The Practical Believer, Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Of the Office, and Natures of Jesus Christ.
The Contents.
In what Salvation by Christ consists. Being Christ, notes his being, 1. A Prophet, to teach his Church. We must hear and learn of him in the Holy Scriptures; and at the mouths of his Ministers. 2. A Priest, to Redeem, and Intercede for it. 3. A King, to Govern it by his Laws. And by his Officers, whom we are to submit to in his place. Also to Protect it against all visible and invisible Enemies. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, as having receiv'd from the Father the Nature of God. And the Power of God. On both these Accounts, and others, he is our Lord. And to be worshipped. What we learn from his being our Lord. Of Christ's being Conceiv'd of the Holy Ghost, and Born of a Virgin. He was truly Man. And why he was so.
Quest. WHat is the Second Article of the Creed?
Answ. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
Quest. Jesus signifies a Saviour, from what doth Christ save us?
Answ. From two things. 1. Our sins. 2. Those eternal Torments, which are the Punishment of them.
Quest. If he prove a Saviour to us, must he Reform, and save us from our sins?
Answ. Yes; for this is the main Reason, why that Name was given him. Thou shalt call his Name Jesus, for he shall save his People from their sins, Mat. 1. 21.
Quest. Will he save none from the Punishment, but whom he saves from the sins first?
Answ. No; for except ye Repent, ye shall all perish, Luke 13. 3. and at last he will say, Depart from me ye workers of iniquity, Mat. 7. 23.
Quest. But when once they are delivered from their sins, they may make sure of being freed by him from Eternal Death too?
Answ. Yes; for there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit, Rom. 8. 1.
Quest. Christ, signifies anointed among the Greeks, as Messiah doth among the Hebrews; Messiah, if interpreted, being the Christ, or anointed, as St. Andrew said, John 1. 41. But what mean you, when you call Jesus the Messiah or Christ, that is, the anointed?
Answ. His being invested with the Office of a Prophet, to teach his Church; of a Priest, to make Reconciliation, and intercede for it; and of a King, to Govern and Protect it.
Quest. Why do you call such Investiture, his Anointing?
Answ. Because anciently Investitures into these Offices, were, according to the Eastern Custom, by pouring Oyl upon them: as in the case of the Arch-Prophet Elisha, 1 Kings 19. 16. and High-Priest Aaron, Lev. 8. 12. And in Kings, as the Jewish Doctors note, when they received not their Office and Authority by Succession, but by extraordinary Designation; as in the case of King Saul, 1 Sam. 9. 16. & 10. 1. and King David, 1 Sam. 16. 13. Answerable to which, Messiah's Designation to his Office, which was to include all these, is call'd his being Anointed, Isa. 61. 1, 2, 3.
Quest. Was Christ invested in these Offices, by pouring Oyl upon him?
Answ. No, but by pouring a nobler thing, the miraculous Powers and Gifts of the Holy Ghost, which install'd him, and answer'd to their anointing. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost, and with Power, Acts 10. 38.
Quest. Was Christ in the Office and Quality of a Prophet, to teach his Church?
Answ. Yes, he was a Teacher sent from God, John 3. 2. What he said, he spake not of himself, but as the Father gave him Commandment, so he spake, John 12. 49, 50. So that the People spoke a great truth, when they said, This is of a truth that Prophet, who was to come into the World, John 6. 14. Nay, he was not in the rank of an ordinary Prophet, but in a pitch of Eminence, far above all others. For he not only had a Prophetick Spirit resting always on him, which the best of them enjoy'd but on certain times and occasions; but he knew the will of God by Personal Acquaintance, and immediate intuition, not barely at second hand, by the Message of an Angel, or by a Vision, or a Dream, as they all did. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him, John 1. 18. And on this account, among others, of all Prophets and Interpreters of God's mind, he alone is call'd the Word; because, lying in God's Bosom, he had his mind without any thing intervening, as immediately, as a word expresses ones meaning.
Quest. What must this teach us?
Answ. Whensoever we would know the mind of God, to seek only unto him; and never to hearken to any other New Lights, or Enthusiastical Pretenders. In all times, both in the Apostles days, and ours, several Impostors, and false Prophets, have come with pretended Messages, to shew men the will of God, and the way to Happiness. But we are to give ear to none of these, this work of communicating God's mind to men, not being left at random, but peculiarly intrusted with Jesus Christ, that great Prophet of the Church, who is especially constituted by God, and anointed for this purpose. This is my beloved Son, said God in the voice from the bright Cloud, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him, Mat. 17. 5.
