Sermons of Christ, Sermon 2
Chriſts Royal Deſcent.
REV. 22.16.
And the Off ſpring of David.
I Now proceed to the next words, The Off-ſpring of David; The word for Off-ſpring is foreign, and it ſignifies that from whence another thing comes, or proceeds, Phil. 3.8. Circumciſed the eighth day, of the ſtock of Iſrael, or of the off-ſpring of Iſrael; Paul ſaith, he was of the Iſraelites, he proceeded and came from them, hee was of that Race, of that Generation; and in Iſa. 44. verſ. 3. I will pour water upon him that is thirſty, and ſtouds upon dry ground, I will pour my Spirit upon thy ſeed, and my blesſing upon thine offſpring; upon thoſe that are of thy Loynes, and that deſcend from thee, that is the meaning of the word Off-ſpring, your Children are your Off-ſpring, ſo that the meaning here is, That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is of the Race of David. In the Scriptures he is ſaid to be the Seed of the Woman, Gen. 3. he is ſaid to be the ſon of Abraham, Mar. 1. and the Off-ſpring of David here; he is of the Race of Man-kinde, of the Race of David, In Matth. 1.1. The Book of the Generation of Jeſus Chriſt, the Son of David; and Chriſt is very frequently in the Goſpel called, The Son of David. Matth. 9.37. Thou Son of David have mercy on us.
Now to open the words, yet a little further, a Queſtion may here be,
Q. Why is Chriſt ſaid to be the Off-ſpring of David, rather than of any other? when as in Matth. 1. he is the Off-ſpring of all there mentioned?
Anſ. There be ſeveral Grounds or Reaſons for it;
1 David was he that founded the Kingdom of Iſrael, there began the foundation of the Kingdom of Iſrael; Saul was the firſt King, but Saul was given in wrath, and rejected of God, and therefore it is not called the Kingdom of Saul, and the reckoning is not from Saul, but it is called the Kingdom of David, and the reckoning is from David; ſo that he was a moſt eminent, and a known perſon in Iſrael, of great repute in Iſrael, 2 Chron. 13.5. Ought yee not to know, That the Lord God of Iſrael, gave the Kingdom over Iſrael to David our Father for ever, even to him, and to his Sons by a Covenant of Salt? God gave the Kingdom to David, and David was the moſt eminent King; and the Founder of the Kingdom of Iſrael, therefore here David is rather mentioned; he is the Off-ſpring of David, the Founder of the Kingdom of Iſrael.
2 David was the moſt lively Type of Jeſus Chriſt of any in the whole Scripture, and therefore he is named the Off-ſpring of David rather than any others; David was beloved of God, ſo his name ſignifies; and David you know ſlew the Bear, and the Lion, and reſerved the Sheep, and the Lamb from them; David killed Goliah and freed the whole Army of Iſrael from him, — David was a gre…t Warrier & a great Conqueror, and got famous Victories; David brought back the Ark of God — David was a man indured great afflictions after he was annoynted King, for many years together, before hee came to the Throne, and to the Kingdom; David likewiſe was a Prophet, and Pſal. 22. is a Pſalm wherein David is ſet out fully to be a type of Chriſt all along that Pſalm.
So Chriſt, he was the beloved of God, and Chriſt he delivered the Lambs from the Bear and the Lion, Chriſt he ſlew Goliah, he led Captivity captive, the Lord Chriſt obtained great Victories over the World, Sin; and Sathan, and all our Spiritual enemies; the Lord Chriſt brought back the Ark, the truths of God that were in darkneſs, and hid, he brought immortality and Life to light again.
The Lord indured here in this World a great deal of miſery before hee came to glory, and therefore he is ſaid to be the Off-ſpring of David rather than any other.
