First Epistle of John Applied Part 1, Lecture 30

First Epistle of John Applied Part 1 · Lecture 30

p. 596THE FIRST EPISTLE OF S^t. JOHN.

CHAP. 2. 22, 23, VERS.

Who is a Lyer, but hee that denieth that Jeſus is the Chriſt? hee is Antichriſt that denieth the Father, and the Son.

Whoſoever denyeth the Son, the ſame hath not the Father, but he that acknowledgeth the Son, hath the Father alſo.

THe Knowledge of the diſeaſe is the better part of the cure, and therefore the Phyſicians skill is more ſeen in diſcovering the malady, than in preſcribing the Remedy. The greateſt danger of a ſhip at Sea, is by reaſon of unſeen ſhelfs, unknown rocks, and therefore the Pilots chiefeſt care is by his own and others experience, to learn upon what coaſt they lye. Finally, An enemy diſcovered is half vanquiſhed, andPlut. Apophth therefore it is the ſaying of Chabrias in Plutarch, hee is the beſt General, who is most acquainted with the deſigns and motions of his enemy. Upon this conſideration, no doubt p. 597it is that our Apoſtle having before in general admoniſhed thoſe to whom hee writeth, of theſe Antichriſtian enemies, doth here more particularly diſcover their hereſies, to us, whereby they might at once bee more eaſily diſcerned and avoided, who is a Lyar, but he that denieth that Jeſus is the Christ?

In theſe two verſes wee have two generals.

A Deſcription of the Hereticks in St. John daies, in the two and twentieth verſe, Who is a Lyar, &c.

An Amplification of that deſcription as to the latter part of it, in the three and twentieth verſe, Whoſoever denieth the Son, &c.

1 In the deſcription wee ſhall conſider a

1 Double Appellation, with which he brandeth them; in thoſe words, Who is a Lyar? and he is Antichriſt.

2 Double Accuſation, which hee chargeth upon them, of denying that Jeſus is the Chriſt, and denying the Father and the Son.

Begin we with the Appellations, which are two, Lyar and Antichriſt.

1 The latter of theſe is, that which hath been diſcuſſed alr…dy from the eighteenth verſe, and therefore ſhall now bee only touched.

That the foreign doth not here deſign that perſon or party, to which this title is by Divines particularly attributed, will ſufficiently appear by what is already ſaid in the forementioned verſe, and accordingly Calvin is expreſs,Calv. in loc. The Apoſtle speaketh not here of that man of ſin who ſhall ſit in the Temple of God. So that it is moſt rationally conceived as a Title given to thoſe many Heretical Teachers, which were Apoſtatized from the Church, even in the Apoſtles daies.

There are Chriſtiani ſine Chriſto, Chriſtians without Chriſt, ſuch are all they who profeſſing his name, have no real intereſt in him; but here are Chriſtiani contrae Chriſtum, Christians against Chriſt, ſo far degenerated from their chriſtian p. 598profeſſion, as to ſet themſelves in direct oppoſition to Chriſt; That the Jews and Heathens ſhould bee Antichrists, is no wonder, but that ſuch who had been Baptized into Chriſt, yea, had Preached Chriſt, ſhould Apoſtatize to a renouncing of him, …enders them ſo much the more Antichriſtian, and perhaps for this reaſon the Apoſtle prefixeth the Emphatical Article; for whereas the Jews and Heathen were Antichriſts, becauſe not knowing, they never owned, but oppoſed him, theſe were ſuch as knowing had profeſſed him, but either through fear of men, or love of the World, or which is worſt of all, desperate malice, not onelyonly deſerted, but rejected him.

2 The former of the titles is not onelyonly aſſerted, but as Gualter well obſerveth, by way of Interrogation amplified,Gualt. in loc. it is not, hee is a Lyar, who denyeth? but, who is a Lyar, but hee that denyeth? which is as much as to ſay, If hee bee not a Lyar, none is, according to that expreſſion which wee ſometimes uſe (as Eſtius well obſerveth)Eſt. in loc. by way of Aggravation; what is wickedneſſe if this bee not? ſo that our Apostle hereby affirmeth of theſe Antichristian Teachers, that they were Egr…gi… ▪ not… rious Lyars, for ſo Beda gloſſeth, In hujus comparatione Beda ibid.mendacii, c…tera, aut parva videntur, aut nulla, in compariſon of this Lye, others are ſmall, or none at all.

There are two things which denominate a man an odious Lyar, the one, when that which is affirmed or denyed, is evidently contrary to truth, and the other, when the thing ſo aſſerted is injurious and pernicious to them that beleeve it. And truely, both theſe may juſtly bee charged on the Lyars in the Text, for they denyed that which was in it ſelf manifeſt, yea, which they themſelves had been convinced of, and that which they denied tended to no leſſe than the utter ſubverſion of the Chriſtian faith, and the destruction of thoſe who adhered to it, and therfore no wonder if St. John by way of queſtion, accuſe the p. 599Hereticks in his time, of Lying, who is a Lyar? &c.

