A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 100 (Question 27 cont.)
SERMON C.
II. IT remains that we take notice of Chriſt Humiliation, as it appeare… in the … claſion of his Publick Life. And here we are to obſerve the care which he uſed i… … Preparation for his Death; where ſeveral thing might worthily be inſiſted on; as his ſ… warning of his Diſciples about it, His … v…uring is confort them in the conſideration it, that it might not be a prejudice to th… when it came; inſtructing them in ma…e… … greateſt concernment about it, and direct… them how to carry it when he was … aſſuring them that he went to prepare a… … f…r them; promiſing them to ſend the… … Comforter, and recommending them to God in aſolemn Prayer. But I ſhall wa… a… diſtinct reflections upon theſe, and take … tice of two more peculiar paſſages which … celebrated by the Evangeliſts, unto …ich the other may be referred, viz. his Tr… ration, and his Celebration of the Paſſover … his Diſciples. And a few things may … here to …e obſerved about each of theſe,
I. TOUCHING his Transfiguration: … in it ſelf it were a beaming out of his G… in his mean and humbled eſtate, yet it l… lo…ged to his Humiliation, as it was a p… ratory and help to ſit him for his Sufferings, which he was near to his entring upon. … indeed there was a great deal of of C… ſelf abaſement appeared in the Circum… attending theſe very acts of his, wherein … made ſome diſplays of his Glory, as we before obſerved in his triumphant riding … Jeruſalem. And here two things may … under our conſideration.
1. The Tran… tion it ſelf.
2. The Uſefulneſs of it, in … to prepare him for his Death & Sufferings.
1. TOUCHING the Transfiguration it ſe… We have the Hiſtory of it recorded by th… of the Evangeliſts. Mat. 17. begin. Mar. 9. … Luk. 9.28, &c. And the more rema… paſſages in it, were ſuch as theſe,
(1.) THE Perſons that were admitted to … Spectators of this glorious ſight. And theſe were not all the Diſciples, but only th… ſelected from the reſt, not caſually, but upon …liberate choice. Peter, who had formerly thought it needleſs for his Maſter to die, and …d rebuked him for ſpeaking of it; and Chriſt would have him here, to hear the …ſity of it diſcourſed, who was alſo to be called to eminent trials. John, who being to …ive to the time in which Ebion & Cerinihus d…ied the Divinity of Chriſt, might be the better fixt in the belief of it, and furniſhed … confute them. And James, who being the firſt of the Apoſtles, that was to have his blood ſhed, in the defence of Chriſt's being the true Meſſiah, might here be fortified in his faith, for his more reſolute ſtanding up for his Maſter to the Death. And it tells us, that God uſually manifeſts himſelf more than ordinarily to his Servants, whom he intends to uſe in ſome ſingular Service for himſelf. Theſe three Diſciples were thrice thus ſingled out from the reſt on this account; and thus God prepares them for it. And it may point us what to look for, if at any time we have more than uſual manifeſtations of God's love made to us.
(2.) THE Place where it was celebrated: An high Mountain. See, Mat. 17.1. Many ſuppoſe it to have been Tabor, which is counted the higheſt mountain in Gallilce, in which Chriſt ſpent a great part of his time, during his publick Miniſtry. And it might be to them … emblem of Heaven, which is called the Mountain of Spices, Cant. 8. ult. However, it was a place of retirement from the World; and God uſually ſequeſters his Children from …, when he ſees meet to manifeſt himſelf gloriouſly unto them. Chriſt treats his …ſe in the Chambers, Cant. 1.4.
(3.) THE Seaſon of it: It was as be Prayed, L…k. 9.24. He engaged in the buſineſs of praying unto God, and whiles he was ſo doing, this glorious Change came upon him. And this recommends to us the duty of Prayer. The Praying Soul is like to have the greateſt intimacy with Heavenly Glory. It may therefore quicken and encourage us to be much in Prayer. It is called in Scripture a drawing … to God; which is the way to have him …igh to us. Jam. 4.2.