Quest. But how shall we do to learn of him, since now he is no more among us here on Earth, but is gone to Heaven?
Answ. Two ways he exercises his Prophetick Office to communicate the mind of God to us.
1. By the Scriptures. What God told him, he first by Personal Converse, and afterwards by †Joh. 16. 13.his Spirit leading them into all truth, told the Apostles and Evangelists: and they put it in writing, in the Book call'd the Holy Scriptures, to be preached and published to all others, thro' all times. So that when we hear them read, we must think we hear Christ our great Prophet speaking to us. And to be debarr'd, or debar our selves of the use of them, what is it, but to be debarr'd of this great Prophet's free Communication?
2. By his Ministers, whom he has left and appointed to declare God's mind to the People in his place. Thus the Priests were appointed among the Jews: The Priests lips should preserve Knowledge, and the People should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts, Mal. 2. 7. And so are the Ministers of Christ, among us Christians. Loe! I am with you, teaching them all things whatsoever I have commanded, and that always, even to the end of the World. That is, with you during your own lives, and the Pastors and Teachers your Successors, for ever after your deaths, Mat. 28. 20. So that if we would give ear to Christ, and own him for the Prophet of the Church, we must seek the mind of God from the Holy Scriptures, and from the mouths of our Bishops and Pastors, who are his established Ministers, to inculcate and explain those Scriptures.
Quest. Another Office you say he was design'd and anointed to, was the Office of a Priest. Wherein doth that consist?
Answ. In two things. 1. The payment of a Price, to make Reconciliation, and expiate mens sins with God. And 2. Interceding for ever after, that they should have the benefit and blessing of it. A Prophet is employ'd from God to men, to declare his will and pleasure to them. But a Priest is employ'd from men to God, ordain'd, as St. Paul says, for men in things pertaining to God, Heb. 5. 1. So that a Priest stands for the Church, to make Reconciliation, and intercede for it.
Quest. And did Christ act the part of a Priest for the Church, paying a Price to make Reconciliation with God, and in virtue of that to intercede for it?
Answ. Yes, he reconciled us to God, by dying in our stead. We are reconciled to God, by the death of his Son: Rom. 5. 10. And being now raised from the Dead, he is entred into Heaven, where he ever lives to make intercession for us: Heb. 7. 25.
Quest. Doth he intercede, that men may have this Reconciliation, whilst they go on in sin?
Answ. No, but only when they forsake it, and Repent, that their sins may be blotted out, Act. 3. 19. So that till they amend, they must never expect that he should move for them.
Quest. What doth the consideration of Christ's Priesthood teach us?
Answ. To hope for the Mercy of God for our sins, upon our true Repentance. If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, who is the Propitiation for our sins, 1 Joh. 2. 1, 2. And having him our High-Priest, we may draw near with full assurance of Faith, if once our Hearts are sprinkled, and cleansed from an evil Conscience, Heb. 10. 21, 22. And in general, it teaches us, whensoever we want any Mercy or Favour from God, to apply to him by Jesus Christ, who is anointed to be the sole Intercessor, or Great Master of Requests, from whom he will receive our Prayers.
Quest. You said, thirdly, that Christ was invested with the Office of a King to his Church, what doth that imply?
Answ. Two things. 1. That he govern it by his Laws, and Officers, the Bishops and Pastors. 2. That he protect it from all visible and invisible Enemies, by his Spirit and Providence. And both these Parts of Regal Power, Christ exercises over his Church. He is our Lord to command, the Head over all things to his Body, which is the Church, Eph. 1. 22, 23. and sits now as a Protector at God's Right-hand, till his Enemies be made his Foot-stool, Psal. 110. 1.
Quest. 'Tis plain he exercises his Kingly Power of Governing us, by his Laws, which are contain'd in the holy Scriptures. But doth he also govern his Church by his Officers, viz. the Bishops and Ministers, making them his Deputies here on Earth?
Answ. Yes, for they are called his Pastors, Eph. 4. 8, 11. which is the Scriptural word for Governours, to feed, and to rule, being used promiscuously in the holy Language. That saith of Cyrus, he is my Shepherd; that is, my Deputy in Power, or Substitute in Government Isa 44. 28. And God brought David to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance; that is, to Rule them: So he fed them according to the Integrity of his Heart, and guided them according to the skilfulness of his Hand. Psal 78. 71, 72. His Ministers are his Substitutes in Government, whom we are to hearken to, and obey in his place. Know them that are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 1 Thess. 5. 12, 13. and obey those that have the rule you, for they watch for your Souls; Heb. 13. 17.
