A51838:674
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 ...
A51838:674
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.
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.
2. To intimate the redundancy of this Love, it over-floweth to us, for Christ being beloved we are beloved also, Eph. 1. 6. he hath made us accepted in the beloved, to the praise of his glorious Grace. It is an overflowing Love, he is loved and all that have an interest in him are loved. There is a twofold love in God, the love of Benevolence and complacency; The Elect from all Eternity are loved by God with a love of Benevolence, whereby he willed good unto them, and decrees to bestow good upon them: but the love of complacency and delight, is that love whereby God accepteth us, delighteth in us, when he hath made us lovely as his own children, reconciled them by the death of Christ, renewed them by the Spirit of Christ, and furnished them with all the Graces which make us acceptable to him, and precious in his sight.
3. To show the kind and manner of the expressing of his love, to his redeemed ones. Christ prayed John 17. 23. That the World may know that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me, and ver. 26. That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, that is by the gift of the Spirit and Everlasting ⟨p. 137⟩Glory. Though Christ was the beloved Son, yet his state was but mean, and despicable in the world; he was afflicted, a man of sorrows, pursued to the Death, even a shameful, painful, accursed Death; yet all this while he was full of the Holy Ghost, of his Graces, Comforts, and afterwards received to Glory, and so will he love us. At this rate and Tenor, his love bindeth him not to give us worldly greatness, but if we have the Spirit, and may be welcomed to Heaven at the last, we have that which is the true discovery of Gods Love. So he manifested his Love to the only begotten Son, and therefore the adopted children should be contented with this Love, if by the Spirit they may be enabled to continue with Patience in well-doing, till they receive Eternal Glory and Happiness.
3. To shew the kind and manner of the expressing of his love, to his redeemed ones. Christ prayed Iohn 17. 23. That the World may know that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me, and ver. 26. That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, that is by the gift of the Spirit and Everlasting ⟨p. 137⟩Glory. Though Christ was the beloved Son, yet his state was but mean, and despicable in the world; he was afflicted, a man of sorrows, pursued to the Death, even a shameful, painful, accursed Death; yet all this while he was full of the Holy Ghost, of his Graces, Comforts, and afterwards received to Glory, and so will he love us. At this rate and Tenour, his love bindeth him not to give us worldly greatness, but if we have the Spirit, and may be welcomed to Heaven at the last, we have that which is the true discovery of Gods Love. So he manifested his Love to the onely begotten Son, and therefore the adopted children should be contented with this Love, if by the Spirit they may be inabled to continue with Patience in well-doing, till they receive Eternal Glory and Happiness.
3. The next thing is [Greek or Hebrew], in whom I am well pleased. This is to be interpreted of Christ as Mediator, or God Incarnate; for this was twice spoken at Christs Baptism, Mar. 3. 17. and now at his Transfiguration, both imply his Mediatorship. For his Baptism had the notion of a Dedication, he did then present himself to God as a Mediator for us, to be the Servant of his Decree, as we in Baptism dedicate our ⟨p. 138⟩selves, to fulfil the Precepts which belong to us, and as we are concerned to promote his Glory in the World, Christ presented himself as a Mediator, that is as a Prophet to acquaint us with the way of Salvation, as a Priest to pay a perfect Ransom for us, as a King to give us all things, and defend and maintain all those who submit to his Government, till their Glory be perfected, and they attain unto their final Estate of Bliss and Happiness. Now then God from Heaven declared himself well pleased; and now again, when Christ had made some Progress in the Work, confirmeth it for the assurance of the World.
3. The next thing is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, in whom I am well pleased. This is to be interpreted of Christ as Mediator, or God Incarnate; for this was twice spoken at Christs Baptisme, Mar. 3. 17. and now at his Transfiguration, both imply his Mediatorship. For his Baptisme had the notion of a Dedication, he did then present himself to God as a Mediator for us, to be the Servant of his Decree, as we in Baptisme dedicate our ⟨p. 138⟩selves, to fulfil the Precepts which belong to us, and as we are concerned to promote his Glory in the World, Christ presented himself as a Mediator, that is as a Prophet to acquaint us with the way of Salvation, as a Priest to pay a perfect Ransom for us, as a King to give us all things, and defend and maintain all those who submit to his Government, till their Glory be perfected, and they attain unto their final Estate of Bliss and Happiness. Now then God from Heaven declared himself well pleased; and now again, when Christ had made some Progress in the Work, confirmeth it for the assurance of the World.
This then must be Interpreted, 1. As to Christ. 2. As to those who have benefit by him, and interest in him.
