Nathanael, Part 1
A True ISRAELITE Pourtraied, for our IMITATION. The firſt Part.
Joh. 1.47.
Behold an Iſraelite indeed, in whom is no guile.
Sect. 1.
THE coherence of theſe words. Nathanael, for ever renowned, by the recommendation of our bleſſed and heart-ſearching Saviour, is the ſubject of our preſent diſcourſe. For our more orderly proceeding, let us reflect upon the 43 verſe, where Jeſus found and called Philip to follow him: Immediately after, verſe 45. Philip found Nathanael, andaforeign. Chryſ. in Joan. Hom. 20. inviteth him to come & ſee Him, of whom Moſes and the Prophets wrote; namely, the true Meſſias. Nathanael had ſome ſcruple and prejudice againſt him at the firſt, as his queſtion importeth, ver. 46. Can there come any good thing out of Nazareth? Yet, is he afterwards perſwaded by Philip, to come and ſee him; Whence obſerve, That it is the deſire and endeavour of true Believers, to bring others to Jeſus Chriſt: As Andrew brought Simon bforeign. Hom. 19.his brother with him, verſe 41. For ſuch is their zeal to the glory of Chriſt, from whom they themſelves have received ſo much ſoul-good, that they would have all others (if they poſſibly could) to glorifie God, by believing on him. It was the prayer of the Church of old, for all Nations, that yet knew him not, & were yet unborn, Pſal. 67.3, 5. Let the people praiſe thee, O God, let all the people praiſe thee: where their ardency to obtaine appeareth by the repetition of their ſuit.
2. Such is their charity to others that they would have all to be partakers of the benefit, as well as themſelves; yea though they be their enemies,1 Cor. 9.22. as St. Paul became all things to all men that by all meanes he might ſave ſome, and I would to God ſaid he to Agrippa, that not onelyonly thou, Act. 26.29.but alſo all that heare me this day, were ſuch as I am, except theſe bonds; yet many of thoſe were his mortall enemies.
3. Such is the fulneſs of grace in the Lord Jeſus, that there is ſufficient for all comers, Joh. 1.16. It is other wiſe in earthly riches, none can impart to another; though his owne ſtore be never ſo great; 2 King. 20.12.17.but he will have leſſe himſelfe, as Hezekiah ſhewing his treaſures to the king of Babylons meſſenſengers, was thereby deprived of them: but the communication of our ſpiritual treaſures to others, bringeth an encreaſe hereof to ourſelves: as Paul was edified by the faith of the Romans, which himſelf had planted, Rom. 1.12. Obſerve ſecondly in Nathanael's querie that there ever will be demurrs & obſtacles to hinder our coming to Chriſt.
But 3ly. in Philips prevailing with him to come and ſee; and in Chriſts ſatisfying of him being come, that he was the true meſſias, the ſon of God; obſerve with me again, that nothing ſhal hinder Gods elect from coming off fully to Jeſus Chriſt in Gods time, Joh. 6.37. all that the father giveth me (ſaith our Lord) ſhall come to me.
Sect. 2 § 2. And now by Philips meanes Nathanael being brought neer to Jeſus, comes to be conſidered; the conference which paſſed between them: at the firſt ſight, our Lord, who knew him from all eternity, doth give him an high encomium, Behold an Iſraelite indeed, in whom is no guile. Where we have 1. an Adverb of demonſtration foreign Behold! ſecondly Nathanaels deſcription laid downe. 1 by way of aſſertion, an Iſraelite indeed. 2. by way of negation, In whom is no guile. In both together is implied a maine argument, why Nathanael was to be reſpected, becauſe he was an Iſ…alite indeed, in whom was no guile. Intus & in ctu. Perſ. ſatyr. Doct.From the demonſtrative particle, behold, conſidering from whoſe mouth this charge proceeds, we collect, That an Iſral…te indeed, is a moſt worthy ſight; one to be wel viewed, and known moſt exactly. Behold, behold them, (ſaith God) Iſa. 41.27. He is the beſt ſight in this inferior world, ſince our Lord Jeſus left it himſelf. To Jeſus Chriſt indeed primarily, the eyes of all nations are directed, and this ſight alone, if it be right, will bring ſalvation to the beholders, Iſa. 45.22. Looke unto me, (ſaith the Lord) and be ye ſaved, all the ends of the earth. To him John Baptiſt his immediate forerunner pointed again and againe, v. 29. Behold (ſaid he) the Lamb of God that taketh away the ſin of the world, and to Andrew and another Diſciple v. 36. looking upon Jeſus as he walked, he ſaid, Behold the lamb of God: next to Chriſt comes in the true Iſralite to be beheld by us. Such a one was Nathanael, whom our Lord doth here in ligitate.
