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
is able to Succour us because one with God the Son of God one in whom God and his Fulness gives forth himself to us Should we neglect and flight him and look to any other thing or person from him As that in Psal 121.1 may be read and is read in the Margin Should I look to the Hills and Mountains From whence then cometh my help My help cometh from the Lord who made the Heaven and the Earth Not from the Hills and Mountains but from the Lord Jehovah the Lord who made the Heavens and the Earth Should not a man look to his God Should a man seek for the Living to the Dead Isa 8.19 Is it not better to search and try our ways and turn to the Lord lifting up our heart with our hands yea our souls and our eyes to him in the Heavens Lam. 3.40 41. Psal 25.1.15 and 123.1 2. But Oh! How apt are we to look for help from trouble but not to consider that our sins are the causes of our troubles and so neglect to seek to be delivered from them Or if we seek deliverance from them then yet how many Thirdly Look to false ways for deliverance from sin and trouble too Running like the Heathens to false Gods or as some Jews to the true God by false ways not by Jesus Christ the Son of man and his Death and Sacrifice in and through which our way lies to God and access to and acceptance with him may be had of us But we men are apt either 1. With Israel of old to look to the Altars and Groves the works of their hands as in Isa 17.7 8. Where he saith in That day a man shall have respect to his Maker and his eyes shall have respect to the holy One of Israel and he shall not look to the Altars the works of his hands neither shall he respect that which his Fingers have made either the Groves or the Images Implying that that was now their way of sinning that they looked in a Religious way by Idolatrous and Superstitious sacrifices and observancies to pacifie Gods anger appease his wrath and obtain his favour as in all Nations generally the Heathen did by their Idolatrous Sacrifices and Ceremonies seek to please their gods and divert their anger and by such superstitious and heathenish ways too many yet conceit they may do it with the true God doing that to the Lord which the Heathen use to do to their gods contrary to the express Command of God Deut. 12.30 31. Or else 2. With Israel in latter times after that being punished for their gross Idolatries they were reformed from them For then they looked to the works of their own hands in another sense which they in those former times under any Reformation in their better Kings days were apt also to do they used to look to the Temple and to cry The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are these And to their Sacrifices Oblations Burnt-offerings solemn Meetings many Prayers Sabbaths and the like And to hope for Deliverance from Sin and Judgments upon such accounts as these as in Isa 28.14 15. and 66.1 3. Jer. 7.4 5 6 c. Rom. 9.31 32. and 10.1 2 3 Luke 18.9 11 12. And are there not many now that look either to things as bad as the Idolatrous Sacrifices and superstitious Groves and Altars of the Gentiles and Gentilizing Jews Some that look for help pardon and deliverance from wrath from the Pope and his Ministers their Masses Dirges Pilgrimages Invocation of Saints and such like Fopperies And by things too much of Kindred to them where the Pope is rejected as by their saying their Prayers getting the Priests Absolution observing Church-orders c. And those who are reformed yet more from those things do they not come up too much to the zealous Jews and Pharisees in looking to their Orders Covenants Zeal Profession Ordinances Duties and many the like things never Crucified for them but to him who died for them and into whose Name they were Baptized they look not or look too little 3. So also they who look to one another but not to Jesus who think this or that Religious man or these or those good People shall help and succour them Like the foolish Virgins who neglecting Christ and the getting Oyl in their Vessels from him while they had opportunity looked that the wise Virgins in their defects should supply them Mat. 25.8 but their hope and expectation failed them verse 9. To such it may be said as old Jacob said to his Sons when they were like to famish for want of Bread corn Why look ye one upon another Behold I have heard that there is Corn in Egypt get ye up thither and buy that ye may live and not die Gen. 42.1 So may we say Behold we have heard that there is Grace in Christ Jesus there is Salvation in him Redemption in him Forgiveness of sins and Eternal life in him all things that we need in him c. Let us arise therefore and go up to him or look up to him and Buy of him Gold tried in the fire that we may be inriched and White Raiment that we may be clothed and our Nakedness may be covered and our Shame may not appear If we look to other things they will fail us and be like those deceiful Brooks whereof Job speaks and like to his Brethren compared to them Job 6.15 16 19 20 21. Streams which pass away what time they wax warm they vanish or are cut off in the heat they are extinguished out of their place the Troops of Teman looked the Companies of Sheba waited for them they were confounded because they had hoped they came thither they were ashamed Whereas Christ is the Fountain of living Waters and that Spring of Waters whose Waters fail not Jer. 2.13 John 4.14 The remedy of Gods providing for and commending to us the sure Foundation of Gods Laying on whom whosoever believeth shall not be ashamed Isa 28.16 4. They also who trust in themselves that they are Christs who trust in or look to their making mention of Christ their Preaching or Prophecying in his Name and having success therein so as to do many wonderful works and to have the Spirits subject to them thinking thence to find safety and deliverance from their sins and sorrows from wrath and judgment but look not to the Son of man so as to be healed of their sins by him It 's not any mans Acts about Christian Profession or Religion but Christ himself delivered up of God for our Sins raised again for our Justification and Exalted and Glorified of him and so that Grace in him that is to be Eyed Looked and Depended on by us for all Grace and Blessing yielding up to be Saved and Healed thereby as in believingly minded it worketh in us and so He that looketh into the perfect Law of Liberty and continues therein being not a
the dust shall how before him every one shall confess and give an account of himself to Him see Isa 45.23 with Rom. 14.10 11 12. and Philip. 2.10 11 and none can keep alive his own Soul Psal 22.27 28 29. Yea all Nations that he hath made shall come and worship before him and shall glorify his Name because He is great and doth wondrous things He as all the fulness of the Godhead dwells in Him bodily is God alone Psal 86.9 10. Yea and all Flesh shall worship him and bless his holy Name for ever and ever Psal 145.21 Isa 66.23 Then shall those Prayers and Prophecies be accomplished that we have in Psal 67.3 4 5 6 7. Let all the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee O let the Nations be glad and rejoyce or sing for joy for thou shalt judge the People righteously and govern the Nations upon Earth let the People praise thee O God yea let all the People praise thee then shall the Earth yield her increase for then shall all things be restored and made new new Heavens and new Earth in which shall dwell righteousness Isa 65.17 25. 