Discourses on Various Important Subjects, Discourse 5 – Title page 2

Discourses on Various Important Subjects · Discourse 5 – Title page 2

p. 244The Excellency of CHRIST.

DISCOURSE, V.

REV. V. 5, 6.

AND one of the Elders ſaith unto me, Weep not; behold the LION of the Tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the Book, and to lo…ſe the ſeven Seals thereof. And I beheld, and to in the midſt of the Throne, and of the four Beaſts, and in the midſt of the Elders, ſtood a LAMB, as it had been ſlain—.

THE Viſions and Revelations that the Apoſtle John had of the future Events of God's Providence, are here introduced with a Viſion of the Book of God's Decrees, by which thoſe Events were fore ordained; which is repreſented in the firſt Verſe of this Chapter, as a Book in the Right Hand of him that ſat on the Throne, written within, and on the back Side, and ſealed with ſeven Seals. Books in the Form in which p. 245they were wont of old to be made, were broad Leaves of Parchment, or Paper, or ſome…hing of that Nature, joined together at one Edge, and ſo rolled up together, and then ſealed, or ſome Way faſten'd together, to prevent their unfolding and opening. Hence we read of the Roll of a Book, Jer. 36. 2. It ſeems to have been ſuch a Book that John h…d a Viſion of here; and therefore 'tis ſaid to be written within, and on the back Side, i. e. on the inſide Pages, and alſo on one of the outſide Pages, viz. that that was rolled in, in the rolling the Book up together. And it is ſaid to be ſe…led with ſeven Seals, to ſignify that what was written in it was perfectly hidden and ſecret; or that God's Decrees of future Events are ſealed, and ſhut up from all Poſſibility of being diſcovered by Creatures, till God is pleaſed to make them known. We find that ſeven is often uſed in Scripture as the Number of Perfection, to ſignify the ſuperlative, or moſt perf…ct Degree of any Thing; which probably c…me from that, that on the ſeventh Day God beheld the Works of Creation finiſhed, and reſted and rejoyced in them, as being compleat and perfect.

When John ſaw this Book, he tells us he ſaw a ſtrong Angel proclaiming with a loud Voice, Who is worthy to open the Book, and to looſe the Seals thereof? And no Man in Heaven, nor in Earth, neither under the Earth, was able to open the Book, neither to look thereon: And that he wept much, becauſe no Man was found worthy to open and read the Book, neither to look thereon. And then tells us how his Tears were dried up, viz. that one of the Elders ſaid unto him, Weep not; Behold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah hath prevailed, &c—as in the Text. Though no Man nor Angel, nor any meer Creature, was …ound either able to looſe the Seals, or worthy to be admitted to the Privilege of Reading the Book, yet this was declared, for the Comfort of this beloved Diſciple, that Chriſt was found both able and worthy. And we have an Account in the ſucceeding Chapters how he actually did it, opening the Seals in Order, firſt one, and then another, rev…aling what God had decreed ſhould come to paſs hereafter. And we have an Account in p. 246this Chapter, of his coming and taking the Book out of the Right Hand of him that ſat on the Throne, and of the joyful Praiſes that were ſung to him, in Heaven and Earth, on that Occaſion.

Many Things might be obſerved in the Words of the Text; but 'tis to my preſent Purpoſe only to take Notice of the two diſtinct Appellations here given to Chriſt.

1. He is called a Lion. Behold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. He ſeems to be called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, in Alluſion to what Jacob ſaid, in his bleſſing of the Tribes on his Death Bed, who when he came to bleſs Judah, compares him to a Lion, Gen. 49. 9. Judah is a Lion's Whelp: From the Prey my Son ar… thou gone up: H… ſtooped down, he couched as a Lion, and as an old Lion; who ſhall raiſe him up? And alſo to the Standard of the Camp of Judah in the Wilderneſs, on which was diſplayed a Lion, according to the ancient Tradition of the Jews. 'Tis much on Account of the valiant Acts of David, that the Tribe of Judah, of which David was, is in Jacob's prophetical Bleſſing compared to a Lion; but more eſpecially with an Eye to Jeſus Chriſt, who alſo was of that Tribe, and was deſcended of David, and is in our Text called the Root of David; and therefore Chriſt is here called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

2. He is called a Lamb. John was told of a Lion that had prevailed to open the Book, and probably expected to ſee a Lion in his Viſion; but while he is expecting, behold a Lamb appears to open the Book, an exceeding diverſe Kind of Creature from a Lion! A Lion is a Devourer, one that is wont to make terrible Slaughter of others; and no Creature more eaſily falls a Prey to him than a Lamb. And Chriſt is here repreſented not only as a Lamb, a Creature very liable to be ſlain, but a Lamb as it had been ſlain, that is, with the Marks of it's deadly Wounds appearing on it.

That which I would obſerve from the Words, for the Subject of my preſent Diſcourſe is this, viz.

p. 247There is an admirable Conjunction of diverſe Excellencies in Jeſus Chriſt.

The Lion and the Lamb, though very diverſe Kinds of Creatures, yet have each their peculiar Excellencies. The Lion excells in Strength, and in the Majeſty of his Appearance and Voice. The Lamb excells in Meekneſs and Patience, beſides the excellent Nature of the Creature as good for Food, and yielding that which is fit for our Cloathing, and being ſutable to be offered in Sacrifice to God. But we ſee that Chriſt is in the Text compared to both; becauſe the diverſe Excellencies of both wonderfully meet in him.

In handling this Subject, I would

Firſt, Shew wherein there is an admirable Conjunction of diverſe Excellencies in Chriſt.

Secondly, How this admirable Conjunction of Excellencies appears in Chriſt's Acts.

And then make Application.

Firſt. I would ſhew wherein there is an admirable Conjunction of diverſe Excellencies in J…ſus Chriſt. Which appears in three Things,

I. There is a Conjunction of ſuch Excellencies in Chriſt, as, in our Manner of conceiving, are very diverſe one from another.

II. There is in him a Conjunction of ſuch really diverſe Excellencies, as otherwiſe would have ſeemed to us utterly incompatible in the ſame Subject.

III. Such diverſe Excellencies are exerciſed in him towards Men, that otherwiſe would have ſeemed impoſſible to be exerciſed towards the ſame Object.

I. There is a Conjunction of ſuch Excellencies in Chriſt. as, in our Manner of conceiving, are very diverſe one from another. Such are the various divine Perfections and Excellencies that Chriſt is poſſeſſed of. Chriſt is a divine Perſon, or one that is God; and therefore has all p. 248the Attributes of God. The Difference there is between theſe is chiefly relative, and in our Manner of conceiving of them. And thoſe that in this Senſe are moſt Diverſe, do meet in the Perſon of Chriſt. I ſhall mention two Inſtances.

1. There do meet in Jeſus Chriſt, infinite Highneſs, and infinite Condeſcenſion Chriſt, as he is God, is infinitely great and high above all. He is higher than the Kings of the Earth; for he is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. He is higher than the Heavens, and higher than the higheſt Angels of Heaven. So great is He, that all Men, all Kings and Princes, are as Worms of the Duſt before him, all Nations are as the Drop of the Bucket, and the light Duſt of the Balance; yea, and Angels themſelves are as nothing before him. He is ſo high, that he is infinitely above any Need of us; above our Reach, that we cannot be profitable to him, and above our Conceptions, that we cannot comprehend him. Prov. 30 4. What is his Name, and what is his Son's Name, if thou canſt tell? Our Underſtandings, if we ſtretch them never ſo far, c…n't reach up to his divine Glory. Job 11. 8 It is high as Heaven, what canſt tho … do?—Chriſt is the Creator, and great Poſſeſſor of Heaven and Earth: He is ſovereign Lord of all: He rules over the whole Univerſe, and doth whatſoever pleaſeth him: H… Knowlege is without Bound: His Wiſdom is perfect, and what none can circumvent: His Power is infinite, and none can reſiſt him: His Riches are immenſe and inexhauſtable: His Majeſty is infinitely awful.

And yet he is one of infinite Condeſcenſion. None are ſo low, or in…eriour, but Chriſt's Condeſcenſion is ſufficient to take a gracious Notice of them. He condeſcends not only to the Angels, humbling himſelf to behold the Things that are done in Heaven, but he alſo condeſcends to ſuch poor Creatures as Men; and that not only ſo as to take Notice of Princes and great Men, but of thoſe that are of meaneſt Rank and Degree, the Poor of the World, James, 2 5. Such as are commonly deſpiſed by their Follow Creatures, Chriſt don't deſpiſe. p. 2491 Cor. 1. 28. Baſe Things of the World, and Things that are deſpiſed, hath God choſen. Chriſt condeſcends to take Notice of Beggars, Luke. 16 22. and of Servants, and People of the moſt deſpiſed Nations: In Chriſt Jeſus is neither Barbarian, Sythian, Bond, nor Free, Col. 3. 11. He that is thus high, condeſcends to take a gracious Notice of little Children, Matth. 19. 14. Suffer little Children to come unto me. Yea, which is much more, his Condeſcenſion is ſufficient to take a gracious Notice of the moſt unworthy, ſinful Creatures, thoſe that have no good Deſervings, and thoſe that have infinite ill Deſervings.

Yea, ſo great is his Condeſcenſion, that it is not only ſufficient to take ſome gracious Notice of ſuch as theſe, but ſufficient for every Thing that is an Act of Condeſcenſion. His Condeſcenſion is great enough to become their Friend: 'Tis great enough to become their Companion, to unite their Souls to him in ſpiritual Marriage: 'Tis great enough to take their Nature upon him, to become one of them, that he may be one with them: Yea, it is great enough to abaſe himſelf yet lower for them, even to expoſe himſelf to Shame and Spitting; yea, to yield up himſelf to an ignominious Death for them. And what Act of Condeſcenſion can be conceived of greater? Yet ſuch an Act as this, has his Condeſcenſion yielded to, for thoſe that are ſo low and mean, deſpicable and unworthy!

Such a Conjunction of ſuch infinite Highneſs, and low Condeſcenſion, in the ſame Perſon, is admirable. We ſee by manifold Inſtances, what a Tendency an high Station has in Men, to make them to be of a quite contrary Diſpoſition. If one Worm be a little exalted above another, by having more Duſt, or a bigger Dunghill, how much does he make of himſelf! What a Diſtance does he keep from thoſe that are below him! And a little Condeſcenſion, is what he expects ſhould be made much of, and greatly acknowleged. Chriſt condeſcends to waſh our Feet; but how would great Men, (or rather the bigger Worms,) account themſelves debaſed by Acts of far leſs Condeſcenſion!

p. 2502. There meet in Jeſus Chriſt, infinite Juſtice, and infinite Grace. As Chriſt is a divine Perſon he is infinitely holy and juſt, infinitely hating Sin, and diſpoſed to execute condign Puniſhment for Sin. He is the Judge of the World, and is the infinitely juſt Judge of it, and will not at all acquit the wicked, or by any Means clear the guilty.