For 1. God taketh ſo great delight in the ſight of ſuch, as his eyes are never off them, Job. 36.7. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous. It is not any mans countenance, nor the heighth of his ſtature or outward appearance, that the Lord regardeth, or would have others to be taken with, but he looketh on the heart, 1. Sam. 16.7. To this man will I looke (ſaith the Lord) even to him, that is poore, and of a contrite ſpirit, and trembleth at my word, Iſa. 66.2. Secondly to the ſame object are the eyes of the holy angels bent: we are made (ſaith the Apoſtle) a ſpectacle to angels and men, 1. Cor. 4.9. foreign &c. 3. In imitation of God and his bleſſed angels, good men how great ſoever have their eyes upon them;Pſal. 101 6. Mine eyes (ſaid king David) ſhalbe on the faithful in the land and not without cauſe for in theſe perſons we may find a confluence of all attractives of the eyes of our minds imaginable, For 1. We account great perſonages, Kings, Princes, and their well deſerving favourits worthy of our aſpect and reſpect: when Samuel had anointed Saul (according to the Lords commandment) See ye him (ſaid he to the people) whom the Lord hath choſen that there is none like him among all the people, 1 Sam. 10.24. Why? Theſe are they whom Chriſt hath waſhed in his blood, and made Kings and prieſts to God his father, Rev. 1.5, 6. Theſe are his favourites Run ye to and fro through the ſtreets of Jeruſalem,Jer. 5.1. and ſee now and know (ſaith the Lord by Ieremiah) and ſeek through the broad places thereof, if you can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that ſeeketh the truth, and I will pardon it.
2. Do not we deeme men eminent for wiſdom worthy to be viewed and reviewed; How far came the Queen of Sheba to ſee Solomon upon this account; Our Saviovr informeth us, Luk. 11.31. even from the utmoſt parts of the earth Now wiſdome maketh the faces of theſe (whom we ſpeak of) to ſhine, Eccl. 8.1. as Stephen's did, when all that ſat in the council, looking ſtedfaſtly on him, ſaw his face, Act. 6.15as if it had been the face of an Angel. And wiſdom and truth it ſelf termeth all theſe, children of wiſedom. Mat. 11.19. and of them may be truely affirmed that which we read of Job, the eare that heareth them, cannot but bleſſe them, Job 29.11.and the eye that ſees them, cannot but give witneſs to them, Job. 29.11. 3ly. what flocking together is there to behold great conquerors; yea, how deſirable are their very ſtatues and pictures to ſuch as by diſtance of place are debarred from the ſight of their perſons; It is recorded that the king of Sodom, yea and Melchizedek king of Salem, went both out to meet Abraham, after the ſlaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him. Geneſ. 14.17, 18. Behold, I preſent unto your view ſuch as ſcripture language ſtyleth more then conquerors, Rom. 8.37. Such are all true beleevers through Chriſt who loves them. Fortior eſt qui ſe, quàm qui fortiſſima vincit.Theſe reſiſt the Devill, and put him to flight. Jam. 4.7.2 They ſubdue their own ſpirit which is a more ſignal victory then the taking of a ſtrong city. Pro. 16.32.3 Chriſt giveth them victory over death, which hath vanquiſhed the nobleſt conquerors of the world. 1. Cor. 15.57.4. Strange and rare ſhews never want ſpectators. The ſacred Chronicle relateth (and therefore it deſreveth our obſervation) that Solomons ſhips brought from Tarſhiſh apes and peacocks for their rarity, as well as ivorie, gold, and ſilver, for their value 2 Chron. 9.21. But true converts are moſt rare New creatures, in whom old things are paſſed away, BEHOLD, all things are become new,Eph. 2.1 2 Cor. 5.17.2 They are raiſed from death to life you hath he quickned (ſaith the Apoſtle to the Epheſians) who were dead in treſpaſſes and ſins. This is a more admirable work then the raiſing of Lazarus from the grave, which notwithſtanding drew a great concourſe of people to Jeſus who had raiſed him, Joh. 12.9. Who came not for Jeſus ſake only, but that they might ſee Lazarus alſo, whom he had raiſed from the dead.
