Christ Set Forth

And then thirdly, to testify thus much by a real testimony, what his love would be, when in heaven to them, the Evangelist shows, that when he was in the middest of all those great thoughts of his approaching glory, and of the sovereign estate which he was to be in, he then took water and a towel, and washed his Disciples feet. This to have bin his scope will appear, if you observe but the coherence in the second verse, it is said, that Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, then (ver. 4.) he riseth from supper, and lays aside his garments, and took a towel and girded himself; (ver. 5.) after that, he poured water into a basin, and began to wash his Disciples feet, &c. where it is evident that the Evangelists scope is to hold forth this unto us, that then when Christs thoughts were full of his glory, & when he took in the consideration of it unto the utmost; even then, and upon that occasion, and in the midst of those thoughts, he washed his Disciples feet; And what was Christs meaning in this, but that, whereas when he should be in heaven, he could not make such outward visible demonstrations of his heart, by doing such mean services for them; therefore by doing this in the middest of such thoughts of his glory, he would show what he could be content (as it were) to do for them, when he should be in full possession of it? (so great is his love unto them.) There is another ⟨p. 10⟩expression of Christs like unto this, in Luke 12. 36, 37. which confirms this to be his meaning here, and to be his very heart in heaven. At ver. 36. he compares himself to a Bridegroom, who is to go to heaven unto a wedding-feast; who hath servants on earth that stand all that while here below, as without, waiting for him; at which, because they wait so long, they may think much, Christ adds, Verily I say unto you, that when the Bridegroom returns (refreshed with wine and gladness) he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat; and will come forth and [serve them.] The meaning is not as if that Christ served at the latter day, or now in heaven, those that sit down there;

And then thirdly, to testifie thus much by a reall testimony, what his love would be, when in heaven to them, the Euangelist shews, that when he was in the middest of all those great thoughts of his approaching glory, and of the soveraigne estate which he was to be in, he then tooke water and a towell, and washed his Disciples feete. This to have bin his scope will appeare, if you observe but the coherence in the second verse, it is said, that Iesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, then (ver. 4.) he riseth from supper, and layes aside his garments, and tooke a towel and girded himselfe; (ver. 5.) after that, he powred water into a bason, and began to wash his Disciples feete, &c. where it is evident that the Euangelists scope is to hold forth this unto us, that then when Christs thoughts were full of his glorie, & when he tooke in the consideration of it unto the utmost; even then, and upon that occasion, and in the midst of those thoughts, he washt his Disciples feete; And what was Christs meaning in this, but that, whereas when he should be in heaven, he could not make such outward visible demonstrations of his heart, by doing such meane services for them; therefore by doing this in the middest of such thoughts of his glory, hee would shew what hee could be content (as it were) to doe for them, when hee should bee in full possession of it? (so great is his love unto them.) There is another