usurping another mans Office or Trespassing upon Divines I cannot see but Divines and Phisitians may well agree together Both are busied about curing of diseases either spirituall or corporall and here is a medicine for both Besides although I have thus laboured out of my calling as I am a Phisitian yet I am not out of my profession as I am a Christian What I have written I intended for a publick benefit I do willingly submit it to the judgment of Gods Children they must all confess it is the last hour of the worlds age wherin iniquity is increased impiety is enlarged and all charity is almost abandoned all things growing worse and worse by continuance Et Satanas tanto ferventior ad saevitiam quanto se sentit viciniorem ad paenam and Satan having the greater rage to drive us to transgression by how much the neerer he perceives himselfe to destruction and therefore let men say what they will yet seeing we may truly demand of them quid audiam verba cum videam contraria facta What booteth all our knowledge seeing wee do nothing that we know nor know nothing indeed as we ought to know I say that it cannot be amisse to do what we can to expresse those things that may best make for our happiness and I know these points are necessary to be knowne and most profitable to be practised by all Christians Read them then and I will pray to God that he will give the grace Faeliceter currere faelicius in Christi pietate cursum tuum cousummare to understand what thou readest to beleive what thou understandest and to practise what thou beleivest that so thou mayst attaine unto everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Robert Bayfeild From my Study in Norwich Feb. 3. 1656. The Stationer to the READER Reader IF in this Tractate the Quotations of Greek and Latine do offend thee let them be unto thee as countrey stiles stepping over them thou loosest not thy way by them for their Expositions follow them Imprimatur Edm. Calamy CHAP. I. OF GOD. IT must be the cheifest care of all that would be happy to know God The cheifest happinesse of man is to know God Joh. 17.3 which is the cheifest happinesse of all and therefore our Saviour saith That this is eternall life to know him to be the onely true God and whom he hath sent Jesus Christ Yet the misery of mans nature is so great that whereas it was created to the bright knowledge and even the very image of God it is fallen so far as it is not onely ignorant who and what God is but also maketh disputation whether there be any God in Heaven or no who hath care over the World and humane affaires as Ovid confesseth of himselfe Ovid Amor. l. 3. Eleg. 8. Sollicitor nullos esse putare Deos. And indeed it is very sad and dreadfull that these sollicitations and suggestions of Satan have prevailed not only with diverse of the Heathens but also with many Christians even in these our dayes which as Justin Martyr observeth Justin Martyr in dial cum Tryph. p. 153. Vide etiam Theodoret. de Provident Ser. 1. to 2. p. 576. Psal 14 1. are so called and yet are nullius numinis cultores no better indeed then plaine Atheists though not such as Diagoras and Theodorus that did plainly deny all Deity but such as the Prophet David speaks of that say in their hearts There is no God because they cannot see him yet let all such fools Atheists Heathens and wicked persons know that they err and are deceived Matth. 22.29 Exod. 33.20 Joh. 1.18 Joh. 4.24 not knowing the Scriptures No man can see God and live No man hath indeed seen God at any time with the bodily eye and yet there is a God who as he will be worshipped with the worship of the spirit spiritually so will he be seen with the eyes of the spirit inwardly Thou hast a soule and yet thou seest it not there is a winde and yet thou perceivest it not So there is a God though thou see him not The which to averr contrary to the fools saying Gen. 1.1 Deut. 4.35 6.4 Atheists living Heathens worshipping and wicked persons thinking there are in generall six things that do manifestly and apparently prove that there is an everlasting and incomprehensible One to wit Elohim El 1 Cor. 8.6 Psal 83.18 86.10 Psal 68.4 Ejeth Shaddai Jah Jehovah God alone in persons three but in essence onely one 1 Joh. 5.7 1. Gods Works of Creation Psal 19.1 Rom. 1.20 which is a long Volume and especially above all the rest the Soule of Man breathed by God into him 2. The Word of the Lord the holy Bible being a briefe Compendium wherein thou mayst read of Gods nature and being 3. The Incarnation of the Son of God an ingraven Table Heb. 2.16 in which thou shalt see God himselfe manifested in the flesh of man 4. The Consent of all Nations who worship any God rather then no God for there is no Nation so barbarous but it beleives that there is some Divinity or holds opinion that there must needs be an Essence or a first efficient cause the producer of all things else whatsoever because the vertue of the God-head hath such powerfull efficacy that it very manifestly declares it selfe to all such as have the least taste of reason Exod. 8.19 Rom. 2.15 Dan. 4.4 5.6 5. The Terrours of Conscience which maketh the most ungodly miscreants will they nill they to acknowledge him and to tremble at his judgments sent upon them Prov. 16.33 6. His Power in sustaining his Providence in maintaining his Love in correcting his bounty in promising his faithfulnesse in performing his grace in giving and his mercy in taking away maketh the faithfull to confesse him and in all his proceedings to justifie his wisedome So that we may plainely see God left not himselfe without witnesse sufficient at all times and in every place to prove unto every one that there is a God And seeing Atheists beleeve not the Scriptures we have more testimonies then them to testifie the same Acts 14.17 Search among all the Precepts of the Heathens and you shall find this was their cheifest lesson 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 know God Take the testimonies of the wisest men and of the sharpest apprehensions in the world whom Plutarch distinguisheth to be either Philosophers Plutarch in amat to 3. moral p. 416. Law-givers or Poets hi omnes uno ore dicunt Deum esse and all these with one voice do say that There is a God Plato de legibus l. 10. Plato not only saith it but also confirmeth it by many invincible reasons Aristotle though a man Aristotle in l. de mundo p. 1566. in l. 1. Metaph to 2. c. 2. p. 1371. saith Grotius not very credulous in this kind yet we find in his later
