according to the testimony of God by his Holy Spirit concerning him Psal 106.3 and accordingly in their hearts liking loving and desiring after the knowledge and enjoyment of him trusting in and cleaving to him with purpose of heart Psal 31.23 Cant. 1 2 3 4. 2.4 5. 5.7 8. 8.6 7. 1 Cor. 16.22 Isa 26.8 9. Phil. 3.7 8 9 10.1 John 3.23 Acts 11.23 24. 2. In their word speaking nothing but what is high holy and honourable concerning him Holding forth the word of life and blessing and speaking well of his name Psal 47.6 7. 98.1 4. 66.1 2 3. 100.1 2 4 5. 3. In their Life and Conversation for there also he may be lifted up and glorified and magnified of us yea both in life and in death Phil. 1.20 As therein also he may be blasphemed dishonoured and denied as is implied 1 Tim. 6.1 Tit. 2.5 1.16 But surely he ought not to be denied blasphemed or put to reproch by us or by occasion of us He hath not so deserved of any man but to be blessed and highly honoured And that is best done when to a high commendation of him in our words we add also such a conversation and carriage as speaks him excellent in our esteems and experiences of him When we shew that he is upright and that there is no unrighteousness in him Matth. 5.16 2 Thess 1.12 Psal 92.15 1 Pet. 2.9 11 12. Now though the lifting him up by his Father in the acts done to him in his personal body in his calling him to upholding and accepting him in raising him from and rewarding him for and after his Sufferings and the obedience and service done and performed by him for us be the main and most fundamental lifting him up absolutely necessary with respect to us and our Regeneration and Salvation Yet I apprehend That the lifting him up also as to manifestation and commendation of him to and in the eyes of others both by the Spirit of God and by men especially his holy Saints and Servants that desire and are set for his Glory and the good of others is here also with the former way and acts directly included and intended And indeed as to his being lifted up of God both Father Word and Spirit it must be so as we have partly said because it was so purposed and decreed of God It was his purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus before the world that is made manifest now by his appearance in what God hath wrought by and done to him for us 2 Tim. 1.9 10. And as for mans exalting him and lifting him up in his ministration and service in the Gospel and in heart and life it 's no more then God requires of us and his love and the excellency in and love of Christ to us obliges us to and challengeth of us And therefore so it must and ought to be also Psal 96.3 4. But because that must be lifted up the necessity of his being lifted up hath direct and main respect to the end whereto he is to be lifted up that is That whosoever believeth on him may not perish but have eternal life As also the necessity that he be so lifted up As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness hath reference thereto Therefore I shall not more fully speak to the necessity of his being lifted up and so lifted up till after the speaking to those two following Points The Son of Man must be lifted up that 's the second Point The other two follow in order The manner how and the end to which he must be and must be in such manner lifted up For I shall also leave the Use of all this till we have considered and viewed those Points also they both appertaining to the full view of this which is the main Point CHAP. VIII The third Point That the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness Where several Analogies and Agreements between them are considered Point 3 HOw the Son of Man is to be lifted is the next Point to be spoken to and that is As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness In which may be implied 1. As verily and certainly as that was done so must this be done also and indeed that lifting up of the Serpent being a type and figure preaching forth this lifting up of the Son of Man must not be made frustrate for then as a type it should have failed and been false Where the shadow goes before the body follows And where the type and figure was fore-ordained to instruct into the truth that was to be revealed there the truth also thereby signified must in its time take place and be accomplished all things written of him in the Law of Moses also whether Prophecy or Type and Figure must be fulfilled Luke 24.46 But not onely so but also 2. As so As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness So even after such a sort and manner must the Son of Man be lifted up There is agreeableness correspondency and answerableness between the one and the other as may be seen in many Particulars As 1. In the occasion of it There the people walking in the Wilderness were disobedient murmured against God despised his mercy bounty and goodness and provoked him in wrath to send fiery serpents among them to bite and kill them and as a remedy there against that Serpent was commanded to be and accordingly was lifted up And so here men in the wilderness of thâ—s world being ransomed by Christ out of that sentence of Condemnation that lay upon us all for our first Fathers Transgression and under a state of much mercy and bounty from God yet not without trials and temptations are found sinning against God and despising the Heavenly Manna Christ Jesus and the knowledge of God in him and discontent with Gods dealings through the temptations of sin and Satan and so fall under his power and are obnoxious to destruction This occasions a necessity of lifting up the Son of Man both in his exaltation by God and unto men for their healing Yea our first Parents and we all in them being tempted though in a Paradise listening to the Tempter and siding with him to a discontent with Gods allowance to us in the Creation because one Fruit was forbidden and to a desire of and coveting after what was unlawful and forbidden us fell under the power of the old Serpent the Devil and Satan So as by him to be stung and wounded to death even a death of our souls and spirits from the life and favour of God and of both body and soul to be exposed to and filled with misery and mischief to destruction and as a remedy against that Bite it was necessary Christ should be lifted up on the Cross and dye for us and be raised up again and exalted to a state of Power and Glory for raising us up and so he is
all sins and trespasses through the virtue of his most precious Blood Acts 3.19 Mat. 25.35 36 46. And thus being preserved and saved by him they shall not perish from the way nor in the end but shall have Eternal Life of which we have nextly to consider CHAP XIV Of the second Branch of the fifth observation what Eternal Life is and how the believer on Christ shall have it Qu. 3 THe third Query to be considered under this Observation is what that Eternal Life is which the believer on the Son of man shall have To which I answer briefly that 1. It 's not this natural life for that with all its enjoyments must and will have an end and its good to mind that and the shortness and hiddenness of the time of it and the hiddenness and oft times suddenness of the coming of death that we may not trust to this life or rest in any of its enjoyments but be moved more diligently to seek after and lay hold of that which is indeed Eternal life concerning which I may add that 2. It 's more and hath more in it then can be now either fully expressed or conceived only some hints of it we have in the Scriptures and according to them we may understand something thereof and so we find that it is variously set forth and spoken of in the Scriptures as sometimes 1. By the causes of it or that from whence it springs and issues and so 1. Jesus Christ himself is called Eternal Life the life of the believer when Christ who is our life shall appear Col. 3.4 I am the Way the Truth and the life Joh. 14.6 The bread of life that he that eats shall live by and shall live for ever Joh. 6 51. The resurrection and the life Joh. 11.25 Yea expresly that Eternal life that was with the Father and was manifested to us 1 Joh. 1.2 And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding heart to know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus christ this is the true God and Eternal life 1 Joh. 5.19 20. And its true to say That he that believeth on the Son of man shall have him as in Heb. 3.14 Now are we partakers of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our Confidence stedfast to the end we have and shall have him here with us and for us I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine Cant. 2.16 6.3 And he saith I will be with thee I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Deut. 31.6 8. Josh 1.5 with Heb. 13.5 And we shall have him for ever with us and be ever with him in the new Heavens and new Earth and new Jerusalem in the world to come Rev. 21.3 4. with 1 Thes 4.16 17. 2. The favour of God in Christ is life In thy favour is life Psal 30.5 And this he shall have that believeth on Christ the Son of man He that finds him who is the wisdom of God finds life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Prov. 8.34 And this is such a life as nothing can happen to the believer on him that can extinguish it or prevail against it I am perswaded neither Life nor Death nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.38 39. That we believing on him should not be failed by him or deprived of his favour to us that 's without all peradventure included in it 3. The knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ is Eternal life This is life Eternal that they may know thee the only true God and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ Joh. 17.3 And this they who believe on the Son of man shall have for they shall receive the holy Spirit the Spirit of the Father and of the Son that shall teach them all things so as they shall not in the issue need to say one to another Know the Lord for they shall know him from the least to the greatest as is expresly promised in the Covenant or New Testament whereof Jesus Christ is the Mediator and which he hath undertaken to see performed to them that believe on him and depart not from him See Joh. 7.38 39 14.26 16.13 with Heb. 8.11 2. Sometime for the effect of Christ and of the knowledge and favour of God both as enjoyable here through faith and as enjoyable hereafter in the full fruition when those that see now darkly through a Glass stall see as they are seen and know as they are known 1 Cor. 13.12 And that effect is the living joyful happy state of the Soul and so of the whole man for ever as it is said He shall live for ever and he shall never die Joh. 6.51 58. and 11.25 26. Which is spoken of the Spiritual and Heavenly life or state of the Soul here and hereafter joyful and happy never to have end but especially of the state both of the body soul together hereafter and it includes and contains in it both 1. A continual living in a state of forgiveness and acceptance with God which is a truly joyful and happy state in which the Soul hath cause of real joy and gladness as it is said Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin Psal 32.1 2. Blessed is the man who knows the joyful sound Psal 89.15 And happy is the man who hath the God of Jacob for his help c. Psal 146.5 6. A state in which the Soul is passed from death to life and shall not come into condemnation Joh. 5.24 2. A continual in dwelling of the the Spirit of Life as a Spring of Spiritual Life and motion toward God and for him even the Spirit of God which is the Spirit of life and the operation and efficacy of him in the Soul though not always sensibly felt here as it is said He that drinketh of the water that I shall give him it stall be in him a Spring of living waters springing up in him unto Etetnal life Joh 4.14 So as this Spring shall never fail him that believeth going on and continuing to believe on the Son of man 3. A continual state of safety from all evil so as to its being destructive or hurtful to the Soul or in due time affective and a state of Title to and Interest in yea and injoyment of all that is good in a first-fruits and by Spirit here and fully and actually and for ever hereafter there shall no evil happen to the just Prov. 12.21 All things are the believers 1 Cor 3.21 And all things shall work together for his good Rom. 8.28 Psal 25.10 The Lord God is a Son and a Shield and he will give grace and glory and
with-hold no good thing c. Psal 84.11 4 Nor shall this happy state be ever taken from him but though through workings of the flesh a man may not be always sensible of these things nor have always actual rejoycing while here yet his state is always such and shall hereafter appear and be most sensibly and perfectly such for this life here begun by Christ and by his Spirit never shall terminate or end but increase and be more full as to the injoyment and perception of it in the abiding believer on the Son of Man till it be most immutably perfect They that seek God shall Praise him their hearts shall live for ever Psal 22.26 Death shall not put an end to this life when the body dies the man even then shall be in a living state of the Spirit or inner man in a truly happy and joyful condition though it appear not upon the body of man or to the view of the natural man much less shall it terminate after death to the Spirit made perfect for it being with Christ shall be in a better state then while here Phil. 2.21 23. To be dissolvd and to be with Christ is far better then to be here much less shall this life cease fail or terminate in the state of the resurrection for that state is most properly and fully called Eternal Life Mark 10.30 In the world to come Eternal life because then neither Soul nor Body shall die any more but then 1. The body shall be in an eternally unchangeably happy and blessed state of life a glorious body like the glorious body of Christ. Phil. 3.20 Raised up in honour incorruptibility power and glory so as it shall never feel or be capable of feeling hunger thirst pain weariness weakness decay sickness old age or any other trouble any more forever For there shall be no more death nei-neither sorrow nor crying c. for the former things are passed away Rev. 21.3 with 7.16 1 Cor. 15.42 43 44. 2 The Soul and inward man shall be perfect in its knowledge of conformity to and joy in God and in Jesus Christ our Lord For then we shall see as we are seen know as we are known Then that which is perfect being come that which is in part shall be done away 1 Cor. 13.10 12. Then we shall have fulness of joy in Gods presence and pleasures at Gods right hand for evermore Psal 16.12 1 Joh. 3.2 There shall then be no more ignorance or envy nor sorrow nor care nor whatever may render the Soul in the least defective in its happiness but the favour of God and of the Lamb as a clear River of pure waters pure and immixed and never failing shall fill it perpetually with all Heavenly and Spiritual fruitfulness in every good thing Rev. 21.4 11. and 22.1 Isa 11.9.13 Deut. 33.23 Yea 3. The whole state of the man both in Body and Soul and with respect both to God and Men a state of perfect freedom from all evil Nothing in themselves to treuble or disquiet and nothing from without themselves either of wrath and curse from God he shall neither inflict any evil upon or with-hold any good from them but as one perfectly well pleased with them perpetually fill and satisfie them with his favour and blessing afford them his fellowship and the fellowship of the Lamb and whatsoever so happy a Spring may pour forth to them and therefore neither shall any evil befall them either positively from any man or from any other Creature Angel Devil or any other thing to molest or annoy them the Devil and all his Instruments their Enemies and all evil things being for ever removed from out the Creation or what of it the Saints shall have to do with except so as they may look upon and behold their miseries Isa 66.24 And as the happiness of the Saints may be seen by their Enemies for aggravating their miseries Luke 13.28 16.23 and all other things and persons filled with good for and towards them and not with any thing that may in the least be evil and troublesom to them nor privatively for they shall be in no danger to loose any thing of the good they have or shall have none of those deprivations and losses that here afflict and exercise them shall they then be capable of being exercised and tried with no more Widdowhood or loss of Children or of Fathers Mothers Friends no loss of Riches Honours Pleasures Habitations Ornaments or any thing but what they here lost or were deprived of shall in a better manner and more to their comfort be restored if they were such as appertain to the Kingdom their Relations Husbands Parents Wives Children c. shall be restored then with Christ though not as such Relations or as having such dependance then on them as here but in a far more perfect satisfying and glorious manner Nor shall any one thing or person in the world with-hold from them or any of them any one thing that they may have any need of or good by so that their state then shall be a state of perfect life and that everlasting a spiritual and spiritually sensible and intelligent life an holy life an happy and Eternal life wherein the shall have full knowledge of God and his favour blessing righteousness in the full perfect and perpetual performance of all his blessed promises a full and perfect injoyment of the Lamb and of all the virtues and products of his Cross and sufferings and fellowship of his joys and glory and of and with one another even all the whole company of them in the most perfectly united peaceable satisfying way and manner for ever the fulness of the Spirit filling them all and every one with all Spiritual excellencies and satisfactions for ever and in that their fellowship with Christ and one another they shall have an everlasting full and perfect glory glorious Kingdom and Inheritance such as from the beginning of the world men have not heard of or perceived by the Ear or the Eye seen besides God himself being the glorious things which God hath prepared for them that wait for him Isa 64.5 A life worthy our most constant and earnest seeking after laying hold of and embracing But now Quest 4. How shall they that believe on Christ the Son of man have this Eternal Life Answ I may answer to this diversly with respect to 1. The way to their having it 2. The maner of their having it 1. In respect of their way they have and shall have it 1. Through sufferings and death even as our Lord Christ himself that way entred into his glory It is a faithful saying or the word is faithful for if we be dead with him we shall also live with him And if we suffer with him we shall also Reign with him If we even we who at present believe in him deny him he will also deny us 2 Tim. 2.11 12 13. Through much
