the true Ministers of God and such as are to be heard whether they have humane authority eloquence of speech and worldly learning or not for even Christ and the Prophets and Apostles at least divers of them had not nor came with those things Joh. 7.15 Act. 4.13 Amos 7.14 Yea though they should have like passions as other men and be men of infirmities as the Prophet Elias Jam. 5.17 And the Apostles were Act. 14.15 Or be Men mean in their Person and Speech as they said of the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 10.10 as on the other side the false Prophets and Teachers may boast of and have an appearance of all the contrary Mind we then what it is that men confess and whether in their word and conversation that be their end to exalt and glorify the Son of man and win in to Christ as come in the Flesh and close we with and receive them that so do but if Any bring not that Doctrine reject and refuse him whether it be that He 1. Deny Jesus to be the Christ or the Anointed one that should come into the World and whom Moses and the Prophets meant and wrote of whether he preach and expect another Person yet to come distinct and diverse from him and to do either the same works that he hath done or some other acts of saving Men by setting up an outward Kingdom for the Jews after the manner of other great Princes and Emperors in the World or whether they look for no other man but turn all into an Allegory of some light or power within whereof that Person was only an outward Representation Type or Figure Or 2. Assert a necessity of Moses Law to be observed and kept that men may be justified and accepted of God and saved as if Christ was not the end of the Law for righteousness for that 's a denying of him come in the Flesh as to the work and business of his coming Act. 15.2 Gal. 1.7 8 9. 2 Joh. 7.8 Or whether He 3. Deny the dispensation of the Spirit and the pouring it out upon all Flesh or the openness of the grace of God in and through him and liberty of access to God in the faith of him and of what he hath done and suffered for us for that 's not a confessing praising and commending him as so come as an All-sufficient compleat Saviour or as the Anointed the Christ furnished for helping and saving Mankind and as a good ground for all or any Man to repent upon and to turn to and hope in God Or whether He 4. Look for and teach to expect another and further Revelation of the truth of God then that given in and by him as if he had not compleated the Vision and Prophecy or was not the Person anointed of God to give the full Revelation of the mystery or had not done it in the Gospel preached by him and by his Servants in his Name and at his appointment and in the Spirit thereunto and therein given forth Or 5. Talk to men of an immediate approach to God and receit of Word and Spirit grace and blessing from Him without looking to him in and by Christ as if He was not in the nature of man or as Man exalted at Gods right hand and there abiding and interceding for us and obtaining for and
is able to Succour us because one with God the Son of God one in whom God and his Fulness gives forth himself to us Should we neglect and flight him and look to any other thing or person from him As that in Psal 121.1 may be read and is read in the Margin Should I look to the Hills and Mountains From whence then cometh my help My help cometh from the Lord who made the Heaven and the Earth Not from the Hills and Mountains but from the Lord Jehovah the Lord who made the Heavens and the Earth Should not a man look to his God Should a man seek for the Living to the Dead Isa 8.19 Is it not better to search and try our ways and turn to the Lord lifting up our heart with our hands yea our souls and our eyes to him in the Heavens Lam. 3.40 41. Psal 25.1.15 and 123.1 2. But Oh! How apt are we to look for help from trouble but not to consider that our sins are the causes of our troubles and so neglect to seek to be delivered from them Or if we seek deliverance from them then yet how many Thirdly Look to false ways for deliverance from sin and trouble too Running like the Heathens to false Gods or as some Jews to the true God by false ways not by Jesus Christ the Son of man and his Death and Sacrifice in and through which our way lies to God and access to and acceptance with him may be had of us But we men are apt either 1. With Israel of old to look to the Altars and Groves the works of their hands as in Isa 17.7 8. Where he saith in That day a man shall have respect to his Maker and his eyes shall have respect to the holy One of Israel and he shall not look to the Altars the works of his hands neither shall he respect that which his Fingers have made either the Groves