A51838:667
Christs temptation and transfiguration practically explained and improved in several sermons /
Christs temptation and transfiguration practically explained and improved in several sermons / by the late Reverend Tho. Manton ...
A51838:667
Christs temptation and transfiguration practically explained and improved in several sermons / by the late Reverend Tho. Manton ...
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.
1. I shall open this Testimony given to Christ. 2. Speak of the importance and weight of it.
I. Of the Testimony given to Christ.
1. Let me open the term that expresseth his Filiation, that he is Gods Son. Christ is the son of God properly so called, a Son only begotten, John 3. 16. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son. Eternally begotten Prov. 8. 22, 23. I was set up from everlasting, the Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old. A Son coequal with his Father, John 5. 18. The Jews sought to kill him because he said, God was his Father, making himself ⟨p. 132⟩equal with God, [Greek or Hebrew], his own proper Father. So co-essential, of the same substance with his Father, John 1. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Now thus is he the Son of God.
1. Let me open the term that expresseth his Filiation, that he is Gods Son. Christ is the son of God properly so called, a Son only begotten, Iohn 3. 16. God so loved the World that he gave his onely begotten Son. Eternally begotten Prov. 8. 22, 23. I was set up from everlasting, the Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old. A Son coequal with his Father, Iohn 5. 18. The Jews sought to kill him because he said, God was his Father, making himself ⟨p. 132⟩equal with God, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, his own proper Father. So co-essential, of the same substance with his Father, Iohn 1. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Now thus is he the Son of God.
Why is it mentioned there.
1. To show the special dignity of Christ above all others: he is the Son of God, Christians are the Sons of God, but in a different manner, he by nature, we by Adoption. Tho God have many sons by Creation and Adoption, yet Christ is his Son in a peculiar & proper way; by eternal Generation, and communication of the same Essence, [Greek or Hebrew] that Son, that beloved Son, so a Son as none else is the son of God, properly so called.
1. To shew the special dignity of Christ above all others: he is the Son of God, Christians are the Sons of God, but in a different manner, he by nature, we by Adoption. Tho God have many sonsby Creation and Adoption, yet Christ is his Son in a peculiar & proper way; by eternal Generation, and communication of the same Essence, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 that Son, that beloved Son, so a Son as none else is the son of God, properly so called.
2. To distinguish him from Moses and the Prophets, from Moses Heb. 3. 5, 6. Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant, but Christ as a son over his own house, whose house we are, &c. so from the rest of the Prophets, Heb. 1. 1, 2. God at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the Prophets, but hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the World. This is the great Doctor of the Church, now as to meekness above ⟨p. 133⟩Moses, as to zeal above Elijah, as to familiarity and communion, he was with God, and was God.
2. To distinguish him from Moses and the Prophets, from Moses Heb. 3. 5, 6. Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant, but Christ as a son over his own house, whose house we are, &c. so from the rest of the Prophets, Heb. 1. 1, 2. God at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the Prophets, but hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the World. This is the great Doctor of the Church, now as to meekness above ⟨p. 133⟩Moses, as to zeal above Elias, as to familiarity and communion, he was with God, and was God.
3. To show the old Prophesies were fulfilled, which foretold the union of the two Natures in his Person, the predictions concerning one whose name should be Immanuel, God with us, and who should save and redeem the Church, Isa. 7. 14. And of a child that should be the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, Isa. 9. 6. This the Prophets foretold that he should be God, and the Son of God, Micah 5. 2. His going forth is from Everlasting, though born at Bethlehem; so the bud of the Lord, and the fruit of the Earth, Isa. 4. 2. The man Gods fellow, Zech. 13. 7. and in many other places the union of the two Natures is asserted.
3. To shew the old Prophesies were fulfilled, which foretold the union of the two Natures in his Person, the predictions concerning one whose name should be Immanuel, God with us, and who should save and redeem the Church, Isa. 7. 14. And of a child that should be the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, Isa. 9. 6. This the Prophets foretold that he should be God, and the Son of God, Micah 5. 2. His going forth is from Everlasting, though born at Bethlehem; so the bud of the Lord, and the fruit of the Earth, Isa. 4. 2. The man Gods fellow, Zech. 13. 7. and in many other places the union of the two Natures is asserted.
2. He is the beloved Son.
1. That God loved Christ, Christ is the object of his Fathers Love, both as the second Person and as Mediator. As the second Person of the Trinity, two things are wont to attract love, nearness, and likeness; they are both here, nearness, he was in the bosom of the Father, John 1. 18. The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. Likeness is ⟨p. 134⟩another lodestone of Affliction, Heb. 1. 3. He is the brightness of his Glory, and the express Image of his Person, such as the Father is so is Christ.