2 Pet. 3.13 14. Rev. 21.1 5 6 and God even our God shall give us his blessing God shall bless us and all the ends of the Earth shall praise Him And then what our Lord directs his Disciples and Children to pray for daily shall be fully answered God's Name shall be so hallowed and his Kingdome come that his will shall be done on Earth as it is in Heaven as universally perfectly and perpetually for Sin and Satan and all that are wicked and love iniquity and would not let it go shall be thrust down into the Lake and shall have no place either in Heaven or Earth and those that believe on Christ being saved from perishing therein shall enjoy eternal life The sinners shall be consumed out of the Earth and the wicked shall be no more Bless thou the Lord O my soul praise ye the Lord Psal 104.35 CHAP. XXIX A brief Discovery of the True and False Church their distinct Manners and Priviledges And the Conclusion of the whole Treatise in a Brief Exhortation Use 9 HEre also we may take a brief View of the True Church of God who they be and what their Priviledges Many there be who greatly mistake that as well as their Fathers did mistake the Christ the Son of man the Lord and Head of it many cry up and lift up the Church instead of Christ crying the Church the Church the holy Catholick Church calling men as they think to it when they totally mistake themselves and it doing as those in Isa 48.1 2. who Sware by the Name of the Lord and made mention of the God of Israel but not in Truth nor in Righteousness though they called themselves of the holy City the holy Catholick Church and stayed themselves on the God of Israel the Lord of Hosts is his Name This that men usually magnifie as the Holy Church is but the outward Court that is without the Temple which the Beast and False-prophet the Antichrist or man of Sin sits in and sets up their Image in and which the Angel ordered the holy Man to cast out and not to measure as being prophane and no sufficient mark by which to know who is Holy and Accepted of God it being given unto the Gentiles even to those that are Uncircumcised in heart and life boasting in and knowing themselves by and after their flesh and fleshly Priviledges As their Birth Breeding Riches Learning Places Offices and the like and walking in and after the Flesh performing and rejoycing in a carnal fleshly Worship Religion Zeal Devotion and upon such accounts trampling under foot the holy City which they say they are of but Know Own or Love it not but do hate and Persecute it even the true holy Catholick Church indeed because it hath not nor approves and applauds but reproves and faults such carnal rejoycings and confidences as Adulteries and Treacheries against her Lord even the Lord Jesus That which they cry up in stead of it is the Whore that sits upon the many Waters or multitudes mounted stately upon the Beasts back riding him and upheld by him even by the Imperial power of the World Dressing her self partly with Christs Jewels his Scriptures and Ordinances mingled with and marred by her Adulterous additions her Inventions Orders and Impositions in Doctrine and Worship even the Church or Court of Rome and her Daughters that exercise her or a like power which is so far from being the holy Church that it is indeed a Nest and Cage of all unclean and impure Birds as is too evidently seen in the Lives and Practices of those that are of them too generally from the Pope to the Apparitor every where But leaving that filthy Whore with all her Members drunk with the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus the filthy Sink of sin and wickedness both Mother and Daughters we may note here That the true Church is indeed those and all those who through the Lifting up of the Son of man do believe on him obeying and following him and his holy Doctrine All that in their hearts perceiving his Excellency and Goodness do love and cleave to him receive his Commandments and keep them being Ruled and Governed by him and living in dependance on him These as united in and by one Spirit in and with him and so among themselves and one to another in the Faith and Love of him and love of one another for his sake are his holy Church his Body all of them together and Members of him in particular 1 Cor. 12.12 27. Rom. 12.5 And these need not to nor desire to Lift up Preach and commend themselves as the Whore the false Church and her Members do But they make it their business to lift up their Head and Husband the Son of man in whom they think themselves lifted up sufficiently This Church knowing her self to be his Body his Members his Beloved she judgeth that she hath enough in knowing his Worth Height Glory Excellency Power and Authority and that is the thing that She looks after yea looks upon and admires and cannot but talk and boast of to others She desires nothing but his Love and Fellowship to be admitted into the Knowledg of and Acquaintance with him and through him to have Access to and Acceptance with his Father who is through him her Father also and that she may Honour and Serve him and bring forth Children to him Let him have the Glory the Power the Riches the Wisdom the Strength the Honour and Blessing yea though she be Despised Dishonoured Impoverished and made conformable to him in her Use and Intertainment in the World she is well contented therewith for his sake She leans not upon the Power Riches and Authority of Princes and of the Nobles of the Earth though if God perswades any of
wickedness to be removed into the Land of Shinar Zech. 5.6 7. And the lifting up of the Sacrifices upon the Altar to be burnt up But I but mention them But 2. To lift up signifies often to exalt magnifie or glorifie And to the same phrase of lifting up the head is used by Joseph too in his interpretations in a quite contrary sense to the former In Gen. 40.13.20 21. For interpreting the chief Butlers Dream he tells him Within three days shall Pharoah lift up thy head and restore thee into thy place and thou shalt deliver Pharoahs cup into his hand And it came to pass saith vers 20. That the third day which was Pharaohs birth day he lifted up the head of the chief Butler and he restored the chief Butler unto his chief Butlership again And so the lifting up the horn was the exalting and lifting it up on high Psal 75.10 And according to the Spirit the exalting or magnifying the Kingdom and Power of Christ and his Saints 1. Chron. 25.5 And in this sense also Christ was to be lifted up that is exalted and that both by God and Men as we may see And in this sense the same Greek word here rendred lifted up is often translated to exalt or to be exalted or magnified As in Mat. 23.12 Luk. 14.11 18.14 Act. 2.33 5.31 But in this sense of lifting up there is something implyed even that which was done and included in the former sense or way of his being lifted up Namely 1. That he was or is down as it were made low and in a low place condition or esteem For as when the Psalmist had said by the holy Ghost Thou hast ascended up on high The Apostle from it inferrs Now that he Ascended what is it but that be first Descended into the lower parts of the earth Psal 68.18 With Ephes 4.8 9. So we may say here in that he saith The Son of Man must be lifted up What is it but that the Son of man was below or was down in a mean state or posture and in a lower place then that to which he must be lifted up And surely so he was and in some sense is so yet As to say 1. In respect of bodily place This Son of man was though now he is not here upon the Earth born here and living walking acting and conversing here Though he was the heavenly One the Lord in Heaven yet he came from Heaven from above As it 's said He that cometh from above or from Heaven is above all John 3.32 He was above in respect of what he was before he was manifest to men But he descended into the lower parts of the Earth the lower parts of Gods Creation the Earth Yea into the lower parts the heart of the Earth Ephes 4.9 Matt. 12.40 And so it 's said by him And I when I am lifted up from the Earth will draw all men to me John 12.32 He was then on the Earth and thence to be lifted up on the Earth in respect of place And 2 In respect of State in respect of what God did to him and what he submitted and yielded up himself to he was in a low and humble state and appearance among men in the world being of rich made and become poor that we through his poverty might be made rich 2 Cor. 8 9. Of one in the form of God not thinking it robbery to be equal with God He was made in the form of a Servant and was found in the fashion and habit of a man Phil. 2.6 7. Being made of a Woman he partook with us in Flesh and Blood and was made under the Law in a Bondage and Servile state A Servant to Rulers though he was Lord of all Gal. 4.4.5 Isa 49.7 Born of a mean and poor parentage as was evident in the entertainment given them in the Inne when his Parents were thrust into the Stable and he when born was entertained there in a Manger As also by the offering of his Virgin Mother offering according to the appointment of the Law of Moses for poor people whose hand or sufficiency could not reach to the offering a Lamb. Viz. A pair of Pigeons or two Turtle Doves Luk. 2.7 24. With Levit. 12 8. As also in that his reputed Father to whom the Virgin his Mother was espoused was not a person of any great port in the World or in any office or dignity but a Carpenter as he was called Mat. 13.53 Yea and it appears that he himselfe sometimes wrought of that Trade being therefore called by way of reproach the Carpenter Mark 6.3 And when he manifested himself to Israel he was not attended with any great followers but his Disciples were noted to be illiterate and mean men Fishers Tole-gatherers and the like So as that the people stumbled at that matter saying Have any of the Rulers or Pharisees believed on him but this people that know not the Law are accursed John 7.47 48. Yea and he himself when one said he would follow him replyed Foxes have their holes and the Birds of the Air have their nests but the Son of Man hath not whereon to lay his head Luk. 9.58 Yea and he went lower descending into the lower parts of the Earth into great sorrows and sufferings agonies and overwhelmings of his heart so as to the Death and Grave Dying the Death of the Cross the only accursed death Deut. 21.22 23. With Gal. 3.13 Being therein numbred with Transgressors yea and being dead he was taken down and laid in the Earth in the heart of the earth as we noted before Mat. 12.40 Making his Grave with the rich and with the wicked in his death Isa 53.9 Yea he was compassed about with the snares of death and the pangs of Hell caught hold upon him so as he found we and sorrow Psal 116.2 3. 