Exposition of the Apostles Creed, Exposition · Part 2 · Section 2 – Section 4
Why we beleeue in Ieſus Chriſt, the only begotten ſonne of God.
WE beleeue alſo in Ieſus Chriſt the onelie begotten ſonne of God: Firſt becauſe the ſonne of God is of one ſubſtance & glorie together with the Father. Io. 1. We ſawe his glorie as of the onelyonly begotten ſonne of the father, Therfore in the firſt Chapter to the Hebrues he is called the brightnes of his glorie, and engrauen forme of his perſon. Ioh. 10. I and the Father are one. Further becauſe the Father hath commanded, that we beleeue in the ſonne: Pſalm. 2. Kiſse ye the ſonne. And in the end of the ſame Pſalme, Bleſſed are al they which trust in him. Alſo, This is my beloued ſonne, in whome I reſt, heare him. Nowe we ſo heare the ſonne, expounding the commandement and promiſe of the father. Io. 6. This is the wil of that my father who hath ſent me, that whoſoeuer ſeeth the ſonne and beleeueth in him, ſhould hauehave euerlaſting life: And I wil raiſe him vp in that laſt daie. And in the 14. of Ioh. he ſaith: Ye beleeue in God, beleeue alſo in me. And this is ſo ſeuerely commanded, that a moſt greeuous puniſhment is denounced againſt ſuch as refuſe the benefite offered in Chriſt: He that beleeueth not the ſonne, ſhal not ſee life, but the wrath of God abideth vponupon him. Io. 3. Alſo the 8. Vnleſſe you beleeue that I am he ye ſhal die in your ſinnes. And the 1. Io. 2. Therefore I confeſſe that I beleeue in the ſonne of God, verie God, begotten of very God before all worldes. To the Hebrues 3. Prouerb. 8. And that from my hearte, I ſubmitte my will to this commandement and promiſe of the father, that I am throughly perſuaded, although I be a wretch, that yet for this eternal ſonne of God, I am indeede receiued, neither would he I ſhould adde this the greateſt ſinne to my great and manifolde ſinnes, that I ſhould reiecte the ſonne of God freely offered, but that his deſire is that with all my ſoule I ſhould reſiſt all vnbeliefe, and ſhould deliuer my ſelfe altogether deuoide of ſaluation, to be ſaued to this ſonne, foraſmuch as our heauenlie father hath ſo commanded.
Why the ſonne of God is named Ieſus.
THe ſonne of God manifeſted in the fleſh is named Ieſus, becauſe he hath ſaued vsus, through his deſert, and yet ſtill ſaueth vsus by his power from all our ſinnes. Mat. 1. Acts 4. Hebr. 7 Nowe the fruite that comes vntounto me by this knowledge, is this: Seeing God, that can not lie, Tit. 1. hath giuen this name Ieſus from heauē, to his ſonne manifeſted in the fleſh, that is to ſaye, of a ſauiour, I knowe and vndoubtedly aſſure my ſelfe, that he fully and perfectly ſaueth me, wholy both in ſoule and body, and in this faith I call vponupon him. As often as I heare therefore the name of Ieſus, I ought to remember the promiſe of the Goſpell that lyeth hidde in it: that he through his merite, hath ſaued me from my ſinnes, and by his power, mortifieth the remnants of ſinne in me, vntill he fully deliuer me from them: that he alſo quickeneth me through his holy ſpirite, and that he euerlaſtingly keepeth for me that ſame ſaluation purchaſed with ſo great a price, 1. Pet. 1. and ſo he beareth that worthy name for my ſake, which was giuen vntounto him by the father from heauen, that he might ſhewe the truth of his name, in truth and effectually aſwel in my ſaluation, as in the ſaluation of al beleeuers. He is faithful that beareth that notable name of ſauiour, and he that hath promiſed, ſhall doe it.
Chriſt.
Teſtimonies out of the Prophets and Apoſtles.
