An Antidote Against the Quakers, Part 2
Here followeth the Properties of this Manhood of Chriſt, from what hath been ſpoken, and what may be ſpoke.
1. IT is a real and true Body, as any man on earth hath; It is not, as ſome have thought, an Aerial Body, or ſo a Spiritual, that it remains not ſtill a humane Body, it is that very Fleſh and Bons that Thomas felt, and the Diſciples felt and handled.
2. It hath the ſame Form and Figure that it had when here upon Earth, elſe how could the Diſciples know him after the Reſurrection, which is a glorious ſtate of the Body.
3. It is now ſince the Aſcenſion the Object of Senſe; It is viſible, hath been ſeen with the bodily Eye, and may be ſeen; Stephen, its evident, ſaw the Body of Chriſt; and Paul ſaw him with his bodily Eye, 1 Chr. 15.18. Laſt of all, I ſaw him, and at length, Every eye ſhall ſee him, coming in the Clouds of Heaven, Rev. 1.7.
4. It is a ſmite body, if it were infinite it would be God and not Man, ſo then, there would be another God, in time, that was not before, becauſe another infinite being, and that muſt needs be God. Moreover, if Infinity can be attributed to it, why not Omniſciency, Incorporiety, Simplicity, and ſo all of Gods Attributes; for where any one of Gods Incommunicable Properties is aſcribed, there all the reſt may be.
5. It is then circumſcribed, it muſt be ſtill in ſome one certain Place or other, not limited or confined to any one Place or corner (as it were) of Heaven, but ſtill in one place or other in the higheſt Heavens. If Bodies are not ſome where circumſcribed, they ceaſe to be Bodies, and ſo are no where, and ſo not at all.
6. It is an immortal, an incorruptible, impatable Body; Such thoughts we ought to have of it, not that it can ſuffer any thing now, but that it did ſuffer, and ſo Chriſt knows how to pitty us, and doth pitty us, neither Death nor Corruption can come upon this Body, it ſaw Death before, but no Corruption.
7. It is a very glorious Body, Phil. 3. Like unto his glorious Body. How gloriouſly it is repreſented and painted out to us by Daniel and John in the Revelations, more bright than a thouſand Suns.
8. The Saints may do, and ought to worſhip the Humane Nature of Chriſt in union with the Deity, we do not worſhip it by it ſelf apart, nor for it ſelf, but as in union with the Deity, this is the laſt term of our Worſhip, with one and the, ſame Worſhip we worſhip him that is God and Man; but the cauſe and foundation of that Worſhip is the Deity; He received worſhip from ſeveral, when he was here on the Earth in the Fleſh; John worſhiped him in the Viſions he had as appears in the Book, of the Revelations, and there we read likewiſe, that the Angels and Elders round about the Throne, fell down and worſhipped the Lamb, that was Chriſt.
9. This Fleſh of Chriſt this Humane Nature is ſuch as giveth Life to our Souls, in quickening of us to Righteouſneſs, to our Bodies in the Reſurrection State, to Souls and Bodies Eternal Life at laſt in Heaven. Except you eat my Fleſh and drink my Blood, ſaith Chriſt, John 6.53. you have no Life in you. Likewiſe the Scripture ſaith, Our Life is hid, with Chriſt, in God. Now how is the Fleſh of Chriſt a Life procuring Fleſh?
1. As the material Cauſe of Life; Sin the Cauſe of temporal, ſpiritual, and eternal Death, was expiated in the Fleſh of Chriſt, Rom. 8.3. And for ſin condemned ſin in the Fleſh: By the offering of the Fleſh of Chriſt ſin was taken away; ſo that Righteouſneſs and Eternal Life, we may ſay, was, and is in the fleſh of Chriſt, i. e. in a way of merit; it is quickning Fleſh.
2. It is quickning Fleſh as it is ſecondarily an efficient Cauſe of Life, Chriſt as Man doth concur to the quickning of his Members, us he is a Man he giveth forth of his Treaſures and ſpiritual Riches, and this Life is a great part of theſe Traaſures and Riches; But now there is a different Action in this efficiency of the Fleſh of Chriſt, and a different way of working, then when we are ſaid to be quickned by the Deity, Chriſt as Man, now he is in Heaven, quickneth efficiently.
Firſt, by his Interceſſion, the virtue of his Sacrifice pleads for this, and obtains this Life for us.
