The Harmony of the Divine Attributes in Mans Redemption, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
The Divine Power is admirably glorified in the Creation of the World, in respect of the greatness of the effect, and the manner of its production. Tis as evident in our Redemption. The Principal Effects of it are considered. The Incarnation of the Son of God is a work fully responsible to Omnipotence. Our Redeemers Supernatural Conception by the Holy Ghost. The Divine Power was eminently declared in the Miracles Jesus Christ wrought in the course of his Ministry. His Miracles were the evidence of His Celestial Calling, they were necessary for the conviction of the World: their Nature considered. The Divine Power was Glorified in making the Death of Christ Victorious over all our Spiritual Enemies. The Resurrection of Christ the effect of Glorious Power. The Reasons of it from the quality of his Person, and the nature of his Office, that he might dispense the Blessings he had purchased for Believers. His Resurrection is the foundation of Faith. It hath a threefold reference, to his Person as the Son of God, to his Death as an Alsufficient Sacrifice, to his Promise of raising Believers at the last day.
THE Divine Power is admirably glorified in the Creation of the World; not only in regard of the greatness of the Effect, that comprehends the Heavens and Earth, and all things in them: but in regard of the marvelous way of its Production: for He made the great Universe, without the concurrence of any material cause from nothing. For this reason the raising this glorious Fabrick is produc…d as the distinctive character of the Deity from the troop of false gods. The Psalmist declares, The Lord is to be fear…d above all gods, Ps…l. 96.4, 5.for all the gods of the Nations are Idols, but the Lord made the Heavens. And as He began the Creation by proceeding from nothing to real existence, so in forming the other parts, He drew them from infirm and indisposed matter, as from a second nothing; that all his Creatures might bear the real testimonies of Infinite Power. Thus He commanded Light to arise out of Darkness, and sensible Creatures from an insensible Element. He created Man, the accomplishment of all his Works, from the lowest and grossest Element the Earth. Now although at the first view we might conceive that the visible World is the greatest Miracle that ever God performed, yet upon serious reflection we shall discover, that the works of Grace are as wonderful as the works of Nature, and that the Power of God is as evidently exprest in our Redemption, as in the Creation. For the fuller understanding of this, I will consider some of the principal Effects of the Divine Power in order to our blessed Recovery.
1. The Incarnation of the Son of God, in accomplishing whereof such Power was exercis'd, as no limited Understanding is able to comprehend. The Word was made Flesh. Joh. 1.14.This signifies the real Union between the Humane Nature and the Divine in our Redeemer. Before his Incarnation he appeared in an humane form to the Patriarchs, and in the flaming Bush to Moses, but 'tis never said with respect to those Apparitions, that the Word was made Flame, or Man. But when He came into the World to save us, He assum'd the compleat Nature of Man into an Hypostatical Union with himself. That admirable Person possesses the Titles, Qualities and Natures of God and Man. In that ineffable Union, each of the Natures preserves its proper form, with all the necessary consequents proceeding from it. The Humane Nature is joyn'd to the Eternal Word, but not chang'd into its Divinity; 'tis not infinite and impassible. The Deity is united to Flesh, but not transformed into its Nature, 'tis not finite and passible. But although there is a distinction, yet no separation: Although there are two Natures, yet but one sole Jesus. In the same Subsistence the Creator and the Creature are miraculously allied. Now this is a work fully responsible to Omnipotence, and expresses whatever is signified by that Title. The Apostle mentions it with an Attribute of excellency, Without controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness, God manifest in the Flesh. 'Tis as sublime,1 Tim. 3.16. as holy. In this the Divine Power appears in its Magnificence, and in some respect more gloriously than in the Creation: For there is incomparably a greater disparity between the Majesty, Greatness and Infiniteness of God, and the Meanness of Man, than between the whole World and Nothing. The degrees of disparity between the World and Nothing are not actually infinite, but between the most excellent creature and the Glorious Creator they are absolutely infinite. From hence it is, that that which in other things resolves our doubts, here increases the wonder, and in appearance makes it more incredible. Ye do erre, saith Christ to the Sadduces (who denied the Resurrection) not knowing the Power of God. But the more raised thoughts we have of his immense Power, the more unlikely his conjunction with a nature so far beneath him will seem to be.
