A30241:206
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And First, When its said, that Christ hath power over all men, that is not to be understood restrictly or exclusively, 1as if his dominion was only over men; No, you heard it was in heaven as well as earth, yea, and in hell also, Phil. 2. Every thing under the Earth was to bow to him: The devils are wholly in subjection to him, We read of his power over the unclean spirits, casting them out against their wills from the possessed, insomuch that they could not enter into the Swine, without his permission; Oh this part of Christs power, that he hath conquered the devils, hath them all in subjection, should be no mean ⟨p. 37⟩part of a Christians comfort, for who is thy greatest Enemy? Who is likeliest •o undo thee? not man but devils; In their temptations how greatly are the godly in danger of being swallowed by them? but Christ hath power over them, he bids them go our leave of tempting, and they dare not or cannot come again, yea, the good Angels, those thousands and ten thousands of ministering spirits they are wholly at his beck: No servant will sooner stir at our beck, then the host of Angels will at his word; Therefore Heb. 1. when Christ is coming into the world, The Angels are bid to worship him, So then here is a glorious power indeed, which reacheth not only to men but to devils, to Angels, oh how happy are the Children of God who have this Christ for their Saviour, that is clothed with so much power! If our eyes were opened with the Prophets Servant, we should see more were with us then against us; And then all things, the inanimate and animate creatures are under his power; The Disciples wondered at it, when they said, What manner of man is this whom the winds and Seas obey? Mat. 8.27. So that this power of Christ is far more comprehensive then this Text expresseth, for Christ only speaks of men, because he instanceth in that part of power whereby he giveth eternal life to those that believe, and such are only men.
And First, When its said, that Christ hath power over all men, that is not to be understood restrictly or exclusively,