in due time of all Men and be very high exceeding high and glorious As many were astonished at thee speaking to him his visage was so marred c. so he shall sprinkle many Nations The Kings shall shut their mouths at him for that which hath not been told them shall they see and that which they had not heard shall they consider Whatsoever the Father giveth him shall come to him nothing shall keep it back or any part of it who or whatever opposes it And then He that person Man or Woman that cometh to him He will in no wise cast them out which is a great incouragement also to any man to come to him Yea here is a double incouragement 1. That He shall have the heigth and greatness that God gives him He shall and must be lifted up and be made high 2. That He being so high and by consequent able to help succour satisfy and save all that come to Him He also is so good and merciful that whosoever cometh to him for help salvation or satisfaction he will in no wise refuse or cast him out which may both comfort us in his behalf and incourage us in our own to look to him who-ever they be that look away from or neglect and slight him For He came not down from Heaven to do his own will but the will of him that sent him and this is the will of him that sent him that of all that which the Father hath given him he should loose nothing nothing of all that honour glory Kingdom c. but should raise it up again at the last day And this is the will of him that sent him that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him should have everlasting life and he will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6.37 38 39 40. And these two Branches of his will answer to those two Branches of his assertion in vers 37. and that given him is distinct from him that seeth and believeth on him and the raising up of the one distinct from the raising up of the other as those words And this is the will of him that sent me in the beginning of vers 40. implies it being spoken of as a distinct business and so we may say As God gave him in the nature of man the Throne of Majesty in the Heavens and a great and glorious Name here on Earth among men notwithstanding all the folly and negligence of the Jews that see and believed not yea and against all the oppositions both of Jewes and Gentiles opposing Him his Doctrine and Servants and persecuting Him and them to Death so God lifted Him up to Heaven both in his Personal Body and as brought forth by his Church in the knowledge and faith of Him wherein he was taken up to the Throne of God Rev. 12.5 As also among men he was exalted extolled and made very high But now by the Anti-christian Beast and false Prophet arisen and grown great in the World He is darkned and diminished again as it were The Beast hath the great Company of followers and worshippers and is wondred after and magnified by them saying Who is able to make War with the Beast and Who is like the Beast even that which appertains to the Lamb the Lord Jesus is attributed to him see Psal 89.6 8. And we may take up that complaint which follows in that Psalm vers 38. Thou hast cast off and abhorred thou wast wrath with thy Anointed or Messiah not as to his Person but as to the appearance of his Name and Glory in the World and as to his Members here as his Name and Glory is upon them and they by his permission and providence are rendred as if they were objects of his wrath and abhorrency Thou hast made void the Covenant of thy Servants the Gospel-covenant at the present takes little place in the World thou hast prophaned by casting down his Crown to the ground c. But now saith our Saviour This is the will of Him that sent me that how-ever low my Crown Glory or Repute seem to lye I should not loose it but raise it up again at the last day and so He will When He arises and lifts up Himself to judge the World and to take to Himself his Great Power and Reign His Enemies shall be scattered Antichrist the Beast and false Prophet shall be discomfited and taken The Lamb shall overcome them and then when they are overcome by him He will thereby raise up his Name Covenant Throne and Kingdom again in the eyes views and hearts of the World as it were or into a more high and glorious form and appearance then before they fell down then before there was such an Apostacy and departure from him even as the Persons and Bodies also of those who see and believe on Him shall be raised into a better state and form then they were in before they fell into the earth by death then God will give him the Throne of his Father David and he shall raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen down and he shall build it up and shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever then shall that be fulfilled which is spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah chap. 2.11 22. That the lofty looks of man shall be humbled and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down and the Lord alone even the Lord Jesus and God in him shall be exalted in that day for the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty and upon every one that is lifted up and he shall be brought low and upon all the Cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up and so upon all that 's high or pleasant to men that now eclipses or darkens his glory and robs him of his honour and they shall all be cast down and the Idols shall be utterly abolished and the Lord even Jesus alone shall be exalted and then great shall be his glory in Gods salvation visibly and apparently in the World also For at that last day he shall appear in glory and all his Saints shall appear in glory with him and then he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high indeed not only in himself but in his appearance in the World also and in the eyes and hearts of all men For then all the Kings of the earth shall praise him even such as now despise and persecute him when they shall hear the words of his mouth yea they shall sing in the ways of the Lord for great shall be his glory Psal 138.4 5. Yea and then all the ends of the World shall remember and turn to the Lord and all the Kindreds of the Nations shall worship before him for the Kingdom shall be and is the Lords and He the Governour then most gloriously among the Nations all they that be fat upon the earth shall eat and worship and all they that go down to
to no godly edifying Or leading men to walk in a road of Practices Observations and Performances of External duties without the Root the great mystery of godliness the right understanding perception and receit of the grace of God in Christ so as to the renewing them in the Spirit of their mind about which there is in many both Teachers and Professors of Religion exceeding great blindness and thence incertainty and confusion in their apprehensions The labour of the foolish wearying every one of them because they know not the way into the City Eccles 10.15 Much zeal there is and may be about the outward form and time of Baptisme the manner and way of Praying receit of the Supper or Communion Hearing Fasting the times and places of Worship with its Formes and Ceremonies yea and about walking in divers Religious practices when yet inwardly pride and arrogancy confidence in our selves our own frames or works with unbelief and rejection of the Grace and Truth of God Despising Hating and even Persecuting men because differing in their modes and apprehensions Envy Malice Covetousness Fraud and such like things lurk and bear sway underneath And yet men are apt to think all is well with them and incourage themselves and one another to expect Gods Kingdom Crying Peace peace where God speaks not peace and healing the hurts slightly that should be made sound like those in Jeremiahs days that thought their having Gods Temple and Worship among them should secure them from Judgment though their hearts were uncircumcised and their ways and doings naught and unmended But it s good to take heed to sound Doctrine the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ and of his holy ones taught and instructed by him for they spake what they knew and testified what they see not stearing our course by the multitude for so we should be rejecters of the Truth For Christs Doctrine was not so crouded after as to be heartily imbraced by the most for then would he not have said We speak what we know and testifie what we have seen and no man receiveth our testimony wherein after signification of his own and his holy Servants fitness for teaching others and faithfulness in teaching he faults and complains of the too great want of credit to and receit of their faithful teachings by the generality of men which he yet signifyeth to be the more inexcusable because he spake but hitherto of things Earthly or done upon earth and therefore thence argues their greater unfitness and incapacity for Heavenly things more properly and in a fuller sense such If I have told you Earthly things and ye believe not how shall ye believe if I tell you of Heavenly v. 12. As implying also his fitness and ability for declaring the heavenly things the things done or to be done in Heaven also Yea and he further signifies his only fitness and sufficiency for declaring them in what he adds viz. when he saith ver 13. And no man hath ascended up into Heaven but he that came down from Heaven even the Son of Man who is in Heaven Signifying as his own descent from and yet being in Heaven so that none but He That Son of Man is fit or able to declare the things of Heaven because none else came down thence furnished with the Knowledge of them And whereas Nicodemus might still be more amazed at these intimations of his coming down from Heaven ascending up to Heaven and being in Heaven even while he see and heard him on the Earth speaking to him he adds the words of the Text. And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life Of which he gives the reason in the next verses For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life c. Whence we may note by the way that Christ did not for Regenerating Nicodemus Preach to him some particular love or special manifestation of it to him more than to others but generally love or grace even the love of God to the World As the Apostle Paul also tells us that that which saved him and others from their natural and sinful state was the appearance of the love and pity of God to mankind Tit. 3.3 4. He saith not it was some peculiar love to them more then to others that was made to appear as the object upon which their eyes and hearts were fastned but the love of God to man more indefinitely and generally And therefore they are not to be heard who rejecting the Testimony of Gods love and grace to mankind and to the World make it their first and main business to Preach special and particular love to some elect and chosen ones as the way to bring Souls in to God Let us follow the way our Saviour hath walked in before us Preach to men Gods good will and love as testifyed to all in general in the gift of Christ and leave it to God to bear testimony to the word of his grace and to work therewith opening their understandings and perswading their hearts to imbrace it and evidencing and bearing witness to them as he who knows their hearts sees good Act. 14.3 15.8 CHAP. II. The words of the Text considered its parts Four main points thence Observed The first point spoken to viz. The Type of the Brazen Serpent lifted up in some brief notes upon it LET us veiw the words themselves which I have chosen to treat on wherein we have 1. The main thing asserted viz. That the Son of Man must be lifted up 2. The manner of it proposed by way of similitude As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up 3. The end of it declared viz. That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have Eternal Life We may note from the words also these several notes or points 1. That Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness that 's supposed and implied 2. That the Son of Man must be lifted up that 's mainly asserted 3. That this latter must answer to the former The lifting up the Son of Man must answer to the lifting up the Serpent by Moses in the Wilderness As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up 4. That the end of the Son of Mans being so lifted up is That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life To the first Point which is the comparison or that by which the lifting up of the Son of Man is illustrated and set forth viz. Moses his lifting up the Serpent in the Wilderness I shall speak more briefly the other points being more principally intended And in speaking thereto I note 1. The thing set up A Serpent 2. The cause or reason of
