day the things thou belong to thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes O Jerusalem Jerusalem Why what 's the matter An Enemy is at hand Ruine is at the door Why will you die O House of Israel Now 't is to England yea to London O that they would once hear Christ's Calls before it is too late and the things that concern their peace be hid from their eyes c. V. The Lord Jesus stands with his Arms and Heart open ready to receive all true penitent Sinners that come unto him I have spread out my Hands all the day long c. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you Rest c. VI. The Lord Jesus hath such Bowels of Pity and Compassion to sinful Mankind that he would have none of them perish But come to the Knowledg of the Truth and be saved How desirous is he to get them all under his Wings of Grace and Protection Turn ye turn ye why will ye dy O House of Israel turn and live saith the Lord How often would I have gathered thy Children together c. VII The Lord Jesus calls to Sinners that they may have the Bread of Life Ho every every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters c. Eat ye that which is good yea the Bread that never perisheth Christ gives Bread that never perisheth VIII All sin-sick and diseased Souls that are weak and hang down their Heads or their Wings and go drooping all the day as it were half dead no sooner are they got under the Wings of Christ but he graciously succors and refreshes them making them brisk and very lively IX Christ out of his infinite Bowels to his People finding no other Meat was so good and excellent for them gave them Food from Heaven even his own Body My Flesh is Meat indeed c. Simile I. THe Hen cannot save and defend her Chickens under her Wings when she hath gathered them to her being a poor weak inconsiderable Creature II. The Hen when her Chickens are grown up cares not for them she will 't is noted rather strike at them and beat them from her III. The Hen loses often-times her Chickens the Kite gets them away from her and makes a Prey of them IV. A Hen soon forgets her Chickens which she hath bred and brought up Disparity I. THe Lord Christ is strong and able to save hide and defend all his People that come to him under his Wings being the most High Omnipotent Eternal Jehovah The Father and I am one He thought it no Robbery to be equal with God II. Our Blessed Saviour will never cease to take care of and provide for his poor Children his Eye is as well upon the oldest and strongest Christians as upon the weakest and youngest Cast all your Care upon him for he careth for you c. III. The Lord Jesus Christ cannot will not lose one of them that the Father hath given him those that thou hast given me I have lost none but the Son of Perdition c. I give them Eternal Life and they shall never perish c. IV. Christ never can nor will forget his Saints Can a Woman forget her Sucking Child that she should not have Compassion on the Son of her Womb yea she may but I will not forget thee Inferences I. WHat great Encouragement doth this Similitude afford to all yea to the vilest of Sinners O what Compassion is there in Christ's Heart towards you how willing is he to gather you to himself II. It also informs us of that great Blindness and horrid Obstinacy which is in the hearts of wicked Men How often would I have gathered Israel and they would not be gathered I would but ye would not How dare Sinners then to charge their eternal Overthrow Perishing and Ruine upon the Lord Jesus Christ Know O Sinner thy destruction is of thy self III. It also truly informs us that all Safety and Salvation is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Under his Wings we must get if we would be secure from the Enemy of our Souls and be delivered from eternal danger Vnto Him shall the gathering of the People be IV. Of what amazing nature was the great Condescension of the Blessed JESUS who made himself of no Reputation became weak poor and sensible of our Infirmities touching the Flesh that we might be strong rich and partake of his Perfections and Glorious Fulness V. Here is also very much Comfort to all true Believers whoever they be that are gathered by the Word and Spirit unto Christ He will succour guide revive and defend them for ever He infinitely out-doth the Hen his Bowels exceed the Bowels of the tenderest Mother to her sucking Child He is strong enough also as well as tender not only willing but able Fear not Satan he hath swallowed up Death in Victory The Kite hath as one observes as it were an aking tooth at the Chickens fain would he make a prey of them so would the Devil of Believers Christ knows how to preserve them by gathering them all under his Wings Soul fear not if thou art under the Protection of the Lord Jesus Christ thou art in safety from all temporal and spiritual dangers VI. If Christ be so tender and compassionate unto Sinners and seeks to gather them unto him who will pity them if they perish at last and are damned when all is from their own vile stubborn and wilfull Obstinacy VII If the Lord Jesus Christ be so tender of and kind to his Saints which he hath gathered to himself and sheltered under his Wings Then let this Doctrine teach Christians in an especial manner to be kind one to another and tender one of another and to do their utmost endeavour to defend one another in this evil day from the common Enemy both of Body and Soul VIII This may serve for seasonable Reproof to all those who profess the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and hope for Preservation by him and Shelter under his Wings yet instead