from henceforth and for ever That he should be Gods first-born higher then the Kings of the Earth Having an everlasting Throne and Kingdom Preaching peace to the Heathen bringing forth Judgment to them and affording glorious rest and blessing to all that trust in him Psal 2.6 12. 89.3 4 19 20 25 26 27. 132.11 17 18. Isa 6.9 10. 11.1 10. 42.1 4. Zech. 9.9.10 That he should be a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck Psal 110.3 And many such excellent and high commendations as may be seen in what he fore-signified to and by the Prophets of his Sufferings and of the Glory that should follow in all the Scriptures 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12. With Luk. 24.27 And so the Apostle saith speaking of the perfection of the Sacrifice and Priesthood of Christ Whereof the holy Ghost is a Witness to us for after he had said before This is the Covenant that I will make with them After those days saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their hearts and in 〈◊〉 minds will I write them He adds And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 10.15 16 17. As it is also said that in ordering the Sanctuary or holy place with the Ordinances of it The holy Ghost this signified that the way into the holy of holies was not yet made manifest while the first Tabernacle was standing Heb. 9.8 In a word Whatever things the holy men of God did foreshew of the coming of the Just One and the things to be found and effected by him they spake not of themselves but as they were moâ—ed thereto by the holy Ghost Whence they who resisted them in their Testimony resisted the holy Ghost 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12. 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. Act. 7.51 52. 2. In preparing and Sanctifying that blessed Body taken by him in which he was made the Son of Man Luk. 1.35 And appearing visibly to Descend and rest upon him in it in the likeness of a Dove as a Sign and signification of his being the Christ Mat. 3.17 John 1.31 32 33. In his anointing filling and working in and by him in all his Doctrine and Miracles assisting and strengthening him in all his temptations sufferings and services Matt. 4.1 Luk. 4.1.14.18 21. Mark 3.29 30. And in his raising and carrying up his body into Heaven For in the Eternal Spirit he offered up himself without spot to God Heb. 9.14 Rom. 6.4 But these things were evident some of them but to few Therefore I add that he witnessed to him more openly 3. In his gifting and furnishing the Apostles and Prophets and Servants of God for their work and service in the Gospel and for that purpose miraculously descending upon and working in many of them strengthning and helping them yea doing great Miracles and Signs by them and through their Doctrine and Miracles working upon the World to convince them of sin for not believing on him c. As our Saviour said When the Comforter shall come even the holy Ghost he shall bear witness of me and he shall convince or reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment c. And in that he did Baptise or Wash and Sanctifie the Apostles so preparing and fitting them for their holy Work and Service lead them into all truth glorifie Christ taking of his things and shewing them John 15.26 27. 16.8 9 13 14 15. Act. 1.5 8. 2.2 3 4 17 18. 4.31 And that the holy Ghost that God gave to them that believed on or obeyed Christ was a witness to him and to his glory is said Act. 5 32. And this also was a Testimony from God the Father as it is said God bare them witness by Signs and Wonders and divers Miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost Heb. 2.4 As also the holy Ghost bears witness to the hearts and consciences of men concerning him Rom. 8.15 16. 2 Cor. 3.3 6 8 18. Causing the believing heart to see his glory as in a glass with open face to the changing it into his likeness from glory to glory But this he doth chiefly 4. In his Doctrine and teaching in and by the Gospel in his Revelation of him to and by the Apostles and to the World and Churches gathered out thereof As to them also the Spirit hath said Great and Glorious things as may be seen in those Epistles to the Seven Churches Rev. 2. 3. And thus the Three in Heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost bare witness of and to and therein lifted up the Son of Man and so is he lifted up of God and must be fully lifted up at his glorious coming and Kingdom when he shall appear in his own glory and in the glory of his Father and of his holy Angels Luk. 9.26 For the Great God the blessed and holy Potentate who only hath immortality dwelling in the Light which no man can approach unto and which no man hath seen nor can see to whom be honour and power for ever and ever Amen will in his time shew him When he shall come and appear sitting on the right hand of God with Power and great Glory and pâ—ssâ—ss the great and glorious Kingdom which God hath promised to possess him of and to Admâ—nister by him but â—â—sâ—e ms to be beyond what this Text speaks of which speaks of his being lifted up that men might in believing on him not perish but have eternal Life And so of that which is in order of Nature if not also of time before mens believing on him And these particulars chiefly of the Spirits witnessing to him and lifting him up were and are needful and such as must be 1. That he might receive the Glory promised For God said that he would glorifie him Isa 49.7 55.5 And God cannot lye Yea he hath sworn by his holiness that he will not lye unto David his Seed shall endure for ever and his Throne as the Sun which is all glorious bright and lightsome before him Psal 89.35 36. Yea and 2. That men might run unto him and believe on him As it is said Kings shall see and arise Princes shall also worship him because of the Lord that is faithful and he shall chuse thee Isa 49.7 And thou shalt call a Nation whom thou knewest not and Nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the holy one of Israel for he hath glorified thee Isa 55 5. But unto this it was and is needful also that he be lifted up 2. Subordinately by Creatures and here we might consider 1. The holy Angels they have lifted him up in their honourable Testimony of him as the Son of Man The Word made Flesh They having also seen this Mystery and peeped down curiously to pry into it 1. Tim. 3.16 1 Pet. 1.12 And they have brought down honourable messages and discoveries concerning him He being as the Son of Man the Ladder
he would be yet but Flesh weak sinful and corrupt and that is indeed the reason why its necessary that we be born again or from above of Water that may wash and cleanse away our filth and of Spirit that may infuse a spiritual life force or power into us namely because what is born of the Flesh is Flesh Whether we understand it of the first birth which is of the Flesh or of any change or alteration that we can work in and upon our selves by any wisdom will or strength of the Flesh in any observations of outward Ordinances of the law or much more in devised traditions or precepts of men all that is so begotten and born is but Flesh corrupt weak and sinful But that which is born of the Spirit the new man the renewed mind judgment and heart that is Spirit that is clean holy lasting c. Now whereas Nicodemus marvailed at this as being a Doctrine he had not been before instructed into our Lord therefore adds Marvail not that I said unto thee ye must be born again or from above The wind bloweth where it listeth or the Spirit breatheth where he pleaseth and thou hearest the sound of it but thou knowest not whence it cometh nor whither it So is every one that is born of the Spirit There are hidden and strange secrets in the works of God that fall under our senses which pass our skill how much more are there wonderful things in the spiritual effects and products of the grace and spirit of God which the natural man cannot comprehend As in Eccles 11.5 As thou knowest not the way of the Spirit or of the Wind nor how the bones do grow in the Womb of her that is with child so thou knowest not the works of God who is the maker of all things But in this every one that is begot or born of the Spirit and thereby is made spiritual is like to the Wind that the Natural man may hear his speech perceive a sound find a force and power in his confessing and breathing forth the truth but whence that virtue was received or whence he was born and brought to it and whether he and it tends What is his Original and End the natural man perceives not as is said 1 Cor. 2.14 Nicodemus still being lost in his understanding and not able to conceive those mysteries marvailes at them and replies How can these things be or be done To whom our Saviour answers by way of reproof to his dulness and ignorance Art thou a Master or a Teacher of Israel and knowest not these things as signifying that those that are teachers of others and chiefly in and of Israel the Church of God should