Quest. What must this teach us?
Answ. To submit to our own Bishops and Ministers, acting for, and under him, as we would to Christ himself, if we would own him to be King over us. For they are his Deputies, to Rule the Church in his place. And whilst they act according to his Commission, he Decrees and Sentences, Binds and Looses, Speaks and Acts by them; as every Royal Prince doth by his Representatives and Ministers, in all Authoritative Acts, whereto they are commission'd by him, which, when done by them, have the same Authority and Force, as if performed by himself in Person. And therefore if we reject them in such cases, we shew that we will not have him to Reign over us, He that heareth you, heareth me: and he that despiseth you, despiseth me, Luk. 10. 16. And accordingly St Paul, both in binding and loosing, declares, he acted in the person of Christ, 2 Cor. 2. 10. and commends the Galatians, for receiving him as Christ Jesus, Gal. 4. 14.
Quest. And wherein must we shew this Submission?
Answ. In uniting with them in Prayers, and Sacraments; they having the charge of ministring in his Worship and Service, and what he solemnly and openly receives in his Princely Dependancies, being from the Mouths and Mediation of his own Stewards and Officers. In hearkening to their Godly Admonitions, because he has left them to instruct, and rebuke Sinners. In meekly undergoing their deserved Censures, and seeking again the Peace of the Church by true Repentance. And, lastly, in chearfully conforming to all their Church-Laws and Constitutions, when they do not thwart, or oppose his. Christ himself, our Soveraign Lord and King, has given Laws for all necessary things; but has left them to regulate Rites and Ceremonies, which are variable matters, and to take care of the Order and Decency of Worship, in the publick Assemblies. Let every thing be done decently, and in order in the Church, 1 Cor. 14. 40; is a Precept given to Church-Governours, for they have the care of God's Publick Service. And when they make any innocent, or useful Appointments in these things, we must cheerfully obey and conform our selves. Obey them that have the Rule or Guidance over you, for they watch for your Souls, Heb. 13. 17.
Quest. Is it another part of his Kingly Power, to protect his Church from all visible and invisible Enemies?
Answ. Yes, he guards it against all inward, and invisible Enemies, by his Spirit; and from all outward, and visible Enemies, by his Providence. But the security he gives against these, is not that it shall never be eclipsed and persecuted, but only that it shall never be destroyed by them. The Promise is, That the Gates of Hell, that is, the Powers of Satan, and all his wicked instruments, shall not prevail against the Church, Matt. 16. 18.
Quest. What must Christ's protecting his Church teach us?
Answ. To trust him with Religion, and not sin to save it in the most perillous times. He is more concern'd for his Church, than any of us are, or can be; and he knows how to protect it, without the help of our sins, or our acting wickedly for it. So that in all such times, we are to practise Religion, and do our duty; and then recommend, and trust the Preservation of it to his care.
Quest. If we would own Christ as our King, then, I perceive, we must obey his Laws and Ministers, and commit our selves to him in well-doing, as the Protector of his Church?
Answ. Yes.
Quest. And will none partake of the Reconciliation of his Priesthood, but they who thus believe him as their Prophet, and obey him as their Lord?
Answ. No, for Faith and Obedience are necessary to our Peace with God; and there is no injoying the benefit of one, without embracing him in all his Offices.
Quest. To believe in Christ then, or to acknowledge Jesus to be the Christ, is to own him for the Prophet of the Church, by hearkning to his Word and Ministers; for the Priest of God, by hoping in him, and applying to God by him, for Reconciliation, and all other mercies; and for the King of his Church, by obeying both his Laws and Officers, and in a course of welldoing, trusting both our selves and our Religion, to his Protection here on Earth.
Answ. Yes.
Quest. What is meant by that, which follows in the Creed, his being God's only Son?
Answ. Our meaning is, in respect of his Nature, that God begat him, as a Father doth a Son, of like nature with himself, so that he is God as well as Man. For he is equal with God, Phil. 2. 6. The true God; 1 Joh. 5. 20. and over all, God blessed for ever, Rom. 9. 5. Which last was the special Character and Title of the true God, in the common stile and expression of the Jews. Who, from their Custom, when the Priest in the Sanctuary rehearsed the Name of God, of answering, Blessed be his name for ever, came in their common speech to call him, The Blessed One; which phrase, the Scriptures often denote him, as in Mar. 14. 61. 2 Cor. 11. 31. Rom. 1. 25. And, agreeable to his having this Divine Nature, we find the Divine Works, as †Jo. 1. 3.Creating, and *Heb. 1. 3.Sustaining; and Divine Honours, as †Heb. 1. 6.Worship, and *1 Cor. 1. 2.Prayers, and †Mat. 28. 16.Baptism in the Name of the Son, as well as of the Father, ascribed to him in Holy Scripture.