is no more able to expresse all the Mysteries and most excellent points that we might collect and learne from the Incarnation of Christ then one poor fisher man is able to catch all the fishes in the ocean sea And therefore thus much shall suffice concerning this discourse of the Incarnation Birth Life Death Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who is as hath been proved the true and promised Messiah the only son of God the brightnesse of his glory the expresse image of his Person heire of all things Heb. 1.2.3.4 c. more excellent then the Angels having honour glory Power strength Praise 2 Pet. 1.17 Rev. 5.12 Colos 2.3.1.18 Psal 2.8 Eph. 1.20.21.22 Psal 72.8.17 Phil. 2 9. Dignity Riches and Wisdome yea all treasures of knowledge and wisdome the heathen for his inheritance the Earth for his possessions and the Heavenly places for his seate far above all Power Might Dominion and Principalities with a Name given him above all Names at which every knee should bow c. Being the second Person in Trinity begotten of his Father from Eternity Gal. 4.4 in one Person the Son of God and very man Man Non exeundo quod habuit sed induendo quod non habuit not by loosing that he had but by accepting what hee had not our miserable nature conceived of a Virgin by the Holy Ghost called of his Father ever since the fall of Adam to be a Mediator between God and man desired of the Patriarchs prefigured in the Law foretold by the Prophets accomplished in the time of Grace manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit 1 Tim. 3.16 seen of Angells preached unto the Gentiles beleeved on in the world and received up into Glory For man hee became a King to rule a Prophet to teach and Priest to sacrifice CHAP. III. OF THE HOLY GHOST Wherein the greatnesse of Gods goodness doth appeare WHEN we think upon the infinite goodnesse of the great Jehovah how gracious he is in all respects amiable in himselfe placable unto men liberall unto all his creatures none is so stupid and dull as not to admire it in him such is the never-dying streams of the goodness of God it is like a boundlesse Ocean there is no end of his Goodnesse and therefore Saint Bernard in admiration thereof breaketh forth into these heavenly acclamations saying Quam dives es in misericordia magnificus in Justitia munificus in gratia Domine Deus noster O how rich art thou in mercy how magnificent in Justice and how bountifull in Grace O Lord our God! For thou art a most liberall bestower of heavenly gifts Nam tu munerator copiosissimus remunerator aequissimus liberator piissimus Bernard a most righteous Rewarder of humane workes and a most gracious Deliverer of all that trust in thee yea so great is the goodnesse of God it is beyond expression beyond our imagination our words are beneath our thoughts and our thoughts far lower then the truth thereof Deut. 32.49 52. Yet as Moses from the top of Mount Nebo beheld the borders of the land of Canaan so if you please to ascend with me to the Mount of Contemplation I will shew you some glimpses of Gods goodnesses Certaine glimpses or shadowes of Gods goodness for he elected us before we were he created us of nothing hee redeemed us when we were lost hee preserveth us being found and that hee might bring us to eternall life hee hath given us the Author and Fountain of all temporall and spirituall gifts even the holy Ghost What the holy Ghost is 1 Joh. 5.7 Joh 15.26 Gal. 4.6 Psal 139.7 who is the third Person of the true and only God-head proceeding from the Father and the Son and co-eternall coquall and consubstantiall with them both Mat. 28.19 Isa 6.8.9 Act 28.25.26 He is call'd by the name of spirit proceeding from the Father and the son to shew the Essence and Nature that he is of for as the spirit of man must needs be truly of mans nature and is the most formall and Essentiall part of man 1 Cor. 2.11.12 So and much more it must be thought of the Spirit of God upon whom no Composition falleth And yet some have been so bold as most impiously to affirme that the holy Ghost was but a created quality or a godly motion in the hearts and minds of Righteous man Isa 6.8.9 Acts 28.25.26 But if wee do compare the words of Isaias with the words of Saint Paul they will sufficiently confute this damnabe â—rrour and most manifestly shew unto us this holy spirit to be the true and eternall God Besides the scripture saith That the spirit of the Lord filleth heaven and earth Sap. 1.7 whereupon Saint Basil Ambrose de S. S. l. 1. c. 7. Saint Augustine Saint Ambrose and others have most plainly proved against all hereticks whatsoever that the holy Ghost is a true God by Nature That the Holy Ghost is a true God by nature because that to be every where cannot by Grace belong to any but only to him that is by Nature God which reserveth this unto himselfe to be every where and therefore Saint Augustine writing against Maximinus an Arrian Bishop saith Aug. cont Maxim l. 3. c. 21. Epist 66. I cannot express how much I marvell what a heart you have so to extoll the holy Ghost as to make him every where present to sanctifie the faithfull and yet that thou dare deny him to be a God for is not he a God which filleth heaven and earth Also Dydimus in his booke Basil de spiritu sancto c. 22. and Saint Basil in his treatise De spiritu sancto declare that to be God Didym lib. 1. de spiritu sancto which can be in diverse places at one time Which thing is not agreeable to any creature But that the holy Ghost was present with the Apostles and Prophets in sundry parts of the world at one time no man professing the faith of Christ doth in the least doubt the truth thereof Wherefore it followeth that he is a God Job 33. Mat. 28.19 1 Joh. 5.7 Joh 14.1.16 1 Cor 3.16 2 Cor. 13.14 Psal 33.6.104 30 The Symbolum of Nice out of the holy scripture teacheth That the holy Ghost is hee that maketh alive and hee that together with the Father and the sonne is worshiped and with them is honoured therefore the holy Ghost of necessity must be true and everlasting God with the Father and the son in one only essence touching which point the holy Fathers powerfully did set themselves against the Hereticks and out of holy scripture stoutly maintained the same Plato Aristotle Proclus Suidas Orpheus Pherecydes Parmenides Porphyrius Numenius Amelius Chalcidius Avicen As for Atheists which deny the scriptures and are altogether ignorant of this blessed spirit if they will but look into the writings of
Itaque loquentes de iis quae supra nos sunt cogimur uti verbis nobis congruentibus Ex quo fit ut Deo somnum iram securitatem manus pedes alia ejusmodi tribuamus There are many things which concerne God that insignification doe carry an obscure construction and cannot properly be delivered Wherefore in speaking of those which are above us we strive to use apt and congruent words to our capacity whereby ensueth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that sleepe anger ease hands feete and other such like may seeme to be ascribed unto God We finde also in the sacred Scriptures many Epithets and Appellations answerabe to the manifold effects of his power rule and Divinity His Epithets are Almighty Strong Exod. 6.3 Matth. 