A85428:350
Christ Set Forth
Christ set forth in his [brace] death, resurrection, ascension, sitting at Gods right hand, intercession, [brace] as the [brace] cause of justification. Object of justifying faith. Upon Rom. 8. ver. 34. Together with a treatise discovering the affectionate tenderness of Christs heart now in heaven, unto sinners on earth. / By Tho: Goodwin, B.D.Christ set forth in his [brace] death, resurrection, ascension, sitting at Gods right hand, intercession, [brace] as the [brace] cause of justification. Object of justifying faith. Upon Rom. 8. ver. 34. Together with a treatise discovering the affectionate tendernesse of Christs heart now in heaven, unto sinners on earth. / By Tho: Goodwin, B.D.
London: printed by W.E. and J.G. for Robert Dawlman, 1642
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.
For in that which Christ doth for us being ascended, lies the height, the top of our comfort. And whereas he might have said, (and it had been matter of unspeakable comfort) I ascend to heaven, and so where I am, you shall be also; yet he chooseth rather to say, [I ascend to the Father,] for that indeed ⟨p. 181⟩contained the foundation, spring, and cause of their comfort; even that relation of Gods, [his Fatherhood] with which Christ was to deal after his ascending, for them. And because when before his death he had spoken of his going to his Father, their hearts had been troubled, John 14. 28. they thinking it was for his own preferment only, (as Christs speech there implies they did) therefore he here distinctly adds, I ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. He had in effect spoken as much before, in the words fore-going, Go tell my Brethren, but that was only implicitly; therefore more plainly and explicitly he says it, for their further comfort, [I go to my Father, and your Father.] And consider, that Christ being now newly risen, and having as yet not seen his Disciples, and being now to send a message, his first message, a Gospel of good tidings to them, (and that in a brief sentence) by a woman; he chooseth out this as the first word to be spoken from him now, when he was come out of the other world, at their first hear-say of his return, he utters forth at once, the bottom, the depth of all comfort, the sum of all joy; then which the Gospel knows no greater, nor can go higher: So as if Christ should intend now at this day to send good news from Heaven to any of you, it would be but this, I am here an Advocate, interceding with my Father, and thy Father. All is spoken in that. Even [He] could not speak more comfort, who is the God of comfort. Now therefore ⟨p. 174⟩let us apart consider these two relations, which afford each of them their proper comfort and assurance; both that Christ is ascended, and intercedes with his own Father; and also with Our Father: and therefore how prevailing must this Intercession be?
For in that which Christ doth for us being ascended, lyes the height, the top of our comfort. And whereas he might have said, (and it had been matter of unspeakable comfort) I ascend to heaven, and so where I am, you shall be also; yet he chooseth rather to say, [I ascend to the Father,] for that indeed