A77360:183
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation. : Gods return to the soul, or nation; together with his preventing mercy. : Delivered in ten sermons, (viz.) 1. Christs personal excellencies, the object of our love. 2. Christ crucified, the object of our faith. 3. The new covenant of grace opened. 4. Christ the mediator of the new covenant. 5. The way and spirit of the new covenant, or New Testament. 6. The blood of sprinkling. 7. The sweetness and profitableness of divine meditation. 8. The work and way of this meditation. 9. Gods return to the soul and nation. 10. Preventing mercy. / By W.B.
London: printed for N. Ranew, 1667
Sermons › Sermon 2: Christ Crucified the object of our Faith. SERMON II.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And therefore I say, O what a blessed thing is it to know Christ crucified! and who would not labour to know Christ crucified in a right manner?
6. You will say then in the sixth place, What shall we do to know Christ crucified in a right manner: For we have heard, men may live under the Gospel, sit upon the highest form of profession, and yet not know Christ crucified in a right manner: What shall we do then that we may know Christ crucified in a right manner? — Something I shall speak to the manner, and something to the means.
6. You will say then in the sixth place, What shall we do to know Christ crucified in a right manner: For we have heard, men may live under the Gospel, sit upon the highest form of profession, and yet not know Christ crucified in a right manner: What shall we do then that we may know Christ crucified in a right manner? — Somthing I shall speak to the manner, and somthing to the means.
As to the manner: If you would know Christ crucified in a right manner, you must look upon him as the Great institution and appointment of the Father. When God doth deal with us in a way of Institutions, he hath not respect unto the strength ⟨p. 45⟩of the Means, or the worth of the Persons. When God deals with us in a way of nature, there is respect had to the strength of the Means, or the worth of the Person: As in Physic, God deals in a way of nature, there respect is had to the strength of the Means. But when God deals with us in a way of institution, there he hath neither respect to the strength of means, nor to the worth of persons. Now Jesus Christ is the great Institution of God the Father, and so if we would know him rightly, we must look upon him: For though the stung Israelite was cured by the brazen Serpent, yet he was not cured by the brazen Serpent in regard of the mettle of the Serpent, but as it was an appointment, and as an institution: So if a man would know Christ to purpose, he must know him, and look upon him as the great institution and appointment of the Father, Him hath God the Father sealed. And what is the reason that many go to and get no good by a crucified Christ, but because they never did to this day look upon Christ crucified as the great Institution of the Father.