2. In his state of Glory, and with respect to his invisible presence. So the Israelites in the Wilderness tempted him before his coming in the flesh; and Christians may now tempt him, after his Ascension into Heaven. Both are in one place, 1 Cor. 10. 9. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. What was their tempting of Christ in the Wilderness? If he be considered as God, he had a subsistence before he was incarnate of the Virgin; and in this sense, as they tempted God, so they may be said also to tempt Christ; for all the affliction, shame and disgrace, done to that people, are called the Reproach of Christ; Heb. 11. 26, 27. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches, than the treasures of ⟨p. 88⟩Egypt. So their murmuring might be called a tempting of Christ. Christ was the perpetual Head of the Church, who in his own Person did lead the people, and was present in the midst of them under the notion of the Angel of the Covenant: The Eternal Son of God guided them in the Wilderness, Exod. 23. 20, 21, 22, 23. Behold, I will send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not: for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to thy enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the land of the Amorites, &c. This Angel can be no other than Christ, whose office it is to keep us in the way, and to bring us into the place which Christ hath prepared for us; he it is that must be obeyed by the people of God, and pardon their transgressions; in him is Gods Name, for he will not communicate it to any other, that is not of the same substance with himself: God is in him, and he in the Father, and his name is Jehovah our Righteousness. So Exod. 33. 14. My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee ⟨p. 89⟩rest. My presence, that is, my Angel, spoken of before, called the angel of his presence. Isa. 63. 9. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. This Angel is called Jehovah, Exod. 13. 21.
2. In his state of Glory, and with respect to his invisible presence. So the Israelites in the Wilderness tempted him before his coming in the flesh; and Christians may now tempt him, after his Ascension into Heaven. Both are in one place, 1 Cor. 10. 9. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. What was their tempting of Christ in the Wilderness? If he be considered as God, he had a subsistence before he was incarnate of the Virgin; and in this sense, as they tempted God, so they may be said also to tempt Christ; for all the affliction, shame and disgrace, done to that people, are called the Reproach of Christ; Heb. 11. 26, 27. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches, than the treasures of ⟨p. 88⟩Egypt. So their murmuring might be called a tempting of Christ. Christ was the perpetual Head of the Church, who in his own Person did lead the people, and was present in the midst of them under the notion of the Angel of the Covenant: The Eternal Son of God guided them in the Wilderness, Exod. 23. 20, 21, 22, 23. Behold, I will send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not: for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to thy enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the land of the Amorites, &c. This Angel can be no other than Christ, whose office it is to keep us in the way, and to bring us into the place which Christ hath prepared for us; he it is that must be obeyed by the people of God, and pardon their transgressions; in him is Gods Name, for he will not communicate it to any other, that is not of the same substance with himself: God is in him, and he in the Father, and his name is Iehovah our Righteousness. So Exod. 33. 14. My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee ⟨p. 89⟩rest. My presence, that is, my Angel, spoken of before, called the angel of his presence. Isa. 63. 9
