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ſi \ ' s. 'yx (p . . l x 'aſ-1 a" _' . . A . _ . 'A .,, ____ 13, ,\\ \ \ ſo ſirflfll/ / l\ \\ \____._. o L'E'XCELLENCY \'// 4 1-7 -7 4 jſſ CHRIST." vl, O ERM S A PREACHED AT In the Time_ of the wonderful Work of .) a GRACL: there, in the Year 1738., The SECOND EDITIoN. B'y the late Prefident ED WA RD s. X; '._..a.>._-...-_-._.w. _, ,_ _ Printed : BOSTON, And Re-printed at NORTHAMPTON', In Onn ENGLAND, 1780, By T..HOMA-5 DICEY. [Price qd. or 33. per Dozcn to thoſe who give them away-J
PR_E FÞACE. HE Excellence of' Chriſt is a ſubject of contemplation which hath allured and fixed the attention of all the angels for thouſands of years paſt; and will allure and fix the attention of all the millions of ſouls in heaven to eternity. It is the firſt grand truth of divine revelation in pointof dignity, beauty, and uſefſiulneſs; and therefore it demands and deſerves the ut moſt'regard and affection from every true chriſtian on earth. Every man that loves GOD and his own ſoul, will agree with me in this ſentiment: and every man who agrees with me, will rejoice to read a. moſt uncommon diſcourſe on this ſubject,v preached by the greateſt divine that ever adorned the Ameriean world, the late ex cellent JONATHAN EDWARDs, 'afterwards preſident of New-Jerſey College; whoſe works are highly eſteemed by perſons of' the beſtjudgment in Old England, as well as in America. Lknow A 2 __t__-.___4-d_.n-.
4 PRE'FACE. I know but oſ one printed copy of this ſermon," which is in the hands oſ a miniſter of the goſpel in London, from which this was exactly tranſcribed, and is now re printed in a ſmall ſorm, and at a very low price, on purpoſe to put it in the power ofgoſpel miniſters,ſi'and ſerious Chriſtians, to give this incomparable diſcourſe away.---I' know oſ nothing ſo good and ſo wiſely adapted to diffuſe the knowledge of Chriſt; and I ſhould rejoice to ſee it adopted by our excellent ſociety ſor promoting religious knowledge among the poor. Our admirable author, in this diſcourſe," diſplays the wonderſul excellencies of the perſon and actions oſ Chriſt.---In his PER sou you ſee the loweſt humility and in finite glory---the ſweeteſt meekneſs and infinite majeſty---the deepeſt reverence oſ GOD, and yet ahſolute equality with GOD -->patienc'e under the worſt oſ evils, and deſert oſ all poſſible good---an exceeding -great ſpirit oſ obedience, and ſupreme dominion over all the'creation---perſect> reſignation, and abſolute ſovereignty over heaven, earth, and hell---extreme poverty, with truſt and reliance on GOD for a crumb, Joined ask
PREFZACEJv z vjoined 'with ſelf-ſufficiency and all-ſuffici ency for ten thouſand worlds. In the ACTIONS of Chriſt we ſee the moſt dreadful humiliation and divine glory-love to GOD in the higheſt, and at the ſame time the higheſt love to GOD's ene mies. He appeared eminently for Goo's juſtice, and yet ſuffered moſt awfully from juſtice---he diſplayed the moſt illuſ trious holineſs, and yet was treated as the MOST GUILTY man that ever lived in the world---he was dealt with as moſt un worthy, and yet was never more worthy than when he ſuffered and died on the lcroſau-he ſuffered moſt extremely from thoſe very perſons to whom he ſhewed the greateſt love-"and although he was de-' > livered up to the power of his enemies, ' yet, then, he obtained the utmoſt victory over his enemies. This ſhort view of the following ſermon muſt convince every ſenſible reader, that it is a very ſingular one, and of uncom mon excellence and uſefulneſs. For my own part, I know not its equal in the whole world; andthcrefore I count it a very
e' J 4'_4.=4__d-I PREFACE w very 'great honour that the providencc of Chriſt has done me, in permitting me to be the inſtrument of giving this new edition to my country; and eſpecially to * the churches of Chriſt, and the younger miniſters of the goſpel. JOHNRYLANu NORTHAMP'rON, ' December 14, 1779. - a! .*____'Mou-v ' l . i i v ' Li. ; . in; - THE ' lwi , ill'
THE EXCELLEN.CY OF CHRIST. REVELATLON v. 5, 6. Anda'ze iſ the elder: ſhith unto me, V'eep not ; hehalzi the LIOqu the trihe zff Juda, the root of Da-um', hath preſſ/ailed to open the book, and to lar/e lheſh-ven/Ealr theregf. And I beheld, and Io, in the micſſ aſ the throne, and of the four lift-'ing creaturet, and in the midſt qf the tiden, ſtoode: LAMB, a: it had hee/1 ſlain. HE 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 oſ Gon's decrees, by which thoſe events were ſore-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 fide, and ſealed with ſeven ſeals. Books in the form in which they were wont of old to be made, were broad leaves of parchment, or paper, or ſomething oſ that nature, joined together at one edge, and ſo rolled up together, and then ſealed, or ſome way faltened together to pre vent their unfolding and opening. Hence we read of the roll of a. book, Jer. xxxvi. 2 It ſeems to have been ſuch a. book that John had a viſion of here ; and therefore is ſaid to be written. within, and on the back . ſide, ______.*__.____4e_-___ --.___._ . .
8 . The EXCELLBNCY of CHRIST; fide, i. e. on the inſide pagcs, and alſo on one of the outfide Pages, viz£ that that was rolled in, -in the roll ing the book up together. And it -is ſaid to be ſealed with ſeven ſeals, to ſignify that what was Written in it was perfectly hidden and ſecret; or that Go Q'g decrees oſ future events are ſealed, and ſhut up from all poflibi lity of being diſcovered by creatures, till G OD 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 perfect degree of any thing; which probably came from that, that on theſevcnth day Gon beheld the works of creation finiſhed, and reſted and rejoiced 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 ſcund worthy to open and read the book, neither to look thereon.- And then tells us how his tears were dried up, vviz. that one of the elders ſaid unto him, VVee not; behold the lion of the tribe of Judah hath pre vailed, &c.-as*in the text. Tho' no man nor angel, nor any mere creature, was found either able to looſe the Seals, or worthy- to be admitted to the privilege of Tendng 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 ſucceed ing chapters how he actually did it, opening the ſealsin order, firſt one, andthen another, revealing what GOD had decreed ſhould come to paſs hereaſter. And we have an account in this 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 heavenand earth, on that occaſion. Many . zs
The EXLELLENCY of CHRIST. 9 . Many things might be obſerved in the words of the text; but it is my preſent purpoſe only to take notice of the two diſtinct appellations here given to Chriſt. 1. He is called a LION. Behold the LlON of the tribe of JUDAH. He ſeems to he called the Lion oſ 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. xlix. 9. Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my ſon, art thou gone up: he ſtooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who ſhall rouſe him up. And alſo to the ſtandard of the camp of judah in the wilderneſs, on which was diſplayed a lion, according to the antient tradition oſ 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 jelſius Chriſt, who alſo was of that tribe, and was deſcended of David, and is in our text called the root oſ David; and therefore Chriſt is here called the Lion oſ the tribe of Judah. 2. He is called a LAMB. John was told oſ a LlON that had prevailed to open the book, and probably ex pected to ſee alion in his viſion; but while he is expect ing, behold a LAM n appears to open the book, an exceeding diverſe kind of creature from a LlON ! A LlON is a devourer, one that is wont to make terrible ſlaughter oſ others ; and no creature more eaſily falls a prey to him than a LAMB. And Chriſt is here repre ſented not only as a LAMB, a creature very liable to be flain, but a lamb as it had been ſlain, that is, with the marks oſ 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. B t Tnena > _, -__.-__.__..__.