TO the Sonne he ſaith, Thy throne O God,Pſal. 45. is for euer and euer, thy ſcepter, a right ſcepter, the ſcepter of thy kingdome. Thou hast loued righteouſneſse, and hated iniquitie: therefore hath God euen thy God anointed thee, with the oile of gladneſſe aboue thy fellowes. Dan. 9. The holy of holy ſhalbe anointed. Afterwardes he ſaith, The Meſſias ſhallbe cut of; and then the people ſhall destroye the Citie and the Sanctuary, with that Captaine that ſhall come. The Angel witneſsed the fulfilling of this anointing, Hieruſalem yet ſtanding, Luke 2. Behold, I bring you glad tidinges of great ioye, that ſhalbe to al the people: that a Sauiour is this day borne vntounto you in the citie of Dauid, which is Christ the Lord. The whole multitude of the heauenlie hoſtes, witneſſeth the ſame thing, praiſing God and ſaying, glorie to God in the higheſt heauens, and in earth peace, and towardes men a good will. Mat. 2. The ſtarre and the wiſe men, witneſſe Chriſt, or the anointed of the Lorde to be ſent: and in the ſecond of Luke Symeon and Anna the propheteſſe from the 25. verſe, to the 41. where alſo the propheſie of Eſaias is ſene fulfilled, Ca. 8. ver. 14. A notable propheſie of Iſaias in the 61. Cap. is fulfilled. Luke. 4. Ieſus came to Nazareth where he had ben brought vp, and entred as he was wont vponupon the ſabboth day into the ſynagogue and roſe vp that he might reade. Then was giuen vntounto him the Booke of the Prophet Eſaie, and when he had opened the booke, he found a place in whiche it was written, The ſpirite of the Lorde is vponupon me, becauſe that he annointed me that I ſhould preach gladde tidinges, he ſent me to heale the broken in heart, that I ſhould preach deliuerance to captiues, and recouerie of ſight to the blinde, that I ſhould ſe… them at libertie that are diſtreſsed: And that I ſhould preach the acceptable yeare of the Lorde. And when he had restored the booke cloſed vntounto the minister he ſate downe: and the eies of all that were in the ſynagogue were faſtened on him. Then he began to ſay vntounto them, This day is the ſcripture fulfilled in your eares. Alſo Acts the 10 verſ. 38. The vniforme praier of the Apostles witneſseth the propheſie in the 2. Pſalme, to be fulfilled in our Lorde Ieſus. For ſo alſo Luke writeth in the 4. of the Actes: The man was aboue fortie yeare olde, on whom this miracle of healing was ſhewed. Nowe being let goe, they came to their companie, and ſhewed what the cheefe of the prieſtes, and the Elders had ſaide vntounto them. And when they heard it, they lift vp their voices with one accorde to God, and ſaide▪ O Lord, thou art the God which haſt made heauen and earth, the ſea, and all thinges that are in them: Who hast ſaide by the mouth of thy ſeruant Dauid: Whie did the Gentiles rage, and the people imagine vaine thinges▪ The kinges of the earth ſtoode vp, and the princes were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ? For they were gathered together in deede, against thy holie ſonne Jeſus, whom thou haſt annointed: both Herode, & Pontius Pilate, with the nations and peoples of Iſrael, that they might do whatſoeuer thine hand and thy counſel had determined before to be done. Theſe are the testimonies out of the Prophets and Apostles that Ieſus is the Christ, or the annointed Meſſias.
What we are taught by the name of Chriſt or anointed.
BY the terme of Chriſt or anointed, is taught that this perſon came with the commandement of the father, and that the ſame was ordained of him, that he ſhold erect that Prieſtly kingdom, by the ſcepter of his word & power of his ſpirite in this life, and ſhould finiſhe it in the life euerlaſting. For like as anointing wherby at Gods commandement Kinges, Prieſtes, and prophets were appointed amongſt his people, with an outwarde and viſible oyle, was a publike teſtimonie, that God would gouerne & efend his people by this perſon, & alſo kepe & vpholde his diuine worſhippe, and likewiſe teach his people: and this perſon had commandement of this thing, that they might ſuffer themſelues to be gouerned▪ clenſed, and taught: ſo the ſonne of God manifeſted in the fleſhe, concerning his manhoode is anointed, with the holy Ghoſte without meaſure (which is the truth of that outward anointing) and ſo is ordained and giuen of the father to be the king, prieſt, and prophet of his Church. Firſt of all therefore the name Meſſias, or Chriſt, ſerueth for a notable confirmation of our faith, to witte, whileſt we vnderſtand by anointing, that the ſonne of God hath commandement, in the very ſame that he is Chriſt or anointed; by his kinglie power to keepe vsus by his euerlaſting ſacrifice to reconcile vsus to the Father, and to open vntounto vsus al the will of the father: to be ſhort not to reſt, vntil he hauehave beautified his Church with glorie and euerlaſting life. Ioh. 6. verſe 27. cap. 10.18. Pſalme. 43.6.7. to the Heb. 2. ver. 8.9. Alſo cap. 5. ver. 4.5 Heb. 1. ver. 9. And foraſmuch as the ſonne of God, that ſame annointed of the Lord, hath his ſolemne commandement, it is certaine, that he wil execute it moſt faithfully.
