The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Answ. 2. More particularly, Christ had a Call, which all others have not, to go amongst wicked men. Where should a Physician be, but amongst his Patients? to deal with such is his calling. Christ came to call sinners to repentance, to heal their vitiated natures, and therefore it was necessary he should associate with them. He went amongst them, not as a friend to their sins, but as a Physician to their souls; How should he otherwise have cast out Devils, cured their sicknesses, and proved his Deity to their faces? An Ambassador being commissionated by his Prince, may do that, which if an ordinary Subject should do, may cost him his life. Abraham might (having liberty from God) stand still and behold Sodom flaming, when Lot might not so much as cast an eye, or have a glance towards it. Christ was sent to the lost sheep of the ⟨p. 130⟩house of Israel, and so he went to them in discharge of his Errand and Mission; He had also a Commission under his Fathers Hand and Seal, Luk. 4. 18. Job. 6. 27.

Answ. 2. More particularly, Christ had a Call, which all others have not, to go amongst wicked men. Where should a Physitian be, but amongst his Patients? to deal with such is his calling. Christ came to call sinners to repentance, to heal their vitiated natures, and therefore it was necessary he should associate with them. He went amongst them, not as a friend to their sins, but as a Physitian to their souls; How should he otherwise have cast out Devils, cured their sicknesses, and proved his Deity to their faces? An Ambassadour being commissionated by his Prince, may do that, which if an ordinary Subject should do, may cost him his life. Abraham might (having liberty from God) stand still and behold Sodom flaming, when Lot might not so much as cast an eye, or have a glance towards it. Christ was sent to the lost sheep of the ⟨p. 130⟩house of Israel, and so he went to them in discharge of his Errand and Mission; He had also a Commission under his Fathers Hand and Seal, Luk. 4. 18.