Power and Virtue to life Everlasting in his heavenly Kingdom But this excellent matter worthy to have been conceived in a more pure Womb or Mind and laid in a far better Dress then I have here wrapt it in as conceived and Discoursed of by me partakes of and evidences my great weakeness and as here Imprinted the Printers and Stationers too great Carelessness or Vnfaithfulness both which may gain it disrespect to many and is as here represented far short of that Excellency and Glory that Properly and Originally is its own and appertains to it and may perhaps meet with course Respect Censurings and Sufferings if it fall into some mens hands especially from the Scribes and Pharisees men Learned and of great Zeal for Gods Ordinances and Worship to appearance but yet such as have their Faith and Fear towards God taught them by the Traditions and Traditional Glosses of some Elders of their Party According to which also they Teach it to others and generally from Proud and Malevolent persons But yet if the Superfluity and Fleshliness of its Expressions in any thing being cut off by the judicious Judgment and charitable candid Constructions of the understanding Reader and it being Animated by the holy Spirit and his Presence and Blessing it be duly considered listened to and imbraced it will appear to have something in it of Virtue and Divine force So as that attending to the Truth and Spirit of it in singleness and simplicity of Heart it may be useful for Instructing Helping and Healing thy Soul but if Rejected or Abused it will rise up another day as a Witness and Judg against thee Take heed therefore good Reader to what thou Readest and take heed how thou Readest Hearest and Receivest it not judging of its Truth and Goodness according to the weakness in Phrase and Expression or the too many Mis-spellings and Mis-pointings in its Printing but according to its agreement in Matter and Desiâ—u with the Doctrine and Writings of the holy Apostles and Prophets That so thou mayst not fail of the Grace of God tendered in Christ to thee in and by it Heartily minding and obeying the Truth herein propounded thou shalt find I hope here-with and here-through Gods Blessing with thee and upon thee praying for which upon thee and upon all that hear it and to the same purpose committing thee to God with my self and weak Labours and Indeavours and desiring thy Charitable and Candid construction and kind Acceptance thereof and thy Prayers for me for further Grace and Mercy I leave thee and rest Thy Well-wishing Friend and Servant in and for Christ Jesus J. Horn. Lyn Febr. 6. 1673. REader there is a Passage in page 36. wherein I say the Apostles and Evangelists never call Christ the Son of man in their speaking of him which I should have restrained to the Writings of the Evangelists or also to the Epistles of the Apostles otherwise I must desire a Grain of Allowance because St. Stephen though indeed neither Evangelist nor Apostle yet a Holy man and Inspired by the Holy Ghost called him the Son of man in Acts 7.56 when he said I see Heaven open and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God And the Apostle John imitating or using the phrase of the Prophet Daniel saith of him I saw one like the Son of man Rev. 1.13 with Dan. 7.13 The BRAZEN SERPENT Or GOD'S Grand DESIGN Which is Christ's Exaltation for Man's Salvation in believing on him John 3.14 15. And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him might not perish but have everlasting life CHAP. I. Brief Observations upon Nicodemus and our Saviours Discourse with him OUr Lord Jesus at Ierusalem wrought many Miracles at the Feast of Passover by means whereof many believed on him but he that knew what was in Man and needed not that any should testifie of Man knowing all men did not commit himself to them saith the Evangelist Iohn 2.24 25. But above all the rest who are left unnamed the Evangelist gives us an account in this Chapter of one man by profession a Pharisee the strictest sect of Religion among the Jews by name Nicodemus and by place a Ruler of the Iews and tells us what passed between our Lord and him as that he came to Jesus bâ— night He came to him as bâ—ing moved and drawn by the excellency of the Power of God that appeared in him and attested the truth and divinity of his Doctrine and so much he also tells him in his address to him making this Confession Rabbi or Master We know that thou art a Teacher come from God for no man can do those Miracles which thou dost except God be with him And yet he came by Night either being letted by his other business to come by Day or rather as being not yet so strong in his affection to him as for his sake to be willing to undergo the reproches and rebukes that an open Day-light resort to him and owning of him might have occasioned to him He loved yet it 's likely to retain his honour with his Brethren and to avoid the speech of People about him and yet so much he loved him as come to him he would and acquaint himself with him and therefore chuses to come to him by Night rather then not to come at all Nor doth our Saviour upbraid him with his weakness or brand him as guilty of Cowardliness for so close and hidden an acknowledgment of him but bears therewith till better knowledge of him and more acquaintance with him might put more Courage into him as afterward we find it did for he durst and did plead for him among and against his Enemies Ioh. 7.50 51. Yea and when he was in his lowest abasement Crucified and put to death as a Malefactor and was hanged upon the Cross or Tree in a most shameful and reprochful manner he durst and did own him so far as to joyn with Ioseph of Arimathea in bestowing an honourable burying upon his then dead Body Joh. 19.38 39 40. honouring him when dead whom all the Authority and chiefest of the Priests and Rulers had dishonourably persecuted while alive and ceased not until they had put him to Death yea and then also reputed and blasphemously spake off as a Deceiver yea he then owned him when the rest of the Disciples yea even the Apostles had forsaken and left him Surely our Lord herein set us a good Example verifying the Prophecy that went before of him viz. that he should not cry nor lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the Streets that he should not break a bruised Reed nor quench the smoking Flax till he bring forth judgment into victory Isa 42.2 3. And also by shewing himself meek and lowly in this case Condemned that Pride and rashness of Spirit too ready to shew it self in others that are too apt to
he would be yet but Flesh weak sinful and corrupt and that is indeed the reason why its necessary that we be born again or from above of Water that may wash and cleanse away our filth and of Spirit that may infuse a spiritual life force or power into us namely because what is born of the Flesh is Flesh Whether we understand it of the first birth which is of the Flesh or of any change or alteration that we can work in and upon our selves by any wisdom will or strength of the Flesh in any observations of outward Ordinances of the law or much more in devised traditions or precepts of men all that is so begotten and born is but Flesh corrupt weak and sinful But that which is born of the Spirit the new man the renewed mind judgment and heart that is Spirit that is clean holy lasting c. Now whereas Nicodemus marvailed at this as being a Doctrine he had not been before instructed into our Lord therefore adds Marvail not that I said unto thee ye must be born again or from above The wind bloweth where it listeth or the Spirit breatheth where he pleaseth and thou hearest the sound of it but thou knowest not whence it cometh nor whither it So is every one that is born of the Spirit There are hidden and strange secrets in the works of God that fall under our senses which pass our skill how much more are there wonderful things in the spiritual effects and products of the grace and spirit of God which the natural man cannot comprehend As in Eccles 11.5 As thou knowest not the way of the Spirit or of the Wind nor how the bones do grow in the Womb of her that is with child so thou knowest not the works of God who is the maker of all things But in this every one that is begot or born of the Spirit and thereby is made spiritual is like to the Wind that the Natural man may hear his speech perceive a sound find a force and power in his confessing and breathing forth the truth but whence that virtue was received or whence he was born and brought to it and whether he and it tends What is his Original and End the natural man perceives not as is said 1 Cor. 2.14 Nicodemus still being lost in his understanding and not able to conceive those mysteries marvailes at them and replies How can these things be or be done To whom our Saviour answers by way of reproof to his dulness and ignorance Art thou a Master or a Teacher of Israel and knowest not these things as signifying that those that are teachers of others and chiefly in and of Israel the Church of God should be well taught and of good understanding in the mysteries of God themselves and especially of those things that pertain so to Gods Kingdom as to be necessary to their admission thereunto and enjoyment thereof and that for such to be ignorant of and unacquainted with such things is a matter of great shame and blame to them and thence he takes occasion to shew the difference between such masters in Israel and himself and his servants the Teachers sent of God Verily verily I say unto thee what we know we speak and testifie what we have seen and no man receiveth our testimony Wherein our Saviour also further intimates and inculcates upon Nicodemus the weightiness and certainty of the Doctrine he taught him about this Regeneration that he might not doubt of it though generally over-looked and not received by men men are apt to please themselves in other matters far short of this spending their time and strength in disputing debating pressing and entertaining discourses about more light and impertinent things about the out-side and form of Religion The Tithing mint cummin and annise neglecting the weighty things concerning Judgment Faith and the Love of God As our Saviour elsewhere faults the Pharisees Luk. 11.42 Mat. 23.23 Busying themselves in cutting and lopping off some superfluous branches of sin while they let the root the heart-blindness ignorance and unbelief of God and his Grace and the rejections of that alone and so under pretences and formes of religion and godliness about which they wrangle they let go or deny the Power life and heart of it Paint and gild over rotten Posts and Pictures and Images of Men destitute of the true Life and Power of God in them The Pharisees could contest about Purifications outward Washings Sacrificings observations of Sabbaths and other times and places of Worship and such like Ceremonies and great zeal they had to bring men to be of their mind and way in such things pretending to and perswading them that that way they should be fit for Gods Kingdom But our Saviour who knew all things perfectly is for the bottom and ground-work of all right and acceptable Religion He knew and taught and spake what he knew that it was in vain to endeavour to make the fruit good while the Tree that should produce it abides naught and corrupt He bids therefore first make the Tree good and then the fruit good because a good Tree cannot bring forth bad fruit nor a corrupt Tree good fruit Instead then of doting about questions and strifes of words and outside Ceremonies and shews or works of Righteousness of our own after the Law which can never make us good or fit us for the Kingdom of God he would have us look to the main to be made new Creatures That is so to know and mind the grace of God in Christ which he after unfolds in the verses I have pitched upon and some that follow them that our hearts may there-through be renewed to love and trust in him and worship God in and by him in Spirit and Truth otherwise let their birth be what it will their Circumcision never so exactly according to the Letter of the Law their Baptisms Washings and Purifications never so many or diligently made their Sacrifices never so costly their Fasts never so frequent their Prayers never so long or fervent their outward walkings among men never so blameless and circumspect yet without a new Heart and Spirit made so by the grace of God discerned and imbraced and his Spirit there-through in his operations and efficacies complied with all would avail nothing to the injoyment of Gods Kingdom And this is very needful to be minded by us and the truth and certainty hereof inculcated and Christ and his holy Servants to be listned to in it as Teachers that knew and were certain of what they taught and not the blind followed that grope at things as in the dark and who while they would be teachers of the Law know not what they say nor whereof they affirm Who as the Prophet Isaiah saith Lay out money for that which is not bread and their labour and strength for that which satisfieth not Isa 55.2 Doteing about questions and strifes of words of which come contentions and perverse disputes
