6. and 3.1 2 13 14. c. and 5.1 c. Instance 10. Would we comfort any in any Temptation or Affliction The way is to lift up the Son of man and shew the Grace in him and how God orders all things wisely and holily in him so as to the good and profit of men to further their Salvation and Welfare and that there is help in him in every condition Heb. 12. 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10. c. 1 Thes 4.13.17 Rom. 15.4 5 6 13. Yea in a word would we either humble or exalt cast down or raise up encourage and strengthen in and unto what is good or do any other good thing in which we may profit men this is the way to do it viz. By Lifting up and Exalting Christ the Son of man and setting him and the Power and Grace in him before men as also his Terrours against those who refuse and turn from him 2 Cor. 5.10 11. Heb. 1. and 2.1 3. and 10.26 29. and 12.25 So that this way we may be profitable to men doing all in the Name of the Lord Jesus as we are exhorted giving thanks to God even the Father by him Col. 3.17 But waving this we do or can do nothing as is said John 15.4 5 6. That 's the second Motive Motive 3. Being acceptable to God and profitable to men we cannot but be useful to our selves also both in as much as no acceptable service to God or profitable work to men shall be without its reward 1 Cor. 15.58 Heb. 6.10 11. And also inasmuch as in Lifting up Christ to others we may mind him our selves if we do it as we ought And indeed we can scarcely Lift him up profitably to others without viewing and considering knowing and taking notice of him our selves and that 's the order and way approved of God for our doing it Let every one that heareth say come Rev. 22.17 And He that heareth speaketh constantly Prov. 21.28 While we view and look upon Christ our selves that we may commend him to others we shall not be without Fruit Profit and Advantage to our selves also opening our mouth wide in this sense too God will fill it Psal 81.10 And The liberal soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself Prov. 11.25 Wherefore let us make it our business and design to know and view and serve the Lord Jesus and to know and view him that we may serve him and as we know him serve him in Glorifying and Lifting him up as we are exhorted Psal 99.5 8. Exalt that is lift up the Lord our God and worship him at his holy Hill for he the Lord our God is holy And let us do this as in all cases or to all purposes so in all things As to say 1. In all the Ordinances of God In Baptizing let it be into Him and his Name so as holding him forth and directing therein to Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world manifesting Christ to men as the Baptist did John 1.29 31. In breaking Bread or eating the Lords Supper lift up Christ the Son of man shewing forth his Death until he come 1 Cor. 11.26 Let it not be Baptism and the breaking of Bread much less the Water the Bread and the Wine that we lift up bless and magnifie therein but the Son of man they are sufficiently lifted up in being made the Mediums of lifting him up and conveying Virtue from him to us In Praying lift up the Son of man and so in Praising Thanksgiving and Singing of Psalms while we Pray and ask in his Name and upon his account and give thanks to God in all things by him and bless in his Name and in Singing Make melody with Grace in our hearts to him the Lord John 14.13 14. and 16.23 24. Col. 3.15 17. Ephes 5.20 Yea What ever we do in word or deed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God even the Father by him In our Meditations let them be much of him and of nothing but as represented also in and through him Psal 104.34 and 48.9 Isa 26.7 8 9. Mal. 3.16 And so In our Conferences and Discourses Let us with one mind and mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ so as the Father of him and so as lifting him up therein Rom. 15.5 Jude 20.21 And so 2. In all our whole Life and Conversation let us lift up the Son of man in walking so as becomes the Gospel of Christ Standing fast in one Spirit and in one Mind striving together for the Faith of the Gospel which is the Gospel of Christ and concerns him Phil. 1.27 Rom. 1.3 4 16. Oh let it be our business in all things and by all means to lift up the Son of man to Praise the Lord to Sing forth his Praises and to make his Praise glorious CHAP. XXVI Reproof to those that are faulty in not lifting up or in not rightly lifting up the Son of man With some discovery of Spirits which are of God and which not Use 4 HEnce also we may Reprove the Evils of men yea too much our Defficiency therein every where in not making it more our Business to lift up and look to the Son of Man I may speak briefly to either Branch And Reproof 1. First He is too little lifted up by men even by those that Minister and pretend to be his Servants and to Preach his Gospel too many such are faulty in not lifting him up in their Ministry Such as 1. They who lift up Themselves their Parts Wit Learning Places Offices being Proud of them and Vaunting themselves of and in them above their Neighbours but not lifting up Jesus Christ the Son of man that men might see his Glory Look to and Believe on him Too many there are like to Diotrephes that love to have the preheminence themselves rather then to endeavour that Christ may have it in all things and in all hearts and spirits seeking their own things and not the things that be Jesus Christs 3 John 9.10 