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 1.7 8. 2 Tim. 4.1 Secondly For expressions about the Text. In the verse before the Son of Man is said to be He that Descended and came down from Heaven and
Ascended up into Heaven and is in Heaven But none hath done so and is so but Jesus Christ Yea and in the very next verse it appears that He who is here called the Son of Man is there called The only begotten Son of God For whereas it is here said That the Son of Man must be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him might not perish but have eternal life It follows in the next verse as the reason hereof 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 Now certain it is That God hath not designed two distinct objects of Faith or two distinct Saviours to be believed on and to be the givers of Eternal life but only one and that is his Son our Lord Jesus Christ there being Salvation in no other nor any other name given under Heaven whereby we must be saved Act. 4.11 12. They are then the same the Son of Man And the only begotten Son of God The only begotten Son of God therefore is the Son of Man that 's the Person here meant of and called so 2. But then the reason why he is called or rather calls himself so is worthy to be inquired into and considered For we do not find the Evangelists or Apostles any where so to call him when they speak of him but they usually call him Jesus or Jesus of Nazareth Mark 10.47 16.6 Luk. 24.19 Act. 2.22 Or the Lord Jesus Luk. 24.3 Act. 1.21 4.33 Or simply the Lord. Luk. 7.31 11.39 Or Jesus Christ Mat. 1.18 Mark 1.1 John 1.17 Or Jesus which is called the Christ Mat. 1.16 Or Christ the Son of the living God Mat. 16.16 Or The Lord Jesus Christ Acts 15.11 26. But he often and usually speaking of himself calls himself the Son of Man as is easie to observe in reading the Evangelists Now the reason of this may be manifold as Reason 1. That he calls himself the Son of Man might be to shew us and set us an example of his Humility and to instruct us how to withstand and be kept free from temptations to pride and high-mindedness to which Sathan is ready to tempt us from the consideration of any priviledges or more excellent endowments bestowed upon us It is an evident thing that we are very prone to lift up our selves in the view or conceit of any thing almost either inward or outward wherein we differ from so as to appear better therein then others If it be but a better suite of Apparel or Hair or Stature or Beauty or Strength or Estate or Birth we are apt to know our selves by them and to think so much the goodlier of our selves and carry our selves above or loftily towards others that are or appear inferiour to us in such things how much more if we be more honoured or honourable be in greater office or place among men have better gifts or parts Yea the very works of righteousness wrought by us or the Revelations of Mysteries and great things to us reflected on by us are apt to puff us up as is implyed both in the pride of the Pharisees trusting in themselves that they were righteous and despising others Luk. 18.9 And that admonition given to the believing Gentiles Not to be high-minded but fear When they consider Gods goodness to them and their better state then that of the unbelieving and in part rejected Jews Rom. 11.21 22. and by what the Apostle saith of himself viz. Least through the abundance of Revelations given him he should be exalted above measure there was given him a thorn in the Flesh c. 2 Cor. 12.3 Now as God out of faithfulness to and care of the Prophet Ezekiel to prevent his being lifted up when he had seen the Visions of the glory of God the God of Israel Chap. 1. 3. 8. 10. c And the Visions of the re-edification of the Church and Temple of God and of the New Jerusalem alwaies I think in his speaking to him calls him Son of Man as is to be seen in Chap. 2.1 3 6 8 3 1 3 4 10 17 25. c. Yea it s used in that Prophecy in Gods speaking to that Prophet at least ninety times whereas its never used to any of the Prophets else except once to Daniel who also had diverse great Visions of things to come shewed to him Dan. 8.17 Even as for the like cause or reason namely to prevent his being exalted above measure through the abundance of the Revelations given him he gave the Apostle Paul a thorn in the flesh a messenger of Satan to buffet him 2 Cor. 12. â— 8. That title the Son of Man having in it a signification of an earthy and low extract and used often by way of abasing and diminishing persons to whom it is applied As Job 25.6 Man that is a Worm and the Son of Man that is a Worm And in Isa 51.12 The Son of Man that shall be made as grass So also our Lord Jesus who was in the nature of Man taken up into and priviledged with the highest honour and excellency of State that ever man was far above all the Prophets Priests and Princes of the Earth being as none of them were taken into unity of Person with the Eternal Word and therein made the Son of God the only begotten Son the chosen and appointed one of God to be the Saviour of the World the Saviour of sinners from Sin and from the power of Death and Devil as none ever else was or could be Yea and being indued with such power and authority to do great Miracles and Wonders and doing them also such as never any before him did Yea both so speaking and speaking such things Joh. 7.46 15.22 and doing such works and therein being of that wonderful benefit and advantage to the World as never any beside mighty occasions for Sathan to find matter for tempting to pride and high-mindedness and to carry himself loftily above all others He to shew his humility and lowliness of mind and heart in the greatness of his honour and these manifold occasions of temptation to high-mindedness stiles himself as God stiled that Prophet to keep him low and humble as the greatness of Christs humility was also shewed in his being so the Son of Man Not that Christ had as man that corruption of Nature in him as Ezekiel Daniel and other holy men had that he should need to use such expressions to keep down that corruption from working in him as they and we need to have it kept down and mortified For he knew no sin though he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh 2 Cor. 5.21 Rom. 8.3 He was the spotless Lamb in whom there was no blemish 1
of understanding and every way accomplished for his fulfilling the will of God in the exercise of the aforesaid Offices He is in Scripture called the Messiah Dan. 9.25 John 1.41 And which is the same by interpretation the Christ. Both those words the Messiah which is an Hebrew and the Christ which is a Greek word signifying in English The Anointed one And so what the Psalm hath The Lord and his Anointed Psal 2.2 The Apostles in Greek in Acts. 4.26 Calls The Lord and his Christ. And because the anointing was a consequent and declaration of Gods choice of such a person to be King or Priest or Prophet therefore the Rulers of the Jews add as an Epethite to the Christ The chosen one of God Luk. 23.35 And all this honour and office was to be put upon him of necessity That he this Son of Man might be Gods Salvation to the ends of the Earth Isa 42.1 6. 