That which I ſhall briefly obſerve from both theſe titles, is the zeal of this holy Apoſtle in reproving theſe Hereticks; Lyars, are execrabile hominum genus, a moſt execrable ſort of men, hated and abhorred of all; nor is a Lyar more odious among all men, than an Antichrist is among all Chriſtians, ſo that our Apoſtle could not well have branded them with names more odious than theſe. The truth is, two ſorts of ſinners are ſeverely to bee rebuked, Hypocrites, and Hereticks; an example of the former, wee have from Chriſt himſelf, who reprehending the Hypocritical Phariſees, calls them fools and Vipers, and of the latter in St. John, who gain-ſaying the Heretical Teachers of his time, calls them Antichriſts and Lyars.

Indeed, in one of thoſe Titles, is a latent reaſon of his bitterneſſe againſt them, namely, becauſe they were againſt Chriſt; Had they been onelyonly his Antagoniſts, no doubt, hee would have been milde and gentle, but his maſters honour was concerned in the quarrel, no wonder if hee bee ſo zealous; Moſes the meekeſt man upon earth in his own concernments, is ſo inraged againſt the Iſraelites for their Idolatry, that hee breaketh the Tables of the Law. The Hiſtorian obſerveth of Caeſars ſouldiers, that they purſued their Generals Engagements with vigour, whileſt they were cool and temperate in their own concernments; and ſurely, though towards our own Adverſaries wee muſt ſhow meekneſſe, yet when they are not onelyonly ours but Chriſts enemies, it becomes us to teſtify our love to Chriſt by our Indignation againſt them. It was an excellent ſaying of Guevara, in an Epiſtle to the Emperour Charls the fifth, Christianus nullâ re magis dignoſci poteſt, quam ſi De… factas contumelias et blaſphemias ſeveriſſime ulciſcatur, ſuas obliviſcatur, there is no better Character of a right Chriſtian, than to forget the injuries done to himſelf, but to be angry at the blasphemies againſt God and Chriſt.

p. 600And which ſerveth ſo much the more to juſtify our Apoſtles ſeverity in reproving thoſe falſe Teachers, is, that they were not obliquely, but directly oppoſers of Chriſt; they were ſuch who did not onelyonly indeavour to lop off the branches of Chriſtianity, but to pluck it up by the roots, to deface the building of Religion, but to deſtroy the foundation; as there is a difference in ſins, ſo in errours; all diſeaſes are not alike malignant, nor all errours equally peſtiferous; every Heterodox opinion is not a ſufficient warrant to brand a man with theſe Appellations of Lyar and Antichriſt; but when they were ſo heretical as to deny Jeſus to bee the Chriſt, no marvail if this holy Apoſtle, not out of a raſh bitterneſſe, but a well-grounded zeal, uſe theſe harſh invectives. It is a frame of spirit which wee finde in other ſervants of God, as well as S. John; The Apoſtle Paul having to do with Elimas, ſpares him not, but calls him a Childe of the Devil, an enemy of all righteouſneſſe; and writing to the Philippians concerning heretical Act. 13. 10.Acts 13:10teachers, calleth them the conciſion, and compareth them to dogs; no leſſe Satyrical was that of Polycarpus Phil. 3. 2Phil 3:2to Marcian, Agnoſco te primogenitum diaboli, I know thee to bee the Devils firſt-born; Let the ſame ſpirit bee in us in oppugning the Authors and Abetters of damnable hereſies. The viſible deſcending of the Holy Ghost upon the Apoſtles, was in fiery tongues, ſuch tempers had they, yea, all their ſucceſſors, the Biſhops and Paſtors of the Church, ought to have tongues ſet on fire from heaven, which may flame forth in vehement increpations, as of notorious ſinners, ſo of venomous hereticks.

2 From the Appellations, proceed wee to the Accuſations.

I. The firſt whereof we find to be denying that Jeſus is the Chriſt, in which words there is,

A Truth implicitely aſſerted by the Apoſtle, Jeſus is the Chriſt.

An hereſy explicitely charged on the falſe Teachers, p. 601namely, the denial of this truth, he that denyeth that Jeſus is the Christ.

1 When our Apoſtle ſaith, who is a Lyar but hee that denyeth? what doth hee but tacitely aſſirm this to bee a truth, That Jeſus is the Chriſt? and becauſe it is a fundamental truth, upon which the whole Fabrick of Chriſtian Religion standeth, give mee leave a while to inſist upon it, not as queſtioning, but for the further streng thening your aſſent to it, ſo much the rather, becauſe of the multitude of Jews, which are at this time crept in among us, whom though I have little hope to convince, yet I would strive to prevent in thoſe ſecret indeav…rs (which probably they uſe) to ſedu…e Christians from the faith of Chriſt.