Of the frute or conſolation; which the faithful receaue thereby.
THe firſt fruite is, that our faith hath a certaine obiect or matter to reſpecte, to wit, this ſame certaine perſon ſent, and appointed from the Father with commandement, which now beginneth in vsus that ſame ſpiritual and euerlaſting kingdome, which is righteouſnes, peace and ioie in the holie Ghoſt, in the ſted of ſinne, euerlaſting heauines and death; and ſhal finiſh it afterwardes: and ſeeing that he holdeth vnderunder his gouernement and iron ſcepter al thinges created, both his and our enemies, that is, both wicked men and diuels, that they hurt not either his glorie, or our ſaluation, but rather that euen againſt their willes, they aduance both. Hence peace and ioye ariſe in the heartes of beleeuers, who are citizens of this kingdome. For as it muſt needes bee that al they be made ſadde, that doubt vnderunder what Lorde they are in this life, whether vnderunder Chriſte or Satan: ſo on the contrarie it can not be, but all they muſt be filled with ioye, who by the inwarde teſtimonie of the anointing of faith, and by the outwarde of holie baptiſme are aſſured, that they are vnderunder Chriſte the King of righteouſnes, and are tranſlated out of the kingdome of darkeneſſe into the kingdome of Chriſt, Coloſſ. 1. and hauehave the kingdome of the ſonne of GOD euen begone in them, as Christ ſaith, the kingdome of God is in you, or amongſt you. The Angel exhorteth vsus to this ioye▪ in ye verie manifeſtation of this king. Luk. 2. verſe 10.11. Be not afraide: For beholde I bring you glad tydinges of great ioye, that ſhal be to all the people, to wit yt this daie a Sauiour is borne vntounto you, in the citie of Dauid, which is Chriſt the Lorde. Hence is the ſame peace and good will in the heartes of beleeuers, of which afterwardes that ſame multitude of heauenly hoſtes doe mention in their ſonge: Glorie in the higheſt heauens to God, peace to the earth, A good wil in men. Like as therefore in times paſt when Salomon by the commaundement of God was annoynted, there was publike ioye amongeſt the people of God: becauſe they knewe that God woulde doe them good, and defend them by the hande of a king: ſo alſo we when wee heare out of the worde of God, that our Lorde Ieſus is Chriſt, that is, that ſame annoynted of the lorde, we ought together with the Angels to be filled with an exceeding ioye of minde: being ſurely perſuaded that euen in this verie thing that the heauenly father, hath appointed, and in verie deede giuen his owne ſonne Chriſt, that is annointed to be our king, that he doeth openly from heauen declare, that hee by this ſonne will become the euerlaſting reſtorer and defender of his Church.
Why Chriſt was annointed, not onelie to be king, but alſo Prieſt?
IT followeth that we declare, whie he was not onelyonly annointed to bee a king, but alſo a Prieſt. The reaſon is becauſe the kingdome of Chriſt was ſo to bee eſtabliſhed, that he muſt ſatisfie for euer, the righteouſnes of God; and ſo this begonne peace & promiſed grace might ſtaie vppon a ſure and ſound foundation. Now the foundation is the euerlaſting prieſthood of Chriſt, that is, that ſame gift which not onelyonly by commaundement, but alſo by ſolemne oth, in a wonderful wiſedome and merciemercy, is from the father laide vponupon this certaine perſon, whereof theſe are partes. Firſt the prayer of ſo great a perſon, moſt pure and moſt holy, together with a ſacrifice matchable with the ſinnes and wickedneſſes of all beleeuers. Io. 17. Heb. 7. the other, the ſhewing of himſelfe before the face of the father in the heauens, after this ſacrifice is offered vp. Hebr. 9 verſ. 24. Becauſe it was ordained of God by an oath, and by an vnchangeable decree of God, which we may ſurely truſt to, that Chriſt ſhould ſhewe himſelfe (to witte his owne bodie and ſoule taken into the vnitie of his perſon, in which all our ſinnes were puniſhed) without ceaſing before the face of the father, that alwayes the efficacie of that Sacrifice once offered vp, might floriſh and be of force before the father.
