A39663:876
The Fountain of Life Opened
The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carried on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...
London: printed for Rob. White, 1673
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The infinite wisdom prospecting all this, ordered that Christ should first be deeply humbled, then highly exalted: both which states of Christ are presented to us by the Apostle in this context.
He that intends to build high, lays the foundation deep, and low. Christ must have a distinct glory in Heaven, transcending that of Angels and men. (For the Saints will know him from all others by his glory, as the Sun is known from the lesser Stars.) And as he must be exalted infinitely above them, so he must first, in order thereunto be humbled and abased as much below them. His form was marred more than any mans, and his visage more than the Sons of men. The ground colours are a deep sable, which afterward are laid on with all the splendour and glory of Heaven.
He that intends to build high, lays the foundation deep, and low. Christ must have a distinct glory in Heaven, transcending that of Angels and men. (For the Saints will know him from all others by his glory, as the Sun is known from the lesser Stars.) And as he must be exalted infinitely above them, so he must first, in order thereunto be humbled and abased as much below them. His form was mar'd more than any mans, and his visage more than the Sons of men. The ground colours are a deep sable, which afterward are laid on with all the splendor and glory of Heaven.
Method requires that we first speak to this state of Humiliation.