49.6 The Saviour of the world John 4.42 The Saviour of all men but especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4.10 Not only or not so much from temporal and bodily evils and bondages as from Spiritual and Eternal from Sins Matt. 1.21 And from the Wrath of God and curse of the Law and power of Sathan Gal. 3.13 1 Thes 1.10 Heb. 2.14 1 John 3.5 8. As afterward may be more fully considered when we if God grant us to come at it consider the end of this his Exaltation As also That in all this God might be glorified As it is said God hath given him a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee might bowe of things in Heaven and things on Earth and things under the Earth and that every tongue might confess that he is the Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2.10 11. Yea and further so it was behoveful and needful that he should be lifted up to fulfil the Scriptures in which it was fore-prophesied of him that thus he should be Exalted for there he is called The mighty God Isa 9.6 The Immanuel God with us Isa 7.14 And that he should be called forth to the satisfying Gods Justice for us by his death and sufferings is largely shewed Psal 22. Isa 53. And in other places And so it 's said He dyed for our Sins according to the Scriptures And that he was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.3 4. And therefore when he opened the Scriptures to the Disciples and their understandings to understand them He said unto them So it behoved that Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead and that repentance and remission of Sins should be preached in his name Luk. 24.46 47. And so for his Ascention to Gods right hand and sitting there till all his foes be made his foot-stool Psal 110.1 With Act. 2.33 34 35 36. Yea both his sufferings and the glory that followed was fore-signified by his Spirit to the Prophets 1 Pet. 1.10 11. But yet we may not think that it was the Prophets fore-seeing and foreshewing these things that was the proper cause of their being ordered of God to be done no but they therefore fore-saw and fore-shewed them because God had ordered them to be so done and they were so ordered of God 1. Because he loved us and was loth that we should perish As the next verse informs us Where it is said God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son rendring that as the reason why he must be so lifted up Because God so loved us as to give him to be our Saviour therefore accordingly he must be lifted up as God in his love to us had designed him And Gods love led him so to design 2. Because our needs required it we were so fallen and lost by our sins and iniquities that no other way could be sufficient for us to succour and save us But these things being included in the end of his being lifted up viz. That whosoever believeth on him might not perish but have everlasting life I shall God willing further consider them there Only adding that 3. He must be lifted up as to his glorious Resurrection and Exaltation in Heaven which is most properly the lifting of him up in this sense here spoken of because as God had promised to him that he would uphold him and his right hand should be with him and help and strengthen him and he would give him for a Covenant to the People for a light to the Gentiles And to such glory as is fore-spoken of as foreshewed in the Scriptures of the Prophets So he also deserved all this glory and it would have been unrighteousness to him had he not been lifted up in that manner He was worthy for his being slain for us to receive of God Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing Rev. 5.11 12. And God is a just God and without iniquity He can do no unrighteousness and therefore to be sure none to his only Son whom he called in Righteousness both to his work and service and to this honour and glory in the reward and recompence of it Isa 42.5 6. 53.12 Phil. 2.9 10 11. And thus he was to be and is lifted up really and personally in himself by God his Father acting upon him which was the first way The second follows CHAP. VII Of the second way of lifting him up Viz. By demonstration of him and his glory unto men â—y whom that was and is to be performed and wherein SEcondly he was to be lifted up and must be so in the demonstration of him to men in order to the lifting him up in their hearts and esteems and that was to be and was done 1. Principally of God both Father Son and Holy Spirit 2. Of God his Father and so he was lifted up by him in his bearing testimony to him by commending him unto men as his only begotten Son peculiarly owned and approved of him and this he did diversly as 1. In his audibly witnessing to him from Heaven that he is his well-beloved Son in whom he is well-pleased and whom he would have men to hear And this he did both to the Baptist with visible Testimony also accompanying it as the opening of the Heavens and descent of the holy Ghost upon him in a visible appearance like a Dove As God when he sent John to Baptize had foretold him he should see as a demonstration of the Person of the Son of God and the Saviour of the World Matt. 3.17 John 1.32 33 34. As also to the three Disciples who went up into the holy Mount with him and see him Trans-figured before them as is mentioned in Matt. 17.1 5. Mark 9.2 7. Luk. 9.28 35. And by the Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 1.16 17 18. As also he did bear witness to him when by an audible voice from heaven he said He had both glorified his name and would glorifie
happinesse as without whom the best are too bad to be saved from wrath and admitted into the Kingdom of God There being no other name given under heaven either of thing or person whereby we must be saved but only his Act 4.11.12 and in and by whom the poorest and meanest sinfulnesse and unworthiâ—est may and shall be saved believing on him And indeed this Phrase That whosoever believeth on him may or should not perish c. Shews both a necessity for the best to believe on him as implying that none is sufficient to keep himself from hell and destruction or to climb and ascend up to heaven and happinesse but need to be saved from the one and advanced to the other by him in taking heed to leaving and relying on him and so only and no other way the wisest strongest and most righteous even by his wisdom righteousness mercy and grace may be saved and also that by him the worst and unworthiest believing on him may be saved and live such the sufficiency and perfection of grace that is in him through his sufferings sacrifice mediation Therefore I say neither are we to lift up our selves in our selves or in any thing of or after the flesh to the neglecting him as if we were therein or therfore Lords and need not come or be beholden unto him or as if we had lesse need of living in or depending on him nor yet so to grieve over or discourage our selves by our unworthiness or any poverty or sinfulness in or of our selves as if the grace in him was too scantâ—y to help or save us But knowing his sufficiency for all and freeness and openness to all cleave we with purpose of heart to him believing on him and not fearing But again 2. From the description given in the former Observation of this believing on the Son of man we may further admonish and be admonished To take heed of resting in a false and pretended believing on him which is not indeed and in truth the believing on him here signified A man may think himself to be something therein when he is nothing and so deceive himself And many so deceive themselves the heart being deceitfull above all things 1. By taking an external profession of the faith or of believing in God and on Jesus Christ his Son for a real and hearty believing on him Many professe themselves to know God who yet indeed deny him And many professe to believe on Jesus Christ who yet in their lives proclaim that they neither know him nor regard him much lesse have their faith in and dependance on him Tit. 1.16 Not every one that saith to or of Christ Lord Lord is such a one as believes on him so as to be saved from perishing and to have or obtain eternal life or enter into Gods Kingdome But they that do the will of God that sent him that so believe the Testimony of God concerning him as indeed to receive him for their Lord and depend on and obey him Matth. 7.21 22. Many this way deceive themselves indeed no evill liver no fornicator no blasphemer no drunkard no coveteous person or the like believe on Jesus Christ however they may say They believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord for if they did they might have eternal life and so enter Gods Kingdom whereas the Scripture saith and often assures us that no such ill liver shall do so 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 5.19 20 21. Ephes 5.3 4 5 6. Rev. 21.8 22.15 2. By taking every such profession of the faith of him and of believing on him as in which men preach and professe him and find some good effects follow thereupon among men to be the believing on him here spoken of Whereas many shall say in that day when Christ comes Have we not preached in thy name and in thy name cast out devils and done many wonderful works To whom yet Christ shall say and professe I never knew you depart from me ye workers of iniquity Matth. 