Quest. Why was it requisite our Redeemer should be God?
Answ. 1. To give Merit to his Sacrifice, which was infinitely advanced, in regard his Blood was the Blood of God, Act. 20. 28. How much more shall the Blood of Christ purge your Consciences, who offered himself thro' the eternal Spirit, Heb. 9. 14. As its being committed against God, was the extreme aggravation of our sin: So must its being performed by God, be equally an enhansement of his Reparation. 2. To several other purposes, as to his having Power enough to conquer Death and Hell, and save us from all our Spiritual Enemies, to fit him for a capable and competent Judge of all men, seeing into their Hearts and Thoughts, which is one of God's Prerogatives. To recommend Vertue as much as was possible by an example since in him it appears, that all the things required of us, are worthy of the most excellent Natures; yea, are not below the practice of God himself.
Quest. What other meaning is there of it?
Answ. Another is in respect of his Power, because he is invested with all the Authority and Power of God. For Son of God, signifies sometimes the same as the Christ; that is, one whom God hath commissioned to act in his stead. He shall be great, and the Son of the Highest, and God shall give him the Throne of his Father David, Luk. 1. 32. And thus Jesus Christ is God's Son; for he hath given him all Power, both in Heaven and Earth, Matt. 28. 18. and committed all Authority to the Son, that all should honour the Son, as they honour the Father, Joh. 5. 22, 23.
Quest. And being the Son of God in this sense; that is, having Soveraign Power from him, he is our Lord?
Answ. Yes, in respect of this derived Power, and of his own Soveraign Divine Nature, of his invaluable Merit and Purchace, and of our voluntary Compacts and Submissions: on all accounts, that can found a just Dominion, and Lordship over us: God has given him a Name above every Name, that every Tongue should confess, Jesus Christ is Lord, Phil. 2. 9, 11. To us there is one Lord, 1 Cor. 8. 6.
Quest. And being God, not only in Power, but also in Nature, must we not all worship him, and pray to him, and trust in him as God?
Answ. Yes, for at the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow, Phil. 2. 10: and all must honour the Son, as they honour the Father, Joh. 5. 23. This is done by all good Christians, and Saints on Earth, who are styled, They that call upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 1. 2. And also by those, who are glorified in Heaven, who sing their Hallelujah's, as to God the Father, so also to the Lamb, Rev. 5. 11, 12, 13, 14. Yea, by the Angels too, for when he bringeth his firstbegotten into the world, he saith, and let all the Angels of God worship him, Heb. 1. 6. And this Divine Honour, if he were not a God in Nature, as well as in Power, he could never claim, nor receive from them.
Quest. If Christ is our Rightful, Sovereign Lord, then we must give up our Wills to his, and perform faithfully whatsoever he orders?
Answ. Yes, Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say, Luk. 6. 46. Nay, since he is our Lord, and we are his Houshold-Servants, we must not, as he says, be the Servants of Men; that is, so wholly given up to their Service, as that we cannot mind his; or serve their pleasure, when it interferes with his Laws; or comply with their Meen and Customs, when they are contrary unto his; or sooth and flatter their weak Minds, and feed their sickly Humours, like timerous or mercenary Slaves. No man, says our Saviour, can thus serve two Masters, Matt. 6. 24. Ye are bought with a price, saith St. Paul, be not ye therefore the Servants of men, 1 Cor. 7. 23. And if I yet pleased or soothed up men, I should not be the Servant of Christ, Gal. 1. 10.
Quest. Since he is our Lord, we should not think any thing too mean, or ill for us, which he thought not so for him, but compose our selves to his Behaviour, willingly following where he has gone before; it being a shame for a Servant to be more nice and delicate, and more hard to please, than his Master?