And yet he is one that is infinitely gracious and merciful. Though his Juſtice be ſo ſtrict with Reſpect to all Sin, and every Breach of the Law, yet he has Grace ſufficient for every Sinner, and even the chief of Sinners. And it is not only ſufficient for the moſt unworthy to ſhow them Mercy, and beſtow ſome good upon them, but to beſtow the greateſt Good; yea, 'tis ſufficient to beſtow all Good upon them, and to do all Things for them. There is no Benefit or Bleſſing that they can receive ſo great, but the Grace of Chriſt is ſufficient to beſtow it on the greateſt Sinner that ever lived. And not only ſo, but ſo great is his Grace, that nothing is too much as the Means of this Good: 'Tis ſufficient not only to do great Things, but alſo to ſuffer in order to it; and not only to ſuffer, but to ſuffer moſt extremely, even unto Death, the moſt terrible of natural Evils; and not only Death, but the moſt ignominious&tormenting, and every Way the moſt terrible Death that Men could inflict; yea, and greater Sufferings than Men could inflict, who could only torment the Body, but alſo thoſe Sufferings in his Soul, that were the more immediate Fruits of the Wrath of God againſt the Sins of thoſe he undertakes for.

II. There do meet in the Perſon of Chriſt, ſuch really diverſe Excellencies, which otherwiſe would have been thought …terly incompatible in the ſame Subject; ſuch as are conjoined in no other Perſon whatever, either divine, human, or angelical; and ſuch as neither Men nor Angels would ever have imagined could have met together in the ſame Perſon, had it not been ſeen in the Perſon of Chriſt. I would give ſome Inſtances.

1. In the Perſon of Chriſt do meet together, infinite Glory, and the loweſt Humility. Infinite Glory, and p. 251the Virtue of Humility, meet in no other Perſon but Chriſt. They meet in no created Perſon; for no created Perſon has infinite Glory: And they meet in no other divine Perſon but Chriſt. For though the divine Nature be infinitely abhorrent to Pride, yet Humility is not properly predicable of God the Father, and the Holy Ghoſt, that exiſt only in the divine Nature; becauſe it is a proper Excellency only of a created Nature; for it conſiſts radically in a Senſe of a comparative Lowneſs and Littleneſs before God, or the great Diſtance between God and the Subject of this Virtue; but it would be a Contradiction to ſuppoſe any ſuch Thing in God.

But in Jeſus Chriſt, who is both God and Man, theſe two diverſe Excellencies, are ſweetly united. He is a Perſon infinitely exalted in Glory & Dignity. Phil. 2. 6. Being in the Form of God, he thought it not Robbery to be equal with God. There is equal Honour due to him with the Father. John 5. 23.—That all Men ſhould honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. God himſelf ſays to him, Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever, Heb. 1. 8. And there is the ſame ſupreme Reſpect, and divine Worſhip, paid to him by the Angels of Heaven, as to God the Father; as there, Verſe 6. Let all the Angels of God worſhip him.

But however he is thus above all, yet he is loweſt of all in Humility. There never was ſo great an Inſtance of this Virtue, among either Men or Angels, as Jeſus. None ever was ſo ſenſible of the Diſtance between God and him, or had a Heart ſo lowly before God, as the Man Chriſt Jeſus. Matth. 11. 29. What a wonderful Spirit of Humility appeared in him, when he was here upon Earth, in all his Behaviour! In his Contentment in his mean outward Condition, contentedly living in the Family of Joſeph the Carpenter, and Mary his Mother, for thirty Years together, and afterwards chooſing outward Meanneſs, Poverty and Contempt, rather than earthly Greatneſs; in his waſhing his Diſciples Feet, and in all his Speeches and Deportment towards them; in his cheerfully ſuſtaining the Form of a Servant thro' his whole Life, and ſubmitting to ſuch immenſe Humiliation at Death!

p. 2522. In the Perſon of Chriſt do meet together, infinite Majeſty, and tranſcendent Meekneſs. Theſe again are two Qualifications that meet together in no other Perſon but Chriſt. Meekneſs, properly ſo called, is a Virtue proper only to the Creature: We ſcarcely ever find Meekneſs mentioned as a divine Attribute in Scripture; at leaſt not in the New Teſtament; for thereby ſeems to be ſignified, a Calmneſs and Quietneſs of Spirit ariſing from Humility, in mutable Beings, that are naturally liable to be put into a Ruffle, by the Aſſaults of a tempeſtuous and injurious World. But Chriſt being both God and Man, hath both infinite Majeſty and ſuperlative Meekneſs.

Chriſt was a Perſon of infinite Majeſty. It is he that is ſpoken of, Pſalm. 45. 3. Gird thy Sword upon thy Thigh, O moſt mighty, in thy Glory and thy Majeſty. 'Tis he that is mighty, that rideth on the Heavens, and in his Excellency on the Sky. 'Tis he that is terrible out of his holy Places; who is mightier than the Noiſe of many Waters, yea, than the mighty Waves of the Sea; before whom a Fire goeth, and burneth up his Enemies round about; at whoſe Preſence the Earth doth quake, and the Hills do melt; who ſitteth on the Circle of the Earth, and all the Inhabitants thereof are as Graſhoppers; who rebukes the Sea and maketh it dry, and drieth up the Rivers; whoſe Eyes are as a Flame of Fire, from whoſe Preſence, and from the Glory of whoſe Power, the Wicked ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting Deſtruction; who is the bleſſed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, that hath Heaven for his Throne, and the Earth for his Footſtool, and is the high and lofty One who inhabits Eternity, whoſe Kingdom is an everlaſting Kingdom, and of whoſe Dominion there is no End.

And yet he was the moſt marvellous Inſtance of Meekneſs, and humble Quietneſs of Spirit, that ever was, agreable to the Prophecies of him. Matth. 21. 4, 5. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was ſpoken by the Prophet, ſaying, Tell ye the Daughter of Sion, behold thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and ſitting p. 253upon an Aſs, and a Colt the Fole of an Aſs. And agreable to what Chriſt declares of himſelf, Matth. 11. 29. I am meek and lowly of Heart. And agreable to what was manifeſt in his Behaviour here in this World. For there never was ſuch an Inſtance ſeen on Earth of a meek Behaviour, under Injuries & Reproaches, & towards Enemies; who when he was reviled, reviled not again; who was of a wonderful Spirit of Forgiveneſs, was ready to forgive his worſt Enemies, and prayed for them with ſervent and effectual Prayers. With what Meekneſs did he appear, when in the Ring of Soldiers, that were con…mning and mocking him, when he was ſilent, and opened not his Mouth, but went as a Lamb to the Slaughter. Thus is Chriſt a Lion in Majeſty, and a Lamb in Meekneſs.

3. There meet in the Perſon of Chriſt, the deepeſt Reverence towards God, and Equality with God. Chriſt, when he was here on Earth, appeared full of holy Reverence towards the Father: He paid the moſt reverential Worſhip to him, praying to him with Poſtures of Reverence. Thus we read of his kneeling down and praying, Matth. 22. 41. This became Chriſt, as he was one that had taken on him the human Nature. But at the ſame Time he exiſted in the divine Nature; whereby his Perſon was in all Reſpects equal to the Perſon of the Father. God the Father hath no Attribute or Perfection, that the Son hath not, in equal Degree, and equal Glory. Theſe Things meet in no other Perſon but Jeſus Chriſt.

4. There are conjoined in the Perſon of Chriſt, infinite Worthineſs of Good, and the greateſt Patience under Sufferings of Evil. He was perfectly innocent, and deſerved no Suffering. He deſerved nothing from God, by any Guilt of his own; and he deſerved no Ill from Men. Yea, he was not only harmleſs, and undeſerving of Suffering, but he was infinitely worthy, worthy of the infinite Love of the Father, worthy of infinite and eternal Happineſs, and infinitely worthy of all poſſible Eſteem, Love, and Service from all Men. And yet he was perfectly patient under the greateſt Sufferings, that ever p. 254were endured in this World. Heb. 6. 15. After he had patiently endured, he obtained the Promiſe. He ſuffered not from his Father, for his Faults, but ours; and he ſuffered from Men▪ not for his Faults, but for thoſe Things, on Account of which, he was infinitely worthy of their Love and Honour; which made his Patience the more wonderful, and the more glorious. 1 Pet. 2. 20, &c. For what Glory … it if when ye be buffeted for your Faults, ye ſhall take it patiently? But if when ye do well, and ſuffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God: For even hereunto were ye called becauſe Chriſt alſo ſuffered for us, leaving us an Example, that we ſhould follow his Steps; who did no Sin, neither was Guile found in his Mouth; who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he ſuffered he threatened not, but committed himſelf to him that judgeth righteouſly: Who his own ſelf, bare our Sins in his own Body, on the Tree, that we being dead to Sin, ſhould live unto Righteouſneſs; by whoſe Stripes ye were healed. There is no ſuch Conjunction of Innocence, Worthineſs, and Patience under Sufferings, as in the Perſon of Chriſt.

5. In the Perſon of Chriſt are conjoined, an exceeding Spirit of Obedience, with ſupreme Dominion over Heaven and Earth. Chriſt is the Lord of all Things, in two Reſpects. He is ſo as he is God-Man, and Mediator; and ſo his Dominion is appointed, and given of the Father, and is by Delegation from God, and he is as it were the Father's Vicegerent But he is Lord of all Things in another Reſpect, viz. as he is, (by his original Nature) God. And ſo he is by natural Right, the Lord of all, and ſupreme over all, as much as the Father. Thus he has Dominion over the World, not by Delegation, but in his own Right: He is not an Under God, as the Asians ſuppoſe, but to all Intents and Purpoſes, ſupreme God.