18.4 5 6. A Worm and no Man a Man of sorrow and acquainted with griefs Yea his Soul went down into Hell in his great sufferings for our sakes as his not being left there implies Act. 2.27.31 So low was he brought and this was low indâ—ed lower not only then the Angels but also as to his abasement therein then other men and from such a casting down was he to be lift up Job 22.29 3 In respect of his esteem with and among men He was and so is still too low in Mens hearts in their thoughts and accounts of him and affections to him There he was very low in all his appearance in his Birth when they afforded him not room in the Inn. And in his Life when they that were his own received him not though he came to them in his Fathers name even in the name power and authority of God John 1.11 5.43 Doing such things as none else did and speaking such things as none else ever spake Yea they not only received him not but also rejected and despised him As it was fore-prophesied Isa 53.1 2 3. Who
I begotten thee And Sit thou on my right hand till I make thy foes thy foot-stool Heb. 1.5.13 Yea All the fullness of the God-head dwells in him bodily Col. 2.9 2. A State of greater Authority Power and Majesty For he is set above all Authorities Principalities Powers Thrones Might or Dominion yea and every name that is named not only in this World but in that which is to come Eph. 1.21 For He hath put all things under his feet And Given him to be Head over all things to his Church ver 22. The Head top or chief of all Principality and Power Col. 2.10 Not only Lord of Lords and King of Kings Gods first-born higher then the Kings of the Earth As Rev. 17.14 19.16 Psal 89.27 But he is also A great King above all Gods Psal 95.2 Angels and Principalities and Powers being made subject to him 1 Pet. 3.22 Lord of all Act. 10.36 Being made in the Nature of Man so much better higher and more glorious then the Angels at he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they being not only owned of God as his Son begotten by him from the dead to all this excelâ—ent glory dignity and majesty even to be set at his right hand on the Throne of Majesty in the highest Heb. 1.3 4 5 13. 8.1 But as set on Gods own Throne Rev. 3.21 So as it 's said to all other Potestates and Powers Let all the Angels of God Or as in Psal 97.7 Worship him all ye Gods And again to him it is said Thy Throne O God endureth for ever The Sceptre of thy Kingdom is a Sceptre of Righteousness or a right Sceptre Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity Therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows Above all other Gods Potentates or Powers among either Men or Angels And thou Lord Jehovah in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the work of thy hands they shall perish but thou remainest they shall all wax old as a Garment as a Vesture shalt thou change them Or fold them up And they shall be changed but thou endurest and thy years shall not fail Heb. 1.6 8 9 10 11 12. Yea the Angels are all Ministring Spirits to him commanded by him and with one consent proclaim him the excellent and worthy one Worthy to receive Power and Riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing Rev. 5.11.12 In a word All Authority and Power in Heaven and over the Earth is given unto him And all that the Father hath is his Even all the Authority Power and fullness of the Father and it pleases to dwell in him Mat. 28.18 John 16.14 15. Col. 1.19 2.9 So that it may well be said as the Prophet foresaw That He is exalted extolled and very high Higher then Moses then Adam or David as some Jewish Criticks observe from the letters of the word Translated very being made up of the initial letters of those three Names Yea and should they to Adam joyn Abraham too whose name begins with the same letter their observation might hold true Isa 52.13 And herein also he is lifted up and so it behoved that he should be that he should suffer such things as he did and so should enter into Glory Luk. 24.26 That he might exercise and discharge the most glorious Offices most useful for us and most honourable for himself for and concerning our welfare and happiness Such as wherein he answers to all the most excellent and honourable things and persons under the Law and among the Israel after thâ— flesh that was lifted up to any honourable and useful Office or Service as the Covenant of Circumcision the Sabbaoth Sacrifices Temple c. Of which I may say more elsewhere I shall here only mention such Offices as were estated upon and exercised by most honourable persons amongst them as 1. The Prophets were holy and honourable persons and the office of a Prophet a most excellent useful and honourable imployment they having intercourse and Power with God and receiving their message from him for directing the people into the knowledge of him and of his mind and will concerning them Whence that of God to Abimelech concerning Abraham Restore the man his wife For he is a Prophet and he shall pray for thee Gen. 20.7 And Do my Prophets no harm Psal â—05 15 The Son of Man was to be and is lifted up into that honour and office For this is he of whom it was said A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you from among your Brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Deut. 18.15 18. With Act. 3.22 23. The Great Prophet And The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy Rev. 19.10 The Great Light In his Testimony Word and Doctrine and the true Light lightning every man coming into the World Who came a Light into the World that whosoever believeth on and followeth him may not abide in darkness but see the Light of Life John 1.9 8.12 12.46 And so I might say also of the Apostles That they were highly honourable and useful as to their office and he is the Great Apostle of our Profession Heb. 3.1 2. The Priests were holy and honourable Persons under the Law in respect of their Office And the Priesthood a most honourable and useful Office for making attonement and Reconciliation for the People by offering gifts and Sacrifices for them to that purpose their lips keeping Knowledge also and teaching the People the Law And Christ the Son of Man was to be and is exalted to that Honour and Office to be the Priest the great High Priest after the order of Melchisedech As God did raise him up to be his Prophet and Apostle giving him that honour and glory that no man in Heaven or Earth or under the Earth was found worthy of even to open the book of Gods Counsels and unloose the Seals of it and unfold the Mysteries therein contained Rev. 5.2 3 6. So he gave him also the honour and Office of the Priest-hood For no man takes to himself that honour of the High Priest-hood but he that is called of God as Aaron was Wherefore Christ also glorified not himself to be made an High Priest but he that said to him Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Said also to him Thou art a Priest to me for ever after the Order of Melchisedec Yea the Lord sware and will not repent saying Thou art a Priest for ever c. Heb. 5.3 4 5. c. 3. Whereas some of the Prophets or Priests had other additional honours beside merely their being Prophets and Priests or the like Christ is lifted up in this his glory unto such honour also As to say 1. Whereas Moses was also a Deliverer of them by the Power of God out of
