Hence thirdly,1 we read, as that Christ was condemned, so that he was justified. Thus 1 Tim. 3. 16. God is said to be manifest in the flesh, and then that this God-man was justified in the spirit: That is, whereas God was manifest or appeared in flesh to condemn sin in the flesh, as Rom. 8. that same God-man was also justified in the spirit from all those sins, and so received up to glory, as it follows there. And not to go far, the very words of this my Text, [It is God that justifies] are taken out of Isaiah 50. 8, 9. and as there, they are first spoken by Christ of himself, then, when he gave his back to the smiters, in his death, (as in the verses before) and was put to death as a condemned man, he comforts himself with this, [He is near that justifies me, who shall condemn?] ⟨p. 70⟩And when was that done, or to be done, but at his Resurrection? So the phrase in Timothy imports, if you compare it with another in Peter, 1 Pet. 3. 18. Being put to death in the flesh, [and quickened in (or by) the spirit.] Paul, he says, [Justified in the spirit;] Peter, he says, [Quickened in the spirit:] both mean one and the same thing. By [Spirit] is meant the power of his God-head, and Divine nature, whereby he was at once both raised from the grave, and from under the guilt of sin together. He was at once both quickened, (or raised) and justified also. And that by [Spirit] they mean his Divine nature, the opposition in both places evidently implies; for it is opposed to his [Flesh] or humane nature. Now because he was quickened (or raised) by the power of the God-head, and at that raising him, he was justified also by God, and declared justified by that Resurrection, (as he had been declared condemned by his death) Hence, to [be justified] is put for his Resurrection; for that was his justification, or declaration to all the world, that he was justified from all the sins laid to his charge. And that other place I cited out of Isaiah, hath the same meaning also; for Christ there comforts himself against the Jews condemning him, and putting him to death, with the hopes of Gods justifying of him, when he should have gone through that work. And Christs meaning there is this, God will raise me up, and acquit me, though you condemn and kill me.
Hence thirdly,1 we read, as that Christ was condemned, so that he was justified. Thus 1 Tim. 3. 16. God is said to be manifest in the flesh, and then that this God-man was justified in the spirit: That is, whereas God was manifest or appeared in flesh to condemne sinne in the flesh, as Rom. 8. that same God-man was also justified in the spirit from all those sins, and so received up to glory, as it follows there. And not to goe far, the very words of this my Text, [It is God that justifies] are taken out of Esay 50. 8, 9. and as there, they are first spoken by Christ of himselfe, then, when he gave his back to the smiters, in his death, (as in the verses before) and vvas put to death as a condemned man, he comforts himselfe vvith this, [He is neere that justifies me, who shall condemne?] ⟨p. 70⟩And when was that done, or to be done, but at his Resurrection? So the phrase in Timothy imports, if you compare it with another in Peter, 1 Pet. 3. 18. Being put to death in the flesh, [and quickned in (or by) the spirit.] Paul, he sayes, [Iustified in the spirit;] Peter, he sayes, [Quickned in the spirit:] both meane one and the same thing. By [Spirit] is meant the power of his God-head, and Divine nature, whereby he was at once both raised from the grave, and from under the guilt of sin together. He was at once both quickned, (or raised) and justified also. And that by [Spirit] they mean his Divine nature, the opposition in both places evidently implyes; for it is opposed to his [Flesh] or humane nature. Now because he was quickned (or raised) by the power of the God-head, and at that raising him, he was justifyed also by God, and declared justifyed by that Resurrection, (as he had been declared condemned by his death) Hence, to [be justified] is put for his Resurrection; for that was his justification, or declaration to all the world, that he was justified from all the sins laid to his charge. And that other place I cited out of Isaiah, hath the same meaning also; for Christ there comforts himselfe against the Jews condemning him, and putting him to death, with the hopes of Gods justifying of him, when he should have gone through that work. And Christs meaning there is this, God will raise me up, and acquit me, though you condemne and kill me.
- 13. That this must needs be, and was first made to him at his Resurrection.