3 But laſtly, For anſwer to this, The Prophecy was that Meſſiah ſhould be the Son of David; God had promiſed David, That out of his loyns Chriſt ſhould come, 2 Sam. 7.15. But my mercy ſhall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee: And thine Houſe and thy Kingdom ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever before thee, thy Throne ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever. Mark, God promiſes him a Throne that ſhould be eſtabliſhed for ever, he muſt have a ſeed then, and that God ſwears unto him concerning it, Pſal. 89.35, 36. Once have I ſworn by my holineſs, That I will not lie unto David, his ſeed ſhall indure for ever, and his Throne as the Sun before me. This is ſpoken of Chriſt the Seed; and the Scripture ſaith, That of the ſeed of David Meſſiah ſhould come: Now though the promiſe were made to Abraham, that Chriſt ſhould come of his ſeed, and he is ſaid to be the Son of Abraham, —yet David is put firſt, becauſe the Promiſe was later made to David than to Abraham; therefore the eyes of the Jews were upon that promiſe, rather than any other: Hence you find that it was ordinary and common in their mouths, To look at Chriſt the Son of David, Matth. 15.22. A woman of Canaan came out of the ſame coaſt, and cryed unto him ſaying, have mercy upon me O Lord thou Son of David, and Matth. 20.30. And behold two blind men ſitting by the way ſide, when they heard that Jeſus paſſed by, cryed out ſaying, have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David; And chap. 21.9. And the multitude that went before, and that followed after, cried, ſaying, Hoſanna to the Son of David; even all ſorts looked at Meſſiah to be the Son of David, and the Off-ſpring of David; Hence is it that rather David is named here than others.
Object. But if Chriſt be the Son of David, It may be ſaid by way of Objection from that in Iſa. 53.8. And who ſhall declare his Generation? If Chriſt be the Son of David, every one may declare his Generation therefore how do theſe two Scriptures then correſpond? Who ſhall declare his generation, ſaith Iſaiah? Now Matthew and John tell his Generation, that he is the Son of David, and the Off-spring of David?
Anſw. For anſwer, Firſt of all know, That ſome Expoſitors, and not without cauſe, do refer this in Iſaiah to Chriſts divine Nature and generation of God, and who can declare his Ganeration? that is, who can declare how the Father begot the Son, how Chriſt from all eternity ſhould be a Son: let that man ariſe, and ſet his gifts and graces a work to the uttermoſt as he can, and ſhew the Generation of Chriſt, his eternal generation; it is beyond the comprehenſion of men or Angels, therefore I ſay ſome Expoſitors refer it to that, and ſo, who can tell his Geneneration?
2 It may be referred to Chriſts days and years that he was for to live and continue, after his Incarnation, for he ſpeaks in this Chapter of Chriſt as man, and ſuffering, and ſaith he, here in the verſe, Who ſhall declare his Generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living; Who ſhall declare his Generation? That is, the continuance of his days and time; for they thought that when he was cut off, there had been an end of his daies; but there was not an end of Chriſts days, for though his humane nature were laid in the grave, yet there was a root under that, the Divine Nature, and he was raiſed again, and Chriſt he lives for ever. Heb. 7. and Rev. 1.18. I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore: —Who ſhall declare his Generation? Who ſhall declare the days and years that Chriſt now ſhall live, he lives for ever, he lives for evermore; who ſhall declare his Generation?
Or Thirdly, And that which I conceive to be more full yet, Who ſhall declare his Generation? that is, The off-ſpring that ſhall come of him; for we ſay this is the Generation of ſuch a man, theſe are his poſterity: Who ſhall declare his Generation? that is, Who ſhall declare his ſeed, his children, thoſe that ſhall be his; for the Lord Chriſt he hath a ſeed, Heb. 2.13. Behold I and the children which thou haſt given me, Chriſt had children, he had an Off ſpring, Iſa. 9.6. he is called the Everlaſting Father; becauſe he hath children, children in all ages, and in all Generations; and Chriſts Generation did exceed declaring; who ſhall declare his Generation? Act. 21.20. Thou ſeeſt, brother how many thouſands of Jews there are which beleeve: How many ten thouſands, as the word ſignifies in the original, many millions, and Rev. 7. There was ſealed out of every Tribe twelve thouſand, an hundred forty and four thouſand. —And in verſ. 9. After this I beheld, and loe a great multitude which no man could number of all nations, &c. So that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt he hath a Seed, he hath a Generation, a Poſterity that cannot be numbered; a Generation that cannot be declared how many they are; ſo that this hinders nothing, nor contradicts what is delivered here, That he is the Off-ſpring of David.