be well taught and of good understanding in the mysteries of God themselves and especially of those things that pertain so to Gods Kingdom as to be necessary to their admission thereunto and enjoyment thereof and that for such to be ignorant of and unacquainted with such things is a matter of great shame and blame to them and thence he takes occasion to shew the difference between such masters in Israel and himself and his servants the Teachers sent of God Verily verily I say unto thee what we know we speak and testifie what we have seen and no man receiveth our testimony Wherein our Saviour also further intimates and inculcates upon Nicodemus the weightiness and certainty of the Doctrine he taught him about this Regeneration that he might not doubt of it though generally over-looked and not received by men men are apt to please themselves in other matters far short of this spending their time and strength in disputing debating pressing and entertaining discourses about more light and impertinent things about the out-side and form of Religion The Tithing mint cummin and annise neglecting the weighty things concerning Judgment Faith and the Love of God As our Saviour elsewhere faults the Pharisees Luk. 11.42 Mat. 23.23 Busying themselves in cutting and lopping off some superfluous branches of sin while they let the root the heart-blindness ignorance and unbelief of God and his Grace and the rejections of that alone and so under pretences and formes of religion and godliness about which they wrangle they let go or deny the Power life and heart of it Paint and gild over rotten Posts and Pictures and Images of Men destitute of the true Life and Power of God in them The Pharisees could contest about Purifications outward Washings Sacrificings observations of Sabbaths and other times and places of Worship and such like Ceremonies and great zeal they had to bring men to be of their mind and way in such things pretending to and perswading them that that way they should be fit for Gods Kingdom But our Saviour who knew all things perfectly is for the bottom and ground-work of all right and acceptable Religion He knew and taught and spake what he knew that it was in vain to endeavour to make the fruit good while the Tree that should produce it abides naught and corrupt He bids therefore first make the Tree good and then the fruit good because a good Tree cannot bring forth bad fruit nor a corrupt Tree good fruit Instead then of doting about questions and strifes of words and outside Ceremonies and shews or works of Righteousness of our own after the Law which can never make us good or fit us for the Kingdom of God he would have us look to the main to be made new Creatures That is so to know and mind the grace of God in Christ which he after unfolds in the verses I have pitched upon and some that follow them that our hearts may there-through be renewed to love and trust in him and worship God in and by him in Spirit and Truth otherwise let their birth be what it will their Circumcision never so exactly according to the Letter of the Law their Baptisms Washings and Purifications never so many or diligently made their Sacrifices never so costly their Fasts never so frequent their Prayers never so long or fervent their outward walkings among men never so blameless and circumspect yet without a new Heart and Spirit made so by the grace of God discerned and imbraced and his Spirit there-through in his operations and efficacies complied with all would avail nothing to the injoyment of Gods Kingdom And this is very needful to be minded by us and the truth and certainty hereof inculcated and Christ and his holy Servants to be listned to in it as Teachers that knew and were certain of what they taught and not the blind followed that grope at things as in the dark and who while they would be teachers of the Law know not what they say nor whereof they affirm Who as the Prophet Isaiah saith Lay out money for that which is not bread and their labour and strength for that which satisfieth not Isa 55.2 Doteing about questions and strifes of words of which come contentions and perverse disputes
also the glory of God even of the Father the God and Father of glory is gloriously and brightly displayed both as to his glorious power in supporting Christ under all his sufferings and in raising him from the dead and setting him at his right hand and in treading down in and by him the power and strength of the adversary and triumphing gloriously over him His glorious and most excellent wisdome in devising and bringing about this glorious work to the bafling of the wit and policy of Sathan yea the Gospel is the revelation oâ— the mystery of God wherein are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledg and whereinto the wisest and most intelligent Angels desire to pry manifesting God to be the only wise God Rom. 16.25 27.1 Pâ—t 1.12 Col. 2.2 3. Yea and his glorious Holiness too is discovered in his condemning our sin in the flesh of hâ—s Son so as not sparing him as being made a Sacrifice and Ransome for us though his only begotten and through him revealing his wrath from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men that withhold the truth in unrighteousness a most dreadful punishment and endless destruction being herein declared as appointed for the refusers of his blessed Son the glory also of his truth and righteousness in not failing to perform the promises made to the Fathers of his raising up such a Saviour for us and bringing in by him grace and blessing to us which rather than he would fail to make good He made his only Son to be flesh and blood yea sin and a curse for us The glory of his greatness that could not accept any sacrifice as satisfactory to his Justice though of all the Bullocks upon a thousand Mountains or whatever else might be proposed or offered less then the Sacrifice of his only begotten Son as able to make Peace and Atonement with Him for us as also in that such great and glorious things are there-through prepared of Him for us and preached to us even his glorious and everlasting Kingdom with all its glorious contents and enjoyments in all which his work appears wonderfully great honourable and glorious and in all this the wonderful glory of his grace mercy and love is manifested to us both the grace of the Father in his exceeding love and charity towards us in the gift of his Son for us when we were become so sinful and such enemies to him and so unworthy of love and mercy from him as cannot be expressed and of our Lord Jesus Christ in condescending to such a low abasement and such unspeakable sufferings for our sakes to keep us from perishing in our sins and miseries and that he might prepare us for and bring us to everlasting life and happiness whereof also a very great discovery is made to us in the Gospel though no words can express all that is therein comprehended and to be enjoyed by us A glorious Doctrine indeed that hath such glorious contents or discovers such glorious things and that too to such a glorious end as the bringing us back to God and so to his Eternal glory to which he herein calls us by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 5.10 2 Thes 2.14 and for the preparing us for and bringing us to which it is filled with such excellent vertue and gracious efficacy as renders it worthy to be called also the Gospel of the grace of God forasmuch as therewith the grace and spirit of God is ministred also as is shewed in the foregoing Conclusions and as is said in 2 Cor. 3.6 7 8. where the Apostle also asserts it to be far more glorious as well as far more gracious than the Law of Moses being such as by representing the great grace of God gives great liberty and boldness to all that entertain it yea and represents therein the glory of God after such a wonderful attractive manner as is able to change the beholders thereof into its likeness from glory to glory as by the spirit of his Majesty ver 16 17 18. Yea in a word as is foreshewed its gloriously powerful to draw the Soul to and keep it with Jesus Christ to believe on and love and cleave to him to the delivering it from sin and death and giving to it Eternal Life yea all things pertaining to life and godliness are administred to us through this knowledge 2 Pet. 1.3 4. as hath been already more largely evidenced and therefore we may further infer from hence divers things with reference to the excellency of this glorious Gospel as Infer 1. That its a great and wonderful mercy of God to any Person or People to bring this blessed Doctrine in the openness and plainness thereof to them and to lift up the Son of Man therein to and before them and to continue it with them a mercy to be received with all acceptation and thankfulness and with all diligence and care to be improved so as to render to God for it fruits suitable and answerable to it in all sobriety and humbleness of mind in our selves as being in and for all things