That there was ſuch a man as Jeſus of Nazareth, born and living among the Jews, is an hiſtory ſo authentical, that there will bee no need of ſpending time about theJoſeph. Antiqu. l. 18. c. 14. proof of it. It is acknowledged by the Jews themſelves, witneſſe Joſephus in his Jewiſh Antiquities, where he maketh an honourable mention of him, in theſe words, At that time was Jeſus, a wiſe man (if it be lawful to call him man) &c. It is confeſſed by Pagans, Suetonius in the life of Claudius, Sueton. l. 5.ſpeaketh of him by the name of Chreſtus, Tacitus, andTacit. l. 15. Pliny the younger, acknowledged him by the name Chriſtus; and ſurely that which not onelyonly his followers, Plin. Jun. l. 10. Ep. 97.but his enemies confeſs, may well be taken for granted.

The only difficulty is to make it appear, that this Jeſus that then lived, is the Chriſt, that is, the perſon whom Moſes and the Prophets foretold to bee the Meſſiah. To this end, the onelyonly thing to bee done, is an inquiry into the Praedictions concerning the Meſſiah, which, if they bee found verified in this Jeſus, and no other perſon can bee aſſigned, in whom they are verified, it will bee clearly manifeſt, that Jeſus is the Chriſt. This way of arguing, I ſo much the rather make choice of, becauſe it is that to which Chriſt himſelf directs us, when he bids p. 602the Jews to ſearch the Scriptures, that is, the Old Teſtament, (which then was the only written word) upon this accountJoh. 5. 39John 5:39 for they are they that teſtify of me, therby putting the controverſy to this iſſue, that if he were not the perſon of whom the ſcripture did teſtify as the Meſſiah, let him be accounted an Impoſtor and Deceiver. Accordingly it is, that his Apoſtles in their diſcourſes concerning him, ſtill have recourſe to the Prophetical writings. Thus St. Paul ſaith of himſelf, that hee was ſeparated unto the Gospel of God, which heRom. 1. 12Rom 1:12 had promiſed afore by his Prophets in the Holy Scriptures, and concerning his Doctrin, that hee ſaid no other things Act. 26. 22.Acts 26:22than thoſe which the Prophets and Moſes did ſay ſhould come; for this Reaſon it was no doubt, that St. Peter 2▪ Pet. 1. 192 Pet 1:19wills thoſe to whom hee writeth, that they ſhould take heed to the ſure word of Prophecy, as to a light that ſhineth in a dark place.

In this comparing of the Prophecies concerning the Meſſiah, with the Hiſtory of Jeſus, I ſhall not mention all, nor yet largely inſiſt on th…ſe I ſhall mention, ſo as to vindicate them from all cavils, ſince then, this one diſcourſe would ſwell to a volume, and beſides, it hath been abundantly done by the Learned already; onelyonly I ſhall run over the principal, and that in ſuch a way as (I hope) will strengthen the Chriſtian, if not convince the gainſayer.

The Prophecies of the Meſſiah, which wee meet with in the Old Teſtament, are ſuch as concern his Birth, Doctrin, Miracles, Offices, Sufferings, and Exaltation, all which will, upon due ſearch be found true in Jeſus.

1 Concerning the Meſſiahs Birth, there are four forts of Predictions, referring to the time, the place, the tribe, the manner.

1 The firſt prophecy we meet with concerning the time of the Meſſiahs comming into the world, is that of Jacob, where he …aith, The Scepter ſhall not depart from Judah, nor a Law-giver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Gen. 43. 10Gen 43:10him ſhall the gathering of the people bee. That by Shiloh is p. 603meant, the Meſſiah, may appear, in that it is ſo rendred by the three-fold Targum of O…kelos, Jonathan, and Hieruſalem; and withall the periphraſis annexed (to him ſhall bee the gathering of the people) can agree to none but him. Now that which Jacob aſſerteth concerning the Meſſiah, is▪ that there ſhould not be a total extirpation of all Civil power in the tribe of Judah, before the Meſſiah came, and thence it neceſſarily followeth, that the extirpation of the Civil power is a ſure note of the Meſſiahs being come. Another Prophecy concerning the Meſſiahs advent, wee meet with in Daniel, and it is uttered by an Angel, Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy City, to finiſh the tranſgreſſion▪ and to make an end of ſins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and Dan. 9. 24, 25, 26.Dan 9:24Dan 9:25Dan 9:26to bring in everlasting Righteouſneſſe, and to ſeal up the … ſion and Prophecy, and to annoint the moſt holy know therefore and underſtand, that from the going forth of the Commandement, to reſtore, and to build Jeruſalem, unto the Meſſiah, the Prince, ſhall bee ſeven weeks, and threeſcore and two weeks ſhall the ſtreet bee built again, and the wall, even in troubleſome times, and after threeſcore and two weeks ſhall Meſſiah bee cut off, but not for himſelf, and the people of the Prince that ſhall come, ſhall destroy the City and the Sanctuary, and the end thereof ſhall bee with a floud, and unto the end of the war, deſolations are determined; where the Angel plainly aſſirmeth, among many other things, that the Meſſiah ſhould come, and bee cut off before the deſtruction of the City and the Sanctuary, whence it is naturally inferred, that the actual overthrow of the City and Sanctuary, is an undoubted ſign of the Meſſiahs being come. Parallel to this are thoſe two Prophecies, the one in Haggai, and the other in Malachy, The Prophet Haggai brings in God himſelf, thus ſaying, Yet once it is a little while, and I will ſhake the Heavens, and the Earth, and the Sea, and the dry land, and I will ſhake Hag. 2. 6, 7, 9Hag 2:6Hag 2:7Hag 2:9all Nations, and the deſire of all Nations ſhall come, and p. 604I will fill this houſe with glory, yea, the glory of this latter houſe ſhall bee greater than of the former, ſaith the Lord of Hoaſts. That this is a prediction of the Meſſiah, will appear among others, by this one irrefragable argument; The latter houſe, which is here spoken of, was far ſhort of the former; and in particular, there were five things awanting in it, The Urim and Thummim, The Ark of the Covenant, The Schechinah, The fire from Heaven, and The spirit of Prophecy▪ Now there cannot any thing bee rationally affirmed, as that which notwithſtanding thoſe defects ſhould render this latter houſe more glorious than the former, but onelyonly the Meſſiahs preſence. Finally, the Prophet Malachy, in the name ofMal. 3. 1Mal 3:1 God, ſaith, Behold, I will ſend my meſſenger, and hee ſhall prepare the way before mee, and the Lord whom you ſeek ſhall ſuddainly come to his Temple; even the meſſenger of the Covenant whom you delight in, behold, hee ſhall come; where thoſe words, The Lord whom you ſeek. are no other then a periphraſis of the Meſſiah whom the Jews expected, whom this laſt of the Prophets fore-tells, not onelyonly to come, but to come ſuddainly, and that with a double behold, to intimate both the certainty and propinquity of his comming; by both theſe predictions it is elearly manifeſt, that the Time of the Meſſiahs comming was to bee, whileſt this latter Temple was standing, and therefore the deſtruction of the Temple is an undeniable note of the Meſſiahs being come▪

By what hath been ſaid from theſe Prophecies, one would think the Jew might bee convinced of his folly, in ſtill looking for a Meſſiah, when as it is ſo many hundred years ſince the Jewiſh Government, together with the City and Temple of Jeruſalem was deſtroyed. And that the Jeſus whom we profeſſe to be the Chriſt, was born before this utter diſſipation, is an Hiſtory ſo clear, that I ſuppoſe none will queſtion it. Indeed, many Learned Chriſtians have taken great pains, and to good purpoſe, exactly p. 605paralleling the time of the comming of Jeſus, with the Prophecies of Chriſt, and eſpecially with that which is the moſt punctual Prophecy, to wit, Daniels, referring the going forth of the Commandement, not to that which was given by Cyrus, but by Artaxerxes Longimanus, in the twentieth year of his reign; yea, ſome among the Jews (as Rabbi N…hemiah, who lived fifty years before Jeſus) did affirm, that the Meſſiah ſhould come at that time when Jeſus was born: Nay, Porphiry, that bitter enemy of Chriſtians, ſaw the History of Jeſus ſo clearly corresponding to the Prophecy in Daniel, that his laſt refuge is, to deny thoſe Prophecies to bee Daniels. But not troubling my ſelf or you with Chronological computations, It is enough for our preſent purpoſe, if it bee granted (which I ſee not how it can bee denyed) that Jeſus was born whileſt yet the Temple and City of Jeruſalem was standing, and about the time of the utter departure of the Civil Government from Judah. Beſides, the Sacred Hiſtory of the Gospel, the Teſtimony of Joſephus the Jew, and the Letter ſent by Pilate a Roman to Tiberius Tertul. Apolog. c. 21.(to which both Tertullian and Juſtin Martyr appeal) do ſufficiently evince that there was ſuch a perſon at that time born and living in Judea, and at laſt crucified by the Jews