The words being thus opened, I ſhall draw forth ſome Concluſions from them.
Obſerv. The firſt Concluſion is this, That if Jeſus Chriſt be the Off-ſpring of David, then Chriſt was and is true man; and this is, or ought to be an Article of your Faith, To know the Lord Jeſus Chriſt to be true man. You know the Off-ſpring of any thing is of the ſame nature of the thing from whence it comes; The Off-ſet, or the Off-ſpring of the tree, is of the ſame nature with the tree; So now, if Chriſt be the off-ſpring of David, he muſt be of the ſame nature with David, elſe he could not be his Off-ſpring: If David therefore were a true man, had fleſh and blood, and ſpirit, and bones, ſo muſt the Lord Jeſus Chriſt be of the ſame nature with him.
Some have denied Chriſt to be Man, as well as ſome have denied him to be God, (and I may trouble you with the Authors, but I forbear that) I ſay, ſome have denied him to be man, but he was the Off-ſpring of David, and the Scripture is plain enough for it, Joh. 1.14. The word was made fleſh (Fleſh) and dwelt among us; And Heb. 2.14. Foraſmuch then, as the children are partakers of fleſh and blood, he alſo himſelf took part of the ſame, he was fleſh and blood as we are, and therefore he is called man, 1 Tim. 2.5. There is one Mediator between God and man, the Man Chriſt Jeſus.—He was ſubject to the ſame infirmities that we are, (I do not mean ſinfull infirmities, but natural infirmities) ſubject to the ſame temptations: he was ſubject to hunger, and thirſt, …old, and heat, to wearineſs, and ſleep (and the like.) He was true Man, not a man imaginary or notional, but a real true Man; Hence ſaith Chriſt in Luk. 24. when they ſaid, behold a Spirit, no ſaith he, touch me, handle me, I have fleſh, I have bones, which is more than any ſpirit hath. And it was neceſſary that Chriſt ſhould be true Man (not to trouble you with all the Arguments that might be given you upon that account, but) upon theſe two grounds.
Firſt, That he might have the right of redemption; Man was fallen, and man needed a Redeemer, and had not Chriſt been man, he had not had the right of Redemption, Lev. 25.25: If thy Brother be waxen poor, and hath ſold away ſome of his poſſeſſion, and if any of his Kin come to redeem it, then ſhall he redeem that which his Brother hath ſold, &c. Well, we had loſt our poſſeſſion, loſt our ſelves, and now if we have any Brother that can come to redeem us, it is his right, but we had none, and were not able to redeem our ſelves; we had no friend, no brother that could do it for us, onelyonly Jeſus Chriſt comes, and becomes Man, takes fleſh of our fleſh, and bone of our bone, and ſo the right of redemption belonged to him, and therefore he was man, that he might have the right of Redemption.
Secondly, Chriſt muſt needs be true man, that ſo he might be capable of dying for us, of conquering our enemies, of ſatisfying the Law and Juſtice, and obtaining ſuch mercies as we ſtood in need of; it was needful hee ſhould bee man, that ſo hee might be capable of death, &c. Heb. 2.14. For as much then as the Children are partakers of fleſh and bloud, he alſo himſelf likewiſe took part of the ſame, that through death hee might deſtroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil. Had not Chriſt been true Man he could not have dyed, and had not he dyed, he could not have deſtroyed him that had the power of Death, the Devil; but ſaith he, He was partaker of fleſh and bloud, that through death hee might deſtroy him that had the power of death; that is, the Devil. So that Chriſt muſt needs be true Man that he might dye, and deſtroy the Devil, who had the power of death.