and despised knowledge brought to them by him to turn at his reproofs promising to pour out his Spirit to them and make known his words In which is implied that upon their turning he would forgive their former sleightings of him and sinnings against him which if they had not been to be forgiven and overlooked by him would have hindred them of such dispensations of his Grace and Spirit to them Prov. 1.22 23. As thence also the wicked are called upon to forsake their ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turn to the Lord and he will have mercy upon them and abundantly pardon them Isa 55.7 And Christ tells the unbelieving Jews that would not come to him that they might have life that he would not accuse them to his Father and that if any man heard his voice and believed not he judged them not now because he came not into the world to judge the world but to save the world John 5.40 45. 12.47 In which saying it 's evident that the world he came to save includes also the now unbelieving persons in it while it 's yet a day of Grace he is saving them Also by his Intercession for transgressours as the Propitiation for the sins of the whole world and by renewed dispensations of patience forbearance and further grace to them as appears 1 John 2.1 2. Isa 53.12 Luke 13.8 Yea he prayed for such as actually abused and crucified him and in the repenting of such afterward he actually pardoned and forgave them Luke 23.34 with Acts 2.37 38 39. 3.19 20. 2. As Moses lifted up the Serpent that whosoever were stung with the fiery Serpents might have advantage and opportunity there-through to look upon it he declaring and informing them that it was set up as a means of healing and that it was Gods mind for giving healing by it that they look up to it and that it would not give forth any healing-virtue to them if not beheld by them yea probably if not beheld till they were healed if they turn'd their eye from it before its virtue had its force in and upon them though the Serpent was the same whether beheld or not beheld Even so is and must the Son of Man be lifted up that men may have an advantage and opportunity of beholding him he being not to be beheld if not lifted up How can they believe on him of whom they have not heard And how can they hear without a Preacher Or how can they preach except they be sent For Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10.14 17. Which makes it needful that they that know him and are commissionated of God as every one that hears hath commission to say to others Come Rev. 22.17 do hold him forth commend and magnifie him to men It 's true that the Apostle there in Rom. 10.18 propounding that question Have they not all heard answers Yes doubtless their voice is gone into all the world and their words to the ends of the earth Alluding to Psal 19.2 3 4. Where the Holy Ghost speaks of the Heavens declaring the glory of God and the firmament shewing his handy-work And so of Gods Works and Providences setting him forth and uttering knowledge as elsewhere it 's said All his works shall praise him To which also they are often called upon Psal 145.8 9. 148. 150. And the Lord they commend and praise is doubtless the same of and to whom he saith Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the heavens are the works of thine hands c. Psal 102.25 Which the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews applies to the Lord Jesus the Son of Man by whom the Lord hath spoken to us in these last days and by whom he made the worlds Heb. 1.1 2 10 11. And surely whosoever beholds him as there lifted up and praised so as to betake themselves to him for help they do and shall find mercy with him Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved In every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him Rom. 10.12 Acts 10.34 They that by nature or without verbal or vocal instruction do the things contained in the Law that love God and their neighbour though uncircumcised or not under the outward Regiment of Gods Kingdom and Ordinances their uncircumcision shall be accounted circumcision that is they shall be accepted and accounted of as Gods Church Rom. 2.25 26. And of those that by such means also are won in to God I understand in part what our Saviour saith That many shall come from the East and from the West even such as are not the children of the Kingdom and born under the distinct knowledge and Ordinances of God as the opposition to them in the following words do manifest wherein he adds and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac in the Kingdom of God when the children of the Kingdom such as are born and brought up in the professed Church and so are professedly under Gods Government or Ordinances shall be cast out Matth. 8.12 But I say notwithstanding whatever of this nature may be true however God in his lifting him up in his Providences and Works and the manifestations of him implicitely therein may do for the rendring him visible to men that they may behold him look to him and be saved by him Yet it concerns us as our duty and is that which God requires of us that we so lift up Christ in our distinct Preaching of him to men that men through our ministration may behold him in the distinct express declaration of him and be saved from their errours ignorances and iniquities which while they by their wisdom know him not in the wisdom of God as manifested in his works and providences they run into As to that purpose and for that cause it hath pleased God to appoint the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 It was not another light John bare witness to then that which enlighteneth every man coming into the world and that shined in the darkness before he bare witness to it It was not made another in or by his witness only more plainly declared and pointed to It was the same that was in the world though the world knew him not that came to his own and by his own was not received which whosoever received whether of the world or of his own were made the sons of God It was the same Word which was in the beginning with God that in due time was made flesh to bring us through his Sufferings in the flesh unto God in whom was the life and from whom the light came that always shined and in all the world But God to help men to discern him whom otherwise in his wisdom or more wise way to the view of the world as the way of his Creation and Providence is they usually overlook and
be justified by the Law of Moses and all its sacrifices yea so as to justifie all from that first Sentence of Condemnation so as they shall none of them perish therein but be all raised up again there-from The Free gift herethrough abounding to all men to the justification of life Rom. 3.22 23 24. 5.18 1 Tim. 2.6 1 Cor. 15.21 22. This honour God put upon none else Man or Angel to call them forth to that Judgment to satifie for and redeem any man from death and destruction But he hath so magnified his Son as to look upon him as sufficient to be the propitiation for the sins of the whole World If it be a magnifying a man as Job saith to take pains with him in visiting him every morning and trying him every moment that he might purifie and purge him from sin and render him fit for fellowship with him Job 7.17 18. Surely then it was much more a magnifying the Son of Man and a greater account made of him to take him as an offering and oblation a ransome and expiation for the sins of the whole World so as upon that account to uphold and spare the whole World during the day of his grace and patience and to justifie and save for ever all that come to God and abide with him in and through him 3. In his raising him up from the Dead which was an eminent Act of the exaltation and lifting up of his Person A lifting him up from the gates of Death that he might shew forth his praises in the gates of the Daughters of Sion As is said Psal 9.13 And of this raising him up from the Dead may that be understood prophetically that is written in Psal 30.1 2. Where this Phrase is used of lifting up I will extol thee O Lord for thou hast lifted me up and hast not made my foes to rejoyce over me Comparing it with ver 3. Where he saith O Lord thou hast brought up my Soul from the Grave Thou hast kept me alive that I should not go down to the pit Or rather as the Hebrew Word more properly signifies and as Symmachus reads it thou hast quickned me or made me alive again from my going down into the pit Or as some read it from them that go down into the pit in which he also was mightily declared to be the Son of God with power Rom. 1.3 4. 4. Most fully in his exalting him at his right hand in his Ascention and taking him up into his own Glory that 's called an exalting or lifting him up Act. 5.31 For it 's the same Word that is here Translated lifted up Him hath God exalted or lifted up with his right hand a Prince and Saviour to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins This was most evidently and fully a glorifying of him according to what himself also said John 13.31 32. Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him If God be glorified in him God shall also glorifie him in himself and shall straight way glorifie him Of this it 's said God raised him from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God 1 Pet. 1.21 A lifting him up indeed For herein he was lifted up 1. As to place both out of Grave and Hell and also out of and above the Earth into the heavenly places as in Ephes 1.20 21. He raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenlies or heavenly places for he is not entred into the holy places made with hands into which the High Priests under the Law used once a year to enter but into Heaven it self Heb. 9.24 To which agrees 1 Pet. 3.22 He is gone up into Heaven Yea far above all Heavens All these visible and perceptible heavens or what are known to us Ephes 4.10 Into Heaven it self and far above all Heavens As opposed to the Earth from which he Ascended and went and where other high Priests used to Minister Heb. 8.4 Unto which Earth he shall descend again from Heaven when he comes again to Judge the World in righteousness Act. 1.11 1 Thes 4.15 16. As he was not in the Grave when he was risen So being now in Heaven he is not upon the Earth in respect of that body and personal Being in which he Ascended and went up to Heaven He was taken up into Heaven So as he truly said I am no more in the World but I come to thee John 17.11 And I leave the World and go to the Father John 16.28 And me ye have not always Namely present with you in body in such a manner as he said The poor ye have always with you Matt. 26.11 2. In respect of state He is lifted up and exalted to dignity and honour into a more excellent and glorious condition then either he himself was in here among men or then other either Man or Angel is in A State 1. Of greater felicity then ever any other man or Angel was or is in his Body which was here subject to many infirmities and weaknesses in the similitude of sinfull flesh capable of being put to pain and smart and sensible of troubles and injuries yea actually abased dishonoured and made vile is now glorified and become glorious A body of glory as it s called in the Greek Phil. 3.20 And such is its Glory that in its appearance from Heaven to St Paul the glory shining from it was in brightness far surpassing the glory of the Sun at mid-day Act. 9.3 22.6 26.13 Compared with ver 16. And Chap. 22.14 With 1 Cor. 9.1 15.8 Yea the glory of its shining to him struck him blind so as that he could not see so as the glory of the Sun in its greatest brightness will not at least on such a sodain at any time do Act. 22.11 And as for his person he is so in the presence of God and so immediately beholds his face and is filled with his favour and glory that he is in that fullness of joy that is therein and of the pleasures that are there for evermore The hope and assurance of which exceedingly animated and incouraged him in his sufferings and unto them so as to endure the Cross and despise the Shame as appears comparing Heb. 12.2 With Psal 16.8 9 10 11. Which the Apostle Peter applies to Christ as Prophetically fore-seen and spoken of him Act. 2.25 This excellent and most happy State was the Son of Man to be lifted up into and accordingly into it he is lifted up and exalted Being glorified with Gods own self with the glory he had with him before the World was John 17.5 The Son of Man or Christ in the Nature of Man being taken or received up into glory 1 Tim. 3.16 So owned of God as no other either Man or Angel So favoured as to have it said to him so as to none of the Angels Thou art my Son this day have
upon which they Ascend and Descend John 1.51 Rev. 19.10 And so we find the Angel Gabriel lifting up and commending the Messiah in his work and business Dan. 9.24 27. where he speaks both of the cutting off the Messiah and of the fruits and consequents thereof as the finishing transgression making an end of Sin making reconciliation for iniquity bringing in everlasting Righteousness c. The Angel Gabriel also brought down an honourable Testimony of him in which he lifted him up in Luk. 1.26.31 32 33. Where he said to the Virgin concerning him That He should be great and be called the Son of the highest and the Lord God should give him the Throne of his Father David and he shall Reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end c. As also an Angel lifted him up to the Shepheards at his Birth Saying to them Fear not for I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people For unto you You men in distinction from us Angels is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Luk. 2.10 11. Yea A multitude of the heavenly Host then also immediately being with that Angel honoured and lifted him up at his Birth Praising God and saying Glory to God on the highest and on Earth peace and good will toward men Luk. 2.13 Angels also witnessed to his Resurrection Mat. 28.2 5 6 7. Luk. 24.4 5 6 7 23. And to his Ascending up to Heaven and return from thence Act. 1.10 11. Yea and of his Glory there received as is evident in those Doxologies or Glorifyings of him mentioned Rev. 5.11 12. 7.11 12. Worthy is the Lamb that was stain to receive Power Riches Wisdom Strength Honour Glory and Blessing 2. I might add also That all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth and such are in the Seas do exalt and lift him up for so John tells us he heard them all saying Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth on the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever Rev. 5.13 But I only briefly mention those and come to those Creatures that are most concerned in him and his praises even our selves Men. And so he hath been is and must be lifted up By 3. Holy men his holy Apostles and Prophets as also by all his Messengers Servants and Saints even his whole Church through the helpfulness and by the power and strength of the holy Ghost as instruments in his hands And so he was lifted up and exalted 1. By the holy Prophets which were before his coming For To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name all that believe in him shall receive the forgiveness of sins Act. 10.43 And the Apostle Peter speaking again of the Death Resurrection and Exaltation of Christ tells us That all the Prophets from Samuel and those that followed spoke of those days Aâ—â— 3.24 Namely those in which those things were done and accomplished And that they Prophesied of the grace brought now unto us 1 Pet. 1.10 Whence also the Apostle Paul saith That he testified to small and great saying no other things then those which Moses and the Prophets did say should come to pass Viz. That Christ should suffer and be the first that should rise from the Dead and shew Light to the Gentiles and to the People Act. 26.22 23. 2. By John the Baptist who was the immediate forerunner of Christ a Prophet and more then a Prophet Being the Man sent of God to bear witness to Christ the Light That messenger sent before his face to prepare the way for him And his work and business was in bearing Witness of him to exalt and lift him up that all men through him might believe And he did highly lift him up and bare an honourable testimony of him as that he was before John and he himself not worthy to unloose the latchet of his Shoes That He is the Christ the true Light the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World the Baptizer with the holy Ghost the Bride-groom that hath the Bride c. John 1.6 7 8 9 15. 3. By the holy Apostles also whose office and business it was to be witnesses to him John 15.27 And to Preach and proclaim him so as to set him forth lift him up exalt and magnifie him in and unto all things And they by the holy Spirit and the holy Spirit in an by them and their Ministry according to the Doctrine of the Prophets fore-given forth by the holy Spirit concerning him Rom. 1.1 2 3 have highly extolled and lifted him up Preaching him 1. As to his person The Son of God Even the same that according to the Spirit and Divine Nature was in the beginning with God and God He by whom and for whom all things were made whether in Heaven or Earth visible or invisible Thrones Dominions Principallities or Powers all things were Created by him and for him and that by him all things consist he being before them That he is the Heir of all things the express character of the Fathers Person and the brightness of his glory The Wonderful the Councellor the Mighty or great God and our Saviour The Immanuel God with us John 1.1 2 3. Col. 1.15 16 17. Heb. 1.2 3. 1 Tim. 3.16 Tit. 2.13 Isa 9.6 That he is the Christ the Messiah He that was prophesied before of and promised by all the Prophets of God from the beginning of the World The only excellent person designed of God and promised from the beginning to be the Author Procurer and Dispenser of all grace and blessing to us John 1.41 45. Mat. 1.21 22 23. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. The very Christ Act. 9.20 22. He that was in the form of God not thinking Robbery to be equal with God but was sent of God in the nature and fashion of a man to be the Saviour of the world Phil. 2.6 7. John 3.17 Gal. 4.4 5. 1 John 4.14 2. As to his work and business that it was totally for us and our good a work of exceeding advantage to us and necessity for us Not to Condemn the World but that the World might be saved by him John 3.17 Not to judge the World but to save it John 12.4 7. And that by taking away its Sin John 1.29 And that by the Sacrifice of himself Heb. 1.3 9.26 Giving his flesh for the life of the World John 6.51 And so that he might by his death destroy him who had the power of Death the Devil and deliver those who by reason of the fear of Death were all their life-time subject to Bondage Heb. 2.14 15. That he might abolish or evacuate the destructive power and force of Death and bring life and Immortality to light 2 Tim. 1.10 Taking away Sin and destroying the works of the Devil 1 John 3.5 8. That so he might bring us to God 1