1 7. Psal 86.10 Jam. 1.17 Deut. 7.21 10.17 1. Tim. 1.11 Gen. 21.33 Psal 31.2 Isa 42.13 Isa 28.5 Isa 42.14 Hos 13.7 Hos 11.10 Deut. 32.11 Lam. 3.10 Job 16.4 Great Vchangeable Dreadfull Terrible Wronderfull Blessed Everlasting Favourable Eternall Faithfull Gracious Good Holy Jealous Invisible Just Mercifull Pittifull Righteous True uncorruptible Incomprehensible most Powerfull c. He is compared unto a strong Rock a man of Warr a Diadem of Beauty and unto a woman Travelling He is also compared unto a Leopard a Lyon an Eagle a Beare a Gyant and a Moth Hos 5.12 and he is compared unto a righteous Father a strong Lord a Law-giver a righteous Judge a Cart pressed downe a Counsellor a freind a House of defence a lender a mighty man a Mother a Purifier a Purger and a Refiner of Gold c. Lastly his Appellations are as followeth God is called A Father Mal. 1.6 A Creator Isa 40.28 A Builder Heb. 3.4 A Compasser Psal 32.7 A Nourisher Isa 1.2 A Planter Gen. 2.8 A Record Job 16.19 A Rebuker Hos 5.2 A Redeemer Isa 43.1 A Rewarder Gen. 15.1 A Rock Psal 18.2 A Sanctuary Isa 8.14 A secret place Psal 32.7 A Shadow Isa 25.4 A Shepheard Psal 23.1 A Sheâ—d Psal 115.11 A Spirit Joh. 4.24 Truth Deut. 32.4 A Husband Isa 54.5 A just Judge Psal 9.8 God is called The holy one Job 6 10 A Helper Psal 10 14 I am that I am Exod. 3 14 A Keeper Psal 121 5 A Leader Deut. 32 12 A Maker Job 32 22 A Master Eph. 6 9 A Man of Warr Exod. 15 3 A mighty one Isa 1 24 Onely wise Rom. 16 27 A Habitation Psal 90 1 A Deliverer Exod. 18 4 A Captaine 2 Chro. 13 12 Almighty Rev. 1 8 A Fortresse Psal 18 2 An Elector Rom. 8 33 An Avenger Psal 94 1 Abba Father Mark 14 36 A Witnesse Jer. 29 23 A Treasurer Isa 33 6 A Succourer Psal 22 19 A Sure trust Psal 71 7 A Strong hold Nah. 1 7 God is called The searcher of the hearts Rom. 8 27 A Saviour of Israel Jer. 14 8 The Rock of Salvation Deut. 32 15 A Revealer of Secrets Dan. 2 47 A Refuge for the oppressed Psal 9 9 God is called The Portion of Jacob Jer 51 19 A ponderer of the hearts Prov 24 12 A Preserver of men Job 7 20 The lifter up of mans head Psal 3 3 The light of Israel Isa 10 17 The life of man Deut 30 20 An everlasting King 1 Tim 1 17 An eternall King Jer 10 10 An invisible King 1 Tim 1 17 A great King Psal 95 3 The Sword of Excellency Deut 33 29 A stay in calamity Psal 18 18 The Fountaine of all living waters Jer 2 13 The Fountain of Jacob. Deut 33 28 The former of all things Prov 26 10 The first and the last Isa 41 4 An everlasting strength Isa 26 4 A consuming fire Heb 12 29 Christs head 1 Cor 11 3 Author of Peace 1 Cor 14 33 The arm of the Godly Isa 33 2 A living Father John 6 57 The fear of Isaac Gen 31 42 Lord of The Hebrewes The Harvest Heaven and Earth Hostes Kings Exod 7 16 Luke 10 2 Matth 11 25 Idem Isa 14 27 Dan 2 47 God is called Lord of Salvation The vineyard Psal 88 1 Matth 21 40 The Guide of our youth Jer 3 4 A great reward Gen 15 1 The habitation of Justice Jer 50 7 The holy one of Israel Isa 1 4 The horn of Salvation Psal 18 2 Alpha and Omega Rev 1 8 The Judge of the world c. Gen 18 25 Moreover It is observed that almost all Nations do write and pronounce the name of God with four Letters A remarkable note He is called in Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jehovah In which word there are contained all the Vowells a.e.i.o.u. without some of which no word can be spoken no name can be uttered and that in it there is nothing but Vowels excepting h which is no letter but the aspiration of the word to note unto us that as the Vowels together with the aspiration are the Life and as it were the Soule of every word so is Jehovah the Lord God the very Life and being as it were of every creature that can be named because that of him and for him Rom. 11 36. and through him are all things Non quod illa sunt quod ipse est sed quia ex ipso sunt Not that they are the same that he is but because they have their existence and perfection from him Bern. in Cant. Ser. 4. as Bernard saith God is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à currendo of running Quod ubique dum opus sit accurrat adsit opemque ferat sive ab urendo quod improbos habitus comburat quando ex ea re ignis consumens dicitur That every where while need requireth he runneth is there present and giveth helpe or else of Burning that he will burn the dwelling of the wicked when he is said to be a Consuming fire to them The Latines breaking the Greek word instead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 say Deus God is called in English Godd with a double Letter d as hath been observed in antiquity In Spanish he is called Dios in French Dieu in Italian Idio In Dutch Gott in Chalde and Syrian Eloho in Arabian Alla in Ethiopian Ahilah in Egyptian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Assyrian Sure or Adad in Persian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Dalmatian or Illirian Orsi In Turkish Abgl In New found land Zimi and lastly the Wizards of Persia do write 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus you see that the name of God is contained in foure letters as some think to demonstrate thereby that it is hee that hath made and formed all things that they are composed of Four Elements and that he made also the foure Elements themselves which do rule over all things created in this world Now for the understanding and knowledge of this one eternall and omnipotent being we must first note that no creature can define what God is because he is incomprehensible
reason that he cannot be defined or comprehended as very learnedly the Philosopher Symonides answered for hee being demanded concerning the Essence of God and having many dayes given him to resolve the question at last he said The more I strive to consider what God is the more difficult I find the matter to be therefore we ought to take great heed that we wade not too far into this depth but let us learne Chrysost hom 2. in heb Potius glorificare eum qui est quam investigare quid est Rather most faithfully to serve him which is then too curiously to search what he is for as S. Chrysostome saith Chrysost quo supra hom 2. in Heb. Neque ad loquendum dignè de Deo lingua sufficit neque ad percipiendum intellectus praevalet our tongues are not able to speake worthily enough of God and our understandings are not sufficient to conceive of him as we ought to do therefore we should never think upon God without great reverence saith Musculus Thirdly By way of supereminency transcendent excellency as when we ascribe to God whatsoever excellencies that are or may be spoken of him far above all the excellencies of all creatures whatsoever as when we say not only in the Concrete that God is just mercifull wise strong good and such like but also in the Abstract By way of supereminency That the abstract names all excellencies are only proper to God that hee is Justice Mercy Wisedome Strength and Goodnesse it selfe which cannot be said of any of all the creatures for that all the best excellencies of the cheifest creatures are but as little sparkes in respect of a huge infinite fire or as a few drops of rain in comparison of the whole Ocean Sea if we should compare them to the excellency of God Nay we should finde their wisdomes Folly their strength Weaknesse their beauty Baldnesse and all their goodnesse to be nothing in respect of the goodness of God Job 4.18 for He chargeth his Angells with folly and the Heavens are not cleer in his sight Now according to these three waies God is described to be an Immortall A description of God by way of 1. Negation 2. Affirmation 3. Supereminency invisible incomprehensible spiritual infinite Eternall Essence the cause of all causes the author of all excellencies So here you see a boundlesse Ocean and a very large Description of God and I may sooner loose my selfe in the prosecuting of the same then find him fully as he is in any place which is fully truly in every place In a sober sence Bernard saith true Nusquam est ubique est God is every where by his Essence repletively no where inclusively he is no where because no place whether reall or imaginary can comprehend or contain him he is everywhere because no body no space or spirituall substance can exclude his presence or avoid the penetration if I may so speak of his essence He is in Christ spiritually in himself Alpha Omega In the world a Governour in Angels as Beauty in his Church as an Housholder in his Family in the Soul as a Bridegroom in his Marriage-chamber in the Righteous as an Helper in the Reprobate as fear and horror in the Godly to defend them and in the wicked to punish them There are indeed foure degrees of Gods presence Jer 23 24. Psal 19.1.6 1. An Vniversall 2. A Speciall 3. A more speciall 4. A most speciall Psal 130 7. 