7.22 23. Many may see and say many excellent things of him as Balaam did of Israel and do many things in his name as Judas did and yet not be believers on him because not obeyers and followers of his heavenly Counsels and instructions 3. By taking any zealous way of profession of Religion and care to perform and practice duties for a believing on Christ whereas there may be much zeal and strictness in profession and for performing duties when yet Christ is not known or understood and his grace not perceived or received but opposed much lesse lived and depended on but the life of mens own hands found and lived upon As it 's said Isai 57.10 As the Jews who were Zealous for the Ordinances of Moses and the external and and lighter matters of the law were yet ignorant of and neglected faith judgement mercy and the love of God and such like greater and weightier matters of the Law Matth. 23.23 Luk. 11.42 So may it be and is with many Christians by profession Many of them that are strict and zealous for outward Observations Ordinances Fastings Prayers Walkings Sabbaths Yea as Paul in his Pharaisisme was blamelesness of conversation in things commanded for matter of practice among men and in Religious exercises yet are void of the true knowledge and faith of Christ and the great things of his grace so as not to live thereupon Many in whom their zeal and frames and works spring not from faith in Christ but from other principles as a desire to be saved with a thought that they must be so upon the merit or account of their own good works as is to be seen among many Papists and others and such may be said to be of works rather then of faith and so far from being heirs of eternal life that they are under the curse Gal. 3.10 11 12. Rom. 4.4 4. By taking a faith or dependance partly on Christ and partly on other things or objects joyned with Christ as grounds of their hope and confidence to be this believing on him to which the promise is made as Christ and the Law Christ and the Pope or other men Christ and riches Christ and our own wisdome and policy c. Thus was it with the Galathians in their perverted state they joyned Moses and Christ together law and faith together as the ground of their hope and expectation Gal. 1.6.7 and 3.2 3. and 4.9 10 11. And such is the evil of men when they make their own righteousness good frames and doings a ground of their confidence with Christ and not Christ only the root and spring of all their goodness and ground of their confidence And so it 's an evil of like nature to trust in uncertain riches the friendship of this World the authority and power of man or our own policies yea it s a sin when but for a comfortable livelihood or
14.31 and the Love both of God and of Christ to us 1 John 3.16 17. and 4.9 10. able to move our hearts to love him again 1 John 4.19 Yea both his Love to his Disciples John 14. and 15.9 10. as an example and motive to us to love them that are his Disciples and our Brethren John 13.34 35. and 15.12 And his Love to those who were ignorant of him lost and perishing as an example to us to love such and a motive as we our selves were such to love such also with a love of compassion yea such as are strangers from us Eph. 2.11 12 13.19 2 Cor. 8.9 Rom. 5.6 1 Tim. 1.15 1 John 3.16 17. Gal. 6 10. Yea his Love to his Enemies is an Example and Motive to us to love to our capacities our enemies also Rom. 5.10 Mat. 5.44 45. Ephes 5.2 1 Pet. 2.21 Yea in this lifting up this Son of man by his Spirit is also the Presence and Efficacy of his Spirit as a Spirit of love to infuse love into us and frame us to love 2 Tim. 1.7 8. Yea Case 13. Would we be furnished with any Virtue and framed to and directed in any good way Look hither and behold Christ Crucified for us and lifted up there-through for and to us and here we may find Motive Inducement and Spirit to inable and frame the heart thereto Yea in most things if not in all Pattern and Example thereof as to say In Bowels of Mercy behold his mercifulness to us Luke 6.37 and 10.37 In kindness Tit. 3.4 In humbleness of mind Phil. 2.5 6 7. In meekness and lowliness Mat. 11.29 In gentleness 2 Cor. 10.1 In long-suffering 2 Pet. 3.9 and 1 Pet. 2.21 22. In forbearance and forgiveness Col. 3.13.14 In patient putting up of wrongs 1 Pet. 2 21 22 23. In love and obedience to God Phil. 2.8 John 14.31 In submission to Superiours in the World Mat. 17.25 27. Isa 49.7 In giving place to wrath Mat. 12.14 15 16 18 19. Isa 42.2 For mens loving their Wives Ephes 5.25 26 c. And to say no more Case 14. In case of loss of our Friends Brethren Relations Husbands Children c. as we have him for a Pattern of Submission to his Fathers Will in taking out of his hand and drinking the Cup he gave him to propose to our selves and imitate in looking upon him John 18.11 So also looking upon him as lifted up for and before us we shall see cause to be submissive to God therein For was it not more for God to give his Son for us and expose him to such Sufferings and Death then to take away a Son or a Daughter a Wife or a Husband or a Friend from us Seeing also by his Sons death he hath made a way through Death to better injoyments and greater happiness then they could have here in this life and hath given to his Son through his death the Keys of hell and death to bring or keep out from Death as he pleases Yea He is the Resurrection and the Life so as the Dead in him shall Live again Yea they do in their spirits live in his Presence and have a fuller Injoyment of him then we have while here Phil. 1.21.23 Rev. 1.18 19. John 11.25 26. And he is the Lawful and Sovereign Lord of all and so of us and ours a Just Righteous Holy Merciful and Good Lord whose Work is perfect and all his Ways judgment Deut. 32.4 Psal 145.8 9. and therefore doth us no wrong in any thing yea aims at our good and profit in all things Heb. 10.8 9 10. And if we believe that Jesus Christ Died and Rose again so we believe that them who sleep in Jesus God will bring With him for the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the Voice of the Archangel and the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first and then we that are alive and remain shall be caught up together in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so we shall be for ever with the Lord These words minded and these things looked to will be for comfort to us 1 Thes 4.14.17 As also that in the mean time the Lord is nigh at hand to us to help us and this Son of man as a Child born to and for us and a Son given us is also an Everlasting Father the Wonderful the Counsellor the Mighty God the Prince of Peace And he will be a Counsellor a Comforter a Provider for and Protector of us and better to us then many Fathers or Mothers Sons or Daughters Friends or Relations Isa 9.6 Yea in a word 〈◊〉 The looking to him is the way to have our understandings inlightned into all Truth our minds renewed our hearts cleansed comforted healed filled with peace joy hope and every good fruit our Souls saved from all evil of sin both guilt filth snare and punishment and from the pollutions of the World and power of Satan and so from every evil thing and our whole Conversation rightly ordered In a word it s the way to be saved from perishing out of the way and much more from perishing in the end and to have and injoy Eternal life Oh therefore let us in all cases and at all times look to him and wistly behold and view him and to that purpose Oh let us with David make it the one thing desired by us That we may dwell in his house and be always beholding the fair Beauty of the Lord and inquiring in his holy Temple Psal 27.4 Seeing also Motive 