2 As to the place where the Meſſiah was to be born, the Prophet Micah is expreſs, where hee ſaith, But thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thouſands of Judah, yet out of thee ſhall hee come forth unto mee that is to bee ruler in Iſrael, whoſe goings forth have been Micah 5. 2Mic 5:2from of Old, from Everlaſting; from which Scripture it is, that the Phariſees gave their anſwer upon Herods inquiry concerning the place of his birth, in which reſpect the Prophet and Evangelist are fitly reconciled, while one calleth it the leaſt, and the other ſaith, it is not the leaſt, to wit, becauſe of the greatneſs of the perſon born in it. Now that Jeſus was born in Bethlehem, we have no p. 606meaner Teſtimony than that of an Angel, in his meſſage to the Shepheards, To you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord; nor would it beLuk. 2. 1…Luke 2:1 paſſed by the ſtrangeneſſe of that providence▪ which brought it about that hee ſhould bee born there, for whereas Joſeph and Mary dwelt in Nazareth, (twenty miles diſtant from Bethlehem and it was far beſides their thoughts to go to Bethelhem) it ſo falleth out, that in a peaceable time, the preſent Emperour impoſeth an univerſal Tax upon the Jews among others, by which means every one is to go up to the City of their Tribe, and ſo thoſe of the houſe of David to Bethlehem the City of David, & this fell out to be the very time when the daies of Mary were accompliſhed that ſhe ſhould be delivered, and this was done that the Prophecy ſhould be fulfilled.

3 The Tribe of which the Meſſiah ſhould come, was that of Judah, and more particularly, the houſe of David. This is intimated by Jacob, when hee foretellethGen. 43. 10.Gen 43:10 the comming of the Meſſiah under the name of Shiloh, which ſome interpret his Son, to wit, Judah, and in▪ aſ much as this prediction is inſerted in the benediction of Judah, which can bee for no other reaſon, but that the Meſſiah was to come of him. More plain, and particular Iſay 11. 1Isa 11:1is that Prophecy of Iſaiah, There ſhall come forth a rod out of the ſtem of Jeſſe, and a branch ſhall grow out of his roots, where the Chaldee Paraphraſe, expreſly teſtifieth by that rod to bee deſigned the Meſſiah, who ſhould spring forth of David, who was a stem of Jeſſe; yet more punctually doth this appear, in that promiſe madePſal. 132. 11Ps 132:11 to David, by God, of the fruit of thy loins will I ſet upon this Throne, and again, I will ſet up thy ſeed after thee, 2 Sam. 7. 12.2 Sam 7:12which ſhall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will eſtabliſh his Kingdome for ever, the former of which is expreſly applied to the Meſſiah, by S. Peter; in reference to this, it is,Act. 2. 30. Iſa. 55. 3Acts 2:30Isa 55:3 that we read of the ſure mercies of David, yea, by Jeremy and Hoſea this name of David is applyed to the Meſſiah, p. 607Jer. 30. 9Jer 30:9they ſhall ſerve, or ſeek the Lord their God, & David their King, which cannot bee meant litterally of David, who fellHoſ. 3. 5Hos 3:5 aſleep long before, and therefore is mystically expounded of the Meſſiah, who is called David, becauſe he was to come from his family. This truth was ſo known amongMat. 22. 42Matt 22:42 the Jews, that when Jeſus asked the Phariſees, what think you of Chriſt? whoſe Son is he? they ſay to him, The Son of David.

Now that our Lord sprang out of the Tribe of Judah, Heb. 1. 14Heb 1:14is affirmed by the Author to the Hebrews to bee evident, 2 Tim. 2. 32 Tim 2:3and he is ſaid by St. Paul expreſly, to be of the ſeed of David; remarkable to this purpoſe are his own words,Rev. 22. 16Rev 22:16 where hee ſaith, I am the Root, and the Ofspring of David, to wit, according to his two natures, in reſpect of his God-head the Root, and his Man-hood, the Ofspring of David, by which that Riddle is unfolded, of his being both the Lord, and the Son of David. As for his Legal Father, Joſeph, it is … by St. Matthew, that hee was of Judahs Tribe, and Jeſus being born of Mary after her Espouſals to Joſeph▪ is upon that account to bee reckoned of the tribe of Judah: for if when theDeut. 25. 8.Deut 25:8 brother did raiſe the ſeed to his brother, by marrying his widow, the firſt-born was to ſucceed in the name of the dead brother, and conſequently reckoned as his Son; well might Maries Son whom ſhee miraculouſly conceived by the Holy Ghost overſhadowing, bee reputed Joſephs, to whom ſhee was eſpouſed; and it being the cuſtome of the Jews to derive the Genealogy from the Fathers, in which reſpect it was a Proverb among them, the mothers family is no family, Jeſus is juſtly aſſerted to bee of his Fathers Tribe, though hee was not his natural, but onelyonly his Legal Father. Though withallLuk. 1. 26Luke 1:26 there is nothing rationally to contradict, that Mary was of the houſe of David, of the Tribe of Judah; It is true, Elizabeth who was of the houſe of Aaron, the Tribe of Levi, is called her Couzen, but inaſmuch as it was lawful p. 608for the Tribe of Levi, having no poſſeſſions of their own, to marry into any Tribe, it may bee probably conceived, that either ſome of the Virgin Maries Anceſtors married a wife of Levies Tribe, or ſome of Elizabeths Anceſtors did marry a wife of Judahs Tribe, and ſo either way there might bee an affinity between the Virgin Mary and Elizabeth. Beſides this, that there is no convincing reaſon againſt it, there are good arguments inferring it, for ſince upon that particular occaſion of Zelophehads daughters, there was a Law enacted of everyNumb. 36Num 36 daughter marrying in her own Tribe which had an inheritance, and if (as Caſaubon argueth) the bleſſed Virgin Caſaub. Exercit.were though in a mean condition, yet heir to an eſtate, it is very probable that ſhee was of Joſephs own Tribe, ſince hee hath the teſtimony of a juſt man, and therefore one who would not violate ſo manifeſt a Law. Adde to this, that thoſe words in St. Luke, of the houſe of David, may as well bee referred▪ …he Virgin espouſed to Joſeph, as to Joſeph, and then it becommeth a poſitive aſſertion,Luk. 1. 27.Luke 1:27 that Mary was of the houſe of David; and yet once more, if (as Spanhemius ſtrongly urgeth) St. Lukes genealogy Spanhem. dub. Evang.giveth us the linage of Mary, it is without all doubt, that both by Father and Mothers ſide, Jeſus was of the Tribe of Judah.

4 The predictions concerning the Meſſiah, aſſert that hee ſhould bee born of a Virgin. The Prophet Iſaiah Iſa. 7. 14.Isa 7:14is expreſs, Behold, a Virgin ſhall conceive, and bear a Son, and though the Hebrew word may ſignify any young woman, yet that there it ſhould bee rendered Virgin, even this conſideration will evince, becauſe it is uſhered in with a behold of admiration, and it is intended as a ſign for confirmation of Ahaz, whereas it were no wonder, and therefore not fit to bee a ſigne, that a young woman ſhould conceive, and bear a Son; Being then a Prophecy of a Son to bee brought forth by a virgin, it is no other doubtleſſe, than the Meſſiah, whoſe birth is there intended; p. 609and the very name Immanuel, by which hee is to bee called, intimateth as much, it being a name too high for any perſon, except the Meſſiah. What in this Prophecy Iſaiah ſpake plainly, in the fifty third chap. hee utters alluſively, where speaking of the Meſsiah, (for that that Chapter is to be understood of him, is ſo evident, that hee who runs may read it) hee ſaith, He ſhall Iſa. 53. 2Isa 53:2grow up as a tender plant in a dry ground, that is (ſay ſome not improbably) of a Virgin, without the help of a man: Now that Jeſus was born of Mary whileſt yet a Virgin, the Evangelical Hiſtory plainly affirmeth; nor need it ſeem impoſſible either to Jew or Pagan.

As for the Jew, why may hee not beleeve, that the ſame Divine power which cauſed Old Sarah to conceive, and bring forth, when ſhee was as good as dead? which made Aarons rod to bud, bloſſome, and bring forth Almonds? yea, which formed the firſt man Adam without the help of woman, could enable a Virgin to conceive and bring forth without the help of man?

As for the Pagans, they affirm that Venus was engendred of the froth of the Sea, animated by the warmth of the Sun; that Pallas came from Joves brain, and Bacchus from his thigh; that ſome of their Heroes were begotten by their Gods, upon mortal creatures; Hercules, on Alemena, by Jupiter; Pan, on P…nelope, by Mercury; Romulus, on Rhea, a Virgin, by Mars; and why is it not credible, that Jeſus ſhould bee born of the Virgin Mary by the overſhadowing of the Holy Ghost? And thus I have given you a brief account of the parallel between the Prophecy of the Meſſiah, and the Hiſtory of Jeſus, as to his birth.

2 The Prophet Iſaiah ſpeaking concerning the Meſſiah, tells us, that the Spirit of the Lord ſhall reſt upon him, Iſa. 11. 2Isa 11:2the Spirit of Wiſdome and Underſtanding, the Spirit of Counſel and Might, and the Spirit of Knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord; that this Spirit did reſt on Jeſus appeareth, p. 610both by the Oracles hee ſpake, and the Works, eſpecially by the Miracles, hee wrought. It was the teſtimony the people gave of him, that never man spake like him, Joh. 7. 46John 7:46by which it appeareth, that the Spirit of Wiſdome and Knowledge did rest on him, never did any ſo clearly reveal the Will of God to the people as hee. The Glorious Promiſes were never ſo unveiled as by him, and by him the Precepts of the Law were moſt exactly interpreted. That the Spirit of Might did rest on him eminently, appeared in his wondrous Miracles, which were notMark 2. 12Mark 2:12 done in a corner, but openly before the people, who cryed out, wee never ſaw it on this faſhion. That Miraculous works were expected by the Jews from the Meſſiah, when hee ſhould come, appeareth by the Queſtion, when Christ commeth, will hee do more Miracles than thoſe which this man hath done? and accordingly when John Joh. 7. 31.John 7:31ſent to Jeſus, Art thou hee that ſhould come, or do wee look for another? hee returneth this Anſwer, Go, and ſhow John again, thoſe things which you do hear and ſee, The blinde receive their ſight, the lame walk, the lepers are Mat. 11. 3, 4, 5Matt 11:3Matt 11:4Matt 11:5cleanſed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raiſed up, all which could not have been done by him, if hee had not been annointed with the Holy Ghoſt, and with Power.

3 Concerning the Meſſiah, we finde a Three-fold Office to which he was annoynted, to wit, of King, Prieſt, and Prophet; Moſes fore-tells him to be a Prophet, whereDeut. 18. 15Deut 18:15 he ſaith, A Prophet ſhall the Lord your God raiſe up unto you of your brethren; David mentioneth him under the Offices of a King, and a Prieſt, Yet have I ſet my King Pſal. 2. 6. 110. 4Ps 2:6Ps 2:110Ps 2:4upon my holy hill of Sion, and, thou art a Prieſt for ever after the order of Melchiſedeck. This was that which was peculiar to the Meſſiah, for though David was a King and a Prophet, Samuel was a Prophet and a Prieſt, and Melchiſedeck was a King and a Prieſt, yet only the Meſſiah was a King, Prieſt, and Prophet; accordingly it p. 611is that we finde Jeſus as a Prophet, teaching the Myſteries of the Kingdom, as a Prieſt, praying, yea dying for the people, and acknowledged by the Magi to be King of the Jews.

Once more, it is fore-told in the Pſalms, and the Prophets, concerning the Meſsiah, that hee ſhould bee a man of ſorrows, deſpiſed, and rejected of men; yea that heIſa. 53. 3▪ 10Isa 53:3Isa 53:10 ſhould bee cut off from the land of the living, that heePſa. 16. 110.Ps 16:110 ſhould be taken from Priſon and Judgement, that having drunk of the brook in the way, hee ſhould lift up his head; that hee ſhould not ſee corruption, and ſit at the right hand of God. And now that all theſe things which were written concerning the Son of Man were accompliſht, the Evangelical Hiſtories doe abundantly teſtifie; it wereVide Epiſcop. Pag. 190. eaſie to trace out an exact Parallel, not only as to ſubſtance, but circumſtances, concerning the humiliation and exaltation of Chriſt. As for that pretence of the Jewes, oppoſing our Saviours Reſurrection, that his Diſciples ſtole him away, it is ſo frivolous and abſurd, that no rational man can beleeve it, yea that Dilemma of S^t. Auſtine abundantly confuteth it, If the Souldiers were not aſleep, when the Diſciples ſtole his body, why did they permit them to doe it; if they were aſleep, how could they affirm it to be done?

By all theſe conſiderations put together, it cannot but appear an undeniable truth, that Jeſus is the Chriſt; and however it may bee alleadged, that ſome Prophecies which concern the glory and power of the Meſsiahs Kingdome ſeem not yet to bee accompliſhed; the Anſwer is juſtly returned, that it is not an outward and viſible, but an inviſible and ſpiritual glory and power which is in thoſe Prophecies intended, and that is continually fulfilled in the preaching of the Goſpel; and withall they may very rationally be extended to his Second coming, when he ſhall appear in glory to Judge the World, and when every knee ſhall bow to him, and every tongue ſhall p. 612confeſſe (what now perhaps it denieth) that Jeſus is the Lord, the Chriſt, to the glory of God the Father; and ſo I have given a diſpatch to the truth implicitly aſſerted, paſſe we on more briefly to the

2 Hereſie explicitly charged on the falſe teachers, namely, denying that Jeſus is the Chriſt. If wee render the words exactly, according to the Greek text, it is, Hee that denieth that Jeſus is not the Chriſt, but yet the not is juſtly left out in our tranſlation, becauſe according to our way of ſpeaking, Hee that denyeth that Jeſus is not the Christ, is he who affirmeth Jeſus is the Chriſt, which is the truth; whereas in the Greek Language, Gemina negatio fortiùs negat, A double negation denieth more vehemently. Parallel to this is that ſpeech of our Saviour to Peter, The Cock ſhall not crow this day before thou ſhalt thrice Luk. 22. 34Luke 22:34deny that thou knoweſt me; where in each clauſe the Greek uſeth two Negatives for the greater emphaſis. Wee cannot better expreſſe the force of the Greek phraſe in our Engliſh Language, than by ſupplying a word after denieth, namely thus; who is a lyar but hee that denieth, ſaying that Jeſus is not the Chriſt? and ſurely, if the affirmative be the truth, as hath been already proved, hee muſt needs be a Lyar, who aſſerteth the negative.