And yet, in the ſame Perſon, is found the greateſt Spirit of Obedience to the Commands and Law of God that ever was in the Univerſe; which was manifeſt in his Obedience here in this World▪ John. 14 31. As the Father gave me Commandment, even ſo I do. John. 15 10. p. 255Even as I have kept my Father's Commandments, and abide in his Love. The Greatneſs of his Spirit of Obedience appears in the Perfection of his Obedience, and in his obeying Commands of ſuch exceeding Difficulty. Never any one received Commands from God, of ſuch Difficulty, and that were ſo great a Trial of Obedience, as Jeſus Chriſt. One of God's Commands to him was, that he ſhould yield himſelf to thoſe dreadful Sufferings that he underwent. See John 10. 18. No Man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of my ſelf.—This Commandment received I of my Father. And Chriſt was throughly obedient to this Command of God. Heb. 5. 8. Though he were a Son, yet learned he Obedience by the Things that he ſuffered. Philip. 2 8. He humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Croſs. Never was there ſuch an Inſtance of Obedience in Man nor Angel, as this; though he that obeyed was at the ſame Time, ſupreme Lord of both Angels and Men.

6. In the Perſon of Chriſt are conjoined abſolute Sovereignty, and perfect Reſignation. This is another unparallel'd Conjunction. Chriſt as he is God, is the abſolute Sovereign of the World: He is the ſovereign Diſpoſer of all Events. The Decrees of God are all his ſovereign Decrees; and the Work of Creation, and all God's Works of Providence, are his ſovereign Works. 'Tis he that worketh all Things according to the Counſel of his own Will. Col. 1. 16, 17. By him, and thro' him, and to him, are all Things. John. 15. 17. The Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Matth. 8. 3. I will, be thou clean.

But yet Chriſt was the moſt wonderful Inſtance of Reſignation, that ever appeared in the World. He was abſolutely and perfectly reſigned, when he had a near, and immediate Proſpect of his terrible Sufferings, and the dreadful Cup that he was to drink, the Idea and Expectation of which, made his Soul exceeding Sorrowful, even unto Death, and put him into ſuch an Agony, that his Sweat was as it were great Drops, or Clots of Blood, falling down to the Ground. But in ſuch Circumſtances, be was wholly reſigned to the Will of God. p. 256Matth. 26. 39. O my Father, if it be poſſible, let this Cup paſs from me! Nevertheleſs, not as I will, but as thou wilt. Verſe 42. O my Father, if this Cup may not paſs from me, except I drink it, Thy Will be done!

7. In Chriſt do meet together, Self-ſufficiency, and an intire Truſt and Reliance on God; which is another Conjunction peculiar to the Perſon of Chriſt. As he is a divine Perſon he is ſelf-ſufficient, ſtanding in Need of nothing; all Creatures are dependent on him, but he is dependent on none, but is abſolutely independent. His Proceeding from the Father in his eternal Generation, or Filiation, argues no proper Dependance on the Will of the Father; for that Proceeding was natural and neceſſary, and not arbitrary. But yet Chriſt intirely truſted in God: His Enemies ſay that of him, He truſted in God that he would deliver him, Matth. 27. 43. And the Apoſtle teſtifies, 1 Pet. 2. 23. That he committed himſelf to God.

III. Such diverſe Excellencies are expreſs'd in him towards Men, that otherwiſe would have ſeem'd impoſſible to be exerciſed towards the ſame Object; as particularly theſe three, Juſtice, Mercy and Truth. The ſame that are mentioned, Pſalm. 85. 10. Mercy and Truth are met together, Righteouſneſs and Peace have kiſſed each other. The ſtrict Juſtice of God, and even his revenging Juſtice, and that againſt the Sins of Men, never was ſo gloriouſly manifeſted as in Chriſt. He manifeſted an infinite Regard to the Attribute of God's Juſtice, in that when he had a Mind to ſave Sinners, he was willing to undergo ſuch extreme Sufferings, rather than that their Salvation ſhould be to the Injury of the Honour of that Attribute. And as he is the Judge of the World, he doth himſelf exerciſe ſtrict Juſtice; he will not clear the Guilty, nor at all acquit the Wicked in Judgment. And yet, how wonderfully is infinite Mercy towards Sinners, diſplayed in him! And what glorious and ineffable Grace and Love have been, and are exerciſed by him, towards ſinful Men! Though he be the juſt Judge of a ſinful World, yet he is alſo the Saviour of the World: p. 257Though he be a conſuming Fire to Sin, … he is the Light and Life of Sinners. Rom. 3. 25, 26 Whom God hath ſet forth to be a Propitiation, through Faith in his Blood, to declare his Righteouſneſs, for the Remiſſion of Sins that are paſt, through the Forbearance of God; To declare, I ſay, at this Time, his Righteouſneſs, th… he might be juſt, and the Juſtifier of him which believeth in Jeſus.

So the immutable Truth of God, in the Threatenings of his Law againſt the Sins of Men, was never ſo manifeſted, as it is in Jeſus Chriſt; for there never was any other ſo great a Trial of the Unalterableneſs of the Truth of God, in thoſe Threatenings, as when Sin came to be imputed to his own Son. And then in Chriſt, has been ſeen already, an actual, compleat Accompliſhment of thoſe Threatenings; which never has been, nor will be ſeen in any other Inſtance; becauſe the Eternity that will be taken up in fulfilling thoſe Threatnings on others, never will be finiſhed. Chriſt manifeſted an infinite Regard to this Truth of God in his Sufferings. And in his judging the World, he makes the Covenant of Works that contains thoſe dreadful Threatnings, his Rule of Judgment: He will ſee to it that it is not infringed in the leaſt Jot or Tittle▪ he will do nothing contrary to the Threatnings of the Law, and their compleat Fulfilment. And yet in him we have many great, and precious Promiſes, Promiſes of perfect Deliverance from the Penalty of the Law. And this is the Promiſe that he hath promiſed us, even eternal Life. And in him are all the Promiſes of God, Yea, and Amen

Having thus ſhown wherein there is an admirable Conjunction of Excellencies in Jeſus Chriſt, I now proceed,

Secondly, To ſhew how this admirable Conjunction of Excellencies appears in Chriſt's Acts

I It appears in what Chriſt did in taking on him our Nature. In this Act his infi…i… Cond…ſ…nſion wonderfully appeared; that he that was God, ſhould become Man; that the Word ſhould be made Fleſh, and ſhould p. 258take on him a Nature infinitely below his original Nature! And it appears yet more remarkably, in the low Circumſtances of his Incarnation: He was conceived in the Womb of a poor young Woman; whoſe Poverty appeared in that when ſhe came to offer Sacrifices for her Purification, ſhe brought what was allowed of in the Law, only in Caſe of Poverty; as Luke 2 34. According to that which is ſaid in the Law of the Lord, a Pair of Turtle Doves, or two young Pidgeons. This was allowed only in Caſe the Perſon was ſo Poor, that ſhe was not able to offer a Lamb. Levit. 12. 8.

And though his infinite Condeſcenſion thus appear'd in the Manner of his Incarnation, yet his divine Dignity alſo appeared in it; for though he was conceived in the Womb of a poor Virgin, yet he was there conceived by the Power of the Holy Ghoſt. And his divine Dignity alſo appeared in the Holineſs of his Conception and Birth. Though he was conceived in the Womb of one of the corrupt Race of Mankind, yet he was conceived and born without Sin; as the Angel ſaid to the bleſſed Virgin, Luke 1. 35. The Holy Ghoſt ſhall come upon thee, and the Power of the Higheſt ſhall over ſhadow thee; therefore alſo, that holy Thing which ſhall be born of thee, ſhall be called the Son of God.

His infinite Condeſcenſion marvellouſly appeared in the Manner of his Birth. He was brought forth in a Stable, becauſe there was no Room for them in the Inn. The Inn was taken up by others, that were looked upon as Perſons of greater Account. The bleſſed Virgin being poor and deſpiſed, was turned or ſhut out; tho' ſhe was in ſuch neceſſitous Circumſtances, yet thoſe that counted themſelves her Betters, would not give Place to her; and therefore in the Time of her Travail ſhe was forced to betake her ſelf to a Stable; and when the Child was born, it was wrapped in Swaddling Cloaths, and laid in a Manger; and there Chriſt lay a little Infant; and there he eminently appeared as a Lamb. But yet this feeble Infant that was born thus in a Stable, and laid in a Manger, was born to conquer and triumph over Satan, that roaring Lion: He came to ſubdue the mighty p. 259Powers of Darkneſs, and make a Shew of them openly; and ſo to reſtore Peace on Earth, and to manifeſt God's Good-Will towards Men, and to bring Glory to God in the higheſt; according as the End of his Birth was declared by the joyful Songs of the glorious Hoſts of Angels, appea…g to the Shepherds, at the ſame Time that the Infant lay in the Manger; whereby his divine Dignity was manifeſted.

II. This admirable Conjunction of Excellencies appears in the Acts, and various Paſſages of Chriſt's Life. Though Chriſt dwelt on the Earth in mean outward Circumſtances, whereby his Condeſcenſion and Humility eſpecially appeared, and his Majeſty was veil'd; yet his divine Dignity and Glory did in many of his Acts ſhine through the Veil, and it illuſtriouſly appeared that he was, not only the Son of Man, but, the great God.

Thus in the Circumſtances of his Infancy, his outward Meanneſs appeared; yet there was ſomething then to ſhew forth his divine Dignity, in the wiſe Men's being ſti…r'd up to come from the Eaſt to give Honour to him, their being led by a miraculous Star, and coming and falling down and worſhipping him, and preſenting him with Gold, Frankincenſe and Myrrh. His Humility and Meekneſs wonderfully appeared in his Subjection to his Mother and reputed Father, when he was a Child: He herein appeared as a Lamb. But his divine Glory broke forth and ſhone, when at twelve Years old, he diſputed with the Doctors in the Temple: In that he appeared, in ſome Meaſure, as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