3. There is nothing else that we can turn to or look upon that can or will do any of these things for and in us no Law or Doctrine if this be rejected and put away or that is beside or swarveth from this no work frame or device of our own or others no Plaister Medicine or Course we can take will heal us in any thing so as to better our conditions For sure if Moses Law will not do it which was given from God himself the exactest and best that ever was given beside then much less will any humane Laws or Injunctions Impositions Works Ceremonies Practices of our own or others but if we turn from this Object we must needs go after vain things and things that cannot profit us because they are vain And though we may kindle fires to our selves and compass our selves with sparks and walk in the light of our own fire yet we must perish and lie down in sorrow 1 Sam. 12.19 20 21. Isa 50.11 Yea though we set any Precepts or Ordinances of Christ before us to observe and practise yet if we observe and practise them without seeing and looking to him and so believing and depending on him for wisdom Strength and Blessing we shall deceive our selves and do like them that made the Word of the Lord to themselves Precept upon precept Precept upon precept Line upon line Line upon line here a little and
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
upbraid the weakness and timerousness of new beginners Let us learn to follow his good Example and entertain any that come to seek Christ with us though they come trembling at the first and shew some fearfulness to be known by others to do so well It s an evidence of an hearty love when men will venture after Christ notwithstanding they know they therein go cross to the worlds opinion and do that which they would turn upon them as a reproch though yet its a symptome of weakness to be afraid or ashamed it should be taken notice of Let us incourage what is good and bear with and overlook the weakness cleaving to men therein So did our Saviour here taking occasion meekly to instruct Nicodemus into that which concerned both him and us to know viz. the necessity of Regeneration without upbraiding his weakness in the time of his coming for Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again or from above he cannot see the kingdom of God There is an heavenly Kingdom or Kingdom of Heaven or of God spoken of by the holy Prophets chiefly by Daniel which was believed and looked for of the Iews though they mistook many things about it as to the spiritualness of it and the way to it Nicodemus therefore makes no question of that as to its being for indeed both the Baptist and our Saviour had preached its nighness and thereupon exhorted the people to repentance Mat. 3.2 and 4.17 yea the Pharisees afterward inquired of him of the time of its coming as taking it for granted that it would certainly come in its time Luk. 17.20 And the people thought it should shortly be manifested Luk. 19.11 And doubtless Nicodemus desired to see and enter it and therefore our Saviour here instructed and informed him what is requisite and necessary thereto affirming his Doctrine with a double asseveration Verily verily I say unto thee that except a man be born again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or from above he cannot see the Kingdom of God That happy state in which God more immediately ruling and bearing sway fills those that are subject and obedient to his Government with Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost here and with Life and Glory Everlasting in Soul and Body for ever hereafter is not to be seen known or injoyed but by new Creatures those that are born from above This earthly and carnal birth is so much defiled and ushers in such pollution of sin and mortality because of sin that we are not fit without another higher birth for the priviledges of Gods Kingdom into which no unclean or unrighteous thing as we all are by nature may find admission In this natural birth we descend of the first Adam as fallen from God and begetting in his own sinful and mortal likeness but its necessary to our injoyment of Gods Kingdom that we be born of the second Adam who begets Children in his image and likeness holy and heavenly ones Birth of Abraham Isaac and Jacob might suffice to give admission into the outward form and court of the Church and unto the Land of Canaan but to Heaven and the joys and glory thereof nothing but a birth from Heaven Nicodemus stounding at this Doctrine and yet believing Christ to be a Teacher come from God doth not reject it as false but inquires further into it of him who taught him it and who he thought also was fittest to inform him further about it and therefore asked him how it could be How can a man be born saith he when he is old as probably he himself was can he enter into his Mothers Womb the second time and be born in which he shews the grosness of his understanding as not being yet acquainted with our Saviours manner of teaching He its likely-thought and not amiss that our Saviour meant it of some more unwonted thing then were the legal observations or any thing they could confer on men and whether it might be some strange birth over again in the Flesh and perhaps in the Resurrection according to some fancies of the Platonists of all things after some long periods of time to be acted over again as before he might not know nor could conceive how a man could be born again but by such a reduction to his first entrance into the world again But it s better to shew our grosness of understanding and inquire into truths proposed to us of those that teach us them though we speak like fools therein then by an over-bashfulness or a desire to be thought wiser then we are to conceal our doubts and to pretend that we do apprehend what we are ignorant off for by so doing we deprive our selves of the help and instruction which by propounding our doubts however gross and ignorant our proposing of them may make us appear might be received and sure as the Apostle Thomas his doubting and expressing his hardness to believe occasioned a more full demonstration of the reality and verity of Christs Resurrection to the great benefit and advantage not only of himself but also of the whole Church in the present and following ages So Nicodemus his proposing his doubt here tho therein shewing the grosness of his understanding occasioned and received such further instruction into the nature and necessity of Regeneration as tended not only to his but also to our greater helpfulness and advantage For in ver 5.6 Jesus answered verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit In which our Saviour shews that his words are not to be grosly taken as if he spake of a fleshly birth from the Mothers Womb but of a Spiritual and Divine birth the Principles whereof are Water and Spirit By Water signifying that knowledge of God that is often in the Scriptures compared to Water as Psal 1.2 3. Ezek. 47.3 4 5 c. Isa 11.9 Hab. 2.14 Or the free grace and love of God held forth and declared in the said knowledge word or doctrine The Water in the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 5.26 Grace being powred into the lips of Christ Psal 45.2 Or else also a submission to Christ in receiving him and his word and ordinances in being baptized into his name may also be implied and then the Spirit is that holy breath inspiration and working of the holy Spirit of God in and with the Doctrine of Christ which is afforded in his name working effectually upon the heart to the framing it unto the Faith and into the likeness of Christ and so effecting therein a new man a new mind judgment heart affection confidence and frame of Spirit Created after God in righteousness and holiness of truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Could a man be born never so often of the Flesh
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