to The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. THERE IS AN ADMXRAB'LE CONJUNCTION or Dl VERSE EXCELLENClES IN CHRXST. The LION and the LAMB, though very diverſe kinds of creatures, yet have each their peculiar excellencies. The LlON 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 beingv ſuitable to be offered in ſacrifice to GOD. But we ſee that Chriſt is in the text compared to both ; becauſe the diverſe excellencies oſ both won derfully meet in him. In handling this ſubject, I would, Fi'ſſ. SHEW wnaaem 'runne IS an ADMIRA-, 31.: conwscrron or DlVBRSE EXCELLENCXES IN CHRIST. Szcondly. How Tr-us A'DMXRABLE comune'rmir or EXCE_LLENCIES APPEARS in CnmsT's ACTS. ct And teen make APPLICATJON. Firſt. I WOULÞ SHBW wneusuv THERE lS AN ADMKRABLE CONJUNCTION OF orvznse exem LENCIES in jssus Cmusr. Which appears in three things. _ L There is a conjunction of ſuch excſſellencies in Chriſt, as, in our manner of conceiving, are very di verſe 'one from another. v 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 im poflible to be exerciſed towards theſame object. I. There
The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. 1: ' '-.'I it I. There is a conjunction of ſuch excellencies in Chriſt, as, lN OUR MANNER or concervmn, are very diverſe one from another. Srich are the various divine perfections and excellencies that Chriſt is poſſeſſed of. Chriſt is a divine perſon, or one that is Gon ; and therefore has all the attributes of Gon. 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 HIGH press, and infinite CONDESCENSION. Chriſt, as he is Gon, is inſinitely 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 dull of the balance; yea, and angels themſelves are as nothing before him. He is ſo high, that 'he is inſinitely above any need of us, above our reach, that we cannot he profitable to him, and above our conceptions, that we cannot corn prehend him. Prov. xxx. 4. What is his name, and WHAT rs HIS sON's NAME, if thou canſt tell? Our underſtandings, if we ſtretch them never ſo far, cannot reach up to his divine glory. Job xi. 8. It is high as heaven, what canſt thou do P-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: his knowledge is with 0ut bound: his wiſdom is perfect, and what none can circumvent: his power is infinite, and none can reſiſt him: his riches are immenſe and inexhauſtible: his majeſty is infiniter awful. B z And
izct ' The Exceuencw ofCHRIST.ſſ rr 2 saw' And yet he is one of infinite connsscsnsron. None are ſo low, or inferior, but Chriſt's condeſcenſion is ſuffibient to take a gracious notice of them. He con- _ deſcends nor 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 ii. 5. Such- as are commonly deſpiſed by their fellow-creatures, Chriſt don't deſpiſe. 1 Cor. i. 28. Baſe things of the world, and things that are deſpiſed hath Goo choſen. Chriſt condeſcends to take notice of beggars, Luke xvi. zz. and of ſervants, and people of the moſt deſpiſed nations. In Chriſt Jeſus is neither barbarian, ſcythian, bond, nor free, Col. iii. 11. He that is thus high, condeſcends to take a gracious notice of little children, Matth. xix. 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 condeſcenfion, that it is not only ſufficient to take ſhmr gracious notice of ſuch as theſe, ſi but ſufficient for wary thing that is an act of condeſcen ſion. His condeſcenſion is great enough to become their friend: "tis great enough to become their com panion, to unite their ſouls to him in ſpiritual mar riage : 'tis great enough to take their nature upon him, to become one of them, that he may he one cwz'tb 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 4 them. And what act of condeſcenſion can' be con ceived of greater? Yet ſuch an act as this,'has lus' condeſcenſion ſ
The EXCELLENCY oſ'CHRlST. 13 ' SJ condeſcenſion yielded to, for thoſe that are ſo low and mean, deſpicable and unworthy! ſi , Such a conjunction oſ ſuch infinite highneſs, and low condeſcenſion, in the ſame perſon, is admirable. We ſee, by maniſold inſtances, what a tendency an high ſtation has in men, to make them to be oſ a quite contrary diſpoſition. If one worm be a little exalted above another, by having more duſt, or a bigger dung hill, how much does he make oſ 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 oſ, and greatly acknowledged. Chriſt con deſcends to waſh our ſeet ; but how would great men, (or rather the bigger worms) account themſelves de baſed by acts of far leſs condeſcenſion! 2. There meetin Jeſus Chriſt, infinite JUSTICE, and infinite GRACE. As Chriſt is a divine perſon, he is inſinitely holy and juſt, infiniter hating ſin, and diſ poſed to execute condign puniſhment for ſin. He is the judge oſ the world, and is the infinitely juſt judge oſ it, and will not at all acquit the wicked, or by any means clear the guilty. And yet he is one that is inſinitely gracious and mer ciſul. 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 ſhew 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 re ceive ſo great, but the grace oſ 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 meam of this good: 'tis ſufficient not - only
14, The Excrntzncr oſ CHRlST. only to do great things, but alſo to ſhffir 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 and torment ing, 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 oſ the wrath of GOD againſt the ſins of thoſe he undertakes for. Il. There do meet in the 'perſon of Chriſt, ſuch REALLY diverſe excellencies, which otherwiſe would have been thought utterly incompatible in the SAME SUB]ECT; ſuch aslake conjoined in no other perſon whatever, either' divine, human, or angelical; and ſuch as neither men nor angels would ever haVe ima gined 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 oſ Chriſt do meet together infinite QLoaY, and the loweſt HUMILITY. Infinite glory, and the virtue oſ 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 na ture be infiniter abborrent to pride, yet humility is not properly predicable of Goo the FATHER and the HOLY Gnosr, who exiſt only in the divine nature; becauſe it is a proper excellency only oſ a created na ture; for it conſiſts radically in a ſenſe oſ a compara tive lowneſs and littleneſs before GOD, or the great diſtance between Goo and the ſubject of this virtue; v but it would be a contradiction to ſuppoſe any ſuch thing in Gon. , But in Jeſus Chriſt, who is both GOD and man, theſe two
The EXCELLENCY ofCHRIST. '5 two diverſe excellencies are ſweetly united. He is a perſon infinitely exalted in glory and dignity. Phil ii. 6. Being in the form of Gon, he thought i-t not robbery to be equal with Gon. There is equal honour due to him with the Father. John v. 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. i. 8. And there is the ſame ſu preme reſpect, and divine worſhip, paid to him by the angels o heaven as to GOD the Father; as there, ver. 6. Let all the angels of GOD worſhip him. ' But however he is thus ride-w all, yet he is [maſſ aſ all in humility. There never was ſo great an inſtance of this virtue, among either men or angels, as jssvs. None ever was ſo ſentible of the diſtance between GOD and him, or had a heart ſo lowly before Gon, as the man Chriſt jeſus, Matth. xi. 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 'chuſing outward meanneſs, poverty, and contempt, rather than earthly greatneſs; in his waſhing his diſ. ciples feet, and in all his ſpeeches and deportment toward them; in his cheerfully ſuſtaining the form of a ſervant through his whole life, and ſubmittng to ſuch immenſe humiliation at death ! 2. 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 Scrip ture; at leaſt, not in the New Teſtament; for thereby, r ſeems
i _16 The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. Thy."_.. *"""-'_"Z'*"""'I"-Ti'.' 'WT"_-'xn_-*=--Y ___K,______ ___.7_.i___._s-__._MJ'W- 4FF'WIW'Fr"ctſi" ſeems to be ſignified, a calmneſs and quietneſs oſſpirit ariſing ſrom humility, in mutable beings, that are naturally liable to be put into a ruffie, by the aſſaults of a tempeſtuous and injurious world. But Chriſt, be ing both Gon and man, hathboth infinite majeſty and ſuperlative meekneſs. _ Chriſt was a perſon oſ infinite majeſty. - Itiis he that i is ſpoken'oſ, Pſ. xlv. 3. Gird thy ſword upon thy thigh, 0 moſt mighty, in thy glory and thy majeſty. - aTis he that is mighty, that rideth on the heavens, and in his excellency on the ſky. 'Tis he that is terrible out oſ his holy places; whois mightier than the noiſe oſ many. waters, yea, than the mighty -wa_ves oſ the ſea; before whom a fire goeth, and burneth up his enemies round about; at whpſe preſence the earth doth 'quake, and the hills do melt; who ſitteth on the circle oſ 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 oſ kings and Lord oſ lords, that hath heaven for his throne, and the earth for his footſtool, and is the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whoſe king dom 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 oſ ſpirit, that ever was, agreeable to the prophecies of him. Matth. xxi. 4, 5. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was ſpoken by the prophet, ſaying, tell ye the daughter of Zion, behold thy king cometh unto thee, meek, and fitting upon an aſs, and a colt the ſoal oſ an aſs. And agreeable to what Chriſt declares of himſelf, . . Matth.
4,4_1, The EXCE-LLENCY oſ CHRIST. 17 Matth. xi. 29. I am meek and lowly in heart. And agreeable to what was maniſeſt in his behaviour here in this world. For there never was ſuch an inſtance ſeen on earth of a meek behaviour under injuries and re proaches, and towards, enemies ; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; who was oſ 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 oſ ſoldiers, that were contemning and mock ing 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 oſ Chriſt,- the deepeſt i'tEVERENce towards GOD, and EWJALrTY 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, Luke xxii. 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. Gon 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, in finite WORTHXNBSS OF ooon, and the greateſt PA TIENCE unnaa surrramos or EVlL. He was perſectly innocent, and deſerved no ſuffering. He de- i ſerved nothing from Gon, 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 C the __AwwLA.4..1 -. _ -\.-.__. _.__ _
i8 The ExcaLLaNcY ofCHRIST. the Father, worthy o'f infinite and eternal happineſs; and infiniter worthy of all poſſible eſteem, love, and ſervice from all men. And yet he was perfectly patient under the greateſt ſufferings that ever were endured in this world. Heb. xii. 2. rHe endured the croſs, de ſpiſing the ſhame. Heb. vi. 15.' After he had patiently endured, he obtained the promiſe. He ſuffered not from his Father, for bia faults, but aurr; and he ſuffered from men, not for his faultr, but for thoſe thin s, on account of which, he was inſinitely worthy o their love and honour; which made his patience the more > wonderful, and the more glorious. r Pet. ii. 20, &e. : - ' - I For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for your "li X I 3 ' faults, ye ſhall take it patiently? but if when ye do y well, and ſuffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is ac ! eeptable with Gon: for hereunto are ye called; be cauſe Chriſt alſo ſuffered for us, leaving us an example, thatwe ſhould follow his ſteps: who did no ſin, neither was guile found in his mouthziwho when he was reviled, reviled not again ; when he ſuffered, he i threatned not; but committed himſelf to him that a judgeth righteouflſiy : 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 are Ll, healed.--There is no ſuch conjunction of innocence, ly warthineſs, and patience under ſufferings, as in the 33 .' perſon of Chriſt. ' t 'I 5. ln the perſon of Chriſt are conjoined an sxczen "i ' me sPlRIT or onentchs, with surname DOMI L - 1, ,l NrON over heaven and earth. lChriſt is the Lord of all z l _l \ things, in two reſpects. He is ſo, as he 18 (rod_man, l, and mediator; and ſo his dominion is appointed, and ſ V given of the Father, and is by delegation from GOD, '; z 'i and he is as it were the Father's vicegerent. But he is " a! Lord of all things in another reſpect, viz. as he is (fy I: ſ 1$ K
The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. '9 his original nature) Gon. And ſo he is by natural right, 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 Arians ſuppoſe, but to allintents and purpoſes, ſupreme GOD. And yet, in the ſame perſon, is ſound the greateſt ſpirit oſ obedience to the commands and Iaw of Gon that ever was in the univerſe; which was maniſeſt in his obedience here in this world. john xiv. 31. As the Father gave me commandment, even ſo I do. John xv. ro. Even as I have kept my Father's command ments, 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 ex ceeding difficulty. Never any one received commands from GOD of ſuch difficulty, and that were ſo great a orial of obedience, as Jeſus Chriſt. One of GOD's commands to him was, that he ſhould yield himſelf to thoſe dreadful ſufferiugs that he underwent. See John x. 18. No man taketh it from me, but] lay it down of myſelf. This commandment received I of my Father. And Chriſt was thoroughly obedient to this command of GOD. Heb- v. 8. Though be were a ſon, yet he learned obedience by the things that he ſuffered. Phil. ii. 8. He humbled himſelf, and became obedient to death, even the death oſ 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 ſu preme Lord both of angels and men. 6. In the perſon of Chriſt are conjoined ahſolute SOVEREXGNTY and perfect RESIGNATION. This is another unparalleled conjunction. Chriſt, as he is GOD, is the ahſolute ſovereign of the world; he is ſo vereign diſpoſer of all events. The decrees oſ GOD C a are ..A-._--__,__..u_,-.._.__i ſi-__4___-_..._4..._.4. __4it.
