It seemed much more improbable, and impossible to reason that God should become a man, and stoop to the condition of a creature; than being a man, to perform all that good which his incarnation and death procured. Unbelief usually argues from one of these two grounds, can God do this? or will God do that? It's questioning either his power, or his will: but after this, let it cease for ever to cavil against either. His power to save should never be questioned by any, that know what sufferings and infinite burdens he supported in our nature. And surely his willingness to save, should never be put to a question, by any that consider how low he was content to stoop for our sakes.
Thirdly, By drawing nigh to God with delight through the veil of Christs flesh. Heb. 10.19.20. God hath made this flesh of Christ a veil betwixt the brightness of his glory and us▪ It serves to rebate the insupportable glory, and also to give admission to it,1 as the veil did in the Temple. Through this body of flesh which Christ assumed, are all out-lets of grace from God to us, and through it also must be all our returns to God again. ⟨p. 235⟩It's made the great medium of our communion with God.
Fourthly, By applying your selves to him under all temptations, wants and troubles of what kind soever; as to one that is tenderly sensible of your case, and most willing, and ready to relieve you. Oh remember this was one of the inducements that persuaded and invited him to take your nature, that he might be furnished abundantly with tender compassion for you, from the sense he should have of your infirmities,2 in his own body. Heb. 2.17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God; to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. You know by this argument the Lord pressed the Israelites to be kind to strangers, for (saith he) you know the heart of a stranger. Exod. 23.9. Christ by being in our natures, knows experimentally what our wants, fears, temptations and distresses are; and so is able to have compassion. O let your hearts work upon this admirable condescension of Christ, till they be filled with it; and your lips say,
It seemed much more improbable, and impossible to reason that God should become a man, and stoop to the condition of a creature; than being a man, to perform all that good which his incarnation and death procured. Unbelief usually argues from one of these two grounds, can God do this? or will God do that? It's questioning either his power, or his will: but after this, let it cease for ever to cavil against either. His power to save should never be questioned by any, that know what sufferings and infinite burdens he supported in our nature. And surely his willingness to save, should never be put to a question, by any that consider how low he was content to stoop for our sakes.
Thirdly, By drawing nigh to God with delight through the vail of Christs flesh. Heb. 10.19.20. God hath made this flesh of Christ a vail betwixt the brightness of his glory and us▪ It serves to rebate the insupportable glory, and also to give admission to it,1 as the vail did in the Temple. Through this body of flesh which Christ assumed, are all out-lets of grace from God to us, and through it also must be all our returns to God again. ⟨p. 235⟩It's made the great medium of our communion with God.
Fourthly, By applying your selves to him under all temptations, wants and troubles of what kind soever; as to one that is tenderly sensible of your case, and most willing, and ready to relieve you. Oh remember this was one of the inducements that perswaded and invited him to take your nature, that he might be furnished abundantly with tender compassion for you, from the sense he should have of your infirmities,2 in his own body. Heb. 2.17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethen, that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God; to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. You know by this argument the Lord pressed the Israelites to be kind to strangers, for (saith he) you know the heart of a stranger. Exod. 23.9. Christ by being in our natures, knows experimentally what our wants, fears, temptations and distresses are; and so is able to have compassion. O let your hearts work upon this admirable condescention of Christ, till they be filled with it; and your lips say,
- 1Decursus & recursus igratiarum.
- 2Ha•d igra•• malis, miseris succurrere disco.