wanton kick against him c. And therefore having given us an Antidote against the evil and destructiveness of them in his Son and his Word as setting him before us he pleaseth still to continue them to us It is better for us in such cases to imitate our pattern the Lord Jesus who when he was to drink that bitter Cup which his Father gave him to drink did not pray absolutely that he might not drink it or that it might pass from him but with a thorough resignation of himself to his Fathers will prayed Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me nevertheless not my will but thy will be done 3. But view we now the person setting it up and that was Moses concerning whom I shall only note his obedience in doing Gods Commandement without disputing it He said not how can a piece of Brass made in the likeness of a Fiery Serpent heal them or would it not be better that the people look only to thee for their healing then to direct their eyes to any such mediums whereby they may be moved to ascribe their healing or preservation to the medium rather then to thy self But laying aside all the exercise of his own wisdom and reason against the command and will of God he obeys him As our Saviour here saith and the History in Numb 21.8 9. shews Moses lifted up the Serpent And so it may be instructive to us all and to the greatest Princes or Officers in Gods Church not to lift up our reasonings and understandings against the will and word of God but to do all things that he by Jesus Christ and in his name by his Apostles have given us in Commandment Without murmuring or disputing Phil. 2.14 As judging God wiser then we The only wise God and worthy to be obeyed however absurd his commands may seem to our wisdom The foolish things of God being wiser then the wisdom of man and his weakness stronger then mans strength Obedience is better then Sacrifice and to hearken is better then the fat of Rams Or then any the most desireable or advantageous ways of honouring him that our wisdom and reason proposes to us Saul and Jereboam by preferring their seeming and appearing pious intentions and carnal pollicies before Gods Commandments lost their Kingdoms And Nadab and Abihu by offering strange fire lost their lives when as others have always met with blessing in obeying him 4. The place where Moses lifted up the Serpent to the end and upon the accounts afore-mentioned was the Wilderness Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness God when he brought his people out of Egypt led them into and through the Wilderness a waste and howling Wilderness a Land of drought and of the shadow of death a Land where no man passeth through and where no man dwelt Gods way that he leads people in and by is not without Tryals and Temptations and therefore we are not to judgeâ— we are out of Gods because or when we meet with tryals Or that we are in his way because or when we meet with none The way to know our way is to mind his Word even his way that leads to his heavenly rest and eternal Kingdom is a way that lies out of the road of the world a way of exercise for faith a way of trials and temptations And yet as God in that Wilderness shewed himself alsufficient for his people provided for them bread and water clothes and physick or a way to cure their wounds and prevent their perishing So God is alsufficient for us too in all our trials and temptations and hath provided for us all grace and blessing in Christ Jesus and will not fail to dispence it to them whose hearts are perfect with him For the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield He will give grace and glory and no good thing will he with hold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 And therefore it is good for us to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth though through Floods and Seas and Wildernesses though into straights and exercises tryals and temptations knowing and believing him to be such as he hath manifested himself to be in that Wilderness able and faithful to supply and save us in all conditions and that he hath promised to be with us when we pass through water and fire to preserve us from being hurt of them Isa 43.2 3. Oh Lord God of hosts blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee for thou Lord hast not failed them that seek or follow after thee Psal 84.12 9.10 There is no State or place so barren of provision or relief wherein in obeying and following after Christ he cannot or will not provide and afford such help and succour to us as he sees fit for us which may serve both to fault our unbelief and fearfullness to betrust our selves with him and to follow him whithersoever he calls us and also to stir up and excite our faith and confidence in him and our willingness to obey and follow him But I shall add no more to this first point but come to the second which is the main CHAP. III. The second Point in part considered who is the Son of Man and three Reasons propounded why Christ is so called THE Second point is That the Son of Man must be lifted up To which Point the other two may also be reduced they holding forth but the way wherein or manner after which and the end to which he is to be lifted up In speaking to this Second Point we may consider 1. Who is meant here by the Son of Man 2. Why he is so called 3. What is and what is implyed in the lifting of him up and in part 4. Why he must be lifted up and lifted up in such acts as we shall mention leaving the fuller consideration of it to the last Point 1. Who is this Son of Man or who is meant and pointed at by that phrase or Title and that appears every where in the wrightings of the Evangelists to be no other then he who spake even the Lord Jesus Christ himself And so both other expressions of the Evangelists and those that are about this Text do evidence For First For other expressions we have our Saviour himself as related in Matthew plainly signifying it Mat. 16.13 For there the Evangelist tells us That Jesus asked his Disciples Whom do men say that I the Son of man am plainly calling himself the Son of Man As also in the same Chapter ver 27. Saying The Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall render to every one according to his Works But he that shall come with his Angels and whose Father God is and shall come to Judge the World and shall render to every one according to his Works is evidently asserted to be the Lord Jesus Christ See for that Rom. 2.6 16. Act. 10.42 17.31 2 Thes
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
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
subsistence here withdrawing from oâ— not singly depending on Christ and God in him 1 Tim. 6.17 Ier. 9.23 24. Psal 62.9 10. and 146.3 4. Prov. 3.5 5. In a word by taking any relyance on God and Christ wherein the heart is not from the belief of Gods testimony carried up to Christ and God in Christ to depend on him and to be guided and governed by him to be that believing on him Such a relyance and staying upon God without that dependance on submission for guidance to him the Prophets sometimes tax Israel with as a false deceitful trust and confidence Isai 48.1 Mich. 3.10 11. Ier. 7.4 5 c. And all such relyance is false though it look back to what God hath done in and by Christ formerly or to any present testimony of his mercy and goodness which lead to love and submit to him as well as and not without them to expect help from him For this believing on the Son of man is a single hearty belief of Gods Testimony concerning Christ so as to like come and seek to rest and depend upon him as the sole full compleat and perfect Saviour in all things and in all cases and conditions in listening to and obeying him in his wholesome counsels and instructions and as the full ground and foundation of our expectation of Gods help and salvation in such a way of obeying him And so He and He only and upon his own account that is upon account of what He is hath done is doingâ— and is become with God for us and is made of God to us is to be believed on 1. For all forgiveness pardon of sin and justification therefrom as it 's said Through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins and by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Act. 13 38 39. And he is set forth for a propitiatory through faith in his blood for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God Rom. 3.25 and being justified through his blood much more shall we be saved from wrath Chap. 5.9 And in him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of our sins Eph. 1.7 Col. 1.14 2. For all acceptance with God in our access to and service of him as also all our liberty thereto we have through him He hath made us accepted in his beloved Eph. 1.6 And having liberty or boldness to the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus by a new living way which he hath consecrated through the vail his flesh and having an High Priest over the House of God Let us draw nigh with true hearts and full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water let us draw nigh as believing our welcome and with full assurance of faith as in respect of the truth of the faith believed so also in respect of confident expectation of acceptance coming with such truth of heart sprinkling of conscience and washing of our body as grace requireth and worketh Heb. 10.19 20 21 22. And so our Spiritual sacrifices are acceptable through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 For Christ is made to us of God righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 3. For all spiritual blessings in heavenly things for our comfortable and acceptable walking with God here in this life and usefulnesse towards men As for instance 1. For all light and knowledge of God and understanding in all things He being come a light into the World that whosoever believeth on him might not walk in darkness but see the light of life Joh. 8.12 and 12.46 Psal 34.5 He will teach us his ways Isa 2.3 2. For all wisdom for making a right and profitable construction and use of Gods truths and providences and for chusing the good and refusing the evil and ordering our conversations aright before him and towards others improving all providences mercies chastisements and occurrences to the right and best advantage and acting wisely in all things Jam. 1.5 Col. 4.3 and 2 3. Psal 144.1 He being made of God wisdome to us 1 Cor. 1.30 3. For all sanctification and holiness