5. Multitudes have ever uſed to gaze upon perſons ſumptuouſly apparrelled, Luk. 7.25. what went you out, (ſaith our Saviour to the people) into the wilderneſs to SEE? a man cloathed in ſoft raiment. BEHOLD they which are gorgeouſly apparrelled, are in kings courts. But St John Rev. 12 1. diſcovereth to us, a greater matter of admiration: There appeared (ſaith he) a great wonder in heaven a woman (the Spouſe of Chriſt whereof every true beleever is a member) cloathed with the Sunne, Oecumen. in Apoc. cap. 33. Eccleſia Sole juſtitiae Chriſto ſtipata est.the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt whom ſhee hath put on, Gal. 3.27. for uxor fulget radiis mariti; with the Moone under her feet, (that is, worldly things which are mutable like the moone, are by her little accounted of) and upon her head is a crown of twelve ſtarres (the doctrine of the 12. Apoſtles whereon ſhe is founded) Revel. 21.14. and this her raiment is like the Iſralites garments in the wilderneſs, which waxed not old Neh. 9.21. but groweth more and more glorious by wearing, as faith encreaſeth by exerciſe.
6. Exquiſite beauties have an attrative force over mens eyes and mindes. When David eſpied from the roof of his houſe Bathſheba, who was very beautifull to look upon, waſhing her ſelfe, he ſent meſſengers to fetch her to him, 2 Sam. 11.2. But lo here is an incomparable beauty, as the Lord himſelfe deſcribeth it, Ezec. 16.13, 14. Thou waſt exceeding beautifull (ſaith hee to Iſrael) and thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was PERFECT through my comlineſſe, which I had put upon thee. Theſe are indued with perfect beauty; neither are they ſnowt-faire, for the Proverb, foras Helena, intus Hecuba, hath no room here, but they are all glorious within, Pſalm 45.13. neither is this a decaying beauty like Naomies, Ruth. 1.20. who in a few yeares was metamorphoſed into Marah, as herſelf complaines: nor yet is it like Ephraims glorious beauty, which became like a fading flower, Iſa. 28.1.4. neither doth that proverb take place here at all.Iſa. 28.1.4. Fair in the cradle, fowle in the ſaddle; for this is a permanent, yea an increaſing beauty, like the olive trees, Hoſ. 14.6.Jam. 2.3. Lo▪
7. Riches win reſpect among men Lo their riches are correſpondent to their raiment and beauty. It cannot be ſaid of them, which is too truly of ſome others averred, that they have gold and ſilver on their backs, and copper in their purſes; for they are a peculiar treaſure unto the Lord above all people, Exo. 19.5. and though they may be poor in the world; yet are they heires of the kingdom of Heaven, Jam. 2.5. yea, all things here below are theirs, as they are Chriſts & Chriſt is Gods, 1 Cor. 3.22.23
Eſth. 6.8, 9.8. Obſervance attendeth honour: Their honour is equivalent to their riches, 1. Chron. 4.9. Iabez was more honourable then his brethren; the reaſon hereof is rendred verſ. 10. He called on the God of Iſrael. God honoureth them, Iſa. 43.4. Since thou waſt precious in my ſight (ſaith he to Iſrae) thou haſt beene Honourable, and I have loved thee. In them dwelleth the ſpirit of God, 1. Cor. 3.16. and can we find ſuch a man as this is (ſaid king Pharoah of Joſeph) in whom the ſpi… t of God is? Geneſ. 41.38 And by the Spirit of the Lord, are they changed into the image of the Lord, from glory to glory, 2. Cor. 3.18. and for this cauſe the holy angels (according to to their charge) readily vouchſafe their attendance night and day upon them, the leaſt among them not excepted, Mat. 18.10. Heb. 1.14.Mat. 18.10. The godly alſo, who only among men know the true eſtimate of perſons, make high account of them; In whoſe eyes a vile perſon, (be he never ſo highly advanced in the world,) is contemned: but they honour all that feare the Lord, Pſal. 15.4. Laſtly Chriſt himſelf is the glory of his people Iſrael, Luk. 2.32.