1. The Lord is present by his Essence in all places 1 Cor. 3.16 2. Hee is present by his Glory in Heaven Joh. 15.26 3. He is present by his Grace in his Saints 1 Pet. 3.18 4. Hee is present by his Spirit in Christ Heb. 9.14 He is every where replenishing the place with his being no where by Circumscription and locall definition So that Curiosity in this highest point of Divinity is very dangerous for God is one Deut. 6.4 Isa 44 5â— 1 Cor. 8.4 Iam 2.19 Deut. 4 15 16 1 Sam. 15.29 Act. 14.15 Matt. 5 48 single pure and perfect Being single without parts pure without passions and perfect without infirmities being in measure unmeasurable in Majesty inscrutable in Nature incomprehensible in Power irresistible in Will unchangeable in Place not circumscript in Time indefinite in Love immutable 1 Joh 1.5 August Med. cap. 12. in favour unspeakable and in Promise inviolable Good without quality Great without quantity Creatour without want in Act without motion every where present without sight the First and the last without time making all things mutable without any passive mutability in himselfe So that here we must needs acknowledge it impossible that a Finite understanding should comprehend an infinite eternall spirituall Essence and therefote I desire to remember that excellent rule of Saint Augustine Aug. de Trinitate l. 5. c. 1. Cavendum est ne dum de Deo cogitamus non possumus invenire quid sit aliquid de eo sentiamus quod non sit we must take great heed least in seeking to know what God is we think him to be what he is not And in another place Quid est Deus August lib. 1. de Quaest nov vet Testam est id quod nulla attingit opinio What is God Hee is that which no opinion can reach unto That it is not safe to enquire too far into the being of God To search then too far is perverse curiosity to beleeve the word is infallible security and to see him as he is is most absolute felicity Climbe not too high â—or falling Dive not too deep for drowning and soare not too high for dazeling labour to know so much as is revealed in the scriptures in which we are to search for all points much more for this and therefore that I may not err in this point I will say no more but with himselfe which knowes himselfe best that he is Jehovah whose Knowledge is infallible Rom. 11.33 Psal 107. Job 10 7. Heb. 6.17 Rom. 1.18 1 John 4.10 Rom. 15.16 Prov. 2 10. Psal 83.18 Isa 28.29 Providence inexplicable Judgements inevitable Decree immutable Wrath terrible and Love unspeakable whose Spirit doth sanctifie us Wisdome teach us Counsell guide us Favour compasse us and Power govern us the most High over all the earth wonderfull and great in Counsell mighty and excellent in works Eph. 2.4 Exod. 15.11 Ezeck 36.26 Tit. 3.5 rich in mercy glorious in Holinesse fearfull in Praises The Regeneratour of our Nature our Defence in Adversity Perseverance in the faith Eph. 1.4 the Life of them that beleeve and in the end is Eternall life it is he that elected us to salvation promising remission of sins by beleiving in Christ Joh. 3 15.16 Acts 8.37 being the first person named in order not in power nor time existing of himselfe and of no other is callâ—d Father Isa 63 16.
first in respect of his naturall Son Christ begotten from eternity Secondly in respect of the Elect his Adopted Sons Gal. 4.5 who being not sons by Nature are made sons by Grace Eph. 2.5 CHAP. II. OF JESUS CHRIST God hath fixed many impressions of hi goodnesse in the creatures WHosoever will religiously and seriously observe those manifold impressions of the Divine goodnesse which the Lord God hath planted in the nature of all living creatures he shall surely finde so much matter of reverence love and admiration that he shall never be able sufficiently to comprehend the excellency of so huge an ocean of goodnesse within the strait and narrow compasse of his understanding For the Kingly Prophet David being as it were ravished or wrapt in an extasie at the inexplicable expression and unconceivable consideration of the plentifull and far-spread goodnesse of God he breaketh forth into these heavenly acclamations saying O Jehovah Psal 36.5.6.7 In coelis est benignitas tua O Lord our Governour How excellent is thy Name in all the world thou that hast set thy Glory above the Heavens thy Faithfullnesse reacheth unto the Cloudes thy Righteousnesse is like the strong Mountaines thy Judgments are like the great deep thou savest O Lord both man and beast But I will not at this time enter into that infinite Ocean of Gods Goodnesse whereby he giveth Food unto all flesh Psal 147. Gods infinite Goodnesse and adorneth the feilds with all kind of fruitfull trees and pleasant flowers neither will I enter into any part or parcell of his excellent Providence whereby hee governeth the whole world by his Wisdome sustaineth all things by his Power and releiveth all things by his Goodnesse But I will rather bathe my selfe in those cheifest Fountaines of Gods admirable Love whereby he imbraced Mankinde the Epitome of the whole Universe For God so loved the World Joh 3.16 that hee gave his onely begotten sonne That whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Indeed there is no comfort in the Father without the Son neither can any beleeve in him and through beleeving come to him but by the Sonne for hee dwelleth in light inaccessible whom none can know till the Sonne who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the brightnesse of his glory Heb. 1 3. and ingraved forme of his person reveale him Yea without the Sonne he is a consuming fire but in him hath proclaimed himselfe to be well pleased So that the knowledge of Jesus Christ is the onely thing that makes us happy Nam omnia habemus in Christo omnia in nobis Christus because we have all things in Christ and Christ is all things unto us He is α Legis ω Evangelij the beginning of the Law Quicquid est veteris Testamenti Christum sonat and the end of the Gospell Velatus in veteri revelatus in novo Testamento vailed and shadowed in the Old revealed and exhibited in the New Testament promised in that preached in this there shewed unto the Fathers in Types here manifested unto us in Truths All the men of note and all the names of Dignity were but types of Iesus Christ for the Tree of Life the Arke of Noah the Ladder of Jacob the Mercy Seat the Brazen Serpent and all such Mysticall Types and Typicall figures that we read of what were they else but Christ obscurely shadowed before he was fully revealed And so all the men of note Noah Isaac Joseph Moses Aaron Joshuah Sampson David Salomon Kings Preists Prophets titles of Dignities names of Honour or whatsoever else was any ways ascribed to any of them to expresse their soveraignty were onely used to expresse those transcendent excellencies which these personall Types did adumbrate and shew most properly to belong unto this King of Kings Isa 9.6 this mighty Counsellor and this Prince of peace Now if we well consider how all those things which the Prophets of old prophesied were to be done by the promised Messiah are all accomplished in the person of Christ wee shall find the Word like a light shining in darknesse clearly declaring unto us that Jesus the son of Mary is the true Messiah For the Scriptures foretell every particular act accident and circumstance that should fall out of importance at his comming incarnation birth life death resurrection and assention Matth. 