may eat of what they labour in and then 3. As for safety they serve a Master so Great as is sufficiently able and so Good that he will not fail to uphold them and save them in all difficulties and against all dangers in their faithful serving him And surely both as betrusted with God's name and honour and as betrusted with and employed about Mens highest concernments it behoves them to be 1. Faithful both to him and them to do the will of God and Christ and speak his words he gives them faithfully so as not to conceal the words of the Holy One Job 6.10 Psal 40.10 but to make known the whole counsel of God and Christ to them as Christ did to his Disciples Joh. 15.14 15. And the Apostle Paul to the Churches who shunned not to declare to them the whole counsel of God Act. 20.26 27. Yea and to declare it as God orders them to do it with such plainness putting away the hidden things of dishonesty or guile flattery and wisdom of words that may obscure and darken the truth and tender the cross of Christ ineffectual Not casting a Veil over their Faces as Moses did hiding from men the messages which they carry that they may not see to the end and tendency of them though what Moses did was done in faithfulness but using all openness and freeness of speech sincerity and soundness of doctrine without adding ought thereto or diminishing ought there-from or changing or altering any thing therein but as of sincerity and as of God commending themselves to every mans conscience and approving themselves as in the sight of God and Christ who imploy them 1 Cor. â— 17 18. 2.1 4 5. 2 Cor. 2.17 and 3.12 13. and 4.1 2. Not seeking or pleasing themselves but seeking to please God and profit men yea and please them too for their good that they might be saved 1 Cor. 9.19 22. and 10.33 Rom. 15.2 3. Not seeking Riches or Honours to themselves nor for any Pleasures of the Flesh or Injoyments of the World nor for Ease Liberty or any thing turning aside from either their attendance to God or faithful discharge of their trust towards him or towards men nor dealing unfaithfully with the Word of God as Persons partial in his Law but leaving themselves to God to provide maintenance and give honour to them as he pleases and contenting themselves with what he by his providence orders them to do the work and service to which he calls them not making merchandize of Gods Word and of the Souls of men for gain honour or livelihood and so deny the Lord who bought them but seeking only the honour that comes of God and the glory of God and good of men in all things depending on God and Christ contentedly to honour and reward them who also will do it abundantly as shall be good for them here but most fully hereafter when the great Shepherd shall appear from heaven 1 Pet. 5.4 2. Greatly diligent and industrious not giving up themselves to sloth and idleness or to follow the lusts and appetites or intangle themselves with the affairs of this World but that they may please him that imploys them seeking diligently by prayer and supplications to God for themselves and all Saints and more especially for those that they are more especially betrusted with and giving attendance to reading meditation c. that they may in their converse with God know and perceive his mind and receive the word from his mouth and be strengthned to declare it faithfully and boldly unto men not fearing their faces or being flattered from it by them and to be useful to and have cause of joy in them in their service toward whom also they are to use great diligence and therefore they are compared to and stiled by the name of Labourers to signify that they must not be idle and loyter and give themselves to ease carelesness and effeminacy they are to digg and plow sowe and plant and water and do all the work of the Lords husbandry which the people are and of his building Vineyard and Garden which his Church is Yea as Shepherds they must watch their Flocks and that by Night and by Day least any ravenous Beast devour them or disease infest or any Thief steal them or any harm from one another come to them Yea and so much the more as the souls of men are more precious then their bodies about which the earthly husbandry building and other acts and manufactures are employed the loss of the soul is of wonderful great concernment and God will require it of whomsoever the loss of it proceedeth if he would require the blood of men at the hands of men as is said Gen. 9.7 Surely much more will he require the Souls of men at the hands of men with whom they are betrusted if lost by their negligence seeing he hath valued them so highly as that he hath not spared his own Son nor Christ his own Life and Soul but hath poured it out to death to save them And shall thy Brother for whom Christ dyed perish through thy meat For thy sloth thy ease thy will or pleasure Surely if this were considered it would make men careful how they undertake the Ministry and having undertaken it how they discharge it it would make them watch and labour with diligence least any should miscarry through want thereof or through want of skill the product of sloth and idleness or some such miscarriage and so the blood of their Souls should be required at their hands as God threatned the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 3.17 18 19 20 c. 3. Great humility and lowliness of mind bewaring of pride least being puffed up they fall into the condemnation of the Devil Indeed while they look upon the heighth and honourableness of their Employment their Liberty to and Intelligence with Heaven the secrets they see into above others and the excellent discoveries they have and make of the great and high things of the Gospel and the like they may have Temptations to be proud and lifted up and many there are that are apt to miscarry that way but it is a dangerous deceit a Rock earnestly to be shunned and indeed none have cause to be less proud Considering 1. The exceeding heighth and weightiness of their place and work and their exceeding imbecility of themselves as of themselves for the discharge thereof This made Paul cry out Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2.16 Especially considering too the great woe will befall them as guilty of betraying Cods Name and Honour and his great Design the work and business of highest consequence and as guilty of the lose of Souls that are most precious in Gods sight if through their miscarriage they be lost and perish Oh therefore with what care and humbleness of mind should they walk Indeed their honour is great and their reward will be great if faithful and successful but the difficulty
Gentiles Act. 13.47 and 28.28 Surely it 's every way a heavy judgment and to be much cryed and prayed against as Psal 12.1 2. Well might the Prophet Amos from the mouth of the Lord signifie that the Famine of hearing the Word of the Lord is a worse Famine then that of bread and water Amos 8.11 12. For this is but of sustenance for the body and bodily life and that 's but a momentany and uncertain life which must however dye and depart that is indangered thereby in a bodily death out of which there will be a Resurrection again and in the state of which the Soul mean time may be blessed Rev. 14.13 but the other is of the sustenance and salvation of the Soul and the removal thereof lays open to the loss of Eternal Life and indangers the inevitably falling into everlasting destruction out of which is no recovery or redemption Oh how greatly behoves it us then to pray and pray earnestly for our selves and for our Nation that however God may please to correct and chasten us yet he would be pleased to continue with us his glorious Gospel and not take that from us and that he would vouchsafe to give or restore it to the Places or Nations that are without it or have it not so clearly with them as we have it blessed be God for it And let this suffice for the first Use the Discovery of the Excellency of the Gospel-Doctrine and the Inferences therefrom CHAP. XXI A Second Vse The Excellencies of Christ hence inferred and that is viewed First As the Excellencies of the choice Creatures are ascribed unto Him and so He the first-born of every Creature Use 2 THe Second Thing I shall note is for further Information of us from all said upon God's Grand Design of exalting and lifting up Christ the Son of Man and of the necessity and fulness of Him and his Exaltation both as exalted in Himself and as glorified by the Spirit in the Gospel for effecting Faith in us and there-through preserving us from perishing and giving us Eternal Life to inform us of the exceeding preciousness excellency and glory of the Lord Jesus this Son of Man himself from whom and whose excellency all the Glory of the Gospel and its beneficialness and advantagiousness floweth Surely He that renders the Gospel so glorious must needs excell in glory and excellency himself it s nothing but He in it that makes it rich and full and efficacious Let Men speak as gallant words as they can imagine and use all the skill that Art and Industry can suggest yea that the most wise and subtle spirit can teach them Speak with the Tongue of Men and Angels use the most powerful demonstrations Logick can make and the most perswasive arguments Oratory can invent and make use of yet if there be nothing of the Son of Man in it nothing of Christ and him crucified it avails nothing to our Salvation and enjoyment of Eternal Life But He alone discovered and the better the more nakedly and with the less artifice and use of those Sciences is able to effect all in us for God hath made void the wisdom of this world the wise the Scribe and the Disputer of this World are with him mere ciphers 1 Cor. 1.18 19 20. Deceive men they may and therefore the Apostle cautions us to beware least any man spoil us through Philosophy and vain deceit Coll. 2.8 but save men from perishing they cannot much less advance them to Eternal Life No it s this Object held forth in the Gospel that is the life and vertue of it which is the Son of man Christ Jesus Rom. 1.3 and 16.25 and therefore seeing the Gospel is so excellent by his being the matter of it how excellent is He himself who is its matter He must needs be more precious than the Gold of Ophir more glorious and excellent than the Mountains of prey Isa 13.12 Psal 76.4 That hath in him not only the excellencies of all the Creatures but all the excellencies of God also Gods great glory and mans utmost happiness all meeting in him If when Ahasuerus proposed the Question What shall be done to the man whom the King will honour Haman reasonably thought it would be no small matter which would be done to him How much more may it be thought and believed that He whom God not only will honour but honour above all must needs excell in all things that may commend him Yea He honours him with his own with all his own honour and glory which he will not give to any other besides him either thing or person Surely he must needs be infinitely and inexpressibly honourable and glorious seeing God is infinitely honourable and glorious himself and honours him not according to the dictates of the wisest and highest Creatures with whom he takes no counsel in this or any other matter but according to his own wisdom understanding and goodness which are all infinite and boundless unless then we could by searching find out God yea and find him out too to perfection whose Excellency is higher then the Heavens so that What can we do Deeper then Hell and therefore What can we know Longer then the Earth and Broader then the Sea and so altogether Incomprehensible we cannot find out and fathom all the Glory and Excellency of this Man the Son of man the Lord Jesus Well may it therefore be said of him that He hath a Name above every Name and that none knows but himself Rev. 19.12 And as himself saith None knoweth him but his Father Mat. 11.27 Yet many and great and glorious things are said of him by his holy Spirit That searcheth out all things even the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 And Takes the things of Christ and shews them to us John 16.13 14 15. Things that commend him highly to us though yet his Name which is only Excellent Psal 148.13 Is Exalted above all Blessing and Praise Neh. 9.5 So that when we have searched and said all we can in and from what is Recorded of him by his holy Spirit yet we may conclude as in Psal 106.2 Who can declare his mighty Acts Who can set forth all his Praises God hath so poured out Himself and his Fulness and the Fulness of all things therein as it were into him that he is All and in all in the new Creature or Creation Col. 3.10 It hath pleased the Father that in him all Fulness should dwell and it hath pleased all Fulness to dwell in him yea All the Fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily and in him we are compleat Col. 1.19 and 2.9 10. All things in Heaven and Earth hath God pleased to gather together in one even in Christ Jesus Ephes 1.10 That if any thing in either or all things in both of them may like us and satisfie us we may have them fully and transcendently in him Let us essay to View something of his Infinite
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
glorious Body according to the working of that glorious Power by which he is able to subdue all things to himself Rom. 8.10 11. Phil. 3.21 Yea The Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 Oh how Excellent a Person then is Christ that is so comprehensive of all Good and Excellency even from the highest to the lowest Who is both Creator and Creature and hath the Nature and Perfections of both And hath had as well the Infirmities of the one sin excepted out of his great Love and Pity to us as the Form and Excellency Majesty and Glory of the other He that is the high and holy One the Great and Mighty God hath also cried out and acknowledged I am a worm and no man the very scorn of men and the out-cast of the people For he hath had the Experiences of Fallen man the Snares and Bitterness of Death and the Pangs of Hell as well as he hath had and hath experience and full injoyment of the infinite Joys and Glorys and inexpressible Satisfactions of Heaven and God no place is there wherein he is not and hath not been He was aâ— man on the Earth and sometimes Walking on the Seas Yea as to his Body he was in the Grave in the heart of the Earth though not left there to see Corruption and as to his Soul he was in though not left in Hell and yet he was Lord in Heaven and is so for ever 1 Cor. 15.45 John â—3 13 Psal 16.11 with Acts 2.31 Able to save us to the utmost while we are on the Earth and from Grave to Hell and to bring us to the Possession of Heaven and happiness For though he was dead to redeem us from thence yet he is now alive for evermore Amen and hath the Keys of hell and death to keep or bring us out from thence Rev. 1.18 and The Keys of the house of David too so to open as no man shall shut and so to shut as no man can open and he can and will admit into his Kingdom all that are faithful to obey and follow him Greatness and Goodness yea all Perfections and Excellencies are compleatly and everlastingly in him Oh therefore how ought we to admire and love him and with all acceptation to receive and cleave to him honour and obey him Surely that 's the way for us also to be made an excellent and precious People in the sight of God and useful to and among men For this also is of the Commendations of Christ that his Excellencies and Preciousness communicate and contribute an Excellency to all in whom he is It 's his Excellency as we noted before that renders the Gospel a more excellent and glorious Doctrine and so it 's his Excellency and Preciousness derived to them that makes his People those that own and believe on him to be a more excellent People then others as it is said The Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour Prov. 12.26 it is because Christ is in them as it is said again God is in the Generation of the Just Psal 14.5 And the Riches of the Mystery of the Gospel Preached among the Gentiles is Christ in or among them the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 As Christ also prayed for his Disciples that they may be one as the Father and Son are one he Christ in them and the Father in him John 17.23 For as the Comeliness of Jerusalem and her Beauty that was perfect was so through his Beauty and Comeliness