Christ Exalted and Wisdom Justified, Tract 1

Christ Exalted and Wisdom Justified · Tract 1

Christ exalted and Wisdom justified. The Text.

1. Pet. 2.7.

To you therefore which believe he is precious.

THe Title of this Discourse may be Christ exalted, a very specious Title, and such as the Antinomian Doctors do much glory in; but theirs is only Titular, as the Fowler said of the Nightingale, Vox & sola vox, voice, and nothing else, like the Jewes that made him a King in derision, and lift him up on high, but p. 2it was to Crucify him, and they crucifyed him and his Title together, for when they had fastned him to the Crosse, they placed over his head this title in 3. Languages, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jewes. They put upon their Mock-King a Purple robe, but they spoiled it with the trimming, for insteed of gold and silver, and such gorgeous clothing, as becomes those that dwell in Kings houses, they checkquered it with bloud and spittle; They put him on a Crown, but it was of Thornes, and a Scepter was put into his hand, but it was of reed. So these pretenders will ex lt Christ, but it is ore tenus, only fro… …he teeth outward; If an indeavour to throw down the foundations of truth, and the power of Godliness be to advance Christ, then they that cry down others as legall Teachers, may well passe for such lawlesse exalters of Christ. If to throw away the Law as having nothing of a Gospell tendency, neither precedent not subsequent; If to throw away all preparative dispositions, and subsequent qualifications be to set up Christ; If to set up an Idol in the room of Christ, and to substitute fancy insteed of faith. If to throw away Mortification, and sanctification as th ngs abominable, and unbecoming a Gospell spirit; If to break Religions p. 3bands asunder, and to cast away its Cords from them; If to break down the Wall of the Vinyard, and to lay all Common to beasts and boars; If to give more liberty to Libertines, and a rabble of such wild, and lawlesse doctrines, which are as destructive to the Gospel as the Law, may passe for doctrines that exalt Christ, then they cannot be denyed to be such Exalters of him.

But our Apostles mode is of another make. They greedily, and arrogantly catch at the name, but the Apostle modestly and faithfully layes before us both Name and Thing. He doth not prostitute Christ to the lust of every unhumbled Sinner, but proposes him to the faith of every humble believer. To you therefore which believe he is precious.

In this Chapter the Apostle in allusion un…o the Materiall Temple compa… Christ and Beleivers to a Magnificent structure and mysticall Temple, making Christ the cheif Corner stone, and beleivers living stones built upon that foundation. See the verse immediatly going before my Text, v. 6. which is cited out of Isay. 28.16. Behold I lay in Zyon a chief corner stone, elect, precious, and he that beleiveth on him shall not be confounded, and that sure foundation being layd, as the most p. 4excellent part of the building, he layes upon it this superstructure in my Text. To you therefore which believe he is precious.

The Doctrine, or plain result of the words may be thus layd before us.

That Christ is the highest, most precious, and only excellent Good unto Believers.

Mistake me not, I mean it not of Christ in a disjunctive sense, but as conjoyned with the other persons of the holy blessed and glorious Trinity, who in respect of time are Coaeternall, in respect of being are Coessentiall, and in respect of power are Coaequall, we must remember to keep close unto the good old Rule of old Athanasius in his Creed. In this Trinity none is afore or after other, none is greater or lesse than another.

There hath been much Contention in the World about the summum bonum orchief felicity of man, The Athenian Philosophers (though Athens were foreign the very Greece of Greece, and abounded with the most Mercuriall witts, and sublimated under standings) did erect altars to an unknown God Acts. 17.23. and thence we may conclude that the summum bonum was to them an unknown good. The Apostle tells the gifted teachers of the Church of Cornith (such a… p. 5Luther was wont to call Theologi gloriae, Doctors of glory, or rather vain-glorious Doctors, that did hunt after the praise of men more than the praise of God) that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdome knew not God, and therefore it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1. Cor. 1.21. That is to say, by the preaching of Christ; of Christ crucifyed, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks folishness, but unto them which are called both Jewes and Greekes, Christ the power of God, & the wisdome of God. v. 23.24. Those that seek for true happiness any where else but in the Gospell, and in Jesus Christ the subject and Epitome of it, they have entred upon a labour in vain, and are in as comfortles a Condition as the Sectarian seekers of our age, that seek without a promise, and therefore seek for that which they can have no hope to find. But to such as Covet the best things, and are carryed out with an high, and holy ambition after the highest good, behold my Text sheweth a most excellent way. My Text holds it out, My Doctrine tells you what it is.

Christ is the highest, most precious, and only excellent good unto Believers.

Though Gods ipse dixit be far before p. 6Aristotles, and all humane testimonies, that it may challenge our belief, and consent without further evidence, and we may warrantably acquiesce in any truth that the spirit of God dictates, yet since God would no… have us take his truths upon trust without tryall, and the noble Bereans were commended for comparing the Apostles doctrines with the Scriptures, we shall make some further enquiry into the consent of other Scriptures, and observe how they concurre univocally to make good the truth of this assertion.

I might heer begin with the promises of Christ, and the prophesies that were the fore-runners of his manifestation in the flesh; in respect whereof he is said to be a lambe slai… from the beginning of the world. Revel. 13.8. and the same yesterday, to day and for ever. Hebr. 13.8 (i. e.) a Saviour to the uttermost, to former, and future, as well as present times. I might heer make a large Comment upon the Types, Sacrifices, and Sacraments, of the Ceremoniall Law, which was the Jewes Gospell, they all relating unto Christ that was to come, and kept up the worlds ex…ectation of the promised Messias. I might enlarge upon the more Evangelicall prophesies of the p. 7prophet Esay, who speakes boldly, and calls things that are not as though they were, unto us a child is born unto us a Son is given. He is called the Evangelicall prophet, or propheticall Evangelist, because he speaks rather as if he were relating an history of things fullfilled, than delivering a prophesy of things to come.

