A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 98 (Question 27 cont.)
SERMON XCVIII.
II. WE now proceed to conſider Chriſt in His Publick… …; and take … thee how he humbled himſelf in that. In the former he lay hid in obſcurity; and it was known to but a few, that this was he that was to redeem Iſrael. He was doing for us, whiles there was no notice taken of him: but at length he did more openly manifeſt himſelf to be the Meſliah. Having lived till Thirty Years of age in a private Calling, and retired; He now ſtept faith into the World, in the work of his Miniſtry. And it was a great wonder that ſo Serene a Majeſty ſhould be ſo long in the World, and yet lie hid from the World, under a diſguiſe In the conſideration of this, there are three things worthy remark, 1. His Entrance upon, 2. His Progreſser Courſe in, 2. The Concluſion of His Publick Life. We may take ſome Obſervations on each of them.
1. TOUCHING his Initi…tion, or Entrance upon His Publick Adminiſtration. It was meet that he who was to Officiate in ſo ſolemn an affair, ſhould with ſuitable Solemnity be introduced into it. And referring to this, the Goſpel gives us an account of two things, viz. His Baptiſm and His Temptation. In the former he was with great State inaugurated, in his publick Service, or declared to be … accepted of God, in the other he was p… and his eminent …eſs for his word as manifeſt. Let us make ſome brief Rev … on them.
I TOUCHING His Baptiſm; we … three Eva geliſts taking notice of it … larty; from which Records we may obſerve,
1. THE Baptiſm it ſelf; Of which … this Aſſertion; It was a part of Chriſt's … miliation, by which upon his entrance i… his publick Miniſtry, he ſignally ſubject himſelf to the Law of God for our ſakes, It may be ſaid, what need had he to be Baptiſm, who had no p…llution on him, and therefore had no occaſion to be waſhed? and it cauſe he wanted not the thing ſignified, the ſign was ſuperflu…. But it is to be rep…, that there were divers other reaſons for … Baptiſm. viz.
(1) IT belonged properly to his ſtate of … miliation to … baptized. In it he ſubjected himſelf. …o the Law for us. Now man … obedience to the whole Law of God; when therefore Baptiſm became an Ordiance of God, it obliged them to whom it was ſo declared, to conform to it. Chriſt therefore was under a mutal the of ſubmitting … it. By the Second Command we are obliged a obſerve, and keep all God's Inſtitution, a he ſhall at any time reveal his mind … them. And there is this difference … natural and it ſtituted Worſhip, the … binds always, but the latter is alterable according as God pleaſeth to change the … of Worſhip appointed. Now Baptiſm I came an Inſtitution at this time: Jo… Baptiſt being inſpired to divulge and ad… it. And ſo it became the duty of his … People to receive it: and it became … the …gateouſ…eſs required of man. He … fore gives this reaſon why he would … tized. Mat. 3.15. And Jeſus anſwerring … unto him, Suffer at to be ſo now: for … bee meth us to fulfil all righteouſneſs. … ſufferes him.
(2.) THE Baptiſm of Chriſt was a … ble to his Office, an … he ſuitably rece… … He was, in the compleating of the God Work of mans Redemption both to die, rise riſe again: And he took a ſpecimen of … here. The Apoſtle intimates that is … Baptiſm we have communion with C… both in his Death and Reſurrection, Col. 2. … Chriſt therefore in it, received 2 Seal of … in himſelf; i.e. He did now ſignificantly … down his life, and re-aſſume it. He … into the waters, intimating, that he was … expoſe himſelf to the wrath of God, … floods whereof were to encompaſs him: … he came up again out of the waters, … that he ſhould be freed from the … of God, having ſatisfyed it with as … efficacy.
(3.) BAPTISM is Sacrament, not … Sanctification, but of Juſtification t…o. He… Circumciſion which was of the ſame im… is ſaid ſo to be, Rom. 4.11. He C… … …ed Baptiſm for pardon, Mar. 1.4. Water …ports the Blood or C…r…ſt, which not only …eth off the Pa…, … all, the guilt of Sin Chriſt's Blood is a juſtifying, as well as ſanctifying Blood, and being applied to us, delivers us from condemnation. And therefore for this reaſon all was Chriſt Baptized, to …gaity, that though he were no ſinner by … inheſion, yet, ſeeing … hate the impu…tion of ſin, he muſt own he is by his Bl…, and in that way be juſtifyed as our Surery. On this account he is ſaid to be …ate ſix for as, 2 Cor. 5.21. This … cleared himſelf of … dying, and therely …; a…d … again when he …ad to do … 25. Who was delivered for our …tences and was …ſe… again for ear …uſ…ear…n.