And ſo after he entred on his publick Miniſtry, his marvellous Humility and Meekneſs was manifeſted in his chooſing to appear in ſuch mean outward Circumſtances, and in being ſo contented in them, when he was ſo Poor that he had not where to lay his Head, and depended on the Charity of ſome of his Followers for his Subſiſtence; as appears by Luke. 8. at the begin. As alſo in his meek, condeſcending▪ and familiar Treatment of his p. 260Diſciples; in his Diſcourſes with them, treating them as a Father his Children, yea, as Friends and Companions: And in his patient bearing ſuch Affliction and Reproach, and ſo many Injuries from the Scribes and Phariſees, and others: In theſe Things he appeared as a Lamb. And yet he at the ſame Time did many Ways ſhew forth his divine Majeſty and Glory; particularly in the Miracles that he wrought, which were evidently divine Works, and manifeſted omnipote… Power, and ſo declared him to be the Lion of the Tribe of Judah His wonderful and miraculous Works plainly ſhewed him to be the God of Nature; in that it appeared by them that he had all Nature in his Hands, and could lay an Arreſt upon it, and ſtop and change it's Courſe, as he pleaſed. In healing the Sick, and opening the Eyes of the Blind, and unſtopping the Ears of the Deaf, and healing the Lame, he ſhewed that he was the God that framed the Eye, and created the Ear, and was the Author of the Frame of Man's Body. By the Dead's riſing at his Command, it appeared that he was the Author and Fountain of Life, and that God the LORD, to whom belong the Iſſues from Death. By his walking on the Sea in a Storm, when the Waves were raiſed, he ſhewed himſelf to be that God, ſpoken of Job 9. 8. That treadeth on the Waves of the Sea. By his ſtilling the Storm, and calming the Rage of the Sea, by his powerful Command, ſaying, Peace, be ſtill, He ſhewed himſelf to be he that has the Command of the Univerſe, and to be that God that brings Things to paſs by the Word of his Power, that ſpeaks and it is done, that commands and it ſtands faſt, & he that is ſpoken of, Pſalm 65.7 Who ſtilleth the Noiſe of the Seas, the Noiſe of their Waves. And Pſalm 107. 29. That maketh the Storm a Calm; ſo that the Waves thereof are ſtill. And Pſalm 89. 8, 9. O Lord God of Hoſts, Who is a ſtrong Lord like unto thee, o… to thy Faithfulneſs round about thee? Thou rebukeſt the raging of th… Sea; when the Waves thereof ariſe, thou ſtilleſt them—Chriſt by caſting out Devils, remarkably appeared as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and ſhow'd that he was ſtronger than that roaring Lion, that ſeeks p. 261whom he may devour. He commanded them to come out, and they were forced to obey: They were terribly afraid of him; they fall down before him, and beſeech him not to torment them: He forces a whole Legion of them to forſake their old Hold, by his powerful Word; and they could not ſo much as enter into the Swine without his Leave.—He ſhewed the Glory of his Omniſcience, by telling the Thoughts of Men; as we have often an Account. Herein he appeared to be that God ſpoken of, Amos 4 13. That declareth unto Man what is his Thought. Thus in the midſt of his Meanneſs and Humiliation, his divine Glory appeared in his Miracles, John 2. 11. This beginning of Miracles did Jeſus in Cana of Galilee, and manifeſted forth his Glory.

And tho' Chriſt ordinarily appeared without outward Glory, and in great Obſcurity, yet at a certain Time he threw off the Veil, and appeared in his divine Majeſty, ſo far as it could be outwardly manifeſted to Men in this frail State, when he was transfigured in the Mount. The Apoſtle Peter ſpeaks of it, 2 Pet. 1. 16, 17. ſpeaking there of himſelf, as one that was an Eye Witneſs of his Majeſty, when he received from God the Father, Honour and Glory, when there came ſuch a Voice to him, from the excellent Glory, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleaſed; which Voice that came from Heaven, they heard, when they were with him in the holy Mount.

And at the ſame Time that Chriſt was wont to appear in ſuch Meekneſs, Condeſcenſion and Humility, in his familiar Diſcourſes with his Diſciples, appearing therein as the Lamb of God, he was alſo wont to appear as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, with divine Authority and Majeſty, in his ſo ſharply rebuking the Scribes and Phariſees, and other Hypocrites.

III. This admirable Conjunction of Excellencies remarkably appears, in his offering up himſelf a Sacrifice for Sinners in his laſt Sufferings. As this was the greateſt Thing in all the Work of Redemption, the greateſt Act of Chriſt in that Work; ſo in this Act eſpecially, does th…e appear that admirable Conjunction of Excellencies, p. 262that has been ſpoken of. Chriſt never ſo much appeared as a Lamb, as when he was ſ…ain: He came like a Lamb to the Slaughter, Iſai. 53. 7. Then he was offered up to God as a Lamb without Blemiſh, and without Spot: Then eſpecially did he appear to be the Anti-type of the Lamb of the Paſſover: 1 Cor. 5. 7. Chriſt our Paſſover ſacrificed for us. And yet in that Act, he did in an eſpecial Manner appear as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah; yea, in this above all other Acts, in many Reſpects, as may appear in the following Things.

1. Then was Chriſt in the greateſt Degree of his Humiliation, and yet by that, above all other Things, his divine Glory appears Chriſt's Humiliation was great, in being born in ſuch a low Condition, of a poor Virgin, and in a Stable: His Humiliation was great, in being ſubject to Joſeph the Carpenter, and Mary his Mother, and afterwards in living in Poverty, ſo as not to have where to lay his Head, and in ſuffering ſuch manifold and bitter Reproaches as he ſuffered, while he went about preaching and working Miracles: But his Humiliation was never ſo great, as it was in his laſt Sufferings, beginning with his Agony in the Garden, till he expired on the Croſs. Never was he ſubject to ſuch ignominy as then; never did he ſuffer ſo much Pain in his Body, or ſo much Sorrow in his Soul; never was he in ſo great an Exerciſe of his Condeſcenſion, Humility, Meekneſs, and Patience, as he was in theſe laſt Sufferings; never was his divine Glory and Majeſty covered with ſo thick and dark a Veil; never did he ſo empty himſelf, and make himſelf of no Reputation, as at this—Time: And yet never was his divine Glory ſo manifeſted, by any Act of his, as in that Act, of yielding himſelf up to theſe Sufferings.—When the Fruit of it came to appear, and the Myſtery and Ends of it to be unfolded, in the Iſſue of it, then did the Glory of it appear; then did it appear, as the moſt glorious Act of Chriſt that ever he exerciſed towards the Creature. This Act of his is celebrated by the Angels and Hoſts of Heaven with peculiar Praiſes, as that which is above all others glorious, as you may ſee in the Context, Verſe 9. &c. p. 263And they ſung a new Song, ſaying, Thou are worthy to take the Book, and to open the Seals thereof, FOR THOU WAST SLAIN, and haſt redeemed us to God BY THY BLOOD, out of every Kindred, and Tongue, and People, and Nation, and haſt made us, to our God, Kings, and Prieſts, and we ſhall reign on Earth. And I beheld, and I heard the Voice of many Angels, round about the Throne, and the Beaſts, and the Elders, and the Number of them was ten thouſand Times ten thouſand, and thouſands of thouſands, ſaying, with a loud Voice, Worthy is the Lamb THAT WAS SLAIN, to receive Power, and Riches, and Wiſdom, and Strength, and Honour, and Glory, and Bleſſing.

2. He never in any Act gave ſo great a Manifeſtation of Love to God, and yet never ſo manifeſted his Love to thoſe that were Enemies to God, as in that Act. Chriſt never did any Thing whereby his Love to the Father was ſo eminently manifeſted, as in his laying down his Life, under ſuch inexpreſſible Sufferings, in Obedience to his Command, and for the Vindication of the Honour of his Authority and Majeſty; nor did ever any meer Creature give ſuch a Teſtimony of Love to God as that was: And yet this was the greateſt Expreſſion of all, of his Love to ſinful Men, that were Enemies to God, Rom. 5. 10. While we were Enemies, we were reconciled to God, by the Death of his Son. The Greatneſs of Chriſt's Love to ſuch, appears in nothing ſo much, as in it's being dying Love. That Blood of Chriſt that was ſweat out, and fell in great Drops to the Ground, in his Agony, was ſhed from Love to God's Enemies, and his own. That Shame and Spitting, that Torment of Body, and that exceeding Sorrow, even unto Death, that he endured in his Soul, was what he underwent from Love to Rebels againſt God, to ſave them from Hell, and to purchaſe for them eternal Glory.—Never did Chriſt ſo eminently ſhew his Regard to God's Honour, as in offering up himſelf a Victim to revenging Juſtice, to vindicate God's Honour: And yet in this above all, he manifeſted his Love to them that diſhonoured God, ſo as to bring ſuch Guilt on themſelves, that nothing leſs than his Blood could atone for it.

p. 2643. Chriſt never ſo eminently appeared for divine Juſtice, and yet never ſuffered ſo much from divine Juſtice, as when he offered up himſelf a Sacrifice for our Sins. In Chriſt's great Sufferings, did his infinite Regard to the Honour of God's Juſtice diſtinguiſhingly appear; for it was from Regard to that, that he thus humbled himſelf: And yet in theſe Sufferings, Chriſt was the Mark of the vindictive Expreſſions of that very Juſtice of God. Revenging Juſtice then ſpent all it's Force upon him, on the Account of our Guilt that was laid upon him; he was not ſpared at all; but God ſpent the Arrows of his Vengeance upon him, which made him ſweat Blood, and cry out upon the Croſs, and probably rent his Vitals, broke his Heart, the Fountain of Blood, or ſome other internal Blood Veſſels, and by the violent Fermentation turned his Blood to Water: For the Blood and Water that iſſued out of his Side, when pierced by the Spear, ſeems to have been extravaſated Blood; and ſo there might be a Kind of literal Fulfilment of that, in Pſalm. 22. 14. I am poured out like Water, and all my Bones are out of Joint: My Heart is like Wax, it is melted in the midſt of my Bowels—And this was the Way and Means by which Chriſt ſtood up for the Honour of God's Juſtice, viz. By thus ſuffering it's terrible Executions. For when he had undertaken for Sinners, and had ſubſtituted himſelf in their Room, divine Juſtice could have it's due Honour, no other Way than by his Suffering it's Revenges.

In this the diverſe Excellencies that met in the Perſon of Chriſt appeared, viz. His infinite Regard to God's Juſtice, and ſuch Love to thoſe that have expoſed themſelves to it, as induced him thus to yield himſelf a Sacrifice to it.

4. Chriſt's Holineſs never ſo illuſtriouſly ſhone forth, as it did in his laſt Sufferings; and yet he never was to ſuch a Degree, treated as Guilty. Chriſt's Holineſs never had ſuch a Trial, as it had then; and therefore never had ſo great a Manifeſtation. When it was tried in this Furnace, it came forth as, Gold, or as Silver purified ſeven Times. His Holineſs then above all appeared in p. 265his ſtedfaſt Purſuit of the Honour of God, and in his Obedience to him: For his yielding himſelf unto Death was tranſcendently the greateſt Act of Obedience, that ever was paid to God, by any one ſince the Foundation of the World.

And yet then Chriſt was in the greateſt Degree treated as a wicked Perſon. He was apprehended and bound as a Malefactor. His Accuſers repreſented him as a moſt wicked Wretch. In his Sufferings before his Crucifixion he was treated as if he had been the worſt and vileſt of Mankind; and then, he was put to a Kind of Death, that none but the worſt Sort of Malefactors were wont to ſuffer, thoſe that were moſt abject in their Perſons, and guilty of the blackeſt Crimes. And he ſuffered as though Guilty from God himſelf, by Reaſon of our Guilt imputed to him; for he was made Sin for us, who knew no Sin; he was made Subject to Wrath as if he had been ſinful himſelf: He was made a Curſe for us.