or the Images Implying that that was now their way of sinning that they looked in a Religious way by Idolatrous and Superstitious sacrifices and observancies to pacifie Gods anger appease his wrath and obtain his favour as in all Nations generally the Heathen did by their Idolatrous Sacrifices and Ceremonies seek to please their gods and divert their anger and by such superstitious and heathenish ways too many yet conceit they may do it with the true God doing that to the Lord which the Heathen use to do to their gods contrary to the express Command of God Deut. 12.30 31. Or else 2. With Israel in latter times after that being punished for their gross Idolatries they were reformed from them For then they looked to the works of their own hands in another sense which they in those former times under any Reformation in their better Kings days were apt also to do they used to look to the Temple and to cry The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are these And to their Sacrifices Oblations Burnt-offerings solemn Meetings many Prayers Sabbaths and the like And to hope for Deliverance from Sin and Judgments upon such accounts as these as in Isa 28.14 15. and 66.1 3. Jer. 7.4 5 6 c. Rom. 9.31 32. and 10.1 2 3 Luke 18.9 11 12. And are there not many now that look either to things as bad as the Idolatrous Sacrifices and superstitious Groves and Altars of the Gentiles and Gentilizing Jews Some that look for help pardon and deliverance from wrath from the Pope and his Ministers their Masses Dirges Pilgrimages Invocation of Saints and such like Fopperies And by things too much of Kindred to them where the Pope is rejected as by their saying their Prayers getting the Priests Absolution observing Church-orders c. And those who are reformed yet more from those things do they not come up too much to the zealous Jews and Pharisees in looking to their Orders Covenants Zeal Profession Ordinances Duties and many the like things never Crucified for them but to him who died for them and into whose Name they were Baptized they look not or look too little 3. So also they who look to one another but not to Jesus who think this or that Religious man or these or those good People shall help and succour them Like the foolish Virgins who neglecting Christ and the getting Oyl in their Vessels from him while they had opportunity looked that the wise Virgins in their defects should supply them Mat. 25.8 but their hope and expectation failed them verse 9. To such it may be said as old Jacob said to his Sons when they were like to famish for want of Bread corn Why look ye one upon another Behold I have heard that there is Corn in Egypt get ye up thither and buy that ye may live and not die Gen. 42.1 So may we say Behold we have heard that there is Grace in Christ Jesus there is Salvation in him Redemption in him Forgiveness of sins and Eternal life in him all things that we need in him c. Let us arise therefore and go up to him or look up to him and Buy of him Gold tried in the fire that we may be inriched and White Raiment that we may be clothed and our Nakedness may be covered and our Shame may not appear If we look to other things they will fail us and be like those deceiful Brooks whereof Job speaks and like to his Brethren compared to them Job 6.15 16 19 20 21. Streams which pass away what time they wax warm they vanish or are cut off in the heat they are extinguished out of their place the Troops of Teman looked the Companies of Sheba waited for them they were confounded because they had hoped they came thither they were ashamed Whereas Christ is the Fountain of living Waters and that Spring of Waters whose Waters fail not Jer. 2.13 John 4.14 The remedy of Gods providing for and commending to us the sure Foundation of Gods Laying on whom whosoever believeth shall not be ashamed Isa 28.16 4. They also who trust in themselves that they are Christs who trust in or look to their making mention of Christ their Preaching or Prophecying in his Name and having success therein so as to do many wonderful works and to have the Spirits subject to them thinking thence to find safety and deliverance from their sins and sorrows from wrath and judgment but look not to the Son of man so as to be healed of their sins by him It 's not any mans Acts about Christian Profession or Religion but Christ himself delivered up of God for our Sins raised again for our Justification and Exalted and Glorified of him and so that Grace in him that is to be Eyed Looked and Depended on by us for all Grace and Blessing yielding up to be Saved and Healed thereby as in believingly minded it worketh in us and so He that looketh into the perfect Law of Liberty and continues therein being not a