Of the profite that we take by this that Chriſt was anointed to be a prieſt.
THe chiefe profite is, that I hauehave a certaine perſon, which hath ſacrificed for mee, and continually maketh interceſſiō for me that ye force of his interceſſiō made, & ſacrifice offred vp in earth, might alwaies be of force in the ſight of God, as it is ſaide in the Pſalme 110. The Lorde hath ſworne and will not repent him: Thou art a Prieſt for euer. Nowe an euerlaſting prieſt is not without an euerlaſting vſe and fruite of his prieſthoode towarde his faithfull. But wee will ſpeake more aſwell of the kingdome, as of the Prieſthoode in the article of ſitting at the right hand of God.
Why alſo was he annointed to be a Prophet?
THe reaſon why hee was annointed to bee a Prophet, is becauſe that ſame prieſtly kingdome, in which euerlaſting righteouſnes and peace ſhould floriſh, was to bee eſtabliſhed by the ſcepter of his worde, that is by the preaching of the Goſpell, and in the power of the ſpirite whereby he was annointed. And truelie ſo was it foretold by Eſay, The ſpirit of the Lord is vponupon me, becauſe he hath annointed me, that I ſhould preach glade tydinges vntounto the power; he hath ſent me, that I ſhoulde heale the contrite in heart, as our Lorde affirmeth in the 4. of Luke that it was fulfilled in him. Therefore hee ſaith vntounto Pilate, that his kingdome was not of this worlde, that he came into the worlde, that he might giuegive testimonie vntounto the truth. I vnderſtande Chriſt therefore, ſo to be annointed a Prophet that hee being ſent out of the boſome of his heauenly father, in mans nature, was annointed with the fulnes of the holy Ghoſt, that being ful of grace and trueth, hee might cleerly and manifeſtly ſet forth vntounto vsus that ſame myſterie hidde from the beginning, the euerlaſting will and counſell of God concerning the redemption of mankinde. Iohn 1. The onelyonly begotten ſonne which is in the boſome of the father, he hath ſhewed it vntounto vsus. Furthermore alſo, that the ſame Chriſt may effectuallie teach vsus to the end of the worlde: For which cauſe hee alſo hath promiſed his preſence by the office of teaching: Beholde I am alwayes with you euen to the end of the worlde.
Of the fruite of Chriſtes propheticall office.
THe Lorde Ieſus is anointed with the ſpirite of propheſie, to this end, that we ſhould by no meanes doubt of the vnchangeable wil of the father towarde vsus. Heb. 1. God in times paſt, at ſundrie times and in diuerſe maners, ſpake vntounto our fathers by the Prophetes, but in theſe laſt times he hath ſpoken vntounto vsus by his ſonne. Further, who dareth to ſay, howe ſhall I knowe the will of God towardes beleeuers? ſeeing the ſonne him ſelfe to whome the minde, and will of the father is throughly knowen, hath opened the will and promiſe of the father in the Goſpell. The other fruite is nowe declared, for that it teacheth vsus effectuallie to the end of the worlde, and transformeth vsus into that, which we are taught of him, 2. to the Corinth. 2. verſ. 17.18.
Howe far forth thoſe things which are ſpoken concerning the office of Chriſt, or of the prieſtly & prophetical kingdome of Chriſt, agree with the doctrine of the free couenaunt.
