The Fountain of Life Opened

How was Jesus Christ given by the Father, and what is implied therein?

How was Jesus Christ given by the Father, and what is implyed therein?

You are not so to understand it, as though God parted with his ••terest and propriety in his Son, when he is said to give him; he was as much his own as ever, when men give they transfer propriety to another, but when God had given him; he was, I say, still as much his own as ever: but this giving of Christ implies. (1.) His designation and appointment unto death for us: for so you read that it was done according to the determinate counsel of God, Acts 2.23. look as the Lam• under the Law was separated from the flock, and set apart for a Sacrifice▪ though it were still living, yet it was intentionally, and p•• paratively given, and consecrated to the Lord: so Jesus Christ was by the counsel and purpose of God, thus chosen; and set apart for this Service; and therefore in Esa. 42.1. God calls him his elect or chosen one. (2.) His giving Christ implies a parting with him, or setting him (as the French hath it) at some distance from himself for a time: there was a kind of parting betwixt the Father and the Son, when he came to tabernacle in our flesh: so he expresseth it, Joh. 16.28. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world; again I leave the world, and go to the Father; this distance that his incarnation and humiliation set him at, was properly as to his humanity which was really ⟨p. 41⟩distant from the glory into which it is now taken up; and in respect of manifestation of delight and love. The Lord seemed to carry it as one at distance from him. O this was it that so deeply pierced and wounded his Soul, as is evident from that complaint,