1 As for example at what particular time hee should appear Matth. 1 18. Matth. 2 1 Gen. 49 10. that he should be born of a Virgin Isa 7.14 That the place of his Birth should be the town of Bethlem Matth. 2 16. Mic. 5 2 That at his Birth all the Infants round about should be slaine for his sake Jer. 31 15. that the Kings of the East should come and adore him Mat. 2 11 and offer Gold and other gifts unto him Luke 2 22. Psal 72. that he should be presented by his Mother in the Temple of Jerusalem Mat. 2 13 14 Mal. 3.1 that hee should flye into Egypt and be recalled thence again Mat. 2 21 Luke 1 17. 3.3 Isa 19.1 Hos 11.1 that John Baptist should go before him and cry in the Desart Isa 40.3 Mal. 3. Mat. 4.12 c. Mat. 5. 1. After this that he should begin his own Preaching in Galilee Isa 9.1 and that with all Humility Quietnesse Mat. 4 23. and Clemency of spirit Isa 42 2. that hee should do strange Miracles Mat. 8 Mark 8 and heal all diseases Isa 35.5 6. that he should dye for our sins Isa 53 That he should be betrayed by his own Disciple Mat. 26. Mat. 26 27. Psal 41 9. that hee should be sold for thirty peeces of silver Zach. 11 12. that with those thirty peeces there should be bought afterward a Potters feild Zach. 11 13. Math 21.7 Matth. 26. 27. that he should ride into Jerusalem upon an Asse before his Passion Zach 9.9 that the Jewes should beat and buffet his Face Mat. 27. and defile the same with spitting upon him Isa 50 6. that they should whip rent and tear his Body before they put him to death Luke 23 33 Isa 53 5 that they should peirce his Hands and his Feet Psalme 22 16. Mat. 27.38 that they should put him to death among Theives and Malefactors Isa 53 12. that they should scorn him and nod their heads at him Mat. 27 39 40 41 42 43. saying He trusted in the Lord let him deliver him c. Psal 22.7 Mat. 27.34 8 that they should give him gall in his meat and in his thirst Vinegar to drinke Psal 69.21 Mat. 27.35 Mat. 27 57 c. that they should cast lots about his Vesture and part his Garments among them Psal 22 18. That he should lye in the Grave of a rich man Isa 53 9. Luke 29 that he should rise again from death the third day as was shadowed in his
to their testimony Besides all this there be many other circumstantiall proofs and demonstrations of his Resurrection For First the great Earth-quake Cajetan in Mat. 28. First at the very moment of time that he rose from his Sepulcher and the Angells descended from Heaven there was a great Earth-quake the earth either dancing for joy that Christ was risen or trembling for feare that men would not beleeve it Secondly the apparitions of the raised bodies Matâ— 27.52.53 Secondly Many that were dead came forth from their graves and appeared unto many in the City of Jerusalem to testifie unto them and assure them of his Resurrection Dives thought if one were sent from the dead his Bretheren would beleeve him and behold here are many sent and yet the Jewes the bretheren of Christ will not beleeve them And yet notwithstanding when they read that one Erus an Armenian that one Aristeus or that one Thespesius rose again to life they think no evill of Plato Herodotus or Plutarch for reporting it Thirdly the testimony of Pilate Euseb lib. 2. cap. 2. Thirdly Pilate himself that condemned him to death did testifie of his Resurrection unto life in a letter that he wrote unto Tiberius Caesar Fourthly Fourthly The sudden courage of the Apostles Whereas a little before the resurrection of Jesus Christ his Apostles and Disciples durst not peep out of doores because they did but waveringly thinke that this was he which should have redeemed Israel they do now couragiously compasse the whole world and confidently teach and avouch There is no other Name given under Heaven whereby men may be saved but the Name of Jesus Fiftly Fiftly The sufferings of the Martyrs All Martyrs have most boldly confessed this truth and sealed it with their blood Tertullian doth most excellently shew the Difference betwixt the Martyrs and Malefactors saying Mali apparere devitant deprehensi trepidant accusati negant condemnati maerent evil doers are loath to be seen being taken they tremble being accused they deny it being condemned they deplore themselves but with the Martyrs there is no such matter for they are neither ashamed of their profession neither do they greive at their apprehension but if they be noted for Christians they rejoyce at it if they be accused they confesse it if adjudged to dye they deem it better then life And therefore saith hee Quid hoc mali est cujus reus gaudet cujus accusatio votum est cujus poena faelicitas What evill is this when the guilty of the fact rejoyceth in his accusation and is made happy in his condemnation Sixthly the heavy punishments that were inflicted upon Christs persecutors Sixthly the great Plagues and punishments that were presently inflicted and have still to this very day continued upon all the Persecutors and denyers of Jesus Christ do sufficiently prove the truth and certainty of his Resurrection and that he is the true and promised Messias for Pilate being accused by the Jewes was inforced to appeal from Vitellius the cheif Governour of Syria and to go to Rome Joseph antiq l. 18. cap. 11. to defend himself before Casar who before Pilate came there was dead and therefore he had none other remedy but to wander as a pilgrim and a forlorn creature till hee ended his dayes in extreame miseries So Agrippa suffered intollerable calamities Cap. 17. so Herod the Tetrarch was spoyled of his goods deprived of his Kingdome and banished from his Country so Herod that killed James was miserably eaten up of loathsome wormes Cap. 18. and to the Jewes was measured the same measure as they had measured unto Christ before for as they had sold him for thirty pence so thirty of them were sold for one penny and five hundred of them were nailed to Crosses in one day It were too too lamentable to relate more of those dolefull Tragedies which Josephus Eusebius Evagrius and others have written of them and what they suffered at the finall ruine and destruction of Jerusalem and what heavy bondage far worse then that Aegyptian slavery they have endured to this very day Hence it is that Rabbi Samuel In aureo tractatu Rabbi Sam. de miserimo