Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

In these words we find, first a meeting of Gods blessed Attributes; and secondly, this ⟨p. 135⟩meeting at a birth, the birth of Truth: at which meeting thirdly was that glorious effect, that Righteousness looked down, and indeed came down from Heaven; I desire a little to invert the words, and shall first speak to Christs Birth; secondly, to the effects of his Birth, of Righteousness looking down from Heaven; thirdly, to the meeting and agreement of all Gods Attributes as the issue and effect of all; When Mercy and Truth met together, and Righteousness and Peace kissed each other.

1. For his Birth; our Vine doth Bud, Truth shall Bud out of the Earth, (i.) Christ shall be born upon the Earth, or Christ shall be born of a Woman; for Truth is Christ, Bud is born, and the Earth] is a Woman. 1. Truth] is Christ: I am the Way and Truth, ¹said Christ; he is the truth of all Types, and the truth of all Prophesies, and the truth of all promises; for in him are all the Promises, Yea and Amen. 2. Bud] is born: the Vine budding is the first putting forth of the Grape; so Christ being born, was Truth budding out of the Earth, he then first showed himself to the World, and was first seen (like the Vine springing forth) above ground. 3. The Earth] is the Woman;² thus some render that Text, Let the Earth bring forth a Saviour: look how the Field-flowers spring forth of themselves without any Seed cast in by the hand of Man; so the Virgin brings forth Christ. It is observable that in the Creation of Adam was laid the Prognostics of this future birth: begin with the first Man Adam, and you may see him paralleled in this second Adam, Christ. Adam was created of the Virgin-Earth, Christ was born of a Virgin-Mother; the Earth had no Husbandman, yet brought forth without Seed: Mary had no Husband, yet brought forth without Seed of Man: in the Creation God said, Let us make Man: and now saith the Holy Ghost, the Word is made flesh,