But the fullness of evidence will be drawn from the fullness of time, wherein the fullness of Gods love was revealed in fullfilling all those promises, types, and prophesies, and bringing into the world this promised happiness, the desire of Nations. I shall therefore give you 2. or 3. Scriptures out of the writings of the Apostles for confirmation of this sweet and amiable truth, and then proceed.

The first Scripture-evidence is. 1. Cor. 2 2. I determined to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ and him crucifyed. Ma…k, that must needs be counted most excellent prae quo caetera sordent, in Comparison of which all other excellencies vanish like the Starrs when the Sun appeares, and such an Excellency is Jesus Christ.

The second place is Philip. 3.7. What things were gain unto me them I counted losse for Christ, yea, doubtles and I doe count all p. 8things but losse for the excellency of the knowledg of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the losse of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law, but that which is of the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. v. 8.9. Mark, Christ was the gold, and all things else but drosse, even gold it self. Christ was the treasure, and all things else but dung.

The third place is 1. Tim. 3.16. Without controversy great is the mystery of godlines; God manifested in the flesh, justifyed in the spirit, seen of Angells, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up to glory; all this is nothing else but the mystery of Christ incarnate, that foreign that mystery of mysteries as one of the Ancients calls it, that miraculorum officina, that shop of wonders, as another phrases it, wherein many wonders, and mysteries do meet in one; Mysteries have been alwaies reverend, and sacred, and of high esteem, and this being the Mystery of Mysteries must needes be the excellence of excellencies, the most excelling excellence.

Next to Scripture-testimonies I may by p. 9way of illustration set off the excellency of Christ in a multitude of particulars, and give …n a cluster of his Excellencies as.

1. The excellency of his Person, of which …ee Hebr. 1.1, 2, 3. God who at sundry times, …nd in diverse manners spake in time past un…o the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last …aies spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath …ppointed heyre of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of …is glory, and the expresse image of his person, …nd upholding all things by the word of his pow…r, when he had by himself purged our sinns, …ate down on the right hand of the majesty on …igh. And Cant. 5.9, 10. When the spouse was asked what her beloved was more than …ther beloved, she answers My beloved is …hite and ruddy, the chiefest often thousand, …nd goes on in a most amorous description of …is personall excellencies to the end of the Chapter, and then concludes thus, v. 16. He …s totum mabile, yea, he is altogether lovely; This is my beloved, and this is my freind, O Daughters of Jerusalem.

2. The excellency of his name. See Cant. …. 3. Because of the savour of thy sweet ointments, thy name is as an ointment poured forth, …herefore do the Virgins love thee. Thou shalt p. 10call his name Jesus was the appointment … God himself by his Angell Mat. 1.21. O… sweetest saving name, Bernard saith of the silables of it, and much more of the sense of i… that it is mel in ore, melos in aure, jubilum i… corde, hony to the mouth, musick to the ear… rejoycing to the heart; observe what the Ap… stle saith Hebr. 1.4. Being made so much be… ter than the angells, as he hath by inheritan… obtained a more excellent name than they. F… unto which of the angells sayd he at any ti… thou art my son, this day have I begotten the… And again I will be unto him a father, and … shall be unto me a Son.

We through his sonship, are made, a… called Sonnes and daughters of the Lord God a… mighty, that's the new name that's given wi… the white stone to them to whom it is given … eate of the hidden Manna, but ther's a va… difference betwixt his sonsh…p and ours, his by nature and inheritance, ours by grace, a… by adoption, and therefore the Apostle sai… expresly, he had a name given him above names, not only a name of glory in relation God, his only begotten, and only beloved so… but a name of grace relating to us, that na… of Jesus at which every knee must bow, thin… in heaven and things in earth, and thin… p. 11under the Earth &c. Philip. 2.9, 10, 11. Which Scripture intends not that we should …lance the old superstitious sink-apace to the sil…ables of his name, as the Church of Rome hath …iped unto such as sate in darkness and the …haddow of Death in the rise and reign of An…ichrist, this were to dishonour his name in making an Idol of it, but our hearts, and the knees of our soules must bow in an awfull reverence and subjection unto the sense, and spirit of that glorious and fearfull name, the Lord our God, and that gracious and sweet name, the Lord our Righteousness.

3. The excellency of his Portion see Hebr. 1.2. God hath appointed him to be heyre of all things. David brings in his Father speaking thus unto him Ps. 2.8. Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy possession. No King was ever so rich in subjects and dominions as this royall King Jesus, the King of Saints, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. All things are given unto me of my father said Christ. Luk. 10.22. And all power is given unto me in Heaven, and in Earth. Mat. 28.18. Well did the Apostle pray for his Ephesians, Eph. 1.18. That their eyes might be enlightened to see p. 12what the riches of Gods glorious inheritance … in the Saints (i. e.) Christs riches in having th… Saints for his Portion, or rather the Sain… riches in having Christ to be their po… tion and inheritance.

4. The excellency of his offices, who w… the King, Priest, and Prophet of his Churc… The Apostle saith that the Lord Christ is ma… to us by his father Wisdome, and Righteou… ness, and Sanctification and Redemption … Cor. 1.30. Wisdome in his propheticall offic… Righteousness and Sanctification is his Pries… office, and Redemption in his Kingly. In th… respect the Christ or anointed one of Go… is said to be anointed with the oyle of gladne… above his fellows.

There have been such as have been Kin… and Priests, and such as have been Kings a… Prophets, but the Son of God was a King a… Priest and Prophet, in respect of which offic… he's a Saviour to the uttermost. Hebr. 7.2

5. The excellency of his Purchase, havin… purchased heaven for his elect, and them s… heaven, and both by his bloud, ye were n… redeemed saith the Apostle with corruptib… things, as gold and silver, but with the precio… bloud of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemis… and without spot. 1. Pet. 1.18, 19. Heave… p. 13is a donative to us, but a purchase to Christ, …ea, it cost him so dear of purpose that it might …e cheap to us; he dyed for our sinns, and rose …gain for our Justification. He dyed to pur…hase repentance and remission of sinns, and …ose again to Communicate it, to bring life; …nd immortality to light through the Gos…ell.