Chriſt never ſo greatly manifeſted his Hatred of Sin, as againſt God, as in his dying to take away the Diſhonour that Sin had done to God; and yet never was he to ſuch a Degree ſubject to the terrible Effects of God's Hatred of Sin, and Wrath againſt it, as he was then—In this appears thoſe diverſe Excellencies meeting in Chriſt, viz. Love to God, and Grace to Sinners.

5. He never was ſo dealt with as unworthy as in his laſt Sufferings, and yet it is chiefly on Account of them that he is accounted worthy. He was the… in dealt with as if he had not been worthy to live: They cry out, Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him. John. 19. 15. And they pre…r Barabbas before him. And he ſuffer'd from the Father, as one whoſe D…merits were infinite, by Reaſon of our Demerits that were laid upon him. And yet it was eſpecially by that Act of his ſubjecting himſelf to thoſe Sufferings, that he merited, and on the Account of which chiefly he was accounted worthy of, the Glory of his Exaltation Philip. 2. 8▪ 9 He humbled himſelf, and … unto Death;—wherefore God hath highly, … And we ſee that 'tis on p. 266this Account chiefly, that he is extolled as worthy by Saints and Angels in the Context; Worthy, ſay they, is the Lamb that was ſlain—This ſhews an admirable Conjunction in him of infinite Dignity, and infinite Condeſcenſion and Love to the infinitely unworthy.

6. Chriſt in his laſt Sufferings ſuffered moſt extremely from thoſe that he was then in his greateſt Act of Love to. He never ſuffered ſo much from his Father, (though not from any Hatred to him, but from Hatred to our Sins) for he then forſook him, (as Chriſt on the Croſs expreſſes it) or took away the Comforts of his Preſence; and then it pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him, and put him to Grief, as Iſai. 53. 10. And yet never gave ſo great a Manifeſtation of Love to God as then, as has been already obſerved. So Chriſt never ſuffered ſo much from the Hands of Men as he did then; and yet never was in ſo high an Exerciſe of Love to Men. He never was ſo ill treated by his Diſciples; who were ſo unconcerned about his Sufferings, that they would not watch with him one Hour, in his Agony; and when he was apprehended, all forſook him and fled, except Peter, who denied him with Oaths and Curſes. And yet then he was ſuffering, ſhedding his Blood, and pouring out his Soul unto Death, for them. Yea, he probably was then ſhedding his Blood, for ſome of them that ſhed his Blood: He was dying for ſome that killed him; whom he prayed for, while they were crucifying him; and were probably afterwards brought Home to Chriſt by Peter's Preaching. Compare Luke 23. 34. Acts 2. 23, 36, 37, 41. And Chap. 3. 17. And Chap. 4. 4—This ſhews an admirable Meeting of Juſtice and Grace in the Redemption of Chriſt.

7. It was in Chriſt's laſt Sufferings, above all, that he was delivered up to the Power of his Enemies; and yet by theſe, above all, he obtained Victory over his Enemies. Chriſt never was ſo in his Enemies Hands, as in the Time of his laſt Sufferings. They ſought his L…fe before! but from Time to Time they were reſtrained, and Chriſt eſcaped out of their Hands; and this Reaſon is given for it, that his Time was not yet p. 267come; but now they were ſuffered to work their Will upon him; he was in a great Degree delivered up to the Malice and Cruelty of both wicked Men and Devils: And therefore when Chriſt's Enemies came to apprehend him, he ſays to them, Luke 22. 53. When I was daily with you in the Temple, ye ſtretched forth no Hand againſt me: But this is your Hour and the Power of Darkneſs.

And yet it was principally by Means of thoſe Sufferings, that he conquered and overthrew his Enemies. Chriſt never ſo effectually bruiſed Satan's Head, as when he bruiſed his Heel. The Weapon with which Chriſt warred againſt the Devil, and obtained a moſt compleat Victory and glorious Triumph over him, was the Croſs, the Inſtrument and Weapon with which he thought he had overthrown Chriſt, and brought on him ſhameful Deſtruction. Col. 2. 14, 15 Blotting out the Hand-writing of Ordinances.—nailing it to his Croſs: And having ſpoiled Principalities and Powers, he made a Shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. In his laſt Sufferings Chriſt ſapp'd the very Foundations of Satan's Kingdom; he conquered his Enemies in their own Territories, and beat them with their own W…apons; as David cut off Goliath's Head with his own Sword. The Devil had as it were ſwallowed up Chriſt, as the Whale did Jonah; but it was deadly Poiſon to him; he gave him a mortal Wound in his own Bowels; he was ſoon Sick of his Morſel, and forced to vomit him up again; and is to this Day Heart-ſick of what he then ſwallowed as his Prey.—In thoſe Sufferings of Chriſt, was laid the Foundation of all that glorious Victory that he has already obtained over Satan, in the Overthrow of his heatheniſh Kingdom, in the Roman Empire, and all the Succeſs the Goſpel has had ſince; and alſo of all his future and ſtill more glorious Victory that is to be obtained in all the Earth.—Thus Samſon's Riddle is moſt eminently fulfilled, Judges 14. 14. Out of the Eater came forth Meat, and out of the Strong came forth Sweetneſs. And thus the true Samſon does more towards the Deſtruction of his Enemies at his Death, than in his Life, p. 268in yielding up himſelf to Death, he pulls down the Temple of Dagon, and deſtroys many thouſands of his Enemies even while they are making themſelves Sport in his Sufferings; and ſo he whoſe Type was the Ark, pulls down Dagon, and breaks off his Head and Hands in his own Temple, even while he is brought in there as Dagon's Captive.

Thus Chriſt appeared at the ſame Time, and in the ſame Act, as both a Lion and a Lamb. He appeared as a Lamb in the Hands of his cruel Enemies; as a Lamb in the Paws, and between the devouring Jaws of a roaring Lion; yea, he was a Lamb actually ſlain by this Lion: And yet at the ſame Time, as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, he conquers and triumphs over Satan, deſtroying his own Devourer; as Samſon did the Lion that roared upon him, when he rent him as he would a Kid. And in nothing has Chriſt appeared ſo much as a Lion, in glorious Strength deſtroying his Enemies, as when he was brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter: In his greateſt Weakneſs, he was moſt Strong; and when he ſuffered moſt from his Enemies, he brought the greateſt Confuſion on his Enemies.

Thus this admirable Conjunction of diverſe Excellencies was manifeſt in Chriſt, in his offering up himſelf to God in his laſt Sufferings.

IV. 'Tis ſtill manifeſt in his Acts, in his preſent State of Exaltation in Heaven Indeed in his exalted State he moſt eminently appears in a Manifeſtation of thoſe Excellencies, on the Account of which he is compared to a Lion; but ſtill he appears as a Lamb. Rev. 14. 1. And I looked, and …o a Lamb ſtood on Mount Sion. As in his State of Humiliation, he chiefly appeared as a Lamb, and yet did not appear without Manifeſtations of his divine Majeſty and Power, as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Though Chriſt be now at the Right Hand of God, exalted as King of Heaven, and Lord of the Univerſe; yet as he ſtill is in the human Nature, he ſtill excells in Humility. Though the Man Chriſt Jeſus be the higheſt of all Creatures in Heaven, yet he as much p. 269excells them all in Humility, as he doth in Glory and Dignity; for none ſees ſo much of the Diſtance between God and him, as he does. And though he now appears in ſuch glorious Majeſty and Dominion in Heaven, yet he appears as a Lamb in his condeſcending, mild and ſweet Treatment of his Saints there; for he is a Lamb ſtill, even in the midſt of the Throne of his Exaltation; and he that is the Shepherd of the whole Flock, is himſelf a Lamb, and goes before them in Heaven as ſuch. Rev. 7. 17. For the Lamb, which is in the midſt of the Throne, ſhall feed them, and ſhall lead them unto living Fountains of Waters, and God ſhall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes. Though in Heaven every Knee bows to him, and though the Angels fall down before him, adoring him, yet he treats his Saints with infinite Condeſcenſion, Mildneſs and Endearment. And in his Acts towards the Saints on Earth, …e ſtill appears as a Lamb, manifeſting exceeding Love and Tenderneſs, in his Interceſſion for them, as one that has had Experience of Affliction and Temptation: He has not forgot what theſe Things are; nor has he forgot how to pity thoſe that are ſubject to them. And he ſtill manifeſts his Lamb-like Excellencies, in his Dealings with his Saints on Earth, in admirable Forbearance, Love, Gentleneſs, and Compaſſions, inſtructing, ſupplying, ſupporting, and comforting them, often coming to them, and manifeſting himſelf to them by his Spirit, that he may ſup with them, and they with him, admitting them to ſweet Communion with him, enabling them with Boldneſs and Confidence to come to him, and ſolace their Hearts in him.—And in Heaven Chriſt ſtill appears, as it were with the Marks of his Wounds upon him; and ſo appears as a Lamb as it had been ſlain; as he was repreſented in Viſion to St. John, in the Text, when he appeared to open the Book ſealed with ſeven Seals, which is Part of the Glory of his Exaltation

5 a…d laſtly. This admirable Conjunction of Excellencies will be manifeſt in Chriſt's Acts at the laſt Judgment. He then … all other Times will appear as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, in infinite Greatneſs and p. 270Majeſty, when he ſhall come in the Glory of his Father, with all the holy Angels, and the Earth ſhall tremble before him, and the Hills ſhall melt. This is he, ſpoken of, Rev. 20. 11. that ſhall ſit on a great white Throne, before whoſe Face, the Earth and Heaven ſhall flee away. He will then appear in the moſt dreadful and amazing Manner to the Wicked: The Devils tremble at the Thoughts of that Appearance; and when it ſhall be, the Kings, and the great Men, and the rich Men, and the chief Captains, and the mighty Men, and every Bond Man, and every Free Man, ſhall hide themſelves in the Dens, and in the Rocks of the Mountains, and ſhall cry to the Mountains and Rocks to fall on them, to hide them from the Face and Wrath of the Lamb. And none can declare or conceive of the amazing Manifeſtations of Wrath, in which he will then appear, towards theſe; or the Trembling and Aſtoniſhment, the ſhrieking and gnaſhing of Teeth, with which they ſhall ſtand before his Judgment Seat, and receive the terrible Sentence of his Wrath.