the great thing that the Gospel-Believers and Obeyers have to do is to hold fast what they have and go on in the way that they are in till Christ come As is said Rev. 2.24 25. Infer 3. And surely since the Doctrine that lifts up Christ is so excellent a Doctrine and is of so great usefulness to Men where it comes and of such blessed an advantage to those that receive it it most be a choice priviledge and an high honour for any to be betrusted with and employed of God in this Doctrine to be acquainted with the contents of it and to have it committed to them and they furnished to declare and preach it and to be the servants of God and Christ therein for they are betrusted with exceeding great riches and precious treasures as the Apostle saith We have this treasure in earthen Vessels 2 Cor. 4.7 It 's a treasure they are betrusted with the choice commodities of Heaven are put into their hands to dispense in subordination to Christ therefore the Apostle mentions it as a great grace bestowed upon him to be an Apostle We have received grace and Apostleshâ—p by Jesus Christ Rom. 1.5 And to me who am less than the least of all Saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ Eph. 3.8 See how he valued and highly esteemed this favour of Christ also in 1 Tim. 1.13 14. Where speaking of the glorious Gospel of the blessed God committed to his trust he adds And I thank Christ Jesus my Lord for that he hath inabled me and counted me faithful putting me into the Ministry an high favour especially to be conferred on worthless persons who have deserved the quite contrary as there he adds of himself whither we respect 1. God and Christ who betrust and imploy them in it It s an high favour to be Gods and Christs Banner-bearers Stewards Ministers Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 His Embassadors sent and employed by him in his choice Messages even to treat with the World about their making peace with Heaven and to wooe and take a Spouse and People for Christ out of the World to be united with him and live with him in joy and happiness for ever 2 Cor. â— 18 19 20. An honourable employment an office worthy to be magnified Rom. 11.13 Or 2. Men in respect of them they are betrusted with their choice commodities which God hath prepared for and gives forth to them they are in a fort betrusted with their Souls to seek them in the name of the Lord and to be instruments of the greatest good to them even salvation and life everlasting to watch for them and wooe them for their utmost happiness and thence they are in a subordinate sense to Christ called Saviours Obad. 16. Yea they have their choice riches and jewels in their hands or Ministry to dispense to them for their inriching the choice medicine of Gods own providing for them to administer to them They are in the name and stead of Christ in and to the World in respect of Ministration and have his glory and power given unto them in his name unto men to open the eyes of the blind and to turn them from darkness unto light and from the power of Sathan unto God that they may receive remission of sins and inheritance among the sanctified by the faith which is in him Joh. 17.22 Act. 26.18 with Isa 42.6 7. Indeed these things agree principally to the Apostles but they also reach to others as they share in and take part of the same ministry which is one and the same committed in whole to the Apostles and in parts and parcels to the succeeding Ministers of this Gospel-doctrine So as they are all in their measure the Apostles more immediately and fully others more mediately and as deriving by them Gods instruments for converting regenerating or begetting Children unto God yea and of bringing them forth and nursing them up with his Heavenly Doctrine Yea and with respect to 3. Both God and men they are as Angels ascending and descending upon the Ladder that reacheth from earth to Heaven namely the Son of Man the Mediatour of God and Man Gen. 28.12 13. with Joh. 1.52 1 Tim. 2.5 through and upon him they have access to God to behold his face see his glory with open face as in a Glass hear his voice be acquainted with his secrets decrees and purposes his will and mind concerning men and to receive commissions and commands messages and errands from him to them a very high favour and priviledge Yea they are and have liberty in their minds and spirits to dwell in Heaven and converse therewith And then they are messengers from God to men upon the same Ladder to bring down and impart his mind words and commandments to them and take care as tutelary Angels of them that no harm befall them who will be guided by them in what they say from God and Christ to them Rev. 1.20 An high honour in each respect it is sure and in its place far greater then to be Kings and Princes in the world though not as to the commanding obedience in their own name or requiring worldly respect and worship to be given them for in that respect they are to be as servants to all as Christ the great Prophet Apostle Gospel-preacher and Angel of God was but their honour and dignity is meerly heavenly and divine in things pertaining to God and to the souls of men except only for order and decency among men in which yet they are servants to God and are not to defire to share in his honour and glory from men with him but only to seek the honour of him that sends them Joh. 7.16 and yet in respect to 4. Themselves they want neither honour comfort or safety herein desirable by them For 1. As for honour its honour enough that they are Gods servants in so high and excellent employment and that he is not nor will be honoured with disrespect to them if faithful to him they that honour God and receive his word by them do also necessarily honour them as conveyors of it to them and for their works sake highly respect them as our Saviour saith If any Man will serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be that is where he is received entertained and honoured there is his servant for his and his message sake also If any Man serve me him will my Father honour Joh. 12.26 2. As for comfort they have it in the very matter of their employment the Doctrine committed to them and delivered by them that affords them with others the comforts of Heaven it being tidings of great joy to all people and they preach nothing to the world of that nature but what they have and may have a share with them in like the Oxe that trod out the Corn they
Peoples injuries and be sensible of their miseries He that toucheth them toucheth the apple patient bearing Injuries and Evils and going through with his Work so as nothing turned him back Isa 50.5 6. Heb. 12.2 Temperance for the Honours and Preferments Riches and Pleasures of this World could not move him from his course neither when Satan bad for his Service the Kingdoms of the World and their Glory Mat. 4.8 9. Nor when the people would have made him a King John 6.15 Prudence for its fore-testified of him by his Father Behold my Servant shall deal prudently Isa 52.13 And he is the Spring of all these Excellencies to all that listen to and obey his Doctrine giving them to know and understand all things Prov. 28.5 1 John 2.20 27. And to discern the things that differ and approve the things that are excellent Rev. 3.18 Phil. 3.10 11. Makes them to remember him and in him God and his Goodness and what he sees good for them by his Spirit bringing all things to their remembrance John 14.26 Cant. 1.4 Gifts them severally as he pleases with Knowledg Invention and Finding out of Secrets Prov. 1.2 3 4. Renews the Affections to love good and hate evil and in a word through the discoveries of his Glory he changes them into his own Image making them a new man indued with all manly Qualities and Virtues Righteousness Fortitude or Courage in induring Adversities and going on in his ways with all Perseverance Temperance in denying their Lusts and Appetites and living Soberly and Righteously in this present world and prudence in walking wisely yea in all wisdom to all well pleasing 2 Cor. 3.18 Ephes 2.6 and 4.15 16 21 22 23. Col. 1.9 10 11. and 3.10 Tit. 2.11 12. As may be