6. The excellency of his Power. He hath …ot only bought off his redeemed ones at a …ear rate, but he doth also fetch them off with …n high hand. Some slaves among men are …edeemed by price, and ransome, some by …ower and rescue, The slaves of sin and Satan do need both, Christ having payd his life for …hem, and shed every drop of his dearest …loud; he must also put out the power of his omnipotency to rescue them from the strong man armed, Luke. 11.21. and therefore such as are pull'd from the Lyons paw, and snatcht like brands out of the fire, they are sayd to be made believers by the exceeding greatness of Gods power, and according to the working of his mighty power. Eph. 1.10. and when they are fetcht off from their hard heart with an high hand, they are kept by the same hand of omnipotency from returning again unto their folly; according to that saying. 1. Pet. 1.5. p. 14Yee are kept by the power of God through fait… unto Salvation.

We come next to reason out the Excellency of Jesus Christ, and he will appear to b… the most Excellent and highest good for the… few pregnant Reasons.

1. Because he is so in the Fathers account

2. Because he is really so in himself.

3. Because he is so to us.

4. Because he is so in the Saints account

5. Because he makes all other thing good.

And therefore for all these reasons ough… to be so in ours; hearken attentively, & giv… up not only your eares but your understandings and hearts, while I indeavour to spea… with the spirit and with the understanding t… your reasonable Soules of these reasons i… their order.

1. Reason. Because he is so in God the Fathers account. What ever men think, God i… only wise, and only able to put a right estimate upon Chr…st. Little heed is to be give… to the judgments and sayings of men afte… the flesh in this matter, the most Worldly wis… p. 15are more than purblind, and the lower sort …verwhelmed with utter blindness, and such darkness as cannot be felt in this matter; We may ask the Apostles Question, where is …he wise? where is the disputer? hath not God …nfatuated the wisdome of this wourld?

And we may return answers to such Que…tions in his own words. Eye hath not seen, …or eare heard, nor hath it entred into the heart …f man &c. 1. Cor. 2.9. & v. 14. of that Chap. …he naturall man, foreign &c. recei…eth not the things of the spirit of God for they …re foolishness unto him foreign either can he know them (his eyes & heart are …ealed up under a naturall impossibility) because …hey are spiritually discerned. We may say …f our selves in respect of the uttermost pos…bility of the naturall man in David's words, …ch knowledge is too wonderfull and excellent …or me, I cannot attain unto it. The know…edg of Christ and the learning of Christ is …rs artium, an art by it self, the only art that …akes wise unto salvation. This is Eternall …fe, that they know thee the only true God, and …esus Christ whom thou hast sent. Joh. 17.3. …nd though it be so much undervalued by the …en of the world, that they will give them…elves no time but by the by, and what the p. 16world and flesh can spare to think of Chri… and their soules, and the things of heaven, a… eternity, yet if with the prodigall they eve… come to themselves, they will take sin an… shame unto themselves, and with David b… foole and be beast themselves, for their carleness. So foolish was I and ignorant, even as very bruit before thee, or if they awake n… from their dead sleep of security till the drop into hell, then they will cry out, n… insensati? O fooles that we were to cou… preaching foolishness, Oh beasts and bedla… that we were to count holiness and Exa… walking madness. Therefore as we wou… not goe to a blind man to ask his judgme… concerning colours, so let us not goe to worldly, or Carnall man to ask his judgme… of the Excellency of Christ; or if we shoul… I believe ther's not one of a thousand to … found but will tell you, and give it under h… hand that Christ is more Excellent than … the profits of the world, and all the pleasures … the flesh, though his practicall judgment … crosse leggs with his speculative, an… we may write upon his largest concess… ons,

—Video melior a probo{que}.

Deteriora sequor.—

p. 17The good which I allow, I choose not, the Evill which I condemn, that I practise. But if we would take a true estimate of the Excellency of Christ, lets go to School to St. Paul, and he hath told you, he desired to know nothing else but Jesus Christ and him crucifyed, as you heard in the first Scripture testimony that we gave of this truth, 1. Cor. 2.2. and to have nothing else to his portion, as you heard in the second place, Phil. 3.7. But why should we thus spend time in circumlocution, We have a sure word and testimony from heaven in that articulate voice that came from thence, when Christ by Baptism was separated, and as it were ordained to office, Mat. 3.17. This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Speak out Sirs, and declare your thoughts, Is God wisest, or are men wiser than he? If men be so, then the world…ings Diana may be cryed up, or the voluptuous mans Idol of Carnall-self may be set up and worshipped, and according to mens severall fancies and interests some may give their voice for one vanity and some for …nother. But if God be wisest (and let God …e true and every man a lyar) then let all Dagons fall down before the ark, and let all other Excellencies give place to Christ, O p. 18know, sinners, that next to Gods own infinit and Eternall being, he loves his Coaeternall, Coessentiall, and Coaequall Son, yea, with the highest love of sweetest complacency, and everlasting delight: observe the indeering names by which he is called in the word, primogenitus, and unigenitus, first begotten and first beloved, onelyonly begotten, and best beloved, as Lemuel's mother did run division, and ring the changes concerning her son, her Jididiab or only beloved Salomon Pro. 31.2. What! my Son, and the Son of my womb! & what! the Son of my vowes! We may imagine God the father speaking more Excellent things of his Son?

