Immanuel, Title page – To the reader
EMMANƲEL, OR THE LOVE of CHRIST Explicated and Applied in his INCARNATION, Being made under the LAW, AND HIS SATISFACTION. IN XXX Sermons.
Preached by JOHN ROW, Miniſter of God's Word: AND Publiſhed by SAMUEL LEE.
LONDON, Printed for Francis Tyton Book-ſeller at the Three Daggers near the Inner Temple-Gate in Fleetſtreet. 1680.
TO THE PIOUS READER.
THIS Treatiſe here preſented to thine eyes firſt ſounded in the ears of a gracious Society by that Goſpel-Trumpet, Mr. John Row. It was a Darling-child brought forth from a judicious head and a ſanctified heart. The Ancients compared John to the Eagle in the Viſion of Cherubims, becauſe ſoaring high in the contemplation of our Lords Divinity. Our John, as if he had lain in the boſom of that John, who lay in the boſom of our Saviour, hath ſweetly attempted to deſcant upon the Song of Angels about the Ʋnion of Heaven and Earth, God and man together. Luk. 2.10.The heavenly Hoſt anſwered in a heavenly Anthem to that ſingle Angel, who brought the good Tydings of great joy for all people to the Shepherds of Bethlehem, and behold here one of the Shepherds of Zion ſings his Epiphonema to theirs, Glory to God in the higheſt. Indeed the union of two Natures in one Perſon, and of three Perſons in one Eſſence are Myſteries unaccountable by Angels: but the joy of its influence ſhall never forſake the Harps of Angels or Saints to all Eternity. None but who is aſſumed into that glorious Ʋnion can exhauſt the Treaſury of Divine Wiſdom. Rev. 5.5.John the beloved Diſciple could not unlooſe the ſeven Seals of theſe Myſteries, but muſt weep at the foot of the Lamb to do it. Yet what is to be believed, admired, adored, may and ought to be the ſubject of our moſt profound Meditations and delight. What God hath revealed let none preſume to count impertinent to dive into, though they can feel no bottom: they will find more amiable Gemms than Pearl and Coral adhering to the ſides of the adamantine Rocks in this unfathomable Abyſs. True, none can fully explain this Ʋnion but he that injoys it. To delineate ſome glittering rays that ſtream from it, requires deep communion with the perſon in union. We are not able to conjecture what pleaſures flow in upon the palates of Angels, as they ſtand drinking of the beams of the Divine Eſſence, neither can they transfuſe or pour out thoſe Paradiſe-rivers into our broken ciſterns. How far this holy man hath added to the point, I rather leave to the Candidates of theſe Myſteries, than determine. Each may ſee deeper into their own Notions than others, and it is far eaſier to conceive than expreſs; and yet there is infinitely more left for all Ages in the remainder of the Spirit, than ever was uttered, or can be thought of. Yet I think, with reſpect had to others, he hath rendred ſome things more intelligible, and many things more applicable and uſeful to common capacities.
The Cherubims that ſtood looking down upon the crowned Mercy-ſeat might foreign, Exod. 25.11. 1 Pet. 1.12.but could not foreign, they might gaze upon it, but not through it. It was not tranſparent Gold like the ſtreets of Jeruſalem; Rev. 21.21.but too thick a plate of Ophir for an Angels eye to pierce. They may pry into the ſtate of Saints in Glory, but not the contrivance of Grace to bring Saints thither. Much leſs can man, and man fallen, receive or ſuſtain wings ſtrong enough to fly into the depth of this amazing Firmament. What God bath made on the back-ſide of the exteriour Heavens hath a terminating bound, becauſe a Creature: though it poſe Aſtronomy it ſelf to meaſure and ſquare the Circle of the Heavens: ſo what God hath written is infinitely true, though our finite and crooked thoughts can never unfold or draw a parallel what Scripture reveals; though it do not fully unveil, it is our duty both to ſtudy and embrace. Divine love, ſay the Platoniſts, made the Ʋniverſe, and therefore more capacious; and were it not more comprehenſive than all created love, it would never take a Saint. He finds a bottom in all created joy, and not like the Sea, the freſher at the bottom, but ſometimes more ſalt and bitter: but uncreated love hath no ſhoars nor centre, but the boſom of God and the depth is upward, ſtill higher and ſweeter. Theſe things are reſerved for ſuch as paſs Kidron and Olivet: let us a while ſtep into the Sanctuary, and ſtudy to grow in the Myſtery of the Father and of Chriſt, and pray that the Spirit would reveal in us what the Son hath revealed to us from the Father, Joh. 1.1…and then draw ſpiritual and ſweet conſequences from above.