of endeavouring to the utmost to help one another revile backbite and persecute one another for small and circumstantial Differences in Profession and thereby give the common Enemy Advantage upon them both A divided House cannot stand Christ the Captain of our Salvation Heb. 2.10 To make the Captain of our Salvation perfect through Sufferings THis is a military Term the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Captain being derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to lead and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also a Captain derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies Beginning Chief or Government denoting in a borrowed sense from Military Commanders the Rule Dominion and Principality of Christ over all and that he leads his Spirtual Militia safe through all Perils in their Christian Warfare Being to enter upon a Military Subject and
â—â—or a good end as well with respect to God who requires obedience and a perfect resignation of man althoâ—â—gh his precepts may seem absurd to our Reason as also with respect to Abraham and his son Isaac who became examples of Faith Submission and Conâ—â—tancy to Gods Will without scruple questions or murmuring Besides there is respect had to the Messiah whose Passion Death and Resurrection is prefigured in this Mystical Type Matth. 15.24 25 26. I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel It is not lawful to give the Childrens bread to Dogs That this speech was also by way of tryal of the Womans Faith appears by the event and the Elogy which Christ give her ver 28. O Woman great is thy Faith The mind differs from the speech he seems externally to segregate or distingush her from the Sheep and at the same instant occulty cherishes and Comforts her as his He compares her to a Dog but places her at the same time at the Childrens Table This passage intimates the good and Salvation of the Woman and all Beleivers for we are hereby eminently informed by way of sweet consolation of the certainty of Divine help though it be for a while delayed in Crosses and Calamities as appears by that trying silence of Christ ver 23. viz. But he answered her not a word upon which Châ—â—ysostom says the Lord knew that here was a hidden Jewel which he would not conceal from us but delayâ—â—d his answer that the Womans sedulity or diligence may become an example and Doctrine to posterity c. 2. Some things are dissembling and Hypocritically spoken and sometimes with a bitter Sarcasm which are true in themselves but not conformable to the mind of the speaker as Gen. 37.19 Josephs Brethren said one to another behold this master of Dreams cometh c. Such indeed Joseph was for verse 5. he gave information of things to come and had the gift of interpreting others Dreams as chapters 40. and 41. But his Brethren did not so repute him but call him so in a way of Mockery and Derision 2 Sam. 6.20 Michael said to David her husband How glorious was the King of Israel to day c. David was truly glorious in that sacred gesture and Art as he himself says ver 21 22. but to her it seemed to be lightness and scurrility void of Royal gravity for 't is said ver 16. That she despised him in her heart Psal. 22.8 He trusted in the Lord that he would deliver him let him deliver him seeing he delighted in him These things were most true in themselves but in the opinion of those mockers false who by this bitter Sarcasm denied Christ hanging on the Cross as Matth. 27.43 See Esa. 5.19 Matth. 22.16 The Disciples of the Pharisees being sent to Christ say Master we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in Truth neither carest thou for any man For thou regardest not the person of Men These words were true of our Saviour Christ but not conformable to the mind of the Pharisees who spoke by way of snare and Irony as Luke 20.20 appears See Matth. 27.29 40 42 43. Mark 15.29 c. 3. Some things manifestly false and spoken with an intention to deceive by such as knew it to be otherwise are set forth by way of history and Narration as Gen. 3.4 And the Serpent that is the Devil in the Serpent said unto the Woman ye shall not surely die for ver 5. God doth know that in the Day ye eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil This the Father of lies knew to be quite otherwise but would by that falshood circumvent and deceive Eve By the opening of their Eyes which he by a fallacy Promises is intimated the accuteness of the mind and understanding in comparison of which the former concreated Wisdom may seem to be blindness Thus the deceiver plays his game to the destruction of Adam and his Posterity had not immense Grace stept in to prevent it Matth. 2.8 Herod says to the Wisemen Go and search diligently for the young Child and when ye have found him bring me word again that I may come and Worship â—â—im also His intention was to destroy the Child Jesus which by the inhumane and execrable Massacre of the Children afterwards is evident but by this Irony and Hypocrisie he would delude the Wise men Lastly There are some things where there seems to be an Irony but when the thing is more exactly considered there is none is Jer. 4.16 The Watchers or keepers come from a far Country c. Some think that by a Watchman or Keepers by an Antiphrasis or Irony we are to understand destroyers But in Truth the Babylonians are to be understood who for their own safety and profit were watchers lying in wait about the Fields lest any thing should escape away or get from them as hunters who watch every place of egress out of a Wood lest the Beasts they hunt should