What my Son! My only Son! My beloved Son! My onelyonly beloved! My Benjamin! The Son of my right hand! The Son of my great, and eternall designes! In whom I have elected my secret ones, by whom I will call my elected ones, for whom I will justify my called ones, in whom I will reconcile, adopt, and sanctify my justifyed ones, and with whom I will glorify all them that are Sanctifyed! The main hinge and key of all my predestinating purposes! The Secretary of all my Counsells? The almoner of my grace, and the heyre, and lawfull inheritour of my glory! My Son, who art the express image of my person! and p. 19in whom all fullness dwells! Yea, the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily. When a father hath many Sons, the Sea of his love divides …t self into many drilling streames, and he divides himself amongst them all. But when he hath but one, all the streames of his affection do unite into one mighty undivided …orrent. Though Christ (that thought it no robbery to be equall with God) were terrae filius by condescention, in his humanity, which was the foot of Jacob's mysticall Ladder, which stood upon the earth; Yet he was Dei filius, & haeres coeli, God's Son, and heyre of heaven in respect of his divinity, which was the top of …hat vision all ladder that reacht heaven. And …hough he appeared in fashion as a man, and took on him the form of a Servant, and humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the crosse, yet observe what golden …ore the prophet Isay mixes with this seeming refuse rubbish, Isay 53.7, 8. He was oppressed, he was afflicted, yet opened he not his mouth, he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her sheerers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment (i. e.) He was taken out of the world by imprisonment and judgment, as a Malefactour, but observe what follows, Who p. 20shall declare his generation? (i. e.) his generation is matter of wonder and astonishmen… to men, and angells, they may run to their wits end in considering of it, and when they conceive him to be God of God, and light of light, this light will so dazle them, that they will be blinded with it, and will be ready to confesse with Symonides the philosopher o… his conceivings of God, when he had firs… taken day after day to consider of it, he tol… Hiero the Syracusian King that put the Question to him, that the more he studyed it the lesse he knew, and was blinder in the Mystery at the last daies end than he was at the first; And let not us think (poor low-spirite… sinners as we are) that this Son of God, o… whom you have heard such excellent things (yet one halfe is not told you) that he was thus wonderfully begotten by his father before al… worlds, and so wonderfully received by the holy ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary in the fullness of time, only, or chiefly to bring such inconsiderable nothings as we are to glory. No no flatter not your selves, Sinners, though this is a comfortable appurtenance unto Christs comming in the flesh, and such as considerate, and meditationall believers would not exchange for the wealth and p. 21glory of a thousand worlds, yet the foundation of Gods design is laid higher, not in our glory but in his own; To the glory of his grace, Eph. 1.6. Not in our glory, but his Sonns, we may borrow Peter's words to the men of Israel that admired the miracle of restoring sight to the blind man, Acts. 3.13. Ye men of Israel why marvell ye at this? The God of Abraham, and of Isaak, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers hath glorifyed his Son Jesus &c. And observe how the Apostle gives his sense of it, Phil. 2. Where after he made mention of his sufferings v. 7, 8. He falls presently upon the mention of his Exaltation. v. 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name &c. Yea, and that great and terrible day of judgment is chiefly appointed for the Exaltation of Christ; then shall it be said of his Enemies that would not that he should reign over them, bring them out & slay them before me. The Apostle hath a flaming place to that purpose, 2. Thes. 1, 7, 8. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angells in flaming fire rendring vengeance to them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction p. 22from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. When he shall come to be glorifyed in his Saints. & to be admired in all them that believe. Where you may run and read that the high design of the generall judgment day is to glorify God in his mercy, and justice, to glorify his grace in his saved ones, and his justice upon them that perish; and with his own glory which is so dear unto him, he hath twinn'd the Exaltation of his dear Son, that he may be glorifyed in his Saints, and admired in them that believe. And so much shall suffice for the first Reason of Christ's excellence, because he's a dear Son and precious in God the father's account.

2. Reason. Because he is really so in himself, excellent, most excellent, more than superlatively Excellent, more than tongues can speak, or hearts can think. Christ is the Center in which all the lines of Excellency do meet. He's the Ocean into which all the rivers of Excellencies do unload themselves: He deserves never to be mentioned but in the midst of his fullness, The fullness of Christ: Nor to be named without his riches. The riches of Christ. The riches of his fullness, and fullnesse p. 23of his riches. I could here rather spend my self in thinking and admiring, than in speaking and speaking short, for so I must, since I am cast upon a subject that is unutterable. Oh for some of the Apostles sublimated conceptions when he was caught up into the third heaven, so I might bring down some of his foreign 2. Cor. 12.4. Wordless words, but what would that avail, if when I had brought them down, I could not bring them, forth, I could not utter them. I can think much more than I can speak, but Christ's excellencies do infinitely excell all that I can think, yea, all that can be spoken or thought of them; He were but a poor Christ if the tongues of all the learned in the world, or Angells in heaven were able to give you a full description of his Excellencies. Yet I shall indeavour to do an office like unto the faithfull spies that were sent into Canaan, bring you a cluster that may give you a tast of the Lands flowings, or overflowings rather, for if in any thing heavens measure be heaped up, shaken together, pressed down and running over, it is in giving out Christ unto believers, out of whose fullnesse we are all receivers, and grace for grace, Joh. 1.16. Whilest we are gathering up particulars, we shall be like the Bee that flies from p. 24flower to flower to make a Collection of sweetness; But when we come to Christ we are like Bees landed at their full hives, and dwelling in the midst of their riches; attend whilst I fly from one Similitude, or shaddow to another, as from flower to flower, to gather you together a Confluence of Excellencies, and then we will lay up all our hony together in the hive, and terminate all our excellencies in Christ.

Now let us but cast about, and scanne the excellence of those things to which Christ i… compared (of which we must say notwithstanding

—Sic parvis componere magna solebam.

Its but a comparing great things with small) and there we may have some dimme resemblances of the super-abounding Excellencies that are in Christ.