The subduing of corruptions renewing of our minds hearts and spirits and conforming us unto God Christ is made unto us of God holiness or sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 Ye are sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 Sanctified by the faith that is me said Christ Act. 26.18 4. For all strength to walk with God and in his ways against all discouragements and difficulties and to bear and indure all troubles and exercises that he orders to us I am able to do all things through Christ that strengthneth me Phil. 4.13 He shall strengthen them in the Lord and they shall walk up and down in his name Zach. 10.12 Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2.1 who is made unto us of God redemption 5. For all peace of conscience and quiet of mind and spirit He is our peace Eph. 2.24 and being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 And these things have I spoken saith Christ that in me ye might have peace Joh. 16.33 6. For all joy and consolation in our hearts and spirits from and in God That ye may be filled with joy and peace in believing Rom. 15.13 By Christ we have accesse into the grace of God in which we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Yea we joy also in tribulations and not only so but we joy also in God through Jesus Christ by whom also we have received the atonement Rom. 5.2.3.11 And so 7. For all hope in and confidence toward God and for the performances of his gracious promises Thence he is called our hope 1 Tim. 1.1 Iesus Christ our hope and Christ in you the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 in believing ye may be filled with hope through the power of the Holy Ghost Rom. 15.13 8. For all useful gifts by which we may be fitted to be useful and profitable in our Generation in that place of the body of Christ in which he sets us For it is he who being ascended up on high gives gifts unto men distributing to every one according as he will Ephes 4.7 8 11. 4. For all supplies also of outward mercies necessary for our present subsistance here so as we may seek after wait upon and walk with God cheerfully and comfortably and be useful to and among men My God will supply all your needs according to the riches of his glory by Jesus Christ Philip 4.19 All the promises of God are in Christ yea and in him Amen to the glory of God 2 Cor. 1.20 And the promises of God are some of them for the life that now is 1 Tim. 4.8 Therefore the living God is to be trusted in through Jesus Christ
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
them who through the lifting up of him are begotten to believe on his name and therewith also the spirit of adoption framing it to child-like love reverence confidence and boldness to cry Abba Father Joh 1.12 13. Gal. 3.26 27 28 29. 4.4 5. Rom. 8.15 16. and his Children find a place of refuge in him Prov. 14.26 And in this also Christ is made to the Soul redemption and in a sense sanctification as to sanctify signifies to devote to God to be in a choice relation to him 1 Cor. 1.30 5. By begetting in the heart a lively hope of glory and of the glorious inheritance which he doth through the lifting up of Christ as one raised from the dead through the power of the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.2 3. 1 Pet. 1.3 4. Rom. 15.13 and we are saved by hope as by an anchor sure and stedfast keeping the Soul from being blown away and dasht upon and split against the Rocks Rom. 8.24 25. Heb. 6.19 20. from and with which hope also is effected joy in the Holy Ghost in which the heart is saved through this lifting up of the Son of Man from its fears and griefs also Rom. 52 3. We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and not only so but we rejoyce also in tribulation yea we joy also in God through Jesus Christ our Lord by whom we have received the atonement Rom. 5.3 11. 6. Yea upon any loss or decay of these things the holy spirit in the lifting up of the Son of Man drawing the eye from its idols and iniquities to which it was wandered to behold and believe on him again restores the Soul and renews his pardoning and justifying acts with renewed peace and other gracious effects and so He I. Saves the Soul from perishing in a threefold way 1. In pulling it out and delivering it from its sinful fearful perishing estate at the first turning of it in to God and Christ to believe on him Tit. 3.4 5. 2. In keeping it from falling back again into Sin and Guilt and Disquiet in preserving it in believing As we shewed largely in Branch 2. Rom. 1.16 3. In recovering it from Falls and Lapses and Restoring it again as by this way he recalled the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2.4 5. And the Angel of the Church of Sardis from his Spiritual deadness by remembring how he had Received and Heard Rev. 3.2 3 Yea and the Angel of the Church of Laodicea is called from his Lukewarm state by the proposal of Christ before him and the good things in him ver 14.15 16 17 18 20. Yea and herein also he II. Gives Eternal Life In that 1. He hereby imparts the Spirit of Life as is forenoted with the Fruits and Operations of it in newness of Life as Righteousness Peace Holiness Hope and Joy in the Holy Ghost Yea all the Fruits of the holy Spirit in which he manifests his presence and in which the virtues of the Divine and holy Nature are evidenced are effected or infused in and by his glorifying Christ and leading the Soul in to him as Love Joy Peace Patience Meekness Temperance c. Gal. 5.22 23. 2 Pet. 1 5 6 7. with John 16.13.14 15. Yea here-through 2. Christ who is Eternal Life it self liveth in the soul and dwells in it even by this Faith in which he the Son of man is lifted up Gal. 2.20 Ephes 3.16 17. And 3. Inasmuch as Eternal life stands in and springs from the knowledg of God and him whom he hath sent Jesus Christ as is said John 17.3 And God is not known clearly but by and in Jesus Christ the Image of his invisible Majesty and brightness of his Glory And he is known in and by his being Lifted up Discovered and Commended of God to us by his holy Spirit in his Testimony It follows that Eternal life is herein given also in a first Fruits of it here as the soul is also hereby Built up to the Inheritance Acts 20.32 4. Yea surely and the fulness of Eternal life it self as it is to be possessed in Soul and Body hereafter in the Kingdom to come what is it but the influence and effect of Christs being fully and perfectly Lifted up by way of discovery of him and his Glory in his personal appearing when he who is the only Potentate who dwells in the Light which no man hath seen or can see shall manifest him 1 Tim. 6.15 16. When he appears we shall be like him perfectly like him for we shall see him as he is 1 John 3.2 And that Lifting him up and Appearance in his Glory shall probably be accompanied with the greatest Conversions a Nation born in a day Isa 66.6 Zech. 12.10 11. and the perfectest Salvation But that is a distinct way of discovery of him from what is afforded in this day Of how great Necessity Excellency and Usefulness then is the Lifting up of the Son of man in this consideration also and so in both of them both as lifted up of God in himself and with God himself and as lifted up of God and his holy Spirit in and through the Ministration of the Gospel to and by men Both that they may believe and to them that do believe on him that they may still believe and be saved And so that the Son of man must be lifted up and how and why he must be so lifted up is sufficiently shewed Though who can sufficiently lift him up Let us now view what use we may make of this also CHAP. XX. The Application First by way of Instruction from the last Conclusions shewing the excellency and glory of the Gospel with divers inferences there-from ANd first with reference to the last Conclusions about the necessity behoof-fulness and fulness of the Son of Mans being lifted up by way of demonstration and commendation of him to Men forasmuch as the Gospel is that Doctrine in which He is of God and his Holy Spirit and Servants so lifted up it tends to commend greatly the Gospel and its ministry to us as a marvailous Doctrine and of exceeding worth and benefit worthy to be received with all acceptation 1 Tim. 1.15 Well might the Apostles call it the marvailous light of God as that phrase in 1 Pet. 2.9 may be applyed thereto and the glorious Gospel or Gospel of the glory of the blessed God 1 Tim. 1.11 forasmuch as therein such glorious and excellent things are discovered no other Doctrine could or ever did discover the like seeing the glorious Son of God who is the glory even the brightness of the glory of God the King and Lord of glory is herein set forth and lifted up both as to his Person the glorious things undertook and performed by him in his Life and Death and Resurrection therefrom the glory given to and received by him as a reward of his said glorious undertakings and performances and the glory in which he shall appear again at his return And herein
glorious Body according to the working of that glorious Power by which he is able to subdue all things to himself Rom. 8.10 11. Phil. 3.21 Yea The Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 Oh how Excellent a Person then is Christ that is so comprehensive of all Good and Excellency even from the highest to the lowest Who is both Creator and Creature and hath the Nature and Perfections of both And hath had as well the Infirmities of the one sin excepted out of his great Love and Pity to us as the Form and Excellency Majesty and Glory of the other He that is the high and holy One the Great and Mighty God hath also cried out and acknowledged I am a worm and no man the very scorn of men and the out-cast of the people For he hath had the Experiences of Fallen man the Snares and Bitterness of Death and the Pangs of Hell as well as he hath had and hath experience and full injoyment of the infinite Joys and Glorys and inexpressible Satisfactions of Heaven and God no place is there wherein he is not and hath not been He was aâ— man on the Earth and sometimes Walking on the Seas Yea as to his Body he was in the Grave in the heart of the Earth though not left there to see Corruption and as to his Soul he was in though not left in Hell and yet he was Lord in Heaven and is so for ever 1 Cor. 15.45 John â—3 13 Psal 16.11 with Acts 2.31 Able to save us to the utmost while we are on the Earth and from Grave to Hell and to bring us to the Possession of Heaven and happiness For though he was dead to redeem us from thence yet he is now alive for evermore Amen and hath the Keys of hell and death to keep or bring us out from thence Rev. 1.18 and The Keys of the house of David too so to open as no man shall shut and so to shut as no man can open and he can and will admit into his Kingdom all that are faithful to obey and follow him Greatness and Goodness yea all Perfections and Excellencies are compleatly and everlastingly in him Oh therefore how ought we to admire and love him and with all acceptation to receive and cleave to him honour and obey him Surely that 's the way for us also to be made an excellent and precious People in the sight of God and useful to and among men For this also is of the Commendations of Christ that his Excellencies and Preciousness communicate and contribute an Excellency to all in whom he is It 's his Excellency as we noted before that renders the Gospel a more excellent and glorious Doctrine and so it 's his Excellency and Preciousness derived to them that makes his People those that own and believe on him to be a more excellent People then others as it is said The Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour Prov. 12.26 it is because Christ is in them as it is said again God is in the Generation of the Just Psal 14.5 And the Riches of the Mystery of the Gospel Preached among the Gentiles is Christ in or among them the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 As Christ also prayed for his Disciples that they may be one as the Father and Son are one he Christ in them and the Father in him John 17.23 For as the