Secondly, Becauſe he hath a Will as he is Man, that we ſhould be quickned.
Thirdly, As he obtaines the Spirit by which we are Regenerated, and Faith by which we are united to that Feſh of his.
Fourthly, When we are thus … to us his Fleſh, and what is in that Fleſh … and Eternal Life. Thus we are quickned by the Fleſh of Chriſt, it is the Organ of the Deity, but ſo, as it is an underſtanding living Organ of the Eternal Word, in … ther…: and it hath or proper actions of own, … Actions of the Deity: Yet it is the Actions of the Deity that perfects all good for us and in us. The Actions of the Humanity compleat nothing without this: There muſt be Blood, and there was Blood, there is the Humanity, but then this Blood is the Blood of God, Act. 20.28. that gives the virtue and energy to it: thus the Fleſh in John 6.63. profiteth nothing, (i.e.) alone, but in Conjunction with the Deity, we have all Life from it.
Objections againſt this Truth Anſwered.
1. Object. The Apoſtle faith, Epheſ. 4.10. That be aſcended far about all Heavens: Therefore Chriſt is not in Heaven in his Manhood.
Anſw. Therefore Chriſt as to his Manhood is not in any of theſe Viſible Heavens for he paſſed through theſe, and went into that inviſible moſt ſupream Heaven, the Heaven of Heavens, as it is called, far above the other Heavens. Pſal. 68. It is ſaid, He aſcended on high, which interprets this place, or far above all Heavens (i. e.) all heavenly Powers, all Angelical Nature and Perfection, he is above them all.
2. Object. It's ſaid, in Epheſ. 4.10. That he might fill all things. How then is he contained in Heaven; if ſo he then is every where, and, as ſome Jay, in every man.
Anſwer. This filling all things is either his giving gifts to his Church, He is ſpeaking of this in the 8th. verſe, When he aſcended, be gave gifts to men: it is ſpoke ſo generally here and univerſally [all things] becauſe the Gentiles as well as Jews were now of the Church, and all filled with gifts from Chriſt in Heaven.
Otherwiſe I anſwer thus fulfilled all things, for ſo the word will bear, he fulfilled all things that were written of him, and that were required of him to do.
3. Object, Chriſt ſaid to his Diſciples, Matth. 28.20. I am with you alway, … the end of the World, How then can he be in Heaven?
Anſw. This he ſpeaks in reference to the preſence of the Spirit in the hearts of his People working in their Souls, and giving gifts to his Miniſter, by this Spirit, and ſucceeding them in their Labours with his bleſſing but it cannot be ſpoke of his humanity, for of that he had ſaid, Me you have not alwayes. And in another place, Do this till I come: which implyes his bodily abſence.
4. Object. It's ſaid, 1 Cor. 15. Fleſh and Blood cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; Therefore Chriſt is not there as to his Manbood.
Anſw. Fleſh and Flood unchanged, and ſo mortal, corruptible cannot, but changed, and ſo immortal, incorruptible, may and can; and ſo was Chriſts Fleſh upon his Reſurrection, and ſo he entred into Glory. The Qualities are changed, but the very ſame Subſtance remains.
5. Object. It is ſaid by Chriſt, when here on Earth, John 3.13. The Son of Man, which is in Heaven: By this it appears that Chriſt was in Heaven when on Earth, and ſo every where when on Earth, and ſo now.
Anſw. This is ſpoken by a communication of Properties: that which is only proper to one Nature, is ſpoken of the other Nature: He was not in Heaven as to his Body, it is only true as to his Deity; but he attributes Omnipreſence to his whole Perſon by this figurative way of ſpeech, as that, Acts 20. The Church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his own Blood. How can Blood be attributed to God but by this way of ſpeaking? So likewiſe, 1 Cor. 2.8. Crucified the [Lord of Glory,] is ſpoken in the ſame way.
Reaſons of this, viz. Christ being now a Man in Heaven.
Reaſon 1.