Did the Son of God come down from Heaven to earth, was it not to take the ſons of men from earth to Heaven? Did not the ſecond Perſon partake of the humane Nature, that we might partake of the Divine? He took not the perſons of Enoch, or Abraham, or Paul, that they only might be happy; but the nature of the firſt Adam, that all who by faith are united to the ſecond Adam in Grace, may triumph in Glory. Did not he lye in Davids Inn at Bethlehem, that we might lye in the Son of Davids manſions that are above in that Zion of Zions? Was not he made of a woman in Canaan to reſtore us to a better Paradiſe than what was loſt by the woman of Eden? Was not he made under the Law, that we might be new born under Grace? Was not he exalted on the Croſs; this Joſephs Son, to ſpeak with reverence, to erect a more firm and ſublime Ladder into Heaven, than Jacob's? That Patriarch ſaw only a Viſion of Angels by ſtar-light; but we by this Ladder aſcend up to the Angels themſelves, that are ſinging in the Noon of Glory. Was not his moſt precious Blood poured out as a Ranſom for many to the remiſſion of ſins, that ours might not be poured out like oyl to feed the perpetual Lamps in the flames of Hell? Did not the Father make his love honourable (as the Prophet ſpeaks) by his Son's more honourable obedience, and juſtifie his Juſtice by his Son's Righteouſneſs, and quench his anger in the Ocean of his Son's love? Thus doth our bleſſed Author from the Son's Deity proceed to the great Doctrine of his moſt meritorious Sufferings and full Satisfaction for the ſins of all the Elect. The Father by his Eternal love made way for his Temporal anger to his beloved Son, that he might redeem his adopted ſons from eternal wrath, and made a way through the heart of his Son for them to paſs into eternal love. This point he no leſs ſweetly than ſubſtantially clears againſt the Socinians venom, who aim by darkning the Deity of Chriſt to extinguiſh the glory and honour of his Satisfaction. Act. 20.28.For if it had not been the Blood of God, it could never have purchaſed the Church. But it is that glorious Perſon, Heb. 1.3.who having by himſelf purged our ſins, ſate down on the right hand of the Majeſty on high. Rev. 1.5.He who is Alpha and Omega, who is before Abraham was, the firſt and the laſt, who is, was, and is to come, hath loved us, and waſhed us from our ſins in his own Blood, and hath made us Kings and Prieſts unto God, even his Father: to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
I ſhall not proceed by Arguments to evince this great Scripture-truth, which hath been ſo oppugned both by ancient and modern Hereticks, and ſo nobly vindicated by Primitive Councils and Fathers, and by nervous and learned Pens of latter days. Polyaenus in his Roman Stratagems is but a wrigling ſlowworm to this old Serpent in his direful Arts, who like a Revelation-Scorpion carries death both in head and tail: to bite with the teeth of fiery lyes, and with his perſecuting tail to ſlaſh the third part of the Stars out of the Heaven of the Church. This Hydra hath not only hiſſed, but mortally ſtung many a Soul in the Polonian, Hungarian, Tranſylvanian, and Belgick Churches: and I could hearily wiſh had never ſwum after Pelagius through the Britiſh Seas with whole folio's tyed about its neck, to lay its poiſonous eggs in our Seminaries. The Lord ſpeedily cruſh them in pieces, that they may never hatch into fiery flying Serpents, to provoke the Lord to vengeance. What Country in Europe hath ſweltred under more tearing ſcourges, bitter State-confuſions and convulſions, and dreadful ſhakings than Poland? where it had firſt principal vent and patronage. And how far the Belgian Lion hath had his nails pared, and his teeth knockt out by that hammer of Gods wrath in Europe ſince the publication of thoſe blaſphemous Treatiſes, I wiſh both they and we did ſeriouſly lay to heart.