infinitely indebted to his grace without which we are nothing nor could have done any thing to preserve us from perishing and in all righteousness toward men and holiness and godliness towards the Lord who hath shewed such light and mercy to us this is that mercy of which the Apostle speaks when He saith That the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy as it is written for this cause will I give thanks to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy Name Rom. 15.9 For when this Gospel comes and is given to a Person Family or People God is therein granting them repentance even of all former sins and disobediences against all former means and mercies unto life as St. Peter said to the Brethren of the Circumcision Act. 11.18 discovering good ground and reason for it and affording power and motive to it in the name of Christ yea and a door of Faith too is therein opened for their coming in to and actually and distinctly believing on Christ Acts 14.27 That thereby they may come and be made of the same Fold with other distinct Believers fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God A People no more at a remote distance from him but near to him even of the same Body with other Forebelievers and partakers of the promises in Christ even of the choicest Favours and Priviledges of the Saints promised to and covenanted with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the holy Ones Yea to be Built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets and to be joyned to the Saints by the same precious Corner Stone Jesus Christ and so to become in the Unity of the Spirit with them an holy Temple and an habitation for God by his Spirit Ephes 2.13 14 19 20 21 22. and 3.5 6. And so to be of the Royal Priesthood the Chosen or elect Generation the holy Nation the peculiar People
dispensing to us his grace and blessing and so remaining as a perpetual High Priest for us and Mediator of God and us through whom we are to have all our access to and dependance on God in all things but as if Christ was gone out of the Flesh or Beeing of a Man again Or else or also 6. Talk of waiting upon God or the Spirit without use of or attending to the Means and Ordinances appointed by Him and the gifts given by him for our helpfulness dissolving Jesus at it were and loosing or dividing the Spirit from the Flesh or Humanity of Christ and so from the Means and Mediums appointed in liew of the Personal Presence of his Flesh in the World the Apostles Prophets Evangelists and other Ordinances given and appointed by him Eph. 4.8 11 12 13 14 c. Or whether He 7. Mock at or deny the glorious appearance of the Person of Christ as the Son of man sitting on the right hand of God and coming in the power and glory of God with all the Angels of his might to raise the Dead in Body out of their Graves and to judge them all according to their works condemning the wicked to everlasting misery for their obstinacy in their wickedness and giving an everlasting Kingdom and glory to all that have here believed in and obeyed him for these deny him a great part of the glory given him of his Father and so do not lift Him up but cast him down from his excellency Act. 10.42 and 17.30 31. Matth. 26.64 Luc. 22.69 c. Take we heed of all these Principles and Spirits as erring and not lifting up the Son of man and therefore not of Gods sending and owning CHAP. XXVII The second Branch of the use of Reproof viz. Of those who look not to Christ as lifted up of God his Spirit and Servants Use 6 Reproof 2 ANd as they are worthy of Reprehension and Reproof who lift not up the Son of man in their Doctrine or make not that their great design in order to the glorifying of God and doing good to others What ever or who ever else they lift up yea though they lift up as some do humane Virtues yea or Gods Gifts and Graces which are lift up out of their places when men lift them up neglecting him the right Spring of all truly good Works and the Author and Infuser of all real and right Virtues as discovered to and looked to by us So again many are greatly faulty too in not looking to and believing on him when lifted up as he is rightly lifted up in the Scriptures And indeed as the former sort are reproveable exceedingly as dishonouring God and Christ abrogating Gods Grace and obscuring Christs Glory so as men may not clearly see it and so are also very injurious and destructive to men hindring them of what is prepared of God for their Welfare and Happiness as was noted before And thereby also procure a woe and curse against themselves for how shall they escape the damnation of Hell who stand so cross and opposite to God in his grand Design and to Christ in the Honour due to him and to his Name and to the good of all men if they repent not Surely wrath is likely to and without Repentance will come upon them to the utmost 1 Thes 2.16 So also are they enemies to their own good and go contrary to Gods Ordinance Will and Command and by their evil examples are also at least prejudicial and injurious to others who when he is rightly lifted up of God and of his Spirit and his holy Apostles and Prophets as all their liftings of him up are right and by his Servants Ministers and Disciples yet refuse to behold and look to him and to seek their help and healing in and by him But either First Neglect him looking after and upon other things As the World and Flesh going in their hearts after their Covetousness their Oxen Farms Wives that I say not worse things as Hawks Hounds Whores Wine and Belly-chear Sports Pastimes c. like those in Mat. 22.5 6. Luke 14.19 20 21. and as those that look to their gain from their quarters neither sensible of their Wounds nor seeking to be healed of them they look rather on the Wine when its red or on Women or the Wedg of Gold c. Prov. 6.25 and 23.5.31 Josh 7. Or Secondly In case they be sensible that they be as it were bitten and punished for their sins If Afflictions Dangers Fears Poverty Pains or the like come upon them yet they look not to the Son of man for help or healing They turn not to him that smites them neither seek the Lord of Hosts but look to other things as their Policies and Contrivances for themselves saying In the pride and stoutness of their hearts the Bricks are fallen down but we will build with hewen stones The Sycamore Trees are cut down but we will build with Cedars Isa 9.10 13. Or else looking to those that smite them as instruments of their troubles thinking by complying with them and getting their favour and friendship and making them on their side shall be safe saying A confederacy to them that say a confederacy and staying upon them Isa 8.12 and 10.20 Or else looking to Humane helps and Carnal ways of defence and safety as when God brought War upon and discovered the Covering of Judah the weakness and nakedness of their Covering or else that Covering of his Spirit wherewith they should have covered themselves Isa 30.1 Even Christ as held forth to them in the Law and Prophets the true Propitiatory or covering Mercy-seat Rom. 3.25 then they not looking to that true Covering looked to the Armour of the house of the Forest and and saw the breaches of the City of David that they were many and gathered together the Waters of the lower Pool and numbred the houses and made a Ditch c. Such like Humane courses for safety they took But they looked not to the Maker thereof nor had respect to him that Fashioned it long ago looked not to the Lord the Maker Advancer and Blesser of their City nor to him that Fashioned it or made and fashioned the Covering wherewith they should have covered long ago Isa 22.8.11 Or they looked to Egypt and their Horses and Chariots Isa 30.1 2. but looked not to the holy One of Israel Isa 31.1 2 3. As men in a danger or fright that look hither and thither for help but look not to the true place for help So are men apt to look to Hills and Mountains in times of War in times of Sickness to the Physician as Asa 2 Chron. 16 12. and the like But seeing God hath set up and exalted such a one as is mighty to save the Son of man one chosen out of the People one who is one with us our Brother and Kinsman and so one compassionate of us as acquainted with our Temptations and Troubles And one that
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
