A30241:2350
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.
But 2. There is a sending as a Prophet, to teach and guide his Church, and of this kind of sending the text speaks; for we may not think that this is the meaning, that as the Father sent Christ to redeem the world and purge it from it's iniquities, so the Apostles were also sent to be Redeemers and Saviours; but as Christ was to be the great Prophet, whom the Father would send to be a light to the world, so he did appoint the Apostles, as subordinate lights, to take away the ignorance and profaneness that was in it. Christ then is sent as the great Doctor and Teacher of his Church, who doth not only externally teach, but internally, by giving a seeing eye, and an understanding heart.
But 2. There is a sending as a Prophet, to teach and guide his Church, and of this kinde of sending the text speaks; for we may not think that this is the meaning, that as the Father sent Christ to redeem the world and purge it from it's iniquities, so the Apostles were also sent to be Redeemers and Saviours; but as Christ was to be the great Prophet, whom the Father would send to be a light to the world, so he did appoint the Apostles, as subordinate lights, to take away the ignorance and prophaneness that was in it. Christ then is sent as the great Doctor and Teacher of his Church, who doth not only externally teach, but internally, by giving a seeing eye, and an understanding heart.
These things are implied in Christs Mission, now let us consider the Properties of it.
1And first, Take notice of the necessity of it. Had not the Father sent his Son into the world, there had been no difference between the damned Angels and mankind: The world had been an hell, though the world had many Platoes and Aristotles, many Alexanders and Caesars, yet all this is nothing, if Christ had not been sent into the world: Oh then, look upon this, as the foundation of all truth and consolation, Christ is sent into the world! We could not have had a drop of comfort, any more then Dives in hell a drop of water, had not Christ been sent into the world.