And he muſt needs be true Man and dye, that ſo he might ſatisfie the Law and Juſtice of God. In the day that thou eateſt thou ſhalt dye the death; thou thy ſelf, or thy Surety for thee, now one of the ſame nature muſt dye. The Law being broken by Man. Man muſt dye to ſatisfie the Law, and to ſatisfie Juſtice, and man muſt dye to obtain remiſſion of ſin, Heb. 9.22. Without ſhedding of bloud there is no remiſſion. Had not Chriſt been true Man, and had bloud in him as we have, and that bloud ſhed too, there had been no remiſſion of ſins, no purchaſing of an inheritance for us, as in verſ. 12. Neither by the bloud of Goats and Calves, but by his own bloud he entred in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal Redemption for us; ſo that it was neceſſary Chriſt ſhould be of the Off-ſpring of David, true Man, that hee might deſtroy Death, ſatisfie Law and Juſtice, and obtain Remiſſion and eternal Redemption for us.
Vſe. Now this ſerves for our comfort, and for our comfort two ways.
Firſt, That Chriſt being true Man is ſenſible of our miſeries, of our in…rmities, of our weakneſſes, and of our temptations; had he not been Man, he had not known what weakneſs means, what hunger and thirſt means, what death and temptations mean, but being true Man, the Off-ſpring of David, he knew as well as David, or any that were of the ſeed of David; hee knew what infirmities and weakneſs meant, Heb. 2.17. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to bee made like unto his Brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Prieſt, & ver. 18. For in that he himſelf hath ſuffered, being tempted, he is able to ſuccour them that are tempted. The Lord Chriſt is ſenſible of our infirmities, when therefore Saul did perſecute the Church of God; ſaith he, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me? I am of their fleſh, and of their bloud, and of their Nature, and I feel the blows that they have; This now is ſtrong conſolation to us, that the Lord Jeſus, the Off-ſpring of David, ſits in Heaven, and is ſenſible of our temptations, of our weakneſſes, and frailties.
2 It is matter of comfort to us in regard of this, That we may with boldneſs and confidence now go to God having Chriſt who is of our Nature ſtanding between God and us, Heb. 4.15. Wee have not an High Prieſt which cannot bee touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as wee are, yet without ſin; Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and finde grace to help in time of need. Do you need Grace and Mercy? Do you need pardon of Sin, and Grace againſt Corruption? then you may go with boldneſs to the Throne of Grace; why Chriſt is at the Throne of Grace, Chriſt who is the Off-ſpring of David, Chriſt who is of your Nature, Chriſt who is ſenſible of your wants, he is there; go and tell the Lord Jeſus what Temptations you have, what Corruptions you have, what guilt you finde, what weakneſſes you finde in you; go and tell the Lord Jeſus, and deſire him to commend it to the Father, and he will do it for you.
2 The next Concluſion here is, If Chriſt be of the Race of David, that the Lord Jeſus is no mean Perſon, but a very honourable Perſon, and well deſcended, he is the Off-ſpring of David, of David a Prophet, of David a King of Iſrael, of David the beloved of God, of David, an eminent Perſon in Iſrael; Chriſt is well born, and well deſcended, he is of the Bloud Royal; Mat. 2. Where is he that is born King of Iſrael, hee deſcended from Kings, from the greateſt that the Scripture mentions. It was Solomons honour to be the Son of David, and it is the honour of Chriſt to be the Son of David; Behold, a greater than Solomon is here — And there be two expreſſions upon this very account which do help to ſet out the Lord Chriſt, that he is a perſon honourable indeed.