Bleſſed be God for the many Champions ſent out of Iſraels Camp againſt Goliah of Gath in the Reformed Churches abroad and at home. It may prove ſome mitigation of Divine diſpleaſure, and a prolonging of our tranquillity; and I heartily pray, that godly Magiſtrates would ſtir up their ſtrength againſt it, and put to their ſeal and ſanction. I am glad to find th… holy man bending his ſearches into this ſubject, I hope to the preſervative convinction of many, and the eſtabliſhment of others in that grand point of Chriſts Satisfaction. The Lord of the everlaſting Covenant I pray to ſprinkle both this Book and all the People with the precious Blood of the Croſs: Heb. 9.12.By which he is entred into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Verſ. 26.Who as he did appear to put away ſin by the ſacrifice of himſelf: ſo unto them that look for him, he will appear the ſecond time without ſin unto ſalvation. Lev. 16.4.Like as the High-Prieſt of old, being cloathed only in linen, went into the holy of Holies with the expiation-blood in a golden Baſon; but came out in all his gorgeous attire to bleſs the people: Verſ. 23.ſo did the glorious High-Prieſt of our profeſſion enter into the Heavens, not in ſo conſpicuous a manner, being ſeen but of few, when he aſcended from Mount Olivet; but when he hath perfected for ever them that are ſanctified by the preſentment of his Blood, and Interceſſion to the Father, will come again in all his Royalty, and receive us to the manſions purchaſed and prepared for them, Zech. 6.13.and will ſit down as King and Prieſt upon his Throne for ever.
But not to prevent your progreſs from the threſhold into the lovely Building of this Treatiſe, compoſed by a Perſon of great worth and approbation in the Churches of Chriſt, pray give me leave in the Porch to point at ſome material things reſpecting this holy Author. I confeſs, I am not ſo furniſht with ſufficient and copious matter, as to digeſt a full deſcription of his life, but what I had from his gracious Son Mr. Thomas Row, I ſhall ſuccinctly contract, and add ſomewhat of my own Obſervation, and then recommend you to God and the Word of his Grace.
Let me caſt all under theſe four Heads, his Perſonage, Qualifications, Studies, and Sayings.
His ſtature inclined to tallneſs, his viſage affable and ſomewhat ſmiling: his geſtures grave and decent: his behaviour meek and courteous; and what is very obſervable and much to be imitated, 1 Theſſ. 4.11.he medled with his own buſineſs, not interpoſing, much leſs impoſing on other Churches, being averſe to oſtentation and publick appearance: of a quiet ſpirit, and repleniſht with the deſires of Heaven: as 'tis obſerved by Naturaliſts, that the dew never falls in a ſtormy or cloudy night.
As to his Studies, letting paſs the uſual Curſus in the Arts and Sciences, which he followed in the injoyment of the Methods of both Ʋniverſities: his skill in the copious and elegant Greek with its curious Criticiſms deſerves a remarkable accent. Among the various Sects of ancient Philoſophers, he was moſt addicted to Plato and the ſhades of the Academick walks. From the Grecian Schools he ſtept into the Roman Cloiſters to hear what they had to ſay, before the Reformation ſprang. The Civilians having found the Juſtinian Laws as I remember at Piſa, and conſidered the Theodoſian Codex, began to digeſt them into ſome Method. The Divines took example, and collected a Body of Sentences. Among whoſe numerous Gladiators, he moſt fancied the fencings of Aquinas, Bradwardin, Suarez, and Alvarez, being pleaſed with their reaſon, but not their ſubtilties, their ſubſtantial Arguments, but not their Quiddities, finding ſome little Pearls in great Dunghils, was wont to ſay, They had great heads, but little hearts. And indeed when the original Fountains of Scripture were ſtopt up by the Philiſtins, and little but rage and fury filled moſt places with the blood of the ſlain Profeſſors of the Truth, who could expect but the Owl (which once) ſhould often fly in the Lateran?