1. Do you count life excellent? Though the spirituall man hath found things that are more Excellent, and can say with the prophet, cease ye from the man whose breat his in his nostrills, for wherein is he to be accounted of, Isay. 2. ult. and can whith David tell God that his loving kindness is better than life, yet the naturall man, that counts death the King of feares, and as the Prince of Philosophers p. 25calls it foreign the most terrible …f terribles, he hath life in highest account, he esteems it (if his practise be a right measure of his judgment) higher than God, than Christ, than the Salvation of his soul; Let the Divell be his interpreter for once, Who is too well acquainted with the waies of the naturall man, & he speakes thus of him, Job. 2.…4. Skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his life. Why, if life be to be accounted Excellent, then Christ is a believers life. In the old Adam we are all dead, being brought into the new Adam we are made alive. He that hath the Son hath life, & he that hath not the Son hath not life. 1. Joh. 5.12. & the Apostle sayth our life is hid with Christ in God. Col. 3.3.

2. Do you count your soules Excellent? Though the naturall man prize life above his Soul, yet the spirituall man values his soul above his life, yea, and above all things in the world, having learnt of the Saviour of soules to make that part estimate, who askes that double question in one breath, Mat. 16.26. What shall it profit a man to gain the world, if he lose his soul? Or what shall a man give in Exchange for his Soul? Why if the soul be to be accounted excellent, then Christ is, for the Apostle speaks of him as of his very p. 26soul, Not I but Christ liveth in me. Galat. 2… 20. What the soul is to the body, the same i… Christ unto the soul, anima est vita corpori… Christus animae. The soul gives life to the body, and Christ to the soul, the separatio… from the soule is the bodies death, and a separation from Christ is the soules death. D… but observe what an high esteem the godl… have had of their Soules, Jacob called h… soul his glory. Gen. 49.6. And David calle… his Darling, and so should believers accou… Christ, as their own Soules, and love him … Jonathan was said to love David, as his o… Soul, yea, they should call him their glory, an… count him their Darling.

3. Do you count a Feast excellent? … feast is made up of all manner of varietie and dainties; Its a contribution of creature from ayre, Earth, and water, the fowles of th… ayre, the beasts of the earth, and fishes of the Se… are summoned to pay their tribute to our festivalls. And Christ is not only a believe… food, but a believers feast. Its not only sai… by Christ. My flesh is meat indeed, and m… bloud is drink indeed, Iohn. 6.55. And b… the spirit, to him that overcommeth will I giv… to eat of the hidden Manna, Rev. 2.17. an… the spirit and bride say come, and let him th… p. 27heareth say come, and let him that is athirst come, and let whosoever will come and drink of the water of life freely, Revel. 22.17. But its sayd moreover that God makes a feast in his holy mount, a feast of fat things full of marrow, and wines upon the lees well refined, Isay. 25.6. And gospell-provisions are compared to a King making a Marriage feast for his Son, Mat. 22.2. and Christ is the Marrow, and the Wine of this feast, yea, the banquet, musick and complements of all its excellency.

4. Do you count royall robes, or gorgeous apparrell excellent? Oh how taking are such gold and silver trappings with the Sons, and Daughters of pride? Why Christ is sayd to be a believers cloathing, Rom. 13.13. Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, they are cloathed with the seamless coat of his righteousness; and the woman cloathed with the Sun. Revel. 12.1. is none other than the Church in her members cloathed with Christ; the Kings daughter that is all glorious with in, even that cloath of silver, and cloath of gold which are lookt upon as sumptuous and glittering ornaments are but raggs to this.

5. Do you count the water of life to be excellent? What would not a fainting, sinking, p. 28dying man give for a rich, and soveraign cordiall? Why Christ is such, yea, the very quintessence of all that's cordiall, who will no… only give health in sickness, but life in death

6. Do you count joy to be excellent? It's a most reviving passion, even like life from the dead. Ask a man that hath been under the sentence of death by some dangerous and desperate sickness: Ask a Mother when she is delivered from the pangs of travell, which she thought would cost her her life: Ask a malefactor or Traytor that hath recieved his pardon at the block or Gallows, or a slave when he is newly redeemed and released from that hell upon earth, The Spanish inquisition, or the Turkish Gallies: they will give you a shaddow of it, but a believers joy in Christ is greater, even greater than joy in harvest, and greater than his that findeth the greatest spoiles.

7. Is gold accounted excellent? Yea, its too much set by, by such as will sell soules, and Salvation and all for it. Why Christ is compared to gold tryed in the fire, Revel. 3.18. I counsell thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire that thou maist be rich. (i. e.) that summe which Christ hath payd for a believers ransome, his passive obedience in undergoing p. 29the curse of the law for them, and his active in fullfilling the righteousness of the Law for them.

8. Do men esteem of a Crown, the Embleme of Majesty; though I read of one that sayd, If men did but know what a Crown of thornes and cares did line a Crown of gold, no man would stoop to the ground to take it up, yet it lookes lovely in the Eyes of such as affect supremacy; and Christ in the word is sayd to be a believers Crown. If that place will not carry it, Revel. 3.11. directed to Philadelphia, hold fast that none take away thy Crown. That Phil. 3.14. will carry further, even beyond all the Kingdoms of the world and glory of them, I presse forward towards the mark for the prise of the high calling which is in Christ Jesus. And that 2. Tim. 4.8. Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto them also that love his appearing.

9. You do count Jewells excellent and the best part of your treasure, they do out-weigh gold and silver, and are lookt upon as prizes fittest for princes; And Christ is that pearle of great price which so prevailed with the rich p. 30Merchant to sell all to purchase it. Mat. 13.46. And that hid treasure, which when it was found, the finder sold all his estate to buy it, Mat. 13.44.

10. Do we not count highly of the first-born, the first times did that gave him the priority in the family, the priests office, and the double portion. And Christ is called the first-born among many brethren, the first born that ever came into the world by such a miraculous conception. The first-born from the dead, that ever rose by his own power. And the first-born in the Kingdom of heaven that entred there in his own right; Yea, the first in dignity among all that congregation of the first-born that is now in that Panegyricall assembly, which is in heaven. Hebr. 12.24.

