An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

1. The understanding of this truth will prevent much false judgment, viz. ¹When we consider that God delights to carry on the great things of his Church in a contrary way to humane thoughts and expectations, let us instance in that main foundation of all our comfort and duty; Christ Crucified with the benefits and effects flowing from him. Was not this the master piece of Gods wisdom, and power, and mercy, yet how contrary and unsuitable to the judgement of flesh and blood, for God to be made Man, and Man not in a glorious ⟨p. 300⟩external way as the great Potentates of the world, but in a most abject and ignominious way; and then by such an accursed and reproachful death, to procure our pardon of sin, and acceptation with God; it hath so much absurdity in it to flesh and blood, that to the Jews it was a stumbling block, and to the Gentiles foolishness. Non pudet, quia pudendum omnino credibile, quia prorsus impossibile. What the thoughts of men were about Christ, while working out our redemption, appeareth Isa. 13. 2, 3, 4. There is no beauty that we should desire him, he is despised and rejected of men, we did esteem him smitten of God; So that generally all the Nations of the Jews were deceived about a Messiah; yea the Disciples themselves were full of prejudices in this Point. This then is Gods way to do the great things of his Church, in a super-humane way; So that even then when the things themselves are not super-natural, yet the manner of accomplishing them is wholly above nature. What therefore God speaketh in one case to his people about the pardon of sin, Isa. 55. 8, 9. is true in all the rest of Gods administrations, My thoughts are not as your thoughts; For as the Heavens are higher then the Earth, so are my ways higher then yours. By this it is plain, that a Dwarf is as able to reach to the Heavens, as we are to comprehend Gods ways; so that whatsoever God doth for thee whether body or soul, it is a mystery. All will be wonderful, and marvellous in thy eyes; As he said that was not worthy the name of eloquence which did not beget admiration in the Hearers; So the Lord accounteth of nothing as beseeming his Majesty which may not put the soul in admiration: possess thy soul with this principle, and thou wilt not be often in thy complaints; I looked for this and hoped for that, but God hath taken away that I never dreamed off.