statu Judaeorum about six hundred yeares agone wrote a Tractate in form of an Epistle unto Rabbi Isaac Master of the synagogue of the Jews in Subjulmeta a City of Morocco wherein hee doth excellently discusse the cause of their long captivity their great blindness and extream misery And after that he had proved that this punishment was inflicted upon them for some great and greivous sin hee sheweth that sinne to be the same whereof the Prophet Amos speaketh Amos. 2 6. For three transgressions of Israel and for foure What Rabbi Samuel saith concerning Jesus Christ Non transferam eos I will not turn away the punishment thereof because they sold the Righteous for silver And though he saith that their Rabbies do understand this Righteous to be Joseph that was sold by his Brethren into Aegypt yet because the Prophet putteth this for the fourth sin and the greatest sin of Israel and because he cannot find any three sins of the sons of Israel before the selling of Joseph therefore hee maketh the selling of Joseph to be the first sin of Israel the worshiping of the Calfe in Horeb to be the second the abusing and killing of Gods Prophets to be the third and the fourth to be the selling of Jesus Christ For the first they served four hundred years for the second they wandred forty years in the Wildernesse untill they that came out of Aegypt were all consumed and brought to nothing excepting only Caleb and Joshuah for the third they were held captives seaventy yeares in Babylon and for the fourth the said Rabbi Samuel confesseth that they were held in most pittifull captivity to this very day because he was most unjustly sold and most shamefully delivered to death as hee sheweth in the seaventh Chapter of the said Tractate Many more circumstantiall proofs and declarations of his Resurrection might be produced to shew him to be the true Messias but I hope these will serve to shew also that our fore-fathers have not and we do not beleive these things without more then abundant and unanswerable proofs thereof and to convince that malicious obstinacy and infidelity of all those whether professed Jewes plaine Atheists or seeming Christians which notwithstanding such an Army of arguments and such a Cloud of witnesses will still continue blinded and hardned in unbeleif Fifthly and lastly as for his Ascention whosoever seeth and acknowledgeth that Jesus being dead could raise himself again to life will easily beleeve also that he was able likewise to ascend up to Heaven Whereof notwithstanding saint Luke alledgeth one hundred and twenty witnesses at the least Acts 1. in whose presence hee ascended from the top of Mount Olivet after forty dayes space which hee had spent with them from
in Paradise as he is a God Math. 27.50.60 He yeildeth up the Ghost and hee dyeth and is buried and lyeth in his Grave as hee is a man but hee overcometh Death and destroyeth the Devills and raiseth himselfe unto Life again as hee is a God and being risen Luke 24.15.31.51 hee appears unto his Disciples and eates and talkes with them as he is a man but he vanisheth out of their sight and ascendeth up unto heaven as he is a God and so now the Heavens do containe him and hee sitteth there on the right hand of God as he is a man but hee sustaineth the Heavens and rideth upon the same Psal 68.4 as upon an horse as he is a God And so wee see that maugre all the spite of Hell it is most apparant that the person of Christ so subsisteth Vt cum in homine Christo videtur veritas hominis Fulgâ—nt de persona Christi l. 2. ad Trasim in eodem Deo Christo cognoscatur paternae veritas Deitatis as when we see the verity of the manhood in the man Christ Jesus we must know and acknowledge the Eternall Deity in the same God Christ Jesus because he is still a perfect God and a perfect man and of these two Natures subsisting in one person inconfused Moreover We find in the sacred scriptures many Names Titles and Attributes answerable to the manifold effects of his Humanity Power Rule and Divinity For example Jesus Christ is called Shiloh Gen. 49.10 Immanuel Isa 7.14 Michael Dan. 10.13 A Nazarite Mat. 2.23 A Prophet Deut. 18.15 A Priest Heb. 7.17 A King Zach. 9.9 A Saviour Joh. 4.42 A Mediatour Heb. 9.15 A Physitian Mat. 9.12 A Ransome 1 Tim. 2.6 A servant Isa 42.1 Jesus Christ is called A Shepheard Heb. 13.20 A Samaritane Luk. 10.33 A sanctuary Isa 8.14 A Reconciliator Rom. 3.25 A Foundation Isa 28.16 Wonderfull Esa 9.6 Welbeloved Cant. 1.13 Righteousnesse Jer. 23.6 Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 Salvation Luke 2.30 A Teacher Joh 3.2 A Way Joh. 14.6 A Vine Joh. 15.1 A spirit 1 Cor. 14.45 A Reaper Rev. 14.15 A Passeover 1. Cor. 5.7 A Master Mat. 10.24 A Justifier Rom. 3.26 A Husband 2 Cor. 11 2 A Fountain Cant. 4.15 A Feeder Mat 2 6 Sanctification 1 Cor. 1 30 A Deliverer Rom. 11 16 An Apostle Heb. 3 21 An Advocate 1 Joh. 2 1 Amen Rev. 3 14 God Joh. 1.1 Man Rom. 5 15 Flesh Joh. 1 14. David Jer. 30.9 Jesus Christ is called A Governour Mat. 2 6 Rabbi Joh. 6 25 Oyntment Cant. 1 3 A forerunner Heb 6 20 A Child Isa 9 6 A Babe Luke 2 16 Wisdome 1 Cor 1 30 Truth Joh 14 6 Life Joh 14 6 Light Joh 1 9 A just one Acts 3 14 A great one Isa 19 20 The new man Ephes 4 24 Gods son Mat 2 15 The Beloved Cant 5 6 Gods Messenger Mal 3 1 Gods Elect Servant Isa 42 1 Gods beloved Mat 12 18 A Bridegroom Mat 9 15 A true Witnesse Rev 3 14 And he is called A Plant of Renown Ezec. 34 29 A polished shaft Isa 49.2 A Messiah the Prince Dan 9.25 A Golden Altar Rev. 8.3 A righteous servant Esa 53 11 A green Tree Luke 23 31 A bright morning star Rev 22 19 A faithfull Witnesse Rev. 1 5 A wedding garment Mat. 22 12 A Well of Life Joh. 4 14 A stone to stumble at 1 Pet. 2.8 A Corner stone  An Elect stone 1 Pet. 2 6 A Precious stone  A branch of the root of Jesse Isa 11 1 An Angell of the Lord Zach. 1 12 An everlasting Father Isa 9 6 The Ancient of dayes Dan. 7 2 The Captaine of the Lord of Hoasts Josh 5 15 The Covenant of the people Isa 42 6 Jesus Christ is called The generation of David Rev. 22 16 The Desire of all nations Hag. 2 7 The Doore of the Sheep Joh. 10 7 The Bread of life Joh. 6 51 The Consolation of Israel Luke 2 25 A ruler in Israel Micah 5 2 The glory of Israel Luke 2 32 The scepter of Israel Numb 24 17 The finisher of our Faith Heb 12 2 The end of the law Rom. 10 4 The judge of quick and dead Acts 10 42 The Head of all power Col 2 10 The Head of Principallity The Head of the church Ephes 5 23 The Head of every man 1 Cor. 11 3 The horne of salvation Luke 1 69 The heire of the world Rom 4 13 The Elect of God Isa 4 1 The Image of God Col. 1 15 The wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1 24 The Power of God Idem The lambe of God Joh. 4 10 The gift of God Joh. 1 29 The lyon of Judah Rev. 5 5 The light of the Gentiles Isa 49 6 The Prince of Kings Life Peace Rev. 1 5 Acts 3 15 Isa 9 6 A purger of sins Heb. 1 3 A quickning spirit 1 Cor. 15 45 A mercifull High Preist Heb. 2 17 A faithful High Preist  A holy High Preist Idem A harmless High Preist  An undefiled High Preist Heb. 7 26 The star of Jacob Numb 24.17 A Minister of The sanctuary The Tabernacle Circumcision Heb 8 2  Rom 15 8 The second Adam 1 Cor 15 45 A Beloved Son Mat 3 17 A Dear Son Col. 1 13 