put upon her Ezek. 16.14 So the Excellency of his People is his Excellency put upon them who are said to have put on Christ and to be as it were clothed with him Now he being so precious how must they needs be also precious in and by him And indeed others who have not him and much more they who reject and refuse him lifting up themselves or other things and glorying in them are vile persons Psal 15.4 For indeed every thing or person according to the Spirit is to be accounted of as it hath reference to or hath more or less of or conduceth more or less to our injoyment of him And so those things or persons are to be more esteemed or chosen of us and loved by us by whom or by which we are or may be more led to Christ or built up in him or more of him and his excellencies are or may be conveyed to us But I may seem to have insisted too largely upon this Subject and to have made too long a Digression if I may call it a Digression and yet I may too truly say I have spoken nothing in effect to it but rather have but darkned wisdom by words without knowledge his excellencies being indeed such as cannot be so spoken or written of but that all that is spoken and written of them is as far below them as He who would go about to paint the glory and luster of the Sun would necessarily fail and fall short of its proper and native splenâ—or and glory in all his painting Verily though there be very much said of him and of his excellencies in the Scriptures yet it may and will be said when we come to see him and enjoy him if we being found in him shall be accounted worthy thereof as the Queen of Sheba said of Solomon when she saw him and his excellency and glory It was a true report indeed said she which I heard of thee in mine own Land of thy acts and of thy wisdom howbeit I believed not the words till I came and mine eyes have seen and behold the half was not told me thy wisdom and thy prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard So may we say then the Prophets and Apostles knew in part and prophesied in part not in perfection and surely that which is but in part will be found as short of that that is perfect as the capacities of a little child fall below the most perfect capacities of a grown and most accomplished man as the Apostle signifies in 1 Cor. 13.10 12. And surely if they knew and prophesied in part only what then could I do or have I done who have but gleaned some small part of what they have declared Surely I must needs have fallen unspeakably short of his infinite perfections whose Name alone is excellent and whose glory is not only above the earth but above the Heavens also Psal 148.13 For who can declare as I said in the beginning hereof all his mighty acts Who can set forth all his praises Psal 106.2 I should but still fall below him yea and too much darken his glory should I assay to add any thing more hereabout and therefore I shall say no more but rather desire and pray that the spirit of wisdom and revelation may be granted to me in the knowledge of him that the eyes of my understanding being inlightned I may know more distinctly for my self and for the
its being set up 3. The person setting it up Moses 4. The place where he set it up in the Wilderness As for the manner of his lifting it up that pertains to the Third Point where I shall consider it 1. As to the thing it self It is said to have been a Serpent not a living Serpent nor the carcase of such a Creature dead but a Serpent in figure or Resemblance a Serpent of Brass as the Scripture calls it Num. 21.9 Moses made a Serpent of Brass and set it up c. though in vers 6. It s called a fiery Serpent That is the resemblance of such a kind of Serpent as is so called From this we might by the way observe That in Gods Ordinances Sacraments and sometimes otherwise or in other cases the Figures Resemblances Memorialls and Significations of things are called in the Scriptures by the names of the things resembled or remembred by them So we find Angels appearing like men often called men Judg. 13.3 6 8. Mat. 28.2 5. With Mark 16.5 Luk. 24.4.23 Act. 1.10 The Altar erected as a medium of Worshipping God called by the name though not transubstantiated into the Essence of the Lord God of Israel Gen. 33.20 The Paschal Lamb called the Passover because a remembrance of Gods passing over Israel when he destroyed the Egyptians And so the Bread in the Lords Supper called the Body of Christ and the Cup the New Testament in his blood because significations and in a sort exhibitions of them c. But the further use of this observation as to the Matter lifted up we may by and by consider when we have taken in the next particular viz. 2. The reason of its setting up and that is two wayes considerable Viz. as to 1. The end of its being set up and therein the occasion thereof 2. The original of its being set up for that end or the authority by which it was set up 1. The end of its being set up was in order to the healing or preserving from death the people of Israel when for their murmuring against God and despising the Manna or bread from Heaven wherewith he fed them he had sent fiery flying Serpents among the People that bit some of them so as that they dyed As is related in Num. 21.6 A simple thing to appearance to be of use in such a case and yet to that use it was made and set up with this promise annexed that it should come to pass that when a Serpent bit any man whosoever it was he looking to that Serpent of Brass should live ver 8. And such were its effects as appears ver 9. And that because of the original of its being made and set up to that end which was the Lord himself It was by his appointment and command Moses though King in Jesurun yet did not order the people after his own will nor appoint them Ordinances and institutions of his own head but depended on God for direction and proposed to them what he appointed them Note hence that it s not for men though never so great Magistrates or of never so great Authority in the Church of their own heads to make and erect means and ordinances of Salvation nor significant Sacraments in Gods Church in the use of which men may and are to expect blessing but this is Gods and Christs Prerogative As men can give no blessing with their institutions so neither can they make Ordinances for God to bless or promise Gods blessing with them they make that men in the use of them may wait with confidence and good ground for it therein It s Gods part to appoint the mediums which we are to make use of as Sacraments or divine Ordinances and promise and give blessing in the due use of them according to his appointment and in such mediums we may expect and find blessing no matter how unlikely or homely be their matter God who hath the sole power of instituting Ordinances and means of blessing hath power to give blessing with or by what means he pleaseth If he bid set up a piece of Brass and direct a wounded Creature to behold it and promise healing to the beholder by it it is enough to ingage him to look to it in such a case and to expect benefit by it according to his promise Nor shall such use of it or expectation of help thereby be frustrate If he bid a Leprous man go wash in Jordan seven times and he shall be clean he is to be obeyed and healing in that way is to be expected nor shall it be missed though those waters in themselves be nothing better than others which never so often washed in have no such effects If Christ make clay with his spittle and annoint a mans eyes with it that was born blind and bid him go and wash in a pool of water its good to obey him for he is able to give sight thereby whereas others using the same or like means without his Authority an hundred times over may remain still blind If he appoint us to be Baptized with Water into his Name for the remission of our sins and receipt of his holy Spirit it is not in vain to practice it yea it is a sin and such as in which we deprive our selves of the benefit if we refuse it And if he bid us take and bless and break and eat a loafe or a piece of bread in his Name and in the remembrance of his love to and sufferings for us and to drink a cup of Wine to the same purpose and it shall be to us his Body and Blood or a Communion of them it s not good to dispute or despise his Ordinances because of the meanness of their visible matter but obey and observe his appointments For this we may also hence note That the efficacy or blessing of Gods Ordinances depend not on the excellency or meanness of their outward matter He gives forth his treasures in earthy Vessels and makes manifest his Power in very weakness makes the foolishness of the Preaching of the Cross the power and wisdom of God to Salvation to them that believe it Therefore it s not good so say as the Sons of Belial said of Saul when God having Anointed him they despised him and sent him no presents How can this man save us so how can this water wash away our sins or this bread and wine nourish our Souls or promote our eternal Life for as there it was not the man that saved but the power of God with him that made him an effectual mean or instrument of conveying his Salvation as to deliverance from their Enemies So here it s not the outward mediums of Water Bread and Wine yea or of the words but the power and appointment of him that appointed them as mediums of holding forth his grace and blessing to the duty-waiter upon him in them that gives the promised efficacies and blessings by them or in the use of
as the Son of God without Being made the Son of Man had not therein been low or abased but had a bid in his proper height uncapable of higher exaltation in himself but it was the Son of God become the Son of Man that was abased and low and therefore as the Son of Man though also the Son of God in that form or state that was to be exalted or lifted up Which is worthy to be noted against those who make the humanity of Christ to be but a dispensation made use of for a time that is till the Spirit was sent forth to be the Comforter and then as Moses and his ministration passed away to give place to Christ and his Ministration when he came in the flesh So Christ his flesh or his being in it was to pass away and cease And mens minding his flesh humanity or dispensation therein to pass away in the coming of the Spirit Indeed his appearing in the flesh to Minister in it and as a man by personal acting preaching and working Miracles visibly among men was to cease not at the coming of the Spirit but before it and to make way for it to be powred forth upon the Disciples that they in and by it might be inabled and strengthned to minister in his stead But his Flesh or Body neither ceased to be in him nor to be useful to and for us and needful to be known understood and considered by us even after the Spirit was sent forth upon the Apostles for the Spirit when he came witnessed of him who was in the Flesh and confessed him not come in the Spirit but come in the Flesh Saith 1 Joh. 4.2 And every Spirit that confesseth not Christ come in the flesh but lays him aside in that consideration as no more needful to be eyed or known and so that speaks of him as gone out of the flesh except they thereby only mean out of his frail infirm state is not of God but is that Spirit of Antichrist that was to come into the World and now is in the World ver 3. It is the Son of Man which the Spirit cannot be said to be that is to be lifted up Let that be minded by us 3. I might also note that in saying the Son of Man must be lifted up there is implied some agent to lift him up for where there is a subject to be wrought upon there is also in what is wrought upon or about it something that acts or works as when any thing is heated there is something heats it When any thing is beaten there is something or person beats it So when any thing is exalted or lifted up there is some thing or person exalts it As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so there is some body some persons or person that must lift up the Son of Man which we shall inquire into and consider who or what it is in our speaking further to the act it self of lifting him up Which we come now to consider more fully as taken in the second sense of that expression as the lifting up signifies to Exalt or Magnifie CHAP. VI. A Twofold way of Exalting the Son of Man either by real Action upon his person namely Or by demonstration of him and his worth and excellency to others The former of these is here inlarged upon NOW Christ the Son of Man may be capable of lifting up or being exalted two ways suitable to the twofold way of his being low that is 1. As to real and Personal Exaltation by something acted upon himself Or 2. As to Demonstration and Manifestation of him to others for exalting him in their views and esteems Let us consider these Two ways distinctly And so 1. 1. As to the former He was exalted and lifted up of God even the Father He exalted lifted up and glorified him as was behoveful and needful for us in diverse Acts. As to say 1. In his taking the Humanity or Seed of David Abraham and so of the Woman The Son of Man into unity of Person with his Eternal Word or only begotten Son As was hinted by the way before And this was a great favour to and exaltation of that Seed As it is said I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have Exalted one chosen out of the People Psal 89.19 And that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Luk. 1.35 Though indeed this was rather a lifting up that Nature then that Person 2. In his calling him forth to suffer for us or rather his accepting him and his sufferings for us as a valuable price of our Redemption a satisfaction to his Justice and Sacrifice or Atonement for our sins And so our Saviour himself may be understood to say when speaking of the hour of his sufferings he saith John 12.23 The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified And when Judas was gone out to betray him into the hands of sinners he said Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him John 13.31 And with that agrees the Apostle in Heb. 2.9 Where he saith That Jesus was Crowned with glory and honour for the suffering of Death that he by the Grace of God might cast Death for every man Not only that he was glorified through sufferings but that he might taste Death And indeed as the other so this also was a great glory and honour though a great abasement in the World and suffering in himself as he was the Son of God that the Father should account and value him at so high and great a rate as to judge him this Son of Man of sufficient value to answer for and expiate the sins of the World Whereas all other Sacrifices though all the Beasts of Lebanon could not be sufficient for a burnt sacrifice nor all the Wood in that mighty Forest sufficient to burn to kindle that fire that should consume that that should be pleasing to him for any mans sin Isa 40.16 Not thousands of Rams nor ten thousand rivers of Oyl no nor the fruit of the body even the first-born for the sin of the Soul Mic. 6.7 No nor the richest wealthiest man in the world how ever full of riches or high and mighty could by all his riches though he offer them all or lay them all out in Sacrifices to be offered up to God for any one man though his dearest brother could make an expiation of his sins so as to give thereby a sufficient price to God for him that he might live for ever and not see Corruption So precious is the Redemption of the Soul Psal 49.7 8. Yet God hath accepted the abasement sufferings and sacrifice of his Son the Son of Man as a valuable sufficient Ransome for all men so as through him to preach remission of their sins to them and justifie all that believe on him upon that account from all things from which they could not