Sect. 3 Uſe 1. Serveth for exhortation. Since then Chriſt our Lord inviteth you to behold an Iſraelite indeed; imitate ye God, Angels, and good men, turne the eyes of your mindes towards theſe excellent ones on the earth,Pſal. 16.3. Gen. 23.6. princes of God, children of wiſedome, the moſt glorious conquerors in the world, rare new creatures, cloathed with the Sunne, perfect in beauty, tranſcendently rich, endued with honour and the ſpirit of glory, partakers of the divine nature, 2 Pe. 1.4. Having the glorious angels for their attendants. This your ſight will be well pleaſing to God;Motives. for as all the works of Gods creation and providence are to be minded by us; Pſ. 143.5. ſo eſpecially are theſe firſt fruits of his creatures whom he hath begotten with the word of truth,Pſal. 143.5. Eph. 2.10. Jam. 1.18. who are His workmanſhip created in Chriſt Ieſus unto good works, Eph. 2.10.2 There can be no danger in the contemplation of this beauty: as there may be, and too often is, in gazing upon other faire objects, as David found by experience, and the ſons of God, in ſeeing the daughters of men that were faire, Gen. 6.2. for he that looketh on a woman to luſt after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart, as our Lord witneſſeth, Mat. 5.28. But thirdly this ſight wil bring great profit with it, to the ſpectators. Here we ſhall ſee the beauty of holineſs, which will enflame our hearts with the love of it,*Cic. offic. l. 1. as the heathen ſaid, vertue would do if it could be ſeen with the eyes; and we read that many who beheld Lazarus, after he was raiſed fr…m death believed: and thereby themſelves were raiſed from the death of ſin, John 12.9.11.Joh. 12.9.11. St Peter affordeth us two remarkable inſtances of this, the former is of Chriſtians even under perſecution living among heathens, whom he counſelleth to have their converſation honeſt among them, that whereas ſome ſpeak againſt them as evil doers, others by their good works, which they ſhall behold, may glorifie God in the day of viſitation: yea, by this meanes the very perſecuters themſelves may become true profeſſors, 1. Pet. 3.12. The other is, of wives, though the weaker veſſels; whoſe pious and meek demeanor may be an occaſion of converting their ignorant and unbeleeving husbands, on whom the word as yet cannot work, 1 Pet. 3.1, 2. Likewiſe, ye wives (ſaith he) be in ſubjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the word, they alſo may without the word be wonne by the converſation of the wives: while they behold your chaſt converſation coupled with fear.
Vſe 2 Secondly, this ſerveth for our direction in two things, 1. What are we chieffly to behold in this true Iſraelite? Anſw, 1. his original, he was borne in Zion the city of God, whereof glorious things are ſpoken, and which the higheſt himſelf ſhall eſtabliſh, Selah, Pſal. 87.2.5. He is of the ſeed royal begotten not of corruptible, but incorruptible ſeed the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever, 1. Pet. 1.23. borne not after the fleſh, but after the ſpirit, Joh. 3.5. more then a ſervant, even a ſon; and if a ſon, then an heire of God through Chriſt, Gal. 4.7.
2. Obſerve his life and converſation, Brethren (ſaith Saint Paul) mark them which walk ſo as you have us for an enſample, Phil. 3.17.
3. Mark him in his ſufferings and the iſſue thereof: Behold (ſaith the Apoſtle) we count them happy which endure; ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have ſeen the end of the Lord, Jam. 5 11. How couragious have ſome been even under perſecution, daring and provoking their tormentors, and crying out to them, asTertul. l. ad Scapulam. Magis damnati quàm abſoluti gaudent. Tertull. relateth, Crudelitas veſtra eſt gloria noſtra.
4. View wel his cataſtrophe or the end of his life, as it is in Pſal. 37.37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the the upright; for the end of that man is peace.
Again, This directeth us concerning the manner how he is to be obſerved: namely, 1. with an eye of recognition, he is to be known and acknowledged by us, Iſa. 61.9. All that ſee them ſhal acknowledge that they are the ſeed which the Lord hath bleſſed.
2. With an eye of complacency and love. As David was accepted in the ſight of all the people, and alſo in the fight of Sauls ſervants, 1 Sam. 18.5.
3. With a reſpectful eye, as the prophet Eliſha regarded the preſence of king Jehoſaphat, who profeſſed that had it not been for his ſake, he would not have ſomuch as looked upon Jehoram king of Iſrael, nor have ſeene him, 2 King. 3.14.