1. That God loved Christ, Christ is the object of his Fathers Love, both as the second Person and as Mediator. As the second Person of the Trinity, two things are wont to attract love, nearness, and likeness; they are both here, nearness, he was in the bosome of the Father, Iohn 1. 18. The only begotten Son, which is in the bosome of the Father, he hath declared him. Likeness is ⟨p. 134⟩another loadstone of Affliction, Heb. 1. 3. He is the brightness of his Glory, and the express Image of his Person, such as the Father is so is Christ.
2. As Mediator, so God loveth him on the account of his obedience, John 10. 17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life for the Sheep, John 3. 35. The Father hath loved him and put all things into his hand, the Father approved Christs undertaking for sinners, delighted in it as an excellent way of glorifying his name, and recovering poor creatures out of their lost condition: and rested satisfied, and was pleased with his death, as a sufficient ransom for poor souls. Well then God loved him so as to trust the souls of all mankind in his hands, and to appoint him to be the great Mediator, to end all differences between him and us, and the more he doth in pursuance of his Office, the more beloved he is and acceptable to God.
2. As Mediator, so God loveth him on the account of his obedience, Iohn 10. 17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life for the Sheep, Iohn 3. 35. The Father hath loved him and put all things into his hand, the Father approved Christs undertaking for sinners, delighted in it as an excellent way of glorifying his name, and recovering poor creatures out of their lost condition: and rested satisfied, and was pleased with his death, as a sufficient ransom for poor souls. Well then God loved him so as to trust the souls of all mankind in his hands, and to appoint him to be the great Mediator, to end all differences between him and us, and the more he doth in pursuance of his Office, the more beloved he is and acceptable to God.
2. The testimony of his love to him as Mediator; for his unspeakable rejoicing in him, as second person in the Trinity, we are not competent judges of. It is described Prov. 8. 30. I was daily his delight rejoicing always before him. The mutual complacency which the divine persons take in one another is there set forth; God delighted ⟨p. 135⟩in Christ, and Christ in God. But in the second love as Mediator, God expressed his love to him in two things; the gift of the Spirit, and the Glory of his humane nature.
2. The testimony of his love to him as Mediator; for his unspeakable rejoycing in him, as second person in the Trinity, we are not competent judges of. It is described Prov. 8. 30. I was dayly his delight rejoycing alwayes before him. The mutual complacency which the divine persons take in one another is there set forth; God delighted ⟨p. 135⟩in Christ, and Christ in God. But in the second love as Mediator, God expressed his love to him in two things; the gift of the Spirit, and the Glory of his humane nature.
1. The gift of the Spirit, John 6. 34. God giveth not the Spirit in measure to him, for the Father loveth the Son, and hath put all things into his hands. This was the great expression of his love to Christ as Mediator, not to make him a visible Monarch of the World, but by the gift of his Spirit to be head of the Church.
1. The gift of the Spirit, Iohn 6. 34. God giveth not the Spirit in measure to him, for the Father loveth the Son, and hath put all things into his hands. This was the great expression of his love to Christ as Mediator, not to make him a visible Monarch of the World, but by the gift of his Spirit to be head of the Church.
2. The other expression of his love to him as Mediator, was the gift of Everlasting Glory, John 17. 24. Father I will that those whom thou hast given me, should be where I am, and behold my glory, for thou hast loved me before the foundation of the World. Gods love to Christ as Mediator, was manifested in exalting him to glory, and this Everlasting. These are the great expresses of Gods love to Christ, as God incarnate or appearing in our nature.
2. The other expression of his love to him as Mediator, was the gift of Everlasting Glory, Iohn 17. 24. Father I will that those whom thou hast given me, should be where I am, and behold my glory, for thou hast loved me before the foundation of the World. Gods love to Christ as Mediator, was manifested in exalting him to glory, and this Everlasting. These are the great expresses of Gods love to Christ, as God incarnate or appearing in our nature.
3. Why is it put here.
1. To show the end for which Christ came to represent the amiableness of God, that he is Love, 1 John 4. 8. and hath love for his children. Christ is the pattern of ⟨p. 136⟩all, for he is first beloved, and the great instance and demonstration of Gods love to the World.
1. To shew the end for which Christ came to represent the amiableness of God, that he is Love, 1 Iohn 4. 8. and hath love for his children. Christ is the pattern of ⟨p. 136⟩all, for he is first beloved, and the great instance and demonstration of Gods love to the World.