(4.) CHRIST … baptized, to declare that he … the b…ad of both Covenants: i. e. the Law Covenant, and that of the Goſpel. For though they are eſſentially but one, … they are called two, the New and the Old, from the different made of their diſpenſation Chriſt dated and …ſhed the Old-Teſtament diſpenſation, by fulfilling it in himſelf; hence he was Circumciſed. He gave being to the …ew Teſtament, and therefore was Baptized: to ſhew that both meet and center in him as the common term. The Apoſtle therefore … them both together as meeting in him, Col. 1.11, 12.
(5.) CHRIST was Baptized to ſlew that he … his People are found up together … C… …. Baptiſm is a Seal or the Covenant of Grace, which God hath made with his People; and it Seals up all the Grace of that … to them Now Chriſt is Mediator … Safety in this Covenant. So that the People of God are not looked on ſeperately … him in it, ha… joyntly with him. Hence it was meet, that he who was Head of the Covenant, ſhould have a ſacred, ſolemn and …ble Seat and Confirmation of it give him, is the ſame way, wherein it is given to his; and that way by his Baptiſm.
2. THIS Baptiſm of … was accompanied with …inent call of him to, and con…mation of … in his publick Miniſtry. So… Mat. 2.16, 17. … there are three …ctable paſſages in it.
(1.) THE opening of the Heavens to him. … Baptiſm being to introduce him into his publick Work, now the Heavens do viſibly upon to him; which did ſignally intimate, that he was indeed the Great High Prieſt who was to enter into the Holy of Holies; not that which was ceremontally ſo, in the …ly Temple, but that which was typified … is, viz. the glace of Glory, which readily …eth to him. Intimating alſo, that he was a great Prophet, to whom the ſecrets of heaven ſhould he revealed, and that was to be more fully acquainted with the ſecrets of his Father, and that he was the mighty … to whom the doors of the glorious Pa… ſhould open, and entertain him upon his Throne.
(2) The … alſo of the Hay Chriſt …, in …, had ſpecial imitations in it. It … h…m to be the true … been produced to John. and give… to him … revelation, to be a taken by which he th… …id …new … on his open … of himſelf. J…h. 1.33. And I knew him … …ut he that ſent me to baptize with … ſaid unto me, Upon whom then j…lt …pirit diſcending and remaining on him, the ſame is he which baptizeth with the bay Ghoſt. The Spirit's coming on him alſo manifeſted the fulneſs of the Spirit, or thoſe unmeaſerable Graces which were to be conferred on him, to furniſh him for the wonderful diſcharge of all his O…ces, it therefore not only diſcended but where in him, Joh. 1.22. We therefore read of him, Joh. 3.34. For God giveth not the ſpirit by meaſure unto him. The form alſo which the Spirit repreſented. viz. of a Dove, was to ſignify that meek and …owly frame of ſpirit, whereby he was abundantly fitted to attend the whole work of his Humiliations, Hence that, Math. 11.20. For I am week and lowly in heart. And more specially to ſubmit himſelf ſilently and quietly, as a ſpotleſs Sacrifice, to atone the Juſtice of God for our fins, Iſai. 53.7.
(3.) THE endible …ice from Heaven, was a further illuſtrious divine Teſtimony to his Mediatorſhip God gave open approbation to him with reſpect to the work he had undertaken He proclaim, him to be his Son, in whom was his delight He was his beloved Eternally: and his preſent undertaking gave to him great content; for looking upon him, as now e…gag…d in the great work of Redemption, ſt…ding in our room, to do and dye for us, he takes up fully ſatisfyed in it, as that in which was his delight. When therefore there was afterwards a like voice heard by the Diſciples that were with him in the Mount, it is added, hear him, Mat. 17.5. in which God required all obedience to him from his people.