The first born Son Mat 1 25 And he is called A Messenger of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 Eternall life 1 Joh. 1.2 One Lord Zech. 14.9 Captain of Salvation Heb. 2.10 King of Israel Saints The Jewes Kings Glory Joh. 1.49 Rev. 15.3 Mat. 27.37 Rev. 19.16 Psal 24.10 Childrens Bread Mat. 15 26. Lord of Quick and dead Hoasts Lords The Sabbath Rom. 14.9 Jsa 44.6 Rev. 19.16 Luke 6 5 The light of men Joh. 1 4 Resurrection of the Dead Joh. 11 25 The Son of Abraham David Joseph God Man A Virgin Righteousnesse Mat. 11 Joh 1 45 Luke 1 35 Mat. 12 8 Isa 7.14 Mal. 4 2 And he is called Annoynted of the Lord Psal 2 2 Spirituall Meat Drink Rock 1 Cor. 10 3 4 The seed of the woman Gen. 3 15 Author of Peace Faith Salvation 1 Cor. 14 33 Heb. 12 2 Heb. 5 9 An innocent man Luke 23 14 A Curse for man Gal. 3 13 Sin for man 2 Cor. 5 21 The Son of the most High Luke 1 32 Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2 8 Branch of righteousnesse c. Jer. 33.14 Jesus Christ is compared unto A stone cut out of the Mountain Dan. 2 45 A Roe and Hart Cant. 2 9 A brazen serpent Num. 21 9 A worme Psal 22.6 A Theef Rev. 3 3 An apple tree Cant. 2.3 A cluster of Camphire Cant. 1 14 A goat Lev. 16 22 A lilly Cant. 2 2. A laddar Gen. 28 12 Jesus Christ is compared unto A snare Isa 8 14 A Net Idem Melchisedek Heb 7 3 Moses Acts 3 22 Solomon Cant. 3 11 Tirzah Can 6 4 Jerusalem Idem The Paschall lambe Exod. 12 Rain and showres Psal 72 6 The Mercy seat Exod 25 17 Lightning Mat 24 27 Fullers sope Mal 3 2 Purging
fire Idem A Hen Mat. 23 37 A Carcase Mat. 24 28 A bundle of myrrhe Cvn 1 13 A lambe with out spot 1 Pet 1 19 A lambe undefiled Idem An Army with Banners Cant. 6 4 And he may be called Our Eye Mouth Hand  Because by him we see speak to offer unto the Father John 14 6 True it is All the things of this world without Christ will availe us nothing that as the Bird cannot fly without her wings nor the body move without the Soule so no more can any man do any thing that is good and acceptable unto God without the helpe of Jesus Christ for all our Knowledge is but heathenish science able to make us proud not to make us happy if hee be not Objectum adaequatum the chiefest yea and the sole object of the same all our Faith in God is but ungrounded confidence if it be not grounded upon Jesus Christ all our righteousnesse is but as Pollutio Panni menstruous clouts 1 Joh. 1 2. if it be not washed in his blood and all our patience temperance chastity and all other vertues that either Nature planted or education effected in us are but splendida peccata glistering guilded sins unacceptable unto God and unprofitable unto our selves if they be not guided by the grace and directed to the glory of Jesus Christ who is indeed the most perfect pattern of all vertue And as there is no way for us to find true vertue but onely in him which is vertue it self The knowledge of Christ the only means to suppresse all vices so there is nothing in the world that is so availeable to suppresse all Vice as is the true knowledge of Jesus Christ Nam haec irae impetum cohibet superbia tumorem sedat For this will refrain the violence of anger when they consider how hee suffered all violence and villanies Isa 53.7 and yet as a sheepe before his shearer was dumbe so opened he not his mouth This will allay the swellings of Pride when they consider how he was the noblest of all creatures and the fairest among the sons of men and yet was hee meek and lowly in heart Psal 45 2. Matth. 11.29 this will heale the wounds of envy it will stoppe the streams of Luxury it will quench the flames of Lust it will temper the thirst of Coveteousnesse and it will keepe thee from the itching desire of all filthinesse when wee consider how much hee loathed these how free hee was from these and how earnestly he diswaded us from all vices whatsoever Ne spiritu mendacii erroâ—is seducaris lucescat tibi veritas christus ne adversitatibus fatigeris comfortet te virtus Dei christus And therefore Ne mundi gloria seu carnis voluptatibus abducaris dulcescat tibi pro his sapientia Christus least thou shouldest be withdrawn from God through the pompous vanities of this world or the lustfull and delightfull pleasures of thine own flesh let Christ the true wisdome of God waxe sweete unto thee least thou shouldest be seduced by the spirit of lyes and of errors let Christ the true light shine unto thee and least thou shouldest be wearied and waxe faint under the burthen of adversities let Christ the power of God refresh thee because whatsoever we do want he alone is alsufficient to supply our need For if thou art sick with sin and thy soul wounded or poysoned unto death and wouldst be healed Christ is thy best and alone Physitian only hee and no one but he can cure thee if thy soule doth hunger and thirst after Righteousnesse and wouldest be satisfied he is the bread of Life Joh. 6.35 Chap. 7.38 and the Fountain of living waters if thou art as naked of all goodnesse as thou wert of all cloathing when thou camest out of they Mothers wombe and wouldst be adorned with the best robes of vertue Christ is the Garment of Righteousnesse Rom. 13.14 or whatsoever thou wantest and wouldst have thou mayst fully and freely have the same from him yea if thou be simple he is thy wisdome if thou be sinfull 1 Cor. 1 30. hee is thy Righteousnesse if thou wouldest be holy hee is thy sanctification if thou beest the slave of hell and held captive by the Divell hee is thy redemption and thy redeemer that hath led captivity captive Ephes 4.8 and to comprehend all in a word This Jesus is All in All Vt qui omnia propter Christum dimittit unum inveniat pro omnibus Christum That he which forsaketh All for Christ his sake might find all in Christ and Christ instead of all far better then all unto his soul that so he might joyfully sing with the Psalmist The Lord is my portion Psal 23.1 and I have a goodly heritage the Lord is my shepheard and therefore I can want nothing yea as all the accessions and accumulations of all worldly things can adde nothing unto the felicity of a Christian so all the defects or wants of the same things can detract nothing from the happinesse of him that hath Jesus Christ Vita ab errore gratia a peccato mors a morte liberabit for his life will preserve thee from error if thou wilt follow it his grace will free thee from sin if thou wilt receive it and his death will deliver thee from eternall death if thou wilt beleeve in it So that he is truly called the way without wandring in our Peregrination whereby our pathes are directed Truth without shadowing in our deliberation whereby our Errors are corrected and Life without ending in our remuneration whereby our mortality is eternized In that he is Our Righteousnesse to justifie us Ephes 1.7 Rom. 3.24 Col. 1.20 1 Pet. 1.2 Heb. 10 9. Col 2.13 1 Thes 1.10 Our Wisdome to teach us Our Reconciliation to reconcile us Our Holinesse to sanctifie us Our Redemption to free us Our Reward to glorifie us So that by him our sins are discharged we cleered the debt payd the score is crossed the creditor satisfied and the debtor acquitted In that his condemnation is our Absolution and Passion our payment his death is our life blood our purgation his sacrifice is our satisfaction and curse our blessing his Grave is our mortification and Ascention our Glorification Thus much by way of digression therefore now to come back to the foregoing subject of our discourse namely the Deity of Jesus Christ If all the testimonies of the forenamed Jews Gentiles of all the Evangelists Apostles Fathers Martyrs and of all the holy men of God be not sufficient to prove Jesus the son of Mary That God himself testified Christ to be his son to be the Eternall Sonn of God We finde God himselfe the creator of Heaven and Earth testifying the same for though the testimony of John was sufficient to satisfie any man because hee was a burning and a shining Light Joh. 5.35 in whom the