Col. 1.18 Phil. 2.21 Most men proclaim every man his own goodness but a faithful friend to Christ who can find Prov. 20.6 2. Such as lift up other men and have their persons in admiration for advantage sake as the Apostle saith of the false Teachers Jude 16. Whether it be the Beast either the Papal or any worldly Power lifting up it self like Jereboam who made Israel to sin in the Temple and House of God and exercising Lordship therein over the Consciences of men and Worship of God As it is said Prophetically of many yea of the whole World worshipping and wondering after the Beast that they will lift or cry him up saying Who is able to make War with him and to overcome him Rev. 13.4 And many such flatterers there be admirers and applauders of the Antichristian powers and Preachers up thereof in opposition to
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
and 71.3 Yea and he is Armour of Defence too A Shield to all that trust in him Psal 84.11 Prov. 2.7 4. It must have Rest and Sleep And he is the Rest wherewith the weary may rest Isa 28.12 And in him the true and heavenly Wisdom we may lie down and our sleep be sweet Prov. 3.25 Thirdly Yea all that God afforded to Israel in the Wilderness in their Travels as needful for their Life Christ is made it of God to us the Bread of God that comes down from Heaven that gives power to eat of it self because its living Bread so as that Manna could not do because not living and gives Eternal life to what eats it too whereas they who eat that Manna died John 6.50.58 And he is the true Rock from whence smitten with the Rod of Moses the Curse of the Law for us gushes out the Water of Life for the Rock that followed them was Christ 1 Cor. 10.3 But a far stronger and more lasting Rock then that as being Eternal and affording better Waters that will spring up in them that drink them unto Eternal life John 4.14 They had a Serpent lifted up to heal them when wounded and he is that as here is noted The Cloud too to go before and giving us with himself also a cloud of Witnesses and a refreshing Shadow And a Pillar of fire to give us Light by Night even in our darkness Isa 4.5 Heb. 12.1 Secondly He is also for our well and comfortable being many things we need to make our lives more chearful and we have all good to that purpose in him too As for Instance 1. It 's a comfort to have good Company and Fellowship It was not good for the man to be alone He that hath Christ never wants good Company for he will be with us He will never leave us nor forsake us so that we may boldly say The Lord is my helper I will not fear c. Heb. 13.5 6. Isa 43.2.3 For he is as good as Ten Thousand and more He is enough to set against the greatest Army or Multitude So when Hezekiah would comfort his people against the numerous Army of the King of Assyria he tells them There was more with them then with their Enemy and when he comes to account he mentions none but the Lord their God 2 Chron. 32.8 for he hath all at his Beck If David was worth ten Thousand of the people 2 Sam. 18.3 How much more worth is the Son of David who is Davids Lord He that hath him having the Father also they come together to abide with them who receive and keep his words John 14.23 and so we may have Fellowship with the Father and with the Son 1 John 1.3 4. And to be sure the holy Spirit is not wanting where they Two are for they Three are one 1 John 5.7 And the holy Spirit is upon him Isa 42.1 Yea and an innumerable company of Angels do attend him and the Church of the First-born and the Spirits of Just men made perfect Heb. 12.22 23. 2. It s comfortable to have Friends and Relations and they have all that have him For he is that Friend that loves at all times and the Brother born for adversity Prov. 17.17 Yea he stands in all and affords the comfort of all Relations The everlasting Father and yet the Child born for us and the Son given to us Isa 9.6 That cares for us as a Father 2 Cor. 12.14 1 Pet. 5.7 And comforts us as a Mother Isa 66 12 A Brother to us and not ashamed to be so called Heb. 2.12 And yet owns us as a Mother as well as Brethren and Sisters if we do Gods will hearing his Word and keeping it Mat. 12.49 He bids us call Wisdom our Sister too and Understanding our Kinswoman Prov. 7.4 And he is Wisdom and hath Vnderstanding and gives it to us Prov. 8.1.14 with Luke 11.49 and Mat. 23.34 So then as we are Children begotten by him he is our Father Isa 8.18 with Heb. 2.13 As we are the Fruit of the Travail of his Soul He is to us and pities and loves us as a Mother Isa 49.13 14. As we are made partakers of his Divine Nature and he of our humane he is our Brother and as he is the Wisdom of God our Sister and Mother as we conceive in our hearts in the knowledg and faith of him and he took his humanity of us or of our Nature he is our Child or Son yea he makes his Relations ours his Father our Father his Brethren and Sisters ours and so us to be Brethren to each other Mat. 23.8 John 20.17 Yea as we are his Sheep he is our Shepherd to take care of feed and lead us and preserve us from evil the good Shepherd John 10.15 As we are his Disciples he is our Master and as we are his Servants so he is our Lord not hard and froward but Good Gentle and Righteous our Master in heaven Mat. 23.10 Col. 4.1 John 13.13 As we are a City he is our Ruler and Governour as we are his Subjects he is our King as we are Espoused to him he is our Husband c. Isa 54.5 And Good yea Excellent in all these and affords the Comfort of all these Relations in the most excellent manner 3. It s comfortable to have good Chear rich Provisions and Accomodations Mirth and Pleasures lawful and allowed of God And Christ is and affords all this to us not only Bread to strengthen our Hearts but also a Feast of fat things full of Marrow not only Water but Wine and Milk Wine on the Lees and well Refined Isa 55.1 2. and 25.6 Not only necessaries to keep us alive but fatness too for our souls delight fat things wherewith we may be satisfied and Rivers of Pleasures whereof we may Drink abundantly Psal 36.8 9. 