2. The Divine Power was magnified in our Redeemers Supernatural Conception. 'Twas requisite his Body should be miraculously form'd of the substance of a Woman, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, not only in respect of its singular Dignity, and that he might be the pattern of our Regeneration, that is performed by the Efficacy of the Spirit not of the Flesh, but in respect of his Office: For he was the Heavenly Adam and therefore allied to us; and absolutely pure from the stain of Sin. Heaven and Earth concurr'd to form that Divine Man the King of both, the Earth furnishing matter, and Heaven the principle of his conception. Accordingly the Angel told Mary, who questioned how she could be a Mother, not having known a Man, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, Luk. 1.and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that Holy thing that shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. This was foretold many Ages as an admirable Effect of God's Power. When Judah was opprest by two potent Kings, & despair'd of an escape, to raise their drooping Spirits, the Prophet tells them, the Lord himself would give them a sign of their future Deliverance. Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son,Isa. 7.14. and shall call his Name Immanuel. The Argument is from the greater to the less: for 'tis apparently more difficult that a Virgin, without injury or blemish to her purity and integrity, should conceive and bring forth Immanuel, than the defeating humane forces how great soever. If God will accomplish that Stupendious, unheard of wonder, much more would he rescue his People from the fury of their adversaries.
3. The Divine Power was eminently declar'd in the Miracles our Saviour wrought during the time of his publick Ministry, to verifie his Divine Mission, that He was the great Prophet sent from God to instruct Men in the way of Life. In discoursing of this, I will briefly shew, that Miracles were a convincing proof of his Celestial Calling, and that the performance of them was necessary in order to the conviction of the World, and consider particularly those He wrought.
1. A Miracle is an extraordinary Operation of God in Nature, either in stopping its course, or in producing some effects that are above its Laws and Power: So that when He is pleased to work any, they are his Seal to authorise the Person and Doctrine to which they are annext. By them Faith is made visible: The Unbeliever is convinc'd by his Senses, the only witnesses above reproach in his account. From hence Nicodemus addresses himself to Christ, Master, John 3.2.we know that thou art a Teacher come from God; for no man can do those Miracles that thou dost, except God be with him: That is, No inferiour Agent can perform them, without the special assistance of the Divine Power. And 'tis not to be supposed, that God will lend his Omnipotency to the Devil to work a real Miracle, to confirm a falsity; and thereby, necessarily induce Men into errour in a matter of infinite moment: f…r such is the Doctrine of Salvation that Christ Preach'd.
2. The working of Miracles was necessary to convince the World, that Jesus Christ was sent from God, whether we consider the Jews or the Gentiles. To convince the Jews, upon a double account.
1. Because the performance of them was one of the characters of the promised Messiah. For this reason when two of Johns Disciples came to inquire whether he were the expected Prophet, he returns this answer to the question,Mat. 11.4, 5. Go and shew John those things which ye do hear and see, the Blind receive their Sight, and the Lame walk, the Lepers are cleansed, and the Deaf hear, the Dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preach'd to them. Thus he described his Office, and verified the Commission he had from God, by representing his Miracles in the Words of the Prophecy.Esa. 35.5, 6.
2. Our Saviour came to alter the Religion of the Jews that had been confirmed by many illustrious Miracles, therefore to assure them that he was Authoris'd from Heaven, he wrought such and so many, that for their greatness, clearness and number exceeded all that were done before his coming. Our Saviour tells the Jews, If I had not done among them the Works which none other man did, they had not had sin: that is, in rejecting him. For if he had exercised only a Power like unto that of Moses and the Prophets, in his Miraculous Actions, they had been obliged to have honoured him as one of their rank, but not to have attributed an incomparable Dignity to him. But he did those which neither Moses nor the Prophets had performed, and in those that had been done, Christ excell'd them in the manner of doing them. This the Jews could not contradict, and from hence their infidelity was made culpable.
Secondly, Miracles were necessary to convince the Gentiles. 1. For the Gospel forbids the various Religions among them, and commands all to worship God alone in Jesus Christ, so that without a sensible demonstration, that that was the way wherein He would be served, their prejudices had been invincible. 2. The Gospel propounds Threatnings and Promises that regard a future state, where no living Eye can see their effects, so that without an extraordinary confirmation, it was not likely that men should yield a firm assent to them. If it be said, Our Saviour did his Miracles only in Judea, where very few of the Gentiles saw his Person or Works. I answer, His Miracles were primarily design'd for the conviction of the Jews, and in a secondary intention to disarm Infidelity among the Gentiles. Therefore the Testimony of them was conveyed by those who were Eye-witnesses, and most worthy of credit, and who did many great wonders in the Name of Christ, to verifie the report of his famous Miracles, and declare his Power and Divinity. Of this more afterwards.