(4.) THE manner of the Transfiguration: In …. 17.2. it is ſaid, that he was transfigured, … metamorphoſed: the word ſignities a change from one form to another. Therefore … read, Luk 9.29. that the faſhion of his …enance was altered, or had another aſpect … it, than it was wont to have. It is added, … 7.2. that his face ſhown as the ſun: it was full of ſplendid brightneſs, and glorious …a…ancy. And the luſtre of his raiment is added: compare, Mat. 17.2. with, Mar. 9.3. and, Luk. 9.29. And we ſhall find a fourfold gelation in it. 1. That of Art, and that the be…t, no fuller, &c. 2. That of Nature, of which Art falls ſhort; white as the ſnow, than which nothing is whiter. 3. Snow is dull, but here is a brightneſs added, for it ſhone as the light it ſelf, which hath a dazling ſplendour in it. 4. Of all light, the moſt glittering proceeds from the Sun, which is ſuch as we cannot ſteadily behold; now his face ſhone as the Sun. Here was a glimpſe of Heavenly Glory. And it tells us, that Heavens Glories are not to be parallel'd by any thing here below. Here are many words accumulated by the Evangeliſts, to ſhew that they wanted words to expreſs it. Let it then make us in love with theſe Heavenly things: and whatſoever excellency we ſee in any thing here below, let in knit our hearts and thoughts to the contemplations of theſe more incomparable Glories.
(5.) THE Perſons appearing to, and conferring with him: Theſe were Moſes and Elias, of whom it is ſaid that they appeared in their glory, Luk. 9.31. Theſe were long ago, the one dead, and the other tranſlated, and were both admitted to the Glories of the Heavenly Habitation; and in that Glory which they enjoyed in Heaven, in that ſhining excellency did they appear, and were ſeen. Moſes, by whom the Law was promulgated to the People of God, and who was a Type of Chriſt, and is typically called a Mediates, Gal. 3.19. Elias, who was a great reſtorer of the Law, and an eminent Prophet in the Church of God, and alſo a Type of Chriſt. Moſes repreſented the Law, and Elias the Prophets? and their appearance gave the evidence that Chriſt was the end both of the Law and the Prophets; that all looked to Him. Hence that, Joh. 1.45. We have ſound him of whom Moſes in the Law, and the Prophets did write, Jeſus of Na…areth the ſon of Joſeph. And this points us to the right uſe that is to be made of the Old Teſtament. The ſatisfaction of Chriſt, His active and paſſive Obedience; His being made a Sacrifice to atone God's Juſtice, and to make up the breach between Him and us, is the very drift of the Scriptures. The Old and New Teſtament differ in the manner of the diſcovery, but not in the thing diſcovered. Hence that, Eph. 2.20. And are built upon the foundation of the Apoſtles and Prophets, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf being the chief corner ſtone. They err who ſet the two Teſtaments, one againſt the other: whereas they manage one deſign, i. e. the Covenant of Peace, in and by Jeſus Chriſt.
(6.) THE Subject-matter diſcourſed on between Chriſt and them; viz. about his death, Luke 9.31. And herein it appears that this ſolemn Transfiguration was in order to his preparation for dying. No doubt but there was in this Conference a Rehearſal of the great things ſpoken of in the Law and Prophets, in which Chriſt's Death and Sufferings are fore-ſignified; it being the bottom-deſign of the legal Ceremonies, and prophetical Predictions. And it tells us, that Chriſt's Death and Sufferings are a fit Subject for Heavenly diſcourſe, … Theme worthy the Contemplation and Conference of glorified Saints. Moſes and Elias are willing to leave the place of Glory for a while, to come and confer about it: and what can be fitter for them in Kingdom, than the reflection on the way by which they came to inherit it? Hence came the Redemption from the Curſe; and the foundation of eternal Life was here laid; and it is meet that the Glory of it ſhould for ever redound to Him, whoſe due it is.
(7.) THE …ands of the Transfiguration; which were ſuch as referred either [1] T… the Diſciples; Where obſerve,
1. T…p: This glorious Appatition in ſwallowed up their ſenſes, and caſt them into a Tra…ce. And it tells us how little we can bear at preſent of the Glories to come; we muſt be … meet for the inheritance of the Saints in Light.
2. Their waking and ſeeing the Interview. Luke. 9.32. So they were …y…-w…eſſ…s of it, and able to give … teſtimony to it.
3. Peter's Rapture upon it, Luke. 9.33. He thought himſelf almoſt in Heaven, and could have been content to ſpend the reſt of his time there: And it tells us, that Saints when they come to Glory, will never be weary of Heaven. A ſpiritual Mind, when it is he…e raiſed to heavenly …a… tures, is …th t… c…me down again; how much more, &c. How happy then are they who are g…tte… ſettled for perpetuity, in theſe …, i… the fulneſs of their luſtre.
