1. There is much comfort in this, that Christ is our Kinsman, Bone of our Bone, and Flesh of our Flesh, and therefore certainly will not be strange to his own Flesh. He did ⟨p. 211⟩redeem us not only jure proprietatis, by virtue of his Interest in us as our Creator, but jure propinquitatis, by virtue of his Kindred, one of us, of our Stock and Lineage; the Son of Adam, as well as the Son of God. The Apostle tells us, Heb. 2. 11. For he that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified, are all of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren. As the first Fruits offered to God were taken out of the same heap; so he was of the same Mass with us. Christ is not only Man, but the Son of Man: he might have been Man if God had created him out of nothing, or he had brought his substance from Heaven. But he is the Son of Man, one descended of the Loins of Adam, as we are; even thus, He that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified, are all of one. He is of the same Stock with all Mankind, but the Kindred is reckoned to the Sanctified, because there it holdeth of both sides. Christ is born of a Woman, and they are born of God, and so he is a Kinsman doubly, ratione incarnationis fuae, and regenerationis nostrae; In regard of his own Incarnation, and our Regeneration. He partaketh of the humane Nature, and we partake of the Divine Nature. And it followeth, therefore he is not ashamed to call us Brethren. We are said to be ashamed when we do any thing that is filthy, dishonest or base, or misbecoming our Dignity and Rank, which we sustain in the World. The former Consideration is of no place here. For the latter, those that bear any Port and Rank in the World, are ashamed to show too much familiarity towards their Inferiors: but such is the love of Jesus Christ towards his People, that though he be infinitely greater, and more worthy than these, yet he is not ashamed to call us Brethren. Well then, here is the first step of our Comfort and Hope, to see God in our Natures. The Eternal Son of God became our Kinsman, that he might have the Right of Redemption, and recover the Inheritance which we had forfeited. We could not have such familiar and confident recourse to an Angel, and one who was of another ⟨p. 212⟩Stock, and different Nature from ours, nor put our selves into his hands with such trust and assurance.
1. There is much comfort in this, that Christ is our Kinsman, Bone of our Bone, and Flesh of our Flesh, and therefore certainly will not be strange to his own Flesh. He did ⟨p. 211⟩redeem us not only jure proprietatis, by virtue of his Interest in us as our Creator, but jure propinquitatis, by virtue of his Kindred, one of us, of our Stock and Lineage; the Son of Adam, as well as the Son of God. The Apostle tells us, Heb. 2. 11. For he that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified, are all of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren. As the first Fruits offered to God were taken out of the same heap; so he was of the same Mass with us. Christ is not only Man, but the Son of Man: he might have been Man if God had created him out of nothing, or he had brought his substance from Heaven. But he is the Son of Man, one descended of the Loins of Adam, as we are; even thus, He that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified, are all of one. He is of the same Stock with all Mankind, but the Kindred is reckoned to the Sanctified, because there it holdeth of both sides. Christ is born of a Woman, and they are born of God, and so he is a Kinsman doubly, ratione incarnationis fuae, and regenerationis nostrae; In regard of his own Incarnation, and our Regeneration. He partaketh of the humane Nature, and we partake of the Divine Nature. And it followeth, therefore he is not ashamed to call us Brethren. We are said to be ashamed when we do any thing that is filthy, dishonest or base, or misbecoming our Dignity and Rank, which we sustain in the World. The former Consideration is of no place here. For the latter, those that bear any Port and Rank in the World, are ashamed to shew too much familiarity towards their Inferiors: but such is the love of Jesus Christ towards his People, that though he be infinitely greater, and more worthy than these, yet he is not ashamed to call us Brethren. Well then, here is the first step of our Comfort and Hope, to see God in our Natures. The Eternal Son of God became our Kinsman, that he might have the Right of Redemption, and recover the Inheritance which we had forfeited. We could not have such familiar and confident recourse to an Angel, and one who was of another ⟨p. 212⟩Stock, and different Nature from ours, nor put our selves into his hands with such trust and assurance.