Egypt and its Bondage and the Law-giver from God to whose Laws they were bound in all ages to yeild obedience till the Messiah should be revealed So also the Son of man was appointed and is made of God the Redeemer and Deliverer of us Mankind from the hands of our Spiritual Enemies and from all that hate us Luk. 1.70 72 73. Especially his followers and obeyers those that believe in him and are made the Seed or Israel of God in and by him He being also as Abraham and Israel was their Father The Everlasting Father of this Spiritual off-spring Isa 9.6 And he is the great Law-giver to the World for whose Laws the Iles or Gentiles are to wait and to them to yeild obedience to the end of the World For the Lord is our Law-giver Isa 33.22 42.1 4. 2. Again as Joshua was a Saviour and the bringer of them into the Inheritance which God had promised to their Fathers delivering them from the Inhabitants of that Land the Cananites utterly destroying them before them and dividing their Land to them by Lot So also Jesus the Son of Man was to be and is exalted and lifted up of God to be the expeller and driver out of Sathan and his Angels the powers of darkness out of their possession and the bringer in of his People the Israel of God that follow him into the heavenly Country and City of God which he hath promised to the spiritual Israel that are subject to him driving out all the power of Sin and Corruption from them Yea and in due time driving out all the Tyrants of the World with their Captains and Ring-leaders into Destruction he shall possess his People of the glorious Kingdom and divide to them their several portions and rewards in giving the Kingdom and Dominion and greatness of the Kingdom to the Saints of the most high God whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and his dominion that that shall have no end Dan. 7.27 3. As they had Judges also to be their helpers and Saviours from their enemies and to judge and avenge them of them and order their Affairs So Christ the Son of Man is raised up and appointed of God to be the great Judge the pleader of the Causes and avenger of Man-kind against Sathan and the Powers of Darkness And more especially of his Israel the Seed and Sons of God through the faith of him against all their Enemies Yea the great Judge of quick and dead who shall raise up all from their Graves and gather them together from all quarters of the World determining all Cases deciding all controversies and finally disposing to every man according to his Works everlasting rewards or punishments in Justice and Righteousness And seeing his Sentences put in execution with great and irresistible Power and Authority Act. 10.42 17.30 31. But perhaps we might as well have reduced these last mentioned offices or honours unto that that follows Viz. That 4. Whereas they had Kings set over them to go in and out before them to be their Captains and Leaders and to appoint Officers under them giving them Laws and Commands fighting their Battels and so to subdue their enemies protect them in peace and quietness in the peaceable possession of their Inheritances and enlarge their borders c. And so Moses also was said to be King in Jesurun So Christ this Son of Man is lifted up of God to that Authority and Sovereign dignity made his King by him set upon his holy hill of Sion Psal 2.1 2 6 7. And Maugre all opposition made by the Heathen and People the Kings and Rulers the Jews and Gentiles Herod and Pontius Pilate and all or any of their Successors that set themselves against him Act. 4.26 29. The King of Nations Jer. 10.7 Yea Of all the Earth Psal 47.7 And the King of Saints Rev. 15.4 5. A Great King above all Gods Psal 95.2 The Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our Judge The Lord is our King and he will save us Isa 33.20 Yea and further 5. Whereas their Priests and Kings and once we find a Prophet was anointed by Gods appointment to their several offices and so designed of God to them upon which also as we sometime find God gave his Spirit to fit them for the discharge of them as thereby also they were seperated from others to attend unto God to serve him and his People therein and receive his help and supplies for the same So also the Son of Man Christ Jesus was to be and is and was anointed of God with the holy Ghost and Power Act. 10.38 To design seperate and authorize him to and furnish him for all those Offices and undertakings to which God appointed and called him As for the discharge of his Prophetick Office and work it is said The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to Preach glad tidings to the poor to bind up the broken hearted c. Isa 61.1 2. With Luk. 4 18 19. for by his word and the Divine force and power of his holy Spirit breathing forth his grace therein He is as a great yea the great and only Phisician of the Soul and his words do good like a Medicine being words of grace words of eternal life pleasant words that are like a honey-comb pleasant to the taste and healing to the bones Prov. 15.14 16.24 Wholsome and sound and healing words are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine that is according to Godliness 1 Tim. 6.3 4 Again it is said Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my holy Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles c. Isa 42.1 And as the great King the Great God and our Governour He is Gods Christ or Anointed whom he hath set upon his holy hill of Sion Psal 2.2 6. And anointed with the Oyl of gladness above his fellows Psal 45.6 7. And as the most holy even the most holy High Priest who is holy harmless undefiled seperated from Sinners He may be understood to be the Anointed or Messiah spoken of by Daniel Dan. 9.24 When he saith To Anoint the most holy And so that he was Consecrated that way also as well as by the word of the Oath Though the former was tipyfied in Aaron and his Sons Sanctified and Consecrated with the holy anointing Oyl powred upon and anointing them Exod. 30.29 30. Levit. 8.12 And the latter exceeded them Heb. 7.20 21 28 To Minister before the Lord for ever Sure it is that Through the Eternal Spirit he offered up himself as the spotless Sacrifice Heb. 9.14 And with reference to this anointing him and furnishing him with the fullness of the holy Ghost The Spirit of wisdom and of understanding the Spirit of counsel and of might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord that rests and abides upon him and makes him quick
know not hath ordered gifts to men for a distinct and plain preaching him in a way seeming to the world more foolish for their Salvation And in this foolishness even the plain ungarnished way of preaching He is I say to be so held up or set forth as men may have opportunity or advantage to see him as given in the flesh to the world to be their Saviour according to Gospel-revelation with perswasions also to men to mind and look to him as the great and onely one in whom there is certain healing for them and as one who being neglected by them or not looked to to the end they cannot be healed cannot be forgiven and saved from their sins and Gods wrath and judgements though he be the same in himself seen or not seen looked to or not looked to believed in or not believed in Yet he is not the same to us that is he gives not forth his virtues otherwise then as lifted up he is looked to and believed on by men as to persons that are in capacity as being of years or otherwise of discretion as such onely in a sense agreeable to Scripture speaking may more properly be said to be come into so as to be of the world nor can he be otherwise or further then as lifted up to them beheld by them Isa 45.22 Mark 16.15 16. Heb. 2.1 3. 3. As Moses lifted up the Serpent Not to the end that God might take occasion to punish them the more for their necessitated or wilful neglects of it or as a thing intended of God to that end but for this gracious end That when a Serpent had bitten any man however often or seldom deeply or sleightly he might look to the Brazen Serpent and live Though in case any man out of pride or scornfulness or other principles neglected it he might be worthily left to dye of his wounds and was without excuse if he then perished Even so the Son of Man is and must be of men lifted up not to the end that men might harm themselves by him and be left without excuse if either through defect on Gods part of effectual Grace to enable them they cannot as some erroneously hold or through wilfulness on their part in neglecting the grace and power given them they will not look to and believe in him and so perish But to those gracious ends that they might when through the deceits of Sin and the Devil they fall into sin and misery look up to him and be healed by him Not perish but have eternal life both believe and live Though if when he is lifted up to those gracious ends any man neglect to use the power and liberty given him of God to look to him and in the help of his grace in such looking to him met with to believe in him or having begun to believe withdraw again and so through unbelief perish he is the cause of his own destruction and is and will be without excuse in Gods presence when he comes to judge him Isa 5.3 4. Hosea 13.9 Matth. 22.12 Rom. 3.4 19. Now that Gods ends in ordering Christ to be lifted up and so in lifting him up are so gracious and not as some represent them to be a snare to them otherwise then in case they wilfully reject him when lifted up to those gracious ends that such a thing shall be the event as is implied Isa 8.14 1 Pet. 2.8 that they might perish I say that Gods gracious ends in it are directly that men might believe on him and that whosoever so do might not perish but have eternal life both the next words and the two following Verses shew The next words are That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life And the next Verses confirm that saying For God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved Mark that Negative Not to condemn the world and then the Affirmative But that the world through him might be saved Such the gracious end of God being acted by love in it to the world though the event is like the event that might be to the people from the Serpent lifted up if any were so foolish for their bodies as many in the world are for their souls namely He that believes is not condemned he obtains the gracious end of God even as there it came to pass that if a serpent had bitten any man when he looked to the brazen Serpent he lived Numb 21.9 But he that believeth not is condemned now or already because he hath not believed on the Name of the onely begotten Son of God Not because it was Gods end in giving Christ that any man should refuse him and be condemned but because he neglected Gods gracious end which was that through him he might be saved John 3.16 17 18. as follows Verse 19. This is the condemnation the reason of the unbelievers being condemned that light is come into the world but men loved darkness rather then light But this I might add as 5. The last agreement viz. As to the event It came to pass there upon Moses lifting up that Serpent that if a Serpent had bitten any man when he beheld the Serpent of brass he lived As implying that not till then had it its effect to revive or cure and so not at all if never looked to or if before perfect recovery it was turned from that may possibly be implied too but if any looked to and beheld it he lived No matter from what part of the Camp whether East or West or whether he stood so near it as to behold its express form or at such a distance as he had but a confused sight of it whether his wounds were more or fewer deeper or sleightier c. when he looked he lived Even so here when any man seeth and believeth on Christ lifted up of God and in the Gospel not till then or otherwise but then he is justified from all things from which he could not be justified by the Law of Moses Whatever or wherever he is or whether his sight be more distinct or more dim and confused so be it his sight be hearty he lives with God or in his sight and living and believing he shall not dye for ever Acts 13.39 Gal. 3.7 9 26 29. John 1.12 13. Acts 10.34 43. John 11.25 26. But I onely mention this and proceed now to CHAP. IX The fourth and last Point The end of the Son of Mans being lifted up viz. That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life Six Observations drawn from hence The first of which concerning mens danger of perishing opened Point 4 THe end why or whereto the Son of Man must be so lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness is
fast and not turning therefrom be sure not to fail of it and we have their prayers for us that we may therefore hold fast and go on to the end with manifold provocations by word writings and examples to it Yea and many of our enemies too though they hate us for the the thing it self as practised by us yet they preach and approve what they hate in their doctrines and declarations even as the Jews approve and magnifie those Scriptures which hold forth what the Christians belieâ—â— though they believe not what is in their own Scriptures Joh 5.45 46. and 10.34 Yea and we have all Gods providences therein working together for us all things working together for good to them that love God all the paths of the Lord mercy and truth to them that keep his Covenant and his Testimonies Psal 25.9 Rom. 8.28 Yea all things ours Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the World or life or death or things present or things to come all are ours if we be Christs as Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3.21 22 Gal. 3.29 and therefore great encouragement have we to hold fast faith and go on believing in the Son of man the Son of God Encour 3. The great profit and benefit proposed to be received and injoyed in beleiving on him both the avoiding and escaping so great misery as perishing and the greatness of the good things contained in the eternal life to be injoyed a great recompence of reward Therefore cast we not away our confidence it 's life a Kingdom yea Eternal life and an everlasting Kingdom the Kingdom and Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ an eternal weight of glory Heb. 10.36 2 Thess 2.14 1 Pet. 5.10 2 Cor. 4.17 18. Yea and Encour 4. All the assurances given us of the certain fulfilling of what is said herein certifying us that we shall not perish but have Eternal life in such believing are strong Encouragements to us worthy to be minded by us As to say 1. We have Gods promise for it God that cannot lye hath promised Eternal life to the believer Tit. 1.2 1 Joh. 2.24 25. And faithfull is he that hath promised and he will perform it Heb. 10.23 And if we would trust an honest man upon his word or promise may we not much more trust God 2. We have the oath of God That by two immutable things in which it is not possible that God should lye namely his promise and his oath we might have strong consolation that flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us seeing therein appears the immutability of his counsel Heb. 6. 17 18. By my self have I sworn saith the Lord to Abraham and in him to his seed them that are Christs Gal. 3.29 that in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thee Gen. 22.16 Heb. 6.13 And if we believe men upon their solemn oaths shall we not much more believe God when to confirm our faith he adds his oath to his promise ingaging himself thereby to the performance 3. We have manifold evidences of Gods truth and the truth of his Word in which these things are covenanted and promised all that evidences Gods truth and faithfulness in making good his words increases this assurance and that 's much as the casting off the Jews for their Idolatry and unbelief according to what or so far as Moses and the Prophets long since fore-signified Deut. 31.17 18. 32.21 22. 30.1 with Rom. 9 10 11.11 The calling and bringing in us Gentiles to be his people which was prophesied off long before while we were all worshippers of Idols and Devils Yet God hath made good this against all appearing probability even then when that one Nation that had the Oracles of God and boasted themselves to be his people and to have him for their God and he a greater God than all the gods of the Gentiles was for their sins rejected so as to have their City sackt and burnt their Land laid wast their people destroyed by famine pestilence sword and led captive into all lands and that by those who opposed the Lord his word and ways and were ready to attribute all their successes to the strength of their Gods or Idols and the ruine of their enemies to the weakness of their God Judg. 16.23 24. 2 King 18.33 and 19.22 Yet even then by the preaching of the Apostles a few despised persons he got himself the victory over them and brought in the Gentiles against all the malice of the Devils and thier worshippers to confesse him and his oracles the holy Scriptures Many other things might be noted to confirm the truth of the Scriptures as but I shall note it as another ground 4. The raising up Jesus and so sending us his own Son his only begotten according to the promises and prophecies that fore-went of him to be our Saviour the light to lighten us Gentiles and to be his salvation to the ends of the earth Act. 13.32 47. and 26.22 23. with Isai 42.1 6. 49.6 7 8. And he was discovered to be the Son of God by the testimony of the Scriptures of the Prophets by his own miracles and doctrine by the voyce of God and by the Spirit of holiness in the resurrection from the dead Joh. 5.36 37 39 and 20.31 Rom. 1.3 4. He as given of God for us and giving himself to be the ransome of our souls the propitiation for our sins the peace-maker and reconciler of us to God is an evident witness and assurance of the love and faithfulness of God to us and that in our believing on him he will be to us the Author of eternal salvation and everlasting life Isai 55.4 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 5.7.9 Having not spared his own Son but delivered him up to death for us all How shall not he with him freely give us all things Rom 8 32. 5. The holy Spirit given us as an earnest of the inheritance both as gifting the Apostles and believers at first with extraordinary and most usefull gifts inabling them to work miracles wonders and signs according to the fore-sayings of the holy Prophets Joel 2.28 29 in the name of Jesus witnessing therein to him and to the truth of his doctrine and also as inlighting the mind renewing the heart and assuring the conscience by his divine and heavenly operations in which we have included those three witnesses on earth mentioned in 1 Joh. 5.7 8. The Spirit inlightning and gifting the water washing and cleansing and the blood pâ—â—ging and pacifying and so the spirit by all assuring the conscience give assurance of Gods truth and faithfulnesse in making good his promises for saving the believer from perishing and giving him Eternall life Having therefore such motives and incouragements to believe and such assurances of welfare therein How should we not be strengthned to believe on him and to follow on to believe yet more and more strongly against all temptations and oppositions using