Now I will briefly consider the Miracles wrought by Christ, that were the certain Signs of Gods favouring of him, and made his Commission authentick. Before his coming the hand of the Synagogue was dried up, and impotent to produce Miracles. The Holy Spirit was withdrawn, and for the space of four hundred years, no Prophet nor Worker of Wonders appeared. John the Baptist, though the Angel deputed to signifie the coming of Christ, yet did no Miracles. But our Saviour was invested with Power from above, and performed many. Their quality and number is considerable.
1. They were not mere. Signs, as the conversion of Moses Rod into a Serpent; nor destructive and punishing, as the Wonders in Egypt; but advantageous and beneficial to men, the equal demonstrations of his Mercy and Power. He cured Diseases that were absolutely desperate, by the mere signification of his Will; As the Son of the Nobleman who was sick at Capernaum, John 4.46.when Himself was at Cana in Galilee: or by such visible means, that the Spectators might be fully convinced, that it was not the external application, but his sole Vertue & Divine Power that produced the effect; Thus by anointing with Clay and Spittle the Eyes of him that was born blind, who never had any natural possibility of seeing, he wrought an unparalleld Cure. It was never yet heard, John 9.that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. Therefore he that was healed, inferr'd from that, as a most pregnant proof, that our Saviour was from God. He rais'd the dead. This effect exceeds the power not only of Men, but of the Angels. 'Tis true, That one Angel destroy'd in a night an hundred fourscore and five thousand of the Assyrian Army; but 'tis as true, that all the Angels together cannot raise from the dead one Man. 'Tis wholly the work of the Lord of Nature, who holds the Keys of Life and Death in his hands. 'Tis only his Light can dispel the darkness, his Voice can break the silence of the Grave. And 'tis observable, that our Saviour who sometimes conceal'd his miraculous works, and forbid the publishing of them, yet perform'd this kind before many Witnesses, that they might publish and verifie it, as being most conclusive of his mission from God.Mar. 5.42. He raised to life the Rulers Daughter, to the astonishment of all that were present to attend her Funeral. The Widows Son of Naim was carried without the Gates of the City to his Grave, Jesus stops the sad train, and restores life to the young Man, and to his Mother something more dear than her life. And the more signally to triumph over Death,Luk. 7.15. he pursued it to its fort, the obscurity of the Grave. Lazarus was buried four dayes, his Carcase was corrupted, Jesus calls him from the bottom of his Tomb with that powerful voice that created the World; The Dead answers and comes forth to the amazement of all that saw the Glory of God so clearly manifested.Joh. 11.44. The Evangelist reports that the People afterward were as desirous to see Lazarus as Jesus. Add to these his casting out of Devils. Before the Fall, the unclean Spirit was incorporated with the Serpent, but now with Man himself. He seizes on the External Organs and Internal Faculties, and rules him at his pleasure. In the time of Christ great numbers were possest: for the Devil perceiving the ruine of his Kingdom approaching, he would extend the limits of it here, and by the perfect possessing of sinners, begin their torment, which is one act of his principality. The case of those persons was most compassionable. For in that close fight the soul was disarmed of its defensive weapons, being hindered in a great measure of the free use of its faculties. Whereas in other Temptations he works by outward object at a distance, here he makes a violent assault on both parts. 'Tis the true anticipation of Hell, for the possest person is not exempted from Suffering, the priviledge of Death, nor enjoys the free power of doing, the effect of Life. Now the ejecting of this Enemy was above the force of any humane means; no material applications had power over immaterial Spirits. But our Saviour by a Word commanded them forth of their Garrisons. And the Evangelists observe that the sight of it affected the People in an extraordinary manner above what his other Miracles did. 'Tis said, they were all amazed, Mat. 1.27.29, 33.insomuch that they question'd among themselves saying, what thing is this, what new Doctrine is this? For with Authority commandeth he even the unclean Spirits, and they obey him. His Empire over evil Spirits was more admired than over Diseases, or Death it self. Those who were insensible of his former Miracles, received impression from this:Luk. 9.43. Mat. 9.33. They were astonish'd at the mighty Power of God, confessing that it was never so seen in Israel. And another time they said, is not this the Son of David? i. e. the Messiah. The Pharisees his obstinate enemies were more troubled about this, than any other action; and to elude the present conviction that He came from God, ascribed it to a secret compact with Beelzebub, as if there were a collusion between the evil Spirits, a lesser Devil retir'd that the Prince might reign. But so great was the Evidence of the Spirit of God in that act of Jurisdiction over the Devils, that our Saviour charges them with unpardonable Guilt for their wilful denying it.