Comeliness of Jerusalem and her Beauty that was perfect was so through his Beauty and Comeliness put upon her Ezek. 16.14 So the Excellency of his People is his Excellency put upon them who are said to have put on Christ and to be as it were clothed with him Now he being so precious how must they needs be also precious in and by him And indeed others who have not him and much more they who reject and refuse him lifting up themselves or other things and glorying in them are vile persons Psal 15.4 For indeed every thing or person according to the Spirit is to be accounted of as it hath reference to or hath more or less of or conduceth more or less to our injoyment of him And so those things or persons are to be more esteemed or chosen of us and loved by us by whom or by which we are or may be more led to Christ or built up in him or more of him and his excellencies are or may be conveyed to us But I may seem to have insisted too largely upon this Subject and to have made too long a Digression if I may call it a Digression and yet I may too truly say I have spoken nothing in effect to it but rather have but darkned wisdom by words without knowledge his excellencies being indeed such as cannot be so spoken or written of but that all that is spoken and written of them is as far below them as He who would go about to paint the glory and luster of the Sun would necessarily fail and fall short of its proper and native splenâ—or and glory in all his painting Verily though there be very much said of him and of his excellencies in the Scriptures yet it may and will be said when we come to see him and enjoy him if we being found in him shall be accounted worthy thereof as the Queen of Sheba said of Solomon when she saw him and his excellency and glory It was a true report indeed said she which I heard of thee in mine own Land of thy acts and of thy wisdom howbeit I believed not the words till I came and mine eyes have seen and behold the half was not told me thy wisdom and thy prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard So may we say then the Prophets and Apostles knew in part and prophesied in part not in perfection and surely that which is but in part will be found as short of that that is perfect as the capacities of a little child fall below the most perfect capacities of a grown and most accomplished man as the Apostle signifies in 1 Cor. 13.10 12. And surely if they knew and prophesied in part only what then could I do or have I done who have but gleaned some small part of what they have declared Surely I must needs have fallen unspeakably short of his infinite perfections whose Name alone is excellent and whose glory is not only above the earth but above the Heavens also Psal 148.13 For who can declare as I said in the beginning hereof all his mighty acts Who can set forth all his praises Psal 106.2 I should but still fall below him yea and too much darken his glory should I assay to add any thing more hereabout and therefore I shall say no more but rather desire and pray that the spirit of wisdom and revelation may be granted to me in the knowledge of him that the eyes of my understanding being inlightned I may know more distinctly for my self and for the
helpfulness of others what is the hope of his calling what the unsearchable riches of his grace to be believed and preached by us Eph. 1.18 19. 3.8 and to that purpose say as the Psalmist Be thou exalted O Lord in thine own strength so shall we sing and praise thy power Psal 21.13 Be thou exalted O Lord in thy own glory and excellencies so shall we see and sing of them CHAP. XXIV Some Usefulness of this Doctrine by way of Exhortation and first To look to Christ as lifted up for Vs in all Cases Use 3 ANd surely all that hath been hitherto said of the lifting up of this Son of man and of the end of it may provoke and lead us Exhort 1. To look diligently to him as so lifted up that in looking to him we may be inlightned and our faces may not be ashamed as is said Psal 34.5 He being set or lifted up of God both in himself first and then to us that we might behold him and that in seeing or looking to him we might be strengthned and framed to believe on him and seeing and believing on him we might be saved and have eternal life according to the good and holy will of God Joh. 6.40 Isa 45.22 To which 1. God himself directs and commands us saying Behold my servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my holy spirit upon him c. Isa 42.1 And 2. Christ himself also calls us saying Behold me behold me to a Nation that was not called by his Name Isa 65.1 And look to me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth Isa 45.22 And 3. The holy Spirit exhorts and commands us saying All ye Inhabitants of the World and Dwellers on the Earth when He lifteth up an Ensign on the Mountains see ye and when he bloweth a Trumpet hear ye Isa 18.3 And there is great Reason for it For Motive 1. If we refuse to look to and behold him how then shall we hereafter look upon him when He comes in his glory and calls us to an account and when we must make a reckoning to Him of our doings when He shall set before us that God for our good and welfare out of his abundant grace and mercy to us gave him his only begotten Son and He himself for us and how He through his great and heavy sorrows and sufferings was exalted and lifted up for us as an Object prepared to our hands and every way sufficient able and ready to save and heal us and we after all that would not turn away our eyes from beholding vanity to look upon and consider Him such a loving and lovely Object an Object so fair and beautiful so comely and glorious both for escape and for delight for safety and life Isa 4.2 Psal 45.2 as He was and is to us How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation as was prepared before the face and answerable to the needs and wants of all People and published and lifted up to us If they that despised Moses law dyed without mercy as we noted before under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment shall he be counted worthy that hath trampled under foot the Son of God such and so excellent a one as we have seen before in part counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified a common or unholy thing and hath done despight to the spirit of grace c. Heb. 2.3 and 10.28 29. This would be now seriously considered by us As also that Motive 2. If we look to Him the benefit will be great for He will help and heal us at all turns He is of vertue and force to heal our hearts minds and consciences in all cases as it was with the Brazen Serpent what-ever were the stings and wounds received by the fiery Serpents in looking to the Serpent of Brass they were cured of them None of them were so slighty as that they had any promise of living with them without looking to that nor any so deep and dangerous but that in looking up to that they lived So is it here None so good so holy or so little sinful as that without looking to Christ they may expect to be saved and to have eternal life nor are any so bad or desperately wicked but in a hearty serious and timely looking to Christ they may be healed and live for ever Let that then move us to look to him as delivered up to Death for our offences and raised again from the Dead for our Justification glorified at the right hand of God and lifted up in the Gospel by the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of the spiritual gifts of God's Servants given them to that purpose yea in every case let us look to Him to be healed and saved by Him As for instance Case 1. Are we sensible of our sins and sinfulness and ready to despair because they are so great and manifold The way to be healed of such wounds upon our hearts and consciences the fears horrours and smarts of such stings is to turn the eye hither to the Son of man the Lord Jesus not to pore upon our selves our own unworthiness inability to satisfy Gods justice by any sorrows bewailings confessions or amendments of ours nor to set our selves as conceiting our selves able to help or heal our selves by any such courses or by any devises or contrivances of our own or others as Plaisters of our own making or others commending or giving but only to mind and look unto the perfect Law of Liberty continuing to look thereinto that we may see what He is and what He hath done and suffered for us what satisfaction He hath given to justice what Redemption He hath obtained what Peace he hath made what Pardon is Proclaimed in Him for whom He hath suffered according to the Spirits testimony in the Scriptures and to whom He proclaims and preaches Peace there-through the greatness of his love and freeness of his Grace to Man-kind c. Thus the Apostle Peter preached Christ to those who were prickt at their hearts at their hearing that they had been guilty of murthering Christ directing them to believe on Him upon that account that there was in Him remission of sins and the Holy Ghost to be given them by him and they looking to him and yielding up to what He so looked to wrought in them were comforted and healed Act. 2.37 38 41. So also in Act. 3.13 14 19 26. He proposed to others guilty of the same fault the consideration of the blessing in him the Seed of Abraham for all the Families of the Earth and that to them the Jews first God sent Jesus to bless every one of them in turning every one of them from their iniquities The like in Act. 5.30 31. And the Apostle Paul to the Jaylour ready to make away himself and inquiring in a great affrightment what he should do to be saved directed him to
there a little neglecting the vision of All the Foundation and Rest wherewith the weary should be caused to rest Isa 28.12 13 16. and 29.11 They that so do are so far from being healed and saved in and by such ways that they fall under reproof as taking the wrong course for themselves because not looking to yea are under greater misery and judgment for neglecting and despising this healing Object These things then being considered let us be exhorted to look off from other things as vain and unprofitable as being neither Crucified for us nor having a Name Power and Virtue able to afford Relief to us Yea oftentimes bewitching of and destructive to us as the Tree of Knowledg of Good and Evil was to Evah and the Wedg of Gold and Babylonish Garment proved to Achan and to look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of the Faith c. Yea let us look to him in all cases for all things in all means at all times and with all diligence and perseverance I say First Let us look to him in all cases for all Grace and Blessing needful for us As to say 1. For pardon of our sins for in him is forgiveness of sin Preached to us and to him give all the Prophets witness c. as we noted before in speaking to the believing on him to be exercised by us It is not for us to pore upon our selves and sins and think that way to get rid of them without looking to him in believing on him Nor is it for us to run to other Means or Medicines or trust to any Popes or Priests to pardon us but look to him directly as our only Saviour that having Suffered and Died for our sins hath there-through both Power and Readiness to forgive them and so we shall receive it of and in him 2. Let us look to him for cleansing from the filth of our sins For he is filled with Spirit and Power to that purpose the Spirit of the fear of the Lord is upon him to inable and furnish him to frame our hearts to fear him and in his Mediating and Ministring the New Testament or Covenant he puts the fear of God into the heart which is clean and leads to cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit and to perfect holiness before him Jer. 32.39 40. with Heb. 8.6.10 Psal 19.9 2 Cor. 7.1 And to that purpose look we to him 3. For Light and Direction in the Truth of God as it is in him and to receive from him that Unction by which we may know all things and be lead into all truth That Light that will guide our feet into the Paths of Peace at all times and in all cases for He is come a Light into the World that whosoever believeth on him might not abide in darkness John 12.46 And he Will bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles and cause his Judgment to rest for a Light to the people Isa 42.1 and 51.4 They looked to him and were enlightned and their faces were not ashamed Psal 34.5 All others are vanity and their works wind and confusion none of them where he is not can answer any thing Isa 41.28 29. Let us look to him for direction in our ways as well as for instruction to our minds that we may know and understand his will concerning us in what he requires of us as well as what he is and hath done for us for he is the Counsellor to Action and Practice as well as the Teacher of us in Faith and Doctrine and he will teach us his ways that we may walk in his paths Isa 2.3 It 's good to seek to him both in matters of Faith and Practice and not to lean to our own understandings nor take things on trust from men simply on the account of their Authority or Wisdom 4. For Spirit and Grace to incline our hearts to believe on him and walk in his ways For the Spirit is put upon him and he is the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost John 1.33 which he gives to them that obey him Acts 5.32 Thus we find David looking to him for by Lord he oft-times signified the Son see Psal 97.1.5.7 and 68.17 18 19. and 102.12.25 with Heb. 1.6.10 11. Ephes 4.8.11 for the holy Spirit and for its inclining his heart to his fear and way Witness these and the like Expressions Uphold me with thy free Spirit Psal 51.11 Thy Spirit is good lead me into the Land of uprightness Psal 143.10 Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments incline my heart unto thy Testimonies and not to Covetousness turn away mine eyes from beholding Vanity quicken me in thy ways Psal 119.35 36 37. 