4. Yea in a word Riches and Honours are often comfortable and Riches and Honours are with him yea durable Riches and Righteousness his fruit is better then Gold yea then fine Gold and his Revenues then choice Silver Prov. 8.18 19. For he is the Wisdom that is better then Rubies and all the things to be desired not to be compared with him in whose Right-hand is length of days and in whose Left hand Riches and honours his Ways are ways of Pleasantness and all his Paths peace He is a Tree of Life to every one that lays hold on him and happy is every one that retains him Prov. 3.13.18 He and his Presence gives joy and delight and is a Spring of Content and Comfort in a First-fruit here 1 Pet. 1.6 7 8. But fully in his everlasting Presence and Injoyment of his Glory Jude 24. 5. Yea He like Solomon his Type hath his Royal Palace Psal 45.15 Great Works Vineyards Gardens and Orchards planted with all Trees and all kind of Fruits Cant. 4.10 11. for those that Retain and Appertain to him Pools of Waters also Isa 35.6 7. Servants Psal
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
them We may and ought then to attend upon Gods Ordinances whatsoever they be and expect his presence and promised blessing in and by them But so we neither may nor can by mens devices and human institutions God or Christ have not forbidden us to set up Golden Wooden Brazen or Silver Crosses to mind us of the Cross of Christ or represent him to us by drawing curious Pictures or making Statues for resembling him to us and therefore in such things or any of no higher Original or greater Authority then so as mens devised holy Bread holy Water Oyl Cream Spittle Crossing c. may we not look for or expect his blessing and presence with us Gods institution command and promise gives any thing to which they are annexed the virtue to be expected and upon those grounds such things are to be used according to his appointment I say according to his appointment because when even such things are otherwise used they may become rather hurts than helps unto us as we have an instance in this Brazen Serpent God commanded it and Moses set it up at his commandment to be a medium of conveying healing to the Israelites that were wounded not to be worshiped or censed either by persons wounded or healed but to be looked to by the wounded in order to their being healed And therefore Hezekiah did well and it s reckoned amongst his good acts that he pulled down this Brazen Serpent and brake it in pieces when the people went a whoring after it and burnt incense to it See 2 Kings 18.4 And surely to bowe down to and worship the mediums or matters of Gods Ordinances appointed only to be mediums of our remembring and worshiping him is a great abuse of them much more to worship such things as have only mans authority and not Gods in their institution and imposing as Crosses Altars Temples c. But as those things be hence observable so also Note That God is good to them that wait upon and follow him though he sometime punish them for their neglects of him and unbelief and distrust in him unthankfulness for his benefits or disobedience to his Commands yet he is both loving to and careful of them in their obeying following him Yea to those also who having moved him to anger and to punish them for their sins are by his punishments awakned to Repentance and brought to humble themselves before him for their offences and that is evident here in that when the people having by their murmurings against him provoked him and he had punished them with fiery Serpents that bit and wounded them yet when they turned again and humbled themselves and got Moses to pray for them upon his praying for them God appoints them this way of preservation He undertook to be their Physitian as well as their feeder to heal them as well as to nourish them And yet its worthy our notâ—ing That God did not grant the very thing they desired but what he see good to grant them and what might be better for them then what they desired The thing which they desired Moses to Pray for was That God would take away the Serpents God takes not away the Serpents but provides a means of preservation in case they were bitten by them He yet continues the chastisement to mind them of their sin and to nurture them to stand in awe of him which probably had he removed the affliction and danger they would soon have ceased from And yet he takes care that in obeying him and his appointment they might in such cases of suffering be kept from perishing thereby and therefore appoints a means to cure and heal them God is gracious to hear the cries of his poor humbled and penitent people though he doth not always grant the very thing they desire of him We are apt to savour the Flesh more then the Spirit and the things of Man more then the things of God in our afflictions