That this then is a lying Hereſie, appeareth by the preceding Diſcourſe; that which only remaineth to bee inquired, is the truth of the charge, that theſe falſe teachers Juſtin. in loc.did deny Jeſus to be the Chriſt; indeed as Juſtinian well, Hoc maximè faciebant Judai, this was that which the Jews did moſt expreſly deny, but yet withall there were Judaizing falſe teachers among the Chriſtians, ſuch was Simon Magus, Menander, Ebion, and Cerinthus, with others, upon whom this was juſtly charged. Simon Magus taught, that it was he who appeared among the Jews as the Son, in Samaria as the Father, and to the reſt of the Nations as the Holy Ghoſt; Menander, that he was ſent from the inviſible Powers a Saviour for the p. 613redemption of men; and ſo affirmed themſelves to be the Chriſt, and in that denied Jeſus to be the Chriſt. Valentinus, Ebion, and Cerinthus, affirmed Jeſus to be aEuſeb. hiſt. l. 3. c. 21. Iren. l. 1. c. 20, 21 meer man, begotten by Joſeph, conceived and born of Mary after the ordinary way, and that Chriſt was another Perſon who deſcended on him in the ſhape of a Dove, when he was thirty years of age; and that it was notIdem. l. 1. c. 25 & l. 3. c. 17 Chriſt, but Jeſus who dyed upon the Croſſe, and was buried, and roſe again; and what did theſe but in effect deny Jeſus to be the Chriſt? And now if any ſhall ſay, this concerneth not us, for wee doe heartily acknowledge, and openly profeſſe, that Jeſus is the Chriſt; I ſhall deſire ſuch to conſider, that there is a direct, and a collateral, a dogmatical, and a practical denying Jeſus to be the Chriſt.

1 Hee who acknowledging Jeſus to bee the Chriſt, doth yet detract from any of his Offices to which he was annoynted, vertually and collaterally denieth him to bee the Chriſt; upon this account, both Socinians and Papiſts are juſtly charged by the Orthodox as Antichristian Lyers.

The Socinians indeed acknowledge Chriſts Regal, Prophetical, and Sacerdotal Offices, but yet they confound the Regal and the Sacerdotal; they detract from the Regal, taking the riſe of it from his Reſurrection, when as the Angel ſaith of him, as ſoon as born, hee is Chriſt the Lord; and chiefly from his Sacerdotal, whileſt they acknowledge his interceſſion, but deny his Sacrifice, and aſſert his death to bee onelyonly a conſecration of him to his Prieſthood, which (ſay they) hee only exerciſeth in Heaven.

The Papiſts likewiſe do aſcribe thoſe three Offices to him, and yet they detract from every one of them; from his Prophetical, by denying the written Word to be a ſufficient and perfect rule of Faith and manners; from his Sacerdotical, in both the parts of it, by their Superstitious ſacrifice of the Maſſe, and praying to Saints and Angels, to bee their p. 614Interceſſours. Finally, from the Regal, by ſetting up the Pope as Head of the Church, and giving him that power of ſupremacy and infallibility, which hee never derived from Chriſt.

2 But to bring it yet a little nearer to our ſelves, he who profeſſedly aſſents to this truth, that Jeſus is the Chriſt, and yet is not guided by him as a Prophet, governed by him as a King, and rests not on him as his Prieſt, practically denyeth him to bee the Chriſt. Very appoſite to this purpoſe is that of St. Austin, Quieſcat paululum lingu…, interroga vitam, Aug in loc.quiſquis factis negat Chriſtum Antichriſtus eſt, let thy life speak rather than thy tongue, whoſoever denyeth Chriſt in his works, is an Antichriſt. If any provide not for his houſe, 1 Tim. 5. 81 Tim 5:8ſaith St. Paul, hee hath denyed the faith, that is, done an act inconſiſtent with the Chriſtian faith, whereof he maketh profeſſion, which is in effect to deny the faith; thus hee whoſe life diſhonours Chriſt, who giveth not up himſelf to the rule and government of Chriſt, who ſayeth in his actions, I will not have this man to reign over mee, in truth denyeth Chriſt, and is no better than an Antichriſt; and oh how many Antichriſtian Christians then are there?

In one word, whatever profeſſion wee make of Christ, and our faith in him, Whileſt by our Envy, and Malice, pride, and Covetouſneſſe, Rapine, and oppreſſion, Intemperance, and Prophaneneſſe, wee walk directly contrary to the Law. and Life, the Command, and Example of our holy, humble, peaceable, and charitable …s, we do that in our actions, which the falſe Teachers did in their Doctrins, deny Jeſus to be the Chriſt; and thus much ſhall ſuffice for the diſpatch of the firſt-branch of the accuſation; the time being expired I ſhall put off the further proſecution of the charge againſt theſe Antichrists, till another Seſſions.