11. Have we not high thoughts of the Sun among the Creatures? What would the world do without it? And surely the world can better be without the Sun, than the Church without Christ, and David tells us the Lord is a Sun, Ps. 84. And nothing is more known by its proper name, then the Son of God by that glorious name, The sun of Righteousness, The Church in reference to Christ is called the Moon, Cant. 6.10. Because as the Moon shines by the Sunns light, so doth p. 31the Church by Christs, and in this respect also Christ is sayd to be the husband, and the Church the wife, because uxor splendet radiis mariti. The wife is indowed with her husbands riches and honour.

12. Is not a shield much set by? It was …urely by the ancients, which did defend …hemselves with shields, and David saith, the Lord is a shield as well as a sun. Ps. 84.11. And God sayth unto Abraham, fear not Abraham, I am thy shield, or thy buckler, and thy ex…eeding great reward. Gen. 15.1. Its storied of Epaminondas a valiant Warriour, that having sustained great losses in war, when the …eport was brought to him, he presently demanded, but whats become of my shield, is …hat lost too? no sayd the messenger that is …afe, then he concluded that he had lost no…hing. So should believers concerning Christ, whatsoever they lose, though their riches, pleasures, friends, liberties, lives, yet …f they can but keep Christ, he alone will recompence all losses.

13. Because you shall have more than a full Jury of Testimonies, and measure with advantage. Do we not count much upon a sure foundation, and lay the whole stresse of the building upon it? Surely Christ teacheth us p. 32to do so when he mentions building upon th… rock and sand, Mat. 7.24, 26. And so do… the Apostle when he saith, Other foundatio… can no man lay than that which is layd, and th… foundation is Christ. 1. Cor. 3.11. Why the very scope of my Text lookes this way and I need not insist longer upon it. Behol… I lay in Zyon a chief corner stone, elect and pr… cious, and whosoever believeth in him shall n… be ashamed, and then infers. To you therefor… who believe he is precious.

Having now ascended by degrees to a… high mount of excellencyes, though we shoul… see Christ transfigured with Peter, James an… John, We will not cry bonum est esse hic; i… is good for Christ to be with us, but it's bette… to be with Christ, yea, best of all, I desire to b… dissolved and to be with Christ which is bes… of all, Phil. 1.23.

Let us look back from this mount, and take a prospect of the steps that we have trodden.

1. Life is the most excellent of all Temporalls.

2. The soul is the most noble part of man.

3. A Feast is the most excellent of entertainments.

p. 334. Robes of ornament are the most excellent clothing.

5. Cordialls are the most excellent of Phisick.

6. Joy is the most excellent of the passions.

7. Gold is the most excellent of metalls.

8. A Crown is the most excellent of ornaments.

9. Jewells are the most excellent part of a Crown.

10. The first-born is the most excellent of the family.

11. The Sun is the most excellent of inanimate Creatures.

12. A shield is the most excellent armour.

13. A sure foundation is the most excellent part of the building.

Do not all these excellencies prove that Christ, who is compared to all these, is the most excellent good?

It were easy to be endles in the excellencies of Christ; he's foreign beginner and finisher of our faith. Hebr. 12.2. Yea, he's beginning, middle, and end. Rom. 11.36. Of him, and through him, and to him are all things.

p. 341. Of him tanquam ex principio.

2. Through him tanquam medium.

3. To him tanquam ad finem.

1. Of him as of their beginning.

2. Through him as through their meanes.

3. To him as to their end.

Christ is the Inprimis of a believers bill, for thus it runs. Inprimis Christ. Item promises, then grace, mercy, peace, and at last joy unspeakeable and glorious. And he's the Omega as well as Alpha, the last as well as the first of a believers care, to have Christ with us in grace. and holiness is the first, and to be with Christ in glory and happiness is the last. Yea, he's the very upshot, and summe totall of a believers account, as once a Martyr sayd, Christum & omnia: Christum & omnia. Give me Christ and I have all.

Si Christum discis nihil est si caetera nescis.

Si Christum nescis nihil est si caetera discis.

He is the field that containes the hid treasure, for in him are hid all the treasures of wis…ome and knowledg: Yea he's the hid treasure its self that is hid in the field of the word; The Jewell in that Cabinet, the hidden p. 35Manna that descends in that dew: Ob…erve and see whether he be not placed as the …eriod of all that Panegyricall pompe, as a …weet-meat in the end of a feast to make up the …elievers mouthes, Hebr. 12.22.23.24. …ee are come to mount Syon, and unto the City …f the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, …nd to an innumerable company of angells. To …he generall assembly, and Church of the first-…orn which are written in heaven, and to God …he judge of all, and to the soules of the just made perfect, now it follows, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant &c. That's …he altitude, the very apex that culminates a …elievers happiness: Some make vision the height of blessedness, and therefore call it the vision beatificall; but fruition is a step beyond …hat, for what will it profit a traveller to see …ich Countries wherein he hath no portion, or a measurer of land to know the borders of …nother estate; And here is a step beyond …oth vision and fruition, that all is seen and enjoyed through Christ, nay that they have pardon and life, and God and Christ with …hem, that they have gifts and giver and all. Oh how should believers look for, & long for, & pray for, & live for, & strive, & wrastle & …ight for that blessed time, when Christ shall p. 36be revealed, and they shall not only be with him but like him, and see and enjoy him as he is. 1. Joh. 3.2. and so much be spoken of the second Reason, which was both so full and sweet, that blame me not if I have played loath to part.

3. Reason. Because he is so to us: Lord thou art good and dost good saith David. Ps. 119.68. and so may we say to Christ. If he were never so excellent in himself, yet if he were not so to us, selfish man would overlook all the other as nothing; but it will appear that Christ hath been exceeding good to us, if we take into close consideration three things which shall be the amplifications of this reason.