The number of his Miracles was so great, that St. John saith, If all were written, the world could not contain the Books. We may in part conjecture how numerous they were, by taking notice how many he perform'd in one day.Mat. 9.10, 18, 20, 25, 29, 33. He dined with Matthew at Capernaum; whiles He was there, Jairus entreats Him to go to his Daughter newly dead; as He went the Woman with the bloody Issue toucht the hem of his garment and was healed; He raised the dead Maid; in his returning He cured two blind men, and immediately after cast out the Devil from one that was dumb. And in all these miraculous Operations the glory of Gods Power was clearly manifested.
4. The Divine Power admirably appeared in making the Death of Christ victorious over all our Spiritual Enemies. Now to shew what an eminent degree of Power was exercised in the effecting this, we must consider, that after Satan was cast out of Heaven for his Rebellion, he set up a throne on the Earth, and usurpt an absolute Empire over Mankind. His Power was great, and his Malice was equal to his Power. The Apostle represents him with his black Army under the titles of Principalities and Powers, Ephes. 6.12.the rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickednesses in heavenly places; as in respect of the Order among them, so in respect of their Dominion they exercise in the World. His Principality hath two parts; To tempt Men powerfully to sin, and to execute the wrath of God upon them. He works effectually in the Children of Disobedience. He fires their Lusts, and by the thick ascending smoak darkens their Minds, and hurries them to do the vilest Actions. And he hath the power of death, to torment Sinners; God justly permitting him to exercise his Cruelty upon those who comply with his Temptations. Now in the time of Christ seeing, many ravish'd out of his hands, and translated into the Kingdom of God, he grew jealous of his state, and by his instruments brought Him to a cruel and shameful Death. He then in appearance obtain'd a compleat Conquest, but in truth was absolutely overcome. And from hence the glorious Power of Christ is most clearly manifested. As he that will take the height of a Mountain, must descend to the lowest part of the Valley, where fixing his Instrument, he may discover the distance from the foot to the top of it: So we must descend to the lowest degree of our Saviours abasement, to understand the height of his exaltation.Heb. 2.14. By Death he overcame him that had the power of Death, that is the Devil. For his cruel Empire was founded in Mans Sin; his greatness was built on our Ruins. All the penal Evils he brings on Mankind are upon the account of our Disobedience, and his mighty power in Temptations, is from our inward Corruption. Otherwise he might surround, but could not surprise us. Now the Lord Christ by his Death hath taken away the Guilt and Power of Sin: The Guilt in enduring the Curse of the Law, and thereby satisfying Eternal Justice, which all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth could not do: and the Power of it,Rom. 6.6. By crucifying our old man with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Gal. 6.By the Cross of Christ the world is crucified to us, and we are crucified to the world. By it we are vindicated from the power of Satan, into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God. For this reason our Saviour, a little before his Passion, said, Now shall the Prince of this world be cast out. 2 Col. 15.By the Cross he spoil'd Principalities and Powers, and made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it, to their extreme confusion, in the view of Heaven and Earth. Although the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ are the proper acts of his Triumph, yet his Death is the sole cause and original of it. The Nails and Spear that pierced his Body, were his omnipotent Arms, and the Cross the instrument of his Sufferings, was the Trophee of his Victory. All our triumphant Palms are gathered from that tree. 'Tis there our Saviour bruised the head of the old Serpent, and renewed his antient Victory over him.
And from hence it was, that upon the first Preaching of Christ crucified, Oracles were struck dumb, and put to eternal silence, invisible Powers were forc'd to do him visible honour.foreign. Theodor. de Cur. Graec. Affect. Lib. 12. As the Rising Sun causes the Night-birds to retire, so his Name chas'd the rout of false Deities into darkness. They continue to be our enemies, but not our lords. Now where did the Divine Power ever appear more glorious than in our crucified Saviour? He hath done greater things suffering as Man, than acting as God. The Works of Creation and Providence are not equal to the effects of his Death. In the Creation a corruptible World was produced from Nothing, which as it had no disposition, so no contrariety to receive the form the Creator gave it: But the new World of Grace that is immortal, was form'd out of rebellious matter. The most eminent work of Providence was the drowning the Egyptians in the Red-Sea: But the spiritual Pharaoh and all his Hosts were drowned in his Blood. In short, the Cross hath opened Heaven to us, and wrought a miraculous change on the Earth. But this I shall more particularly consider under another Head of Discourse.
