Christ Set Forth

And therefore continue in him now he is in Heaven: For though he laid down all infirmities of our nature, when he rose again; yet no graces that were in him whilst he was below: they are in him now as much as ever, and being his nature, (for nature we know is constant,) therefore still remains. You may observe, that when he was upon earth, minding to persuade sinners to have good thoughts of him, as he used that argument of his Fathers command given him; so he also lays open his own disposition: Mat. 11. 28. Come to me you that are weary and heavy laden,—for I am meek and lowly of heart. Men are apt to have contrary conceits of Christ, but he tells them his disposition there, by preventing such hard thoughts of him, to allure them unto him the more. We are apt to think, that he being so holy, is therefore of a severe and sour disposition against sinners, and not able to bear them; no, says he, I am meek, gentleness is my nature and temper; as it was of Moses, who was (as in other things, so) in that grace his Type: he was not revenged on Miriam and Aaron, but interceded for them. So says Christ; injuries and unkindnesses do not so work upon me, as to make me irreconcilable, it is my nature to forgive; I am meek. Yea, but (may we think) he being the Son of God, and Heir of Heaven, and especially ⟨p. 57⟩being now filled with glory, and sitting at Gods right hand, he may now despise the lowliness of us here below; though not out of anger, yet out of that height of his greatness and distance that he is advanced unto, in that we are too mean for him to marry, or be familiar with: He surely hath higher thoughts, then to regard such poor low things as we are: And so though indeed we conceive him meek, and not prejudiced with injuries, yet he may be too high and lofty to condescend so far as to regard, or take to heart the condition of poor creatures. No, says Christ, I am lowly also, willing to bestow my love and favour upon the poorest and meanest. And further, all this is not a semblance of such an affable disposition, nor is it externally put on in the face and outward carriage only (as in many great ones, that will seem gentle and courteous) but there is all this [Greek or Hebrew], in the heart: it is his temper, his disposition, his nature to be gracious: which nature he can never lay aside.

And therefore continue in him now hee is in Heaven: For though he laid down all infirmities of our nature, when he rose again; yet no graces that were in him whilst he was below: they are in him now as much as ever, and being his nature, (for nature we know is constant,) therefore still remains. You may observe, that when he was upon earth, minding to perswade sinners to have good thoughts of him, as he used that argument of his Fathers command given him; so hee also layes open his own disposition: