Christ Set Forth, Table of contents 2 – Treatise
THE TABLE OF The Heart of Chriſt in Heaven, towards Sinners on Earth.
1. Demonſtrations of the gracious diſpoſition of his Heart towards us.
Extrinſecall, ſhewing the foreign, that it is ſo.
Part 1.
Intrinſecall ſhewing the foreign, the Reaſons why it muſt needs be ſo.
Part 2.
2. The Manner how his Heart is affected towards us; and the way how it comes to paſſe that ſuch affections are let into his heart.
Part 3.
Part I.
Containing Demonſtrations Extrinſecall.
§. I.
Demonſtrations from Chriſts carriage at his laſt Farewell, and his laſt Sermon; John, Chapters, 13, &c. and in his laſt prayer, John 17. the ſcope of all which was to aſſure his Diſciples of his being conſtant in his Affections towards them. 5
1. From his carriage at his laſt Fare-well, And this in foure things. 6
2. From many paſſages in that his laſt Sermon, in 5. things. 13
3. From his laſt Prayer Joh. 17. which Prayer is a patterne of his Interceſſion in Heaven, and ſo an expreſſion of what his heart is there. 22
§. II.
Demonſtrations from many paſſages and expreſſions after his Reſurrection. 24
This Reſurrection his firſt ſtep to his glory; and therefore this a certaine Demonſtration. 25
1. From the firſt gracious meſſage which Chriſt after his Reſurrection ſent his Diſciples, who yet had forſaken him. 26
2. From his carriage and ſpeech at his firſt meeting with them. 25
§. III.
Demonſtrations from paſſages at, and after Chriſts Aſcenſion into heaven:
1. At his Aſcenſion, his bleſſing his Diſciples. 32
2. After he was come to heaven,
1. Pouring out his Spirit on them, as in his laſt Sermon he had promiſed, which Spirit is to this day in our Preaching, and an Argument of the fulfilling of this. 33
2. All thoſe works of Miracles, and converſions of ſoules that accompanied the firſt preaching of the Goſpel, doe argue this, as alſo the New Teſtament written ſince. 34
3. Chriſts owne words ſpoken to Paul, ſince himſelfe was in heaven, doe confirme it. 35
4. The laſt words uttered in Scripture, in the Book of the Revelation, which was more immediately given unto John by Chriſt. 37
Part II.
Demonſtrations Intrinſecall.
§. I.
The firſt ſort of Intrinſecall Demonſtrations drawn from the Influence which all the three Perſons have into the Heart of the Humane nature of Chriſt in Heaven. 48
1. From God the Father. Which Demonſtration is made forth by two things:
1. God hath given Chriſt a perpetuall command to love his Elect on earth, and hath written a Law of love in his heart. 49
2. This Law of love remaines for ever in his heart, which is proved by two things:
1. That it is a Law, and that of Love. 52
2. That by obſerving that Law it is that Chriſt continues in his Fathers love. 53
2. From God the Sonne, unto whom the Humane nature is united. This diſpoſition of grace is naturall to him, as he is Gods naturall Sonne. 54
Accordingly the Humane nature framed on purpoſe with diſpoſitions of mercy and meekneſſe above all other. 55
3. From God the Holy Ghoſt, who on earth filled him with meekeneſſe and grace above all other diſpoſitions, and now reſteth upon him in Heaven, more abundantly then ever. 60
§. II.
A ſecond ſort of Demonſtrations from ſeverall engagements now lying upon Chriſt in Heaven. 70
1. Engagement. The continuance of all his Relations and Alliances to us, which no glory of his doth any thing leſſen or alter. ibid.
Which relations were made chiefely for the other world, and ſo muſt needes continue there. 72
The Ground of this Engagement. 76
2. His love is engaged and encreaſed, by what he did and ſuffered for us. 77
What a great obligation this is. 78
3. His office of Prieſthood which continues in Heaven, doth further require all mercifulneſſe and graciouſneſſe in him towards us ſinners. This Demonſtration hath two parts. 83
The 1.