Teachers for perfecting the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the Edifying the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith and acknowledgment of the Son of God to a perfect man c. Ephes 4.7 8.11 12. And it was needful he should give such Gifts to men to the end that he might be Lifted up by men in the Exercise of them Yea and that they be faithful to men therein making it the great Business Work and end of all their exercise of their Gifts and so of all their Ministry and Conversation to Lift up and Magnifie the Son of Man to glorifie Jesus Christ our Lord by and from whom they have all their said Gifts and all their Mercies and Injoyments bestowed upon them Heb. 13.7 8. 2 Thes 1.12 Yea and of all that know and believe in him to confess him with their Mouth and magnifie him both in Word and Work calling in others to him And so it 's said The Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come Rev. 22.17 And this Witnessing to him and Lifting him up as the Son of God the Christ the Saviour of the World the Lord the Ransom of our Souls who hath given himself the Ransom or Price of Redemption for all the Testimony in due time the Reconciliation and Reconciler the Propitiatory or Mercy Seat through whom God doth cover the Sins of men through Faith in his Blood and the Propitiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole World The Peace-maker and Peace between God and man and between men and men The great Prophet and Apostle Light and Leader of men into the Truth true Knowledg Faith and Worship of Cod the great High Priest over the House of God the Mediator of God and man that makes Intercession for Transgressors and for all that come to God by him the great King of Saints and Nations the Procurer and Giver of Remission of sins and of the Holy Ghost and of all Spiritual Grace and Blessing the great God and our Saviour who hath the Fulness of God yea all the Fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him Bodily and hath the Government of all things committed to him so as he hath all Power and Authority over all things in Heaven and Earth and hath the dispose of all Mercies for this Life and that to come Spiritual and Corporal the only Way to the Father to be worshipped by us and from the Father to Convey all Grace and Blessing to us the Resurrection and the Life yea the All I say the lifting him up as such a one is exceeding useful and behoveful yea necessary for begetting in mens hearts an exceeding high apprehension of him so as to render him precious to them more precious then the fine Gold of Ophir or the Mountains of Prey and to lead them to account all things loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledg of him and so to come to and believe on him And though in all Ages nor in all Places there hath not been given forth a like Express and full Testimony of and to him as there is given in these Ages and these Places wherein we live having the Testimony of the Apostles and of the holy Spirit by them nor where we have that is there in every one the same fulness of understanding firmness of belief and clearness of declaration of what is said and contained therein Yet this in the fulness of it and all that is in it is very needful and behoveful for bringing men in to believe on him explicitly and firmly against and because of all the oppositions of the Devil and evil Spirits and of the reason and wisdom and stubbornness of the Flesh and carnal Heart and the course and principles of the world tending to keep men therefrom as to mens more distinct full and comfortable exercise of Faith in him Indeed as it is not of absolute necessity to Salvation and Eternal life that every one have the same fulness and comfortable exercise of believing so also neither is it of absolute necessity that they have every one the same clearness and fulness of understanding and perswasion of the commendations pertaining to him Yea as to Gods power to save men through him I cannot assert a necessity of a distinct knowledg of the Name and particular Acts of Christ at all for doubtless many who died before his Incarnation and had no distinct knowledg of his Person and personal Acts in the flesh were saved as well as many Infants and others since But yet generally needful it is that he be so far Lifted up and made known and there-through that the heart be so far perswaded of his Being Fulness Power Excellency Sufficiency as that the heart see him the only excellent and sufficient Object of Faith and Confidence the only powerful One to be looked to and hoped in by us or else he cannot be distinctly believed on to Salvation and Life everlasting Where there is no Vision the people perish but where there is so much as that people may see the Law and Doctrine of Christ or the Mind of God concerning them through him he that keeps the Law is happy Even that of the Law that concerning him or by and through him is made known Prov. 29.18 with Rom. 2.26 Acts 10.34 And where men have the clear knowledg of him to declare to others for their helpfulness in believing on him and they conceal it from men woe to them for so doing 1 Cor. 9.16 Br. 2. As the Exalting and Lifting up of Christ by way of Declaration of him as aforesaid is necessary for mens believing on him for Life and Salvation at the first and further then he is made known in his Being and Excellency no man can have any Faith in or belief on him So this is necessary also to the abiding and growth in him and recovery of the Back-sliders to Faith in him again that he be still and always Lifted up and Magnified in the Eyes of men even of those that have begun to believe or have formerly believed on him For if by any means the Lifting of him up and the Preaching and praises of him being with-held or neglected the Serpent foist in high thoughts of some other thing or things as better and fuller then he or as necessary besides him and the Grace in and by him for our Life and Salvation or for our Welfare and Happiness either here or hereafter so as the thoughts or mind be corrupted from the simplicity in him And he begin to appear or be looked upon as less Full Precious and Desirable the soul is in present danger to be withdrawn from him and be gone ceasing to believe and depend on him or to do so singly and rightly for the Salvation and Life that is in and by him which occasioned the Apostles godly jealousie of the Corinthians least by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve their minds should
hand yea or but tasted and spit out again it heals not the Distemper If it fail not to heal when ever duly applied it s an approved Medicine and may have a Probatum est written upon it The waters of Jordan were manifested to be an apt proper and sufficient remedy for Naamans Leprosie in that it healed him perfectly upon his seven times washing in it though had he either gone away in his rage and not washed at all or washed but four or five or six times in it and not seven times as he commanded his Leprosie had not been cleansed The like we might say of the Brazen Serpent that healed in being looked upon though its bare setting up or being felt on would not have done it Now that to such as give up and attend to the Gospel it s a means of begetting preserving and increasing Faith it may be thus evidenced 1. In that its the way that God hath appointed and it s to be certainly believed that what God orders is and must be proper and sufficient for the end whereto he orders it his work being perfect and all his Ways judgment Deut. 32.4 We may not so injure the infinite Wisdom and Goodness of the only wise God who is Love and Goodness it self as to think that he would direct his Creatures to improper or insufficient means for their attaining the most excellent and necessary end as if he either could mistake himself or would impose upon and delude us Now that this is the means of his appointing is evident in this that the Gospel was ordered by him to be Preached For the obedience of Faith in all Nations Rom. 1.5 and 16.26 And that it Pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe To whom also it is the Power of God for that purpose Rom. 1.16 1 Cor. 1.21 Even to save them from unbelief and disobedience Yea it s called the Word of Faith Rom. 10.8 both as its the Word that is to be believed and as it begets and nourishes Faith where entertained As also the Preaching of the Cross is said to be the Power and Wisdom of God to the called to such as obey the call both to lead and strengthen them to and direct and uphold them in believing on Christ and God by him 1 Cor. 1 22r 24. As also it is that Faith where-through the Believer is kept by the Power of God to the Salvation ready to be revealed in the last days 1 Pet. 1.5 2. In that in and by it all things are given us of God pertaining to Life and Godliness both to quicken to and in believing and preserve in it and lead out to the right worshipping of God in the exercise of it 2 Pet. 1.3 as to say 1. A discovery of all such things or Objects as may move the heart to imbrace Christ and preserve it with him taking it off from all other things For therein is declared as was also noted before 2. The excellency of his Person that there is none like him for us to believe on he being the Son the only begotten Son of God one with God yea God over all blessed for ever Amen John 1.1 2 14. and 3.16 Rom. 9.5 One by whom and for whom all things in Heaven and Earth were Created and made and are by the word of his Power upheld Col. 1.16 Heb. 1.2 3. One that was in the Form and hath the Riches and Fulness of God Phil. 2.6 7. 2 Cor. 8.9 And therefore one mighty in Power Wisdom and Fulness for performing his undertakings for us to save us Isa 9.6 2. The greatness of his Love and Grace toward us in coming forth from his Father in the fulness of time to seek and save us to that purpose emptying himself of all his Riches and Glory and taking on him the form of a Servant the fashion of Men yea bearing our Iniquities on his Body on the Tree becoming poor a man of Sorrows and acquainted with Griefs yea made sin and a Curse for us to redeem us from sin and Curse and to inrich bless and make us Righteous to that purpose Dying the accursed and shameful Death of the Cross for us Gal. 4.4 and 3.13 Phil. 2.7 8 9. 1 Pet. 2.24 2 Cor. 8.9 Isa 53.4 5 6. 2 Cor. 5.21 Which may perswade us of his willingness to save and bless us 3. That all this was done to him and suffered by him for the World the whole World for all and every one and not only for some few out of love to the world and Grace to every one God being not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance and so to the knowledg and acknowledgment of the Truth and to be saved John 3.16 17. and 12.47 Rom. 5.18 2 Cor. 5.14 15 19 20 21. 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Heb. 2.9 and 4.9 10 14. Ezek. 33.11 2 Pet. 3.9.15 And so reaches to and includes every of us 4. That all this he did by the Will and Appointment of God his Father in Obedience to and in Union of mind and will with him and therefore with his Likement and Acceptance who sent him gave him made him of a Woman and under the Law yea made him Sin and a Curse for us laid upon him the Iniquities of us all pleased to bruise him and put him to Griefs and made his Soul an offering for sin upheld him in all and was well-pleased with him and therefore also bare witness to him in both Life and Death but especially in Raising and Exalting him as was formerly shewed For He raised him from the Dead it being indeed impossible that he should be held of Death Acts 2.24 and gave him Glory that our Faith and Hope might be in God He delivered him for our Offences and raised him again for our Justification and did all things needful and abundant to him in Glorifying him that he might be our Saviour the Author of eternal Salvation to all that obey him John 3 16 17. Gal. 4.4 2 Cor. 5.19 21. Gal. 3.13 Isa 53.5 6 10 11. and 42.1 Rom. 4.25 1 Pet. 1.21 Heb. 5.9 For as 5. It is also declared in this Doctrine He being such a Person in himself who did and suffered such things and doing and suffering them for us all by the will and appointment of his Father and in Union of will with him his said Abasement Sufferings and Death were accepted and owned of God as and so are a sufficient Ransome or Price of Redemption for all Both for freeing all from perishing in and under that Death and Condemnation which came upon all in the first Adam and for his Transgression out of which therefore all shall at last be Raised up by him and also for Freeing Discharging and Delivering from Curse and Death eternal upon the account of their personal sinnings against the Law Goodness and Grace of God in and through him all or any that upon Convincement thereof in the day of
all the goodliness of man is like the Flower of the Grass the Grass withereth and the Flower fadeth but the Word of the Lord even that word that in the Gospel is Preached to us the Word made Flesh abideth for ever That we might only look to and believe on him Isa 41.29 with 42.1 2 3 4 8. and 40.6 7. Acts 4.10 11 12 1 Pet. 1.24 25. 11. With this Doctrine and Exaltation of the Son of man therein is also the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit whose Word it is and whose work and business it is to Lift up this Standard in and by all Means and Mediums for Working and Begetting Confirming and Strengthening Increasing and Giving growth to this Faith or Belief on the Son of man He I say is present in and with it to make it Powerful and Effectual to in and upon the Heart of the Hearer that in hearing he might believe and live That he in hearing opening the Mouth to take in this Word of Faith he might strengthen and cause the Soul to Eat and feed upon Christ held forth therein EZek. 3.1 2. Whence it is called The Ministration of the Spirit and the Words of Christ said to be Spirit and Life because of the Spirit Ministred therein and there-with which Spirit quickneth and giveth Life whence also it is a Ministration of Righteousness and Life 2 Cor. 3.6 8 9. John 6.63 The Spirit is Ministred not in the works of the Law but by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3.2 In the lifting up of the Son of man or report given in the Gospel of and concerning him is the Arm of the Lord revealed Isa 53.1 And this Spirit being the Arm of the Lord must needs be powerful for all that it is given or put forth to either for begetting preserving strengthening or increasing this Faith or believing on the Son of man Whence it is also called the Spirit of Faith We having the same spirit of Faith we also believe and therefore we speak knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up by him 2 Cor. 4.13 14. And God hath not given us the spirit of Fear but of Power and Love and of a sound mind 2 Tim. 1.7 As implying that it is the Effect and Fruit of the holy Spirit working in and received by men that they believe and stand strongly and stedfastly in the Faith though under Temptations and Oppositions to the contrary Whence it also follows as a further Conclusion Conclusion 4. That the lifting up of the Son of man in the sense aforesaid viz. the Magnifying and Exalting him in the view of men is the proper and effectual means though not for putting any thing into Christ for us more then God hath put into him and upon him in his real Exalting and Lifting him up in his Person for in that respect he is compleat and perfect before the Preaching and Testifying of him The preparation for the poor was perfect before God gave the word and raised up the multitude of Preachers Psal 68.10 11. Even as the Serpent was perfect in it self as to what Moses was to make it before he set it up on the Pole Yet for the conveying Grace and Blessing to men and putting his Salvation and Life Eternal into them This in part was spoken to and its truth shewed in what was said above to the way of Christs saving the Believer from perishing from the way And in what we said of the Believers receiving and having Eternal life yet something we shall further here note And so I say this way of Exalting though it puts nothing into Christ but only ascribes and attributes to him what is in him yet it brings something into men even of Gods salvation to preserve them from perishing from the way of Life and Righteousness and so from the second Death in the Conclusion and of the Eternal life that is given us in him And this may be further Evidenced and Confirmed from the Titles given to the Gospel as that it s called the Word of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 The Gospel of Peace Ephes 6.15 The Gospel of our Salvation Ephes 1.13 The Word of Life Phil. 2.16 The Word of Righteousness Heb. 5.13 Yea The Words of Eternal life John 6.68 Which Names are given to it not only because it declares what God hath done in Christ for Reconciling us to himself and making Peace Or what Peace and Peaceableness is in the Heart of God towards us or what salvation righteousness and life are given us in him but also because it is it self the way Medium or power of God for reconciling the hearts of men to himself and creating peace in them Isa 57.17 and of saving quickning and giving life Num. 1.16 James 1.21 1 Cor. 15.2 Psal 119.93 Isa 55.3 c. Let us view the effects and fruits produced thereby in Men. 1. Therein and thereby Christ gives forth his voice and divine light to declare and discover to Men where and what they are what case and state they are in and where their safety lies and which way they may attain it Yea what not that may be useful for Men to see and know for saving them from the powers of darkness and what ignorance and error expose them to Thus as Christ is called the Light of the World so his word that declares and lifts him up is a light too a light to our feet and a lanthorn to our steps Psal 119.105 Whatsoever makes manifest is light Eph. 5.13 and this word manifests God and Christ Sin and Righteousness Life and Death and all things and therein also is the voice of God and Christ calling to us to awaken and stand up from the dead that Christ may give us light that so our feet may be directed into the ways of peace Ephes 5.13 14. yea this makes the Preachers of and walkers in it Lights too to Men as the Baptist who bare witness to Christ as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World and lifted him up as the true light the Christ preferring him before him as one who was before him was therein a burning and a shining light Joh. 1.6 7 8 9 28 29. 5.32 33. And the Apostles whose work it was to witness to and preach forth Christ and his excellencies were called the light of the World and were sent forth to open mens eyes by their word and turn them from darkness to light Matth. 5.16 Act. 26.18 For with this voice and light in the exalting of Christ is given forth 2. A certain divine force power and operation of and by the spirit to inliven quicken and so indue the hearer and receiver thereof with a capacity 1. Of seeing and discerning the light and hearing the voice of the Lord discovering and directing into the way of peace and safety and so saving from the way of errour and deceit that leades to destruction thence the light of Christ which he gives