That he might be capable of suffering such things as Death and Curse for us to redeem and deliver us from death and curse and from the fear of them And to the same purpose he speaks of his offering in Chap. 8.3 With 10.5 6 10. Every high Priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices wherefore also it was necessary that this man should have something to offer And what that was is said Chap. 10.5 6 10. Namely the body that God prepared for him the body of his flesh that died This through the eternal Spirit being raised from the dead he offered up unto God for us as an offering of a sweet smelling savour unto him In which God finding rest and well-pleasedness through him he is gracious and propitious to us Upon this account therefore and upon this mainly it was needful that Christ should be the Son of man very man for us For as Adam was something before he was a man namely dust and clay something below the nature of man and therefore in that form incapable of knowing and praising God till being made into a man indued with a reasonable and understanding Soul he was made capable so even so Christ also was something before he was a man something higher and better then earthly man even the Lord in heaven and therefore not capable as being in the form of God of dying and so of being an offering and sacrifice for man so as in the Nature of man he was and this is that wherein the greatness of Gods grace was testified toward us in making his only begotten Son the propitiation or propitiatory Sacrifice for our sins to prepare him a body for us and to lay the iniquities of us all upon him therein And this is the foundation and bottom as well as also the great and main matter of his declaration to us of what concerns us to know and the foundation and ground of his appearing for us with his Father as Mediator of God and Man and the great high-Priest over his house and his being Man the Son of Man Verily man fitted him for this both as thereby he had what to suffer in and what to offer as also I might adde as therein he became our Brother and Kinsman as is said before and so according to the Law of Moses Levit. 25.48 49. The The right of redeeming us appertained to him For the man that hath sold himself for a servant must be redeemed by one of kin to him as is there said And that he might hint to us all this grace of God in these forementioned branches we may understand him stiling himself the Son of Man That 's the Fourth Reas 5. Lastly he stiles himself the Son of Man or as some read it That Son of Man with reference to that Prophecy of Daniel that went before of him in which he was represented in such an appearance and so declared that he might signifie that he is that Son of Man of whom the said Prophet wrote and spoke in his said Vision And so to shew himself to be what is therein signified which what it was may be perceived by considering the place It is in Dan. 7. Where God shewed to Daniel the things that were to come to pass in the World The Kingdoms that should be set up and take place therein And so he saw first four great Beasts arise up out of the Sea which the Angel afterwards tells him should be four Kings that is succesionâ— of Kings or Kingdoms with their Kings as may appear by comparing ver 17. With ver 23. Now those four Beasts Kings or Kingdoms were the four Kingdoms or Empires of the Gentiles or Heathen that should with their Kings and Emperours have the great command of the Earth and they are represented like Beasts there or as the word properly signifies Wild or Savage Beasts as the Lyon Bear Leopard and the fourth a composure of them all Ver. 7. With Rev. 13.2 To signifie and imply the Savageness Brutishness and unreasonableness of those Governments That they should rule by Might Will and Power more then by yea with a neglect and contempt of right reason and equity as indeed they have generally done But then in ver 13. There is a Vision of one said to be like the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven brought near to the ancient of days to whom was given dominion and glory And a Kingdom that all Nations Peoples and Languages should obey and serve him Now this is afterward interpreted to be the Kingdom of the Saints or of the People of the Saints of the most high God ver 26 27. In which Christ shall be the great King and Governour and he therefore is principally and properly denoted by that one like to the Son of Man to whom was given the Dominion Glory and Kingdom as was before expressed But by the opposition of this mention of his appearance to the mention of the appearance and resemblance of the other Kings and Kingdoms is denoted doubtless not only that he should be a real Man as to the verity of his human nature to whom the Kingdom should be given But also that he should be as the Son of Man as to his Government and ordering of the Kingdom in distinction from or opposition to those that would be and Govern like Savage and Ravenous Beasts Namely that he should Govern and his Kingdom be governed or ordered by right reason equity mildness gentleness and discretion c. Which things belong to man as made of God and in distinction from the Bruit and Savage Beasts And so that He should reign in righteousness and his Princes the Saints reigning with him should decree Justice and govern with Law and equity Isa 32.1 2. Now our Saviour in calling himself the or that Son of Man May and as I apprehend did therein imply and signifie that he was that person spoken of in that Vision and Prophecy to whom the Kingdom and Glory and Dominion was appointed and should be given of God To whom all Peoples Nations and Languages owe obedience and service And who should and will Judge the Nations of the Earth both as to that Judgment exercised in his Word and Providences and by his Spirit now And as to his ordering the Government of God judging disposing and reigning at the last in his glorious Kingdom with his Saints in equity and righteousness according to the rules of that reason that is sound indeed even according to the word and mind of God To this purpose it is also that our Saviour said John 5.22 23 26. That the Father Judgeth no man but hath committed all Judgment or Government to the Son that all men might honour the Son even as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that sent him And he hath given him power to execute Judgment also because he is the Son of man even the or that Son of Man who in the
upon which they Ascend and Descend John 1.51 Rev. 19.10 And so we find the Angel Gabriel lifting up and commending the Messiah in his work and business Dan. 9.24 27. where he speaks both of the cutting off the Messiah and of the fruits and consequents thereof as the finishing transgression making an end of Sin making reconciliation for iniquity bringing in everlasting Righteousness c. The Angel Gabriel also brought down an honourable Testimony of him in which he lifted him up in Luk. 1.26.31 32 33. Where he said to the Virgin concerning him That He should be great and be called the Son of the highest and the Lord God should give him the Throne of his Father David and he shall Reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end c. As also an Angel lifted him up to the Shepheards at his Birth Saying to them Fear not for I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people For unto you You men in distinction from us Angels is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Luk. 2.10 11. Yea A multitude of the heavenly Host then also immediately being with that Angel honoured and lifted him up at his Birth Praising God and saying Glory to God on the highest and on Earth peace and good will toward men Luk. 2.13 Angels also witnessed to his Resurrection Mat. 28.2 5 6 7. Luk. 24.4 5 6 7 23. And to his Ascending up to Heaven and return from thence Act. 1.10 11. Yea and of his Glory there received as is evident in those Doxologies or Glorifyings of him mentioned Rev. 5.11 12. 7.11 12. Worthy is the Lamb that was stain to receive Power Riches Wisdom Strength Honour Glory and Blessing 2. I might add also That all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth and such are in the Seas do exalt and lift him up for so John tells us he heard them all saying Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth on the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever Rev. 5.13 But I only briefly mention those and come to those Creatures that are most concerned in him and his praises even our selves Men. And so he hath been is and must be lifted up By 3. Holy men his holy Apostles and Prophets as also by all his Messengers Servants and Saints even his whole Church through the helpfulness and by the power and strength of the holy Ghost as instruments in his hands And so he was lifted up and exalted 1. By the holy Prophets which were before his coming For To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name all that believe in him shall receive the forgiveness of sins Act. 10.43 And the Apostle Peter speaking again of the Death Resurrection and Exaltation of Christ tells us That all the Prophets from Samuel and those that followed spoke of those days Aâ—â— 3.24 Namely those in which those things were done and accomplished And that they Prophesied of the grace brought now unto us 1 Pet. 1.10 Whence also the Apostle Paul saith That he testified to small and great saying no other things then those which Moses and the Prophets did say should come to pass Viz. That Christ should suffer and be the first that should rise from the Dead and shew Light to the Gentiles and to the People Act. 26.22 23. 