escape into the open Fields as verse 17. Ezek. 3.24 Then the Spirit entred into me and set me upon my feet and spake unto me and said unto me go shut thy self within thine house Junius and Tremelâ—â—ius alledge that these and the following words are to be understood by an Irony as if he had said is it a Prophets office to hide himself when I bid him go forth There are others which say that it was spoke by way of Sarcasm and indignation paraphrasing thus if thou art resolved to disobey my Command go into thine own House and experience what it is to contend with me such Sarcasms are found Judg. 10.14 Esa. 50.11 But the truth is that because God had sufficiently instructed the Prophet by his Spirit and gave him courage to publish his Will and because we do not read that this Prophet used any Tergiversation or shuffling to avoid the work appointed him as we read of Moses Exod. 3.11 and 4.10 13. Of Jeremy Chap. 1.6 and 20.9 Of Jonas Chap. 1.3 the best way is to interpret these words properly as they sound viz. that it is a serious Command of God that he should shut himself in his House and dispatch his Prophetical Actions mentioned chap. 4. see also chap. 8.1 to which belongs what is added of the binding of men as it were with Cords by Angels at the Command of God as verse 25. For God uses these ministring Spirits in his Government of men and that which is spoken chap. 4. belongs to these is evident by the 8th verse of that chapter c. Matth. 4.3 The Tempter says to Jesus if thou beâ—â—st the Son of God command that these Stones may be made Bread In which Words Theophylact says there is an Irony as if he had said neither art thou the Son of God neither canst thou do this But more truly it is to be interpreted a Diabolical fraud
will watch over them for Evil. The Lord watches over his own People for good but wo to them that he like a Leopard observes and watches over to destroy 'T is marvellous to consider how long the patient God bears with an ungodly Soul People or Nation ere he brings his sweeping Judgments in upon them The wicked think God will never strike because he defers the Execution of his Wrath and hence they are hardened in an evill Work When alas poor Souls they are greatly mistaken God is watching for a fitter Time wherein he will get himself a greater Name and more Glory in their Destruction We have a plain Proof of this in Pharaoh King of Egypt God like a Leopard observed him and watched over him for Evil and at last tho it was not presently got hold of him and broke his Bones and destroyed his Power and all his mighty Host. God's Time of Executing his Judgments and Wrath upon the Ungodly is the most amazing and terrible In due time shall the Feet of the Wicked slip IV. God tho he seem to tarry long before he comes upon the Ungodly yet when he doth come he leaps as it were upon them comes on a sudden I will come upon thee as a Thief The Wicked will be surprized when Vengeance comes to be executed upon them V. God tho he may seem to be asleep and to hold his peace and let Sinners alone yet will he at last awake out of sleep and then let Sinners look to it God compared to a Bear Hosea 13.8 I will meet them as a Bear bereaved of her Whelps THis is the third Simile God makes use of in this place I will meeâ—â— them as a Bear bereaved of her Whelps Simile I. THe Bear is a very fierce Creature very terrible Two She-Bears tore forty two Children at once His Voice is fierce saith one he is fearless in his Rage II. 'T is observed that the Bear will not willingly fight with or set upon a Man unless he be as it were forced thereunto III. No Creatures as Naturalists tell us love their Young more than the Bear IV. The Bear is furious and in a dreadful Rage when she is bereaved of her Young as appears by Hushai's Words to Absalom Thou knowest that thy Father and his Men they be chafed in their Fury as a Bear bereaved of her Whelps In the Field let a Bear robbed of her Whelps meet a Man rather than a Fool in his Folly She is fierce at all times as was hinted before but above all if she be robbed of her Whelps Parallel I. WHo is so fierce and terrible as the great God whose Anger is resistless and whose just Wrath when provoked is unavoidable II. God doth not willingly afflict fight with or grieve the Children of Men till their daring Impudence and oft repeated Provocations force him as it were to do it III. No Creatures that God has made love their Young or Off-spring as God doth them that fear him A Woman may forget her sucking Child yet will not he forget his Children His Love exceeds the Love of Women to their tender Babes IV. O how furious is the Almighty how is he in an holy Rage if any hurt his poor Children They that touch you touch the Apple of mine Eye What then will become of the bloody Persecutors that have not only bereaved God of his Children but cruelly torn them to pieces boared out their Eyes rosted them alive flayed their Skins off and burned them at the Stake to Ashes and put them to all the horrid Tortures they could devise If God will meet his own People if they sin against him and provoke him as a Bear bereaved of her Whelps how will he meet Babylon bloody and merciless Papists and other cursed Persecutors of his People The Day of Vengeance saith he is in my Heart and the Year of Recompences For the Controversy of Zion he will strike through Kings in the Day of his fierce Wrath. Shall not God avenge the Cause of his own Elect that cry unto him day and night Yea he will avenge them speedily and come forth against their Enemies as a Bear bereaved of her Whelps God compared to a Moth Hosea 