in and by his Gospel declaring and preaching him forth is called the light of life Joh. 8.12 as giving sight also and perception where admitted yea even some that receive or retain it not are said to see and hear and to close their eyes least they see with their eyes and stop their eares least they should hear with them and to harden their hearts least they should understand and be converted c. Matth. 13.15 Acts 28.26 27. and the Apostle Paul in that of Acts 26.18 above cited was sent to give them sight by the Gospel as well as light a power to see what is shewed them that they might flee from the evils and dangers of perishing discovered and follow after the life proposed and so for hearing his voice The hour comes saith our Saviour and now is wherein the dead hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Joh. 5.25 Yea Christ in his word by his divine power and force is giving also 2. Understanding to the heart as is implyed in that even now mentioned passage in Matth. 13.15 and in Act. 28.26 27. as also is implyed in wisdomes call O ye simple understand wisdom and ye fools be ye of an understanding heart as implying that she is in her calls ready at hand in their hearing and consenting to her to give them to be wise and of an understanding heart Prov. 8.4 5. See also Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy words giveth light and it giveth understanding to the simple and Psal 19.7 The testimony of the Lord is sure and makes wise the simple yea and here-through 3. He is turning the heart to the Lord or there is that given forth which tends to and will in the receiver turn and convert the heart to him as it is said The Law of the Lord is perfect even that Doctrine which sets forth the Lord as well as is given forth by him for it is both converting the Soul It hath power virtue and tendency in its instructions and is offering and effecting it though men winking with the eye and stopping the eare least they should see and hear and understand and be converted deprive themselves of the efficacy of that conversive force and are not converted as many whom the goodness of the Lord leads to repentance through their hardness and impenitency are not led by it Rom. 2.4 5. and some whom God was purging he saith were yet not purged Ezek. 24.13 But the eyes that see and the eares that hear be blessed Matth. 13.16 So as they shall see and hear more the mysteries of the Kingdom shall they understand Ver. 17. Thus also Paul who was a chosen Vessel to lift up the Son of Man by carrying his Name among the Gentiles and People was sent as we see in what was before quoted from Act. 26.18 to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God as many were actually and effectually so turned by him 1 Thes 1.9 10. by which it is evident that the power and presence of Christ by his Spirit was in and with his Preaching to that purpose And truly when any are so turned to God in Christ they are then in a state of salvation and are partakers of no small or despicable a portion of that saving from perishing for which Christ is lifted up being now out of the ways of falshood and destruction and in the way to happiness being reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5.18 Rom. 5.10 and so in the way of life and righteousness wherein in the further or still lifting up the Son of Man and not otherwise He is yet saving and giving life 1. By powâ—ing out further of his Spirit and making known his words so as to give them to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom the Name of God in Christ his secret and his Covenant Matth. 13.11 Prov. 1.23 Psal 25.12 14. Joh. 17.6 7 8. wherein Christ becomes to the Soul wisdome induing it with a principle of wisdome by his words put into it which wisdome entring into the heart and making knowledge pleasant to the Soul gives it such understanding and discretion as saves and preserves it from the way of the evil man and from the evil or strange Woman yea from every evil way Prov. 2.10 11 12 15 16. Psal 119.104 Yea and there is in it the spring of life and immortality a tree of life to them that find it and makes happy every one that retaineth it Prov. 3.13 18. for she leads and frames the heart to hope and trust in the Lord and believe dependingly upon him as somewhat known and understood in his Name and goodness yea she yet further leads to the riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God the Father and Christ bringing the Soul into his marvelous light 1 Cor. 1.30 Prov. 22 18 19 20. Psal 1.2.3 with Jer. 17.7 8. Eph. 1.13.18 19. Col. 2.2 1 Pet. 2.9 2. By justifying and acquitting from all fore-past trespasses and blotting out all offences and interesting in all the blessings and promises in Christ wherein Christ is made to the believer righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 with Act. 10.43 13.37 38 39. Gal. 3.29 and so the Soul is saved from the state of death and condemnation in which it was still turned into God and is translated into a state of life and brought to be a subject of Christs gracious Kingdom and an Heir of his Glorious Kingdom Joh. 5.24 Col. 1.12 13 14. Tit. 3 6 7. yea and herein He by this his word saves it from fears and droopings giving it peace with God through Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 Heb. 2.15 3. By giving in to the Soul the spirit of holiness washing renewing and making it a new creature in Christ Jesus and changing it into his image and likeness wherein also he saves the spirit of the believer from the bondage of sin and corruption and is bringing it into an Heavenly freedome and liberty to righteousness giving it so to behold the glory of the Lord with open face as in a glass as transformes it by degrees into his image from glory to glory as by his spirit 2 Cor. 3.18 and so the new man is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created it the old man being put off and the spirit of the mind renewed to the putting on the new through the learning of the truth as it is in Jesus Col. 3.10 Eph. 4.21 22 23. and in this Christ is made to the soul sanctification in a sense and in some part redemption 4. By giving it liberty and freedome from the Law and the servitude of it as a Rule of righteousness or justification and as to its ceremonial and typical observations even by the truth as it is in Christ known and received and giving it liberty to God and the priviledg and title of the Children of God which are given in by the Faith of Jesus Christ to
them who through the lifting up of him are begotten to believe on his name and therewith also the spirit of adoption framing it to child-like love reverence confidence and boldness to cry Abba Father Joh 1.12 13. Gal. 3.26 27 28 29. 4.4 5. Rom. 8.15 16. and his Children find a place of refuge in him Prov. 14.26 And in this also Christ is made to the Soul redemption and in a sense sanctification as to sanctify signifies to devote to God to be in a choice relation to him 1 Cor. 1.30 5. By begetting in the heart a lively hope of glory and of the glorious inheritance which he doth through the lifting up of Christ as one raised from the dead through the power of the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.2 3. 1 Pet. 1.3 4. Rom. 15.13 and we are saved by hope as by an anchor sure and stedfast keeping the Soul from being blown away and dasht upon and split against the Rocks Rom. 8.24 25. Heb. 6.19 20. from and with which hope also is effected joy in the Holy Ghost in which the heart is saved through this lifting up of the Son of Man from its fears and griefs also Rom. 52 3. We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and not only so but we rejoyce also in tribulation yea we joy also in God through Jesus Christ our Lord by whom we have received the atonement Rom. 5.3 11. 6. Yea upon any loss or decay of these things the holy spirit in the lifting up of the Son of Man drawing the eye from its idols and iniquities to which it was wandered to behold and believe on him again restores the Soul and renews his pardoning and justifying acts with renewed peace and other gracious effects and so He I. Saves the Soul from perishing in a threefold way 1. In pulling it out and delivering it from its sinful fearful perishing estate at the first turning of it in to God and Christ to believe on him Tit. 3.4 5. 2. In keeping it from falling back again into Sin and Guilt and Disquiet in preserving it in believing As we shewed largely in Branch 2. Rom. 1.16 3. In recovering it from Falls and Lapses and Restoring it again as by this way he recalled the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2.4 5. And the Angel of the Church of Sardis from his Spiritual deadness by remembring how he had Received and Heard Rev. 3.2 3 Yea and the Angel of the Church of Laodicea is called from his Lukewarm state by the proposal of Christ before him and the good things in him ver 14.15 16 17 18 20. Yea and herein also he II. Gives Eternal Life In that 1. He hereby imparts the Spirit of Life as is forenoted with the Fruits and Operations of it in newness of Life as Righteousness Peace Holiness Hope and Joy in the Holy Ghost Yea all the Fruits of the holy Spirit in which he manifests his presence and in which the virtues of the Divine and holy Nature are evidenced are effected or infused in and by his glorifying Christ and leading the Soul in to him as Love Joy Peace Patience Meekness Temperance c. Gal. 5.22 23. 2 Pet. 1 5 6 7. with John 16.13.14 15. Yea here-through 2. Christ who is Eternal Life it self liveth in the soul and dwells in it even by this Faith in which he the Son of man is lifted up Gal. 2.20 Ephes 3.16 17. And 3. Inasmuch as Eternal life stands in and springs from the knowledg of God and him whom he hath sent Jesus Christ as is said John 17.3 And God is not known clearly but by and in Jesus Christ the Image of his invisible Majesty and brightness of his Glory And he is known in and by his being Lifted up Discovered and Commended of God to us by his holy Spirit in his Testimony It follows that Eternal life is herein given also in a first Fruits of it here as the soul is also hereby Built up to the Inheritance Acts 20.32 4. Yea surely and the fulness of Eternal life it self as it is to be possessed in Soul and Body hereafter in the Kingdom to come what is it but the influence and effect of Christs being fully and perfectly Lifted up by way of discovery of him and his Glory in his personal appearing when he who is the only Potentate who dwells in the Light which no man hath seen or can see shall manifest him 1 Tim. 6.15 16. When he appears we shall be like him perfectly like him for we shall see him as he is 1 John 3.2 And that Lifting him up and Appearance in his Glory shall probably be accompanied with the greatest Conversions a Nation born in a day Isa 66.6 Zech. 12.10 11. and the perfectest Salvation But that is a distinct way of discovery of him from what is afforded in this day Of how great Necessity Excellency and Usefulness then is the Lifting up of the Son of man in this consideration also and so in both of them both as lifted up of God in himself and with God himself and as lifted up of God and his holy Spirit in and through the Ministration of the Gospel to and by men Both that they may believe and to them that do believe on him that they may still believe and be saved And so that the Son of man must be lifted up and how and why he must be so lifted up is sufficiently shewed Though who can sufficiently lift him up Let us now view what use we may make of this also CHAP. XX. The Application First by way of Instruction from the last Conclusions shewing the excellency and glory of the Gospel with divers inferences there-from ANd first with reference to the last Conclusions about the necessity behoof-fulness and fulness of the Son of Mans being lifted up by way of demonstration and commendation of him to Men forasmuch as the Gospel is that Doctrine in which He is of God and his Holy Spirit and Servants so lifted up it tends to commend greatly the Gospel and its ministry to us as a marvailous Doctrine and of exceeding worth and benefit worthy to be received with all acceptation 1 Tim. 1.15 Well might the Apostles call it the marvailous light of God as that phrase in 1 Pet. 2.9 may be applyed thereto and the glorious Gospel or Gospel of the glory of the blessed God 1 Tim. 1.11 forasmuch as therein such glorious and excellent things are discovered no other Doctrine could or ever did discover the like seeing the glorious Son of God who is the glory even the brightness of the glory of God the King and Lord of glory is herein set forth and lifted up both as to his Person the glorious things undertook and performed by him in his Life and Death and Resurrection therefrom the glory given to and received by him as a reward of his said glorious undertakings and performances and the glory in which he shall appear again at his return And herein
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
the great thing that the Gospel-Believers and Obeyers have to do is to hold fast what they have and go on in the way that they are in till Christ come As is said Rev. 2.24 25. Infer 3. And surely since the Doctrine that lifts up Christ is so excellent a Doctrine and is of so great usefulness to Men where it comes and of such blessed an advantage to those that receive it it most be a choice priviledge and an high honour for any to be betrusted with and employed of God in this Doctrine to be acquainted with the contents of it and to have it committed to them and they furnished to declare and preach it and to be the servants of God and Christ therein for they are betrusted with exceeding great riches and precious treasures as the Apostle saith We have this treasure in earthen Vessels 2 Cor. 4.7 It 's a treasure they are betrusted with the choice commodities of Heaven are put into their hands to dispense in subordination to Christ therefore the Apostle mentions it as a great grace bestowed upon him to be an Apostle We have received grace and Apostleshâ—p by Jesus Christ Rom. 1.5 And to me who am less than the least of all Saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ Eph. 3.8 See how he valued and highly esteemed this favour of Christ also in 1 Tim. 1.13 14. Where speaking of the glorious Gospel of the blessed God committed to his trust he adds And I thank Christ Jesus my Lord for that he hath inabled me and counted me faithful putting me into the Ministry an high favour especially to be conferred on worthless persons who have deserved the quite contrary as there he adds of himself whither we respect 1. God and Christ who betrust and imploy them in it It s an high favour to be Gods and Christs Banner-bearers Stewards Ministers Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 His Embassadors sent and employed by him in his choice Messages even to treat with the World about their making peace with Heaven and to wooe and take a Spouse and People for Christ out of the World to be united with him and live with him in joy and happiness for ever 2 Cor. â— 18 19 20. An honourable employment an office worthy to be magnified Rom. 11.13 Or 2. Men in respect of them they are betrusted with their choice commodities which God hath prepared for and gives forth to them they are in a fort betrusted with their Souls to seek them in the name of the Lord and to be instruments of the greatest good to them even salvation and life everlasting to watch for them and wooe them for their utmost happiness and thence they are in a subordinate sense to Christ called Saviours Obad. 16. Yea they have their choice riches and jewels in their hands or Ministry to dispense to them for their inriching the choice medicine of Gods own providing for them to administer to them They are in the name and stead of Christ in and to the World in respect of Ministration and have his glory and power given unto them in his name unto men to open the eyes of the blind and to turn them from darkness unto light and from the power of Sathan unto God that they may receive remission of sins and inheritance among the sanctified by the faith which is in him Joh. 17.22 Act. 26.18 with Isa 42.6 7. Indeed these things agree principally to the Apostles but they also reach to others as they share in and take part of the same ministry which is one and the same committed in whole to the Apostles and in parts and parcels to the succeeding Ministers of this Gospel-doctrine So as they are all in their