2. By John the Baptist who was the immediate forerunner of Christ a Prophet and more then a Prophet Being the Man sent of God to bear witness to Christ the Light That messenger sent before his face to prepare the way for him And his work and business was in bearing Witness of him to exalt and lift him up that all men through him might believe And he did highly lift him up and bare an honourable testimony of him as that he was before John and he himself not worthy to unloose the latchet of his Shoes That He is the Christ the true Light the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World the Baptizer with the holy Ghost the Bride-groom that hath the Bride c. John 1.6 7 8 9 15. 3. By the holy Apostles also whose office and business it was to be witnesses to him John 15.27 And to Preach and proclaim him so as to set him forth lift him up exalt and magnifie him in and unto all things And they by the holy Spirit and the holy Spirit in an by them and their Ministry according to the Doctrine of the Prophets fore-given forth by the holy Spirit concerning him Rom. 1.1 2 3 have highly extolled and lifted him up Preaching him 1. As to his person The Son of God Even the same that according to the Spirit and Divine Nature was in the beginning with God and God He by whom and for whom all things were made whether in Heaven or Earth visible or invisible Thrones Dominions Principallities or Powers all things were Created by him and for him and that by him all things consist he being before them That he is the Heir of all things the express character of the Fathers Person and the brightness of his glory The Wonderful the Councellor the Mighty or great God and our Saviour The Immanuel God with us John 1.1 2 3. Col. 1.15 16 17. Heb. 1.2 3. 1 Tim. 3.16 Tit. 2.13 Isa 9.6 That he is the Christ the Messiah He that was prophesied before of and promised by all the Prophets of God from the beginning of the World The only excellent person designed of God and promised from the beginning to be the Author Procurer and Dispenser of all grace and blessing to us John 1.41 45. Mat. 1.21 22 23. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. The very Christ Act. 9.20 22. He that was in the form of God not thinking Robbery to be equal with God but was sent of God in the nature and fashion of a man to be the Saviour of the world Phil. 2.6 7. John 3.17 Gal. 4.4 5. 1 John 4.14 2. As to his work and business that it was totally for us and our good a work of exceeding advantage to us and necessity for us Not to Condemn the World but that the World might be saved by him John 3.17 Not to judge the World but to save it John 12.4 7. And that by taking away its Sin John 1.29 And that by the Sacrifice of himself Heb. 1.3 9.26 Giving his flesh for the life of the World John 6.51 And so that he might by his death destroy him who had the power of Death the Devil and deliver those who by reason of the fear of Death were all their life-time subject to Bondage Heb. 2.14 15. That he might abolish or evacuate the destructive power and force of Death and bring life and Immortality to light 2 Tim. 1.10 Taking away Sin and destroying the works of the Devil 1 John 3.5 8. That so he might bring us to God 1
he pleaseth to be Apostles Prophets or otherwise useful for perfecting the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the acknowledgment of the Son of God unto a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the age of Christ Eph. 4.8 11 12 13. Col. 2.3.9 That it is He that hath prevailed to open the book in the right hand of God and unâ—rose the seals and discover and declare the hidden Wisdom and secret Mysteries contained therein Rev. 5.1 6. The great Apostle faiâ—hful in all things to him that appointed him as Moses in all his house accounted worthy of more honor then Moses to be more acquainted and intimate with God even as his Son in his bosome and so fullier furnished for declaring his Glory and glorious grace and good-will and more faithful even as a son in his own house built by himself Whereas Moses was faithful but as a servant therein Wherefore as the Holy Ghost also saith to day if ye will hear his voice even his that is Gods own Son the heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds his who is the express character of his Fathers person and the brightness of his glory giving forth the fullest and brightest discovery of God and of his holy mind and will and speaking to us from heaven harden not your hearts c. Heb. 3.1 2 3 4 7. with 1.3 12.25 Secondly As the Priest in and High Priest over the house of God the most authorized and consecrated person consecrated with the Word of Gods Oath and after the power of an endless life by a sacrifice once offered for ever and that never needs to be iterated made a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck an everlasting Priest in the vertues of his once endured Death for us and therefore able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Heb. 7.25 A Priest upon the throne and so both a King and Priest the true Melchisedeck being both King of Righteousness and after that King of Peace working performing and commanding righteousnes and so commanding and prevailingly making and giving Peace far greater then Aaron Levi or Abraham Such a Priest as we needed and it behoved us to have being holy harmless undefiled and separated from sinners and made higher then the heavens Heb. 7.1.26 â—7 A great High Priest entred into the heavens even into Heaven it self by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle and by vertue not of the bloud of others as Aaron did into the figure of the heavens onely but of his own precious bloud and sacrifice Where he now appears in the presence of God for us having obtained eternal redemption Heb. 4.14 9.11 12 24. A faithful High Priest and therefore made like is brethren in all things that he might be so to make atonement and reconciliation for the people and to succour and help the tempted Heb. 2.17 18. To which end also he is both perfectly furnished with knowledge of our cases and conditions by reason both of his exceeding quickness and powerfulness as the VVord of God for searching into all things and piercing even to the dividing asunder the soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow being a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart So as there is not any creature that is not manifested in his sight but all things are naked and opened as things anatomized and laid perfectly before his view Heb. 4.12 13. The Spirit that rests upon him making him quick of understanding Isa 11.2 3 4. And also as having had an experimental feeling of our infirmities and temptations as man in himself having himself suffered and been tempted yea tempted in all points like to us yet without sin and so the more acceptable and prevalent in his mediating and interceding with God for us And also perfectly merciful and compassionate towards us ready to plead for us and help us Heb. 2.17 18. with 4.15 5.1 2. So as we have great ground of encouragement from this consideration of his Priesthood and its perfection and his fitness by the vertues of his Sacrifice to make the worshippers of and comers to him and to God by him perfect to draw nigh and come with boldness to the throne of grace with true hearts and full assurance of faith to ask and receive grace and mercy to help us seasonably in all our trials and temptations Heb. 4.14 16. 9.14 10.19 22. Thirdly As a King he is set forth as furnished with the most sovereign Authority over all creatures in heaven earth and under the earth all things being put under him and the Throne and power of God given him in the manhood So as also to be every way accomplished to be the Law-giver Saviour and Judge He being indued also with all the fulness of the Spirit of counsel and might which resting upon him renders him both infinitely quick in understanding in the fear of the Lord and perfect in Righteousness in all his Government and the exercise of it Girded up in his loyns with righteousness and in his reins even in all his thoughts purposes and desires from whence issue all his words and motions for action with faithfulness Isa 11.2 3 4 5. Having a white horse under him as supported by his own Righteousness or as riding on the Heavens and having them at his command for the help of his subjects and riding swiftly and prosperously in all his Government Deut. 33.26 27. being called faithful and true and in righteousness judging and making war His eyes as a flame of fire discovering and trying all things And on his head are many Crowns Either as denoting his superlative Power or Jurisdiction over the many Countreys brought into an acknowledgment of him yea Kings and Kingdoms Or the many great Victories gotten by him over his enemies whether evil spirits or evil men engaging themselves against him and gotten by his truth against errour and impiety Or also the many praises ascribed to him And he hath a name Dignity Title Power which none knoweth but himself as signifying that he is exalted above all blessing and praise Neh. 9.5 and that none can set forth all his praises Ps 106.2 And he is clothed in a vesture dipt in bloud either because all his appearance in his Government to the spiritual eye is such as in which is manifested the vertue of his most precious Bloud Sufferings and Sacrifice for us Or because it represents the overthrow of his and our enemies And his name is called the Word of God as being the great speaker forth and Interpreter of the knowledge of God to us And he hath a sword that goeth out of his mouth A sharp cutting word full of killing convincing efficacy to all that stands cross to him which is therefore said to go out
