(§ 5.) 2ly. IT appears to be such an eminent Gift from it's Original Acquisition. There was a ⟨p. 225⟩Power acquired by Christ for this great Donation, which the Apostle declares, ver. 9. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the Lower parts of the Earth. Having mentioned the Ascension of Christ as the immediate Cause or Fountain of the Communication of this Gift, Ver. 8. he found it necessary to trace it unto it's first Original. He doth not therefore make mention of the descending into the lower parts of the Earth occasionally upon that of his ascending, as if he catched at an Advantage of a Word: Nor doth he speak of the Humiliation of Christ absolutely in it's self, which he had no occasion for; but he introduceth it, to show what respect this Gift of the Ministry and Ministers, of the Office, Gifts and Persons, had thereunto. And Christ's descending into the lower parts of the Earth may be taken two ways, according as that Expression, the Lower parts of the Earth, may be diversly understood. For the [Greek or Hebrew], The Lower Parts of the Earth, are either the whole Earth, that is, those lower Parts of the World, or some part of it. For the Word Lower includes a Comparison either with the whole Creation, or with some part of it self. In the first Sense Christs state of Humiliation is intended, wherein he came down from Heaven into these lower parts of Gods Creation, conversing on the Earth. In the latter, his Grave and Burial are intended; for the Grave is the lowest part of the Earth into which Mankind doth descend. And both of these, or his Humiliation as it ended in his Death and Burial, may be respected in the Words. And that which the Apostle designs to manifest, is, that the deep Humiliation, and the Death of Christ, is the ⟨p. 226⟩Fountain and Original of the Ministry of the Church, by way of Acquisition and Procurement. It is a Fruit whose Root is in the Grave of Christ. For in those things, in the Humiliation and Death of Christ lay the Foundation of his Mediatory Authority, whereof the Ministry is an Effect, Phil. 2. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. And it was appointed by him to be the Ministry of that Peace between God and Man, which was made therein and thereby, Ephes. 2. 14, 16, 17. For when he had made this Peace by the Blood of the Cross, he preached it in the giving these Gifts unto Men for it's solemn Declaration. See 2 Cor. 5.
(§ 5.) 2ly. IT appears to be such an eminent Gift from it's Original Acquisition. There was a ⟨p. 225⟩Power acquired by Christ for this great Donation, which the Apostle declares, ver. 9. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the Lower parts of the Earth. Having mentioned the Ascension of Christ as the immediate Cause or Fountain of the Communication of this Gift, Ver. 8. he found it necessary to trace it unto it's first Original. He doth not therefore make mention of the descending into the lower parts of the Earth occasionally upon that of his ascending, as if he catched at an Advantage of a Word: Nor doth he speak of the Humiliation of Christ absolutely in it's self, which he had no occasion for; but he introduceth it, to shew what respect this Gift of the Ministry and Ministers, of the Office, Gifts and Persons, had thereunto. And Christ's descending into the lower parts of the Earth may be taken two ways, according as that Expression, the Lower parts of the Earth, may be diversly understood. For the 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, The Lower Parts of the Earth, are either the whole Earth, that is, those lower Parts of the World, or some part of it. For the Word Lower includes a Comparison either with the whole Creation, or with some part of it self. In the first Sence Christs state of Humiliation is intended, wherein he came down from Heaven into these lower parts of Gods Creation, conversing on the Earth. In the latter, his Grave and Burial are intended; for the Grave is the lowest part of the Earth into which Mankind doth descend. And both of these, or his Humiliation as it ended in his Death and Burial, may be respected in the Words. And that which the Apostle designs to manifest, is, that the deep Humiliation, and the Death of Christ, is the ⟨p. 226⟩Fountain and Original of the Ministry of the Church, by way of Acquisition and Procurement. It is a Fruit whose Root is in the Grave of Christ. For in those things, in the Humiliation and Death of Christ lay the Foundation of his Mediatory Authority, whereof the Ministry is an Effect, Phil. 2. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. And it was appointed by him to be the Ministry of that Peace between God and Man, which was made therein and thereby, Ephes. 2. 14, 16, 17. For when he had made this Peace by the Blood of the Cross, he preached it in the giving these Gifts unto Men for it's solemn Declaration. See 2 Cor. 5