it again When the People some of them said that it Thundred others that an Angel spake to him John 12.28 29. But these things were known to few 2. In his speaking and working by him such things as never any spake or did for the words that he spake he spake not from himself as man alone but of or from the Father who dwelt in him and he it was that did the Works John 14.10 Whence he saith to Philip Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me or else believe me for the works sake ver 11. With Chap. 15.24 7.46 And that God did magnifie him in this and lift him up among men The Apostle Peter testifies Act. 2.22 Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God by Miracles Wonders and Signes which God did by him c. As also 3. By his raising him from the dead glorifying him and maintaining his cause and name against all oppositions and gathering in a Church to him and upholding it in the midst of Persecutions c. Of which things I shall not inlarge 2. Of God the Word or Son also even by himself or his Divine Being or Deity exerting and putting forth it self and so glorifying him as the Son of Man And so it behoved him and he did it Both 1. In Work As in his working glorious Miracles Thus it s said upon his turning Water into Wine at that Marriage in Cana of Galilee This beginning of Miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory But more fully in his rising from the dead and ascending into Heaven and giving gifts from thence unto men as some Apostles some Prophets c. Whence he saith No man takes my life from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again This Commandement have I received of my Father John 10.18 For as it is said that he was raised again from the dead by his Father and his glory So also it is said that he rose again in and by the power of his divine Spirit And that he died rose and revived that he might be Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Lord it over the quick and dead Rom. 14.9 And he rose again the Third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.3 4. Being put to death in the flesh but quickned in the Spirit 1. Pet. 3.18 And so that he Ascended and went up on high and gave gifts unto men Psal 68.18 Eph. 4.8.9 2. In his Word Preaching forth himself and his own excellencies As he saith I am one that bear witness of my self and my Father that sent me he beareth witness of me Though he said If I bear witness of my self my witness is not true As implying that of himself as man only he bare not witness of himself if as Man only he had so done his Witness might have been slighted But he as the Word though made flesh witnessed of himself as in his works so in his word too and his witness as witnessing so was true For he knew whence he came and whither he went John 5.31 8.14 18. And so he declared himself in the Man-hood as the Son of man or the Word made Flesh to be the Son of God to be in Heaven and come from Heaven and to know the things of Heaven John 3.11 12 13 16. And so when he said here he must be lifted up we may understand him to say in such intimations and declarations of his excellencies as those were So he testified of himself that he is the Light of the World John 8.12 12.46 The bread of Life the bread that came down from heaven The living bread His Flesh meat indeed and his Blood drink indeed Necessary to be fed upon to the obtaining everlasting life And such as 〈◊〉 gives everlasting life to all that feed thereupon John 6.35 48 50 51 55 56. c. That he knows the Father and is known of the Father John 7.29 10.15 That he gives the water of Life which whoso drinks it shall be in him a spring of living waters springing up unto eternal life And causing Rivers of living waters to flow out of his belly or inward man as being the Baptizer with and giver of the holy Ghost John 4.14 7.37 38 39. Act. 1.5 With John 15.26 That he is The good Shepherd The door of the sheep knowing his sheep and giving to them in their following him Eternal Life John 10.3 9 11 15 28 29. That he is the Resurrection and the Life So as that He that believeth on him though dead he shall live he that liveth and believeth on him shall not dye for ever John 11.25 26. That he is The way the truth and the life John 14.6 The true vine John 15.1 4. And many the like But chiefly he is and was lifted up And that I might have referred the two former to the testimonies of the Father and Word as being brought to us and our cognizance by him 3. By the holy Spirit whose business it is to witness of Christ taking his things and shewing them and so glorifying him John 15.27 16.14 And so it is prophetically said of him That when the Enemy shall come in like a stood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard against him which Standard or Ensigne is Christ of the Seed of David of the Root of Jesse Isa 11.1 10 11. And put him to flight Isa 59.19 And he was to lift him up and hath and doth diversly as 1. By fore-testifying glorious things of him As that he as the Seed of the Woman and so as the Son of Man should bruise the head of the Serpent Overthrow his plot against us and our well-fare and take away his acquired power and jurisdiction over us and open the way for us into Paradise and so to God again Gen. 3.15 That he as the Seed of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob and so as the Son of Man should be the blessing of or bringer forth of blessing to all the Nations or families of the Earth Gen. 22.18 26.4 28.14 With Gal. 3.8 That he as proceeding out of the Tribe of Judah should be the Shiloh the peaceable one or peace-maker Vnto whom should be the gathering of the People Gen. 49.10 That he should be the Prophet raised up from among the People and so as the Son of Man whom all the People should hear in all things that he should say unto them Deut. 18.15 18. That he should be as the Seed of David and so as the Son of Man the Great King and Governour upon whose shoulders the Government should be The Wonderful the Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace Of the increase of whose Government and Peace there should be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order and to establish it with justice and with judgment
Grace heartily repent and turn to God by him Yea of such Value and Force was and is his Obedience and Righteousness therein with his Father that upon account and in the virtue thereof he is both the Propitiation for our sins that believing have him our Advocate with the Father taking away our defects sins and failings from before him so as we walking in the Light as God is therein we have fellowship with God and God with us and his blood cleanseth us from all sin yea if through temptation sinning we confess it he is here-through just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness And also he is the Propitiation for the sins of the whole world So as he obtains here-through a day of Grace and Patience towards them and keeps off destruction therein from them and obtains the holding open as it were of a door of Repentance to them and a Readiness in God to accept of any of them in heartily repenting and turning to him Yea he here-through obtains all that Goodness Bounty Long-suffering and Patience towards them which is afforded them with whatsoever Calls Counsels means of Repentance and Grace with Dispensations and Operations of the Holy Spirit to Move Lead Excite Provoke and strengthen to Repentance and Faith are afforded to them that they might be Saved 1 Tim. 2.6 Isa 53.4 5 6 9 10. Heb. 2.9 and 9.26 and 10.5.10 Rom. 3.24 and 5.18 1 John 2.1 2. and 1.7 9. Acts 10.43 and 13.38 39. Psal 68.18 19 20. Yea 6. And also as it declares by virtue hereof and as a reward therefore God having taken him up and he being gone into Heaven to Gods Right-hand whereon he hath set him and where he hath glorified him even the Man Christ Jesus with himself with the Glory he had with him before the world was all Authority in Heaven and upon Earth is committed to him and all the fulness of the Godhead bodily dwells in him So as he is the Great God and our Saviour the Saviour of the World even of all men and especially of all those that believe Having the Power of forgiving sins and justifying from them all that come to and believe on him As also all Power of Teaching and Guiding into and in all right Ways and preserving from all hurt and evil of doing us good by and seasonably bringing us out of all Troubles Afflictions and Death subduing all Enemies within or without working all good for and in us and filling us with all Good and Blessing In a word of doing all things to and for us that may prevent our Perishing and promote our eternal Happiness Phil. 2.9 10 11. Isa 53.12 John 17.4 5. 