Wherefore from the Papal Schools he went beyond Sea, and ſtood under the Fathers Pulpits, and delighted in hearing the African Wits, Athanaſius, Cyril, and Auſtin. Athanaſius he highly honoured for his notable Writings againſt the Arians, and his ſtrenuous Vindication of the Deity of Chriſt, and the Doctrine of the three Perſons by the holy Scriptures: and was wont to ſay, That he wrote ſo like an Apoſtle, that he was even raviſhed with him. Cyril he alſo greatly eſteemed for his Epheſine conflicts on the ſame account. Auſtin of the Latin Communion, he paſſed from Alexandria to Hippo, on purpoſe to ſee and diſcourſe with him becauſe of his ſhining holineſs, and eſpecially his irreſiſtible Defence of irreſiſtible Grace. And indeed I may add, there's no hearty Enemy of free Grace but ſuch as want it, and thoſe that feel its power in the heart, are its greateſt Lovers. His Book of the Trinity, though he judged ſomewhat obſcure, yet not without ſome light. He had a value alſo for Baſil and the two Grecian Gregories, and indeed in whom he found aliquid Chriſti, ſomething to the honour of Chriſt, he would crown them with praiſes. For Chriſt was the chief ſcope of his meditations and ſtudies, as it is of all faithful Miniſters to turn Souls to him, and enamour them with him, delighting to dig in that Rock of Zion more than in a Rock of Diamonds.
Theſe illuſtrious Truths about the Trinity and the Incarnation of our Lord he ſtiled Stars of the first magnitude, and indeed it may be juſtly added, they are the Sun of the Goſpel heavens, wherein he ſaid, he could meditate night and day: and ſometimes thought he was carried out too long; inſomuch that being in his Country-receſs, and upon the wing, as bath been obſerved, his nobler ſpirits towred up ſo high, as to leave his animal ſpirits bird-limed in a maze below, and having found ſweeter food above the Firmament, did ſoon forget the refreſhment of his deſerted body, drawing nigh the flight of ſome of the Ancients, of whom 'tis ſtoried, they forſook the earth, and found their Souls embalmed in the boſom of eternal Love. The ſweetneſs of theſe dainties nouriſhed his conceptions, that Ariſtotle hit right when he placed happineſs in the contemplation of Truth. Nevertheleſs he became through Grace the more humble, verifying the excellency of ſanctified knowledge, that it grows moſt luxuriant in the ſat vallies of humility. It was ſaid of one, That he ſailed ſo long upon the Ocean of Knowledge, that at laſt he was toſſed into the Haven of Ignorance; and when arrived to the knowledge of more than moſt of Mortals, determined to grave upon Minerva's Pillars, Ne plus ultrà, or, Nihil ſcitur: or to uſe Scripture-phraſe, That there is no finding out the Almighty to perfection in any of his ways or works. But our Contemplator, though he found new Regions of Light and Science above the Heavens, was humbled by ſearches, and exalted by humility, and did much condemn ſuch as dared to determine any thing of God without book; not only when againſt, but beſides the ſacred Oracles. When any did irrationally and irreverently apply the term of Extenſion to an infinite Being, or were ſo bold as to ſtate peremptory Concluſions about the Decrees and Preſcience of God, undertaking to unlade the deep waters above the Heavens with their Brain-ſick pan, he uſed that of Bradwardin [Si non poſſis minimum, quomodo maximum.] If no Anatomiſt can unwinde the texture of the Brain of an Ant, or diſcover the wiſdom of that minute Inſect, how much leſs can any wade into, or feel the bottom of thoſe holy, precious, unfathomable depths of the Eternal God, whom the Heaven of heavens cannot contain? Or as that annexed at the bottom of Bernard [Quomodo te ſi non meipſum.] The World is not yet come to an iſſue about the humane Soul, and why will they burn their wings at the rays of the inacceſſible Light? He then put his experimental ſeal to that of the holy Burgundian Abbot [Scrutator Majeſtatis opprimetur à gloria.] He who charges the Seraphims of folly in compariſon with his infinite Wiſdom, might upon their crying, Holy, Holy, Holy, cauſe his Sinai-voice to ſound with imputations of grand Ʋnholineſs and Ʋncircumciſion to their lips and hearts.
