The Pattern of Wholesome Words, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Of Christ.
Act. 4.12.
Neither is there saluation in any other: for among men there is giuen none other name vnderunder heauen, whereby we must be saued.
HItherto of Election. The second fundamentall meanes of grace is Christ, concerning whom the principles respect either
1. His Person.
2. His office.
The principles concerning his person, looke either
1. VponUpon his diuine nature.
2. or vponupon his humane.
The principle that concernes his diuine nature is this: That Iesus Christ is very God; and that he is God, may be proued,
1. First, by testimony of Scripture, Esa. 9.6. For vntounto vsus a child is borne, and vntounto vsus a sonne is giuen, and he shall call his name wonderfull, Counsellor, the mighty God.
Ioh. 1.1. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and that word was God.
Rom. 9.5. Of whom are the fathers, and of whom concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is God ouer all, blessed for euer. Amen.
1. Tim. 3.16. And without controuersie great is the mystery of godlinesse, which is, God is manifested in the flesh, iustified in the spirit &c.
1. Ioh. 5.20. But we know, that the Sonne of God is come, and hath giuen vsus a mind to know him, which is true: and we are in him that is true, that is, in his son Iesus Christ, this same is very God, and eternall life.
2. By the diuine proprieties giuē vntounto him, as Eternity, Ioh. 1.1. Ioh. 17.5. Omnipotency, Ioh. 3.31. Phil. 4.13. Sauiour, King of Kings, and the like.
3. By diuine workes done by him, as Creation, Coloss. 1.16. Forgiuenesse of sinnes, Matth. 9.6. Working of miracles, Ioh. 10.25.
4. By the diuine honour due vntounto him, as Adoration, Psalm. 72.11. Heb. 1.8. and beleeuing in him.
5. By the conquest the Gospel hath made in the world, 1. Tim. 3.16. and that not by any carnall power, Zach. 4.6.
6. By the patient suffering of his Saints, Reuel. 12.11. But they ouercame him by the blood of the Lambe, and by the word of their testimony, and they loued not their liues vntounto the death, &c.
But why was it needfull hee should be God?Question.
For two causes chiefly.Answere.
1. The one was the greatnes of our euill, which no creature could take off vsus: viz. 1. the grieuousnesse of our sinnes. 2. The immense & intolerable waight of Gods anger. 3. The Empire of death. 4. The tyranny of the diuell.
2. The other was the greatnes of our good, which none but God could restore; viz. 1.
An obedience to iustifie many.
2. The image of God, 1. Cor. 1.30. Colos. 3.10.
If our Sauiour be the sonne of God, yea God himselfe, that holds it no robbery to be equall with God.
Then it may first serue for humiliation, and so
1. To the world: In which this glorious light hath risen, and yet their darknesse comprehended it not, Ioh. 1.5.10.
To the very godly, because they are not so affected, as may become this maruellous glory of the Sonne of God; it should much abase vsus, that we hauehave not thoughts and affections to take that notice wee should of this Sonne of righteousnesse, so gloriously in the Gospell shining amongst vsus; we doe not receiue him, & conceiue of him as this doctrine teacheth vsus; how often hath he come amongst his owne, and his owne receiued him not? Ioh. 1.11.
For instruction, and so it should worke in vsus,
1. Illumination, to see the greatnesse of the mistery of godlines, that tels vsus of God manifested in the flesh, 1. Tim. 3.16. Our eyes should in this point receiue sight and clearing. This doctrine should shine in our hearts, as the Sunne in the firmament; wee should neuer rest informing our selues heerein, and praying for discerning, till after much neglect and vnbeleefe past, we could say with Thomas, My Lord and my God, Matth. 16.16. Ioh. 20.28. This is the rocke, vponupon which the Church is built.
2. The estimation of his sufferings for vsus; this blood of the new Testament, was the blood of God, Act. 20.28.
3. The celebratiō of his praises is God ouer all: then let him be blessed for euermore, Rom. 9.5. Of whom are the fathers, and of whom concerning the flesh Christ came, who is God ouer all, blessed for euer, Amen.
4. The adoration of his person, when God brings forth his onelyonly begotten Sonne, let all the Angels of heauen worship him, Heb. 1.4.
5. Faith: this should make vsus beleeue in him, and relie vponupon the sufficiency of the redemption in him; yea we should neuer rest, till we know him, and that we are in him: For this is eternall life, Ioh. 1.7. The same came for a witnesse to beare witnesse of the light, that all men through him might beleeue, 1. Ioh. 5.20. But we know that the Sonne of God is come, and hath giuen vsus a mind to know him, which is true, and wee are in him that is true, that is, in the Sonne Iesus Christ, the same is very God, and eternall life.
The consideration of the diuinity of Christ should wonderfully comfort vsus, & so it is vsed in diuers Scriptures. For if he be God, thē he is ful of grace to supply our wants, Ioh. 1.14.16. He is infinite in righteousnes to iustifie vsus, Ierem. 23.6. The gouernment being on his sholders: he will euer bee knowne to bee wonderfull: as a Counsellor to direct vsus, as a mighty God to defend vsus; as an euerlasting father to louelove vsus, and pity vsus, and spare vsus, and beare with our infirmities; as a Prince of peace, to preserue vsus in our reconciliation with God, and to fill vsus with peace that passeth all vnderstanding: and that we may not doubt of perseuerance, the Prophet assures vsus, that of the encrease of his gouernment and peace, there shall be no end: for he will order vsus, and establish vsus henceforth, and for euer.