desires of help in them But God consults the good and profit of our Souls more then the ease of our Bodies in his gracious answers to us we are too apt to be of this peoples strain in our desires in such cases Lord take away these Serpents Or as Pharaoh pray to God that these Frogs or Locusts may depart from us or that he will take away this pain sickness or the like Being more sensible of the trouble of Gods Chastisements then of the sins that occasioned them or apt to believe the good end of God in ordering them and the profit to us that he aims at in them or then we are desirous to be rid of the sin and to be made pertakers of the profit And truly Gods dear children are too apt to be led by sense in their desires in such cases as we may perceive in the Apostle Paul in what he relates of himself till Christ had better instructed him When God after he had rapt him up into the third Heavens had ordered to him a thorne in the Flesh a messenger of Satan to buffet him least he should be puffed up or be exalted above measure through the abundance of the Revelations given him he was weary of that exercise and therefore prayed thrice to the Lord that it might depart from him But after that Christ had told him that his grace was sufficient for him then he could most gladly rejoyce in tribulations infirmities necessities c. 2 Cor. 12.8 9. Christ dealt with him there in his desires as God dealt with these Israelites here He took not away the thorne in the flesh the grief and exercise that he complained of as he desired of him but he supplied him with his grace to bear it and receive profit by it Even as here he took not away the Serpents but caused a medecine to be prepared for them and proposed to them against the deadly hurt of them because he saw it might be more for their good and profit to be exercised still with them that in such exercise they might more prove his power and the sufficiency of his grace for them learn to hope in him stand in awe of him c. And is it not so with us as with them when God tries us with sickness or pain or bad neighbours or unkindness in and from Relations Oh how fain would we be rid of these troubles we are all for this take away these Serpents These exercises and afflictions but learn we here to know that God is good to us and will do us good in our turning and seeking to him though he answer us not just to our desires He sees afflictions and temptations be they what they will may be needful and behooful to be continued to us 1 Pet. 1.7 They have not yet perhaps had the end and effect in us and produced the good to us he sent them for He may see were they removed we would then grow neglectful or forgetful of him or grow worldly carnal careless
wanton kick against him c. And therefore having given us an Antidote against the evil and destructiveness of them in his Son and his Word as setting him before us he pleaseth still to continue them to us It is better for us in such cases to imitate our pattern the Lord Jesus who when he was to drink that bitter Cup which his Father gave him to drink did not pray absolutely that he might not drink it or that it might pass from him but with a thorough resignation of himself to his Fathers will prayed Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me nevertheless not my will but thy will be done 3. But view we now the person setting it up and that was Moses concerning whom I shall only note his obedience in doing Gods Commandement without disputing it He said not how can a piece of Brass made in the likeness of a Fiery Serpent heal them or would it not be better that the people look only to thee for their healing then to direct their eyes to any such mediums whereby they may be moved to ascribe their healing or preservation to the medium rather then to thy self But laying aside all the exercise of his own wisdom and reason against the command and will of God he obeys him As our Saviour here saith and the History in Numb 21.8 9. shews Moses lifted up the Serpent And so it may be instructive to us all and to the greatest Princes or Officers in Gods Church not to lift up our reasonings and understandings against the will and word of God but to do all things that he by Jesus Christ and in his name by his Apostles have given us in Commandment Without murmuring or disputing Phil. 2.14 As judging God wiser then we The only wise God and worthy to be obeyed however absurd his commands may seem to our wisdom The foolish things of God being wiser then the wisdom of man and his weakness stronger then mans strength Obedience is better then Sacrifice and to hearken is better then the fat of Rams Or then any the most desireable or advantageous ways of honouring him that our wisdom and reason proposes to us Saul and Jereboam by preferring their seeming and appearing pious intentions and carnal pollicies before Gods Commandments lost their Kingdoms And Nadab and Abihu by offering strange fire lost their lives when as others have always met with blessing in obeying him 4. The place where Moses lifted up the Serpent to the end and upon the accounts afore-mentioned was the Wilderness Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness God when he brought his people out of Egypt led them into and through the Wilderness a waste and howling Wilderness a Land of drought and of the shadow of death a Land where no man passeth through and where no man dwelt Gods way that he leads people in and by is