This holy man found the eye of his Soul more dazled by prying into theſe radiant Myſteries, than that of his body by gazing on the fiery Lamp of the material Heavens; affirming, that nothing did ſo effectually humble him, no not his ſharpeſt afflictions, nor the bittereſt cups make him ſo ſtagger into the duſt, as ſome glittering reflections of the Divine Majeſty upon his Soul: and cry out with Agur, I am more brutiſh than any; or with that other Saint, I am like a Behemoth, a great beaſt before thee. But for points revealed in Scripture, he took more peculiar pains, and ſuckt more ſatisfying delight from the breaſts of the Incarnation. He endeavoured to open that Myſtery of Godlineſs [God manifeſt in the fleſh] in ſo plain and familiar a way, as the truth might bear, that weak capacities might gather ſtrength, and thoſe of greater light might find greater afflux of ſpiritual oyl to their Lamps from this Olivetree in the Courts of God. And I hope the Lord will raiſe up ſome other that hath walked from the Paſſiongarden in Gethſemane along with our Thorn-crowned Lord through the dolorous way to the Paſſion-mount of Golgotha, and have found the Sympathy, Nails, and Spear in their own hearts, that will lament his ſorrows with ſo bitter a cry, as to pierce the ſouls of many to entertain a bleeding Saviour within the chambers of their hearts. It was his ſaying whoſe Treatiſe follows, He knew no other bottom whereon to lay the ſtreſs of his Salvation, than the Son of God incarnate: most certainly true of all, who ſpend their joys on his Incarnation, and breathe out their believing ſighs upon his Paſſion. So that this having been his great ſtudy, he ſaid a little before his departure: That though moſt were apt to look upon theſe as ſpeculative Subjects, yet he esteemed them as the most practical, and the very heart and kernel of our Salvation involved in them.
In the delivery of theſe and other great Doctrines of the Goſpel, that he gave in Precept to his Son, he gave in Preſident to others in imitation of Chriſt, who taught his Diſciples as they were able to bear both as to gradual matter, and as to a pleaſant form in apt ſimilitudes in his occaſional walkings, and constant heavenly teachings. Thus our Author eſteemed that character of an Orator to be no leſs uſeful than ancient [To teach, perſwade, and delight] to teach by cogent Arguments, to perſwade by inſinuating Motives, and to delight with elegant Metaphors. As the Lord himſelf ſpeaks, Eccleſ. 12.10.I have uſed ſimilitudes by my Servants the Prophets; and that the wiſe Preacher ſought to find out acceptable words as well as words of truth, ſuch as might be like Apples of gold in Pictures of ſilver, as well as goads and nails faſtned by the Maſters of Aſſemblies: ſuch as may not ſo much pleaſe the ears as prick the heart, as Jerom gloſſes, Non placentia, ſed pungentia; adding further, Lachrymae auditorum, &c. The tears of Auditors are the Pearls of Preachers. Such did our grave Author uſe, not jingling Bells, but deep Peals of repentance; not bald and ſlovenly, but apt and ſignificant terms, that the Lamb might wade, and the Elephant ſwim in the fluency of his expreſſions.
When near the time of taking his flight to Glory, having been verſed in the Divine Methods of the Holy Spirit in the communications of Grace, and the ſenſible inſtillations of it into the ſouls of men, he treated of the Deity of the Spirit, his proceſſion from the Father and the Son, and his powerful operations on the heart, and being raviſhed with the effuſions of the Spirit here, went up to injoy his more plentiful infuſions in the celeſtial Manſions. Being nearer his time of receſs into the Country of Canaan above, he dived into the meditation of that Text of Paul [The time is ſhort] having prepared ſome heavenly Notions about the ſhortneſs of time, and the uncertainty of life, concluded thus: We ſhould not deſire to continue longer in this world, than to glorifie God, and finiſh our given work, and be ready to ſay, Farewel Time, welcome bleſt Eternity: even ſo come Lord Jeſus, come quickly.