effrfiris?4' _ _-Turnſ-'vaT 'zo The E-XCELLENCY of CHRIST. are all Hls ſovereign decrees ; 'and the work of creation, and all Gon's works of providence, are His ſovereign works. 'Tis he that worketh all things according to the counſel of hisown will. Col. r. 16, 17. Byhim, and through him, and to him, are all things. john v. 17. The Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Matth. viii. 3. I will, be thou clean. But yet Chriſt was the moſt wonderful inſtance of re fignation that ever appeared in the world. He was ahſolutely and perfectly religned, 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 ſorrow ful, 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 cir- 1 cumſtanccs, he was wholly reſigned to the will of GOD; Matth. xxvi. 39. O, my Father, if it be POffiblC, let this cup paſs from me! nevertheleſs, no: as l will, but as thou wilt. Ver. 42. O, my Father, iſ 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 entire TRUST and RELrANCt-z 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 abſolutelydnde pendent. His proceeding from his Father in his eternal generation, or ſlliation, argues no proper dependence on the will of the Father ; for that preceeding was na tural and neceſſary, and not arbitrary. But yet Chriſt v intirely lruſtedin GOD: his enemies ſay that of him. - Matth. xxvii. 43. He truſted in Gon that he would de liver him. And the apoſtle teſtiſies, r Pet. ii. 23, That he committed himielf to Gon. Ill. Such
The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. 2' III. Such diverſe excellencies are expreſſed in him toward men that otherwiſe would haVe ſeemed im poffible to be exerciſed toward the SAME OBJECT; as particularly theſe three, juſtice, merry, and truth. The ſame that are mentioned, t'ſ.1xxxv. 10. Mercy and truth are met together; righteouſneſs and peace have kiſſed each other. The ſirict JUSTlCE of GOD, and even his revenging juſtice, and that againſt the ſins of men, never was ſo glorioufly manifelied as in Chriſt. He manifeſted an infinite regard to the attribute of GOD's juſtice, in that when he had a mind to ſave iinners, he was willing to undergo ſuch extreme ſuffer ings. rather than 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 ſtrictjuſtice: he will notclear 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 toward ſinful men! Though he be the juſt judge of a ſinful world, yet he is alſo the ſaviour of the world: though he be a conſuming fire to ſin, yet he is the light and life of ſinners. Rom iii. 25, 26. Whom GOD hath ſct forth to be a propitiation, through ſaith in his blood, to declare his righteouſneſs, for the remiſiion of ſins that are paſt, through the ſor bearance of GOD ; to declare, I ſay, at this time, his righteouſneſs, that he might bcjuſt, and thejuſtifier oſ him which believeth in jeſus. So the immutable TRUTH of God, in the threat nings oſ 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 threatnings, as when ſin came to be imputed to his own Son. And then in Chriſt, * has -\___n _ __-_'_.._-. >
22 The Excunsncr oſ CHRIST. A;353.'-l__ a.q has been ſeen already, an actual, complete accompliſh- \ ment of thoſe threatnings; which never has been, not never will be ſeen in any other inſtance; becauſe the eternity that will be taken up in fulfilling thoſe threat nings on others, never will be finiſhed. Chriſt mani_ feſted an infinite regard to this truth of Goo 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 inſringed in the leaſt jot or tittle; he will do nothing contrary to the threatnings of the law, and their complete-ſulfillment. And yet in him we have many great and precious promiſes, promiſes oſ_perfect deliverance from the penalty oſ the law. And this is the promiſe that he hath promiſed us, even eternal liſe. And in him are all the promiſes of GOD, yea and amen. Having thus ſhewn wherein there is an admirable conjunction oſ excellencies in jeſus Chriſt, I now proceed, ' Smndl, To SHEW HOW ans ADMlRABl-E con JUNCTlON OF sxeeunncras APPEARS rNCnRtsr's ACTS. I. It appears IN WHAT Cmusr nrn IN' TAKXNG ON HlM OUR NATURE. In this act his infinite cona deſcenfion wonderfully appeared; that he that was Gon, ſhould become man; that the word ſhould'be made fleſh, and ſſſhould take on him a nature infiniter below his original nature! And it appears yet more remark ably, in the poor 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 ſor her purification, ſhe brought what was allowed of in the law, only in caſe of poverty; as Luke ii. 24. According to that which is ſaid in the law; o -
The Excsu'sncr oſ CHRIST. 23 of 'the Lord, a pair oſ turtle doves, or two young pigeons. 'l'his was allowed only in caſe the perſon was ſo poor, that ſhe was not able to offer a lamb. Lev. xii. 8. And though his infinite condeſcenſion thus appeared in the manner oſ his incarnation, yet his divine dignity alſo appeared in it; for though he was conceived in the womb oſ a poor Virgin, yet he was there conceived by the power oſ the Holy Ghoſt. And his divine dignity alſo appeared in the holineſs oſ his conception and birth. Though he was conceived in the womb of one of the corrupt race of mankind, ye: he was conceived and born without fin; as the angel ſaid to the bleſſed Virgin, Luke i. 35. The Holy Ghoſt ſhall come upon thee, and the power of the Higheſt ſhall overſhadow thee; therefore, alſo, that holy thing which ſhall be born oſ thee, ſhall be called the Son of GOD. His infinite condeſcenſion marvellouſly appeared in the manner oſ his birth. He was bronght ſorth in a liable, becauſe there was no room ſor them in the inn. The inn was taken up by others, that were looked upon as perſons of greater account. The bleſſed Virgin, be ing poor, and deſpiſed, was turned or ſhut out; though ſhe was in ſuch neceffitous 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 herſelf 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 inſant; and there he eminently appeared as a LAMB. But yet this ſeehleſiinſant, 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 powers oſ darkneſs, and make a ſhew of them openly; and ſo to reſtore peace on earth, and to mani ſeſt 1 ._.' -*-_-_-4.._ A
e4 The ExcaLL'zNCY of CHRIST. ' ......--_,.,._._.._,_.nA.__:._._,.-____- ſeſt Goo's good will towards men, and to bring glory to Gon in the higheſt; according as the end oſ his birth was declared by the joyful ſongs oſ the glorious i t hoſts of angels, appearing to the ſhepherds at e ſame time that the infant 'lay in the manger; whereby his divine dignity was maniſeſted. * II. This admirable conjunction of excellencies ap pears in THE ACTS, AND vnarovs PASSACES or CHRIST's LlFB. Though Chriſt dwelt on earth in mean outward circumſtances, whereby his condeſcen ſion and humility eſpecially appeared, and his majeſty was veiled; yet his divine dignity and glory did, in many of his acts, ſhine through the veil; and it illuſtrioufly appeared that he was, not only the ſon of man, but the great Gon. Thus, in the circumſtances ofhis inſancy, his outward meanneſs appeared; yet there was ſomething then to ſhew forth his divine dignity, in the wiſe men's being ſtirred 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, ſrankincenſe, and myrrh. His humility and meekneſs wonderfully appeared in his ſubjection to his mother and reputed father, whe 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: ctin that he ap peared, in ſome meaſure, as the Lion of the tribe of judah. ſi And ſo, after he entered on his public miniſtry, his marvellous humility and meekneſs was maniſefled in hischuſing to appear in ſuch mean outward circum ſtances, and in being ſo contented in them, when he. KZS ſo poor that he had not where to lay his head, and . depended he was a child : -
The ExgaLLENCY of CHRIST. - 35 depended on the charity of ſome of his ſollowers for his ſubfi'ſtence; a'sappears by Luke viii. at the beginning. As alſo in his meek, condeſcending, and familiar treat ment of his diſciples; in his diſcourſes with them, treating them as a father his children, yea, as friends and companions :' and in his patient bearing ſuch afflic tion and rep'roach, 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; particu larly in the miracles that he wrought, which were evidently divine works, and manifeſted omnipotent power, and ſo declared him to be the Lion oſ the tribe ofjudah. His wonderful and miraculous works plainly ſhewed him to be the Gon of nature; in that it ap peared 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 open ing the eyes of the blind, and unſtopping the ears of the deaf, and healing the lame, he ſhewed that he was the Gou that ſramed 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 LOR D, to whom belong the iſſues from Death. By his walking on the ſea in a fiorm, when the waves were raiſed, he ſhewed himſelf to be that Gon ſpoken of, Job ix. 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, and he that is ſpoken of, Pſ. lxv. 7. Who ſtilleth the noiſe of the ſeas, the noiſe of their waves. And, Pſ. cvii. 29. That maketh the ' x __...t-c-nua,-4.-__a__ ._..___. 1 ..._._ ..-..- _.