5.12 I will be unto Ephraim as a Moth. THat we may understand the Nature and Quality of this little Creature and the Reason of the Comparison the Parallel following is offered with a practical Application The Scope of the Text is a Denunciation of a strange Judgment which shall corrode and consume them the Cause and Ground of which is delivered in the preceding Verses viz. Because they have resisted the Commands of God and followed the wicked Commands of Jeroboam and his Princes Therefore saith God I will be unto Ephraim as a Moth. Observ. That God in bringing Judgments and Miseries upon a rebellious People will be as a Moth. And in what respects take as followeth Simile I. A Moth is a Creature that corrodes or devours exceedingly whatever Garment or Cloth it doth seize upon and makes it good for very little II. A Moth will not only eat Woollen Cloth and Garments of a low Price but those that are very rich yea upon costly Velvets as Experience shews III. A Moth comes not upon such Cloth and Garments as are carefully and wisely kept from Dust and Filth And therefore those Writers that mention the hurtful Nature of this Creature advise to cleanse and keep such things as are subject to this Creature from all Dust and Filth whatsoever and then they need not fear the Moth and ascribe the Ways and Means how it may be done IV. A Moth eats and devours Garments secretly you may not quickly spy him out he makes no Noise of his coming you can't tell whether it be got into your Cloth or Garments or not at first V. A Moth eats and spoils by degrees It doth not consume and spoil a Garment all at once but by little and little till it is quite spoiled and good for nothing VI. A Moth corrupts and destroys insensibly These Worms saith Mr. Topsall when they have by degrees insensibly eat off the out most Superficies of the Cloth then they eat up the inward Part and so insinuate themselves into the middle Substance of it and those that search never so well for them can hardly find them A Man may think his Cloth or Garment is good by the outward View of it yet when he looks and proves it throughly he will find it full of Holes and good for little Parallel I. GOD when He breaks forth upon a People or Nation in a way of Judgment and Wrath destroys and makes all desolate therein Behold therefore I will stretch out my hand upon thee and will deliver thee for a Spoil to the Heathen and I will cut thee off from the People and I will cause thee to perish I will destroy thee and thou shalt know that I am
glorious manner unto us 13. The Power and Condescension of God is wonderful many ways demonstrated but nothing like what it is in Christ in taking our Nature into Personal Union with himself That the Son of God should become Man the Ancient of Days become a Child He that made the World born of a Woman When Satan had done his worst that he might destroy Man Man is by the Power of God advanced to greater Glory and Happiness than he had before he fell 14. Moreover I might speak of the Patience Forbearance and Faithfulness of God all which and many more of the glorious Attributes of the Father shine forth most lively in Jesus Christ. Besides the Persons or Subsistences of the Blessed Trinity are more clearly discovered by Jesus Christ than ever before First In his own Person Secondly In his Doctrine Thirdly In his Baptism or when he was baptized Fourthly In his Commission Mat. 28.19 20. Fifthly In their distinct Offices Operations and Workings Lastly The Will of God and his holy Laws and Institutions are only made known by the Son III. Christ who is the Image of God ought to be adored and worshipped by Men and Angels And when he brings in the First-begotten into the World he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him IV. Christ the Image of God abides for ever Time nay Eternity will not alter or change him nor marr his Beauty Inferences 1. WE may from hence perceive the wonderful Love Goodness and Condescension of God Almighty to Mankind who seeing how unable we are to understand comprehend conceive or take in the knowledg of Himself who is so infinite and inaccessible in his Being Glory and Majesty is pleased to stoop so low as to afford us a Figure Image and lively Representation of Himself that so we might not frame false Ideas of God or entertain any vain or unworthy Apprehensions of him in our Minds 2. This also abundantly demonstrates how exceeding willing the Blessed God is to reveal or make known himself unto his Creatures 3. This discovers the Necessity of coming unto God by Christ and what Advantage the Christian World have above the Heathen Nations For tho he hath in the visible Creation implanted some Resemblances or Characters of his Excellencies and left some Footsteps of his blessed and sacred Properties that by the contemplation of them Men might come to have some Acquaintance with him as Creator which might encourage them to fear and love Him and make Him their last End yet all Expressions of God besides this of Christ Jesus are partial short and insufficient to discover all that is necessary to be known that we may live to him here and enjoy him hereafter 4. It may caution all Men to take heed they do not imagine to come to the true Knowledg of God any other way but by the Lord Jesus For no Man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him All miss of Happiness that seek it not by Jesus Christ. We must seek the Father in the Son and by him labour to believe in or come to God by Jesus Christ. This is for Direction to us in all Religious Worship 5. The Godly may from hence also see what reason