Thus this Evening-Star ſet in an Ocean of Joy, to ariſe a Morning-Star in the Eaſtern Ocean of Glory. But before his diſappearance, the frame of his Spirit being much agitated with ſollicitude about the Church of God, and particularly in this Land and Nation, uttered a Swan-like Song, teſtifying ſomewhat of a prophetick Spirit [If God begin to deliver his Church in an October, remember me] which how far began to be fulfilled in October 1678. the Saints ſurviving may give in evidence, and I humbly pray it may never end, though it may mix with ſome overſhadowings, till we ſee Zions full deliverance paſt.
Thus much of that holy Soul, I ſhall now conclude with a Direction and a Prayer. A Direction as to the Faith and Holineſs of former Saints and Ambaſſadours of Chriſt, and as to ſuch as ſurvive.
To ſuch as are gone up to Injoyment, I might apply what's ſaid of Aſtraea, that when aſcending to Heaven, left a train of light all the way, like the Via lactea, to illuminate the Followers of Juſtice in the ſame illuſtrious path to Happineſs. Lee's hear the Apoſtle: Remember them which have the rule over you, Heb. 13.7.who have ſpoken to you the word of God, whoſe faith follow, conſidering the end of their converſation, Jeſus Chriſt the ſame yeſterday and to day and for ever. As to infirmities (for who is without them) imitate the Spirit of God in the New Teſtament, who never relates or remembers the infirmities of Saints in the Old. They are at reſt in the boſom of Chriſt, let them be at reſt in your boſom as in a bed of Spices. As 'tis ſaid of Joſiah, his name was like precious Oyntment compoſed by the Art of the Apothecary.
For ſuch as ſurvive, learn of the ſame Apoſtle, To obey them that have the rule over you, Heb. 13.17.and ſubmit your ſelves; for they watch for your ſouls, as they that muſt give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief, for that's unprofitable for you. We beſeech you, brethren, 1 Theſſ. 5.12.to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admoniſh you, and eſteem them very highly in love for their works ſake, and be at peace among your ſelves.
Forget not, that when Moſes and Aaron were gone to Heaven from two diſtinct Mountains, God ſet apart Joſhua and Eleazar in two diſtinct Vallies to lead their ſurviving children into the Land of Promiſe: and withal told Joſhua, Joſh. 1.5.There ſhall not any man be able to ſtand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moſes, I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forſake thee. Nay what's doubly remarkable: Moſes could only lead them through the Wilderneſs, but Joſhua must bring them into Canaan. The Law can only ſchool us to Christ, Heb. 4.but 'tis our heavenly Jeſus or Joſhua that can ſafely bring us to the Eternal rest: and beſides its obſervable, we read of no murmurings under Joſhua, as formerly under Moſes. Thus God provides for his Church. When Elijah was rid into Heaven, Eliſha must follow in the power and ſpirit of Elias. When one ſtream is ſlid and ſhed into the Ocean, another circulates from the ſame Ocean through the bowels of the earth into the ſprings under the mountains, and refreſhes the ſcorched Plains. When one Star ſets, another riſes to guide the wandring traveller, and at length the bright Morning-lamp glitters in the East, and then the glorious Sun of Righteouſneſs. While the Church ſits fainting under a Juniper-tree in the Wilderneſs, there ſhall fly Prophets to feed her till the bleſſed reſurrection of the Witneſſes. It's our high duty to ſtudy preſent work, and prize preſent help, and greatly rejoyce when the Lord ſends forth (as once) both Boanerges and Barnabas together. Pray for the mantle, girdle, and bleſſing of Elijah, for the love of John, and the zeal of Paul, to twine hands together to draw Souls to Heaven: till the Beloved comes like a Roe or a young Hart upon the mountains of ſpices: till the ſhadows flee away: till the day dawn, and the Day-star ariſe in your hearts.
My prayer ſhall end with the ſame Apostle: Heb. 13.20.Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jeſus, that great Shepherd of the ſheep through the blood of the everlaſting Covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleaſing in his ſight through Jeſus Chriſt, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
From Bignal near Biſſeter, Sept. 13. 1679. SAMƲEL LEE.