And yet he will at the ſame Time, appear as a Lamb to his Saints. He will receive them as Friends and Brethren, treating them with infinite Mildneſs and Love: There ſhall be nothing in him terrible to them; but towards them, he will cloath himſelf wholly with Sweetneſs and Endearment. The Church ſhall then be admitted to him as his Bride: That ſhall be her Wedding Day: The Saints ſhall all be ſweetly invited to come with him, to inherit the Kingd…, and reign in it with him, to all Eternity.

APPLICATION.

I. From this Doctrine we may learn one Reaſon why Chriſt is called by ſuch a Variety of Names, and h…ld for … under ſuch a Variety of Repreſentations in Scripture. 'Tis the better to ſignify, and exhibit to us, that Variety of Excellencies that meet together, and are conjoin'd in him. Many Appellations are mentioned together in one Verſe, Iſai 9 6. For unto us a Child is born, unto p. 271us a Son is given, and the Government ſhall be upon his Shoulder: And his Name ſhall be called Wonderful, Counſeller, the mighty God, the everlaſting Father, the Prince of Peace. It ſhews a wonderful Conjunction of Excellencies, that the ſame Perſon ſhould be a Son, born and given, and yet be the everlaſting Father, without Beginning or End; that he ſhould be a Child, and yet be he whoſe Name is Counſeller, and the mighty God; and well may his Name, in whom ſuch Things are conjoined, be called Wonderful.

By Reaſon of the ſame wonderful Conjunction, Chriſt is repreſented by a great Variety of ſenſible Things, that are on ſome Account excellent. Thus in ſome Places he is called a Sun, as Mal. 4. 2. in others a Star, Numb. 24. 17. And he is eſpecially repreſented by the Morning-Star, as being that which excells all other Stars in Brightneſs, and is the Forerunner of the Day, Rev. 22. 16. And as in our. Text, he is compared to a Lion, in one Verſe, and a Lamb in the next, ſo ſometimes he is compared to a Roe or a young Hart, another Creature moſt diverſe from a Lion. So in ſome Places he is called a Rock, in others he is compared to a Pearl: In ſome Places he is called a Man of War, and the Captain of our Salvation, in other Places he is repreſented as a Bridegroom. In the ſecond Chapter of Canticles the firſt Verſe, he is compared to a Roſe and Lilly, that are ſweet and beautiful Flowers; in the next Verſe but one, he is compared to a Tree, bearing ſweet Fruit. In Iſai. 53. 2. He is called a Root out of a dry Ground; but elſewhere, inſtead of that, he is called the Tree of Life, that grows (not in a dry or barren Ground, but) in the midſt of the Paradiſe of God, Rev. 2. 7.

II. Let the Conſideration of this wonderful Meeting of diverſe Excellencies in Chriſt induce you to accept of him, and cloſe with him as your Saviour. As all Manner of Excellencies meet in him, ſo there are concurring in him all Manner of Arguments and Motives, to move you to chooſe him or your Saviour, and every Thing that tends to encourage poor Sinners to come and put their Truſt p. 272in him: His Fulneſs and All-Sufficiency as a Saviour, gloriouſly appear in that Variety of Excellencies that has been ſpoken of.

Fallen Man is in a State of exceeding great Miſery, & is helpleſs in it; he is a poor weak Creature, like an Infant caſt out in it's Blood, in the Day that it is born: But Chriſt is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah; he is ſtrong, though we are weak; he hath prevailed to do that for us, which no Creature elſe could do. Fallen Man is a mean deſpicable Creature, a contemptible Worm; but Chriſt, who has undertaken for us, is infinitely honourable and worthy. Fallen Man is polluted, but Chriſt is infinitely holy: Fallen Man is hateful, but Chriſt is infinitely lovely: Fallen Man is the Object of God's Indignation, but Chriſt is infinitely dear to him: W… have dreadfully provoked God, but Chriſt has performed that Righteouſneſs that is infinitely precious in God's Eyes.

And here is not only infinite Strength and infinite Worthineſs, but infinite Conde…cerſion; and Love and Mercy, as great as Power and Dignity. If you are a poor diſtreſſed Sinner, whoſe Heart is ready to ſink for Fear that God never will have Mercy on you, you need not be afraid to go to Chriſt, for Fear that he is either unable or unwilling to help you: Here is a ſtrong Foundation, and an inexhauſtible Treaſure, to anſwer the Neceſſities of your poor Soul; and here is infinite Grace and Gentleneſs to invite and embolden a poor unworthy fearful Soul to … to it. If Chriſt accepts of you, you need not fear but that you will be ſafe; for he is a ſtrong Lion for your Defence: And if you come, you need not fear but that you ſhall be accepted▪ … he is like a Lamb to all that come to him▪ and receives them with infinite Grace and Tenderneſs. 'Tis true he has awful Majeſty; he is th… great God, and is infinitely high above you; but there is this to encourage and embolden the poor Sinner, that Chriſt is Man as well as God; he is a Creature, as well as the Creator; and he is the moſt humble and lowly in Heart of any Creature in Heaven or Earth. This may well make the p. 273poor unworthy Creature bold in coming to him. You need not heſitate one Moment; but may run to him, and caſt your ſelf upon him: You will certainly be graciouſly and meekly received by him. Though he be a Lion, he will only be a Lion to your Enemies; but he will be a Lamb to you.—It could not have been conceived, had it not been ſo in the Perſon of Chriſt, that there could have been ſo much in any Saviour, that is inviting, and tending to encourage Sinners to truſt in him. Whatever your Circumſtances are, you need not be afraid to come to ſuch a Saviour as this: Be you never ſo wicked a Creature, here is Wor…neſs enough: Be you never ſo poor, and mean, and ignorant a Creature, there is no Danger of being deſpiſed; for though he be ſo much greater than you, he is alſo immenſely more humble than you. Any one of you that is a Father or Mother, won't deſpiſe one of your own Children that comes to you in Diſtreſs; much leſs Danger is there of Chriſt deſpiſing you, if you in you… Heart come to him.

Here let me a little expoſtulate with the poor, burdened, diſtreſſed Soul.

1. What are you afraid of, that you dare not venture your Soul upon Chriſt? Are you afraid that he can't ſave you, that he is not ſtrong enough to conquer the Enemies of your Soul? But how can you deſire one ſtronger than the mighty God? as Chriſt is called, Iſai. 9 6. … need of greater than infinite Strength? Are you afraid that he won't be willing to ſtoop ſo low, as to … any gracious Notice of you? But …, look on him, … he ſtood in the Ring of Soldiers, expoſing his bleſſed Face to be buffeted and ſpit upon, by them▪ Behold him bound, … his Back uncovered to thoſe that ſmote him! And behold him hanging on the Croſs! Do you think that he that had Condeſcenſion enough to ſtoop to theſe Things, and that for his Crucifiers, w…ll be unwilling to accept of you if you come to him? Or, are you afraid that if he does accept of you, that God the Father won't accept of him for you? But conſider, p. 274Will God reject his own Son, in whom his infinite Delight is, and has been, from all Eternity, and that is ſo united to him, that if he ſhould reject him he would reject himſelf?

2. What is there that you can deſire ſhould be in a Saviour, that is not in Chriſt? Or, Wherein ſhould you deſire a Saviour ſhould be otherwiſe than Chriſt is? What Excellency is there wanting? What is there that is great or good? What is there that is venerable or winning? What is there that is adorable or endearing? Or, what can you think of that would be encouraging, that is not to be found in the Perſon of Chriſt? Would you have your Saviour to be great and honourable, becauſe you are not willing to be beholden to a mean Perſon? And, is not Chriſt a Perſon honourable enough to be worthy that you ſhould be dependant on him? Is he not a Perſon high enough to be worthy to be appointed to ſo honourable a Work as your Salvation? Would you not only have a Saviour that is of high Degree, but would you have him notwithſtanding his Exaltation and Dignity, to be made alſo of low Degree, that he might have Experience of Afflictions and Trials, that he might learn by the Things that he has ſuffered, to pity them that ſuffer and are tempted? And has not Chriſt been made low enough for you? And has he not ſuffered enough? Would you not only have him have Experience of the Afflictions you now ſuffer, but alſo of that amazing Wrath that you fear hereafter, that he may know how to pity thoſe that are in Danger of it and afraid of it? This Chriſt has had Experience of, which Experience gave him a greater Senſe of it, a thouſand Times, than you have, or any Man living has. Would you have your Saviour to be one that is near to God, that ſo his Mediation might be prevalent with him? And can you deſire him to be nearer to God than Chriſt is, who is his only begotten Son, of the ſame Eſſence with the Father? And would you not only have him near to God, but alſo near to you, that you may have free Acce…s to him? And would you have him nearer to you than to be in the ſame Nature, and not only ſo, but united to p. 275you by a ſpiritual Union, ſo cloſe as to be fitly repreſented … the Union of the Wife to the Husband, of the Branch to the Vine, of the Member to the Head yea, ſo as to be looked upon as one, and called one Spirit? For ſo he will be united to you, if you accept of him. Would you have a Saviour that has given ſome great and extraordinary Teſtimony of Mercy and Love to Sinners, by ſome Thing that he has done, as well as by what he ſays? And can you think, or conceive of greater Things than Chriſt has done? Was it not a great Thing for him, who was God, to take upon him human Nature, to be not only God, but Man thence forward to all Eternity? But would you look upon Suffering for Sinners to be a yet greater Teſtimony of Love to Sinners, than m…erly Doing, though it be never ſo extraordinary a Thing that he has done? And would you deſire that a Saviour ſhould ſuffer more than Chriſt has ſuffered for Sinners?—What is there wanting, or what would you add if you could, to make him more fit to be your Saviour?

But further to induce you to accept of Chriſt as your Saviour, conſider two Things particularly.