The one is, That he is called the Branch; ſo in Iſa. and Jerem. and Zach. hee is called the Branch, that is, the branch out of this Root, the branch of David, an eminent and glorious branch, Jer. 33.15. In thoſe days, and at that time will I cauſe the branch of righteouſneſs to grow up unto David, and hee ſhall execute Judgement and Righteouſneſs in the Land; David he is the Root, out of that Root ſhall come the Off-ſpring, Chriſt, the Branch of Righeouſneſs, the righteous Branch, or the Branch that acts and works Righteouſneſs, that executes Judgement and Juſtice, a Branch that yeelds the beſt Fruit that ever the World had; a Branch of Righteouſneſs, and ſuch a Branch, as in Iſa. 4.2. In that day ſhall the Branch of the Lord bee beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth ſhall be excellent and comely. This is the Branch of David, and is called, The Branch of the Lord, and this Branch ſhall be beautiful and glorious, beautiful and glorious all the World over, and the fruit of the Earth ſhall bee excellent and comely: O here is a Branch of Righteouſneſs, here is a Branch out of a Root, the Lord Chriſt out of the Root of Jeſſe, the Root of David, that ſhall yeeld fruit which ſhall be excellent all the World over.
The other expreſſion is that in Ezeck. 24.29. where he is called, The Plant of renown. This Branch, this Plant, this Off-ſpring of David, is the Plant of renown. There have been many renowned Plants in the World, Abraham was a renowned Plant in his days, ſo Joſhua, Moſes, and the Prophets were renowned Plants, and divers of the Kings of Judah were renowned Plants alſo. But Chriſt is the Plant of renown emphatically; this Plant hath done renowned things indeed, this is the Plant that is to bee honoured above all the Plants that ever were in the World, he hath done ſuch things as never any did; this is he that took away the ſin of the world, Joh. 1.29. This is he that did break down the partition wall between Jew and Gentile, and reconciled Jew and Gentile, Epheſ. 2.11, 12, 13, 14. This is he that laid the foundation of the Chriſtian Church, and built up that, Zech. 6.12. And ſpeak unto him, ſaying, Behold, thus ſpeaketh the Lord of Hoſts, ſaying, behold the man whoſe name is the Branch, and hee ſhall grow up ou… of his place, and he ſhall build the Temple of the Lord: It is the Branch, the Branch, the Plant of renown, the Lord Jeſus, the Off-ſpring of David, that ſhall build the Chriſtian Church — This is he that brought in everlaſting righteouſneſs, Dan. 9.22. to bring in everlaſting righteouſneſs, and to ſeal up the Viſion — this is the Plant that yeelds ſuch fruit as this, as to ſend the Comforter, Joh. 16.7. this is he that did ſuch Works as never any did before him, Joh. 15.24. ſo that the Lord Chriſt he is no mean perſon, he is the Off-ſpring of David, the Branch of Righteouſneſs, the Plant of Renown.
Vſe. This ſerves in the firſt place to take off the offence and prejudice which lies in the hearts of many againſt Chriſt in regard of his meaneneſs, in regard of his poverty: in regard of his being accounted the Carpenters Son, a Fellow, and a vulgar Perſon, and in that he was reckoned among Malefactors, and put to an open ſhameful Death; many ſtumble at theſe things! the Jews ſtumble, and the Turks ſtumble, and ſay, Our Saviour was a poor contemptible man, and the like; but this may take off all the prejudice and ſcandal that ariſes thence, he was the Son of David, the Branch of renown, hee that did ſuch things as never man did, Matth. 11. ſaith Chriſt, Bleſſed is he that is not offended at me, why I am a poor Man, that have not two Coates, that have not a houſe to hide my head in, that have not bread to eat (and the like) and bleſſed is he that is not offended at me, that ſtumbles not at my meanneſs, nor at the ſcandals and reproaches that are taken at me; O bleſſed is he that is not offended at me, but can look through theſe, and can ſee me to be the Off-ſpring of David, the Plant of Renown, the Branch of Righteouſneſs, that can ſee me to be all in all.
