A47542:517
A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the…
A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the mediator to believers, and his direful wrath against impenitent sinners containing the substance of near forty sermons upon several subjects / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by the author, 1694
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.
First. Jesus Christ is a chosen Shepherd. No Man hath a right to 1be a Shepherd, but he that is first chosen by the Owner of the Sheep. Christ is called the Elect of God; My Servant whom I have chosen. Again, Behold my Servant whom I uphold, mine Elect, in whom my Soul delighteth. He was fore-ordained, in the Decree, Design and Purpose of God, to be our Redeemer; and as a Shepherd, to take care of, feed, heal, nay, to die for the Sheep.
- 1Christ a chosen Shepherd. Isa. 43. 10. Isa. 42. 1.
Secondly. And as he was chosen, so he was called also to this Work and Office. For as the Apostle speaks concerning Christ's Priesthood, 1or touching that Office, so I may say of this, No Man taketh this Honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 2He did not intrude himself upon this Service, but he had a lawful Call unto it; the Father called him, and sent him into the World, to keep, feed, and save his Sheep. This shows the wonderful Love of the Father, he is the first and principal Author of our Salvation: All things are of God, who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ. All the spiritual Blessings we have by Christ, spring 3from the Father; the Father is held forth as the first Cause, first Mover and Contriver of all spiritual Mercies for us: The Father also fitted and qualified him, or put him into a Capacity to accomplish this Work and Office; he prepared him a Body, that so he might die for his Sheep.