The Fountain of Life Opened

First, His public capacity, as one that went upon our business to God. So he himself speaks, Joh. 14.2. I go before to prepare a place for you. To take possession of heaven in our names. The fore-runner hath respect to others that were to come to heaven after him, in their several generations; for whom he hath taken up mansions, which are kept for them against their coming.

First, His publick capacity, as one that went upon our business to God. So he himself speaks, Ioh. 14.2. I go before to prepare a place for you. To take possession of heaven in our names. The fore-runner hath respect to others that were to come to heaven after him, in their several generations; for whom he hath taken up mansions, which are kept for them against their coming.

Secondly, It notes precedency. He is our fore-runner, but he himself had no fore-runner. Never any entered into heaven before him, but such as entered in the name, and through the virtue of his merits. He was the first that ever entered heaven directly, immediately in his own name and upon his own account. But all the Fathers who died before him, entered in his name. To the holiest of them all God would have said as Elisha to Jehoram, 2 King. 3.14. Were it not that I had respect to the person of my Son, in whose name and right you come; I would not look upon you. You must back again▪ heaven were no place for you. No not for you Abraham nor for you Moses.

Secondly, It notes precedency. He is our fore-runner, but he himself had no fore-runner. Never any entred into heaven before him, but such as entred in the name, and through the vertue of his merits. He was the first that ever entred heaven directly, immediately in his own name and upon his own account. But all the Fathers who died before him, entred in his name. To the holiest of them all God would have said as Elisha to Iehoram,