4. The four that ſ…pr…ed them ad, Luke 9.24. And …uch we ſhall …i…d frequently to … been t…e effect of heavenly V…ſ…s, o… the ſpirits of the Prophets. H…b. 2.10. Dan. 8.17. w…ich is an evidence of … prefect imper…cti…. … the … of Moſes and Ellaſ, together with the …e co…comi…, and Chriſts being: …und a…ne, J…ke. 9.3…, 25.36. And it tells us, that the glorious … …s of God's People, in reſpect of the peculiar manifeſtations of God to them in this Life, are w…nt to laſt but a little while, God will ſometimes refreſh, but …e will not glut his People in this Life. He would have them to be in love wit…. Heaven, but they ſhall not have the fulneſs of the Glories of it till they c…me there.
2. WE are now to conſider the Uſefulneſs …f this Tran…gar…tion, in helping to pr…pore him for his …e th… and Sufferings. And …s may be conſidered,
[1] WITH reſpect to H…ſ…ly Death is a terror to humane Nature and ſo was his Death, to the Man Chriſt, Mat. 2….39. And he went a little further, and f…ll … …is face and prayed ſ…y…ng, O my Father, …f … be poſſible, …or this cup paſs from me: nevertheleſs not as I will, but as thou wilt. Heb. 5.7. Now He was hel…ed in this. For,
(1.) HERE He contemplated the great neceſſity of it. It was that which was foretold: It was the ſcoped of the Law and Prophets: ſo that all the Predictions of it muſt prove fal…, all Types and Ordinances become vain, and … l…ſt, if He died not; and conſequently all the Promiſe would loſe their accompliſhment, and all the Elect of God fall ſhort of their happineſs; the Scriptures muſt ceaſe, and all Grace he at an end without it; the conſideration of which could not but animate him, whoſe love to his Fathers Glory, and his Peoples G…d wa… ſo great.
(2.) HERE God … h…, ſ… … bel…ved Son: And ſig…fies what great … he takes …n him, a … the Work that i… was engaged in. And it was a very ſer… ble ack, were …m…; …ce he was very … to be ſtrangely forſaken by him and … the greateſt celerti… that ever any … of God underwent, in carrying to him as … enemy, and inflecting o… … all the … of the Law: needs therefore moſt … me…brance of was treatment be a very … ſupport, and …ept h…m …ery, …lly God, … God, in the greateſt …ath ….
(3.) HE … he was …, that … he … to be a …ed, … w…rk that … his Father; …at he would t…w… … contented in it, a…d t…at … would … his favour for, and … all that … redeemed by … to do his … theis … that … his … ſhould thereby ….
(4.) … of the Gory … redeemed … enjoy in … of … which he was ſhort, …, It was a … from …ca…e… to encourage him, a beach … Gra…es to refreſh him, a taſte of Glory ſupport his Spirit, tho…gh that … wilderneſs i… the apprehenſion o… that … ve…ly Can…an, where he ſhould be glo… in his Saints, who ſhould, by this De… … his, live forever. And all this was a … mo…y of the …mb…ed ſtate of the Man Ch… in which he had … for all this … ty h…m through … traking.
[2] …: For … he took ca…e, and would …refore have … of them t… …e witneſſ…s of this for their … and others liability. For in this the… … afforded to them,
(1.) AN evidence that th… Jeſus was … moſt G…r…us Son of Go…. They were … firmed that He was God as well as Man, … Eternal S…n of the …. For … tells us that this … fr…m the exa… ma…e…y, 2 Pet. 1 17.
(2.) A plain di…very that God the … took infinite … him. That Ete…ral L…ve was ſet upon …im, and … therefore he had the d…ep… intereſt in … and that whatſoever he a…ked of God, ſhould obtain, and whatever he promiſed them in his Fathers Name, ſhould be …
(3.) GREAT help againſt being … his …ath. It was … of great Te… tion, and their faith was not a lit…le … by it; but the remembrance of the … diſcourſe about it, i… which the … myſtery of the Scripture concerning it was open, muſt ſatisfy them in the nece…ity, wondrous uſefulneſs and efficacy of it.
(4.) … of Go…, which Chriſt ſhould … advanced unto in Heaven. And though it was but a ſaint and ſhort repreſen… of it, yet it was as much as they were … bear; and gave a great help to their … about it, and the Glory which in and … him they ſhould ere long be advanced …. Hence.