26 The Excstmneir of CHRIST. the ſtorm a calm; ſo that the_waves thereof are ſtill._ And, Pſ. lxxxix. 8, 9. O Loxn GOD of hoſts, who is_ a ſtrong Lord like unto thee, or to thy faithfulneſs round about thee? Thou' rebukeſt the raging of the ſea : When the waves thereof ariſe, thou ſtilleſt them. Chriſt by caſting out devils remarkany appeared as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and ſhewed that he was flronger than the roaring lion, that ſeeks whom 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, andſi beſeech him not to terment 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._-Heſſ 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 iv. 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 ii; 11. This be ginning of miracles did jeſus in Cana of Galile, and manifeſted forth his glory. ' And though Chriſt ordinarily appeared without out ward 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 ſpeaksofit, z Pet.'1. 16, 17. speaking there of himſelf as one that was an eye-witneſs of his majeſty, whenſihe 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 whomI am well pleaſed; which voice that came from heaven, they heard, when they were with him in the holy mount. - And
The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. 27 _4),,_____ t. _ .. ._ an . nnzzx-rzed. 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. lll. This admirable conjunction of excellencies re markably appears,.m HIS ov'r-"same UP HlMSELF A sACRxFrct-z FOR SINNERS IN HIS LAST SUFFERXNGS. As this was the greateſt thing in all the'work of re 'demption, the greateſt act of Chriſt in that work ; ſo in this act eſpecially, does there appear that admirable conjunction of excellencies that has been ſpoken of. Chriſt never ſo much appeared as a Lamb, as when he was ſlain : he came like a Lamb to the ſlaughter, Iſai. liii. 7. Then he was offered up to Gon as a Lamb without-blemiſh, and without ſpot : then eſpecially ap pearing to be the antitype of the Lamb of the paſſover: 1 Cor. v. 7. Chriſt our paſſover ſncriſicedtfor u's. 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 fol lowing things. . . r. Then was Chriſt in the greateſt degree of his HU MlLlATlON, and yet by that, above all other things, his DlVlNE 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 whereto lay his head, and in ſuffering ſuch manifold and bitter reproaches as he ſuffered, while he Went about preaching and working miracles: but- his humiltation was never ſo great, as it was in his laſt D z * - ſufferihgs,
'28 t 'The E'xcsLLeucv ofCHRlST. 3'.A-;-ar ''i ,-Mm-ffchffl_pv Afi_%;7*'*£=-.=_ 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 iwas he in ſo great an exerciſe of his condeſcenſion, hu mility, 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 noreputation, as 'at this time : and yet never was his divine glory ſo ma' nifeſted, by any act of his, as in that act, of yielding himſelf up to theſe ſufferings. When the fruit oſ 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, ver. 9, &c. And they ſung a new ſong, ſaying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the ſeals thereof, FOR THOU WAST SLAlN, and haſt redeemed us to Goo BY THY BLOOD, out ofevery Kingdom, and tongue, and people, and nation; and haſt made us, to our Go n; 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 living creatures, and the elders ; and the number of them was ten thouſandtimes ten thouſand, and thouſands of thouſands; ſaying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb THAT WAS SLAlN, to receive power, and riches, and wiſdom, and ſtrength, and honour, and glory, and bleffing. 2. He never, in any act, gave ſo great a manifeſtas tion of LOVE TO GoD; and yet he never manifeſted his LOVE To THOsz THAT wem: ENBMIES TO Gon, as
'The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. 'ib ſa's in that act. Chriſt never did any thing whereby his 'love to his Father was ſo eminently maniieſted, as in j'h-is laying down his life, under ſuch inexpreſiible ſuffer ings, in obedience to his command, and for the vindi cation of the honour of his authority and majeſty; nor Jdid ever any meer creature give ſuch a teſtimony of love to GOD as that was: and yet this was the greateſt ex preſſion of all, of his love to ſinful men, that were enemies to Gon: Rom.v. 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 low. That blood of Chriſt that was ſweat out, and fell in great drops to the ground, in his agony, was ſhed from love to Gon's enemies and his own. That ſhame and ſpitting, that tormenting 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 himſelfa. victim to revenging juſtice, to vindicate Goo's honour: and yet in this above all, he manifeſted his love to them that diſhonoured Goo, ſo as to bring ſuch guilt on themſelves, as nothing leſs than his blood could atone for it. 3. Chriſt never ſo eminently APPEARED FOR Dr VINE jUSTICE, and yet never sorrrnsn ſo much FROM DlVlNE JUSTlCE, as when he offered up him ſelf a ſacrifice for our ſins. In Chriſt's great ſuſt'erings, did his infinite regard to the honour ot Gon'sjuilice diſtinguiſhingly appear ; for it was from regard to that, that he thus humbled himſelf: and yet in theſe ſuffer ings, Chriſt was the mark of the vindictive expreſſions of that very juſtice of Goo. Revenging juſtice then ſi ct ' ſpent "n'e 75)T'HzJ
...3p . The ExcsLLsNCY of CHRIST. ſpent all-it's force upon him, on the accountof 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 jcroſs, and probably rent his'vitals, broke his heart, the (fountain of blood, or ſome other internal blood-veſſels, and by the violent ferme'ntation turned his blood to water: ſor the' blood and water that iſſued out of his fide, when pierced by the ſpear, ſeems to have been 'extravaſated blood; and' ſo there might be a kind Of 'literal fulfilment'oſ that, in Pſ. xxii. 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 eans by which Chriſt ſtood up for the honour of Gon's juſtice, viz. by thus ſuffering it's terrible executions. For when he _ 'had undertaken for finners, 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. ſſ In this the diverſe excellencies that met in the perſon oſ Chriſt appeared, viz. his lNFlNITE REGARD to Goo's jUSTXCE, and ſuch 'love to thoſe that have ex oſed themſelves to it, as induced him thus to yield imſelf a ſacrifice to it. 4. Chriſt's nouurss never ſo illuſtrioufly 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 maniſeſtation. 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 his ſtedſaſt purſuit of the honour of GOD, and in his obedience to him: for his yielding hi ſelf to death was tranſcendently the onurssr ACT of ' - ' - obedience,
The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. 3' obedience, that mer was paid to Gon, 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 accuſſiers repreſented him as a moſt wicked wretch. ln his ſufferings beſore his cruciſixion, he was treated as if he had been the worſt and vileſt of' mankind; and then, he was put to a death, that none but the worſt ſort of maleſactors were wont to ſuſ'fer, thoſe that were moſt abject in their perſons, and guilty of the blackcſt crimes. And he ſuffered as though guilty from GOD himſelf, by reaſon of our guilt im puted to him; for he was made ſin for us, wh'o 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 ſm had done to Gon; and yet never was to ſuch a degree ſubject to the terrible effects of Gon's hatred of ſin, and wrath againſt it, as he was then.-ln this appears thoſe diverſe excellencies meet ing in Chriſt, viz. love to GOD, and grace to ſmners. 5. He never was ſo DEALT wr'rn As unwonrnr. as in his laſt ſufferings; and yet it is chiefly on ne COUNT or THEM THAT HE rs accounran won rim He was therein dealt with as if he had not been worthy to live: they cry out, Away with him ! Away with him L Crucify him! john xix. 15- And they prefer Barabbas beſore him. And he ſuffered from the Father, as one whoſe demerits were infinite, by reaſon of our demerits that were laid upon himu 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 ----..-..... "--_e.-=
33 The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST.. his exaltation. Phil. ii. 8, 9. He humbledhimſelſ, and became obedient unto death ;-whereſore GOD hath' highly exalted him. And we ſee that it is on this ac count 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 con junction in- him of infinite dignity, and infinite con-r deſcenſion and love to the infinitely unworthyr 6. Chriſt in his laſt ſufferings, SUFFERBD MOST an' TREMELY from THOSE that he was then in his GREAT EST ACT OF LOVE To. He neverſuffered ſo much from' his Father, (though not from any hatred to bim, but' from hatred to our ſins) for he then forſook him, (as Chriſt on the croſs expreſſes it) or took away the com forts of his preſence; and then it pleaſed the Lord to" bruiſe him, and put him to grief, as lſai. liii. lo'. Andi yet he never gave ſo great a maniſeſiation of lOVe to GOD as then, as has been already obſerved. So Chrifl: 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 il] 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 cruciſying him; and were probably afterwards brought home to Chriſt by Peter's preaching. Comp. Luke xxiii. 34.. Acts ii. 23, 36, 37, 41. and Chap. iii. 17.' and Chap. iv. 4.-This ſhews an admirable meeting of juſtice and grace in the redemption of Chriſt. * - * ' 7. I! ' _7 Land