1. What he hath been for us.

2. What he hath suffered for us.

3. What he hath done for us.

1. What he hath been for us: Well may we put on David's resolution to be more vile for the Lord, when we consider how vile he hath been for us. He that thought it no robbery to be equall with God, humbled himselfe, and became obedient to death, even the death of the crosse, take notice of that double death, p. 37those 2 deaths in one, death and the most shamefull and painfull death: death, even the death of the crosse, Exinanivit seipsum, he in whom all fullness dwelt emptyed himself, he layd aside the excellency of his glory that he might advance the excellency of his grace: he made his glory obscure like the Sun in a cloud, or ecclips'd, to make his grace glorious. The Evangelist speaks all when he sayth Joh. 1.14. The word was made flesh; he doth not say God was made man, but the spirit calls him the word to shew how great he was, and further sayth he was made flesh, a word of diminution to shew how mean he was: Quantus erat ut deus, quantillus ut homo, to shew how great he was as God, and how little he became in being made man. He took on him the form of a servant, and was sold at the rate of a slave, being valued at 30. pieces of silver. and for this cause God hath exalted him. Phil. 2.9. and for this cause we should exalt him, and should say. Quantò pro nobis vilior, tantò nobis charior, Oh holy and blessed Saviour, the more vile thou didst become for us, the more dear shalt thou be unto us.

2. What he hath suffered for us. The foregoing consideration spake to this likewise, shewing what he was, and what he suffered: p. 38God's coaequall humbled himself, that shewes what he was; and suffered death even t… death of the Crosse, that sheweth what he suffered. The Apostle …aith, Gal. 4.4. When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that are under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sonns. In which words are contained.

1. The fullness of time. When the fullness &c.

2. The fullness of Love. God sent &c.

3. The fullness of obedience, both active and passive. Made under the Law. (i. e.) undergoing the curse of the law passively, and fullfilling the righteousness of the Law actively.

4. The fullness of blessedness, that we might receive the adoption of Sonns.

The prophet saith he was broken for our sinns, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. Isay. 53.5. and the Apostle sayth he dyed for our sinns, and rose again for our justification. Rom. 4.25.

p. 393. What he hath done for us, and the things that he doth for us are of 2. sorts.

1. The things that he doth for us.

2. The things that he doth in us.

The first is that that is done for us, Justification.

The Second are the things that are done in mortification and sanctification.

1. The things that he hath done for us without us, besides that which hath been sayd of his sufferings which are ingredient into our justification, he hath fullfilled the righteousness of the Law, that he might be The Lord our Righteousness.

2. The things that he hath done for us within us: He puts out his omnipotency to make us new Creatures, and takes away the stony hearts out of our bodies, and gives us hearts of flesh; he powres clean water upon us to make us clean, clenses us from our idolls and fillthiness, He kill's our sinns and corruptions, and quickens our graces; he breakes us with the hammer of his law, melt's us with the fire of ordinances, casts us into the mould of his word, tries & purifies us in the fornace of afflictions: shaking us by the spirit of bondage, setling p. 40us by the spirit of adoption, that we may be vessells of mercy fitted for glory; It's the mighty power of God, and the vertue that goes out from Jesus Christ that doth effect this.

4. Reason. Because he is so in the Saints account. They are ready to proclaim him to be optimus, maximus, bigg'st and best: What Balaam the false prophet spake in a bragging bravado. Num. 24.3, 4. Balaam hath sayd, and the ma… whose eyes are open hath sayd: He hath sayd which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the allmighty, falling into a transe, but having his eyes open. How goodly are thy Tents, O Jacob, and thy Tabernacles, O Israel! I may say, and much more to our present purpose: Many a prophet hath spoken, yea, God hath spoken it by the univocall consent of his holy prophets which have been since the World began. The Evangelists, Apostles, and believers of all ages, who have had their eyes open, & have seen the visions of the Allmighty; Even those that have been taken up into the third Heaven in Divine raptures they have sayd, How goodly is thy Saviour, Oh Jacob and thy Redeemer, O Israell! He is the light to lighten the Gentiles, and the p. 41glory of Israel: Oh how goodly is that Light, that true Light, that Light of Light, That Son of the father of Lights, that lightens every one that comes into the World, or rather every one that comes out of the world to Christ, for he came to his own and his own received him not, and this is sayd to be the World's condemnation that Light is come into the World, and men love darkness more then Light. That a Saviour is come unto the world, and yet Soules will not flock unto this Saviour.

But we must chiefly intend our matter in hand, which is to acquaint you what account Christ hath allwayes been had in with his Saints, who is called King of Saints, and is sayd to have a rich and glorious Inheritance in the Saints. Eph. 1.18. (i. e.) he glorying in his Saints and accounting them his portion, and his Saints glorying in him, and taking him to be their Inheritance, and their mutuall Covenant complacency in one another when they can say with the spouse, My beloved is mine and I am his.

Now to fetch it ab origine.

1. Christ was present when Man was made.

2. Christ was promised when Man was marr'd.

3. Christ is president when Man is new made.

p. 421. Christ was present when Man wa… made The faciamus hominem comprehends him. Gen. 1.26. Which the Rabbines say is God and his Counsell, or as others of the God and his judgment Hall alluding to the lesser shanedrin, as it is conceived, which consisted of 3. neither more nor lesse; or if he were not taken in there, The Evangelist i… plain, Joh. 1.3. All things were made by him, and without him was nothing made that was made.

2. And as Christ was present when Ma… was made, so he was promised when Man wa… marr'd; When the curse was denounce… against the serpent, and before it was denounc'd against the woman and the man, it was promised that the seed of the woma… should break the Serpents head. Gen. 3.15.