USE. I LEARN. we hence a leſſon of Thankfulneſs to chriſt …r this paſſage in his Humiliation. And indeed we are very deeply beholden to him for it: a great part of our Comfort is … he devived from it. Baptiſm is a ſacred Seal in which we are ſolemnly engaged in Covenant to the Lord, to be his, and to ſerve him in holineſs of life all our days. But ala… how far do we ſaid behind in fulfilling our Covenant Obligations? And how much of trouble would the thoughts of our Baptiſm bring upon us, were it not that Chriſt had declared himſelf to be the Surety of this Covenant, to be bound up with us in his Baptiſms. This therefore aff…rds matter to encourage and …e…ghe… our Faith in him, that it we are truly in him, he will anſwer for our Covenant fallings; and it we have real faith in him, we may thus depend upon him for it, and plead his Baptiſm for this end.
USE II. LET this then direct u… to chriſt, to ask of him his Spirit and Grace, whereby our Baptiſm may be ſan…iſ…d to us, and become eſſ…aal to the great end for which it was appointed. It was the ſpeace which John directed to them who came to his Baptiſim, Math. 3 11. …ndce… baptize you with water unto rep…, ba…h t…at con…th after me, is might… … ſ…oes I am not to worthy to bear: he … pu…e you with the bo…y Ghoſt, and with ſire. Hereby pointing and directing them from this to than not daring to reſt in the bate outward Ordinance, which of it ſelt will n… five any, but to look after that which is repreſe…ed a…d ſealed …. Baptiſm it ſelf is but a ſign and a …, a new Teſlam…nt Ce…emony, and therefore ſaves note ex…p…re …, but is only a medium, or an outward help to Salvation. And they that reſt in means, and go not to Chriſt in them will miſs of the end. Let us then addreſs him, and beg of him, that as we have been ſig…ally baptized into him, with the Baptiſm of Water, …o… we may receive Grace from him, by the application …f his Bl…d, to cleanſe us from ſi…, … crucify ſin in us, and us to the World, and to raiſe us up to holineſs and …ew…eſs of life: and encourage outſel…e to this, by his being Baptized, as the M…t…r of the Covenant, in which all this Grace is exhibited.
USE III. LEARN we hence not to deſpiſe th… O…d…n…nce f… Baptiſm. Had it not been an O…dina…e of Divine I ſtitution, Chriſt would not have reck…ed it for a part of that righteouſneſs that be muſt fulſil: And ſay, that is and o… it ſelf it hath no efficacy to produce the t…ing ſig…ified by it and unto watch it is appointed, yet it God requires of us to obey hi… in it, and wait on born for his Grace i… this way, it is fit that be ſhould be obeyed by us: they therefore that ſlight and convenant it, pretend to be wiſer than Chriſt; and by deſpiſing one of God's apppointments, do expoſe themſelves to his righteous diſpleaſure. It ſhould then put us upon it to honour this Ordinance, becauſe Jeſus Chriſt honoured it by his own Example.
2. WE now proceed to the other thing obſervable upo Chriſt's Entrance into His Publick Miniſtry, and that is His Temptation. This alſo is particularly recorded by the ſame Three Evangeliſts. And this followed preſe…tly upon his Baptiſm: though it is … certain how long, there being ſome expreſſions, in Joh. 1 which ſeem to intimate that there were ſome days interpoſed. See ver 2…, 35. The Hiſtory of this Temptation is largely recorded, in Math. 4. begin, which I ſhall not commo…ate upon. Only we may in general remark, that it alſo belongs to His Humiliation; and no doubt but Chriſt deeply abaſed himſelf, in being expoſed to Temptation; and it was for our ſakes. More particularly let us obſerve,
THE Temptation it ſelf. In which conſider,
1. WHEN it was; viz. as was obſerved, ſoon after his Baptiſm. And between that and his entring upon his publick Miniſtry. … 4.1. with 12. Lak. 4. begin. When God calls a…y of His forth to any eminent Service for him, He is wo… to prepare them for it by ſome eminent Trials. Chriſt was th… proved. A…d He doth it, as for the … ciſe of their Graces, ſo for their encour… ment in their work, by experiencing his help in ſuch an hour.
2. THE t…ee where this Tempation … meneed: in the Walderneſs; a pl…ce of So… tari…eſs, where he was ſequelired from … company of Me, and without the ordi… ſupply of Life; and converſant among the Beaſts of prev: all of which are remar… by the Evangeliſts. So that is was a place g…ving all advantage for the Temptation God ſometimes brings his Children into, and Satan ever waits to take the advantage of ſuch a Condition, wherein they meer … ſuch things as g…ve ſc…pe for Temptation … he urged upon them. And therefore, wh… Savere…g… Provid…ce doth ſo expoſe, … …a… expect the Adverſary, and ought to prepare to be eſſ…u…ed by him.
3. THE hading Craſe of this Temptation The Spirit driveth him; or he was lod by the Spirit into the Wilderneſs: i. e. it … by the inſtigation of the Spirit, who wou… thus have him proved, and give a proof of his ſtrength. His call t…er…fore was d…; He did not th…uſt himſelf upon it, but God called him to it. And … tells us, th… we are not to thruſt our ſelves into the … of Tempration on choice, and without … leſt we ſo provoke God to deſert us; … God at any time call His to it, they ar… to refuſe or ſhun it, but rely on him fo… help, who when he calls his on, will … them off with victory.
4. THE Author of the Temptation; … Devil. (Mat. 4.1.) And is on that ac… emineatly called the Tempter, in, ver. 3. … is the old enemy of mankind; the … ſubtle and daring one to aſſault us. God makes uſe of him in his permiſſive P… de…ce; and yet he is not the leſs to bl… And if we are at any time uſed to re… others to ſin, though God ſuffers it to be…, yet we may know who it is that ſets us … work, and that is no other than the D….
5. THE Temptation it ſ…f… which had … main branches in it, 1. To distrust in God, … uſing indirect means; to help himſelf. 2. Inſumpition in re…tance on God. 3. To … Satan will aſſault us every way. He will by one, and if he fail there, he will eſſay … the other hand; and he will be growing … his Temptations.
6. THE Arguments uſed by the Tempter: … of them are preteded to be fetch'd … Scripture, and the third is by a Temption from the World. Satan tempt us from … preſent occaſions firſt. He uſually … with abuſed Scripture; and he impre… the World as the great Snare, with which … …ld entangle us. We ought therefore … vary in all theſe reſpects.
2. HOW Chriſt repuiſed him, viz. by the … of God rightly applied. We are not … afraid of uſing the Scripture, becauſe … and his Inſtruments abuſe it. Our beſt …ery, whether to defend our ſelves from … …rt of temptation, or repulſe the Ad…ry from tempting us, is the Word of … Thence we muſt fetch our ſtrength …ourity.
THE daration of the Temptation, viz. … …aus. For though, in Mat. 4. it is ſaid … after the end of forty days, the tempter … in Lak. 4.2. He is ſaid to be tempted … days, i. e. Stran was offering all the …, though the fieice…eſs of the onſet was … till then, when the advantage was … height. Is is not enough to withſtand …ick or two, but it is the glory of God's …, with Chriſt, to bear the repeated … of the Adverſary, and to perſevere, …gh the trial be of long continuance. But, …VE may here enquire into the Reaſon, why … was thus tempred at his very En… upon his Publick Work; or the ſeaſ…ſ… of the temptation which be was ex… …. And in general it may be this, … was that he might hereby give proof … …idence that he was a Perſon, every … pleatly fi…ted, and fully endowed …bity, to go through the great. Work …lay upon him; and ſo is an Object of … for all his People to rely upon. But a …more partion…r…y, obſerve,
…. THAT Adam & Chriſt were two publick … acting on the account of many. Into …ends was credited and depoſited, the … …ock of thoſe whoſe Perſons they re…d and they were all to ſtand of to fall, … with them. Hence they had each of …Sir furniture, i. e. all that Grace in … the right management whereof might … the hapineſs of theirs: They had … of them, all hahitual Sanctification, … Covenant which they were to fulfil; …filment whereof they were to ſecure, …ly their own happineſs, but the hap… of theirs too. Hence that expreſſion, … 25.22. For as in Adam all die, even ſo … ſhall all be made alive.
…. THE firſt Adam ſtanding in his innocency … …idſt of all his perfections, and under the … of a ſolemn Covenant, is ſet upon, … and tempted by Satan, and overcome … much udo: And hereby he loſeth all … and treaſure, becomes a bankrupt, … himſelf and his whole race, forfeits happineſs he ſhould have ſecured for …nd procures all miſeries for them. … 12.
…. … was therefore requiſite, that he who … through the work of Man's Redemption …lly and manage the buſineſs of his Salvation …ſe, muſt be ſtronger than the firſt Adam, … wiſe, the Work ſhould fail in his … and be loſt in his undertaking. Poor man would thereby be doubly loſt. Had Chriſt failed, as Adam did, man's hopes had been gone for ever. There was but this one way left. Act. 4.12. And had that failed, Mankind had been undone.
4. HENCE it was meet this Chriſt ſhould be tempted & tried, to make it appear that he was ſtronger than the firſt Adam. He was therefore taken at all diſadvantages; not in the Garden, but in the Wilderneſs; not with a Companion, but without all Society but that of wild beaſts; not in fulneſs, but in emptineſs and hunger; and here he wreſles with Satan, is tempted with continued and repeated aſſaults, and yet gets the day, conquers his proud enemy, holds out to the laft, let him take all his advantages, and yet overcomes him, and drives him away with diſgrace. This lets the People of God underſtand, that they have a better Head, and ſtand under a better Covenant by vertue of their Head, then mankind did at the firſt.
5. THE Holy Spirit deſcended on Chriſt in his Baptiſm; and it was ſ… that his ſurmitare ſhould be proved. And for this he co…ſtricts with Satan the grand enemy, and lets him find how eaſily he can foil him. Little tho'r the Devil that he had ſo ſtrong an one to grapple withal. But he is driven out of the field, and Chriſt beats him with his own ſtaff. And thus there is an eminent proof given of the difference between Grace put into the hands of a mutable creature, and Grace under the abiding preſerce, and conſtand aſſiſtance of the Spirit of God.
6. SATAN is our grand enemy; and Chriſt did this is our Redeemer. He fought this battle for us, and overcame the Devil on out account; and hereby made it appear eſſectually, that he was one mighty to ſave. And ſo by this act of his, he gave a notable proof how ſit and able he is to ſuccout us, when we are tempred. For, becauſe he hath had experience of Temptation, and ſo cannot but pity us under thoſe furious aſſaults which are made upon us. Heb. 4.15. And able, becauſe he hath conquered him in the open field. Heb. 2.18. For in that he hath ſuffered, being tempted, he is able to ſu…co… them that are tempted.
USE I. LEARN hence, God's odmirable love to, and care for his People, in providing them with ſuch a Saviour. Herein appears one principal excellency of the new Covenant, in the approved ſifficiency of Him who was the Head and Mediator of it: One whom neither force nor flat…ery could beat out of his work, or allure into a ſnare. It was as great, and in ſome reſpect a greater Queſtion that lay at the ſtake, when Chriſt and the Devil were encountring, then when Satan tempted the firſt Adam; there was a very great hazard, but that was reparable by a new way, that infinite wiſdom has contrived: but bore was the ſame thing, viz. the eternal welſare of man, and at the laſt caſt: which if now loſt, it was no more reparable. But herein God teſtifyed his great love, in that the ſecond Adam was not only fureiſhed with all created Grace, as he was Man, but being the Eternal Son of God, and receiving the ab…ding preſerce, or the ever bleſſed Spirit with his Humanity, He is carried thorough the battle, unſhaken and perfectly victorious; and therin gave evidence, that the Work could not fall in his conduct, but be compleatly …ſhed to God's Faternal Praiſe.
USE II. THIS way direct and enc…urage the G…ldren of God, to repair to Chriſt for …p in all their Temp…amens. Do not conclude that you are none of his becauſe you are ſo tempted. The Son of God, though without ſin, yet met with Temptation. And you may expect to find compa…ion from him, who is ſuch an High Prieſt as is experie…ced, and knows what it is to be furiouſly aſſaulted, and is tender of his tempted ones He therefore cannot relinquiſh his People in the fight, but muſt needs come in for their help: and you may rely upon him for good ſucceſs in his ſuccour. When you c…ſider the Tempter in the moſt form dable thoug…ts, as principalities, and powers, as ſubtle and potent, then look upon Chriſt as One that is too wiſe and ſtrong for all that can appoſe you; who diſ…orers all the depths, and diſſolves all the counſels of th…s great Adverſary. The Devil did his worſt when he tempted Chriſt, and yet prevailed nothing. Believe then in Him, and whenſoever you find any aſſaults made upon you, and eſſays uſed to draw you into ſin, take heed that you do not rely on your own ſtrength; but betake your ſelves forthwith to him; engage his ſtrength with you; and ſighting by faith under his hanners, you ſhall be made to be more then Conquerours.
[JULY 7. 1696.]