The'ExceLLnncY oſCHRIST. 33 7. It was in Chriſt's laſt ſufferings, above all, that he was DELlVERED UP TO THE POWER OF HIS ana MIES; and yet by theſe, above all, he OBTAINED VlCTORY oven HIS ansmxas. his enemies hands, as in the time of his laſt ſuffer-ings. They ſought his life 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 noryet come; 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 xxii. 53. When l 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 ſuffer ings, 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 complete 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. ii. 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, rriumphing ovcr them in it. ln A his laſt ſufferings, Chriſt ſapped the very foundations of Satan's kingdom; he conquered his enemies in their own territories, and beat them with their own weapons; as David cut off Goliah's head with his own ſword. The devil had, as it were, ſwallowed up Chriſt, as the ' whalc 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 E again; Chriſt never was ſo in * 4-.4'ffl
'34. 'The Excrurzncv of CHRIST. ,,. .-'._-<-'-: z'w-u__ſ4 \ rYr again; and is to this day heart ſick of what he then ſwallowed as his prey.--ln thoſe ſuffering-s 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 ob tained in all the earth. Thus Samſon's riddle is moſt eminently ſulfilled. judges xiv. 14.. Out of the eaten 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, in 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 t mple, 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 m his enemies. Thus this admirable conjunction of diverſe excellen . - ClCS
'The ExczuaxeY of CHRIST. 35 ties was manifeſt in Chriſt, in his offering up himſelf to GOD in his laſt ſufferings. IV. 'Tis ſtill manifeſt IN Hls ACTs, IN Hls PRE SENT STATE or EXALTATION rN Heaven. Indeed, in his exalted ſtate, he moſt eminently appears in a maniſeſtation of thoſe excellencies, on account oſ which he i's Compared to a Lion; but ſtill he appears 'as a Lamb. Rev. xiv. 1. And I looked, and lo, a Lamb ſtood on mount Zion. As in his ſtate of hu' miliati'on," he chiefly appeared as a Lamb, and yet did not appear withOut maniſeſtations of his divine' majeſty and power, as the Lion of the tribe of judah. Tho' Chriſt be now at the tight hand of Gon, exalted as king of heaven, and Lord oſ the univerſe; yet as he ſtill is in the human nature, he ſtill excels in humility. Though the man Chriſt jeſus be the higheſt oſ all 'creatures in heaVen, yet he as much creels 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 oſ 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. vii. 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 Gon ſhall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Though in heaven every knec bews to him, and though the angels fall before him, adoring him, yet he treats his ſaints with infinite condeſcenſion, mildneſs, and endearment. And in his acts towards the ſaints on earth, he ſtill appears as a Lamb, maniſe-ſting exceed ing love and tenderneſs,'in his interceflion fer them, as E 2 one .4;-__.._._4__._4_t-.___1/ u-4_.-___._-_._..__
j36 -The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. X. r'd'nzkaffi-W"What. .-Wffi.<-mx-Mm...."'* 1. . one that has had exPerience of affliction and temptation-z he has not forgot what theſe things are; nor has he for ,got how to pity thoſe that are ſubject to them. - And he flill manifelts his lamblike excellencies, in his clealings with his ſaints on earth, in admirable forbearance, love, gentleneſs, and compaffions; inſtructing, ſupplys ling, ſupporting, and comfortinz them; often coming to them, and manifeſting himſelf to them by his Spirit, that he may ſup with them, and they with him, ad mitting them to ſweet communion with l-im, 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 a: it'lmd been ſlain; as he was repreſented in viſion to St. john, in the text, when he appeard to open the book ſealed with ſeven ſeals,_ which is part of the glory of his exaltation. V. and' laſt/y. "* This admirable conjunction of ex cellencies will be manifeſt rN CHRisT's ACTS AT THE 'LAST wDGMBNT. He then, above all other times, will appear as the Lion of the tribe of judah, in in finite greatneſs and majeſty, 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. xx. >1 1. that ſhall fit on a great white throne, before whoſe face the earth and heaven ſhall flee away. He then will 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 every bond-man, and every free-man, ſhall hide themi ſelves in the dens, and in the tocks of, the mountains, and ſhall cry to vthe-mountains and rocks to fall on them, to hide them from the. face and wrath. of the Lamb.
.The'Exc5LLaNCY ofCHRIS'T. '37 = 'I _. Lambr And none can declare or conceive of the amazing maniſeſtations of wrath, in which he will .t'nen appear, towards theſe; or the trembling and aſtoniſhment, the ſhrieking and gnaſhing of' teeth, Wlll'l which they ſhall ſtand before his judgment-ſeat, and receive the terrible ſentence oſ his wrath. And yet he will, at the ſame time, appear as a Lamb to his ſaints. He will receive them as ſriends- 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 ctadmitted to him as his bride: that ſhall be her wed fling-day: the ſaints ſhall all be ſweetly invited to 'come with him, to inherit the kingdom, and to reign in it with him to all eternity. APPLAICATION. I. From this doctrine we may learn ONE REASON WHY-CHRIST Is CALLED-BY svcn A VARlETY OF NAMES, and held forth under ſuch a variety of repre iimtations in Scripture. 'Tis the better to figniſy, and exhibit to us, that variety of excellencies that meet to gether, and are conjoined in him. Many appellations are mentioned together in one verſe. Iſai. ix. 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a ſon is given, and the government ſhall be upon his ſhoulders: and his name 'ſhall be called Wonderſul, Ccunſellor, the mighty GOD, the everlaſting Father, the Prince of Peace. It fflſhews a wonderful conjunction oſ 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 Counſellor, and the mighty GOD; and well may his name, in whom ſuch things are conjoined, be called Wonderful. _ : By --_-lMad-'ſi44.. He4..__.__-.A..._-., ......-__ ____ _
____._'pha_mn'afifflfw .,-um......:x._:._..:,__. .,__t.---z-. -;:..,v.;=._..=.__._-_.--,.._- .T ..__.,i; '38 The ExcELLGcY of CHRIST. By reaſon of the ſame wonderful conjunction, Chriſt is repreſented by a great variety oſ ſenfible things, that are on ſome account excellent. Thus in ſome place' he is called a Sun, as Mal. iv. 2. in others a Star, Num. xxiv. 17. And he is eſpecially repreſented by the Morning Star, as being that which excels all other ſtars in brightneſs, and is the forerunner of the day, Rev. xxii. 16. And, as in cur text, he is compAred to a Lion in one verſe, and a Lamb in the next; ſo ſome times he is comparcd to a Roe or a young Hart, another creature moſt diverſe from a Lion. So in ſome laces he is called a Rock, in others he is compared to a Bear] : in ſome places he is called a Man of War, and the Captain of our Salvation ; in other places he is repre ſented as a Bridegroom. In the zd cha t. of Cantic, ver. 1. he is compared to a Roſe and a Eilly, that are ſweet and beautiful flowers; in the next verſe but one, he is compared to a Tree beating ſweet fruit. In Iſai. Iiii. 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 Gon, Rev. ii. 7. Il. Let the conſiderati'onvof this wonderful meeting of diverſe excellencies in Chriſt INDUCE YOU TO Ae CEPT or HIM, and CLOSE wrrn HiM as YOUR SA VIOUR. 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 for your ſa viour, and every thing that tends to encourage poor ſinners to come and put their truſt in him: his fulneſs and all-ſuffic-iency 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, and is helpleſs in,it_: he is a poor weak creature, like an infant caſt out in it's blood, in the daythag it is orn: __-__A
The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. 3'9 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 in finifely 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 Gou's indignation, but Chriſt is infinitely dear to him: we have dreadfully provoked Gon, but Chriſt has per formed that righteouſneſs that is inſtnitely precious in Gou's eyes. And here is not only infinite ſtrength and worthineſs, but infinite condeſcenhon ; and love and mercy, as great as power and dignity. if you are a poor diſtreſſed ſm. ner, whoſe heart is ready to ſink for fear that Gon never will have mercy upon you, you need not be afraid to go to Chriſt, for fear that he is either unable or un willing to help you : here is a ſtrong ſoundation, and an inexhauſtible treaſure, to anſWer the neceffities of your poor ſoul; and here is infinite grace and gentle neſs to invite and embolden a poor unworthy fearful ſoul to come to it. Iſ Chriſt accepts oſ you, you need not ſear but that you will be ſafe; for he is a ſtrong Lion for your deſcnce : and iſ you come, you need not fear but that you ſhall be accepted; for 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 the great Gon, and is infiniter high above you; but there is this to encourage and embolden the poor ſmner, that Chriſt is man as well as Gon ; he is a creature, as well as the creator; and he is the moſt humble and lowly in heart oſ any creature in heaven and earth. This may well make the poor unworthy creature bold in coming to him. Yon need not hefitate one 4-AWuAA-Ah'44