1. How much Chriſt appears as the Lamb of God, in his Invitations to you, to come to him and truſt in him. With what ſweet Grace and Kindneſs does he from Time to Time, call and invite you; as Prov. 8. 4 Unto you, O Men I call, and my Voice is to the Sons of Men. And Iſai. 55. 1, 2, 3. Ho every one that thirſteth, Come ye to the Waters, and he that hath no Money, come ye, buy and eat, yea, come buy Wine and Milk, without Money, and without Price. How gracious is he here in inviting every one that thirſts, and in ſo repeating his Invitation over and over, Come ye to the Waters, Come buy and eat, yea come! and in declaring the Excellency of that Entertainment which he invites you to accept of, Come buy Wine and Milk! and in aſſuring you that your Poverty, and having nothing to pay for it, ſhall be no Objection▪ Come, he that hath no Money, come without Money, and without Price! And in the gracious Arguments and Expoſtulations that he uſes with you! As it follows, Wherefore p. 276do ye ſpend Money for that which is not Bread, and your Labour for that which ſatisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your Soul delight it ſelf in Fatneſs. As much as to ſay, 'Tis altogether needleſs for you to continue labouring and toiling for that which can never ſerve your Turn, ſeeking Reſt in the World, and in your own Righteouſneſs;—I have made abundant Proviſion for you, of that which is really good, and will fully ſatisfy your Deſires, and anſwer your End, and ſtand ready to accept of you: You need not be afraid; if you will come to me▪ I will engage to ſee all your Wants ſupplied, and you made an happy Creature. As he promiſes in the third Verſe, Incline your Ear, and come unto me; Hear, and your Soul ſhall live; and I will make an everlaſting Covenant with you, even the ſure Mercies of David. And ſo, Prov. 9 at the Beg. How gracious and ſweet is the Invitation there! Whoſo is ſimple, let him turn in hither; let you be never ſo poor, ignorant, and blind a Creature, you ſhall be welcome. And in the following Words, Chriſt ſets forth the Proviſion that he has made for you, Come eat of my Bread, and drink of the Wine which I have mingled. You are in a poor famiſhing State, and have nothing wherewith to feed your periſhing Soul; you have been ſeeking ſomething, but yet remain deſtitute; Hearken! how Chriſt calls you to eat of his Bread, and to drink of the Wine that he hath mingled! And how much like a Lamb does Chriſt appear, in Matth 11. 28, 29, 30. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you Reſt: Take my Yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in Heart, and ye ſhall find Reſt to your Souls. For my Yoke is eaſy, and my Burden is light. O thou poor diſtreſſed Soul! Whoever thou art that art afraid that you never ſhall be ſaved, conſider that this that Chriſt mentions is your very Caſe, when he calls to them that labour and are heavy laden! And how he repeatedly promiſes you Reſt if you come to him! In the 28th Verſe he ſays, I will give you Reſt; and in the 29th Verſe, Ye ſhall find Reſt to your Souls. p. 277This is what you want! This is the Thing you have been ſo long in Vain ſeeking after! O how ſweet would Reſt be to you, if you could but obtain it! Come to Chriſt, and you ſhall obtain it. And hear how Chriſt, to encourage you, repreſents himſelf as a Lamb! He tells you that he is meek and lowly in Heart; and are you afraid to come ſuch an one? And again, Rev. 3. 20. Behold, I ſtand at the Door and knock: If any Man hear my Voice, and open the Door, I will come in to him, and I will ſup with him, and he with me. Chriſt condeſcends not only to call you to him; but he comes to you, he comes to your Door, and there knocks. He might ſend an Officer, and ſeize you as a Rebel and vile Malefactor; but inſtead of that, he comes & knocks at your Door, and ſeeks that you would receive him into your Houſe, as your Friend and Saviour. And he not only knocks at your Door, but he ſtands there waiting, while you are backward and unwilling. And not only ſo, but he makes Promiſes what he will do for you, if you will admit him, what Privileges he will admit you to; he will ſup with you, and you with him. And again, Rev. 22 16, 17. I am the Root, and the Offspring of David, the bright and the Morning Star. And the Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come: And let him that heareth, ſay, Come; and let him that is athirſt, Come: And whoſoever will let him come, and take of the Water of Life freely. How does Chriſt here graciouſly ſet before you his own winning attractive Excellency! And how does he condeſcend to declare to you, not only his own Invitation, but the Invitation of the Spirit and the Bride, if by any Means he might encourage you to come! And how does he invite every one that will, that they may take of the Waters of Life freely, that they may take it a free Gift, however precious it be, and though it be the Water of Life!

2. If you do come to Chriſt he will appear as a Lion, in his glorious Power and Dominion, to defend you. All thoſe Excellencies of his in which he appears as a Lion, ſhall be yours, and … be employed for you, in your Defence, for your Safety, and to promote your Glory; p. 278he will be as a Lion to fight againſt your Enemies: He that touches you, or offends you, will provoke his Wrath, as he that ſtirs up a Lion.—Unleſs your Enemies can conquer this Lion, they ſhall not be able to deſtroy or hurt you; unleſs they are ſtronger than he, they ſhall not be able to hinder your Happineſs. Iſai. 31. 4. For thus hath the Lord ſpoken unto me, like as the Lion, and the young Lion, roaring on his Prey, when a Multitude of Shepherds is called forth againſt him, he will not be afraid of their Voice, nor abaſe himſelf … the Noiſe of them; ſo ſhall the Lord of Hoſts come down to fight for Mount Zion, and for the Hill thereof.

III. Let what has been ſaid, be improved to induce you to love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and chooſe him for your Friend and Portion. As there is ſuch an admirable Meeting of diverſe Excellencies in Chriſt, ſo there is every Thing in him to render him worthy of your Love and Choice, and to win and engage it. Whatſoever there is, or can be, that is deſireable to be in a Friend, is in Chriſt, and that to the higheſt Degree that can be deſired.

Would you chooſe a Friend that is a Perſon of great Dignity?—It is a Thing taking with Men to have thoſe for their Friends that are much above them; becauſe they look upon themſelves honoured by the Friendſhip of ſuch. Thus how taking would it be with an inferior Maid, to be the Object of the dear Love of ſome great and excellent Prince. But Chriſt is infinitely above you, and above all the Princes of the Earth; for he is the King of Kings.—So honourable a Perſon as this offers himſelf to you, in the neareſt and deareſt Friendſhip.

And would you chooſe to have a Friend not only great but good?—In Chriſt infinite Greatneſs, and infinite Goodneſs meet together, and receive Luſtre and Glory one from another. His Greatneſs is render'd lovely by his Goodneſs. The greater any one is without Goodneſs, ſo much the greater Evil; but when infinite Goodneſs is joined with Greatneſs, it renders it a glorious p. 279and adorable Greatneſs. So on the other Hand, his infinite Goodneſs receives Luſtre from his Greatneſs. He that is of great Underſtanding and Ability, and is withal of a good and excellent Diſpoſition, is deſervedly more eſteemed, than a lower and leſſer Being, with the ſame kind Inclination and Good Will. Indeed Goodneſs is excellent in whatever Subject it be found; it is Beauty and Excellency it ſelf, and renders all excellent that are poſſeſſed of it; and yet more excellent when joined with Greatneſs; as the very ſame excellent Qualities of Gold, do render the Body in which they are inherent more precious, and of greater Value, when joined with greater, than when with leſſer Dimenſions. And how glorious is the Sight, to ſee him who is the great Creator and ſupreme Lord of Heaven and Earth, full of Condeſcenſion, and tender Pity and Mercy, towards the mean and unworthy! His almighty Power, and infinite Majeſty and Self Sufficiency render his exceeding Love and Grace the more ſurprizing. And how do his Condeſcenſion and Compaſſions endear his Majeſty, Power, and Dominion, and render thoſe Attributes pleaſant, that would otherwiſe be only terrible! Would you not deſire that your Friend, though great and honourable, ſhould be of ſuch Condeſcenſion and Grace, and ſo to have the Way opened to free Acceſs to him, that his Exaltation above you might not hinder your free Enjoyment of his Friendſhip?

And would you chooſe, not only, that the infinite Greatneſs and Majeſty of your Friend ſhould be as it were mollified and ſweeten'd with Condeſcenſion and Grace; but would you alſo deſire to have your Friend in your own Nature, that he might be brought nearer to you? Would you chooſe a Friend far above you, and yet as it were upon a Level with you too? (Though it be taking with Men to have a near and dear Friend of ſuperior Dignity, yet there is alſo an Inclination in them to have their Friend a Sharer with them in Circumſtances.) Thus is Chriſt. Though he be the great God, yet … himſelf down to be upon a Level … you, … become Man as you are, that p. 280he might not only be your Lord, but your Brother, and that he might be the more fit to be a Companion for ſuch a Worm of the Duſt.—This is one End of Chriſt's taking upon him Man's Nature, that his People might be under Advantages for a more familiar Converſe with him, than the infinite Diſtance of the divine Nature would allow of. And upon this Account the Church longed for Chriſt's Incarnation, Cant. 8. 1. O thou that wert my Brother, that ſ…cked the Breaſts of my Mother; when I ſhould find thee without, I would kiſs thee; yea, I ſhould not be deſpiſed. One Deſign of God in the Goſpel, is to bring us to make God the Object of our undivided Reſpect, that he may engroſs our Regard every Way, that whatever natural Inclination there is in our Souls, he may be the Center of it; that God may be all in all▪ But there is an Inclination in the Creature, not only to the Adoration of a Lord and Sovereign, but to Complacence in ſome one as a Friend, to love and delight in ſome one that may be convers'd with as a Compa…ion. And Virtue and Holineſs don't deſtroy or weaken this Inclination of our Nature. But ſo hath God contrived in the Affair of our Redemption, that a divine Perſon may be the Object even of this Inclination of our Nature. And in order hereto, ſuch an one is come down to us, and has taken our Nature, and is become one of us, and calls himſelf our Friend, Brother, and Companion. Pſalm 122. 8. For my Brethren and Companions Sake, will I now ſay, Peace be within thee.

But, is it not enough to invite and encourage to free Acceſs to a Friend ſo great and high, that he is one of infinite condeſcending Grace, and alſo has taken your own Nature, and is become Man? But would you further to embolden and win you, have him a Man of wonderful Meekneſs & Humility? Why ſuch an one is Chriſt! He is not only become Man for you, but far the meekeſt and moſt humble of all Men, the greateſt Inſtance of theſe ſweet Virtues, that ever was, or will be. And beſides theſe, he has all other human Excellencies, in the higheſt Perfection. Theſe indeed are no proper Addition to his divine Excellencies. Chriſt has no more p. 281Excellency in his Perſon, ſince his Incarnation, than he had before; for divine Excellency is infinite, and can't be added to: Yet his human Excellencies are additional Manifeſtations of his Glory and Excellency to us, and are additional Recommendations of him to our Eſteem and Love, who are of finite Comprehenſion. Though his human Excellencies are but Communications and Reflections of his divine; and though this Light, as reflected, falls infinitely ſhort of the divine Fountain of Light; in its immediate Glory; yet the Reflection ſhines not without its proper Advantages, as preſented to our View and Affection. As the Glory of Chriſt appears in the Qualifications of his human Nature, it appears to us in Excellencies that are of our own Kind, and are exerciſed in our own Way and Manner, and ſo, in ſome Reſpects, are peculiarly ſitted to invite our Acquaintance, and draw our Affection. The Glory of Chriſt as it appears in his Divinity, though it be far brighter, yet doth i… alſo more dazzle our Eyes, and exceeds the Strength o… Comprehenſion of our Sight: But as it ſhines in the human Excellencies of Chriſt, it is brought more to a Level with our Conceptions, and Sutableneſs to our Nature and Manner, yet retaining a Semblance of the ſame divine Beauty, and a Savour of the ſame divine Sweetneſs But as both divine and human Excellencies meet together in Chriſt, they ſet off and recommend each other to us. It is what tends to endear the divine and infinite Majeſty and Holineſs of Chriſt to us, that theſe are Attributes of a Perſon that is in our Nature, that is one of us, that is become our Brother, and is the meekeſt and humbleſt of Men; it encourages us to look upon theſe divine Perfections, however high and great, yet as what we have ſome near Concern in, and more of a Right to, and Liberty freely to enjoy. And on the other Hand, how much more glorious and ſurprizing do the Meekneſs, the Humility, Obedience, and Reſignation, and other human Excellencies of Chriſt appear, when we conſider that they are in ſo great a Perſon, as the eternal Son of God, the Lord of Heaven and Earth!

p. 282By your chooſing Chriſt for your Friend and … you will obtain theſe two infinite Benefits.