not without Tryals and Temptations and therefore we are not to judgeâ— we are out of Gods because or when we meet with tryals Or that we are in his way because or when we meet with none The way to know our way is to mind his Word even his way that leads to his heavenly rest and eternal Kingdom is a way that lies out of the road of the world a way of exercise for faith a way of trials and temptations And yet as God in that Wilderness shewed himself alsufficient for his people provided for them bread and water clothes and physick or a way to cure their wounds and prevent their perishing So God is alsufficient for us too in all our trials and temptations and hath provided for us all grace and blessing in Christ Jesus and will not fail to dispence it to them whose hearts are perfect with him For the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield He will give grace and glory and no good thing will he with hold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 And therefore it is good for us to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth though through Floods and Seas and Wildernesses though into straights and exercises tryals and temptations knowing and believing him to be such as he hath manifested himself to be in that Wilderness able and faithful to supply and save us in all conditions and that he hath promised to be with us when we pass through water and fire to preserve us from being hurt of them Isa 43.2 3. Oh Lord God of hosts blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee for thou Lord hast not failed them that seek or follow after thee Psal 84.12 9.10 There is no State or place so barren of provision or relief wherein in obeying and following after Christ he cannot or will not provide and afford such help and succour to us as he sees fit for us which may serve both to fault our unbelief and fearfullness to betrust our selves with him and to follow him whithersoever he calls us and also to stir up and excite our faith and confidence in him and our willingness to obey and follow him But I shall add no more to this first point but come to the second which is the main CHAP. III. The second Point in part considered who is the Son of Man and three Reasons propounded why Christ is so called THE Second point is That the Son of Man must be lifted up To which Point the other two may also be reduced they holding forth but the way wherein or manner after which and the end to which he is to be lifted up In speaking to this Second Point we may consider 1. Who is meant here by the Son of Man 2. Why he is so called 3. What is and what is implyed in the lifting of him up and in part 4. Why he must be lifted up and lifted up in such acts as we shall mention leaving the fuller consideration of it to the last Point 1. Who is this Son of Man or who is meant and pointed at by that phrase or Title and that appears every where in the wrightings of the Evangelists to be no other then he who spake even the Lord Jesus Christ himself And so both other expressions of the Evangelists and those that are about this Text do evidence For First For other expressions we have our Saviour himself as related in Matthew plainly signifying it Mat. 16.13 For there the Evangelist tells us That Jesus asked his Disciples Whom do men say that I the Son of man am plainly calling himself the Son of Man As also in the same Chapter ver 27. Saying The Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall render to every one according to his Works But he that shall come with his Angels and whose Father God is and shall come to Judge the World and shall render to every one according to his Works is evidently asserted to be the Lord Jesus Christ See for that Rom. 2.6 16. Act. 10.42 17.31 2 Thes
it again When the People some of them said that it Thundred others that an Angel spake to him John 12.28 29. But these things were known to few 2. In his speaking and working by him such things as never any spake or did for the words that he spake he spake not from himself as man alone but of or from the Father who dwelt in him and he it was that did the Works John 14.10 Whence he saith to Philip Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me or else believe me for the works sake ver 11. With Chap. 15.24 7.46 And that God did magnifie him in this and lift him up among men The Apostle Peter testifies Act. 2.22 Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God by Miracles Wonders and Signes which God did by him c. As also 3. By his raising him from the dead glorifying him and maintaining his cause and name against all oppositions and gathering in a Church to him and upholding it in the midst of Persecutions c. Of which things I shall not inlarge 2. Of God the Word or Son also even by himself or his Divine Being or Deity exerting and putting forth it self and so glorifying him as the Son of Man And so it behoved him and he did it Both 1. In Work As in his working glorious Miracles Thus it s said upon his turning Water into Wine at that Marriage in Cana of Galilee This beginning of Miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory But more fully in his rising from the dead and ascending into Heaven and giving gifts from thence unto men as some Apostles some Prophets c. Whence he saith No man takes my life from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again This Commandement have I received of my Father John 10.18 For as it is said that he