'do TheExouLLENCY oſ-CHRIST; s-ſea-r.-- .<ffiywnp-W-M4'w'wu:m. -'_""*'"*W'** p-s.u-Tgw-.- "a2..-zc;___':,e;_:__ one moment; but may run to him, and caſt yourſelf 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 jou.-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 tend ing to encourage finnners to truſt in him. Whatever your circumſtances are, you need not be aſraid to come to ſuch a ſaviour as this: be you never ſo wicked a creature, here is worthineſs 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 thereof Chriſt's deſpiſing you, iſ you in your heart come to HIM. Here let me a little expoſtulate with the poor, bur dened, diſtreſſed ſoul. 1. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAlD or, that you dare not venture your ſoul upon Chriſt? Are you afraid that he cannot ſave you, that he is not ſtrong enough to con quer the enemies oſ your ſoul? But how can you deſire *one ſtronger than the mighty Gon P as Chriſt lS called, Iſai. ix. 6. Is there need of greater than infinite ſtrength? Are you afraid that he won't be willing to ſtoop ſo low, as to take any gracious notice of y0u? But then look on him, as he ſtood in the ring oſ ſoldiers, expoſing his bleſſed face to be buffeted and ſpit upon, by them! behold him bound, with his back uncovered to thoſe that ſmote him! and behold him hanging on the croſs! Do you- think that he that had condeſcen fion enough to ſtoop to theſe things, and that for his crucifiers, ..will.be unwilling to accept oſ*y0u,.1ſ you come ____J ſſ- _
The E'XCELLENCY of CHRIST. 41 -ffi,____4_ come to him? or, are you afraid that if he does accept of you, that GOD the Father won't accept oſ him for you? But conſider, wiil GOD reject his own Son, in whom his infinite delight is, and has been, from all eternity; and that is ſo united tohim, that iſ he ſhould reject him he would reject himſelf. 2. WHAT rs THERE THAT YOU CAN nesrne snoutn ne IN A savroun, THAT ts NOT m CHstr? Or, wherein ſhould you DESlRE a ſaviour ſhould be OTHERWlSE than Chriſt is? What excel lency is there wanting? What is there that is great and good? What is there that is venerable or winning? What is there that is adorable or endearing P Or what Can you think of that would be encouraging, that is not to be found in the perſon of Chriſt? Would you have yourſaviour to be GREAT and HONOURARLE, be cauſe you are not willing to be heholden to a mean per ſon? And, is not Chriſt a perſon honourable enough to be worthy that you ſhould be dependent on him? Is he not a perſon high enough to be worthy to be ap pointed to ſo honourable a work as your ſalvation? XVould you not only have a ſaviour that is oſ Htcu DEGREE, but would you have him, notwithſtanding his exaltation and dignity, to be made alſo oſ LOW DEGREE, that he m'ight have experience oſ affiictions and tri-als, 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 ſor you? And has he not surrrn e D enough? Would you not only have him have EXPERIENCE of the AFFLtCTtONS you 're-w ſuffer, but alſo oſthat amazingwn AT H that you fear ben-after, that he may know how to pity thoſe that are in danger oſ it, and afraid oſ it? This Chriſt has had experience of, which experience gave him a greater ſenſe oſ it, a thouſand times, than you have, or any F \ man
42 The ExcsſiLLENeY. oſ CHRIST. an-ST' 'fvffl 4-._-_-P_BA_. man living has. Would you have your ſaviour to be one that is NEAR TO Go , that ſo his mediation might be prevalent with him? And can you deſire him to be NEARER To Gon than Chriſt is, who is his only begotten Son, of the ſame eſſence with the Father P And would you not only have him near to Gon, but alſo NEAR To YOU, that you may have tree acceſs to him? And would you have him N EAR un to you than to be in the SAME NATUR s, and not only ſo, but united to you by a ſpiritual union, ſo cloſe as to be fitly repreſented by the union of the wiſe to the huſband, of the branch to the vine, oſ 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 acceptoſ him. Would you have a ſaviour that has given ſome great and ex traordinary TESTIMONY of mercy and love to ſinners, by ſamewhat that he has done, as well as by what he fiyrct? And can you think or conceive of greater things than Chriſt has done? Was it not a great thing for him, who was Gov, to take upon him human nature, to be not only Gon, but man thenceforward to all eternity? But would you look uponſzffrizzg for ſinners to be a yet greater teſtimony of love to finners, than merely doing, though it be never ſo extraordinary a thing that he has done? And would you deſire that a ſaviour ſhould ſzzffl-r more than Chriſt has ſuffered ſoriinners? 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 Chriff as your: ſaviour, conſider two things particularly. . * 1. How MUCH CHRLST APPEARS As THE LAMB' or Gon, 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. viii. 4. Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice lS LA
The EXCELLENCY oſ CHRlST: 43 is to the ſons oſ men. And, Iſai. lv. t, 2, 3. Ho, et'ery 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 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 oſ, Come, buy wine and milk! and in aſſuring you, that your poetry, and having nothing to pay for it, ſhall he na objection; Come, he that hath no money, come with out money and without price! And in the gracious arguments and exhortations that he uſes with you! As it follows, Wherefore do ye ſpend money for thatwhich 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 itſelf in fat neſs. As much as to ſay, " "I'is 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, oſ that which is really good, and will fully ſatisſy your deſires, and anſwer your end. and ſtand ready to accept oſ you; you need not be afraid ; iſ you will come to me, I will engage to ſee all your wants ſupplied, and you made a happy creature." As he promiſes in the third verſe, lncline 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 oſ David. And ſo, Prov. ix. at the be ginning. 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 F z 1 have
44, i The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. "IV.-r-v-* -H-M**:"'*__.,___._. I have mingled. 'You are in a vpoor ſamiſhing ſtate, and have nothing wherewith to feed your periſhing' ſoul; you have been ſeeking ſomething, but yet remain deſtitute: hearken l how Chriſt calls you to eat oſ his bread, and to drink of the wine that he hath mingled l And how much like a Lamb does Chriſt appear, in? Matth. xi. 28, 29, 30. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and Iwill give you reſt : take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, ſor 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 diltreſted ſoul ! whoever thou art that art' afraid "that you ſhall never 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 iſ you come to him! In the zSth verſe, he ſays, I will give you reſt; and in the 29th verſe, Ye ſhall'find reſt to your ſouls. This' is what you want l This is the thing you have been ſo long in vain ſeeking after! O how ſweet would reſt be" to you iſ you could but obtain it! Come to Chriſt, and you ſhall obtain it l And hear how Chriſt, to en-. courage you, repreſents himſelf as a Lamb ! He tells' you that he is meek and lowly In heart ; and are you afraid to come to ſuch an one? And again, Rev. iiiſi 20. Behold, I ſtand at the door and knock : iſ any man' ſi hear my voice, and open the door, I will come to him, and I will ſup with him, and he with me. Chriſt con: deſcends 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 and knocks at your door, and ſeeks that you would receive him into your houſe, as your ſriend 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,
The Excensucr of CHRIST. 45 ſo, but he makes promiſes what he will do for you, if 'ou will admit him, what privileges he will admit you to; he will ſup with you, and you with him. And again, Rev. xxii. 16, 17. lam the root, and the offspring or 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 athirll, 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 cxcellency! and how does he condeſcend to declare to you, not only his own invitation, but the imitation 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 as a free gift, however precious it be, and though it be the water of [zfi I 2. If you do ccme to Chriſt, HE erL 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 ſhall be employed for you in your defence, for your ſafety, and promote your glory : he will be as a Lion to fight againſt your ene mies: he that touches you or offends you, will pro- ' voke his wrath as he that flirs 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. xxxi. 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 ahaſe himſelf for the noiſe of them; ſo ſhall the LOrd of hofls come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. Ill. Let -.-_... ._._ _-_.-..
