A85428:462
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 3: §. 3.
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.
In the next place, let us consider what Christ ⟨p. 35⟩did when he was come to heaven and exalted there: how abundantly did he there make good all that he had promised in his last Sermon? For First, he instantly poured out his Spirit, and that richly, (as the Apostle to Titus speaks,) and he being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this which you now see and hear, says the Apostle in his first Sermon after, Acts 2. 33. he then received it, and visibly poured him out. So Ephes. 4. 8. it is said, He ascended up on high, and gave gifts unto men,—for the work of the Ministry, (ver. 15) and for the jointing in of the Saints to the increase of the body of Christ, (ver. 16.) that is, for the converting of elect sinners, and making them Saints. And the gifts there mentioned (some of them) remain unto this day, in Pastors, and Teachers, &c. And this spirit is still in our preaching, and in your hearts in hearing, in praying, &c, and persuades you of Christs love to this very day; and is in all these, the pledge of the continuance of Christs love still, in Heaven unto sinners. All our Sermons and your Prayers are evidences to you, that Christs heart is still the same towards sinners, that ever it was, for the Spirit that assists in all these, comes in his name, and in his stead, and works all by commission from him. And do none of you feel your hearts moved in the preaching of these things, at this and other times? and who is it that moves you? it is the Spirit who speaks in Christs name from heaven, even as himself is said to speak from heaven, ⟨p. 34⟩Heb. 12. 25. And when you pray, it is the Spirit that indites your prayers, and that makes intercession for you in your own hearts, Rom. 8. 26. which Intercession of his is but the evidence and echo of Christs Intercession in heaven. The Spirit prays in you, because Christ prays for you: he is an Intercessor on earth, because Christ is an Intercessor in Heaven. As he did take off Christs words, and used the same that he before had uttered, when he spake in and to the Disciples the words of life: so he takes off Christs prayers also when he prays in us: he takes but the words as it were out of Christs mouth, or heart rather, and directs our hearts to offer them up to God.