they have to love and delight themselves in Jesus Christ. Brethren study the Knowledg of Christ look often upon this glorious and blessed Image Many are taken with Pictures and Representations of Things and Persons but how vain is that Here is the Image you should delight your selves in look to Jesus much Profit as well as Joy and Comfort will redound to you hereby This is an Image that abides for ever which God allows you to worship and adore him by 6. Prize Christ value him above all things in this World can you too highly esteem him who is the express Image of the Father's Person Lastly Let all take heed how they slight Jesus Christ or contemn the Knowledg of him because this Mystery is above their Reach and shallow Apprehensions and indeed it may caution all not to seek too curiously into these great Mysteries and Depths lest they be drowned the best of Men know but in part Christ a Physician Mat. 9.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. They that are whole need not a Physician but they that are sick THe same is repeated Mark 2.17 with which you may compare Isa. 61.1 in which places the Term is attributed to Christ the Redeemer the Metaphor being taken from Physicians because he gives spiritual Healing in Soul-Diseases as Physicians do in the Diseases of the Body see also Luke 5.31 We read Job 13.4 of Physicians of no value Such indeed are all to whom Application for Remedy is made besides this Heavenly Physician who never fails to cure such as receive his Medicaments In what respects Christ is termed a Physician is to be seen in the following Parallel Metaphor I. A Physician is a Person skilful in Distempers of the Body knows the Nature of Diseases II. A Physician is one that knows the Nature of Simples and other Ingredients that are good for Cure studies the Nature of Herbs Plants Minerals c. III. A Physician is one that is authorized or licensed They are first tried and approved and commissioned before they are admitted to practise Physick because many pretend to it that have no Skill but are meer cheating Quacks and Mountebanks that kill more than they cure IV. A Physician ought to shew and produce his Authority or Licence to practise Physick to such as have Power to require it that so it may be the better known whether he be what he says or not there being many counterfeit Physicians V. A Physician ought to know the Name and Nature of that particular Disease under which his Patient laboureth he that knoweth not the Distemper can never cure it unless by chance VI. A Physician as he ought to know the Name and Nature of the Disease so he must know the Cause of the Disease The Cure is found saith one in the Cause to discover whence the Distemper grew and what the Occasion of it was directs unto the Remedy VII It behoveth a Physician to know the Constitution of his Patient thereby he finds out what Diseases the Patient is most subject and incident to VIII A Physician ought to know what Diseases are Chronical or Habitual from such as are Acute that have seized on the Patient suddenly by Heats Colds Blood or from other causes IX A Physician ought to be an experienced Man that greatly tends to his more necessary Accomplishment for if he be one that hath not seen the Effect of his Medicines in his own Body nor in others 't is hard venturing to have to do with him X. A Physician useth proper and suitable Preparatives to dispose his Patient's Body to a Cure XI A Physician prescribes proper Medicines for every Disease he does not apply Medicines that are hurtful and noxious such
of the Hart to Serpents which our Parallel shews to be true of Christ in a spiritual sence we may infer That the eternal Ruin and final Overthrow of the Devil and his cursed Off-spring is at hand he will tread them down under his Feet shortly 2. Moreover from hence we may infer further Terror to the Enemies Christ's quick and piercing Eye sees all their secret Abominations pries into their Cabals and close Councels and as he sees what Mischief and Violence is hatching by them so he is swift-footed will soon skip over all Mountains and with his direful Vengeance confound them 3. Besides this we may learn from hence what Fools many Men are whilst they pursue after the poor Hart they study not the way to hunt for this spiritual Venison Jesus Christ is worth the Chase who would not hunt for such an Hind 4. Let Saints be comforted Christ has Hind's Feet He will soon get over all Difficulties and deliver them Lastly Let us pray with the Church Make haste my Beloved and be thou like a Roe or a young Hart upon the Mountain of Spices Christ a Door John 10.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am the Door c. AMongst the many Metaphors that our Blessed Saviour is expressed by in the Holy Scripture certainly this of Door must carry some Emphasis and Signification for Use and Improvement otherwise He that was wiser than Solomon and spake as never Man spake for excellency of Matter and Form would never have likened himself to a Door And therefore whatever may be imagined concerning a Door in point of Excellency and Usefulness in respect of Appointment and Necessity to the Children of Men according to the Scope of the Text that even that by way of Eminency is the Son of God unto Sinners For the better understanding of which we shall distinctly consider the Subject and run the Parallel as followeth Metaphor I. A Door is of the same substance with some part of the House to which it is purposed or intended as an useful Part. II. A Door is fitted by the Power and Wisdom of him who is concern'd to do it for a premised