Shewing that the office of Prieſthood was erected on purpoſe for grace and merciemercy. ibid.
Which is argued,
1. By the Ends of it.
2. By the Qualifications required for it. 85
The 2.
Shewing that by reaſon of this office, an eternall duty lyeth upon him to ſhew grace and mercy: and Chriſt is a faithfull High-Prieſt to performe that duty. 90
Chriſts advancement can make no alteration in his heart, for his Prieſthood is his higheſt advancement:
And Grace did both Found, and now upholds his Throne of Grace. 94
4. His own Intereſt puts him upon theſe Affections of heart towards us: His own joy, happineſſe, and glory are encreaſed by ſhewing merciemercy to, and comforting his children upon earth: and it is more for his glory then for our good. 98
Chriſt hath a double fulneſſe of joy,
1. Perſonall, in his Father.
2. Myſticall, in his Members. 99
How Chriſt rejoiceth in Heaven at our well-doing here on earth. 101
5. His having the nature of man, the ſame for ſubſtance in Heaven, that he had on earth, obligeth him to be mercifull unto men. 104
The end of his Aſſuming mans nature was to qualifie him for merciemercy. 105
Though it adds not to the greatneſſe of merciemercy in God; yet it addes a new way of being mercifull, even as a man, 106
Part III.
§. I.
Some Generals to cleare,
1. How this is to be underſtood, That Chriſts Heart is touched with the feeling of our infirmities:
2. The way how our Infirmities come to be feelingly let into his heart, 109
1. How this affection in Chriſt is to be underſtood, This explained by theſe degrees:
1. This affection of compaſſion is not wholly to be underſtood in a Metaphoricall ſenſe, as when God is ſaid to be afflicted, &c. that is, not meerely after the ſimilitude of men, but in a true and reall ſenſe. 111
2. Theſe affections in Chriſts humane nature are more like to ours then thoſe which the Angells have, who notwithſtanding have affections analogicall to ours. 113
3 Chriſt having taken fraile fleſh ere he went to Heaven, this fits him yet more for having affections of merciemercy like unto ours. 115
3. For the way how our miſeries are let into Chriſts heart ſo as to affect it. This explained by two things.
1, The Humane nature hath the knowledge and cognizance of all that can or doth befall us here. 118
2, He remembers how himſelfe was once affected when he was under the like, 119
§. II.
A more particular Diſquiſition what manner of affection this is. The ſeat thereof, whether in his ſpirit or ſoule onelyonly, or in the whole humane nature.
Some Cautious added. 121
This affection (for our better conceiving it,) ſet forth three wayes.
1. Negatively, it is not in all things ſuch as it was in the dayes of his fleſh.
2 Poſitively, It is yet for ſubſtance the very ſame affection, and the ſeat of it is his bodily heart as well as his ſoule. 124
Foure Cautions or Poſitions about this:
1. In what ſenſe, or ſo far as his Body is made ſpirituall, ſo far are theſe Affections ſpiritualized, as they are in his body. 125
2. Hence, though they move his Bowels, yet they doe not perturbe or hurt him in the leaſt. 126
3. All naturall humane affections may be ſtill in him that are not unbecomming his ſtate & glory. And how much the having ſuch affections are ſuteable to that ſtate and relation wherein he is. 128
4. Though a paſſionate ſuffering be cut off, yet theſe affections are now more large and ſtrong for the ſubſtance of them, then they were on earth. 130
3. Privatively. If his heart ſuffers not with us under our Infirmities, yet he hath leſſe joy then his heart ſhall have when we are freed from all. 131
How the Scripture attributes ſome kinde of Imperfection to ſome affection in him, and in what ſenſe.
§. III.
This Scruple ſatisfied, How Chriſts heart can bee feelingly touched with our ſins, (our greateſt infirmities) ſeeing he was tempted [without ſinne.] 133
Foure anſwers given thereunto for our comfort.
Vſes of all. 137
FINIS.