Fifthly, The Divine Power was eminently magnified in Christs Resurrection from the Grave. This was foretold concerning the Messiah by the Prophet David speaking in the type, My flesh shall rest in hope, Psal. 16.10.for thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell, neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. As it was ordain'd by Gods Counsel, so 'twas executed by his Power. This is decisive, that He is the Messiah. His other Miracles were performed by the Prophets, but this was singular and only done by the God of the Prophets. The Reasons of it prove, that 'twas equally necessary for his Glory and our Salvation.
1. The Quality of his Person required it. For He was a Heavenly Man without Guilt, therefore immortal by the original Constitution of his Nature. Death that is the wages of Sin had no power over him. He was subject to it not by the Law of his Conception, but the Dispensation of his Love, not to satisfie Nature, but purchase our Salvation. Therefore the Eternal Law that annexes Immortality to Innocence, would not suffer that He should remain in the state of Death.
2. The Nature of his Office made it necessary. As the Oeconomy of our Redemption required, that He should descend from Heaven the Seat of his Glory, that by dying He might expiate our Sins, so after his lying in the Grave so long as to attest the reality of his Death; 'twas necessary he should rise again in order to his dispensing the glorious Benefits He had purchas'd. The Apostle tells the Corinthians, If Christ be not risen, then our preaching is in vain, 1 Cor. 15.14and your faith is also in vain. For the Faith of Christians hath a threefold reference. 1. To the Person of Christ, that he is the Son of God. 2. To his Death, that 'tis an all-sufficient Sacrifice for Sin. 3. To his Promise, that He will raise Believers at the last Day. Now the Resurrection of Christ is the Foundation of Faith in respect of all these.
1. He was declar'd to be the Son of God with Power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the Resurrection from the dead. Rom. 1.4.He was the Son of God from Eternity as the Word, and from the first moment of his Incarnation as God-Man; But the honour of this relation was much eclips'd in his poor Life, and ignominious Death. And although his darkest night was inlightened with some discoveries of his Deity, yet they were transient and soon vanish'd. But in his Resurrection God did publickly own him in the face of the World, therefore he is represented, testifyi…g from Heaven, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee, Act. 13.33.According to the Phrase of Scripture; then things are said to be, when they conspicuously appear. All the Miraculous proofs by which God acknowledged him for his Son during his Life, had been ineffectual without this. If he had remain'd in the Grave it had been reasonable to believe him an ordinary person, and that his Death had been the punishment of his presumption; but his Resurrection was the most illustrious and convincing evidence, that he was what he declar'd himself to be. For it is not conceiveable that God should put forth an Almighty power to raise him, and thereby au…horise his usurpation, if by robbery he had assumed that Glorious Title. He is therefore said to be justified by the Spirit, Tim. 3.16.which raised him, from all the accusations of his Enemies, who charg'd him with Blasphemy for making himself equal with God: Upon the evidence of it, Thomas ador'd him as his Lord and God.
2. His Resurrection is the most pregnant proof of the All suffitiency of his Satisfaction. This was special in the death of Christ, that the Curse of the Law accompanied it, and seemed like an Infinite weight to lie on his Grave. But in rising again, the Value and Vertue of His Sufferings was fully declared. Therefore the Apostle tells us, that he was delivered for our Offences, Rom. 4.25.and was raised again for our Justification. Although his Death was sufficient to Merit our Pardon, yet since Believers alone actually partake of the benefit, and none could believe, if he had not rose from the Grave; 'tis clear His Death had been ineffectual without it.
3. Our Faith in His Promises to give Life and Glory to his Servants, is built on his Resurrection: for how could we believe him to be the Authour of Life, who remained under the power of Death? How could he quicken and Glorifie us, who finally perisht? If he had been confined to the Grave, all our hopes had been buried with him. But his Resurrection is the Cause, Patern and Argument of ours: he did not only raise his Body from the Grave, but his Church with him. Now the effecting this is attributed to the Divine Power with a note of eminency:Rom. 6.4. Christ was raised by the Glory of his Father that is by his Power, which in that Act was manifested in its full splendour; for what is stronger than death? and more in exorable than the Grave? Omnipotency alone can break its Gates, and loose its Bands.