The demonstration of his divine power upon his enemies he thus showed. When he had answered that he was that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they sought, then all went backward and fell to the ground, such amazement fell upon the hearts of the stoutest of them. They sought the Man Jesus, but that God whose Name was I am, out of the temple of his body gives that answer, I am he, with such impressions of his Divinity as strikes them to the ground like dead men. And this he did for divers reasons: First, to preserve the undoubted testimony of his Divinity. He that was shortly to be sacrificed as a Lamb, now wars like a Lion for a season, that at least the Christian world might know, that it was God that did suffer for our sins, Act. 20. 28. Secondly, hereby his enemies are convicted, and left without excuse, that will lay hands on him injuriously, that had first laid hands on them so justly, and made them know how able he was to bind them over to eternal perdition. Oh how incorrigible is the heart of a wicked man! Here may a man behold men smitten to the ground by the hand of God, and yet see them rise up ⟨p. 349⟩again as desperately bent as before: Yea, here stood with these men, and among them fell, Judas, the Apostle, the servant of Christ, and yet riseth again still a Devil, a Traitor, and a Standard-bearer of the Jews malice, who having the Devil in his breast, doth most impudently give the sign of peace with his mouth. Thirdly, hereby he gives evident demonstration to all the world, of the terror of his voice against wicked men at the last day. He that can fright them thus, when he is about to die, being yet in the form of a servant on earth; how will he be found then, when he comes in his Kingdom to judge them from heaven, and shall show himself in the form of God, as well as Man? What tongue of man can express the terror of that voice, at that day, Go ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels. And impenitent men may guess at this, by the power they have felt in the voice of Christ in the preaching of the Gospel. Another demonstration of his divine power may it be reckoned, that such as knew him should look upon him, and not know him, when he asked them, Whom seek ye; they do not answer, thee, but Jesus of Nazareth, yet Judas was amongst them.
The demonstration of his diuine power vpon his enemies he thus shewed. When he had answered that he was that Iesus of Nazareth, whom they sought, then all went backward and fell to the ground, such amazement fell vpon the hearts of the stoutest of them. They sought the Man Iesus, but that God whose Name was I am, out of the temple of his body giues that answer, I am he, with such impressions of his Diuinitie as strikes them to the ground like dead men. And this he did for diuers reasons: First, to preserue the vndoubted testimony of his Diuinitie. He that was shortly to be sacrificed as a Lambe, now warres like a Lion for a season, that at least the Christian world might know, that it was God that did suffer for our sinnes, Act. 20. 28. Secondly, hereby his enemies are conuicted, and left without excuse, that will lay hands on him iniuriously, that had first laid hands on them so iustly, and made them know how able hee was to binde them ouer to eternall perdition. Oh how incorrigible is the heart of a wicked man! Here may a man behold men smitten to the ground by the hand of God, and yet see them rise vp ⟨p. 349⟩againe as desperately bent as before: Yea, here stood with these men, and among them fell, Iudas, the Apostle, the seruant of Christ, and yet riseth againe still a Deuill, a Traitor, and a Standard-bearer of the Iewes malice, who hauing the Deuill in his brest, doth most impudently giue the signe of peace with his mouth. Thirdly, hereby he giues euident demonstration to all the world, of the terror of his voice against wicked men at the last day. Hee that can fright them thus, when he is about to die, being yet in the forme of a seruant on earth; how will he be found then, when he comes in his Kingdome to iudge them from heauen, and shall shew himselfe in the forme of God, as well as Man? What tongue of man can expresse the terror of that voice, at that day, Goe yee cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the Deuill and his Angels. And impenitent men may ghesse at this, by the power they haue felt in the voice of Christ in the preaching of the Gospell. Another demonstration of his diuine power may it be reckoned, that such as knew him should looke vpon him, and not know him, when hee asked them, Whom seeke yee; they doe not answer, thee, but Iesus of Nazareth, yet Iudas was amongst them.