If Chriſt be not now a Man in Heaven, then there is no Interceſſion for us, and ſo there is no Mediator; Chriſt is Mediator and Interceſſor according to his Humane Nature, as well as his Divine Nature, take away the Humane Nature, and he ceaſes to be an Interceſſor. Under the Law they had an High-Prieſt, that was a Man like themſelves, who when he had offered the Sacrifice for the Sins of the People, went into the Holy Place with the Blood, to appear there in their behalf, this was a Figure of Chriſt's Prieſthood, therefore the Apoſtle ſpeaks thus in Heb. 9.24. For Chriſt is not entered into the Holy Places made with hands, which are the Figures of the true, but into [Heaven it ſelf] now to appear in the preſence of God for us. Now (as I ſaid) this Interceſſion is quite nulled, if no Humanity remain'd, ſo that all the Saints remain ſtill full of Wants, Weallneſſes, Fallings, Infirmities, and there is none to Advocate for them, but they muſt Plead for themſelves, and how can we of our ſelves draw near to ſuch an Infinitely Glorious Majeſty, and have not a Mid… all our Prayers would be loſt, and we ſhould be utterly … up. Let it then be …, how ſad a thing it would be to the Higheſt Ground of a Chriſtians Triumph, which is this, viz. That Chriſt rather fits on the right hand of God; That there is none now to bear our Names before the Father, as the High-Prieſt under the Law bare all the Names of the Tribes upon his Breaſt. The Faith of this hath been, and is daily ſweet unto the Saints, and therefore the Church is brought in Praying, Set me as a Seal upon thy Heart, as a Seal upon thine Arm, Cant. 8.6.
Reaſon 2.
If Chriſt be not a Man now in Heaven, then is there no entring into Glory and Heaven for any; as there was upon the Fall of Man a Church placed with a Flaming Sword at the Gate of Paradiſe ſo that there was no entring any more for Man. Why ſo? by reaſon of the Sin of Man there was no entring into Glory, becauſe of God's Flaming Juſtice, had not the Man Chriſt entred in and made way for us, all that ever entred into Glory entred by Virtue of Chriſt's entring as Man. John 14.2. I go to prepare a Place for you: his going thither did prepare the Place for us. Heb. 10.19. Having therefore, Brethren, boldneſs to enter into the Holieſt, by the Blood of Jeſus. Ver. 20. By a new and living way, which he hath conſecrated for us, through the Vail of his Fleſh. The People under the Law were not to enter into the Holieſt, only the High-Prieſts alone by the Blood. Chriſt our High-Prieſt hath now entred into Heaven by his Blood, and hath thereby made us a Royal Prieſthood, ſo that now we may enter into Glory, therefore are we ſaid. Epheſ. 2. to be ſet down with him in Heavenly Places. He being our Head, and having entered, we being united are entered alſo: In him we have a pledge and firſt Fruits of Glory; but if he be not entered as Man, we have no hopes of Glory.
Reaſon 3.
If Chriſt be not a Man in Heaven, then is not the Spirit, not any Gifts thereof upon any, What ever is of the Spirit upon any, it is by virtue of Chriſt as Man entering into Glory. That pouring out of the Spirit that we read of in the ſecond of the Acts, was by virtue of Chriſts Aſcending into Heaven in his Manhood, Verſe 33. Therefore being at the Right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the Promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, he hath ſhed forth this which ye now ſee and hear. As Chriſt is Man, and ſo Mediator, all things come firſt into his ha… … from him to us; therefore he hath received and ſhed forth this. The Prophets and Saints had the Spirit before his Aſcenſion, but they had it by Virtue of this his Aſcenſion; therefore when it is ſaid, The Spirit was not yet given, becauſe he was not yet glorified, John 7.39. It ſpeaks of a more plentiful beffoſion of the Spirit, this plentiful effuſion was reſerved till this time of his Aſcenſion, to ſeal up the fruits of his Death and Reſurrection. All the Gifts for the Inſtruction and Edification of the Church comes this way, viz. by virtue of Chriſt's Aſcenſion as Man into Heaven. Epheſ. 4.8. Wherefore he ſaith, when he aſcended up on high, he led Captivity Captive, and gave Gifts unto men. Which is taken from Pſal. 68.18. There it is, he received Gifts: He received them not for himſelf, but on purpoſe to give them to his Church, as Kings on their Coronation dayes beſtow gifts upon their Subjects, ſo here, this was reſerved till now for the honour of Chriſt: Therefore Verſe 10. it's ſaid, He aſcended that be might fill all things (i.e.) all the Church with the power and virtue of the Spirit. Therefore he ſaid upon his departure, It is expedient that I go away: if I go not away, the Comforter will not come with you: but if I depart I will ſend him unto you, John 16.7. You ſee, to deny Chriſt to be a Man in Heaven is to rob the Church of the great Gift of the Spirit of God it ſelf, and all the Gifts thereof.