End III. A Door is set a part or assign'd to a proper Place and Service which other parts of a House are not fit for IV. A Door is of necessity who can be without it that is of human Race whose dwelling is with Men V. A Door is as really the Propriety of the Owner of the House as any other part or parts of the House besides VI. A Door lets into possession if Men hire or purchase and take possession the Door is the Entrance thereto VII A Door is under the Command of the Master that owns it 't is he that shuts and opens it at his own pleasure VIII A Door is the place of legal Entrance no Men are allowed by Law to climb up to Windows or break down any part of the Walls for entrance IX A Door is the common Passage for the Family and Strangers for Children and Servants for Friends and Enemies X. A Door is of use to all even to Emperors and Kings as well as meaner Men and Cottagers XI A Door is not only for the convenient Entrance of Men and Women whether of the Family or not but for the bringing in of other things that the Master likes of and requires to be brought in XII By the Door admittance is given to view the inward Excellencies of the House who can see what there is within if they are without the door XIII A Door lets into the best Parts and Privileges of a House into the Dining-Room for Meat into the Cellar for Drink into the Wine-Cellar for Wine into the Wardrobe for Cloaths into the Treasury for Cash into the Closet for Books c. XIV The Door is the Privilege-place for the Poor where they often meet with good Gifts and Refreshments Parallel I. JEsus Christ the Spiritual Door was of the same substance in respect of his human Nature that Men are even like to them in all things Sin only excepted In as much as Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood he himself took part of the same therefore very often in Scripture called a Man II. Jesus Christ is fitted by the Power and Wisdom of Him who hath laid a most worthy Platform and Contrivance and premiseth all things to his own most wise and admirable Ends. He sent forth his Son made of a Woman A Body hast thou prepared me III. Jesus Christ is sanctified or set apart by God the Father to be a Mediator and Saviour which no other besides himself is fit for Whom the Father hath sanctified or set apart and sent into the World And there is no Name under Heaven given by which Men can be saved but by him IV. Jesus Christ is of such absolute necessity that none can be happy without him that have immortal Souls to save Whoso findeth me findeth Life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. He that hates me loves Death Except ye believe that I am he ye shall abide without viz. die in your Sins V. Jesus Christ is truly and really God's Propriety as the Church and each particular Believer or Member thereof therefore in Scripture is called his own Son All is yours ye are Christ's and Christ is God's VI. Jesus Christ has the Honour and Office of letting all true Believers into the possession of that eternal Inheritance purchased by his own Blood for them 't was he that gave the poor Thief entrance into Heaven Luk. 23.43 VII Jesus Christ is under the Command of God the Father as Man and he receives in and shuts out according to his pleasure acts even so and speaks even so as he receives Commandment from the Father VIII Jesus Christ is the legal way of Entrance whether into the visible Church or into the Kingdom of Heaven Whosoever shall attempt to enter into either of these otherwise than by Christ will be look'd upon as Thieves and Robbers IX Jesus Christ is the common Passage to the Mercy of God to the Privilege of Children to the Fellowship of the Sheep and to eternal Life all are admitted through him No Man comes to the Father but by me X. Jesus Christ is useful to all even to Emperors and Kings to mean Men and Cottagers none of them can by any means deliver his Brother or give to God a Ransom for him c. Riches profit not in the day of Wrath. He is the only Saviour of all Men that are saved neither is their Salvation in any other XI Jesus Christ is not only for the acceptance and entrance of Men and Women to God the Father but for the acceptance of their Works and Services as Prayer Thanks-giving c. Their Services and Performances are accepted in and through the Beloved as well as their Persons Thy Prayers and Alms are come up XII Jesus Christ
God sware unto David that of the Fruit of his Loins according to the Flesh He would raise up Christ to sit upon his Throne And upon this account Christ is called the Son of David and the Off-spring of David How fitly Christ may be compared to a Branch we shall note under three or four Particulars Metaphor I. A Branch hath a Root or Stock from whence it proceeds II. A Branch is of the same Nature with the Stock or Root from whence it naturally proceeds III. A Branch partakes of Sap and Nourishment from the Root IV. A Branch or the Branches of a Tree are the Glory of a Tree Parallel I. CHrist as concerning the Flesh proceeded from Abraham Jesse David Mary c. II. Christ is really and truly Man and hence he is called the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of Abraham c. and Made of a Woman made like unto us in all things Sin only excepted Forasmuch as Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself likewise took part of the same III. Christ partook of Nourishment from the Virgin not only in the Womb but afterwards Blessed are the Paps that thou hast sucked IV. Christ the Son of Man being the real Off-spring and Son of David according to the Flesh is the Glory of all David's