seen in his Worthies who through the Faith of him have loved and wrought Righteousness so as for the sake thereof to suffer and endure all things as may be seen in that Cloud of Witnesses Heb. 11. with 1 Sam. 18.30 Gen. 39 1 2 8 9 21 22 23. Dan. 1.8 9.12.17 and 6.4 5. c. Yea 3. He had not only even in his mortal state too the perfections of the first Man as to matter of Virtue and Integrity of mind but also in that state he managed them far better then the first Adam did For Adam though in a Garden of delight or Paradise free from Infirmities in himself or trouble from without him having the abundance of all Delights or Mercies before his Eyes every one of which might have minded him of Gods Goodness and the good reason he had to love and cleave to him yet merely by the Temptation of a Creature fell from his Obedience at the first on-set Evah by the temptation of the Serpent and Adam by her suggestion But Christ who though in the state before his Incarnation was higher then the first Adam being the Lord in Heaven the Image of the Invisible God and so owned by the Angels as the Lord at his coming into the World before which he also lived with his Father in the height of Glory and Happiness Phil. 2.6 yet now in his Incarnate state had emptied himself of all that for us yet in this State though made in the similitude of sinful Flesh and compassed about with Temptations among Men and Devils though led into a Wilderness where he eat nothing for forty days and forty nights among no pleasant Fruit-trees or Objects of such Content and Delight but among wild Beasts tempted by Satan resisted him all along in manifold assaults and got the Victory over him and kept his Integrity Yea though all his life after he was set upon with diversity of Enemies and Assaults and met with nothing in the world in a manner but Trials and Griefs the worst Rejections Reproaches and Sufferings Yea though tempted both of Men and of Devils and tried to the uttermost by his Father yet held fast his Integrity and was obedient to the Death the Death of the Cross indeed for our sakes though as Innocent in himself as and more perfect in his conforming himself to Gods Will then Adam yet he was not here in the form of the first Adam while Innocent as to his outward man and state He was not so free from Mortality and Infirmity for he was tempted in all points even as we with Hunger Thirst Weariness Grief Torments c. nor had such power in the world over the Creatures as to his visible Form but was in the Form of a Poor-man and a Servant who had not whereon to lay his head Yea he was in all the state of the fallen man made sin and under the Law and bare our Curse in which he shewed forth the exceeding greatness of his Love and Obedience to his Father and Charity to us men Virtues far transcending all that was found in the first Adams acting though made good and upright Yet through Death having satisfied Gods Justice and pacified his Wrath for us overcome Death spoiled Principalities and Powers risen a Conquerour and gone up to the Right-hand of God As he was before much Higher then the first Man being the Lord in Heaven 1 Cor. 15.45.50 So now also he hath restored the Nature of man in himself from under all the Miseries that the first Adams sin occasioned to it and to him in it and hath Exalted it and is Exalted in it to far higher Happiness and so we find in him both as in himself before and as Man now 4. All the perfections of man that he first laid aside in his first appearance for us to suffer in the Flesh Yea all and greater then all Adam had in all the Honour God put upon him and the Provisions he made for him in his Innocent state For as he made himself of exceeding rich through his great charity and grace to us poor that through his poverty we might be made rich so to that end that he might inrich us He is become in the manhood far richer then the first Adam was for the Father loves the Son and hath given all things into his hands Joh. 3.35 So as all that the Father hath is his Joh. 16.15 and he is Lord of all Act. 10.36 He that was in the form of God made himself in the form of a Servant and in the habit of a Man even of an ordinary man for our sake having neither outward form or beauty when we see him that we should desire him nor Authority and Power to command any man but such as voluntarily became his Disciples but now the Sun is not so glorious much less was the body of Adam in his innocency as his body being glorified is Act. 26.13 Philip. 3.21 Nor is there any Authority beside comparable with his Adam indeed had Dominion over Gods works that are visible in Earth and Sea but all Authority both in heaven and earth is now given to him and he doth exercise it over them Adam knew how to call all the names
they might none of them ascend upon the Cherubims and sit down upon the Throne of God no it would have been high Arrogance and Luciferian pride and presumption to have assumed that place which was proper and peculiar to God alone The Priests or high Priests under the Law might not fit at all in the Temple but always stood and Ministred Heb. 10.11 much less on that Seat of God Only the Antichrist under the Gospel-times the man of sin presumes to seâ— himself in the Temple of God and likes to be worshipped as if he were God and exalts hâ—mself above all that is called God or that is worshipped He only of all that we read of dares to assume that Power and Place 2 Thes 2.4 A Wickedness the worst of the High-priests under the Law durst not presume to commit for this Place was reserved peculiarly to Christ Gods High-Priest Who having offered one Sacrifice once for all is set down on the Right-hand of God or of Power even on the Throne of Majesty in the highest Heb. 10.12 13. 1.3 8.1 12.2 The Father fully possessing him and putting on him all his own Power and Glory so as he the Father Judgeth no man but hath committed all Judgment to him the Son that all men might honour the Son even as they honour the Father that hath sent him John 5.22 23. So as That he that believeth on the Son believeth not on him but on him that sent him and he that seeth him seeth him that sent him John 12.44 45. And so we have an Object to worship even the same to whom all the Gods or Angels of God are commanded to do honour Worship him all ye Gods Psal 97.7 Heb. 1.6 Him we may Worship without Idolatry against God nay it 's rebellion against God and a refusing to Worship God not to Worship him for God is in him and he is God And therefore 1. We are Baptized into his Name and therein stand ingaged to Believe Depend on and Worship him yea the Father Son and Holy Ghost have but one and the same Name Mat. 28.19 And are one 1 John 5.7 2. The Apostles therefore joyn the Lord Jesus Christ with the Father in saluting the Churches Grace and Peace or Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and to him also together with the Father and the holy Spirit they commend them 2 Cor. 1.2 and 13.14 2 Tim. 1.2 and 4.22 And well they may For First The Father and all his fulness is in him Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in me saith he to Philip John 14.9 10. The Wisdom Holiness Grace and Glory yea and all the Power of the Father is in and on him And therefore also Secondly The Works of God are attributed to him As the Father raiseth up the Dead and quickneth whom he will so the Son quickneth whom he will And as the Father hath Life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have Life in himself and he hath given him Authority to execute Judgment also because he is the Son of man John 5.21.26 27. Yea he is the Creator and Maker of all things in Heaven and Earth Visible and Invisible Col. 1.16 And the Upholder of all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1.3 For he is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1.17 Is God the Repairer and Redeemer of his Creature He is so by Christ the great Repairer of the Breaches and Restorer of the Paths to dwell in the Ransome and Redeemer from Sin Death Hell Devil and Destruction 1 Tim. 2.6 Tit. 2.14 Gal. 1.4 and 3.13 and 4.4 5. The Father worketh hitherto in the works of Providence and he worketh also John 5.17 Yea what is said of Jehovah the Lord in that respect in Psal 146 6 10. is applicable to him as was above noted For he feeds the hungry with himself The Bread that he gives being bis flesh which he hath given for the Life of the World As he opened the eyes of the bodily Blind in the days of his flesh so he Preacheth the opening of the eyes to them that are spiritually blind Luke 4 18 19 And the Opening of the Prison to those that are bound raiseth up the bowed in Spirit loveth his Disciples as the Father loveth him John 15 9 Receiveth and Preserveth them that were Strangers to the Commonwealth of Israel and makes them