A85428:437
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
THE HEART OF Christ in Heaven, TO Sinners on Earth. › Epigraph › Section 1: §. I.
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.
First, he lets them see what his heart would be unto them, and how mindful of them when in heaven, by that business which he professeth he went thither to perform for them: concerning which, observe first, that he lovingly acquaints them with it afore-hand what it is, which argued care and tenderness, as from an husband unto a wife it doth; And withal, how plain heartedly doth he speak, as one that would not hide any thing from them? Joh. 16. 7. I tell you the truth of it, (says he) it is expedient (and expedient) for you, that I go away. And secondly, he tells them, it is wholly for them and their happiness; I go to send you a Comforter, whilst you are in this world, & to prepare a place for you, (John 14. 2.) when you shall go out of this world: There are many mansions in my Fathers house, and I go to take them up for you, & to keep your places for you till you come. And there again, how openly and candidly doth he speak to them? If it had been otherwise, (says he) I would have told you: You may believe me, I would not deceive you for all the glory in that place to which I am a going. Whom would not this openness and nakedness of heart persuade? But then thirdly, the business it self being such as is so much for us and our happiness; how much more doth that argue it? And indeed, Christ himself doth fetch from thence an argument of the continuance of his love to them. So ver. 3. If I go to prepare a place for you, (if that ⟨p. 13⟩be my errand) then doubt not of my love when I am there; All the glory of the place shall never make me forget my business. When he was on earth, he forgot none of the business for which he came into the World: Shall I not do my Fathers business? (said he, when he was a child) yes, and he did it to the utmost, by fulfilling all righteousness. Surely therefore he will not forget any of that business which he is to do in heaven, it being the more pleasant work by far. And (as I showed in the former discourse, out of Heb. 6. 20.) He is entered as a Fore-runner, an Harbinger, to take up places there for us, and if he could forget us, yet our names are all written in heaven round about him, & are continually afore his eyes written there, not only by Gods election, so