Answ. Very right. And accordingly he presses us on to those Duties, which otherwise we should be most like to disdain and grumble at, by putting us in mind, how he has done, or undergone the same himself. If I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one anothers feet, Joh. 13. 14. If men give you hard names, be content, they have done the same to me; and the Disciple is not above his Master, nor the Servant above his Lord; 'tis enough for the Disciple, that he be as his Master, and the Servant as his Lord, Matt. 10. 24, 25. He that would be greatest amongst you, saith he again, let▪ him minister most, and strive to be most useful, as he that serveth; for I am among you as he that serveth, Luk. 22. 26, 27. Be patient, when you are persecuted, remembring what I said unto you, that the Servant is not greater than his Lord. Joh. 15. 20. Thus must we spurn at no condescensions, or labours of Love and Service: no, nor at Reproaches for welldoing, or suffering in God's Cause; since thereby we only wear our Lord's Livery, nay, are made like to him, and follow his steps, where he has led the way before us.
Quest. Since he is the common Lord, both of Masters and Servants, must not this teach us great Moderation and Equity towards our Servants and Dependants, who, however inferior and subject they may be in Humane Respects, are yet equally near to him, and Brethren and Fellow-servants in respect of his Dominion?
Answ. Yes. God would not permit the Jews, to make any of their Brethren Slaves, tho' they might use them as Fellow-servants, because they were all his Servants. They are my Servants, which I brought forth out of the Land of Egypt, they shall not be sold as Bondmen, Lev. 25. 42. And give unto your Servants that which is just and equal, saith St. Paul, knowing, that ye also have a Master in Heaven, Col. 4. 1.
Quest. What is the third Article of the Creed?
Answ. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary.
Quest. Why must Christ, out of the Natural Course of Generation, be born of a Virgin? And why must the Holy Ghost beget him?
Answ. Because he was to be undefiled from the Womb, and fit to satisfie for the sins of others, having none of his own. For such an High-Priest became us, as was Holy, Undefiled, seperate from Sinners; Heb. 7. 26.
Quest. Was Christ truly man?
Answ. Yes, he underwent all the wants of our Natures, for he was hungry, weary, and sleepy, as we are. And all the Infirmities, for he wept, and was sorrowful, troubled, and sore amazed; He was in all points tempted as we are, only without sin, Heb. 4. 15.
Quest. Having felt them thus in himself, will he not be apt to sympathize, and have compassion on all our weaknesses?
Answ. Yes, thereupon the Apostle argues him to be soon touched with the feeling of our infirmities, Heb. 4. 15.
Quest. Why was it requisite, that to redeem us, the Son of God should become Man?
Answ. To fit him, 1. To attone and appease God, that Man might gain what Man had lost, and that by his performing Obedience, he might be capable to restore what Disobedience had forfeited. As by one man's Disobedience many were made Sinners, so by the Obedience of one, were many to be made Righteous, Rom. 5. 19. And we having Flesh and Blood, he also took part of the same, that through death, he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil, Heb. 2. 14.
2. To be Gentle and Compassionate towards us, affectionately interceding for us, and reasonably bearing with our infirmities. It behoved him in all things to be like unto his Brethren, that he might be a merciful, and faithful High-Priest, Heb. 2. 17.
Quest. How was his becoming man, necessary to give him a knowledge and compassionate sense of our infirmities; was he not God before? And doth not God, who made our Frame, know our infirmities better, than we who feel them?
Answ. Yes, he doth, but on other accounts, as the appeasing God, because not God, but only Man could suffer, and satisfie; and man's Obedience was fittest to regain what man's Disobedience had lost; and it would be most easie, and favourable to us, that he, who should give Laws to us, and judge us at the last, should be a man like our selves; it was requisite the Mediator should be man. And when he was so, to make not only his Divinity, that made our Frame, but his Humane Nature too, in which he transacts with us, compassionate to the utmost of our infirmities, 'twas requisite he should feel them in himself; since there is no way to make men so sensible of any infirmities, as their feeling them by sorrowful experience.
Quest. What must we learn from this Condescention of the Son of God?
Answ. To be humble, and not contemn the poorest and meanest state, since he has dignified it with his Appearance in it. To be Charitable, and Condescensive, and think nothing below us, whereby we may do good. To be content in any state, which God allots for us, thinking the greatest measure of his Love and Tenderness, consistent with the greatest meanness of our outward state and circumstances, as it plainly was in his Son's case. Lastly, To think all wickedness, utterly unworthy of our Nature, since now God has so marvellously united it to his own. These, and such like things, we must learn and practise from it, if we would be his followers, and shew the same mind to be in us, which was before in Christ Jesus, Phil. 2. 3, 4, 5.
Quest. Why must he be both God and Man, in one Person?
Answ. To fit him for the Office of a Mediator, and Reconciler: who was to go between them, and make them both one. For it was fit he should be nearly allied to each Party, and have interest in both of them.