fellow Citizens with the Saints Yea What things the Father doth the same doth the Son likewise John 5.19 Yea Thirdly He is what ever God is He and the Father is one one thing John 10.30 And he hath all that the Father hath For the Father loves the Son and hath given all things into his hands John 16.15 Fourthly The attributes of God are ascribed to him as Eternity He is that Eternal life that was with the Father and is manifested unto us 1 John 1.1 2. And he in the beginning laid the foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the Works of his hands and when they perish yet he endures and his Years fail not nor have an end Immutability for he is the same and alters not yesterday and to day and the same for ever Heb. 1.10 11 12. and 13.7 Omnipotency for he upholds all things by the word of his Power Heb 1.3 The Alpha and the Omega the first and the last he that was and is and is to come the Almighty Rev. 1.8 Omnisciency Now know we that thou knowest all things and needest not that any man ask thee any thing c. John 16.30 He knew all men and needed not that any man should testifie of what is in man for he knew what is in man John 2.24 25. All things are naked and opened unto him with whom we have to do Heb. 4.12 13 Ubiquity or Omnipresence Where two or three are met together in my Name there am I in the midst of them Mat. 18.20 Yea Is God the Law-giver So is he Isa 42 4. The Isles shall wait for his Law Is God the Judg So is he Judg of Quick and Dead Acts 10.42 Is God the King So is he King of all the Earth Psal 47.2 3. Yea he is All and in all in the New Creature Col. 3.11 Again as for Spirit to Enlighten Quicken and Inable us to Worship acceptably The holy Spirit in the fulness thereof dwells in and rests upon him The Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding the Spirit of Counsel and of Might the Spirit of Knowledg and of the Fear of the Lord Isa 11.2 And with him and by him he Inlightens Quickens Teaches and so fits for Worshipping God creates a clean Heart renews a right Spirit raises from spiritual death to spiritual life and so to Worship and serve God in the Spirit which Service he makes acceptable and he by that Spirit will raise the Body from the Dead and fashion it into the likeness of his
in and dallied with Is there any thing of so great danger to us as to dye of those wounds and to fall into everlasting misery and perdition and therefore is there any thing more seriously to be looked after then that we may escape it Would not men with the whole heart fly from the biting of Serpents or the devouring teeth of Lyons or Fire and Brimstone from Heaven as Lot did or the Earths opening its mouth as the People of Israel did when it swallowed up Dathan and Abiram Oh how should these worse destructions of the Soul be much more heartily fled from Would we be in earnest or dally and trifle when labouring of the Gout or Stone or Strangury we look out for deliverance from them And shall we not much more seriously look for deliverance from Hell and destruction eternal wrath and everlasting burnings which are infinitely worse and not to be avoided but by looking diligently that we fail not of Gods grace Heb. 12.15 2. The fitting us for any or all acceptable service to God and profit to men we cannot serve him acceptably please him and profit others till looking to Jesus we receive grace and fitness And is it nothing to please God Seeing thence also flows 3. The attaining to that perfectly healthy state of Soul and Body too in the Resurrection in which we shall have the greatest and fullest happiness and that for ever Fulness of joy in Gods presence and pleasures at his right hand for evermore Psal 16.11 Will men trifle in seeking health and life much more in offers made of Crowns and Kingdomes with all the confluence of riches honours and delights therein I trow not and if they that strive for Masteries that they might get corruptible Crowns wreaths of honour much more Crowns of Gold and Kingdomes would be temperate in all things and endure all kind of hardships and labours for them how much more ought we to be diligent and do and endure all things for an incorruptible Crown of such infinite worth and value 1 Cor. 9.25 26 27. I read of Socrates Aul. Gell. Noct. Attic. lib. 2. cap. 1. a Heathen Philosopher that he would endure to stand a whole Day and Night together in a fixed posture looking up to Heaven without so much as moving his foot or winking with his eye though yet he had no such sight before him as the Gospel discovers to us Oh that we may not be so effeminate and impatient of trouble and labour as to let every or any thing divert or turn us away from looking unto and upon Christ crucified for us which leads to the last particular viz. Let us look to him 5. With patient continuance and perseverance for it s He that continueth looking into the perfect Law of Liberty and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work that is and shall be blessed in his doing Jam. 1.25 26. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways but the good man that continues so shall be satisfied from himself with what he drinks in namely from Christ Prov. 14.14 Joh. 4.14 They that draw back Gods Soul shall have no pleasure in them and so they draw back to Perdition but it s He that believes so as not to draw back that believes to the saving of the soul Heb. 10.38 39. Motive 4. I shall add to all this one other Motive to perswade to it viz. the reasonableness and smalness of the thing required to so great advantages it s but look up and be healed Numb 21.8 Look to me and be ye saved Isa 45.22 Hear and your Souls shall live Isa 55.3 Open thine eyes and thou shalt be satisfied with bread Prov. 20.3 May not that man be justly left to starve or pine for want of provisions that for opening his eyes and looking about him diligently might have enough to maintain him and will not and that man justly perish that in looking to Christ may be saved and refuses it We may apply to such as stick at this and turn from it what was said to Naaman by his Servants If the Prophet had bid thee do some great thing wouldst thou not have done it how much more when he saith wash and be clean 2 King 5.13 When he saith look up and live look to Christ and be saved CHAP. XXV Exhortation to lift up the Son of man with some Motives to it and Demonstration of the usefulness of it in several Cases and Directions in it Exhort 2 ANd seeing the Son of man must be lift up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness that whosoever believeth on him may not perish but have Eternal Life and this lifting up is required of men as Instruments in Gods and his Spirits hands as to the lifting him up by way of commending him and setting forth his vertues as hath been more largely opened let us considering diligently what hath been said in Explication hereof both in love to and compliance with God in his blessed appointment herein and in love to Jesus Christ this most precious one as being most worthy of all possible love and testimonies of it from us being in the Name of God the Author and Procurer of all good for us and Dispenser of it to us and in love to the Souls and Persons of our Neighbours and Brethren to whom our love is pleasing in the sight of God and Christ if duly testified by us Let us I say eyeing and looking stedfastly upon him and unto him for help and guidance strength and blessing herein make it our business to lift up and extol this Son of man with all our skill and power Knowing that Motive 1. Herein we shall do the will of God and therein also not darken and obscure but greatly commend and lift up God himself for this being his device and design the issue off-spring and product of his infinite Wisdom Holiness Grace and Goodness and He his only begotten Son in whom is all his delight and well pleasedness in lifting him up we extol his wisdom and holiness grace and goodness and in neglecting or dishonouring him or calling him Anathema we abrogate the grace and reject the wisdom and counsel of God give him the lye and most horribly dishonour him as if a God of no judgment or understanding He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that hath sent him Joh. 5.23 Who judgeth no man himself immediately but hath committed all judgment to the Son that all should honour him as they do the Father that sent him And surely if we shew our selves so unkind to God and Christ if we be so opposite to his Grand Design and undertaking we must needs fall under the heat and weight of his indignation and there will be no escaping it But in lifting him up and honouring him if we do it in deed and in truth with our hearts as well us with our lips we please God and have fellowship with him as
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