Reaſon 4.
To deny Chriſt to be now a Man in Heaven, it is to deny Chriſt to be King and Lords it is to deny Chriſt's Rule, Power, Authority and Dominion. Pſal. 110. Sit thou at my Righthand, (this muſt be ſpoke as to Chriſt's Man-hood, as to his God-head, he had alway Majeſty and Power) it follows, till I make thine Enemies thy foot-ſtool. This ſitting at Gods Right-hand is called reigning, 2 Cor. 15. He muſt reign till all his Enemies become his Foot-ſtool. It's ſpoke of in Epheſ. 1.20. And ſet him at his own right-hand (that muſt be as to his Man-hood) far above all Principalities, and Powers, and Might, and Dominion, and every Name that is named, not only in this World, but in that which is to come. Verſ. 21. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be Head over all things to the Church. Phil. 2. Hath highly exalted him: This muſt be as Man: And given him a Name above every name, that at the Name of Jeſus every knee ſhould bow. So in this place of Peter, He is gone into the Heavent, and is at the Right Hand of God: Angels, Authorities and Powers being made ſubject to him. It is very comfortable for the Saints to conſider, that Chriſt is exalted on purpoſe to ſit as King, to Rule over all the Enemies of the Church, Death and Devils, for their good: gathering his Saints by degrees to himſelf, and that at length all the Governments of this World will be ſubſervient to him; Acts 2.36. God hath made that ſame Jeſus both Lord and Chriſt. You may ſee by the ſcope, he was thus upon his Aſcenſion, in verſ. 34. Chriſt was Lord before, but now was there a clearer manifeſtation of it, his Manhood being exalted: now from hence is our defence and ſafety in our Warfare.
Reaſon 5.
It is to deny Chriſt Jeſus his ſecond coming, and being Judge of the World, Acts 17.31. Becauſe he bath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in righteouſneſs, by that [Man] whom he hath ordained: wherefore he hath given aſſurance unto all men, in that he hath raiſed him from the Dead. He hath ordained the Man Chriſt to be Judge, and that Man that was raiſed from the dead. Acts 1.11. It's there ſaid, This ſame Jeſus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, ſhall ſo come in like manner as ye have ſeen him go into Heaven: Now he went away Viſibly, ſo he ſhall come. Therefore Rev. 1. Every eye ſhall ſee him (i. e.) every eye of Man: He cannot be ſeen with a Carnal Eye, as to his Deity, and the wicked cannot ſee him with a ſpiritual Eye: How then ſhall every Eye ſee him but in the ſence we ſpeak? Heb. 9. Ʋlt. So Chriſt was once offered to bear the ſins of many: And unto them that look for him, ſhall [he appear the ſecond time] without fin, to ſalvation. Obſerve, he that was offered will appear. Now he was offered as to his Man-hood: Matth. 24. They ſhall ſee [the Son of Man] coming in the Clouds of Heaven. Iſa. 40.5. All [fleſh] ſhall ſee his Glory: Now this is ſweet to the Saints to conſider that we ſhall be judged by Chriſt our Saviour.
Reaſon 6.
If Chriſt hath not now a Humane Nature, then hath he no Sympathy with his Members in their Afflictions; But Chriſt hath a fellow-feeling with his People in all their ſtraits. Heb. 4.15. For we have not an High Prieſt which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without ſin. He had all our Infirmities when here upon Earth, Hunger, Thirſt, Wearineſs, Sorrow, Fear and Dread of Death, but without Sin; and he had them for this end, that he might know how to pitty us in our State, he being now gone into Heaven, and having the ſame Soul and Body, in which he ſuffered, theſe things, he remembers how it was with him here upon Earth, therefore he gives the Reaſon of this Pitty and Compaſſion, becauſe he was in all points, foreign, in or through all, foreign, which Bez… renders ſimiliter; For, foreign like as we are. To the ſame purpoſe doth the ſame Apoſtle ſpeak, Chap. 2.17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Prieſt. If he hath not now a Humane Nature in Heaven, he doth not retain theſe two Eſſential Qualities of an High Prieſt, viz. Mercifulneſs and faithfulneſs. Now thoſe that deny this, would rob us of this ſweet Conſideration in our Afflictions, in our Poverty, Sorrows, Impriſonments, Hurries and Temptations by Satan: Why Chriſt was poor in this World, hurried up and down by the Devil, ſuffered the Contradictions of ſinners, abuſed by wicked Men, afraid of Death, in an Agony, forſaken of God, and is now gone into Heaven, in that ſame Humane Nature in which he felt theſe things, and remembers how it was with him, and hath a fellow-feeling with us, and pittieth us. Hence came that Voice of his from Heaven, when Saul was making Havock of the Church, Saul, Saul, Why perſecuteſt thou me?