2 This may ſerve to ſtrengthen our faith; many did reject David, 1 Sam. 22.7. Then Saul ſaid unto his Servants that ſtood about him, here now yee Benjamites, will the Son of Jeſſe give every one of you Fields and Vineyards? &c. he rejects the Son of Jeſſe, that is, David himſelf, what hath this poor fellow ſuch and ſuch things to give you, he is but the Son of Jeſſe? So many reject Jeſus the Son of David, and ſay, Why what hath this poor Jeſus to give you, he was but the Carpenters Son? but this ſerves to ſtrengthen our faith, Wee know, ſaith Paul, in whom we have beleeved; we have beleeved in him who is the Off-ſpring of David, the Plant of renown, the Branch of renown, that took away the ſin of the World, that ſends the Comforter, that can do greater things for us than we can ask, or think; we beleeve in him who is an honourable Perſon, deſcended from the beſt Bloud that ever was, we beleeve in him.
3 This ſhould ſerve to raiſe up our hearts to a higher eſteem of the Lord Jeſus; Kings Sons are regarded and obſerved by all the people; the Lord Jeſus was a Kings Son, the Son of David, I, and the Son of God too, therefore we ſhould have high and honourable thoughts of the Lord Jeſus, 1 Pet. 2.7. To you that beleeve hee is precious, precious in your thoughts, precious in your deſires; a beleeving Soul ſees what an honourable Perſon Chriſt is, Carnal eyes do not ſee, but Spiritual eyes do ſee this Off-ſpring of David, they ſee what a Plant he is, what a Branch he is — And it ſhould make men and women deſirous to come in to Chriſt, and cloſe with Chriſt. Women deſire honourable Matches, and rich Matches, and ſhall not our Souls now cloſe with Chriſt, who is the beſt Match? the Off-ſpring of David, the Heir of the World, the Heir of Heaven; O therefore let your deſires be towards Chriſt, and cloſe with the Lord Jeſus, and honour him in your thoughts, and exalt him in your hearts, and lift him up higher and higher every day: for there is none like unto him.
4 Laſtly, This may ſerve to let us ſee, what ſervice and ſubjection is due unto Jeſus Chriſt; hee is the Off-ſpring of David, hee is the Root of David, he is God, and he is true Man, and he is of the moſt eminent of men in the World, therefore all ſervice and ſubjection is due unto him, Pſal. 2. Kiſs the Son leſt he b…e angry, and yee periſh from the mid way. O kiſs him, and ſubject unto him, kiſs him and ſerve him, kiſs him and obey him, manifeſt your reſpects unto him every way; the meaning here is, Kiſs the Son, and ſerve him, ſerve him with your Souls, with your Bodies, he hath the right of Redemption, O therefore ſerve him.
The next Concluſion to be drawn from theſe words is this, If Chriſt bee the Root and Off-ſpring of David, then whatſoever the Scripture faith upon this account, and conſideration, muſt be made good; and there are two Scriptures worthy your ſerious and beſt conſideration —
The firſt is, in Jer. 23.5. Behold, the days come ſaith the Lord, that I will raiſe unto David a righteous branch, and a King ſhall reign and proſper, and ſhall execute Juſtice and Judgement in the earth. Hear what the Scripture ſaith of the Off-ſpring of David, he ſhall be a King, and ſhall proſper, and he ſhall execute Juſtice and Judgement in the earth. — The other Scripture is in Luk. 1.29. He ſhall be Great, and ſhall be called the Son of the Higheſt, and the Lord ſhall give unto him the Throne of his Father David. Whether ever Chriſt yet had theſe Scriptures made good unto him is worth your ſerious conſideration; was Chriſt ever yet ſet upon the Throne of David, according to theſe words? When Chriſt was here, it was in a ſtate of Humiliation, he came not to be miniſtred unto, but to miniſter unto others, and he did waſh his Diſciples feet, he was in a ſtate of humiliation; doth it not remain then that theſe Scriptures ſhould be made good? It is true, Chriſt hath a Throne in Heaven, but that is not Davids Throne, that is the Throne of God, but he ſhall ſit upon his Father Davids Throne. And ſurely there is ſomething in that, Rev. 19.11. And I ſaw heaven opened, and behold a white Horſe, and he that ſate upon him was called faithful and true, and in righteouſneſs he doth judge and make Warre, his eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many Crowns, and hee had a name written that no man knew but himſelf, and he was cloathed in a veſture dipt in bloud, and his name was called the Word of God; who was this but Chriſt? And the Armies which were in Heaven followed him upon white Horſes, cloathed in fine Linnen, white and clean, and out of his mouth goeth a ſharp Sword, that with it he ſhould ſmite the Nations, and he ſhall rule them with a rod of Iron, and he treadeth the Wine-preſs of the fiercèneſs and wrath of Almighty God, &c. Whether this bee yet fulfilled take into your ſerious conſideration; and this concluſion, that Chriſt the Off-ſpring of David muſt reign, and ſit upon the Throne or David, ſerves for two ſpeciall things.