1 Pet. 3.22 Acts 5.31 Col. 1.19 and 2.9 Mat. 28.18 Isa 9.6 and 63.1 Tit. 2.13 1 Tim. 4.10 Ephes 1.3 c. As also 7. That he is unspeakably Merciful Gracious and Loving to Mankind ready to do us good and save us yea actually doing great good to and for all and ready to do all good to all that will listen to and be ruled by him having received his Power and Offices to that purpose and that having ingaged and promised to God and men to do whatever may be requisite to the Salvation and Eternal Life of all that listen look to and obey him he is also Infinitely Faithful to both for performing all his Ingagements and Promises to them Heb. 2.17 18. and 3.1 2. and 4.14 15. and 5.9 Isa 42.1 2 3 4. Yea and further that 8. He abides for ever an everlasting unchangeable Priest after the order of Melchisedeck and an everlasting King whose Kingdom shall continue for ever and his Dominion have no end nor shall his Divine Power as God ever alter So that he is perfectly able to save to the utmost and for ever all that come to God by him being unchangeably the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 1.10 11 12. and 7.1 24 25. and 13.7 8. to whom that in Psal 146. may be applied Where having asserted the happiness of him that hath the God of Jacob for his help and whose hope is in the Lord his God upon the account of his Power and Greatness shewed in his having made Heaven and Earth the Seas and all therein and of his Faithfulness in keeping truth for ever and of his Mercy and Goodness in Executing Judgment for the Oppressed giving Food to the hungry loosing the Prisoners opening the Eyes of the Blind raising up those which are bowed down loving the Righteous preserving the Strangers relieving the Fatherless and Widow and turning upside down the way of the Wicked All of them works of Mercy and Goodness to men and such as argue his special Care over them that have him for their God He shuts up all with the consideration of his Eternity or Ever-abiding saying The Lord shall reign for ever even thy God O Sion to all Generations praise ye lift ye up the Lord. Whereto we may yet add 9. That herein is declared how by his Death and Sacrifice he hath purchased and obtained and in his Word and Testimony promised and assured not only supply of all good things and defence from evil so as he sees good in this Life and World but also a glorious and perfectly happy state and blessed condition for ever in a World to come in an everlasting Kingdom to be brought in and manifested by him as the certain and infallible Portion of all that love and look to and believe on him and wait for him Such as is beyond all our present Capacities to conceive of much more to express and set forth to the understandings of others so as the Excellency and Glory thereof may be perceived by them Ephes 4.14 Isa 53.12 Rom. 2.7 10. Rev. 2.26 27. and 3.21 Jam. 1.12 and 2.5 Heb. 6.12 13 18 19. Isa 64.5 1 Cor. 2.9 And in those things are contained all that may allure the heart to seek after and believe on him yea and to further that also there is further in this Testimony of him 10. A discovery of our unspeakable Wretchedness Lostness and Misery in our selves and the Emptiness Weakness and Insufficiency of all other Things and Persons to Help Save and Satisfie us None other in Heaven or Earth having been Crucified and Died for our sins nor is any else Exalted of God to Relieve and Save us There is none of them therefore that have in them Redemption Remission of sins Deliverance from wrath and vengeance None of them have the fulness of the Holy Spirit and of the Godhead in them nor any thing thereof but as he extends of it by them and so no Thing or Person else hath Power Riches Wisdom Strength Honour Glory and Blessing but only he who is judged of God and all his holy Angels worthy to receive of God all fulness This Voice is in this Testimony to take us off from all other things that might detain or withdraw us from him viz. All flesh is Grass and
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
may eat of what they labour in and then 3. As for safety they serve a Master so Great as is sufficiently able and so Good that he will not fail to uphold them and save them in all difficulties and against all dangers in their faithful serving him And surely both as betrusted with God's name and honour and as betrusted with and employed about Mens highest concernments it behoves them to be 1. Faithful both to him and them to do the will of God and Christ and speak his words he gives them faithfully so as not to conceal the words of the Holy One Job 6.10 Psal 40.10 but to make known the whole counsel of God and Christ to them as Christ did to his Disciples Joh. 15.14 15. And the Apostle Paul to the Churches who shunned not to declare to them the whole counsel of God Act. 20.26 27. Yea and to declare it as God orders them to do it with such plainness putting away the hidden things of dishonesty or guile flattery and wisdom of words that may obscure and darken the truth and tender the cross of Christ ineffectual Not casting a Veil over their Faces as Moses did hiding from men the messages which they carry that they may not see to the end and tendency of them though what Moses did was done in faithfulness but using all openness and freeness of speech sincerity and soundness of doctrine without adding ought thereto or diminishing ought there-from or changing or altering any thing therein but as of sincerity and as of God commending themselves to every mans conscience and approving themselves as in the sight of God and Christ who imploy them 1 Cor. â— 17 18. 2.1 4 5. 2 Cor. 2.17 and 3.12 13. and 4.1 2. Not seeking or pleasing themselves but seeking to please God and profit men yea and please them too for their good that they might be saved 1 Cor. 9.19 22. and 10.33 Rom. 15.2 3. Not seeking Riches or Honours to themselves nor for any Pleasures of the Flesh or Injoyments of the World nor for Ease Liberty or any thing turning aside from either their attendance to God or faithful discharge of their trust towards him or towards men nor dealing unfaithfully with the Word of God as Persons partial in his Law but leaving themselves to God to provide maintenance and give honour to them as he pleases and contenting themselves with what he by his providence orders them to do the work and service to which he calls them not making merchandize of Gods Word and of the Souls of men for gain honour or livelihood and so deny the Lord who bought them but seeking only the honour that comes of God and the glory of God and good of men in all things depending on God and Christ contentedly to honour and reward them who also will do it abundantly as shall be good for them here but most fully hereafter when the great Shepherd shall appear from heaven 1 Pet. 5.4 2. Greatly diligent and industrious not giving up themselves to sloth and idleness or to follow the lusts and appetites or intangle themselves with the affairs of this World but that they may please him that imploys them seeking diligently by prayer and supplications to God for themselves and all Saints and more especially for those that they are more especially betrusted with and giving attendance to reading meditation c. that they may in their converse with God know and perceive his mind and receive the word from his mouth and be strengthned to declare it faithfully and boldly unto men not fearing their faces or being flattered from it by them and to be useful to and have cause of joy in them in their