Secondly, What is that of the word which he saith, we have seen?

1. His Flesh, John 1.14. 2. His works, especially his Miracles, John 2.11. 3. His Estate of, First, Humiliation, 1. His poor and despicable life, Mat. 8.20. 2. His Agony, Mat. 26.37. 3, His Accusation and Arraignment, Mat. 26.28. John 20.12. 4. His Death, John 19.26. 5. His Burial, Mark 14. ult. John 19. ult.

1. His Flesh, John 1.14. 2. His works, especially his Miracles, John 2.11. 3. His Estate of, First, Humiliation, 1. His poor and despicable life, Mat. 8.20. 2. His Agony, Mat. 26.37. 3, His Accusation and Arraignment, Mat. 26.28. John 20.12. 4. His Death, John 19.26. 5. His Buriall, Mark 14. ult. John 19. ult.

Secondly, We have seen the Estate of his Exaltation.

Divers of these things seen, St. John saw in a more familiar manner, than the most of his Apostles; Christ taking only with him Peter, and James, and John, to behold; 1. His raising to life Jairus Daughter, Mark 5.37. 2. His Glory in the Mount, Mat. 17.1. 3. His Agony in the Garden, Mat. 26.37.

Divers of these things seen, St. John saw in a more familiar manner, than the most of his Apostles; Christ taking onely with him Peter, and James, and John, to behold; 1. His raising to life Jairus Daughter, Mark 5.37. 2. His Glory in the Mount, Mat. 17.1. 3. His Agony in the Garden, Mat. 26.37.

Thirdly, What is that of the Word which he saith, we have handled, and that with our hands? which addeth an Emphasis of Certainty, as before.

1. Before his Resurrection as familiarly conversing with him, as when he taught Peter by the hand, Mat. 14.31. When he washed their feet, Joh. 13.5. When John leaned on his breast, John 13.15.

2. After his Resurrection, John 20.25, 27. Many observations might here be gathered concerning the certainty of the Apostles Doctrine, who taught ⟨p. 5⟩nothing but what they had so sensible knowledge and experience of; but these I refer to the third verse.

Doct. He that was from the beginning, truly God, was in the fullness of time, true man.

Doct. He that was from the beginning, truly God, was in the fullnesse of time, true man.

A plain Doctrine you will say, and well known to the meanest in this Congregation; be it so, yet it is fit to put you in remembrance of it, 2 Pet. 1.12, 13. Rom. 15.14, 15. 2 Tim. 2.8.

A plaine Doctrine you will say, and well known to the meanest in this Congregation; be it so, yet it is fit to put you in remembrance of it, 2 Pet. 1.12, 13. Rom. 15.14, 15. 2 Tim. 2.8.

But you will say unto me, Were it not much better to omit to speak of the person of Christ, and rather to speak of the benefits we receive by him, Justification, Adoption, Sanctification, by the Spirit of God, Faith, Hope, Love, Repentance? &c.

Take heed this be not one kind of spiritual Harlotry and adultery. If you should see a Virgin affianced to a man, to desire still to hear and speak of the gifts and presents he hath, and will bestow upon her, as Rings, Bracelets, Jewels, &c. and to have no mind at all to hear or speak of his person, would you not say she loved his gifts and his tokens more than himself? so here, if we find our souls affected to Christ (I would to God, yea it were the joy of my heart, if I could draw you to be in love with the Gifts and Graces of Christ, our hearts are dead and dull even at the mention of them, how much more at the mention of his person or nature) yet thou that hast tasted of his bountiful Gifts and Graces, be led on further, willingly to hear and speak of his person, (Cant. 5.9 When the Daughters of Jerusalem had asked of the Spouse of Christ, what her beloved was more than another's beloved? she in 8 verses following, enters into a long, and large, and lovely description, not of what he had given her, but of his person) especially seeing this part of his person, his human nature is an excellent gift of God to us, and the foundation of all the rest. Yea what Doctrine soever John teacheth us in this whole Epistle, tendeth to this end, that our joy may be full, which is a special benefit arising from all, Chap. 1.4. Now the manhood of Christ is proved by two reasons, First, By the Titles given to him. Secondly, By the properties of a man agreeing to him.

Take heed this be not one kind of spirituall Harlotry and adultery. If you should see a Virgin affianced to a man, to desire still to hear and speak of the gifts and presents he hath, and will bestow upon her, as Rings, Bracelets, Jewells, &c. and to have no minde at all to hear or speak of his person, would you not say she loved his gifts and his tokens more than himselfe? so here, if we find our souls affected to Christ (I would to God, yea it were the joy of my heart, if I could draw you to be in love with the Gifts and Graces of Christ, our hearts are dead and dull even at the mention of them, how much more at the mention of his person or nature) yet thou that hast tasted of his bountifull Gifts and Graces, be led on further, willingly to hear and speak of his person, (Cant. 5.9 When the Daughters of Jerusalem had asked of the Spouse of Christ, what her beloved was more than anothers beloved? she in 8 verses following, enters into a long, and large, and lovely description, not of what he had given her, but of his person) especially seeing this part of his person, his human nature is an excellent gift of God to us, and the foundation of all the rest. Yea what Doctrine soever John teacheth us in this whole Epistle, tendeth to this end, that our joy may be full, which is a speciall benefit arising from all, Chap. 1.4. Now the manhood of Christ is proved by two reasons, First, By the Titles given to him. Secondly, By the properties of a man agreeing to him.

First, By the Titles given to him, he being called 1 Flesh, John 1.14. Rom. 1.3. Heb. 2.14. and this Flesh is not fantastical, but palpable, John 20.27. 2 Man, Acts 17.31. 3 Son of Man, Luke 19.10. Acts 7.56. 4 Seed of David, 2 Tim. 2.8. Abraham, Gal. 3.16. The Woman, Gen. 3.15. 5 Emanuel, Isa. 7.14 Mat. 1.23.

First, By the Titles given to him, he being called 1 Flesh, John 1.14. Rom. 1.3. Heb. 2.14. and this Flesh is not phantasticall, but palpable, John 20.27. 2 Man, Acts 17.31. 3 Son of Man, Luke 19.10. Acts 7.56. 4 Seed of David, 2 Tim. 2.8. Abraham,

Secondly, By the Properties of a Man agreeing to him, 1 Born of a Woman, Mat. 1. ult. 2 Hunger, Mat. 21.18. and with it thirst, John 19.28. 3. Weariness, John 4.6. 4 Grief and Sorrow, Isa. 53.3, 4, 10. Mat. 26.38. and from it weeping, John 11.35. Sighing and groaning, John 11.33. 5 Bleeding and sweating, Luke 22.44. 6 Dying, John 19.30.

Secondly, By the Properties of a Man agreeing to him, 1 Born of a Woman, Mat. 1. ult. 2 Hunger, Mat. 21.18. and with it thirst, John 19.28. 3. Wearinesse, John 4.6. 4 Griefe and Sorrow, Isa. 53.3, 4, 10. Mat. 26.38. and from it weeping, John 11.35. Sighing and groaning, John 11.33. 5 Bleeding and sweating, Luke 22.44

Now for the Reasons why Christ became man, they are

First, That he might be a middle person, or of a middle nature, between the persons offending, and the persons offended; if he had still remained God, he had been the person offended with us; or if only man, then he had been the party offending: and therefore that he might be of a middle condition, it was needful he should take upon him our nature.

First, That he might be a middle person, or of a middle nature, between the persons offending, and the persons offended; if he had still remained God, he had been the person offended with us; or if onely man, then he had been the party offending: and therefore that he might be of a middle condition, it was needfull he should take upon him our nature.