Firſt For preparation.
Secondly, For expectation.
Firſt for Preparation, That people ſhould prepare and ſit themſelves againſt the coming of Chriſt, ſo Revel. 19.7. Let us be glad and rejoyce, and give honour to him, for the Marriage of the Lamb is come, and his Wife hath made her ſelf ready. This was in Viſion, now it muſt be made good in reality; let every Soul prepare and make themſelves ready for the coming of the Lord Jeſus; you know a Bride doth trim and deck up her ſelf, and put on her ornaments, and make her ſelf as lovely and amiable as poſſibly the can; ſo ſhould every Soul purge away ſin, and deck up themſelves with the Graces of Gods Spirit, and walk righteouſly and holily, and unblamably, and ſo make themſelves ready for Chriſt.
The Second is for Expectation, ſaith Chriſt, I am the Root, and the Off-ſpring of David; and what follows in the next words? And the Spirit, and the Bride ſaith, come and let him that heareth, ſay, come, &c. preſently ther… is an expectation raiſed; Chriſt ſpeaks theſe words to raiſe the expectations of all that ſhould live after this Book, to expect his coming, I am the root of Jeſſe, the root of David, and the Off-ſpring of David, I have upheld David, and he hath had a Kingdom, and I am his Son, and I muſt come, and I muſt ſit upon his Throne, and I muſt reign.
The next Concluſion is this, That the knowledge of Chriſt under theſe Notions, or expreſſions here, is of great concernment.—This is the laſt Declaration that ever the Lord Jeſus made of himſelf here in the world, and what ſaith he? I am the root, and the off-ſpring of David; and ſo leaves it unto the World to conſider of. This is of great concernment to conſider Chriſt under theſe Notions — now to make it out in two or three particulars —
1 Here is held out unto us the two Natures of Chriſt, his God-head his Divine Nature, and his Human Nature, the Divine Nature, I am the root of David, his Human nature, The off-ſpring of David, and withall a great Myſtery; for mark, I am the root of David, and the Off-ſpring of David, and David lyes between both: So here, Chriſts Human nature in the Off-ſpring, the Divine nature in the root, and Chriſt Mediator lyes between both; for there muſt be a concurrence of Divine and Human nature to imperſonate Chriſt to be a Mediator; which here is held out unto the World, in the laſt Declaration of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, I am God, and I uphold you, I uphold David and his Kingdom, and I am the Off-ſpring of David, I am ſenſible of any thing is done to my Church and People, and I am Mediator, and will mediate with my Father for vengeance on thoſe ſhal wrong them, and for aſſiſtance of all thoſe he hath given unto me.