BVt ſame man will ſay, that ſame prieſtly kingdome, that thou haſt ſaid, to be eſtabliſhed by that ſame Meſſias or annointed of the Lord, by the ſcepter of the word and power of the ſpirite, is it not that ſame euerlaſting couenaunt or worke of ſaluation that ſtandeth in the free forgiueneſſe of ſinnes and vndeſerued gift of the holy Ghoſt and euerlaſting life? Yes verilie. For that ſame couenant of ſaluation made with Abraham, was renewed with Dauid and to him was promiſed, out of his ſeede an euerlaſting king, who ſhoulde be the mediator of this couenaunt. Pſalme 89. And in the firſt of Luke the Angel ſaith to Marie, This ſhall be great, and he ſhal he called the ſonne of the moſt high, and the Lorde God ſhall giuegive vntounto him the ſeate of Dauid his father, and he ſhall raigne ouer the houſe of Iacob for euer, and there ſhall bee no end of his kingdome. And a little after Zacharie the father of Iohn Baptiſte, being full of the holy Ghoſt, prophecied ſaying, Bleſsed be the Lorde God of Iſrael, becauſe he hath viſited and redeemed his people, and hath lifted vp an horne of ſaluation vntounto vsus, in the houſe of Dauid his ſeruaunt, as he hath ſpoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets, which were ſince the world began, that it ſhould come to paſſe, that he would ſaue vsus, from our enemies, and out of the hande of all that hate vsus: that he ſhoulde ſhewe merciemercy towardes our fathers, and be mindfull of his holy couenaunt, of the oath which he ſware vntounto Abraham our father, that he woulde giuegive vntounto vsus, &c. to the end of the Chapter. Therefore I vnderſtand, that by the title of Chriſte or annointed the office of the mediator of the couenaunt is expreſſed, to wit by what way and meanes the heauenly father leadeth vsus, to ſaluation, promiſed and ſworne in the couenaunt by the hande of the mediator, that is to ſay, by his merite and vertue. Nowe the meane is, becauſe the father hath annointed this Ieſus to be the prophet or teacher, who can informe vsus of this free couenaunt of God: to be the Prieſt, who confirmeth and ratifieth this couenaunt by his interceſſion and ſacrifice: and to be a king, who maintaineth his couenaunt made, and enricheth and defendeth his faithful & confederate ones: & ſo, that in the whole buſineſſe of ſaluation, wee flie by faith vntounto Chriſt, as to him whom the father hath ſigned, as Chriſt himſelfe ſpeaketh of him ſelfe. Ioh. 6. And firſt for that which concerneth the Propheticall office of Chriſt, I thinke, that to pertaine to the couenaunt in ſuch ſort: to wit, that firſte of all, men bee inſtructed of the free couenaunt of ſaluation, and therefore When in times past God ſpake after ſundrie ſortes and wayes by the Prophetes, nowe at length hee woulde ſpeake vntounto vsus by his ſonne. Heb. 1. to wit, clothed with mans nature: For otherwiſe the ſonne alſo ſpake by the Prophetes 1. Pet. 1. Wee muſt therefore fullie reſolue, that the euerlaſting Sonne of God, who is in the boſome of the father, was ſent a legate vntounto vsus, and taking our fleſhe vppon him was annointed with the ſpirit of wiſedome and power, that he might cleerely and fully laie open vntounto vsus, that ſame euerlaſting Counſel of entring into league and couenaunt with vsus, & might declare yt ſame good and vnchangeable will of God towards vsus, whereby he hath freely choſen vsus to himſelf in ye ſonne, and might frame vsus to true amēdement, & to beleue the Goſpel: yea might alſo confirme his doctrine by miracles, as by healing the blind, by raiſing vp the dead &c, which neither the diuel nor anie creature can followe. That he might alſo adioyne the ſacramentes as holy ſignes to the renewed couenaunt, to wit baptiſme, and the Lords ſupper. Moreouer, concerning the prieſtlie officie, I thinke it ſo to belong to the couenant: that euen like as the Propheticall office of Chriſt, inſtructeth vsus of the couenaunt and of a full reconciliation with God in Chriſt; ſo the prieſtly office goeth further, and offereth vp the verie price of this reconciliation, to wit a perfect ſacrifice with interceſſion, wherby the mediator of Gods righteouſnes doeth perfectly ſatisfie for our ſinnes, which did let and keepe of the couenaunt, and without the clenſing whereof that ſame prophetical ambaſſadge frō heauen had beene taken in vaine to intreate of the couenaunt: ſeeing neither wee can ſatiſfie for our ſinnes our ſelues, neither would God denie his owne righteouſnes. Laſt of all concerning that kingly office, forſomuch as it was not enough for a mediator to hauehave taught vsus of the couenaunt, and to hauehave ſanctified it by the offering vp of his body and bloode, vnleſſe hee likewiſe ſhould defend & maintain ye couenant againſt ye aſſaults of ye enemie, & ſhould throgh his might build vp a people in himſelf day by daie more and more repaire & frame the ſame, being endewed with ſpiritual giftes to euerlaſting life: therefore the heauenlie father would that the ſame mediator ſhould be the head and giuer, both of the conſeruation of grace gotten, and of an effectual communicating, and mainteining the ſame. Epheſ. 1.23.24.