was raised again from the dead by his Father and his glory So also it is said that he rose again in and by the power of his divine Spirit And that he died rose and revived that he might be Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Lord it over the quick and dead Rom. 14.9 And he rose again the Third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.3 4. Being put to death in the flesh but quickned in the Spirit 1. Pet. 3.18 And so that he Ascended and went up on high and gave gifts unto men Psal 68.18 Eph. 4.8.9 2. In his Word Preaching forth himself and his own excellencies As he saith I am one that bear witness of my self and my Father that sent me he beareth witness of me Though he said If I bear witness of my self my witness is not true As implying that of himself as man only he bare not witness of himself if as Man only he had so done his Witness might have been slighted But he as the Word though made flesh witnessed of himself as in his works so in his word too and his witness as witnessing so was true For he knew whence he came and whither he went John 5.31 8.14 18. And so he declared himself in the Man-hood as the Son of man or the Word made Flesh to be the Son of God to be in Heaven and come from Heaven and to know the things of Heaven John 3.11 12 13 16. And so when he said here he must be lifted up we may understand him to say in such intimations and declarations of his excellencies as those were So he testified of himself that he is the Light of the World John 8.12 12.46 The bread of Life the bread that came down from heaven The living bread His Flesh meat indeed and his Blood drink indeed Necessary to be fed upon to the obtaining everlasting life And such as 〈◊〉 gives everlasting life to all that feed thereupon John 6.35 48 50 51 55 56. c. That he knows the Father and is known of the Father John 7.29 10.15 That he gives the water of Life which whoso drinks it shall be in him a spring of living waters springing up unto eternal life And causing Rivers of living waters to flow out of his belly or inward man as being the Baptizer with and giver of the holy Ghost John 4.14 7.37 38 39. Act. 1.5 With John 15.26 That he is The good Shepherd The door of the sheep knowing his sheep and giving to them in their following him Eternal Life John 10.3 9 11 15 28 29. That he is the Resurrection and the Life So as that He that believeth on him though dead he shall live he that liveth and believeth on him shall not dye for ever John 11.25 26. That he is The way the truth and the life John 14.6 The true vine John 15.1 4. And many the like But chiefly he is and was lifted up And that I might have referred the two former to the testimonies of the Father and Word as being brought to us and our cognizance by him 3. By the holy Spirit whose business it is to witness of Christ taking his things and shewing them and so glorifying him John 15.27 16.14 And so it is prophetically said of him That when the Enemy shall come in like a stood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard against him which Standard or Ensigne is Christ of the Seed of David of the Root of Jesse Isa 11.1 10 11. And put him to flight Isa 59.19 And he was to lift him up and hath and doth diversly as 1. By fore-testifying glorious things of him As that he as the Seed of the Woman and so as the Son of Man should bruise the head of the Serpent Overthrow his plot against us and our well-fare and take away his acquired power and jurisdiction over us and open the way for us into Paradise and so to God again Gen. 3.15 That he as the Seed of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob and so as the Son of Man should be the blessing of or bringer forth of blessing to all the Nations or families of the Earth Gen. 22.18 26.4 28.14 With Gal. 3.8 That he as proceeding out of the Tribe of Judah should be the Shiloh the peaceable one or peace-maker Vnto whom should be the gathering of the People Gen. 49.10 That he should be the Prophet raised up from among the People and so as the Son of Man whom all the People should hear in all things that he should say unto them Deut. 18.15 18. That he should be as the Seed of David and so as the Son of Man the Great King and Governour upon whose shoulders the Government should be The Wonderful the Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace Of the increase of whose Government and Peace there should be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order and to establish it with justice and with judgment
him and accept him heartily being discovered and Preached to us to which end also God added the Law for discovering of our sins that so we might look after accept and imbrace the Saviour whom he had fore-promised to us Gal. 3.19 22 24. Yea the very promise and declaration of that Saviour shews us to have been miserable Yea and yet if we neglect him to be in a most miserable condition for in that one died for all It 's most brightly testified that All were dead Yea and in that it 's such a one that died for us as Gods only Son it signifies and testifies yet more The greatness of our misery in our selves and of that death we were fallen into that put us into a need of such a ones dying for us 2 Cor. 5.14 But that will fall in in the third proposition or observation CHAP. X. The second Observation briefly spoken to and some Objections against it answered Obser 2 THe Second Observation is That God hath no pleasure in the