2 Herein many Scriptures are fulfilled, I am the root and Off-ſpring of David; and ſo wee may ſee the truth, reality, and certainty of Scripture, Joh. 4.7. Hath not the Scripture ſaid, that Chriſt cometh of the Seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? The Scripture hath ſaid it, and ſaid it often in thoſe places I named, 2 Sam. 7. Pſal. 89. & 132.11. and in Acts 2.30. hee ſeeing this before, ſpake of the Reſurrection of Chriſt; now theſe and many other places, Mat. 2.5. Mich. 5.2. All theſe places are fulfilled in this word, I am the Off ſpring of David; Chriſt bears witneſs here to the end of the world, that the Scriptures are fulfilled and made good, and that the Scripture is certain and true, and you may build upon it, for in him all Scriptures are fulfilled; therefore let none pull away the Scriptures from you, let none adde or diminiſh, but look to the Scriptures, build upon them, for I am the Sum of them, and in me they are accompliſht, I am the Off-ſpring of David.
3 The knowledge of Chriſt under this Notion is of great concernment, in that here you may ſee in what near relation the Lord Chriſt ſtands in unto all Saints, and unto all Beleevers, he is the Off-ſpring of David, then he muſt needs be a King, he muſt needs be brother to all the Seed of David; for as it was ſaid of Abraham being the Father of Chriſt, that he was the Father of all the faithful; ſo is it implyed of David, being the Father of Chriſt, he is the Father of all the faithful; and David hath a numerous ſeed, Jer, 33.22. As the Hoſt of Heaven cannot be numbred, neither the ſand of the Sea meaſured, ſo will I multiply the ſeed of David my Servant. This hath reference to what God promiſed Abraham, That he would multiply his Seed as the ſand of the Sea; David hath a numerous Seed, I do not mean his ſeed in the Fleſh, but his ſeed in the Spirit; godly Beleevers are the Seed of David, and ſo they are the Kindred of Chriſt, and Chriſt is Brother to them all— And will you ſee yet a more full place? Hebr. 2.11, 12. For both he that ſanctifieth, and they who are Sanctified are both of one, for which cauſe he is not aſhamed to call them Brethren, ſaying, I will declare thy name unto my Brethren, in the midst of the Church will I ſing praiſe unto thee; They are all of one, of one God, ſay ſome, of one Abraham ſay others: and why not of one David? for this Scripture refers to David in the next Verſe, and both Chriſt was of David, and all that are ſanctified are the ſeed of David, for ſaith he, I will declare thy name unto my Brethren; now in Pſal. 22. wherein David was a type of them, verſ. 22. I will decleare thy name unto my brethren, in the midſt of the Congregation, ſo that both Chriſt who ſanctifies, and thoſe who are ſanctified, are of one, of one God, of one Abraham, of one David, and of one Chriſt too, and Chriſt is their Brother, and ſo there is a near relation between Chriſt and the ſeed of David, ſo that every godly one may ſay, Chriſt is my Brother, and God is my Father; and this is ſtrong conſolation to the hearts of men and women. We may have one Concluſion more from the words, and that is this — That the Lord doth honour the memory of the righteous, the righteous and godly are not forgotten of God, but they are in honour with God, and Chriſt, I am the Off-ſpring of David, ſaith he: Chriſt makes honourable mention here of David, ſo in Acts 13. there David is brought in with honourable mention, ſo that you ſee fulfilled what is written, Pſal. 112.6. The righteous ſhall bee in everlaſting remembrance; David is in everlaſting remembrance, and ſo all righteous perſons ſhall be had in everlaſting remembrance, and Prov. 10.6. The memory of the juſt is bleſſed, but the name of the wicked ſhall rot. Davids name here was bleſſed, Chriſt honours it, I am the Off-ſpring of David; and the name of the wicked rots, if they be mentioned it is with diſgrace; Jeroboam that made Iſrael to ſin, his name ſtinks; Iudas Iſcariot, Judas that betrayed Chriſt; ſo wicked men, though they may ſet up their Monuments, and have their Tombs, as they are moſt forward uſually that way, their names ſtink, rot, and decay, but the name of the righteous ſhall be had in everlaſting remembrance.