1. Chriſt will give himſelf to you, with all thoſe various Excellencies that meet in him, to your full and everlaſting Enjoyment. He will ever after treat you as his dear Friend; and you ſhall e're long be where he is, and ſhall behold his Glory, and ſhall dwell with him, in moſt free & intimate Communion and Enjoyment.

When the Saints get to Heaven, they ſhall not meerly ſee Chriſt, and have to do with him as Subjects and Servants with a glorious and gracious Lord and Sovereign, but Chriſt will entertain them as Friends and Brethren. This we may learn from the Manner of Chriſt's converſing with his Diſciples here on Earth: Though he was their Sovereign Lord, and did not refuſe, but required, their ſupreme Reſpect and Adoration, yet he did not treat them as earthly Sovereigns are wont to do their Subjects; he did not keep them at an awful Diſtance; but all along converſed with them with the moſt friendly Familiarity, as a Father amongſt a Company of Children, yea, as with Brethren. So he did with the twelve, and ſo he did with Mary, Martha and Lazarus He told his Diſciples, that he did not call them Servants, but Friends, and we read of one of them that leaned on his Boſom. And doubtleſs he will not treat his Diſciples with leſs Freedom and Endearment in Heaven: He won't keep them at a greater Diſtance for his being in a State of Exaltation; but he will rather take them into a State of Exaltation with him. This will be the Improvement Chriſt will make of his own Glory, to make his beloved Friends Partakers with him, to glorify them in his Glory, as he ſays to his Father, Joh. 17 22, 23. And the Glory which thou haſt given …, have I give them, that they may be one, even as we are one, I in them, &c. We are to conſider, that though Chriſt is greatly exalted, yet he is exalted not as a private Perſon, for himſelf only, but as his People's Head; he … exalted in their Name, and upon their Account, as the Firſt-Fruits, and as repreſenting the whole Harveſt. … not exalted that he may be at a greater Diſtance from them, but p. 283that they may be exalted with him. The Exaltation and Honour of the Head is not to make a greater Diſtance between the Head and the Members; but the Members have the ſame Relation and Union with the Head they had before, and are honoured with the Head; and inſtead of the Diſtance being greater, the Union ſhall be nearer, and more perfect. When Believers get to Heaven, Chriſt will conform them to himſelf; as he is ſet down in his Father's Throne, ſo they ſhall ſit down with him on his Throne, and ſhall in their Meaſure be made like him.

When Chriſt was going to Heaven, he comforted his Diſciples with that, that after a while, he would come again, and take them to himſelf, that they might be with him again. And we are not to ſuppoſe that when the Diſciples got to Heaven, they found him keeping a greater Diſtance, than he uſed to do. No, doubtleſs, he embraced them as Friends, and welcom'd them to his, and their, Father's Houſe, and to his, and their, Glory. They that had been his Friends in this World, that had been together with him here, and had together partook of Sorrows and Troubles, are now welcom'd by him to Reſt, and to partake of Glory with him. He took them and led them into his Chambers, and ſhewed them all h…s Glory; as he prayed, John 17. 24 Father, I will, that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me, that they may behold the Glory which thou haſt given me. And he led them to his living Fountains of Waters, and made them partake of his Delights; as he prays, John 17. 13. … Joy may be fulfilled in themſelves. And ſet them down with him at his Table in his Kingdom, and made them partake with him of his Dainties, according to his Promiſe, Luke 22. 30. And led them into his Banqueting-Houſe, and made them to drink new Wine with him in the Kingdom of his heavenly Father; as he foretold them, when he inſtituted the Lord's Supper; Matth. 26. 2….

Yea, the Saints Converſation with Chriſt in Heaven, ſhall not only be as intimate, and their Acceſs to him as free, as of the Diſciples on Earth▪ but in many Reſpects, p. 284much more ſo: for in Heaven, that vital Union ſhall be perfect, which is exceeding imperfect here. While the Saints are in this World, there are great Remains of Sin and Darkneſs, to ſeperate or diſunite them from Chriſt; which ſhall then all be removed. This is not a Time for that full Acquaintance, and thoſe glorious Manifeſtations of Love, which Chriſt d…ſigns for his People hereafter; which ſeems to be ſign…fi…d by Chriſt's Speech to Mary Magdalene, when ready to embrace him, when …he met him after his Reſurrection▪ John 20. 17 Jeſus …aith unto her, touch me not, for I am n…t yet aſcended to my Father.—

When the Saints ſhall ſee Chriſt's Glory and Exaltation in Heaven, it will indeed poſſeſs their Hearts with the greater Admiration and ad…ing Reſpect, but will not … into any Separation, but will ſerve only to heighten their Surprize and Joy, when they find Chriſt condeſcending to admit them to ſuch intimate Acceſs, and ſo freely and fully communicating himſelf to them▪

So that if we chooſe Chriſt for our Friend and Portion, we ſhall hereafter be ſo received to him, that there ſhall be nothing to hinder the fulleſt Enjoyment of him, to the ſatisfying the utmoſt Cravings of our Souls. We may take our full Swing at gratifying our ſpiritual Appetite after theſe holy Pleaſures. Chriſt will then ſay, as in Cant 5. 1 Eat. O Friends▪ Drink, yea drink abundantly, O Beloved And this ſhall be our Entertainment to all Eternity! There ſhall never be any End of this Happineſs, or any Thing to in…e…rupt our Enjoyment of it, or in the leaſt to moleſt us in it!

2 By your being united to Chriſt, you will have a more glorious Union with, and Enjoyment of, God the Father, than otherwiſe could be. For hereby the Saints Relation to God becomes much nearer; they are the Children of God in an higher Manner, than otherwiſe could be. For being Members of God's … natural Son, th… are in a Sort Partakers of his Relation to the Father: They are not only Sons of God by Regeneration, but by a Kind of Communion in the So…h…p of the eternal Son. This ſeems to be intended, Gal. 4 4, 5, 6. p. 285God 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 Sons. And becauſe ye are Sons, God hath ſent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts, crying Abba, Father.—The Church is the Daughter of God, not only as he hath begotten her by his Word and Spirit, but as the is the Spouſe of his eternal Son.

So we being Members of the Son, are Partakers in our Meaſure, of the Father's Love to the Son, and Complacence in him. John 17. 23. I in them, and thou in me,—Thou haſt loved them, as thou haſt loved me. And Verſe 26. That the Love wherewith thou haſt loved me, may be in them. And Chap 16. 27. The Father himſelf loveth you, becauſe ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. So we ſhall, according to our Capacities, be Partakers of the Son's Enjoyment of God, and have his Joy fulfilled in our ſelves, John 17. 13. And by this Means, we ſhall come to an immenſely higher, more intimate, and full Enjoyment of God, than otherwiſe could have been. For there is doubtleſs an infinite Intimacy between the Father and the Son; which is expreſſed by his being in the Boſom of the Father. And Saints being in him, ſhall, in their Meaſure and Manner, partake with him in it, and of the Bleſſedneſs of it.

And thus is the Affair of our Redemption ordered, that thereby we are brought to an immenſely more exalted Kind of Union with God, and Enjoyment of him, both the Father and the Son, than otherwiſe could have been. For Chriſt being united to the human Nature, we have Advantage for a more free and full Enjoyment of him, than we could have had if he had remained only in the divine Nature. So again, we being united to a divine Perſon, as his Members, can have a more intimate Union and Intercourſe with God the Father, who is … in the divine Nature, than otherwiſe could be▪ Chriſt who is a divine Perſon, by taking on him our Nature, d…ſcends from the infinite Diſtance and Height above us, and is brought nigh… to us; whereby we have Advantage p. 286for the full Enjoyment of him. And, on the other Hand, we, by being in Chriſt a divine Perſon, do as it were aſcend up to God, through the infinite Diſtance, and have hereby Advantage for the full Enjoyment of him alſo.

This was the Deſign of Chriſt, to bring it to paſs, that He, and his Father, and his People, might all be united in one. John 17. 21, 22, 23. That they all may be one; as thou Father art in me, and I in thee; that they alſo may be one in us; that the World may believe that thou haſt ſent me. And the Glory which thou haſt given me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me; that they may be made Perfect in one. Chriſt has brought it to paſs, that thoſe that the Father has given him, ſhould be brought into the Houſhold of God; that He, and his Father, and his People, ſhould be as it were one Society, one Family; that the Church ſhould be as it were admitted into the Society of the bleſſed Trinity.

FINIS.

A Faithful NARRATIVE OF THE Surpriſing Work of GOD IN THE CONVERSION OF Many HUNDRED SOULS in Northampton, and the Neighbouring Towns and Villages of the County of Hampſhire, in the Province of the Maſſachuſetts-Bay in New-England.

In a LETTER to the Reverend Dr. BENJAMIN COLMAN, of Boſton.

Written by the Rev^d. Mr. EDWARDS, Miniſter of Northampton, Nov. 6. 1736.

Publiſhed with a Large PREFACE by the Rev. Dr. WATTS and Dr. GUYSE of London:

To which a Shorter is added by Some of the Reverend Miniſters of BOSTON.

Together with an ATTESTATION from Some of the Reverend Miniſters of Hampſhire.

The THIRD EDITION.

BOSTON: N. E Printed&Sold by S. KNEELAND T. GREEN, over againſt the Priſon in Queen-ſtreet. 1738.