and despised knowledge brought to them by him to turn at his reproofs promising to pour out his Spirit to them and make known his words In which is implied that upon their turning he would forgive their former sleightings of him and sinnings against him which if they had not been to be forgiven and overlooked by him would have hindred them of such dispensations of his Grace and Spirit to them Prov. 1.22 23. As thence also the wicked are called upon to forsake their ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turn to the Lord and he will have mercy upon them and abundantly pardon them Isa 55.7 And Christ tells the unbelieving Jews that would not come to him that they might have life that he would not accuse them to his Father and that if any man heard his voice and believed not he judged them not now because he came not into the world to judge the world but to save the world John 5.40 45. 12.47 In which saying it 's evident that the world he came to save includes also the now unbelieving persons in it while it 's yet a day of Grace he is saving them Also by his Intercession for transgressours as the Propitiation for the sins of the whole world and by renewed dispensations of patience forbearance and further grace to them as appears 1 John 2.1 2. Isa 53.12 Luke 13.8 Yea he prayed for such as actually abused and crucified him and in the repenting of such afterward he actually pardoned and forgave them Luke 23.34 with Acts 2.37 38 39. 3.19 20. 2. As Moses lifted up the Serpent that whosoever were stung with the fiery Serpents might have advantage and opportunity there-through to look upon it he declaring and informing them that it was set up as a means of healing and that it was Gods mind for giving healing by it that they look up to it and that it would not give forth any healing-virtue to them if not beheld by them yea probably if not beheld till they were healed if they turn'd their eye from it before its virtue had its force in and upon them though the Serpent was the same whether beheld or not beheld Even so is and must the Son of Man be lifted up that men may have an advantage and opportunity of beholding him he being not to be beheld if not lifted up How can they believe on him of whom they have not heard And how can they hear without a Preacher Or how can they preach except they be sent For Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10.14 17. Which makes it needful that they that know him and are commissionated of God as every one that hears hath commission to say to others Come Rev. 22.17 do hold him forth commend and magnifie him to men It 's true that the Apostle there in Rom. 10.18 propounding that question Have they not all heard answers Yes doubtless their voice is gone into all the world and their words to the ends of the earth Alluding to Psal 19.2 3 4. Where the Holy Ghost speaks of the Heavens declaring the glory of God and the firmament shewing his handy-work And so of Gods Works and Providences setting him forth and uttering knowledge as elsewhere it 's said All his works shall praise him To which also they are often called upon Psal 145.8 9. 148. 150. And the Lord they commend and praise is doubtless the same of and to whom he saith Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the heavens are the works of thine hands c. Psal 102.25 Which the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews applies to the Lord Jesus the Son of Man by whom the Lord hath spoken to us in these last days and by whom he made the worlds Heb. 1.1 2 10 11. And surely whosoever beholds him as there lifted up and praised so as to betake themselves to him for help they do and shall find mercy with him Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved In every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him Rom. 10.12 Acts 10.34 They that by nature or without verbal or vocal instruction do the things contained in the Law that love God and their neighbour though uncircumcised or not under the outward Regiment of Gods Kingdom and Ordinances their uncircumcision shall be accounted circumcision that is they shall be accepted and accounted of as Gods Church Rom. 2.25 26. And of those that by such means also are won in to God I understand in part what our Saviour saith That many shall come from the East and from the West even such as are not the children of the Kingdom and born under the distinct knowledge and Ordinances of God as the opposition to them in the following words do manifest wherein he adds and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac in the Kingdom of God when the children of the Kingdom such as are born and brought up in the professed Church and so are professedly under Gods Government or Ordinances shall be cast out Matth. 8.12 But I say notwithstanding whatever of this nature may be true however God in his lifting him up in his Providences and Works and the manifestations of him implicitely therein may do for the rendring him visible to men that they may behold him look to him and be saved by him Yet it concerns us as our duty and is that which God requires of us that we so lift up Christ in our distinct Preaching of him to men that men through our ministration may behold him in the distinct express declaration of him and be saved from their errours ignorances and iniquities which while they by their wisdom know him not in the wisdom of God as manifested in his works and providences they run into As to that purpose and for that cause it hath pleased God to appoint the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 It was not another light John bare witness to then that which enlighteneth every man coming into the world and that shined in the darkness before he bare witness to it It was not made another in or by his witness only more plainly declared and pointed to It was the same that was in the world though the world knew him not that came to his own and by his own was not received which whosoever received whether of the world or of his own were made the sons of God It was the same Word which was in the beginning with God that in due time was made flesh to bring us through his Sufferings in the flesh unto God in whom was the life and from whom the light came that always shined and in all the world But God to help men to discern him whom otherwise in his wisdom or more wise way to the view of the world as the way of his Creation and Providence is they usually overlook and
over us and for us his judgments also unsearchable and full of strength youth and beauty Psal 4.6 and 92.5 6. Rom. 11.33 His eyes or inspections like Doves eyes washed with milk undefiled pure and clean chast and single and fitly set nothing wrong or amiss in them he seasonably beholds our needs and wants and discovers either love or anger as is meet for us His cheeks the appearance of his face as beds of spices sweet flowers both lovely to the view and grateful to the tast and smell sweet fragrant precious refreshing the inward senses His lips like Lillies dropping sweet smelling myrrh his words pure and clean precious refreshing the heart and physical and full of purging healing virtue to the Soul and Conscience His Hands as Gold-rings set with the Beryll his powerful acts and works precious rich heavenly and his power without beginning or end His Belly as bright Ivory overlaid with sapphires his inward hearty affections and bowelly compassions manifest pure clean and chast and most preciously rich and inriching as opened and disclosed in the Holy Books or Scriptures of truth His Leggs as Pillars of Marble his goings strong and steddy set upon Sockets of fine gold having their Basis or Foundation in his Deity or also in his precious sufferings wherein he was as Gold tried in the Fire for us and all suitable to his Word and Wisdom more precious then the finest Gold Psal 19.10 and 119.72.127 Prov. 3.14 and 8.10 18 19. His 〈◊〉 like Liâ—â—â—â—â— excellent as the Cedars his stature and the growth of his glory and glorious Kingdom such as is beautiful and fragrant strong durable and such as over-passeth all others and his love and favour marveilous great strong and refreshing His mouth most sweet his gracious and heavenly