2. That the Honour of all might solely redound to him; God hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the wise; 1and the weak things of the World to confound the things that are mighty, and base things of the World, and things which are despised God hath chosen; yea, and things that are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence. Thus Moses, the Redeemer of Israel, was an Infant exposed to the mercy of the Waters, drawn forth from an Ark of Bull-rushes, and not employed whilst he lived in the splendour of the Court, but when Banished as a Criminal, and deprived of all power. And our Redeemer took not ⟨p. 101⟩on him the Nature of Angels, equal to Satan in power, but took part of flesh and blood, the more signally to triumph over that proud Spirit in the Humane Nature which was inferior to his, and had been vanquished by him in Paradise. Therefore he did not immediately exercise Omnipotent power to destroy him, but managed our weakness and infirmity to foil the roaring Lyon. He did not enter into the Combat in the glory of his Deity,2 but disguised under the Humane Nature, which was subject to Mortality. And thus the Devil is overcome in the same manner as he first got the Victory: for as the whole race of Man was Captivated by him in Adam their Representative, so Believers are victorious over him as the Tempter and Tormentor, by the Conquest that Christ their Representative obtained in the Wilderness, and on the Cross. And as our ruin was effected by the subtlety of Satan, so our recovery is wrought by the wisdom of God; who takes the wise in their own craftiness. 3The Devil excited Judas by avarice, the Jews by malice, and Pilate from reason of State, to accomplish the death of Christ, and he then seemed to be Victorious; now what was more honourable to the Prince of our Salvation, than the turning the Enemies point upon his own breast, and by dying to overcome him that had the power of Death. 4This was signified in the first promise of the Gospel, where the Salvation of Man is enclosed in the curse of the Serpent, that is the Devil clothed with that figure, It shall bruise thy Head, and thou shalt bruise his Heel. That is,5 The Son of God should by Suffering in our Flesh, overcome the Enemy of Mankind, and rescue innumerable Captives from his Tyranny:
2. That the Honour of all might solely redound to him; God hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the wise; 1and the weak things of the World to confound the things that are mighty, and base things of the World, and things which are despised God hath chosen; yea, and things that are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence. Thus Moses, the Redeemer of Israel, was an Infant exposed to the mercy of the Waters, drawn forth from an Ark of Bul-rushes, and not employed whilst he lived in the splendour of the Court, but when Banisht as a Criminal, and depriv'd of all power. And our Redeemer took not ⟨p. 101⟩on him the Nature of Angels, equal to Satan in power, but took part of flesh and blood, the more signally to triumph over that proud Spirit in the Humane Nature which was inferiour to his, and had been vanquisht by him in Paradise. Therefore he did not immediately exercise Omnipotent power to destroy him, but manag'd our weakness and infirmity to foil the roaring Lyon. He did not enter into the Combat in the glory of his Deity,2 but disguis'd under the Humane Nature, which was subject to Mortality. And thus the Devil is overcome in the same manner as he first got the Victory: for as the whole race of Man was Captivated by him in Adam their Representative, so Believers are victorious over him as the Tempter and Tormentor, by the Conquest that Christ their Representative obtain'd in the Wilderness, and on the Cross. And as our ruine was effected by the subtilty of Satan, so our recovery is wrought by the wisdom of God; who takes the wise in their own craftiness. 3The Devil excited Judas by avarice, the Jews by malice, and Pilate from reason of State, to accomplish the death of Christ, and he then seemed to be Victorious; now what was more honourable to the Prince of our Salvation, than the turning the Enemies point upon his own breast, and by dying to overcome him that had the power of Death. 4This was signified in the first promise of the Gospel, where the Salvation of Man is inclos'd in the curse of the Serpent, that is the Devil cloathed with that figure, It shall bruise thy Head, and thou shalt bruise his Heel. That is,5 The Son of God should by Suffering in our Flesh, overcome the Enemy of Mankind, and rescue innumerable Captives from his Tyranny:
- 11 Cor. 1.27, 28, 29.
- 2Non ei Majestate natura sua, sed habitu nostrae congrediens, & nihil ei extorquens violento dominatu, sed superans lege justitiae, Paulin.
- 31 Cor. 1.
- 4Heb. 2.14.
- 5Gen. 3.15.