5. Look we also to him For strength to strengthen us unto every good way and work and to uphold us in all difficulties and against all oppositions for the Spirit that is upon him is as well a Spirit of Might as of Vnderstanding and Counsel Isa 11.2 And the holy Men of God have looked to him for strength both unto all good so David In the day when I cried unto thee thou strengthnedst me with strength in my soul Psal 138.3 Strengthen me according to thy word Psal 119.28 And against all evil and opposition as Vphold me according to thy word that I may live and let me not be ashamed of my hope hold thou me up and I shall be safe c. Psal 119.116 117. And so it s promised that they who wait on the Lord the Lord will strengthen their hearts and they shall renew their strength they shall mount up as with wings like Eagles they shall run and not be a weary walk and not faint Psal 27.14 and 31.24 Isa 40.29 30 31. 6. For comfort in Distresses Troubles and Temptations For it s he that prays the Father for and obtains and sends the Comforter even the Spirit of Truth John 14.16 17. and 15.26 And in his seeing his people or visiting them with his Salvation he makes their hearts rejoyce so as their joy shall no man take from them John 16.22 Thus David looked up to the Lord for comfort When wilt thou comfort me Psal 119.82 and When wilt thou come to me Psal 101.2 And Rejoyce the soul of thy Servant for unto thee do I lift up my soul O Lord Psal 86.4 But in looking to him for this and all other things take we heed to love him and keep his Commandments as our Saviour instructs us John 14.15 16 21. 7. For help and succour in dangers and deliverance from evils and from all enemies whether they be men or Devils For all Power and Authority in Heaven and upon Earth is his and he stands and feeds or rules in the strength of the Lord and in the Majesty of his Name and is both mighty to save his Servants and to destroy his and their enemies Mat. 28.18 Mich. 5.4 Isa 63.1 James 4.12 Thus David Mine eyes are evermore to the Lord for he
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
6. and 3.1 2 13 14. c. and 5.1 c. Instance 10. Would we comfort any in any Temptation or Affliction The way is to lift up the Son of man and shew the Grace in him and how God orders all things wisely and holily in him so as to the good and profit of men to further their Salvation and Welfare and that there is help in him in every condition Heb. 12. 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10. c. 1 Thes 4.13.17 Rom. 15.4 5 6 13. Yea in a word would we either humble or exalt cast down or raise up encourage and strengthen in and unto what is good or do any other good thing in which we may profit men this is the way to do it viz. By Lifting up and Exalting Christ the Son of man and setting him and the Power and Grace in him before men as also his Terrours against those who refuse and turn from him 2 Cor. 5.10 11. Heb. 1. and 2.1 3. and 10.26 29. and 12.25 So that this way we may be profitable to men doing all in the Name of the Lord Jesus as we are exhorted giving thanks to God even the Father by him Col. 3.17 But waving this we do or can do nothing as is said John 15.4 5 6. That 's the second Motive Motive 3. Being acceptable to God and profitable to men we cannot but be useful to our selves also both in as much as no acceptable service to God or profitable work to men shall be without its reward 1 Cor. 15.58 Heb. 6.10 11. And also inasmuch as in Lifting up Christ to others we may mind him our selves if we do it as we ought And indeed we can scarcely Lift him up profitably to others without viewing and considering knowing and taking notice of him our selves and that 's the order and way approved of God for our doing it Let every one that heareth say come Rev. 22.17 And He that heareth speaketh constantly Prov. 21.28 While we view and look upon Christ our selves that we may commend him to others we shall not be without Fruit Profit and Advantage to our selves also opening our mouth wide in this sense too God will fill it Psal 81.10 And The liberal soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself Prov. 11.25 Wherefore let us make it our business and design to know and view and serve the Lord Jesus and to know and view him that we may serve him and as we know him serve him in Glorifying and Lifting him up as we are exhorted Psal 99.5 8. Exalt that is lift up the Lord our God and worship him at his holy Hill for he the Lord our God is holy And let us do this as in all cases or to all purposes so in all things As to say 1. In all the Ordinances of God In Baptizing let it be into Him and his Name so as holding him forth and directing therein to Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world manifesting Christ to men as the Baptist did John 1.29 31. In breaking Bread or eating the Lords Supper lift up Christ the Son of man shewing forth his Death until he come 1 Cor. 11.26 Let it not be Baptism and the breaking of Bread much less the Water the Bread and the Wine that we lift up bless and magnifie therein but the Son of man they are sufficiently lifted up in being made the Mediums of lifting him up and conveying Virtue from him to us In Praying lift up the Son of man and so in Praising Thanksgiving and Singing of Psalms while we Pray and ask in his Name and upon his account and give thanks to God in all things by him and bless in his Name and in Singing Make melody with Grace in our hearts to him the Lord John 14.13 14. and 16.23 24. Col. 3.15 17. Ephes 5.20 Yea What ever we do in word or deed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God even the Father by him In our Meditations let them be much of him and of nothing but as represented also in and through him Psal 104.34 and 48.9 Isa 26.7 8 9. Mal. 3.16 And so In our Conferences and Discourses Let us with one mind and mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ so as the Father of him and so as lifting him up therein Rom. 15.5 Jude 20.21 And so 2. In all our whole Life and Conversation let us lift up the Son of man in walking so as becomes the Gospel of Christ Standing fast in one Spirit and in one Mind striving together for the Faith of the Gospel which is the Gospel of Christ and concerns him Phil. 1.27 Rom. 1.3 4 16. Oh let it be our business in all things and by all means to lift up the Son of man to Praise the Lord to Sing forth his Praises and to make his Praise glorious CHAP. XXVI Reproof to those that are faulty in not lifting up or in not rightly lifting up the Son of man With some discovery of Spirits which are of God and which not Use 4 HEnce also we may Reprove the Evils of men yea too much our Defficiency therein every where in not making it more our Business to lift up and look to the Son of Man I may speak briefly to either Branch And Reproof 1. First He is too little lifted up by men even by those that Minister and pretend to be his Servants and to Preach his Gospel too many such are faulty in not lifting him up in their Ministry Such as 1. They who lift up Themselves their Parts Wit Learning Places Offices being Proud of them and Vaunting themselves of and in them above their Neighbours but not lifting up Jesus Christ the Son of man that men might see his Glory Look to and Believe on him Too many there are like to Diotrephes that love to have the preheminence themselves rather then to endeavour that Christ may have it in all things and in all hearts and spirits seeking their own things and not the things that be Jesus Christs 3 John 9.10 Col. 1.18 Phil. 2.21 Most men proclaim every man his own goodness but a faithful friend to Christ who can find Prov. 20.6 2. Such as lift up other men and have their persons in admiration for advantage sake as the Apostle saith of the false Teachers Jude 16. Whether it be the Beast either the Papal or any worldly Power lifting up it self like Jereboam who made Israel to sin in the Temple and House of God and exercising Lordship therein over the Consciences of men and Worship of God As it is said Prophetically of many yea of the whole World worshipping and wondering after the Beast that they will lift or cry him up saying Who is able to make War with him and to overcome him Rev. 13.4 And many such flatterers there be admirers and applauders of the Antichristian powers and Preachers up thereof in opposition to
appear clearly and evidently in his proceedings And if it be so equitable that they who neglect or refuse to look to Gods salvation perish how much more will it be so for those who beside their neglects and rejections of this remedy themselves and through so doing either are unfaithful to God in his Design of mercy to men while having some knowledge of it vouchsafed to them and command to help their Brethren therein in setting forth or lifting up this remedy to them they neglect so to do so as through their unfaithfulness they occasion them thorow ignorance and misprisions to erre and perish there from surely it s but just if those Persons bloods also be required at their hands as is threatned Ezek. 3 18. and 33.6 8 or and much more still if they also oppose and set themselves against Christ and the grace of God in him and the testimony of God in the Gospel concerning him Inasmuch as they are not only defective and injurious to their own souls but also betray or offer violence to the souls of others defrauding them of or driving them from their everlasting welfare and salvation yea and as to the latter sort found fighters also against God and his Grand Design 3. And their destruction must needs be inevitable and unavoidable when it befalls them for if they only refuse and neglect to look to Christ that they may be saved by him yet how can they possibly escape destruction there being no other name given under Heaven whereby they may be saved but this of Christ the Son of man lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness If there could have been deliverance from Death and wrath any other way God would not have put his Son upon such abasement and sufferings that we might be saved by him And now if there be but one Medicine that will Cure a Disease and if that be when with much care and cost it is procured rejected how can that Person who rejects it possibly escape dying of his Disease Such is the case here Acts 4.11 12. Heb. 