46 The Exceuchv of CHRIST. X 5 I j Ill. Let what has been ſaid be improved to nrnucz p i lj , In YOU To Lova THE LORD Jesus CHRIST, and chooſe him for your friend and portion. As there is ſuch an u admirable meeting of diverſe excellencies in Chriſt, ſo ſſ 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 deſirable to be in a friend, is in Chriſt, and that to the Hicncsr il i neous that can be deſired. - j i, - Would you chooſe a friend that is a perſon of great v l ' r 'I / dignityP-lt is a thing taking with men to have thoſe , l- for their friends that are men above them; becauſe they ,-., r-,:_.*,;1.,7,.-,:.. _.-__-..eV 'l look upon themſelves honoured_by the friendſhip of v ſuch. Thus, how taking would it be with an inferior ' '_ zzfg _ maid, to be the object or' the dear love of ſome great "lg and excellent prince. But Chriſt is infiniter above .\ you, and above all the princes of the earth; ſor he is l' the King of kings.-So honourable a perſon as this Il offers himſelf to you, in the neareſt and deareſt friend. I ſhip. ' And would you chooſe to have a friend not only great t but good?-In Chriſt infinite greatneſs and infinite '5 goodneſsmeet together, and receive luſtre and glory from one another. His greatneſs is rendered lovely by his goodneſs. The greater any one is without good neſs, ſo much the greater evil; but when infinite good neſs is joined with greatneſs, it renders it a glorious and adorable greatneſs. So, on the other hand, his infinite goodneſs receives luſtre from his greatneſs. He that is ofſſ great u'nderſtanding 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 of inclination and good will. Indeed, goodneſs is excellent in whatever ſubject it befound; it is beauty and excellency itſelf, and renders all excellent that are poſſeſſed ..Mugduurfflex
The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. 47 4L4.__*- if ___ _.. _4 poſſeſſed of it; and yet more excellent when joined with greatneſs; as the very ſame excellent gualitiu 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 dimerz/ſom. And how glorious is the ſight, to fee him who is the great creator and ſupreme Lord of heaven and earth, full of con deſcenſion, and render pity, and mercy towards the mean and unworthy! His almighty power, and in finitemajeſty, and felf-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 bin/ler 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 ſ-weetened with condeſcenſion and grace; but would you alſo deſire to have your friend in your orwn nature, that he might be brought nearer to you P 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 he ' has, as it were, brought himſelf down to be upon a level with you, ſo as to become man as you are, tha: he 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 .___&444..4. __._-_._...4._.._ 'n 4 -,-,w. -_.:._**_4. _<,1 *1
is The Exc'ILLGcY of CHRIST. "-Far; _-_* _-_.:;.:-:. -.=__: z-______._._._.__._.,_.-::;; m taking upon him man's nature, that his people might be under advantages for a more familiar ton-verſe 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. viii. 1. O that thou wert my brother, that ſucked the breaſts of my mother; when I ſhould find thee without, I would kiſs thee; yea, I ſhould not be deſpiſeJ. One deſign oſ Goo 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 what natural inclination there is in our ſouls, he may be the center of it ; that Gon may be all in all. But there is an inclination in the creature, not only to the adoration oſ a Lord and ſovereign, but to complacence in ſinne one a: a friend, to love and delight in ſome one that may be converſed with as a companion. And virtue and holineſs don't deſtroy or weaken this inclination oſ our nature. But ſo hath Gon contrived in the affair of our redemption, that a die/int perſon may be the object even of this in clination of our nature. And in order hereto, ſuch-an one is come down to us, and has taken our nature, and is become one oſ us, and calls himſelf our friend, brother, and companion. Pſ. cxxii. ' 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 p acceſs to a friend ſo great and high, that he is one of infinite condeſcending grace, and alſo hastaken your own nature, and is become man? But would you, further to embolden and win you, have him a man oſ wonderful meekneſs and humility? Why, ſuch an one _ is Chriſt! He is not only become man for you, but far the meekeſt and moſt humble oſ all men, the greateſt inſtance of theſe ſweet virtues, that ever was, or will ' be.
The EXLELLENCY of CHRIST.; 49 be. And, beſides theſe, he has all other human ex cellencies, in the higheſt perfection. Theſe, indeed, are no prop:r addition to his divine excellencies. Chriſt has no more excellency in his perſon, ſince his incarna tion, than he had before; for divine excellency is in finite, and cannot be added to: yet, his human ex cellencies are additional maniſeſtations of his glory and excellency to w, and are additional recommendations of him to our eſteem and love, who are of finite com prehenfion. Though his human excellencies are but communications and reflections of his divine; and though his light, as reflected, falls infinitely ſhort of. the divine fountain of light, in it's immediate glory; yet; the reflection ſhines not without it's proper ad vantages, as preſented to our mio-'w and affliction. As the glory oſ Chriſt appears in the qualifications oſ his human nature, it appears to us in excellencies that are oſ our o-wn find, and are exerciſed in our own way and manner; and ſo, in ſome reſpects, are peculiarly fitted' to invite our acquaintance, and draw our affection. The glory oſ Chriſt as it appears in his divinity, though it be ſar brighter, yet doth it alſo more dazzle our eyes, and exceeds the ſtrength or comprehenſion of our ſight :' but as it ſhines in-the human excellencies of Chriſt, itis brought more to a [me] with our conceptions and ſuitableneſs to our nature and manner, yet retaining a. ſemblance oſ the ſame divine BEAUTY, and a ſavour of the ſame divine SWEETNESS. But as both human and divine 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 oſ a perſon that is in om- nature, that is one oſ us, that is become our brother, and is the meekeſt and humbleſt oſ men; it encourages us to look upon theſe divine perfections, how ever high and great, yet as what we have ſome near con G cern 4-.-._ -._._ __
go The Excnnnencv of CHRIST. oh;LA:.-,;:T ;,_-_L£;=._ 'm .a7__--\-__.-,_a-- -_.-_-___-mz -*-*--*-*<<wr-F-sctV-hzka cern in, and more oſa right to, andſſlz'bmy' to enjoy. And on the other hand, how much more glorious and ſur- ' prizing do the. meekneſs, the humility, obedience, and reſignation, and other human excellencies oſ Chriſt appear, when we conſider that they are in ſo great a perſon as the eternal b'on of GOD, the Lord of heaven and earth. By your chooſing Chriſt for your ſriend and portion, you will obtain theſe two infinite benefits. 1. Chriſt will give bimſhlf to you, with all thoſe various excel'lencics that meet in him, to your full and everlaſting enjoyment. He \vil'l\ever after treat you an his dear friend; and you', ſhall, ere long, be where he is, and ſhall behold his glory, and ſhall dwell with him in moſt intimate communion and enjoyment. When the ſaints get to heaven, they ſhall not merely fie Chriſt, and have to do with him as ſubjects and ſervants with a glorious and gracious Lord and ſove reign, but Chriſt will entertain 'them as friends and brethren. i This we may learn from the manner of Cſihriflt's converſmg with his diſciples here on earth: vhough 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 awſul diſtance ; but all along converſed with them with the moſt friendly ſamiliarity, as'a father amOngſt a com pany oſ 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 en dearment in heaven : he won't keep them at a greater diſtance
The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. 31 4' diſtance for his being in a ſtate of' exaltation ; but will rather take them into a ſtate of exaltation with him. This will be the improvement that Chriſt will make of his own glory, to make his beloved friends parakers' with him, to glorify them in his glory, as he ſays to his Father, John xvii. 22, 23. And the glory which thou haſt given me, have l given them, that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, &c. We are to conſider, that though Lhriſt is greatly exalted, yet he is exalted not as a private perſon, for himſelf only, but as his people's head; he is exalted in their name, and upon their account, as the firſt-fruits, and as re preſenting the whole harveſt. He is not exalted that he may be at a greater diſtance from them, but that 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 beſore, and are honoured with the head ; and, in ſtead 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 diſciple got to heaven, they found him keep ing a greater diſtance than he uſed to do. No, doubtc leſs, he embraced them as friends, and welcomed them to his, and their, Father's houſe, and to his, and their, They that had been,his friends in this world. glory. _ that had been together with him here, and had together - G 2 partook i *"*_----.<-....._An,, -'n_'*
52 The Excentzncir of CHRIST. partook of ſorrows and troubles, are now welcomed by him to reſt, and to partake oſ glory with him. He 'took them and led them into his chambers, and ſhewed them all his glory; as he prayed, John xvii. 24. Father, I will, that they alſo whom thou hall; given me, be with me, that they may behold the glory which thou haſt given me. And he led thehi to his living fountains oſ water, and made them partake of his de lights; as he prays, John xvii. 13.ſi That my joy may be fulfilled in themſelves. And ſet them down with him at his table in his kingdom, and made them pare take with him of his dainties, according to his promiſe, Luke xxii. 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 ſoretold them when he inſtituted the Lord's ſupper, Matth. xxvi. 29. 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, much more ſo: for, in heaven, that VXTAL UNION ſhall be perfect, which is exceeding imperfect here. While the ſaints are in this world, there are great re mains oſ ſin and darkneſs, to ſeparate or diſimite them from Chriſt; which ſhall then all be removed. This is not a time ſor that full acquaintance, and thoſe glorious manifeſtations oſ love, which Chriſt deſrgns for his people hereafter; which ſeems to be ſignified by Chriſt's ſpeech to Mary Magdalene, when ready to em brace him, when ſhe met him after his reſurrectionz John xx. 17. Jeſus ſaith unto her, touch me not, for I am not 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 adoring reſpect, but will not ' BW!