Race and of the whole Church of God in general Inferences 1. THis may serve to reprehend those that say The Matter of Christ's human Nature was from Heaven and that he passed through the Womb of the Virgin as Water through a Conduit-Pipe and is called the Seed of the Woman and made of a Woman upon no other account than his being born of a Woman From hence 2. We may admire the Goodness and rich Grace of God and his distinguishing Love to Mankind in that the Lord Jesus took not hold of the Nature of Angels but of the Seed of Abraham that there should be a Saviour for fallen Man and none for fallen Angels 3. This shews how Man is magnified and exalted by the Almighty What greater Dignity can God confer upon us than that our Nature should be united to and made one with the Deity This is the Rise and Ground of all our Hope and Consolation Christ the VVay Joh. 14.6 I am the Way c. No Man can come to the Father but by me I Am the Way c. Way is taken properly or metaphorically In the latter Sence divers things are so called VIZ. The Law or Word of God Psal. 119.1 The Doctrine of the Gospel Acts 19.9 The Secret Counsel of God Rom. 11.33 The Conversation of the Godly Psal. 1.1 The Works of God Job 41.19 And in this Text and some others Christ is so called Way is a common Word or Phrase taken for the chief Means and Medium for the Attainment or Accomplishment of a Thing and so is very comprehensive As for example The way to gain Honour is to do some worthy and honourable Action Honour is the End the Person that seeks it is the Subject the doing the worthy Action is the Way to attain it Again If a Man would go to such or such a City he must travel that Road that leads thither here also you have the End the Subject and the Means or Way of obtaining the End So in like manner if a Man would come to God which is Happiness his chief End the Way is Jesus Christ No Man can come unto the Father but by me Here Man is the Subject God or Happiness the End Christ the Way Metaphor I. A Way to attain to any Thing or Place that we greatly desire and long after is necessary without which our End and Desire can never be accomplished II. A Way must be assigned by the Publick Legislators of a Kingdom when it is wanting and appears absolutely necessary III. A Way that is assigned must be also made known or else how shall Men do to find it and walk in it IV. A Way is useful upon divers accounts indeed to all Enterprises whether it be for the obtaining of Honour Riches Peace Health or Length of Days V. Ways lead from one Place or City to another VI. Ways are free for all none are forbid to travel in such and such common Ways and Roads VII Great Care was to be taken under the Law that the Ways to the Cities of Refuge should be made smooth and plain all Stumbling-Blocks and Impediments were to be removed and they were to be thirty two Cubits broad Ways ought not only to be laid open and made known but also made passable and easy to travel in VIII In a Way there ought to be suitable and necessary Accommodations for Travellers IX There is no coming to such or such a City unless we go the Way which leads thither X. Men are glad when they come to the End of a long Journey Parallel I. THere is an absolute Necessity of a Christ for without him Favour and Reconciliation with God the Father cannot be obtained The Jews who followed after Righteousness attained it not because they sought it not by Faith they stumbled at that stumbling Stone II. Jesus Christ is assigned or appointed by the great Law-giver of Heaven and Earth to be the Way to Happiness who saw a Saviour was wanting and such an one was necessary to bring Man to Glory III. Jesus Christ is made known by the Gospel in which are plain Directions how to find the Way God saw it necessary to send his Servants to proclaim and make known Salvation How shall they believe on him whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher IV. Jesus Christ is useful and necessary to all Enterprizes viz. 1. To Honour To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God 2. To Riches Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness 3. To Peace He is our Peace who hath made both one c. In me ye shall have Peace 4. He is Health Strength and Length of Days He that believeth on me shall never die V. Christ the spiritual Way leads from Sin to Grace out of Satan's Kingdom to his own Kingdom from Egypt to Canaan VI. Christ is a Way free for all Sinners The Partition-Wall is now broken down Jews and Gentiles Rich and Poor Young and Old Male and Female may freely walk in this Way None are forbid to come to Christ to believe in him and to lead a holy Life VII God in his infinite Grace and Favour hath taken care to remove all Impediments and Stumbling-Blocks out of the Sinner's Way The Way is plain and easy to Men of Understanding 't is but a falling in Love with God and Goodness and accepting of a Saviour on Gospel-Terms which are not hard My Yoke is easy and my Burden is light 'T is possible for the greatest of Sinners to be saved The