1. As to Christ. He was well-pleased: Partly, as to the Design; the Reparation of Lost Mankind: Partly, as to the Terms by which it should be brought about: Partly, as to the Execution and Management of it by Christ.
1. As to the Design. God was well-pleased, that lapsed Mankind should be restored, at the first God was pleased with his ⟨p. 139⟩Creation, Exod. 31. 17. on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed, that is recreated in the View of his Works, as the effects of his Wisdom, Power and Goodness. And Psal. 104. 31. The Lord shall rejoice in his works. The Lord saw all to be good, in the beginning and working not to be repented of: This was Gods Rest and Sabbath, to take delight in his Works. When he looked on it altogether, behold it was exceeding good; but afterwards Man, the ungrateful part of the Creation, though the Masterpiece of it, in this visible and lower world, fell from God his Creator, and preferred the Creature before him, to his Loss and Ruin; then God was so far displeased, that he had Reason to wish the destruction of Mankind; it is said Gen. 6. 6. That it repented God that he had made man. That is, he was displeased with us, estranged from us; no more contented with us, than a man is in what he repenteth of: For properly God cannot repent, but this is an Expression to show how odious we were grown to him, Psal. 14. 2, 3. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and did seek after God. They are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy, there is none that doth good no not one. Alas ⟨p. 140⟩there is a lamentable appearance of Mankind to Gods sight, now nothing good to be found in them; an universal Defection, both in Piety and Humanity. But then Christ undertook the Reparation of Mankind, and the Design was pleasing to God, that he might not lose the glory of his Creation, and all flesh be utterly destroyed, Col. 1. 19, 20. It pleased the father that in him should all fullness dwell, and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself. The restoring of fallen Man to Friendship with God, and all things tending to it, were highly pleasing to God, namely, that Jesus Christ, the second Person in the Trinity should become a Mediator, for that end he had a great Affection and liking to this thing. [Greek or Hebrew], it is the same word used here, the thing is highly pleasing to God, that the Breach should be made up;
that man who had lost the Image, Favour and Fellowship with God should be again restored, by renewing his Heart, reconciling his Person, and admitting him again into Communion with God, who was was so justly provoked by him. God stood in no need of our Friendship, nor could any loss come to him by our Hatred and Enmity; only it pleased the Father to take this way, Isa. 53. 10. For ⟨p. 141⟩it pleased the Lord to bruise him, he hath put him to grief, when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands.
that man who had lost the Image, Favour and Fellowship with God should be again restored, by renewing his Heart, reconciling his Person, and admitting him again into Communion with God, who was was so justly provoked by him. God stood in no need of our Friendship, nor could any loss come to him by our Hatred and Enmity; onely it pleased the Father to take this way, Isa. 53. 10. For ⟨p. 141⟩it pleased the Lord to bruise him, he hath put him to grief, when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his dayes, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands.
1. As to the Design. God was wellpleased, that lapsed Mankind should be restored, at the first God was pleased with his ⟨p. 139⟩Creation, Exod. 31. 17. on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed, that is recreated in the View of his Works, as the effects of his Wisdom, Power and Goodness. And Psal. 104. 31. The Lord shall rejoyce in his works. The Lord saw all to be good, in the beginning and working not to be repented of: This was Gods Rest and Sabbath, to take delight in his Works. When he looked on it altogether, behold it was exceeding good; but afterwards Man, the ungrateful part of the Creation, though the Masterpiece of it, in this visible and lower world, fell from God his Creator, and preferred the Creature before him, to his Loss and Ruine; then God was so far displeased, that he had Reason to wish the destruction of Mankind; it is said Gen. 6. 6. That it repented God that he had made man. That is, he was displeased with us, estranged from us; no more contented with us, than a man is in what he repenteth of: For properly God cannot repent, but this is an Expression to show how odious we were grown to him, Psal. 14. 2, 3. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and did seek after God. They are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy, there is none that doth good no not one. Alas ⟨p. 140⟩there is a lamentable appearance of Mankind to Gods sight, now nothing good to be found in them; an universal Defection, both in Piety and Humanity. But then Christ undertook the Reparation of Mankind, and the Design was pleasing to God, that he might not lose the glory of his Creation, and all flesh be utterly destroyed, Col. 1. 19, 20. It pleased the father that in him should all fulness dwell, and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself. The restoring of fallen Man to Friendship with God, and all things tending to it, were highly pleasing to God, namely, that Jesus Christ, the second Person in the Trinity should become a Mediator, for that end he had a great Affection and liking to this thing. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, it is the same word used here, the thing is highly pleasing to God, that the Breach should be made up;