Doctrin sweeter then the honey and the honey comb Psal 19.10 and 119.72 Yea he is altogether lovely or love and desires worthy to be admired and beloved of us Cant. 5.10 16. and though he hath not always one and the same appearance attributed to him yet it s always excellent and glorious In Dan. 10.6 his Body appeared like the Beryll of a sky-colour to signify his heavenliness and the heavenliness into which he brings his Church his face as the appearance of lightning terrible to his enemies and exceeding bright pure and glorious in its sudden transient manifestations His Eyes as Lamps of Fire his inspections such as discover things in the dark and burn up things combustible and such as are saving to his People Isa 62.1 Yea his eyes behold his eye-lids try the Children of men Psal 11.5 His armes wherewith he works and his feet wherewith he walks like in colour to polished brass strong bright glorious and pure for his work is perfect and all his ways are judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32.4 Or as Nebuchadnezar expressed it His works are truth and his ways judgment and such as walk in pride he is able to abase Dan. 4.37 The voice of his words like the voice of a multitude Such firmness in his sayings and testimonies that are as much or more to be believed then what is testified by a multitude of witnesses In Rev. 1.14 it s a little otherwise His head white like wooll white as snow to shew him to be from of old from everlasting Mic. 5.2 The everlasting Father Isa 9.6 and his Authority and Government to be perfectly pure and immixed with any thing of evil His eyes as flames of fire his views such as perfectly discerns what 's in the dark and makes it evident burning up the evil His feet like unto fine brass like as if they burned in a Furnace which may signify beside what we noted on them in Daniel the fiery trials that he orders in his ways and providences for purifying his members in their goings and yet the durableness of his ways and meanest and greatliest suffering members that are not thereby consumed but consume what opposeth his walkings His voice as the sound of many waters which signifies a multitude of witnesses as before In his right hand seven Stars to signify his holding and upholding by his power and favour his shining Ministers and disposing them as he pleaseth And out of his mouth went a sharp Sword his quick and piercing Word with its Instructions Reproofs and Judgments And his countenance as the Sun when it shineth in its strength his favour affording most excellent and full light of understanding warmth and chearing of heart and effecting fruitfulness in all good things when it shines forth such is He as he is represented in the similitude of a man yea as He took a body of flesh for us so He therein and therethrough is the body or substance of all things that typed him out Col. 2.16 But let us view him also in the Perfections of 2. Man's inside as made of God God breathed into Man the breath of life and Man became a living Soul Life is common to Man with other Creatures and is a great excellency of the Creatures indued with it making them therein to excel the inanimate Christ not only hath life in himself but is the life the life of the Soul the Resurrection and the Life Joh. 11.25 The Way the Truth and the Life Joh. 14.6 Yea all life he gives to the Soul as well as He hath it in himself Life of growth for as he himself grew in wisdom stature and favour both with God and man so he causeth the Soul to grow in grace as He in the knowledg of himself comes more and more into it The Thessalonians being in God and Christ their faith and love grew exceedingly 2 Thes 1.1 3. 2 Pet. 3.18 Life of sense and motion He hath that perfectly for he beholdeth all things and nothing is hid from his sight but all things are opened and naked before him Heb. 4.12 13. Though yet through charity none so blind as he not to see and observe against us our iniquities Isa 42.19 20. Psal 130.3 4. He heareth all things for he that planted the ear shall not he hear Psal 94.9 Though through charity he is oft as one deaf to what may make against men so as not to testify his hearing in punishing them Isa 42.19 20. But he hears the cry of the poor and helpless yea he hears from heaven Psal 102.20 compared with ver 25 26. and Heb. 1.10 11. He smells the savour of his Spouses Ointments above all Spices and her Garments as the smell of Lebanon Cant. 4.10 11. He tasts the sweetness of her love more then Wine and eats his honey-comb with his honey and drinks his Wine with his milk and findes sweetness and refreshing therein Cant. 4.10 and 5.1 Though he will not smell in the solemn Assemblies of evil doers tast their sacrifices nor regard their Songs or the melody of their Viols Amos 5.21 22 23. He feels also our infirmities and can be touched with his
but is the Spirit that enlivens and works in and for Antichrist according as the Apostle saith Gal. 1.8 9. If I Paul or an Angel from Heaven preach another Gospel to you then that which we have preached let him be accursed Many People judg of Teachers and Ministers either by their Authority from Men or their Learning in Worldly or Humane Sciences or the Zeal or seeming Innocency or Piety in their walkings but these the Apostle implies may possibly be in those that are not of God they may be like Angels in their appearance or they may also pretend and seem to have immediate mission and furniture from God without such ordinary ways and means as others attain to understanding and fitness by for as the Apostle elsewhere saith Sathan is transformed into an Angel of light and therefore it is no great matter if his Ministers be transformed into the Ministers of righteousness 2 Cor. 11.14 And yet be Messengers of Sathan still those things which most men look upon of the conversation and walking of men may be included in the sheeps clothing the Sheep is distinguished from the Wolf by his bleating rather then by his clothing joyned with the innocency meekness in him the holy men of God had the end of their conversation Jesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for ever It s good for us to mind them and to follow their Faith and such as so walk and not to be carried about with divers and strange doctrines Doctrines different from that whereof Christ is the great matter and end Heb. 13.8 9. The Gospel preached by the Apostles was a Doctrine setting forth to Men and calling them into the grace of Christ Gal. 1.6 and that which swarves there-from is another Gospel or a perverting of the Gospel of Christ and is not to be heard who ever he be and how-ever he be gifted or walk that brings it no nor is he to be received to house or bid God speed to He that so doth being therein a partaker of all his evil deeds saith 2 Joh. 10 11. Implying that they be evil doers as indeed they must needs be and so they are called Philip. 3.2 who pervert or change the Gospel of Christ into another Doctrine as was before noted in chap. 21. The Prophets all witnessed to Christ as to come in the Flesh proclaiming Him the Seed of the Woman that was to bruise the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 The Seed of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob that was to be the blessing of all the Nations and Families of the Earth Gen. 22.18 and 26.4 and 28.14 The Prophet to be taken out of Israel like to Moses in all things The Seed of David in whose hands the Kingdom and Peace was to be established for ever Psal 89.3 4. and 132.11 Isa 9.7 A Root out of the stemme of Jesse and a Branch out of his Roots Isa 11.1 A Child born to us and a Son given to us and yet the Wonderful the Counsellor the Mighty God Isa 9.6 A man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs that was to be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities upon whom was to be laid the chastisement of our peace and who by his knowledge should justifie many as bearing their sins c. Isa 53.3 4 5 10 11. And all the Apostles have preached confessed and lifted him up as such a one saying no other things then what Moses and the Prophets did say should come to pass Yea and the end of their walking hath been to commend glorify and win in to him and therefore they who so preach and speak and walk are the true Ministers of God and such as are to be heard whether they have humane authority eloquence of speech and worldly learning or not for even Christ and the Prophets and Apostles at least divers of them had not nor came with those things Joh. 7.15 Act. 4.13 Amos 7.14 Yea though they should have like passions as other men and be men of infirmities as the Prophet Elias Jam. 5.17 And the Apostles were Act. 14.15 Or be Men mean in their Person and Speech as they said of the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 10.10 as on the other side the false Prophets and Teachers may boast of and have an appearance of all the contrary Mind we then what it is that men confess and whether in their word and conversation that be their end to exalt and glorify the Son of man and win in to Christ as come in the Flesh and close we with and receive them that so do but if Any bring not that Doctrine reject and refuse him whether it be that He 1. Deny Jesus to be the Christ or the Anointed one that should come into the World and whom Moses and the Prophets meant and wrote of whether he preach and expect another Person yet to come distinct and diverse from him and to do either the same works that he hath done or some other acts of saving Men by setting up an outward Kingdom for the Jews after the manner of other great Princes and Emperors in the World or whether they look for no other man but turn all into an Allegory of some light or power within whereof that Person was only an outward Representation Type or Figure Or 2. Assert a necessity of Moses Law to be observed and kept that men may be justified and accepted of God and saved as if Christ was not the end of the Law for righteousness for that 's a denying of him come in the Flesh as to the work and business of his coming Act. 15.2 Gal. 1.7 8 9. 