1. Christ hath a divine nature. As Eternity and Immutability, two incommunicable properties of the Divine nature, are ascribed to Christ; so also is this of Omnipresence or Immensity1. No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. Not which was, but which is; He comes from heaven by incarnation, and remains in heaven by his Divinity. He was, while he spake to Nicodemus, locally on earth, in regard of his humanity; but in heaven according to his Deity, as well as upon earth in the union of his divine and human nature. He descended upon earth, but he left not heaven; He was in the World before he came in the flesh.2 He was in the world, and the world was made by him. He was in the world, as the light that enlightens every man that comes into the world. In the world as God, before he was in the world as man. He ⟨p. 262⟩was then in the world as man, while he discoursed with Nicodemus; yet so, that he was also in heaven as God. No creature but is bounded in place, either circumscribed as body, or determined as Spirit to be in one space, so as not to be in another at the same time; to leave a place where they were, and possess a place where they were not. But Christ is so on earth, that at the same time he is in heaven; he is therefore infinite. To be in heaven and earth at the same moment of time, is a property solely belonging to the Deity, wherein no creature can be a partner with him. He was in the world before he came to the world, and the world was made by him*. His coming was not as the coming of Angels, that leave heaven, and begin to be on earth, where they were not before; but such a presence as can be ascribed only to God, who fills heaven and earth. Again, If all things were made by him, then he was present with all things which were made: for where there is a presence of power, there is also a presence of essence; and therefore he is still present: for the right and power of Conservation, follows the power of Creation. And according to this divine nature, he promiseth his presence with his Church.* There am I in the midst of them. And† I am with you alway, even to the end of the world, i. e. by his Divinity: for he had before told them,* that they were not to have him alway with them, i. e. according to his Humanity;
1. Christ hath a divine nature. As Eternity and Immutability, two incommunicable properties of the Divine nature, are ascrib'd to Christ; so also is this of Omnipresence or Immensity1. No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. Not which was, but which is; He comes from heaven by incarnation, and remains in heaven by his Divinity. He was, while he spake to Nicodemus, locally on earth, in regard of his humanity; but in heaven according to his Deity, as well as upon earth in the union of his divine and human nature. He descended upon earth, but he left not heaven; He was in the World before he came in the flesh.2 He was in the world, and the world was made by him. He was in the world, as the light that enlightens every man that comes into the world. In the world as God, before he was in the world as man. He ⟨p. 262⟩was then in the world as man, while he discoursed with Nicodemus; yet so, that he was also in heaven as God. No creature but is bounded in place, either circumscribed as body, or determin'd as Spirit to be in one space, so as not to be in another at the same time; to leave a place where they were, and possess a place where they were not. But Christ is so on earth, that at the same time he is in heaven; he is therefore infinite. To be in heaven and earth at the same moment of time, is a property solely belonging to the Deity, wherein no creature can be a partner with him. He was in the world before he came to the world, and the world was made by him*. His coming was not as the coming of Angels, that leave heaven, and begin to be on earth, where they were not before; but such a presence as can be ascribed only to God, who fills heaven and earth. Again, If all things were made by him, then he was present with all things which were made: for where there is a presence of power, there is also a presence of essence; and therefore he is still present: for the right and power of Conservation, follows the power of Creation. And according to this divine nature, he promiseth his presence with his Church.* There am I in the midst of them. And† I am with you alway, even to the end of the world, i. e. by his Divinity: for he had before told them,*
- 1John 3.13.
- 2John 1.10.
- *John 1.10.
- *Mat. 18.20.
- †Mat. 28.20.
- *Mat. 26.11.