(5.) AN aſſurance that Chriſt ſhould not only himſelf be glorifyed, but that his People ſhould … him, and ſee his Glory: And be ra… tranſported, and glorityed with h…m; …, he filled with his Glory: That that …uyer of his ſhould be abundantly anſwered, Job. 17.24. Father, I will that they alſo which … given me, be with me where I am, that they any behold my glory, which thou juſt given … for thou love… me before the foundation of the world.
…. AND did Chriſt thus take care to propure for his dying, Let us take advice from it, … to imitate Him. He did … altho' … …er put himſelf out of readineſs; how much more t…en had we need to do it, who … ſo often through our corruption and the …tions o…ered, put out of frame. Let is tell us, that as it is of great concernment, ſo … only thing to be always ready to dye confortably.
… WE paſs to the Celebration of the Paſſover … his Diſciples. Every Eva…geliſt takes a … notice of it; which I ſhall no furthus have took upon, than in the reſpect it … Chriſt making ready for his Death; and that bo…h with regard to Himſelf, and … Diſciples, under which we may take … notice, of the moſt remarkable things … it.
1. IN reſpect to Himſelf: Where we may obſerve.
1. THE Celebration it ſelf of the Paſſ…ver: And here confider,
(1.) THE Paſ… Lamb was a Type of Chriſt. … deliverance from AEgypt ſhadowed our king ſet at liberty from ſpiritual thraldom in Chriſt: And the Lamb appointed to be … in this Solemnity, did repreſent Chriſt … great Deliverer; and on this account he is called our Paſſover, 1 Cor. 5.7. And he is for this reaſon ſo often called in the New-…ent the Lamb of God.
(2.) THE manner of uſing the Paſ…el Lamb … and decypher the Death of Chriſt, and … as of it dericing to his People. It was …re to be ſlain, though innocent, to fig… … Chriſt, an innocent Perſon muſt die. … blood of it muſt be ſprinkled, being … in a baſon; intimating both the bloody … of Chriſt, and the application of the … of it to his People. The fleſh of it … be roſted at the fire; typifying the … warth of God that he was to undergo. … him for us to live upon by faith. It was … eaten with bitter berbs, and unleavened …, to intimate the application both of his … and paſſive Obedience to us for our ſpecial benefit. Thoſe that are the Paſſover, were preſerved from the deſtroying Angel: and the blood ſprinkled was the preſervation; signifying, that the blood of Chriſt, applied to us by the Grace of God, frees us from the ſtroke of divine revenge.
(3.) HENCE, in the Sacrament it ſelf, or the Celebration of it, our Saviour ſtrengthed himſelf to the ſufferings that enſued. For, [1.] In it, he read that his Death was neceſſary. He looked on the ſlain Lamb, and reflected upon Himſelf, as the Lamb of God ſeparated to the like ſufferings; and that this Type would loſe its great intent, if not verified in him. Hence he ſaid, that he went, as it was written of him in the divine decree: it was written in the Book of God, and in this very Ordinance. [2.] HE ſaw the bleſſed effects that ſhould ariſe from his Death; viz. 1. A paſſing over of all his Redeemed, to whom his …ed ſecond he applied, in the day of God's wrath. That by his Death, he ſhould free his own People from death; and that when a deluge of wrath ſhould overwhelm a world of Sinners, and bear them away in a ſtood of eternal deſtruction. 2. That hence, his bitter paſſion ſhould be a ſweet feaſt to his People. His great ſorrows, ſhould adminiſter matter of preſent joy to them here, and eternal rejoycing in Heaven for ever. And this Mediation was ſweet to him; and the Paſſ…ver being preſently to be fulfilled in him, he now began his Suffering by viewing of them in it, and ſtrengthning himſelf thereto by this contemplation.
2. THE Conference alſo which he had with his Diſciples at the Paſſover was alſo ſtrengthning to him. For by theſe Diſcourſes he familiarized himſelf with his Death: He being now juſt ready to ſuffer, ſpeaks familiarly about it, draws his thoughts that way, and calls to mind, and ſpeaks of thoſe Scripture predictions, in which the will of God had been diſcovered about it, and the very circumſtances of it; in which he read the determination of or counſed of God, laying it out in all the particulars of it, by which he was encouraged in a full and free compliance with his Fathers will, which he came into the World to do.