service toward whom also they are to use great diligence and therefore they are compared to and stiled by the name of Labourers to signify that they must not be idle and loyter and give themselves to ease carelesness and effeminacy they are to digg and plow sowe and plant and water and do all the work of the Lords husbandry which the people are and of his building Vineyard and Garden which his Church is Yea as Shepherds they must watch their Flocks and that by Night and by Day least any ravenous Beast devour them or disease infest or any Thief steal them or any harm from one another come to them Yea and so much the more as the souls of men are more precious then their bodies about which the earthly husbandry building and other acts and manufactures are employed the loss of the soul is of wonderful great concernment and God will require it of whomsoever the loss of it proceedeth if he would require the blood of men at the hands of men as is said Gen. 9.7 Surely much more will he require the Souls of men at the hands of men with whom they are betrusted if lost by their negligence seeing he hath valued them so highly as that he hath not spared his own Son nor Christ his own Life and Soul but hath poured it out to death to save them And shall thy Brother for whom Christ dyed perish through thy meat For thy sloth thy ease thy will or pleasure Surely if this were considered it would make men careful how they undertake the Ministry and having undertaken it how they discharge it it would make them watch and labour with diligence least any should miscarry through want thereof or through want of skill the product of sloth and idleness or some such miscarriage and so the blood of their Souls should be required at their hands as God threatned the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 3.17 18 19 20 c. 3. Great humility and lowliness of mind bewaring of pride least being puffed up they fall into the condemnation of the Devil Indeed while they look upon the heighth and honourableness of their Employment their Liberty to and Intelligence with Heaven the secrets they see into above others and the excellent discoveries they have and make of the great and high things of the Gospel and the like they may have Temptations to be proud and lifted up and many there are that are apt to miscarry that way but it is a dangerous deceit a Rock earnestly to be shunned and indeed none have cause to be less proud Considering 1. The exceeding heighth and weightiness of their place and work and their exceeding imbecility of themselves as of themselves for the discharge thereof This made Paul cry out Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2.16 Especially considering too the great woe will befall them as guilty of betraying Cods Name and Honour and his great Design the work and business of highest consequence and as guilty of the lose of Souls that are most precious in Gods sight if through their miscarriage they be lost and perish Oh therefore with what care and humbleness of mind should they walk Indeed their honour is great and their reward will be great if faithful and successful but the difficulty
the mown Grass those that are taken down and cut off from their Carnal confidences and Fleshly rejoycings in themselves and as the showres that water the Earth So as in his days the Righteous shall flourish Psal 72.6 7. Yea and his Doctrine is as the Rain the small Rain and as the Dew to the tender herb or heart because his Name is therein Proclaimed Deut. 32.1 2. And his Spirit poured out is like Water upon the thirsty and his blessing like floods of water upon the dry Land Isa 44.3 4. so as he causes to grow as among the grass and as the Willows by the water courses And He will be as the Dew to Israel a sweet refreshing so as he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive-tree and his smell as Lebanon Hos 14.5 6. Yea and he makes them that are in him and partake of him to be as the dew too from the Lord and as the showres upon the grass as he is held forth in and by them that tarryeth not for man to help forward by his Art and industry nor waiteth for the Sons of men Mic. 5.7 In the Air also is the cool refreshing breath the winds that sometimes bring clouds and rain and sometimes drive them away sometimes carries on mens endeavours and sometime breaks down what resists And his Spirit is as the wind which bloweth and breatheth where it listeth and brings forth the Clouds that have rain in them his gifted Servants Joh. 3.8 Isa 5.6 and showres of heavenly doctrin and blessing And it is sometime like a mighty rushing wind too strong for all that make resistance there-against Act. 2.2 and 6.10 And he drives away from or brings storms upon men as he sees fitting Rev. 7.1 2. Yea Christ by his Spirit sometimes fills the Soul with a fresh Gale and carries it on with a full Sail of assurance of faith and hope while they as Vessels swim upon the Ocean and Streams of his Goodness and commit themselves to his care and assistance Coll. 2.2 Heb. 6.11 and 10.22 Yea and in the Air there be Thundrings and Lightnings too representing his Voice and the discoveries of Himself and his wrath while He thunders from heaven upon his enemies 1 Sam. 2.10 and answers his people by terrible things in righteousness in the secret place of thunder Psal 65.5 and 81.7 Yea and He makes his Servants and Disciples too sometimes Boanerges Sons of Thunder Mark 3.17 And his Lightnings his suddain forcible discoveries of himself his truth and judgments inlighten the earth Psal 97.4 5. The Fire also represents him who was as devouring Fire in the sight of the Children of Israel Exod. 24.13 and who sits as the Refiners fire to purify the Sons of Levi that they may offer a pure offering Mal. 8.3 And surely He is that light of Israel that is for a Fire and his Holy one that is for a flame to burn and devour his thorns and briars the wicked amongst and against them with all wicked works 2 Sam. 23.6 7. Ezek. 2.6 and 28.24 Mal. 4.1 Heb. 6.8 Isa 10.17 Yea his Law is a fiery law Deut. 33.2 And his word as fire to give light warmth and helpfulness for purifying melting and burning up what is meet for such operations Jer. 23.29 and his spirit a Spirit of burning Isa 4.4 where-with also as also with fiery tryals and afflictions he baptizeth Matth. 3.11 6. View we the Heavens there the bright and the morning star very comfortable to them that watch for the Morning and the Sun pleasant for the eye to behold are to be seen and He is the bright and the morning star Rev. 22.16 The Day spring East or Morning that hath visited us to give light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the ways of peace Luc. 1.77.78 A great light Matth. 4.16 Yea He is the glorious Sun of righteousness that shall arise to those that fear him with healing under his wings and as the Sun in the Firmament hath rejoyced and doth to run his course Mal. 4.2 Psal 19.6 Yea He is far above the Sun in excellency for the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield too and will give grace and glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 7. View we the Animals and living Creatures what excellencies or usefulness is in them that be not far more excellently in him the meekness of the Lamb its cleanness for Sacrifice to God goodness sweetness wholsomness for food and profitableness for clothing to men its patience in suffering c. are far more excellently in him the Lamb of God the spotless Lamb and without blemish that takes away the sin of the World Joh. 1.29 1 Pet. 1.19 Joh. 6.51.53 55. a Lamb against the ravenous Beasts who though hated and hunted by them bears all with patience and meekness dumb before the Shearers and when led to the slaughter opened not his mouth Isa 53.7 and at the last overcomes them Rev. 17.14 The strength and courage of the Lion and the comeliness of his going that turneth not away from any being found in him too who is therefore stiled the Lion of the Tribe of Judah that hath prevailed Prov. 30.30 Rev. 5.5 Yea he overcomes the old Lion and Dragon and all the Beasts of prey which rise up against him The stately Unicorn and his erected Horn is but an emblem of Him and his Kingdom having the strength of the Unicorn Numb 23.22 and 24.8 and his glory and strength called his Horn shall be exalted like the Unicornes horn Psal 92.10 The Roe and the young Hart leaping on the mountains is he in the liveliness of his love Cant. 2.9 17. and 8.14 The Hen or any other Bird most loving to her Chickens or young ones are short of him too in his desire to gather Souls under him for his defence and in keeping warm and safe those that trust under the shadow of his wings Matth. 