An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ,…

When this fails, they take another course with Metaphors, to make them serve their purpose, that is, by considering all the properties of those things Christ is compared to, and applying all that will serve their turn to Christ, without regarding the end, to which they are used; thus the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a Pearl of great price: Mat. 13. This Pearl signifies Christ, who, as Mr. Watson saith, makes us worthy with his worthiness; Though all the Parable means, is, that we should part with all for the Gospel: Thus Christ was prefigured by the Manna, this was circular, and so a figure of Christs perfection; it was meat dressed in Heaven, and Christ was prepared of his Father, it suited every ones palate, and Christ suits every Christians condition; he is full of quickening, strengthening, comforting virtue, that is, He is what every man fancies him to be, relishes to their gusto; what precious discoveries are here of Christ! What irrefragable proofs for them? Thus Christ is a Rock, 1 Cor. 10. A rock for defence, and for offence, and for comfort, to screen us from Gods wrath, and contain the honey of the promises; Christ is resembled by the brazen Serpent, Brass as ⟨p. 129⟩inferior metal signifies his humanity, and as solid metal the power of his Godhead, it shines but doth not dazzle the eyes, and so signifies the Godhead veiled with Manhood; thus the brazen Serpent was like a Serpent, but no real one; so Christ was in the likeness of sinful flesh, but no sinner; the Serpent was lifted up to be looked on, and so was Christ to be looked fiducially upon: Never man so happy in expounding types, never Serpent so subtle: Thus Christ is a Vine, a Vine is weak, Christs humane nature was fain to be supported by the Divine, the Vine grows in the Garden, Christ in the Church, not known amon the Heathen: It had been more grand, to have said, that Christ made the Garden, where he grows; The Vine communicates to the Branches, Christ to Believers, the Vine hath rare fruit, and the promises grow upon Christ; the Blood of Christ is the wine, which cheers mans heart, What fine work might a profane wit make at this rate, but further they jumble all together, and prove one thing from another in a wonderful manner, as thus; Christ is lovely, that is, as Mr. Watson hath it, he is lovely in his Titles, being the desire of all nations, the Prince ⟨p. 130⟩