The EXCELLENCY of CHRIST. 53 We 'them into any ſipam/ion, 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 himhelſ to_them So that if we chooſe Chriſt ſor cur ſriend and portion, we ſhall hereafter be ſo received to him, that there ſhall be nothing to hinder the ſulleſt enjoyment oſ him, to the ſatisſying the utmoſt cravings oſ our ſouls. We may take our full ſwing at gratiſying our ſpiritual appetite after theſe holy pleaſures. Chriſt will then ſay, as in Cant. v. 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 oſ this happineſs, or any thing to interrupt our 'enjoyment oſ it, or in the leaſt to molell us in it. 2. By your being united to Chriſt, ycu will have a more glorious union with, and enjoyment aſ, Gon the Father, than otherwiſe could be. For hereby the ſaints relation to GOD becomes much nearer; they are the children oſ Gon in an higher manner, than otherwiſe could be. For, being members oſ Gon's own natural Son, they are in a ſort partakers of his relation to the Father: they are not only Sons oſGon by regeneration, but a kind oſ communion in the ſonſhip oſ the eternal Son. This ſeems to be intended, Gal. iv. 4, 5, 6. God ſent forth his Son made oſ a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that are under the law, that We might receive the adoption ofſuu. And becauſe ye are ſhin, Gon hath ſent ſorth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Fat/mn-The church is the daughter oſGQD, not only as he hath begotten her by his word and Spirit, but as ſhe is the ſpouſe of his eternal Son. . So we being members of the Son, are partakers in out meaſure oſ the Father's love to the Son, and com * placence - -.-.. __
53, 'The EXCELLENCY oſ-CHR'IST'. *;-_ -;-::{__,*.,._--* , -F.er-M'z-'* ſ&in-a'del-3; placence in him. John xvii. 23. I in them, and thou in me,-thou haſt loved them, as thou hart lOVed me. And, verſe 26. That the love wherewith thou haſt loved me, may 'be in them. And, chapt. xvi. 27. The Father himſelf loveth you, becauſe ye have loved me, and have believed that 1 came out from Gon. So we ſhall, according to our capacities, be partakers of the Son's enjoyment oſ Gon, and have his joy fulfilled in Ourſelves, John xvii. 13. And by this means we ſhall come to an immenſely higher, more intimate, and full enjoyment of Gon, than otherwiſe could have been. For there is doubtleſs an infinite intimacy be tween the Father and the Son; which is expreſſed by his being in the boſom of the Father. And ſaints, he ing in him, ſhall in their meaſure and manner par-take with him in it, and of the bleſſedneſs of it. And thus is the affair oſ our redemption ordered, that thereby we are brought to an immenſely- more ex alted kind of union with Gon, 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 ſor a more ſree and full enjoyment oſ him, than we could have had iſ 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 Goo the Father, who is only in the divine nature, than otherwiſe could . be. Chriſt, who is a divine perſon, by taking on him our nature, deſcends from the infinite diſtance and height above us, and is brought nigh unto us; whereby we have advantage for the full enjoyment oſ him. And, on the other hand, we, by being in Chriſt, a divine perſon, do. as it were. aſcend up to Gon, through the infinite diſtance, and have hereby advantage for the full enjoyment oſ him alſo. ' This 42
The EXCELLBNCY OFCHRIST. 55 This was the deſign oſ Chriſt, to bring it to paſs, that He, and his Father, and his people,.might all be united in one. john xvii. 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, [have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in Chriſt me; that they may be made perfect in one. has brought it to paſs, that thoſe that the Father has given him, ſhould be brought into the houſehold oſ Goo ; that He, and his Father, and his people, ſhouldv be, as it were, one ſociety, one family ; that the church ſhould be, as it were, admitted into the ſociety of the bleſſed TRlNlTY. F I N I S. p l . _ ..__._ ,___ _ I'
'ASFFTPFNIF'ſi*-''V**<'-'-'' -.' _ FW'Xw CONTENTS. D'oct. THERE IS AN ADMIRABLE CONJUNCTlON OF DIVERSE EXCELLENCIES IN CHRIST - Page IQ WHERELN THERE 13 AN AthR/inta comune TION or Drvznsa ExCILLENClES IN CnnxsT - 16. I. There is a conjunction of ſuch excelleneies in Chriſt, as, in our manner aſ cantei'ving, are very diverſe one from another 11 1. Infinite bigbngſ: and infinite tondeſten/ian - - 11 2. Infinitejuſtice and infinite grace. - - - 13_ ll. There do meet in the perſon of Chriſt, ſuch really diverſe excellencies, which otherwiſe would have been thought utterly incompatible' in the ſame/ubject - - 14. 1. Infinite.ng and the loweſt bumi it) - - 14. 2. Infinite majeſty and tranſcendent meeknr/Zr - - 15 3. The deepen reverence toward GOD, an'd equality with him 17 4. Infinite wort/pintſ: afgzml, and the greateſt patience under ſuffiringr wi] - - - _ - - 5. An exceeding jþirit aſ obedience, and' ſupreme dominion a-ucr bra-nen and earth - - - - 18 6. Abſoluteſa-vrreigmy, and perfect reſi nation - - 19 7. Srlf-fiffciengv, and an entire truſt anfrcliance on GOD - 20 17 III. Such diverſe excellencies are expreſſedin him towards men, that would otherwiſe have ſeemed impoſſible to he exerciſed toward the ſame objects; as particularly juſtice, mer: , truth - .. - - 2: Seton ly. To SHEW How THIS nnmrunntz CONJUNCTXON or zxcrLLaNcus APPBARS lN CnntsT's nc-rs - 22 I. It appears in what Lhriſt did in taking on him our nature 22 II. In the acts and v'arious paſſages of his life - - 2 Ill. In his offering up himſelf aſacrifice for finners in hislaſt ſufferings - - - - 2 I. Then was Chriſt in the greateſt de ree of his bumiliatian and yet, by that, above all other t ings, his divine glory appears - - - - - 2. He never, in any act, gave ſo great a maniſeſtation of his lame to GOD, and yet he never maniſeſted his [we to thoſe that 'were enemies to Cor), as in that act * - - 28 3. Chriſt never ſo eminently apþmredfar divine juſtice, and yet never ſuffered ſo much from divinejufiice - - 29 4. Chriſt's bclineſ: never ſo illuſtriotu ſhone forth, as in his laſt ſufferings; and yet he never was to_ ſuch a degree treated as guilty - - - _ o 5. He JPi
CONTENTS. 5. He never was ſo dealt with as unworthy, as in his laſt ſufferings; and yet it is chiefly on account oſ them that he 31 is accounted Worthy 6. thoſe that he was then in the greateſt at? oſ [me to s, ſuffered maſt extremely from - 2 Chriſt, in his laſt ſuffering 7. it was in Chriſt's laſt ſufferings, above all, that he was delivered up ta 'be power of bis enemieJ; and yet by theſe, above all, he obtained 'victory we' bis enemies - - 33 IV. 'Tis ſtill manifeſt in his acts in his preſent ſtate oſ exal ' 3; tation in heaven V. This admirable conjunction oſ excellencies will be mani- 6 - - 3 ſeſt in Chriſt's acts at the laſt judgment APPLICATION. From this doctrine we may learn one reaſon why Chriſt is I. called by ſuch a variety of names, and held forth under - ' ' 37 ſuch a variety of repreſentations in Scripture II. Let the conſideration oſ this wonderful meeting of diverſe pt of him; and I) excellencies in Chriſt induce you to acce cloſe in with him as your lavrour . 33 Here let me expoſtulate with the poor burdened, diſtreſſed ſoul. 1. What are you afraid of, that you dare not venture your ſoul upon Chriſt? - - - _ deſire ſhould he in a ſaviour, 2. What is there that you can _ that is not in Chriſt? Or wherein ſhould you deſire a . 4! O ſaviour to be otherwiſe than Chriſt is? - - Farther to induce you to accept Chriſt as your ſaviour, con ſider two things. 1, How much Chriſt appears as the LAMB oſ God, in his in vitations to you, to come to him, and truſt in him - 4z 2. Iſ you do come to Chriſt, he will appear as a LlON, in his glorious power and dominion to defend you - - 45 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 , By your chooſing Chriſt for your ſriend and portion, you will obtain theſe two infinite benefits. I. Chriſt-will give himſelf to you, with all thoſe various ex celiencles that meet in him, to your full and everlaſting - 50 ted to Chriſt, you -will have-a more enjoyment njoyment iſ, God the Fare-er, 2. By your being uni lorious union with, and e than otherwiſe could be - - 53 H W___'__-d_dn__.., 4'w---_--u..__
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. Juſt publiſhed', Amos-tvr t._>-ararc-ar. -_-m. sip,_ "if, 7.;;-.:,.._ -*ſ-'*&-<_-:*'*--v VOLUME I. e CONTEMPLATIONS On GOD's EXISTENCE-theIMMORTALITY or ſithe SOUL-the lNSUFFICIENCY of REASON -and the NATUREandEVlDENCES of IN .SPIRATION; with the AFFECTIONS due to the HOLY SCRIPTURES. Octavo. Price Five Shillings in Boatdst ALSO, Vo-L UiME-II. CONTEMPLATlONS On M*I RAC L E S-PR O PH E CI E S-the beautiful CHARACTER oſ CHRIST-RULES for Under ſtanding the SCRIPTURES-the Book of the RE. VELATIONS-and the NATURAL and MORAL PERFECETIONS of-GOD. ' .u bOctavo. Price' Five Shillings in Boards. Sold by Mr. Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, Londonſ 'III He? Po
7 pul'hſhtl, UMB l. PLATIONS CL-zhc IMMORTALXTY oſ UFHCIENCY of REASON E and EVlDENCES of lN rhc AFFECTIONS due to the .S. 'ive shiuinss in Boarth Lso, UME H. PLATIONS O PH E C I E S-lbe beautiful HRIST-RULES for Under .'RES-the Book oſ the RE hc NATURAL and MORAL X ſſOD. ve Shillings in Boards. ly, in the Fcukry, London: . us? . ſ Al) - I . . V (T/ x __.j\\
. Faſt publiſhed, V O L U M E I. COiNTEMPLATIONS On GOD's EXISTENCE-theIMMORTALlTY or th SOUL-the INSUFFICJENCY of REASON --apd xhe NATUREvandEVIDENCES of IN .SPIRATION; with thekAFþFECTIONs due to t_hc HOLY SCRIPTURES. Octavo. Pricc Five Shillings in Boardsz _ anxso, VOL UKME'H. CONTEMPLATIONS On M-I RAC L E S-PR O PH E CI E S-the beautiful CHARACTER of CHRIST-RULES for Under fianding the SCRIPTURES-the Book of the RE. VELATION S-and the NATURAL and MORAL PERFECTIONS of GOD. i 5 ' lOctavo. Pride Five Shillings in Boards. Bold by Mr. Charles Dilly, in the Paultry, London. QFT"00 4 NO 73 ' o A Wax-9'