4. With a joyfull eye, as they that feared God were glad when they ſaw David, Pſal. 119.74.
5. This fight ought to be joyned with a deſire of adheſion as when Jonathan ſaw Davids valour, his ſoul clave to him;1 Sam. 18.1. and when Judah and Benjamin and many other ſaw that the Lord was with Aſa the king, they fel to him out of Iſrael, 2 Chro. 15.9.
6. It muſt be accompanied with a deſire of imitation in that which is right. Thoſe things (ſaith St Paul) which ye have both learned and received, and heard and ſeen in me, doe, and the God of peace ſhalbe with you, Phil. 4.9.
Laſtly, we ſhould looke upon them with an eye of ſympathy. 1. If they be regular in their lives, it ſhould afford us occaſion of joy, as Paul abſent in the fleſh, yet was preſent with the Coloſſians in the ſpirit, and rejoyced to behold their order, and ſtedfaſtnes of their faith in Chriſt, Col. 2.5. 2 If they be in proſperity we ſhould congratulate with them, ſo the Pſal m…ſt prayeth, Lord, let me ſee the good of thy choſen, that I may rejoyce in the gladneſs of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance, Pſal. 106.5. 3 If any of them be at any time in diſtreſs, we muſt caſt an eye of compaſſion and pitty upon them, Heare all people and behold my ſorrow, ſaith the church in captivity, Lam. 1.18. So when the father ſaw the penitent prodigal, he had compaſſion, and ran and fell on his neck and kiſſed him, Luk. 15.20.
Vſe 3 Thirdly, this may ſerve for diſcovery how purblind or ſquint-eyed the men of this world are, who can ſee no excellency in the children of God. The reaſon hereof is rendred, 1. Joh. 3.1. the world knoweth them not, becauſe it knoweth not the father: yea, it was propheſied of Jeſus Chriſt, that he ſhould be fairer than the children of men;Pſal. 45.2. yet when he cometh into the world, he hath no forme nor comelineſs: and when we ſhall ſee him, there is no beauty that we ſhould deſire him, which is ſpoken of the very elect, as well as of others, before they become beleevers; 1 Pet. 2.7.and then is Chriſt indeed precious to them, and not before. How then can the unbeliever ſpie any beauty in the members of Chriſt, who are indeed comely, yet withal are black, whileſt they remain here below? Cant. 1.5. He can diſcern their blackneſs, but not their comelineſs: if there be any infirmities or deformity in the Saints, the world can ſoone eſpie the ſame, and diſcover them to others, as Cham looked on his fathers nakedneſs when he lay drunk in his tent, and told his brethren without, Geneſ. 9.22. Here the wicked be as quickſighted as L…nceus to behold a mote in the beſt mans eye,Mat. 7.3. and may fitly be compared to bats and owles that can ſee better in the dark, then in the light: or ſecondly the carnal man beholdeth the godly with an evil eye, as of ſcorne and contempt, as Michael Sauls daughter ſaw David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and deſpiſed him in her heart, 2 Sam. 6.16. or, with an eye of envy and hatred, as Saul eyed David, 1. Sam. 18.9.
Vſe 4 Yet here the Saints may find matter of exceeding great conſolation; though the perverſe world cenſure and unjuſtly condemn them; and not only ſo, but they be loathſome alſo in their own ſight, for their iniquities, Ezek. 36.31. for the Lords eyes are ever upon them for good, and his eares open to their cry, Pſal. 34.15. yea, though their deareſt friends who loved them beſt, while they were alive, yet when they are dead can hardly brook to look on them, as when Sarah was dead, Abraham bought a burying place of the ſons of Heth, to bury his dead out of his ſight Geneſ. 23 4. yet precious in the ſight of the Lord is the death of his Saints, Pſal. 116.15. yea and he will make them to be had in honour of all that have any ſpiritual diſcerning, for many things, for which the injudicious worlding condemneth them: as David aſſureth M…chal, who had deſpiſed him in her heart and rated him for dancing before the arke, that he ſhould be had in honour for that very cauſe of the handmaids of Iſrael, 2 Sam. 6.22. and this their glory ſhal be like to the morning light,Pro. 4.18 that ſhineth more and more until the perfect day, even till Chriſt ſhal come to be glorified in his Saints 2 Theſ. 1.10. For they are already the ſons of God, and it doth not yet appeare what they ſhal be: but this is moſt certaine, that when he ſhall appeare, they ſhalbe like him, and ſhal ſee him as he is, 1 J…h 3.2. And then ſhall all that ever hated them, and vilified them, ſee it and be aſhamed, and be grieved, and gnaſh with their teeth, and melt away, Pſ. 112.10.
