The Fountain of Life Opened

Secondly, Christ was not under the Law in this Estate. I confess 'twas no disparagement to Adam in the state of innocency, to Angels in their state of glory, to be under Law to God; but it was an unconceivable abasement, to the absolute independent being, to come under Law: yea not only under the obedience, but also under the malediction and curse of the Law, Gal. 4.4. but when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman made under the Law.

Secondly, Christ was not under the Law in this Estate. I confess 'twas no disparagement to Adam in the state of innocency, to Angels in their state of glory, to be under Law to God; but it was an unconceivable abasement, to the absolute independent being, to come under Law: yea not only under the obedience, but also under the malediction and curse of the Law, Gal. 4.4. but when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman made under the Law.

Thirdly, In this State he was not liable to any of those sorrowful consequents, and attendants of that frail and feeble state of humanity, which he afterwards assumed, with the nature: as (1.) He was unacquainted with griefs: there was no sorrowing, nor sighing in that bosom where he lay; though afterwards he became a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, Isa. 53.3. a man of sorrows, as if he had been constituted and made up of pure and unmixed sorrows: every day conversing with griefs, as with his intimate companions, and acquaintance. (2.) He was never pinched with poverty, and wants, while he continued in that bosom, as he was afterwards when he said,¹ the Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Ah blessed Jesus! thou needest not to have wanted a place to have lain thine head,