but may affect our hearts the gospel is a glorious Subject but 't is Christ who is the glorious Subject of the gospel as all we have flowes from or through the gospel to us so all the gospel hath in it flowes from Christ. That he is excellent and glorious in this respect is expresly declared in the holy Scripcures Thou art more Excellent saith the Psalmist speaking of Christ than the mountains of Prey And in another place Thou art fairer than the Children of Men or sons of Adam Grace is poured into thy Lips My Beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest amongst ten thousand he is altogether Lovely He is the brightness of the Fathers Glory and the Express Image of his Person That his glory is very great might be demonstrated by two or three Arguments 1. Because he is the Object of the Fathers Delight nay the Father himself commends his beauty and glory to the Children of Men. 2. Because in that the holy Angels are taken with him the Angels stand and wonder he was seen of Angels such a Person they never beheld before and they worship him 3. Because Saints and all truly enlightened Souls do admire him and know not how to set him forth Paul accounted all things loss for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ. 4. He is called the desire of all Nations 1. There is enough in him to fill the desire of all Nations 2. None ever in any Nation that had a true sight of him but did desire him 3. The Nations will never be satisfied until they have and do enjoy him and are under the Influences of his glorious grace and government 5. Because there never were any who saw his glory but did admire it Wherein doth his personal Excellencies consist In his being Man such a Man there is one God and one mediator between God and man THE man Christ Jesus Compared with Acts 2.22 Heb. 7.24 What a Man is Christ A Man of Men the Son of Man a Man without spot fault or stain of sin the Excellency of humane Nature made like unto us in all things sin only excepted He is not only glorious in respect of his being man such a man but in respect of his being God also in this he Excels Oh here in this his glory shines forth as the light The Spirit shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God 1. He is called God but unto the Son he saith thy Throne O God is for ever and ever c. 2. Not only God but the Mighty God His name shall be called wonderful counseller the mighty God the everlasting Father c. 3. Not only God the mighty God but also the true God And we are in him that is true even in his son Jesus Christ this is the true God and eternal Life 4. He is called the only wise God Lastly He is called God blessed for ever whose are the Fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is God blessed for ever amen Secondly The gospel declares that he made the world this proves that Christ is God and greatly magnifies his glory he that made the world must needs be God Eternal for none could do that but the glorious Jehovah 't is ridiculous and most absurd to think that the Creature could make it self before it self was God in respect of his Infinite glory and wisdom upon this account expostulateth and reasoneth with his People glorying if I may so say in the Greatness of his Power and Majesty and thereby proving his unwordable Essence and dreadful Godhead Isa. 40. and all the Gods of these Nations to be but Idols and that the same power in respect to creating which is ascribed to the Father is attributed to Jesus Christ. See Joh. 1.1 2. for by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible c. Compared with Heb. 2.10 Thirdly The gospel shews that Jesus Christ did not only create but also doth uphold all things that are created who being the brightness of his glory and the express Image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins sat down on the Right-hand of the Majesty on high c. he is before all things and by him all things consist Fourthly The gospel shews that Jesus Christ knows all things such Knowledge is too wonderful for Men or Angels In several places of Scripture the blessed God doth prove his glorious Being by his Omnisciency and that the like in respect of Knowledge is said of Christ is evident and he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things Joh. 21.17 Compared with Joh. 2.24 25. but Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all men and needed not that any should testifie of him for he knew what was in man in another place 't is said he knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who should betray him Fifthly The gospel declares that Jesus Christ searches the heart tho' this Argument depends upon the last yet for Illustration sake I make another of it he that searches the heart ought to be acknowledged and owned to be the Almighty and Eternal God for who can find out the depths and deceits thereof but the Infinite Majesty the Heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it I the Lord search the heart and try the Reins as if he should say there is none save my self alone knoweth or can know it but that the Lord Jesus who died for our sins searcheth the Heart and the Reins he himself positively asserts it Rev. 2.23 I will kill her Children with Death speaking of the woman Jezebel and all the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the Reins and the Heart and I will give unto every one according as his work shall be Sixthly The gospel shews that Jesus Christ is the First and the Last and he that is the First and the Last must of necessity be acknowledged to be the everlasting and eternal God for from this very ground and consideration the Almighty argues and reasons with his people of old to convince them of his Deity and that there is no other God besides himself I AM the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God Compared with Isa. 48.12 Hearken unto me O Jacob and Israel my called I am be I am the first and I am the last c. And that the same is spoken of the Lord Jesus Christ See Rev. 1.8 I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and ending which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Ver. 17. And when I saw him saith John I fell