measure the Apostles more immediately and fully others more mediately and as deriving by them Gods instruments for converting regenerating or begetting Children unto God yea and of bringing them forth and nursing them up with his Heavenly Doctrine Yea and with respect to 3. Both God and men they are as Angels ascending and descending upon the Ladder that reacheth from earth to Heaven namely the Son of Man the Mediatour of God and Man Gen. 28.12 13. with Joh. 1.52 1 Tim. 2.5 through and upon him they have access to God to behold his face see his glory with open face as in a Glass hear his voice be acquainted with his secrets decrees and purposes his will and mind concerning men and to receive commissions and commands messages and errands from him to them a very high favour and priviledge Yea they are and have liberty in their minds and spirits to dwell in Heaven and converse therewith And then they are messengers from God to men upon the same Ladder to bring down and impart his mind words and commandments to them and take care as tutelary Angels of them that no harm befall them who will be guided by them in what they say from God and Christ to them Rev. 1.20 An high honour in each respect it is sure and in its place far greater then to be Kings and Princes in the world though not as to the commanding obedience in their own name or requiring worldly respect and worship to be given them for in that respect they are to be as servants to all as Christ the great Prophet Apostle Gospel-preacher and Angel of God was but their honour and dignity is meerly heavenly and divine in things pertaining to God and to the souls of men except only for order and decency among men in which yet they are servants to God and are not to defire to share in his honour and glory from men with him but only to seek the honour of him that sends them Joh. 7.16 and yet in respect to 4. Themselves they want neither honour comfort or safety herein desirable by them For 1. As for honour its honour enough that they are Gods servants in so high and excellent employment and that he is not nor will be honoured with disrespect to them if faithful to him they that honour God and receive his word by them do also necessarily honour them as conveyors of it to them and for their works sake highly respect them as our Saviour saith If any Man will serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be that is where he is received entertained and honoured there is his servant for his and his message sake also If any Man serve me him will my Father honour Joh. 12.26 2. As for comfort they have it in the very matter of their employment the Doctrine committed to them and delivered by them that affords them with others the comforts of Heaven it being tidings of great joy to all people and they preach nothing to the world of that nature but what they have and may have a share with them in like the Oxe that trod out the Corn they
Perfections And so 1. We may find him as the Son of man the First-born or most Choice and Excellent of every Creature and to be before all things As he in whom the choicest Virtues of all the choice Creatures are transcendently met And well they may seeing by him all things were made and by him received their several Beings Forms Properties and Virtues We may take a brief view of some of the prime of them as they are used in Scripture Speech to be as his Shadows or Representations of something of his Excellencies Who is the beginning of the Creation of God Rev. 3.14 The Wisdom in and by which all things were made Psal 104.24 Prov. 3.19 20. and 8.22 30. And here let us view 1. The Creatures made before man Of which 1. The Light was the first we read of distinctly mentioned And Truly the Light is sweet and of great good in the Creation comfortable and very useful discovering all things else and rendring them visible and affording Direction and something of Capacity for our Working Walking and comfortable Fruition of other Creatures And he is the Light of the World the true Light lightning every man coming into the World the Light of Life giving a right and true discovery of all things and affording Direction to us and Capacity for our right demeanour of our selves toward them and comfortable Injoyment of the Benefits in or by them inlightning the mind and inlivening the inward man John 1.9 and 8.12 2. The Earth with its Furniture and Garnishments is used also to represent some of his Excellencies For he is both as the Fruitful Soil that brings forth and gives Fruitfulness to the Vegetables there-on For in him the Trees of Righteousness are Planted and do Grow he being in the most choice sense the House of the Lord Psal 92.12 John 2.21 Col. 2.9 The fruitful Hill or Horn of Oyl Isa 5.2 Yea his Garden and Vineyard with all their pleasant Flowers Spices and Fruits have their Rooting in him Col. 2.6 7. And Grow in the Grace and knowledg of him 2 Pet. 3.18 Cant. 4.11 12.16 and 2.2 13. He the Word falling into the Earth the Humanity and Dying in the Manhood brings forth much Fruit that grows from and in him John 12.24 Yea he is both the Root and Off-spring of David too Rev. 22.16 Though Growing as a tender Plant and as a Root out of a dry Ground Isa 53.2 The Branch out of the Root of Jesse Isa 11.1 10. with Rom. 15.12 The pleasant Plant the Man whose Name is the Branch Zech. 3.8 and 6.12 The Branch of the Lord Beautiful and Glorious and the Fruit of the Earth Excellent and Comely No such Branch or Root or Fruit as he Isa 4.2 The True Vine John 15.1.4 Whose Grape and Juice chears both the Heart of God and man Judg. 9.13 The Apple-Tree amongst the Trees of the Forest whose Shadow is fragrant and delightful to sit under and whose Fruit is pleasant to the taste Cant. 2.4 5. Yea the goodly Cedar of Lebanon so strong and durable and the Palm-Tree so Tall and Streight growing up though under Weights and Pressures are Emblems of him and his Kingdom he being the Head of the Righteous the First and Prime of them Psal 92.11 The Green Olive-Tree also in the House of God is he ra-rather then any other trusting as man in the Mercy and Bounty of God and so Living by the Father that sent him John 6.57 For ever Psal 52.9 He is the choice Flower in Gods Garden and his Cheeks are said to be sweet Flowers Cant. 5.13 Again In the solid parts of and in the Bowels of the Earth he is represented by what is therein Excellent Whether it be what is hard and durable only or what is also precious the Stone for strength He is the Stone and Rock of Israel Gen. 49.24 2 Sam. 23.3 The Rock of Ages The Foundation of Gods Building that cannot be moved the sure Foundation the precious Corner Stone with whom what is united and upon whom whoso trusteth shall not be ashamed 1 Pet. 2.4 6. Isa 28.16 Yea if their be any Pearls in the bottome of the Sea Gems Jewels or precious Stones or Mettals in the Bowels of the Earth he is far more Rich and Precious then they He being and affording that which in the Spirit is called The Gold of Ophire and the Stones of the Brooks the Almighty that is the Defence or Gold of those that acquaint themselves with him and receive the Law from his Mouth As in him also we may find plenty of Silver or Silver of Strength His Word being as Silver seven times purified in the fire Job 22.22.24 Psal 12.6 Yea The words of his Mouth are better to the Soul then Gold then much fine Gold yea Then thousands of Gold and Silver Psal 9.10 and 119.71 He is the Pearl of Price which the wise Merchant sells all to purchase counting as Loss and Dung the most goodly and glistering Pearls besides that he may win him Mat. 13.44 45. Phil. 2.7 8 9. Yea He and the knowledg of him is that Wisdom that is better then Pearls and Rubies not to be valued with the Onyx Stone or Topaz of Ethiopia or what ever other Gems and Jewels All things that can be desired not being comparable therewith Job 28. Prov. 3.14 15. 3. If we View the Waters He is the Ocean of Goodness and of plenteous Redemption Into whose Depths he will cast all his Peoples sins Mich. 7.18 19. The Spring and Fountain of Living Waters Jer. 2.13 The place of broad Rivers and Streams much more safe then the Seas for therein goes no Gally with Oars nor gallant Ships Isa 33.21 And the Waters which he gives far transcend all others in Virtue and Goodness both for Cleansing for they cleanse the fowlest Spots make clean such as the house of David and Inhabitants of Jerusalem Persons guilty of bloody sins like Scarlet or Crimson Zech. 13.1 Isa 1.10 18 21 22. And for Fructifying for they cause the Trees of Righteousness always to be green and to bear forth precious and prosperous Fruits Psal 1.2 3. Ezek. 47.7 12. And for Quenching the Thirst for they cause the Drinkers of them to Thirst no more John 4.14 Rev. 7.16 17. Yea they also produce a multitude of Fish Souls trusting to and Swiming in the Goodness of God as manifested in him Yea and they give Life and Healing to all they come to Ezek. 47.7 8. And what are not healed by them are like Marshes and Miry places the Sinks of sin And these Waters are Christ and the knowledg of and abundance of Grace in him John 6.35 and 7.37 38 39. 4. View we the Air and there we shall find the Clouds useful for shading from the heat and the Rain and Dew thence refreshing the Earth and producing Fruits therein And is not Christ a Cloud of Protection and Shadow to his Servants Isa 4.4 And he shall come down like Rain on
Palaces wherewith they have made him glad Psal 45.8 And we find his Spouse clothed and adorned by him and for him too in Ezek. 10 11 12 13. and in Rev. 19.7 8. But of these things I shall not speak more largely III. We have seen the perfections of man Let us a little as we may view also those of the Angels He is also called the Angel of the Covenant Angel is in English a Messenger and therefore so translated in our later Editions of the Bible in Mal. 3.1 The Angel of Gods presence that saved Israel Isa 63.9 And that redeemed Jacob out of all evil and had power of blessing Gen. 48.16 And surely He is the highest and best Messenger or Angel that was ever sent of God being his only Son Nor can we find any excellency in the Angels in which he doth not out-strip them They are said to excel in strength doing Gods commandments Psal 107.20 but they excel not nor equalize him in either They cannot uphold all things by the Word of their Power as He doth Heb. 1.3 Nor could they stand under the weight of our sins as He did 1 Pet. 2.24 Therefore they give him the preheminence and judge him only Worthy to receive the Power Riches Wisdom and Strength Honour Glory and Blessing Rev. 5.12 Nor do they Gods Commandments like or equally to him who obeyed to the death the Death of the Cross laying down his life at his Fathers commandement and delighting to do his will therein so as to bear and take away our sins by the sacrifice of himself Philip. 2.8 Joh. 10.18 Heb. 9.26 and 10.5 6. Psal 40.48 Joh. 14.31 They are also intelligent and understanding spirits great in knowledge and excellent in speech 1 Cor. 13.1 yet far short of him for God hath found folly in them saith Job 4.18 but Christ is the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1.24 knowing his Father whom none else so knows Matth. 11.27 and grace is poured into his lips so as God hath blessed him for ever Psal 45.2 They are also great in power especially such of them as are called Principalities and Powers Eph. 1.20 21. but not equal with Christ to whom all of them are commanded to give worship He hath obtained a far more excellent name by inheritance then they as may be seen Heb. 1.5 6. to the end They are indeed Spirits but ministring Spirits to him He is the Lord that Spirit the quickning Spirit so as none of them are 2 Cor. 3.16 17. 1 Cor. 15.45 So that in him are all the perfections and more then all the perfections of Creatures Yea CHAP. XXII Secondly That in Christ are all things Answering the Needs of Fallen man all things that pertain both to Life and Godliness AGain he is and in him are all things answering the Needs of his fallen Creatures of Mankind All things pertaining to Life and Godliness and they are given us in the knowledg of him 2 Pet. 1.3 Let us view that in either Branch First All things pertaining to Life he is and are in him for us And that both as 1. Necessary to the Being and Upholding of it not only as by his Death and Sacrifice we are and this Old World for us is upholden so as that we may subsist and Live as it were from Death or the state thereof which we were Obnoxious to under a comfortable Injoyment of a natural Life and Being and have therein opportunities of seeking the Lord Psal 73.3 Acts 17.26 27. But also in reference to a Spiritual life and happy being in and from him And so whereas First It 's necessary to our so Living that we be Begotten from the Dead to live to God he is the Begetter of men thereto the everlasting Father Isa 9.6 Who Begets in his own likenes as Adam did in his but far better Children because Adam Begat none till he was fallen into Sin and Misery whereas Christ Begets as one acquit of sin and raised from Death in and unto Righteousness and Life an holy Seed a blessed off-spring Children of Light and heirs of Life everlasting Yea he is the very Seed of Regeneration as held forth in his Testimony by the holy Spirit the Immortal Seed whereof the Sons of God are Begotten the Word preached in the Gospel 1 Pet. 1.23 24 25. And as he himself is the first Begotten from the Dead so by his Resurrection from the Dead he Begets from Death and quickens to a Lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 with Ephes 2.1 Col. 2.12 John 5.21 25. And this as to the Soul here as he will also by his powerful Voice quicken the Dead in Body to Life again at his Coming being the quickning Spirit John 5.28 29. 1 Cor. 15.45 And in both respects the Resurrection and the Life John 11.25 Yea and he gives Power to others and makes them Instruments to Beget Children to God and to bring them forth for him too as in 1 Cor. 4.15 The Apostle tells the Corinthians he was their Father for in the Gospel he had Begot them yet so as in Christ Jesus there is none can Beget Children to God but in him and his Virtue And as they are the Fruit of the travail of his Soul Isa 53.10 So in and from him others are instrumental Mothers to Travail in Birth with them also Gal. 4.19 2. The Children Born must be Nursed up and he is the prime in Nursing what he Begets and brings forth for he can no more forget them then no nor so much as a Mother her sucking Child Isa 49.14 15. He nourishes them principally though he makes his Servants Instruments of Nursing them up too with the sincere Milk of his Word which he also primarily is as more understandibly discovered to the weak in his heavenly Doctrin 1 Pet. 2.2 Isa 55.13 Heb. 5.13 Yea and he comforts his Children as one whom his Mother comforts Isa 66.13 And surely its by manifesting himself to them that he gives them comfort John 14.16 17 21. And in this Nursing up and causing to live as the living Child must have So 1. He is the Bread and Water of Life John 6.35 and 4.10.14 his Flesh meat indeed and his Blood drink indeed And as the living Child needs clothing So 2. He is the Clothing and Apparrel For he as our Righteousness put on by us in believing on him and his Virtues as adorning us is our Raiment and Ornament too Whence that So many of us as have been Baptised into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 And Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 13.14 And he bids us Buy of him white Raiment that our Nakedness may be covered and that our shame may not appear Rev. 3.18 3. It must have harbour and Lodging And he is the Dwelling-place for his Children in all Generations Psal 90.1 Where is sweet Peace Rest and Safety Psal 4.8 and 91.1 He being a house of Stone a strong habitation to defend and save us from our Enemies Psal 31.4