3. And Christ is president when Man is new made; as the Apostle doth fully testify when he saith if any be in Christ he is a new Creature. 2. Cor. 5.17. He was the promised seed mentioned by Moses, not only i… Adam's, but in Abraham's case, in reference to his son Isaak, the seed in whom all Nations should be blessed, Gen. 12.3. In the Law given by Moses, every ceremony points, to p. 43Christ, and therefore it is called the Jew's gospel, and St. Iohn sayth, though the Law was given by Moses, yet grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, he was the substance of those shaddows, and the truth of those types. And if we do but read the ceremoniall Law with that Evangelicall Comment the Epistle to the Hebrews, you will find that that delates most methodically upon the person, and natures, and offices of Jesus Christ. And it's there further testifyed of Moses that he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater than the treasures of Aegypt Heb. 11.26. (i. e.) the worst of Christ better than the best of the World, for Aegypt, was called sumen totius orbis, the Navill, or granary of the World.

It's further sayd John 8.^th. 56. that Abraham desired to see Christ's day and rejoyced to see it.

Hee's called the Star of Jacob. Num. 24.17.

The root of Jesse Isay. 11.1.

David's Lord. Psalm. 110.1.

The Branch. Isay, 11.1. Isay. 4.2.

The glorious rest.

The desire of Nations.

The King in glory. Psal. 24 7, 9.

The Lord our Righteousness. Jer. 23.6.

p. 44The most Holy. Dan. 9.24.

David ownes him as his Lord, and in his Psalmes writes at large of his Propheticall, Priestly and Kingly office, take a tast of it from Ps. 110.

Salomon writes a book of him. That amorous song of his, the beginning whereof beggs the kisses of his mouth, and proclaimes his love to be better then wine. Cant. 1.2. And complaines (speaking in the person of the Church) that he was love-sick, for the bridegrooms flaggons, and wineseller, and apples, comparing him to all things that were amiable, and when he was run out of breath, proclaiming him to be totum amabile, altogether lovely. Cant. 5.16.

Isay the prophet speaks loftily of him Isay. 9.6, 7. Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the goverment shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called wonderfull, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting father, The prince of peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his Kingdome to order it, and to stablish it with judgment and with justice henceforth, and for ever.

p. 45John the Baptist sprang, and as it were danc'd for joy in his Mothers womb at the Virgins visit, Luke. 1.41. and afterward gloried that he must decrease in Christs increasings. Joh. 3.30.

The Evangelists make him the subject of all their writings, and fill their Gospel with the history of his Conception, Nativity, Life, Sermons, Miracles, Sufferings, Death, Resurrection, Ascention, and session, and second Coming. They declare at large that he was such a Preacher that he spake as never man spake, Iohn. 7.46. And the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth, caused wonder and astonishment. And that he was such a mighty worker, that he wrought as never man wrought, it was concluded that no man could do such miracles except God were with him. Iohn. 3.2. And the Evangelist John concludes, Ch. 21.25. There are many other things that Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that the world it self could not containe the books that should be written.

The lifting up of the Serpent by Moses in the wildernesse was but an Embleme of Christs lifting up upon the Cross, and in that according to his prediction he drew all p. 46Eyes and hearts after him as their Phisitian to heal them, and their Jesus to save them.

What Paul thought of him hath been observed from 1. Cor. 2.2. Where he desired to know nothing else but Jesus Christ, and him crucifyed, and from Philip. 3.7, 8. Where he accounts of all as dung and drosse in Comparison of the excellency of the knowledg of Christ Jesus &c.

And what Peter thought of him is manifest from my Text, that he is the chief corner stone, and pearle of price. The Church is sayd to be built upon the foundation of Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ being the head corner stone Eph. 2.20.

Yea, the mouthes of all the Prophets and Kings, and Righteous men, of all the Evangelists, Apostles, Martyrs, Teachers; believers have spoken reverently, and magnifyingly of Jesus Christ. Should I run through the whole book of God, I should be confounded in the search.

Take this for a brief account. He's the Alpha and Omega. Yea, beginning, middle, and end and all. He's the Alpha of Genesis for the Scripture. Hystory begins with him. In the begining God created. That is Chris… p. 47for one. Iohn. 1 3. All things were made by …im, and without him was nothing made that …as made. He's the summe and Epitome of Law …nd Gospel. The Law is but our Schoolmaster …o bring us unto Christ, and the Gospell is but …ur Tutor, when we are brought to the …niversity to lead us through principles, and …ractise to perfection.

And as he is beginning and middle, so he is …nd to. The Omega of the Revelation as well …s the Alpha of Genesis, for the Bible …oncludes with this invocation, Revel. 22.…0. Even so come Lord Jesus, come quick…y.

5. Reason. Because he makes all other …hings good unto Believers. Unto the pure all …hings are pure (i. e.) unto those that are in Christ Jesus, justifyed, and sanctifyed. But …nto them that are defiled and unbeleeving …othing is pure, but even their minds and con…cience is defiled. Tit. 1.15. Christ is the …hilosophers stone that turnes all metalls that …re toucht with it into gold: He is such a gift …hat turnes all gifts into mercies. Our Eng…ish Law tells us of a tenure in capite, by which if a man have but an acre of Land in …hat tenure, it turnes all the rest that he hath p. 48into the same tenure. To hold by Christ to hold by such a tenure, and though that held the worst in temporalls, yet this is th… best in spiritualls, according to that of th… Apostle 1. Cor. 3.23. All things are yours and you Christs: Jacobs enough was more i… this respect than Esaas enough, because Esa… had but the bare gifts, but Jacob had gift… and giver, This should teach us to covet tha… what we have we may have upon a Covenan… account, and then we shall not only have a basket, but a blessing upon the basket. Deu… 28.5. And a little that a righteous man hat… will be better than all the revenues of the wicked. And so much may suffice to be spoke… concerning the Reasons that stand as a back to this Doctrine, the Application and Uses follow.