2.3 And they in refusing the grace of God and Christ provoke him to anger how much more if they be unfaithful to others and hinder them of their good And how then can they escape destruction also from him seeing He is so infinitely great in power wisdom and counsel against them A child of three years old may as well or better think to make its party good against the greatest Giant in the World as the greatest and most powerful Man or Company of men in the World may think to make his or their party good against God Who can stand when He is angry whose fury is poured forth like fire and before whom the Rocks are thrown down Noh 1.6 Thence the Prophet proposes to Israel what is good to be always proposed by us to our selves when we be tempted to sin Can thine hands be strong or can thine heart indure in the day when I deal with thee Ezek. 22.14 And the Apostle proposes the like to the Corinthians to perswade them to look singly to God in Christ and not to provoke him to anger by looking to other things and committing Idolatry which is a spiritual adultery with them against him Do we provoke the Lord to jealousie Are we stronger thâ—n He 1 Cor. 10.22 Surely that 's a great folly to ingage so Great Invincible and Almighty a Power against our selves But how then can they prosper and stand against him and not be overthrown by him and perish from his presence who are Enemies and Adversaries to him in his Grand Design If it s his absolute Purpose and Decree to the accomplishment whereof He ingages all his wisdom and counsel power and greatness that the Son of man must be lifted up how then can they but perish who set themselves against him to keep or throw him down either in his Person or Truth or Members Surely they must needs and it s but just right and reasonable that they perish in all their designs purposes and endeavours there being no wisdom understanding or counsel against the Lord Prov. 21.30 No fleeing from his Presence Psal 139.7 8. Nor standing against his Hand or Power None ever resisted or hardned themselves against him and prospered Job 9.3 4. All that rise up against Christ therefore whether in Himself his Truth or People must inevitably and unavoidably be destroyed What got Pharaoh by opposing him and persecuting his People but destruction to himself and all his Armies What got Saul and Haman and Julian and all the Persecutors of Christ and his People but their own Ruine And so shall it be with all others be they never so great or prudent or numerous though Jewes and Gentiles conspire against him yea and though the Kings of the Earth stand up and the Rulers take counsel together they shall not prosper but He will laugh them all to scorn and have them all in derision and when he speaks against them in his wrath and vexes them in his hot displeasure as so he will speak to them if they persist against him they shall perish before Him Psal 2.1 2 3 4 12. and 68.1 2. No weapon formed against Him or his Spouse and People shall prosper because in them also He will be admired and glorified 2 Thes 1.10 And every tongue that riseth up against them shall they also condemn Isa 54.17 Whence Vse 8. This Doctrine also affords matter of comfort and consolation that however men neglect and slight Christ and the Devils with their Instruments and Followers oppose Him and how few soever they be that duely prize him yet He must and shall be lifted up It 's Gods Decree and Ordination and it must take place This Christ comforted himself with the consideration of in John 6.37 when he had said that the Jewes saw and believed not on him He adds as a comfort to himself his Disciples and Lovers All that which the Father giveth me shall come to me and He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out It is in the neuter Gender as to the former Branch not all they that but all that which the Father giveth me we may understand it of all that glory honour fulness of grace salvation blessing power authority c. All this shall come to him in despight of Men and Devils that set themselves against him or any who carry unworthily towards him not believing what or though they see what may commend him to them and draw them and their hearts after him as it is said in Isa 52.13 14 15. Behold all ye that love the Lord Jesus know and behold it for your comfort my Servant shall deal prudently or as the Margin hath it shall prosper He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high He shall be both exalted of God with his right hand and extolled both by the Spirit of God and by his Servants the Holy-men yea and
their hearts to Favour her she takes it out of his Hands with thankfulness She relies not upon the multitude of her Members the great and profound Learning of her Doctors the high Degrees Dignities and Eminencies of her Officers and Ministers in the World her great Revenues Possessions and Riches among men These are the things the Whore loves looks after and leans upon and hath her glorying and confidence in But the true Spouse of Christ leans upon his Shoulders Looks to Magnifie and Loves Lives to and Believes on him for all Peace inward and outward Protection Safety Blessing and Satisfaction she makes it not her business then to serve this World or the great men thereof to humour observe comply with and complement them and receive their Impositions in Faith and Worship though according to her Lords directions she Submits to every Ordinance of man for his sake whether to the King as Supreme or to the Governours as sent by him And meddles not with Seising on their Crowns and Kingdoms raises not up Wars and Commotions against them contests not nor strives with them for worldly Greatness Honour and Riches thence Murthering or Trampling upon them or stirring up Rebellions against them It 's the Whore and her Daughters and such as drink of her Cup that practice such things But she Prays for them and gives them all due Reverence Honour and Subjection as her Lord commands her It 's her great business to please her Lord receive and keep his Sayings conform her self to his Will and Orders seek his Favour Protection and Countenance for she depends on him for all things both for this life and for that which is to come and therefore matters not nor fears to displease the greatest Persons and expose themselves to their Frowns and Persecutions for his sake so She and her Members may please him her Head and Husband and keep in with him and keep him with them Such is the Way Heart and Carriage of them that believe not on men nor trust to themselves their own Power Policy Riches or Multitude but believe on the Son of man as knowing and believing that he though the Son of man is able and faithful to maintain them and make them happy And then for Her and their Priviledges they are such as they have in and by their believing in him and depending upon him That is they are and shall be saved and have Eternal life with him in his Kingdom and these Priviledges do very well content her and every Part and Member of her as led by his Spirit in her Though he do not keep them from being Tempted of Satan and his Instruments or from being Hated Opposed Oppressed and Persecuted of men yea Fought against and Murthered sometimes by the Beast the Whore or False prophet and their Members and Admirers the Limbs of Antichrist because he sees it may be profitable for them and he knows how to turn it to good to them and to his own praise in their Salvation and increase of Glory yet she is there-with well contented having the assured hope and certain promise and ingagement of her Husband to preserve her in his Grace and Favour and to keep her from perishing from the way to his Kingdom She is willing that Satan may be permitted to tempt her as her Head and Husband sees good so he do but step in between him and her and secure her from being defiled or injured by him She is willing to be Mocked Scoffed Buffetted Reproached put to Death in her Members with and for him so he may be the more Honoured there-through and she may but Live in and with him She is willing to take part with him in the Tossings and Troubles in the way for his sake having confidence that he will preserve her from fainting and perishing in the end and that he will see and set her safe at last in rest with himself in the Injoyments and Embracements of his Love in his Fathers Kingdom It is not this Worlds Wealth Riches Honours Ornaments Scarlet Gowns Lawn Sleeves Mitres Scepters Crowns Applause and such like Carnal and Perishing things not to have stately Palaces full and fat Livings and Benifices the Salutations and Complements of the Rich and Potent in their Meetings and uppermost Seats in Conventions and the like In a word it is not the Ease Safety Grandeur Favour of this World or the Wise and Great ones of it that she looks for her priviledges in No no they are the Whore and her Daughters and Members that look for such fine things and contend for such like Priviledges and Respects and by that they may in part be known not to be Christs true Spouse nor to have their dependance on him but other things His true Church are those that believe in him and look after and rejoyce in his Salvation that they may be upheld and kept in his Service that they perish not there-from and that they may be saved from every evil thing and obtain Eternal life the knowledg of the true God the Father and Himself and the everlasting Injoyment of their Fellowship and Favour in his everlasting Kingdom And these are priviledges which the Whore it may be sometime talks of but in heart seeks not nor rejoyces in But they are such as far exceed all the priviledges and greatest Advantages that can any other way then in believing on the Son of man be injoyed by men or then are injoyed by any other beside them Nor do they that are Members of this holy Church and this true Spouse envy the enjoyment of those priviledges by any nor strive to keep them by themselves or get them from one another as the Whore and her Daughters and Members do envy their Honours Places Ornaments Fame for Learning rich Livings and the like seeking to get or keep them from one another Nor call others to behold their Parts Gifts Excellencies as the Whore or whorish Members do But they desire all should have and injoy the Favour of the Lord in Union with them and partake of their Priviledges in joyning with them in Honouring and Serving him calling all to him and not to themselves but as in coming to him they become one in heart way and design of Glorifying him and injoying safety and life Eternal with them Thence the Spirit and the Bride say come they gather to the Lord and desire the Lords coming to and company with them which the Whore and her Bawds and Panders care not for thinking of they had rather have his Room then his Company to have his Place Honour Worship and Respect then to have his Spiritual or Glorious presence with them because they know themselves guilty of disloyalty towards him and love their present carnal Injoyments which they know his coming and company would part them from Whereas his true Spouse believing on him know his presence will be the compleat deliverance of them from all danger and possibility of perishing and the