2 Joh. 7.8 Or whether He 3. Deny the dispensation of the Spirit and the pouring it out upon all Flesh or the openness of the grace of God in and through him and liberty of access to God in the faith of him and of what he hath done and suffered for us for that 's not a confessing praising and commending him as so come as an All-sufficient compleat Saviour or as the Anointed the Christ furnished for helping and saving Mankind and as a good ground for all or any Man to repent upon and to turn to and hope in God Or whether He 4. Look for and teach to expect another and further Revelation of the truth of God then that given in and by him as if he had not compleated the Vision and Prophecy or was not the Person anointed of God to give the full Revelation of the mystery or had not done it in the Gospel preached by him and by his Servants in his Name and at his appointment and in the Spirit thereunto and therein given forth Or 5. Talk to men of an immediate approach to God and receit of Word and Spirit grace and blessing from Him without looking to him in and by Christ as if He was not in the nature of man or as Man exalted at Gods right hand and there abiding and interceding for us and obtaining for and
their hearts to Favour her she takes it out of his Hands with thankfulness She relies not upon the multitude of her Members the great and profound Learning of her Doctors the high Degrees Dignities and Eminencies of her Officers and Ministers in the World her great Revenues Possessions and Riches among men These are the things the Whore loves looks after and leans upon and hath her glorying and confidence in But the true Spouse of Christ leans upon his Shoulders Looks to Magnifie and Loves Lives to and Believes on him for all Peace inward and outward Protection Safety Blessing and Satisfaction she makes it not her business then to serve this World or the great men thereof to humour observe comply with and complement them and receive their Impositions in Faith and Worship though according to her Lords directions she Submits to every Ordinance of man for his sake whether to the King as Supreme or to the Governours as sent by him And meddles not with Seising on their Crowns and Kingdoms raises not up Wars and Commotions against them contests not nor strives with them for worldly Greatness Honour and Riches thence Murthering or Trampling upon them or stirring up Rebellions against them It 's the Whore and her Daughters and such as drink of her Cup that practice such things But she Prays for them and gives them all due Reverence Honour and Subjection as her Lord commands her It 's her great business to please her Lord receive and keep his Sayings conform her self to his Will and Orders seek his Favour Protection and Countenance for she depends on him for all things both for this life and for that which is to come and therefore matters not nor fears to displease the greatest Persons and expose themselves to their Frowns and Persecutions for his sake so She and her Members may please him her Head and Husband and keep in with him and keep him with them Such is the Way Heart and Carriage of them that believe not on men nor trust to themselves their own Power Policy Riches or Multitude but believe on the Son of man as knowing and believing that he though the Son of man is able and faithful to maintain them and make them happy And then for Her and their Priviledges they are such as they have in and by their believing in him and depending upon him That is they are and shall be saved and have Eternal life with him in his Kingdom and these Priviledges do very well content her and every Part and Member of her as led by his Spirit in her Though he do not keep them from being Tempted of Satan and his Instruments or from being Hated Opposed Oppressed and Persecuted of men yea Fought against and Murthered sometimes by the Beast the Whore or False prophet and their Members and Admirers the Limbs of Antichrist because he sees it may be profitable for them and he knows how to turn it to good to them and to his own praise in their Salvation and increase of Glory yet she is there-with well contented having the assured hope and certain promise and ingagement of her Husband to preserve her in his Grace and Favour and to keep her from perishing from the way to his Kingdom She is willing that Satan may be permitted to tempt her as her Head and Husband sees good so he do but step in between him and her and secure her from being defiled or injured by him She is willing to be Mocked Scoffed Buffetted Reproached put to Death in her Members with and for him so he may be the more Honoured there-through and she may but Live in and with him She is willing to take part with him in the Tossings and Troubles in the way for his sake having confidence that he will preserve her from fainting and perishing in the end and that he will see and set her safe at last in rest with himself in the Injoyments and Embracements of his Love in his Fathers Kingdom It is not this Worlds Wealth Riches Honours Ornaments Scarlet Gowns Lawn Sleeves Mitres Scepters Crowns Applause and such like Carnal and Perishing things not to have stately Palaces full and fat Livings and Benifices the Salutations and Complements of the Rich and Potent in their Meetings and uppermost Seats in Conventions and the like In a word it is not the Ease Safety Grandeur Favour of this World or the Wise and Great ones of it that she looks for her priviledges in No no they are the Whore and her Daughters and Members that look for such fine things and contend for such like Priviledges and Respects and by that they may in part be known not to be Christs true Spouse nor to have their dependance on him but other things His true Church are those that believe in him and look after and rejoyce in his Salvation that they may be upheld and kept in his Service that they perish not there-from and that they may be saved from every evil thing and obtain Eternal life the knowledg of the true God the Father and Himself and the everlasting Injoyment of their Fellowship and Favour in his everlasting Kingdom And these are priviledges which the Whore it may be sometime talks of but in heart seeks not nor rejoyces in But they are such as far exceed all the priviledges and greatest Advantages that can any other way then in believing on the Son of man be injoyed by men or then are injoyed by any other beside them Nor do they that are Members of this holy Church and this true Spouse envy the enjoyment of those priviledges by any nor strive to keep them by themselves or get them from one another as the Whore and her Daughters and Members do envy their Honours Places Ornaments Fame for Learning rich Livings and the like seeking to get or keep them from one another Nor call others to behold their Parts Gifts Excellencies as the Whore or whorish Members do But they desire all should have and injoy the Favour of the Lord in Union with them and partake of their Priviledges in joyning with them in Honouring and Serving him calling all to him and not to themselves but as in coming to him they become one in heart way and design of Glorifying him and injoying safety and life Eternal with them Thence the Spirit and the Bride say come they gather to the Lord and desire the Lords coming to and company with them which the Whore and her Bawds and Panders care not for thinking of they had rather have his Room then his Company to have his Place Honour Worship and Respect then to have his Spiritual or Glorious presence with them because they know themselves guilty of disloyalty towards him and love their present carnal Injoyments which they know his coming and company would part them from Whereas his true Spouse believing on him know his presence will be the compleat deliverance of them from all danger and possibility of perishing and the