Vſe 5 This ſerveth for a ſtrong invitation to all to become true Iſraelites if they do but conſider that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the earth to ſhew himſelfe ſtrong in the behalf of them whoſe heart is perfect towards him, 2 Chron. 16.9. and that he will give them favour and reſpect not only in the eyes of good men, ſuch as David was: but of moral, though carnal perſons; as he made Joſeph (a ſervant) to finde grace in Potiphars ſight, and afterwards of the keeper of the priſon, when he was his priſoner, Geneſ. 39.4.21. whereas on the other ſide all wicked perſons are lothſome in God's eyes, Pſal. 34.15. The face of the Lord is againſt them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth: for as he hath promiſed that they who honour him ſhal be honoured: ſo he hath threatned that they who deſpiſe him, ſhall be leightly eſteemed, 1 Sam. 2.30. for which end he ſets Nigrum Theta an ignominious aſteriſk upon them, as he did upon Doeg, Pſal. 52.7. Lo, this the man, that made not the Lord his ſtrength but truſted in the abundance of his riches, and ſtrengthened himſelf in his wickedneſs, neither can the godly abide the ſight of them, He that worketh deceit (ſaith David Pſal. 101.7.) ſhal not dwel in my houſe; he that telleth lies ſhal not tarry in my ſight: much leſſe ſhal he reſide in Heaven, or tarry in Gods ſight, but be extruded from his preſence for ever, and from the glory of his power and be made an abhorring to all fleſh, 2 Theſ. 1.9. Iſa. 66.24. O then! let this prevaile with you to enter into this honourable ſociety your ſelves, and to draw others with you into this happy and glorious eſtate: then ſhall ye ſhine as the ſtars of the firmament for ever and ever, Dan. 12.3.
Vſe 6 What a cogent argument ſhould this be to enforce the Saints to look wel to themſelves, their inward thoughts and affections, their words and actions, ſince ſo many eyes are upon them, even of God, angels and men Oh!Mat. 5.16. let your lights (deare chriſtians) ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven: and pray continually with David, Lead me, O Lord,Pſa. 5.8. in thy righteouſneſs, becauſe of mine obſervers.
Vſe 7 Uſe 7. How great cauſe have all they who are Iſraelites indeed to love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and to bleſs God for him; For by his meanes are we advanced to all this excellency: who when he found us in a moſt lothſome plight, naked and in our blood, none eye pittying us, ſaid unto us live, Ezek. 16.5, 6. And for that end he became man, and was*Nazianz. orat. 1. in paſcha. Chriſtus ſervi formam accepit, ut nos libertatem accipiamus; contemptus eſt, ut gloriâ afficiat, &c. content to be emptied that we might be filled: to faſt, that we might feaſt; to be vilified, that we might be dignified: to be impoveriſhed, that we might be enriched: to take ſhame to himſelf, that hee might clothe us with honour and glory: to be without forme and comelineſs *Bern. de paſſione Domini c. 16. noſtrâ charitate devinctus ad tempus corponis noſtri deformitatem accepit.for a time,Iſa. 53.3. that we might be beautified for ever. Behold our Lord Ieſus, I pray you in that dreſſe, wherein Pilate preſented him to his implacable enemies, crowned with thorns, and wearing purple in deriſion and all beſmeared with his owne blood, ſaying to them, foreign behold the man, thinking by that ruthfull ſight to have pacified their immenſe fury, but to little purpoſe; for they were the more enraged againſt him. Now let us behold him, and let Pilates counſel, rejected by thoſe bloody perſecuters, be acceptable to us that our love may thereby be enflamed towards him; for it was for our ſakes (brethren) that he was ſo pointed at by Pilate, Behold the Man: John 19.5.John. 19.5. that it might be ſaid of us, behold Iſraelites indeed! and happy art thou O Iſrael: who is like unto thee, O people ſaved by the Lord, the ſhield of thy help, and the ſword of thy excellency! Deut. 33.29.