3. THE now Inſtitution which he then appointed, was alſo ſerviceable to this end; viz. t…e Sacrament of the Supper: And the enacting and celebrating of this Ordinance, Chriſt ſet before himſelf, the conſideration of all the precious fruits and benefits which ſhould ariſe out of, and flow from his Death and Sufferings, whereby he corroborated himſelf againſt the ſorrows thereof. For,
(1.) HE here preſented to himſelf, that though be muſt go through the bitter pangs of Death, yet he ſhould thereby became ſpiritual meat and drink, for the Souls of his People to ſeed and feaſt upon. That from his dying, there ſhould ariſe matter of wondrous conſolation to them that believe in him, to the worlds end. It was by his Death, that his fleſh became meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed. By this he was to conſummate his Redemption, and provide nouriſhment for faith, even eternal Life, thro' the efficacy of it. Hence that, Joh. 3.14, 1…. And as Moſes liſted up the ſerpent in the wilderneſs: even ſo muſt the Son of man be liſted up: That wh…ſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have eternal liſe.
(2.) HERE be looked upon the precious union there ſhould be between Him and his People, and between his People one with another, ariſing from his Death. This Sacrament was an Ordinance of union; a gathering together of Chriſt and his People into one Society, and participation in common in thoſe rich fruits of his Death. There is therefore in it a communion with Chriſt, and eath with other. 1 Cor. 10.16, 17. The cup of bleſſing which we bleſs is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we brake, is it not the communion of the body of Corist? For we being many are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread. Now all communion flows from union. Hence that, Eph. 2.15. And that he might reconcile B…th unto God in one body by the croſs, having ſtain the enmity.
(3.) HERE alſo Chriſt ſaw, that in the Celebration of this Ordinance his great Love to his Church, and the ſaving officacy of his Death, ſhould be kept in remembrance for the ſtrengthning of the Faith of his People to the worlds end: That his Death ſhould never be forgotten; and that, tho' it was bitter to him, that bitterneſs would ſoon be over, and the preciouſneſs of it, ſhould be matter of ſweeteſt meditation to, and celebrated by his People till his Second Coming, which ſhould make his Name precious. Hence this Ordinance was appointed to be a ſacred commemoration of his Death, 1 Cor. 11.26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do ſhew the Lords death till be come.
(4.) HE here alſo ſaw, what fr…ſh and everlaſting delights it ſhould afford to himſelf, and his ſaved ones in the Kingdom of Glory. That this Death of his would open Heaven for his Redeemed, and make it a moſt precious place, in which it ſhould be celebrated Eternally. Hence he ſpeaks of drinking this Cup again, Mat. 26.29. He there…ore kept it with joy; witneſs the Hymn. See, Jam. 5.13.
2. WITH reſpect to His Diſciples; of whom he took care. For
(1.) BY the Supper itſ…lf, he gave them to understand, that be must needs die. And in it gave them a clear Repreſentation of the great Advantage that ſhould accrue to them by …is Death. He diſcovered in it to the life, his great Love to them in dying, and the wondrous Benefit that was to redound from it to them, and that his Body was to be broken, and his Blood to be ſhed for them. All which, he not only ſhadowed, but ſealed alſo in it.
(2.) THE precious Diſcourſes with them at and after it, were abundantly helpful to them. We have them recorded, Joh. 13.18. Wherein he plainly told them, what need … of his dying, what precious … ſhould receive by it, that be would … Comforter to ſupply his Abſence, … both inſtruct and ſupport them: … was going on their Account, to … Place for them, promiſing that what … made ready, he would come again … them; and many ſuch like Cona… … ſolations.
(3.) THE precious mediatorial Pro… he put up with them, and in their … mighty help to them. We have it, … John 17. wherein he interceeds … challengeth all the favour to be … upon them that he had purchaſed, … them to his Father's care and keeping … lengeth a propriety in them, and … they may be brought to, and poſſ… … Glory, which he himſelf was then … be entertained in.
USE. LET this commend to us the … Love of Chriſt to his Choſen; in that … was to die for them, in order to the … ing of Eternal Life to be beſtowed … He was ſo far from ſeeking to eſcape … he ſet himſelf to make ready for … the greateſt Solemnity, as a thing … Heart was greatly engaged in. And … hath left ſuch an Ordinance, as … Legacy to his Church, for the … mind of this incomparable Love of … ſhould it put us all upon it to give … lar Attendance unto it, and therein … the thankful Acknowledgement of … to us, in ſo willing and ready a laying … of his Life for us, and ſo induſtri… … ration for his Death before it came.
[SEPTEMBER 1. 1696.]