Loſe not this Comfort.
Reaſon. 7.
The Conſideration of the Man-hood of Chriſt now in Heaven doth give a boldneſs and acceſs in Prayer. God hath rendred himſelf much more familiar to us this way. We are very apt to be ſwallowed up with the abſtracted thoughts of the Deity; we being poor ones, full of infirmities, know not how to bear the Majeſty and Glory of the Son of God: But now we draw near with boldneſs, and Pray with more ſweetneſs, where we know, that He to when we pray, is Man as well as God.
It was a great help and comfort to the Jews, that they had a Prieſt that was a Brother, one of themſelves, that was to Pray for them, and Offer for them, that was familiar with them, and they could have acceſs unto him. Now the Apoſtle having to do with them in this Epiſtle to the Hebrews, leſt they ſhould be confounded with the thoughts of the Majeſty of the Deity of the Son of God, having aſſerted that he was very God, and all the Angels worſhiped him; tells them withall, That he took Fleſh and Blood, and was a Brother, one of us, in the latter end of the ſecond Chapter. And thereupon in the laſt Verſe of Chap. 4. he encourageth them to go with boldneſs to the Throne of Grace; For we have not an High Prieſt, that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all things tempted like as we are, yet without ſin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need.
Luther hath often this Direction to praying ones, that are at a loſs how to go to God; Go to the Man Chriſt, and Pray to the Man Chriſt. And without doubt the Man Chriſt may be, and ſhould be, and is worſhiped in conjunction with the Deity, though our Worſhip is terminated upon the Deity.
Uſe 1.
If Chriſt is now a Man in Heaven, O let our Minds and Affections be raiſed thither from off the World, and all things therein, Col. 3.1. If you then be riſen with Chriſt, in Regeneration, as Members of the Head, ſeek thoſe things that are above, (Seeking denotes intenſneſs and vehemency of Mind) where Chriſt ſitteth on the Right-hand of God: Set your Affections on things Above, not on things on the Earth.
By things on the Earth, he chiefly means Ceremonies, Traditions of Men, Works of the Law, which he is pleading againſt, in the point of Juſtification. You may put in the Light within, or any other thing that any other Religion pleads for: They are all but things below on the Earth; but Chriſt is not there, He is Riſen and gone into Heaven, and is at the Right-hand of God, in Power, and Glory interceding. Our Hearts and Affections ſhould be there, all our happineſs being treaſured up in him; and while we are here, we ſhould be as Pilgrims and Strangers, longing to be with him; and till that time come, we ſhould be conforming our ſelves to him. Luke 12.34. For where your Treaſure is, there will your hearts be alſo. Now Chriſt is our Treaſure in the Heavens, infinitely full of Spiritual Riches. God is in Chriſt in Heaven; the fullneſs of the God-head dwells in him. Beſides this, as he is Man, the ſweeteſt man that ever was, full of Grace and Truth; O let us love him, adore him, truſt in him, long to be with him, for he is worthy; Let our mindes be taken off theſe poor, low nothings, not ſo much looking after them, and ſeting our affections on them. Chriſt is the beſt thing of all, other good things are for his ſake.
Paul therefore ſaid, He deſired to depart, and to be with Chriſt, which is beſt. To ſee him face to face, to behold his Glory, What on Earth comparable to this: let us look, and pray for power and virtue from him, to raiſe our minds and affections up unto him.
Uſe 2.
See what an Error of the Wicked it is, to deny this Truth, in which is wrapt up ſo much of the Comfort of the Saints. It is in a manner denying the whole Chriſtan Religion.
How can the Quakers be Chriſtians, that have ſaid in my hearing, That what was taken of the Virgin (and that was the Body) had now no more being? 2 Pet. 3.17, 18. Te therefore, beloved, ſeeing ye know theſe things before, beware, leſt ye alſo being led away with the Error of the Wicked, fall from your own ſtedfaſtneſs. But grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. To him be Glory, both now and for ever. Amen.