have their share in that Yea some that have been the best have dyed the youngest As Enoch was translated far short of that age to which others then lived But that that is said is That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life Where the profit and advantage of believing on Christ is set forth 1. Negatively He shall not perish 2. Affirmatively but have eternal life Concerning which advantages I shall speak to these four following Enquiries The former two whereof are touching the former part The latter two touching the latter 1. What is this perishing from which the Believer on Christ is and shall be saved or preserved And 2. How he shall be saved from this perishing These about the former part Then in the latter 3. What that eternal life is that the Believer on Christ shall have And 4. How and when he shall have that eternal life 1. As for this perishing it may be understood to be either 1. From the way Or 2. In the end 1. A perishing from the way as it is said Psal 2.11 Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his anger is kindled but a little In such a sense it is said of the Prodigal This my son was lost The Greek word signifies and is sometimes rendred yea in this John 3.15 â—6 it is so for the word here used is the same in its root with that there was perisht He was quite gone out of the way the way of life and peace Now he that credits the testimony of God concerning Christ so as seeing his beauty and goodness he believes on receives comes to attends and relies on and trusts in him shall not perish or be lost much less wholly lost from the way but being in it shall be preserved therein shall continue in the Son and in the Father 1 John 2.24 2 John 9. They who believe not on the Son of Man as evidenced to them of God they do and are in danger to perish from the way continually they that do not know come to and close with him know not the way of peace Rom. 3.18 they find not the way that tends to life Matth. 7.14 Though they seek wisdom they find it not scorning to seek and accept it of him in his way of giving it Prov. 14.6 Though they may have a zeal of God and follow after righteousness yet not seeking it by faith the belief of Gods Word and Testimony concerning him and so in a way of looking to and depending on him but as it were by the works of the Law they attain not to the righteousness that they seek Rom. 9.31 32. The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them because though they labour and toil in their own wisdom never so much yet they find not the way into the city Eccles 10.15 Yea he that believeth not on him Satan gets power to blind his mind that the light of the glory of the Gospel of Christ should not shine into them 2 Cor. 4.4 And the Gospel being hid from them they are lost verse 3. Lost out of the way of understanding And if men have known something of the Grace of God and come to Christ in some measure yet if they go not on to believe and exercise faith in him they are in danger to be lost and perish out of the way of truth and righteousness Every condition is likely to destroy them from it as to say 1. Let God try and exercise them with affliction poverty and temptations that lye heavy upon them they are in danger to perish out of the way of truth and life and to say with Jobs wife Curse God and dye or rather to do so Job 2.9 As it 's likely what counsel she gave her Husband she would have her self practised had she been in his case Asaph or the Pen-man of Psal 73. was in danger so to have done when he came to that in ver 13 14. Verily in vain have I cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocency for I have been plagued all the day long and chastened every morning Thus they that receive the word like seed in a rocky ground in the day of temptation fall away wanting depth of earth or rooting in their faith Matth. 13.5 6 20 21. So Israel in the day of temptation did in the wilderness The word that they heard being not mixed with faith in them nor they trusting on his salvation Heb. 4.2 Psal 78.22 23. 106.12 13. Jude 5. For if the faith or believing on the Son of Man fail then they fail of receiving his light direction strength or of the prevalency of the light and life given so as not to walk aright in the way of God and then they must needs turn out of it into crooked paths as is implied in Psal 125. That they do who trust not in the Lord ver 1 2 5. whereas if the faith or believing on the Son of God fails not for the faith or that object of faith never fails any man that trusts to it then he therein receives that understanding and discretion that delivers him from the way of the evil man that walks in crooked paths and from the way of the evil woman that flatters with her tongue yea such understanding as causes to hate every false way Prov. 2.10 11 12 15. Psal 119.104 And if a man should through temptations get a fall in the way as Peter did when through fear he denied his Master yet he will get up again and go on in his way his faith not failing as Peter did for Christ will help him up again to whom he looketh and in whom he believeth not imputing the weaknesses of his believing though reproving them And so he shall go on in his way still Luke 22.31 32. Matth. 14.30 31. 2. If God orders persecutions for the Gospel sake to befall unless the Son of Man be believed on and looked to and received in his instructions counsels and grace extended a man will perish from the way from attending to and walking with God in Christ in the way of his commandments for he will want strength and courage to persevere and so will turn to the world again either through fear of what will come the fear of man proving a snare Prov. 29.25 as it did to Israel who for fear of the Giants and strong Nations in the Land of Canaan turned back in their hearts Numb 14. and were reputed as unbelievers and destroyed therefore in the Wilderness ver 10 11 22 23. and as it was to Peter in the case above-mentioned or else through the feeling of troubles that come upon them and press them Like to many of the Israelites in the Wilderness whose souls were discouraged through the difficulties they felt in the way Numb 21.4 5. But where the Son of Man is believed on with the heart trusted to and relied upon he gives strength and courage both against the fears
and feelings of evil and makes Conquerours over the world and its frightfullest and sharpest Persecutions as it s said The Lord will give strength to his people the Lord will bless his people with peace Psal 29.11 And this is our victory whereby we overcome the world even our faith Who is he that overcometh the world even the frowns and malice of the world but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God 1 John 5.3 4. In this the Servants of God have been more then Conquerours over all adversities Neither tribulation or distress persecution famine peril nakedness or sword have been able to separate them from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus But for his sake they have been and have endured to be killed all the day long and to be accounted as sheep for the slaughter Rom. 8.35 36. By faith they have grappled with and overcome the greatest difficulties as it 's said Heb. 11.29 33 37. Through faith they went through the Red sea as on dry ground which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned Through faith they wrought righteousness subdued Kingdoms obtained promises stopped the mouths of lions quenched the violence of fire escaped the edge of the Sword waxed valiant in battel put to fâ—ight the Armies of the aliens Women received their dead raised to life again others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection Others had tryalls of cruel mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonments They were stoned sawn asunder tempted or as some render the word burnt with hot Irons They were slain with the sword they wandred about in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destitute afflicted and tormented of whom the World was not worthy they wandred about in deserts and mountains in dens and caves of the Earth c. Such great things both fears and tormenting afflictions have they been strengthned under and preserved from perishing from the way by through believing on the Son of Man Whereof also we might add many pleasing examples and instances of Christian fortitude namely through this faith if we would rifle the writings of Eusebius Socrates Sozomen Nicephorus and others of the constancy of the Christian Martyrs and confessors in all ages both under the Jewish Heathen and Antichristian persecutions but I shall not be so tedious 3. In case of sin fallen into through heedlesness or giving way to corruption through want of exercise of faith or through the discovery of and sight of the woful sinfulness of our natures and lives and the great appearing difficulties in the way of God the unlikeliness of ever getting victory over corruption or obtaining such renewedness of heart and life as might fit for the inheritance in case I say of such considerations causing discouragement through want of exercise of believing on Christ the Son of man some have perished out of the way and said There is no hope Jer. 18.12 As Cain Judas and others the Israelites in the Wilderness also Num. 14. were a Type of these But in believing on the Son of Man and exercisiing faith in him and his blood sacrifice mediation plenteousness of redemption in him fulness of Spirit his ingagement and promise to help and succour us every where and his power and faithfulness to perform it and the like Men have and shall be preserved from perishing from the way of the Lord and helped to hold on their way with chearfulness and confidence notwithstanding such discouragements As through faith not only Abraham the Father of the faithful against hope believed in hope according to what was said to him Rom. 4.18 But also Rahab the harlot perished not with them that believed not but though an harlot found favour and mercy a Type and pattern of sinners through believing on the Son of man finding forgiveness and heartned to walk on among Gods people to the injoyment of the heavenly Inheritance as David and Peter did after their falls And so Paul and others notwithstanding what they see and proved of the sinfulness of their natures which they often bewailed and complained of as in Psal 38.17 18 22. 51.1 5 15 16. Rom. 7.14 23 24 25. 4. On the other hand prosperity riches and fulness often prove occasions to turn men out of the way and cause them to perish from it while their hearts are lifted up thereby into a forgetfulness of God and into pride and high-mindedness or are over-charged with the caâ—es and encumbrances of the World or â—nsnared with the ease pleasures and friendship of it which their prosperity gives them opportunities and advantages for as is intimated in those warnings given in that case Deut 6.10 11 12. 8.7 8 12 c. And those predictions in Deut. 32.14 15 18. Which are confirmed also in the after event Hos 13.5 6. And so much our Saviour saith and signifies of those that receive the Word as Seed among the Thornes Who by the cares of the World deceitfulness of riches and love of other things are choked so as not to bring forth fruit to perfection Mat. 13.7 22. And against this our Saviour cautions his Disciples that their heart might not at any time be over-charged with surfetting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and that day come upon them unawares Luk. 21.34 35. The love of riches honours pleasures c. do often cause men to turn away from Christ to save them and preserve them like the young man who though very earnest in running to Christ to know of him what he might do to have everlasting life yet when he heard Sell all that thou hast and give it to the poor and follow me Rather forsook Christ to keep his riches then his riches to follow Christ and obtain everlasting life Math. 19.16 17 21 22. But now where the Son of Man is believed on prized come to depended and relied on and his counsels entertained with sure belief of them as right and good there a man is and will be helped to look upon better riches pleasures prosperity and honours and in compare of them to look upon these as empty and uncertain and to judge Christ worthy the parting with them all for him and trusting to him for his care and provision according to his promise will notwithstanding all threatnings of their loss follow after him and trusting to him for the better and more durable injoyments behave himself as a Pilgrim in all these injoyments here Thus we find that though Abraham Isaac and Jacob had great riches yet they perished not out of Gods way by occasion of them but by faith in Christ believing on him kept his way and charge and behaved themselves in the midst of their injoyments as strangers and Pilgrims in the Earth declaring that they sought another even an heavenly Countrey Gen. 13.2 6. 24.35 25.5 26.12 13 14. 30 43. 32.10 With Heb. 11.9 10 13 14 15 16. And Moses though brought up in