23.37 Psal 91.3 II. View we Man Gods prime workmanship at the first Gen. 1.26 and Christs delight Prov. 8.31 and we shall find no excellency given Man wherein Christ excells not View we 1. His Body with its Members they are made use of to express or rather figure his excellencies who also was made Man and took an humane body now made glorious under the names of Mans bodily members he hath discovered his perfections but so as far surpasses all that 's in other mens bodies for his Head is as the most fine gold to signify the preciousness of his Deity and Authority his Rule and Government and how exceeding rich and precious his thoughts and inventions 1 Cor. 11.3 Psal 139.17 18. His locks bushie and black as a Raven his thoughts exceeding many to us and deep and so are the acts and exercises of his Authority and Government
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
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
words as the Serpent did Evah from her obedience For many that way have been corrupted from the faith while they have been made to believe they could not be corrupted at least so as to a total and final falling therefrom Mat. 7.15 16 and 24 4 5.24 25. 2 Cor. 11.2 3. Col. 2.4.8.16.18 1 Joh. 2.18 19. 2 Joh. 7 8 9 10. 2 Tim. 2.18 5. Take heed of the World and of the love of it for that if loved will choke the seed of the word and steal out the love of God from the heart and lead us to fall away from Christ 1 Joh. 2.15 16 17. Matth. 13.22 Luke 21.34 35 36. 6. Take heed of indulging any corruption and walking after the flesh in any of it's lusts or affections For to be carnally minded is death and deads the heart to Christ and the things of Christ And therefore If believers walk after the flesh they will dye Rom. 8.6.13 7. Take heed of too earnest eying or looking upon discouragements as our sinfulness ignorance weakness witheredness unfruitfulnesse the troubles of this World Gods corrections and the like with a neglect of minding the help in Christ for us and the incouragements there-against But casting away every weight and the sin that easily besâ—ts let us run with patience the race set before us Looking off from other things unto Jesus and considering him who endured such contradictions of sinners least we be weary and faint in our minds Heb. 12.1 2.3 But for this see more in my Balaams Wish Pag. 89.90 91. And in the Penitent Prodigal or Gods Gracious Reproof Pag. 209. 210. And indeed that Universal Particle whosoever here used in the Text when he saith that Whosoever believeth might not perish but have eternal life is of singular usefulness to be considered against such discouragement and the temptations thence to withdraw from Christ and from dependance on and confidence in him for it takes away all respect of persons and signifies Christs impartiality and his irrespectiveness to any other thing than what is contained in the believing on him in his saving from perishing and giving life eternal Suitable to that saying of the Apostle Now perceive I of a truth that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him with which agrees Rom. 2.6.11 and 3.22 23 24 25. Gal. 3.27 28. God hath opened a door of life and righteousness in Christ for all men and all the earth are invited by him to enter it and whosoever duely enters it finds entertainment Psal 100.1.4 Ioh. 6.37 If any man who or whatsoever believe on that is accept of submit to and depend on Christ it 's no matter what he is otherwise in himself whether great or small old or young Jew or Gentle greater or lesser sinner before conversion to him Yea whether rich or poor wise or foolish in respect of natural parts or wordly and humanely acquired science whether exercised with more or fewer temptations more or less inclined naturally to any lust or corruption sinfull affection or passion more quick or dul of apprehension in a word what ever a man be in and of himself or after the flesh that is not considerable as causing or hindring his acceptance with God provided that he believe on Christ with such a believing or exercise of faith in him as in which he is kept in obedience to him so as not to walk after the flesh but after the spirit It 's not considerable here what a man was or what he did how he walked or lived before he came to and closed with Christ For neither for his better walking then is he more acceptable now his righteousness then being such as could not justifie him in whole or in part nor his worser walking then makes him less accepted now his former unrighteousness being not at all now mentioned against him For it is wholly forgiven and blotted out in his coming into Christ and heartily closing with and believing on him Nay no former failings or falls after the hearing of or believing on Christ though hindring and disturbing a mans rest and peace for the time and procuring chastisements yea depriving of much good to a mans self and usefulness to others while continued in yet being seen confessed repented of and turned from to the believing in and exercise of faith in Christ again shall hinder his salvation and the injoyment of eternall life by and through him it being the good will of God That whosoever believeth on him yea though sometimes he hath not believed or hath failed or turned aside out of the way of believing on him should not perish but have Eternal life To this agrees that of Samuel to Israel when they had many ways sinned against him after he had made them his people and had to all other their former sins added that sin of rejecting not only Samuel from being their Judge and Governour But God himself also from being their King Though saith he ye have done all this wickedness yet turn not aside from following the Lord For the Lord wil not forsake his people any that still own and follow after him seeking forgiveness mercy and blessing of him only for his great names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people 1 Sam. 12.19 20 21 22. To the same purpose also the Apostle John 1 John 1.9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness And If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the just or righteous one who is the propitiation for our sins for the sins of the whole World 1 Ioh. 2.1 2. Not as incouraging any man to sin but as preventing mens sinning and the worst and most destructive way of their sinning namely in departing from Christ and from attenâ—ing to and believing on him for salvation because they find sin in them warring against them yea or because not duly watching and warring against it they have actually sinned and defiled themselves thereby and made their case such as that they stand in greater need of his mercy and salvation Remember we this then that it is the gracious end of God in sending Christ delivering him to death and raising him up again from the dead and exalting and glorifying him and the great undertaking and buisinesse of Christ The great end unto which he dyed and unto which he now ever lives that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life Look we not therefore upon our selves to see what we are as thinking to gather incouragement to hope from what we are in our selves out of him or without him or as discouraging our selves by poâ—ing upon our selves and the evils in us or befalling us but mind we only Jesus Christ in all conditions as the only needfull and perfect way and mean to all true rest and