other but the man Christ Jesus for hee himselfe sayd Gen. 32.28.30 That Jacob should be called Israel a wrestler and prevailer with God and Jacob called the name of the place Peniel because hee had seene God Face to face and so that man which appeared unto Joshuah Josh 5.14 and came as a Captain of the Hoast of the Lord was none other then Jesus Christ as Peter Martyr doth most excellently by many arguments confirme Whereby you see Christ did heretofore assume unto himselfe humane formes wherein he appeared unto the Fathers to be as a Praeludium of his incarnation which is the greatest benefit that ever man received from God Quia in Creatione dedit te tibi Deus Because in thy creation hee did but give thy being unto thee but in his incarnation he gave himselfe unto thee Now if it be demanded how these things can stand together that the Father of eternity should be borne in time that the Son of man speaking upon Earth should yet at the same instant be in Heaven and that the mighty God should become a child which is the weakest state of man himselfe wee must call to minde that the first letter of his great name Isa 9.6 is wonderfull When hee appeared of old to Manaoh his name was wonderfull and hee did wonderously Judg. 13.18.19 But that and all the wonders that ever were must give place to the great mystery of his incarnation Greatness of this mystery Nam mysterium singulariter mirabile mirabilitor singulare for it is a mystery singularly wonderfull and wonderfully singular So that neither the Creation of all things out of Nothing which was the beginning of the Workes of God those sixe working dayes putting as it were an end to that long Sabbath that never had beginning Wherein the Father Son and holy Ghost Joh. 17.5 Prov. 8.30 did infinitely glorifie themseves and rejoyce in the fruition one of another without communicating the notice thereof unto any creature nor the Resurrection from the dead and the Restauration of all things the last workes that shall go before that everlasting Sabbath which shall have a beginning but never shall have end neither that first I say nor these last though most admirable peeces of worke may be compared with this wherein the Lord was pleased to shew the highest pitch if any thing may be sayd to be highest in that which is infinite and exempt from all measure and dimensions of his Wisdome Power and Glory Gal 4.4 Joh 1 3. Col ◠16 Act◠3.21 1 Kings 8.22 A notable wonder indeed and great beyond all comparison That the Son of God should be made of a woman even made of that woman which was made by himself That her Wombe then and the Heavens now should containe him whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain That he who had both Father and Mother whose Pedegree is upon Record even up unto Adam who in the fullnesse of time was brought forth in Bethlehem Mic. 5.2 Isa 58.8 and and when he had finished his course was cut out of the land of the living at Jerusalem should yet notwithstanding be in truth that which his shadow Melchisedech was only in the conceit of the men of his time Without Father without Mother without Pedegree Heb. 7.3 having neither beginning of dayes nor end of life Joh. 14.28 That his Father should be greater then he and yet he his Fathers equall That he is before Abraham was and yet Abrahams birth preceded his well nigh the space of two thousand years And finally That he who was Davids son should yet be Davids Lord Joh. 5.18 Phil. 2.6 Joh. 8.58 Matth. 22 42.43 c. a case which plunged the greatest Rabbies among the Pharisees who had not yet learned this wisdome nor known this knowledge of the holy The untying of this knot dependeth upon the right understanding of the wonderfull conjunction of the Divine and humane Nature in the vnity of the person of our Redeemer Col. 2.9 In whom dwelleth all the fullnesse of the God-head bodily that is to say by such a personall and reall union as doth inseparably and everlastingly conjoyn that infinite Godhead with his finite manhood in the unity of the selfe same individuall person who is both perfect God Luke 1.35 Pro. 8.22.23.25 begotten of the substance of his Father before all worlds and perfect man made of the substance of his Mother in the fullnesse of time And the reason why hee was borne of a woman Amb. in Luc. 24. as Saint Ambrose saith was Ne perpetui reatus apud viros opprobrium sustinerent mulieres least women should still suffer the Reproach of the perpetuall guiltinesse and blame in the sight of men Why Christ was borne of a woman for their first transgression for her yeilding unto the Serpent and the seducing of her Husband made her and all her sexe to be deservedly subject unto much Reproach And therefore though because the Mankind is more noble Christ would be made a man yet because Women should not be contemned hee was contented to be borne of a woman Aug. cont Faust Et sic formam viri assumendo de famina nascendo utrumque sexum hoc modo honorandum indicavit and so he did sufficiently honour both sexes the men by assuming the forme of a man and the women by taking his flesh from a woman that as a woman was the meanes to make him a sinner so she might be the instrument to bring him a Saviour but Licet secundum conditionem naturae natus est ex faemina Thom. p. 3. q. 31 art 5. tamen supra conditionem naturae natus est ex virgine he would beyond the condition of Nature be borne of such a woman that was a Virgin because it became not God to have any Mother but a Maide and it beseemed not a Mayd to have any Son but a God Barrad l. 7. c. 10. saith Barradius And so hee was made of a Woman of a Woman that was a Virgin and of a Virgin without the helpe of man But now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh. 1.14 That we may truly understand this point how Christ was made flesh the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used by our Evangelist doth plainly shew unto us as both Saint Chrysostome and Tolet do observe Mirabilem ejus conceptionem non virili virtute sed divina potentia eum esse conceptum his wonderfull Conception that hee was made not by any vertue of mans seed Two things to be considered for the understanding of Christs conception First Of the manner how Christ was conceived but by the power of Gods spirit and therefore we must well consider First The manner of this wonderfull and divine conception Secondly The matter or substance from which he was framed First Touching the Agent and the manner of the act how this substance should be framed and this Child