in and dallied with Is there any thing of so great danger to us as to dye of those wounds and to fall into everlasting misery and perdition and therefore is there any thing more seriously to be looked after then that we may escape it Would not men with the whole heart fly from the biting of Serpents or the devouring teeth of Lyons or Fire and Brimstone from Heaven as Lot did or the Earths opening its mouth as the People of Israel did when it swallowed up Dathan and Abiram Oh how should these worse destructions of the Soul be much more heartily fled from Would we be in earnest or dally and trifle when labouring of the Gout or Stone or Strangury we look out for deliverance from them And shall we not much more seriously look for deliverance from Hell and destruction eternal wrath and everlasting burnings which are infinitely worse and not to be avoided but by looking diligently that we fail not of Gods grace Heb. 12.15 2. The fitting us for any or all acceptable service to God and profit to men we cannot serve him acceptably please him and profit others till looking to Jesus we receive grace and fitness And is it nothing to please God Seeing thence also flows 3. The attaining to that perfectly healthy state of Soul and Body too in the Resurrection in which we shall have the greatest and fullest happiness and that for ever Fulness of joy in Gods presence and pleasures at his right hand for evermore Psal 16.11 Will men trifle in seeking health and life much more in offers made of Crowns and Kingdomes with all the confluence of riches honours and delights therein I trow not and if they that strive for Masteries that they might get corruptible Crowns wreaths of honour much more Crowns of Gold and Kingdomes would be temperate in all things and endure all kind of hardships and labours for them how much more ought we to be diligent and do and endure all things for an incorruptible Crown of such infinite worth and value 1 Cor. 9.25 26 27. I read of Socrates Aul. Gell. Noct. Attic. lib. 2. cap. 1. a Heathen Philosopher that he would endure to stand a whole Day and Night together in a fixed posture looking up to Heaven without so much as moving his foot or winking with his eye though yet he had no such sight before him as the Gospel discovers to us Oh that we may not be so effeminate and impatient of trouble and labour as to let every or any thing divert or turn us away from looking unto and upon Christ crucified for us which leads to the last particular viz. Let us look to him 5. With patient continuance and perseverance for it s He that continueth looking into the perfect Law of Liberty and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work that is and shall be blessed in his doing Jam. 1.25 26. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways but the good man that continues so shall be satisfied from himself with what he drinks in namely from Christ Prov. 14.14 Joh. 4.14 They that draw back Gods Soul shall have no pleasure in them and so they draw back to Perdition but it s He that believes so as not to draw back that believes to the saving of the soul Heb. 10.38 39. Motive 4. I shall add to all this one other Motive to perswade to it viz. the reasonableness and smalness of the thing required to so great advantages it s but look up and be healed Numb 21.8 Look to me and be ye saved Isa 45.22 Hear and your Souls shall live Isa 55.3 Open thine eyes and thou shalt be satisfied with bread Prov. 20.3 May not that man be justly left to starve or pine for want of provisions that for opening his eyes and looking about him diligently might have enough to maintain him and will not and that man justly perish that in looking to Christ may be saved and refuses it We may apply to such as stick at this and turn from it what was said to Naaman by his Servants If the Prophet had bid thee do some great thing wouldst thou not have done it how much more when he saith wash and be clean 2 King 5.13 When he saith look up and live look to Christ and be saved CHAP. XXV Exhortation to lift up the Son of man with some Motives to it and Demonstration of the usefulness of it in several Cases and Directions in it Exhort 2 ANd seeing the Son of man must be lift up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness that whosoever believeth on him may not perish but have Eternal Life and this lifting up is required of men as Instruments in Gods and his Spirits hands as to the lifting him up by way of commending him and setting forth his vertues as hath been more largely opened let us considering diligently what hath been said in Explication hereof both in love to and compliance with God in his blessed appointment herein and in love to Jesus Christ this most precious one as being most worthy of all possible love and testimonies of it from us being in the Name of God the Author and Procurer of all good for us and Dispenser of it to us and in love to the Souls and Persons of our Neighbours and Brethren to whom our love is pleasing in the sight of God and Christ if duly testified by us Let us I say eyeing and looking stedfastly upon him and unto him for help and guidance strength and blessing herein make it our business to lift up and extol this Son of man with all our skill and power Knowing that Motive 1. Herein we shall do the will of God and therein also not darken and obscure but greatly commend and lift up God himself for this being his device and design the issue off-spring and product of his infinite Wisdom Holiness Grace and Goodness and He his only begotten Son in whom is all his delight and well pleasedness in lifting him up we extol his wisdom and holiness grace and goodness and in neglecting or dishonouring him or calling him Anathema we abrogate the grace and reject the wisdom and counsel of God give him the lye and most horribly dishonour him as if a God of no judgment or understanding He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that hath sent him Joh. 5.23 Who judgeth no man himself immediately but hath committed all judgment to the Son that all should honour him as they do the Father that sent him And surely if we shew our selves so unkind to God and Christ if we be so opposite to his Grand Design and undertaking we must needs fall under the heat and weight of his indignation and there will be no escaping it But in lifting him up and honouring him if we do it in deed and in truth with our hearts as well us with our lips we please God and have fellowship with him as
have everlasting life we may well give up our selves unto him and say Truly we are thy Servants we are thy Servants the Sons of thy Handmaid thy perpetual Servants Thou hast loosed our bonds offering up our Bodies a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable to him which is our reasonable service of him Psal 116.16 Rom. 12.1 Yea how doth it become us to accept this his grace with all acceptation and for ever to laud and magnify Him To enter his Gates with thanksgiving his Courts with praises being thankful to him and blessing his Name Lauding and praising him that He hath passed such a Decree as this that 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 And as the Son himself our Lord the Son of man hath published and will publish the Decree saying I will proclaim the Decree The Lord hath said unto me thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the utmost ends of the Earth for thy possession thou shalt rule them with an Iron-Rod c. So let us make it our rejoycing and the business we mind to proclaim the same to all calling upon all to hear it and be glad of it to imbrace and submit to it for ever blessing him and calling upon all Creatures to bless him with us who hath so Decreed for us and is so Decreed of for us Let us lift up our voice and sing for the Majesty of the Lord and cry aloud from the Sea glorifying the Lord though in the fires of afflictions and sufferings even the Name of the Lord God of Israel the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all grace comfort and consolation from the Isls of the Sea Yea let us make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth serving the Lord with gladness and coming into his Presence with a Song Giving thanks unto him because he is good his mercy prepared for us and given to us in Christ Jesus everlasting and his truth enduring from generation to generation Calling upon all to take notice of his goodness herein unto all and to praise and laud and bless him with us Yea and upon all Creatures too as in Psal 148. especially the Saints and holy ones who believing on him have title to and interest in his promises of salvation and life everlasting Yea let us praise him every where and in all things chiefly in his Sanctuary or Holy Place and Holy Ordinances looking diligently unto Jesus that we fail not of the grace given us in him through any of the politick workings of Siâ— the World and Satan to that purpose against us but that we may be accounted worthy of it to life everlasting To whom â—e Glory and Dominion Honour and Praise now and in all Ages throughout all Places of his Dominions even for ever and ever Amen And Oh that my Soul may bless the Lord at all times and all that is within me may bless his holy Name and let every thing that hath life and breath praise Him till we all come to sing everlasting Hallelujahs in his glorious Kingdom Amen and Amen Laus Deo Christo suâ— in Eternâ—m c. FINIS THE CONTENTS Chap. 1. BRief Observations upon Nicodemus and our Saviours discourse with him p. 1. Chap. 2. The words of the Teâ—t considered its Parts four main Points then observed The first Point The Type of the Brazen Serpent lifted up spoken to in some brief Notes upon it p. 22. it should have been p. 14. Chap. 3. The Second Point in part considered viz. That the Son of man must be lifted up Who is the Son of man And three Reasons propounded why Christ is so called p. 23. alias 26. Chap. 4. Two other Reasons and they the principal ones of Christ calling himself the Son of man p. 48. alias 40. Chap. 5. A twofold Sense of the Phrase of lifting up viz. putting to Death and Glorifying or Advancing and what is implied in it in the latter Sense especially p. 65. alias 57. Chap. 6. A twofold way of Exalting the Son of man viz. either by Real Action upon his Person or by Demonstration of him and of his Worth and Excellency to others The former of these Enlarged upon p. 77. alias 69. Chap. 7. Of the second way of Lifting him up viz. By Demonstration of him and of his Glory unto men by whom that was and is to be performed and wherein p. 85. Chap. 8. The third point viz. That the Son of man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness and therein several Analogies and Agreement between them considered p. 109. Chap. 9. The fourth and last Point The end of the Son of mans being so lifted up viz. That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting Life Six Observations drawn from hence the first of which concerning mens danger of perishing opened p. 136. Chap. 10. The second Observation spoken to viz. That God hath no pleasure in mens death or perishing and some objections against it answered very briefly p. 147. Chap. 11. The third Observation briefly spoken to shewing Christ to be the only Medicine for our misery and Way to happiness appointed of God for us and what an inducement that consideration is to love God and accept of Christ p. 154. Chap. 12. The fourth Observation considered and therein the necessity and nature of believing on the Son of man unto Salvation with its desirableness and acceptableness to God p. 162 Chap. 13. The fifth Observation viz. That whosoever believeth on the Son of man shall not perish but have Eternal life having two Branches the former of them is here explicated What the perishing is from which the believer on the Son of man is preserved and how he is preserved from it p. 182. Chap. 14. Of the second Branch of the fifth Observation What Eternal life is and how the believer on Christ shall have it p. 202. Chap. 15. The Application of the two former viz. the 4th and 5th Observations in part in Exhortation to believe Reproof for not believing Incouragements to continue in believing on the Son of man and some Directions thereto p. 212. Chap. 16. Some further usefulness of the said Observations in Cautions and Instructions p. 225. Chap. 17. The sixth and last Observation viz. about the necessity of the Son of mans being lifted up spoken to in certain Conclusions the first of which in two Branches shews the necessity of Gods lifting up Christ in himself both as to mens believing on him and as to their being saved and living for ever by him p. 239. Chap. 18. Another Conclusion proving the necessity of his being lifted up by way of Demonstration to men both by God and men both unto mens
and man Luc. 2.7 28 52. Yea and though through the operation of the Holy Ghost He was conceived and brought forth without any stain of sin in his Flesh yet He was born with a fore-skin thereon so as He was capable of receiving Circumcision as well in afterward He passed through Baptisme and that too not only of Water but also of fire or afflictions in manifold sorrows sufferings and Death not otherwise agreeable to the Divine and Almighty Word which yet was so made and manifest in that Flesh as to render those sufferings and that Death a full and all-sufficient Sacrifice and expiation for the sins of the World Yea that Heavenly Word in and through the Flesh so spake and so wrought as to procure and to produce the good of men not only in the instructing and healing them as there was need and He judged them meet or worthy thereof and they worthily complyed therewith but also so as to the Eternal salvation of all that duly entertain'd Him And me thinks there is a great analogy and resemblance between the conception and incarnation of that blessed Word and its manifestation in the Flesh and the Conception of Divine truth in the mind of man and its manifestation in word or writing though there is and may be much disagreement also therein Verily the truth of God cannot be comprehended in its fulness in and by the narrow finite mind of mortal man as well the truth of God as the peace of God doubtless passeth all understanding at least while mortal and till if that may be though a perfect union with it it 's advanced to its Divine and Inconceiveable largeness nor can what is there conceived and thence emitted or brought forth but he bounded by the model of the mind that receives and emits it and pertake in its expression of somewhat of its infirmities Yea oft-times it receives some mixtures of Sinfulness Ignorance and Mistakes or other Distempers from it in its being conceived worded or writ at least such coverings and superfluities as render a Circumcision by the Spirit of understanding or an understanding Spirit or a Baptism or Cleansing from the defilements mixed with it and a Remission of the sinfulness therein at the hands of God needful for it in which it differs from the word Incarnate of the Virgin for from her he received nothing of sin and therefore neither needed Circumcision nor Baptism for Remission of sins to admit him into Covenant and Acceptance with God Though both Circumcision and Baptism he received that he might fulfil all Righteousness But the Divine Testimony received into the sanctified Minds and expressed in the Preachings and Writings of the Holy Men of God the Apostles and Prophets bare and beareth a far fuller Analogy thereto then as in any other men it contracted nothing of sinfulness or uncleanness to it self as received and given forth by them from their receit of it or giving it forth And therefore in all the Prophecyings of other men though not to be despised we are to try all things and hold fast that that is good To try them not by comparing them with or bringing them to the Sayings Traditions reputedly Orthodox Doctrines Frames Systimes or Composure of other men of what ever party no though of the straitest Sect of Religion among a professed people of God but even their Sayings Traditions Doctrines Frames Systimes or Composures are all and every of them to be tried and judged of by the words and sayings of the holy Apostles and Prophets and wherein soever any of theirs or any mans Doctrine or Sayings disagree there-with they may and ought to be rejected of us But their Sayings are in all things to be Reverenced and Received without doubt or suspition as the Sayings of God as indeed they are though uttered and given forth by men And even as Christ though as Born of a Woman and as to his Flesh partaking of mans Infirmity yet had in him for all that even in that state the Power and Force of the Eternal Word so as that to them that received him he give heavenly Light Life Vnderstanding Strength and Freedom yea the Power and Priviledg to be the Sons of God even to them who believed on his Name And though his Flesh and Body might suffer Pain and be Abused and Crucified as indeed it was Yet his Deity or the blessed Word was not thereby impaired even so the Truth of God received and conceived in a pure Mind and good Conscience as in the holy Apostles and Prophets it most certainly and clearly was and thence brought forth to Light by Word or Writing with which it 's Clothed and as it were Imbodied though its form appearing according to the Model of the mind that conceives it and the Letter or Speech in which it is expressed may seem rude and plain as the Apostle Pauls Speech was by some said to be contemptible 2 Cor. 10.10 yea and may be exposed to diverse injuries or abuses Yet the Divine and Heavenly truth though in that Dress retains its Divine Nature and Worth True it is that its force towards others may by such Injuries be less apparent and they may therefore more slight and disregard it as Christ also by reason of his suffering Reproaches and Abuses was more slighted by many But yet where indeed minded and Imbraced it produceth singular and Divine effects in their Hearts and Lives by virtue of that Divine Nature and Spirit that is in and with it So as to Inlighten Instruct Reprove Convert Comfort Cleanse Sanctifie and Save them yea make them the Sons of God and in some measure like to God and in the end Blessed and Happy as on the other hand to those that Reject or Abuse it it occasions the greater Judgment and heavier Condemnation and so doth Christ also to them that stumble at and reject Him and his Government Wherefore the Heavenly Truth is not to be Judged by or Valued according to its outward Dress and Clothing nor according to the Man and his Meanness through whom it comes and in and by whom it is as it were Imbodied But it is to be received according to its Divine Original and to be made much of according to its excellent Virtues and Effects though no mans Saying or Writing is further the Truth of God and Divine then it is of God and is purely emitted from a pure Mind Thou must apply this Analogy fully and properly as is said to the Word and Preaching of the holy Apostles and Prophets and to other Mens only so far as one with and agreeable thereto and so far thou mayst apply it to this Discourse presented here to thee Christ lifted up as the Brazen Serpent was by Moses in the Wilderness is of only and unspeakable Vsefulness and Virtue for the saving the Souls of those that View and Believe on him from Sin and Destruction And for fitting them by Regeneration for and Advancing them by his Divine
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