death or perishing of men but that they rather should have eternal life And this is evident 1. By his own assertion under his oath that we might be the more confirmed in it as was noted above in Ezek. 33.11 Where he swears As he lives he hath no pleasure in the death of the Wicked but rather that he turn and live And sure if not in the wickeds in no mans death seeing it's the wicked that he every where threatens with Death As he saith to the wicked in the same Chapter Vers 8 Thou shalt surely die And The Soul that sinneth it shall die Chap. 18.3 20. And the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him ver 21. And yet he saith and sweareth that he hath no pleasure none neither secret nor revealed that the wicked should die 2. And his holy servants assert the same who have had his mind and grace in their hearts and declared it faithfully The Apostle Paul asserts That God wills all to be or that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2.4 And the Apostle Peter that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3.9 And the Prophet Isaiah represents the Lord calling all the ends of the Earth to look to him and be saved Isa 45.22 3. The many addresses that God in and through Christ by his Word and Spirit makes unto sinners to call and bring them to Repentance that they might live and not die are so many evidences and convincing demonstrations of his love to Mankind and that he hath no desire or delight that they should perish but have everlasting life For we may not think such a wicked and impious thought of the Almighty who is love and charity truth and goodness it self as if he should pretend one thing and intend another That he signifies one thing to be his desire and will outwardly and desires and intends the contrary inwardly and so dissembles with his lips seeing he protests the contrary Viz. That the opening of his lips are right things That he speaks right things and wickedness is an abomination to his lips That his words are all right and that there is nothing froward or preverse in them Prov. 8.7 6 8. Isa 45.19 Far be it from us to think that he is like to the wicked whom his Soul abhorreth to cover hatred with deceit As is said Prov. 26.26 Now thinking holily of God and according to truth we shall perceive the desire he hath of mens welfare abundantly testified in his addresses to us diverse ways As 1. In his calls and counsells frequently given us As it s said Wisdom cries out she lifts up her voice in the streets crying how long ye simple turn at my reproofs c. Prov. 1.20.23 And doth not Wisdom cry and Understanding lift up her voice Can that be denied Is not that evident and that to men indefinitely yea and to the worst of them therefore it follows that she stands in the top of high places where and whence she may best be heard and cries To you O men I call and my voice is to the Sons of Men. O ye simple understand wisdom and ye fools be ye of an understanding heart Prov. 8.1 2 4 5. And so Turn ye turn ye why will ye die O house of Israel Ezek. 33.11 Yea this was one great end of our Saviours coming into the World in order to his saving the World Viz. To call sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 John 12.47 2. In his promising them great and glorious things upon their hearing and obeying his calls Turn ye at my reproofs behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words Prov. 1.23 So in Prov. 8.32 33. Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my Gates waiting at the posts of my doors For whoso findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Aske and ye shall receive seek and ye shall find Mat. 7.7 8. And abundance the like 3. In his threatning sinners if they will take the course to perish and will not listen to his counsels As Because I have called and ye refused I stretched out my hands and no man regarded I also will laugh at your calamities I will mock when your fear cometh Prov. 1.24 26 c. O wicked man thou shalt surely die Ezek. 33.8 And many the like 4. In his reproving expostulating and reasoning the case with men that he might perswade them to their own good Why will ye die O house of Israel Ezek. 33.11 Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters and ye that have no money come buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Why will ye lay out money for that that is not bread and your labour for that that satisfieth not c. Isa 55.1 2 3. 5. In his chastening men also for their follies in neglecting and refusing their own mercy in order to their awakning to Repentance that they might live As he saith I smote them thus and thus yet they turned not to me saith the Lord. As implying that he smote them to that end they might turn Amos 4.6 7 11. All these things doth God twice and thrice with men that he might keep them from going down to the pit c. Job 33.29 6. In his exercising long patience and forbearance towards them with much bounty and goodness to the same end that is To lead them to repentance As is exprest Rom. 2.4.5 With 2 Pet. 3.9.15 Isa 30.18 Waiting that he may be gracious Yea 4. The next Observation is an evident confirmation of the truth of this Namely the gift of Gods only Son the Son of Man for if he gave his only begotten Son to be the Saviour of the World evident it is then that he loved the World and if he loved it he desired not that it should perish but rather be saved
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