A85428:504
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. › Part 2 › Section 1: §. 1.
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.
And therefore the same Apostle doth make Christs bowels the pattern of his, Phil. 1. 8. Ge•. is my witness, how greatly I long after you in the bowels of Jesus Christ. This phrase [in the bowels of Christ] hath (according to Interpreters) two meanings, and both serve to illustrate that which I intend: First, [in the bowels of Christ] is taken causally, as if he meant to show that those bowels or compassions were infused into him from Christ, and so longed after them with such kind of bowels, as Christ had wrought in him: and if so, ⟨p. 59⟩that Christ put such bowels into him, hath he not them in himself much more? Paul had reason to say, [in the bowels of Christ] for (in this sense) I am sure he (once) had scarce the heart and bowels of a man in him; namely, when he was out of Christ, how furious and Lion-like a spirit had he against the Saints, and what havoc made he of them, being ready even to pull out their bowels? And how came Paul by such tender bowels now towards them? who gave him now such tender affections? Even Jesus Christ, it was he that of a Lion made him a Lamb. If therefore in Paul these bowels were not natural, (but the contrary rather were natural to him) and yet they so abounded in him, and that naturally, as himself speaks; how much more must they needs abound in Christ, to whom they are native and in-bred? Or else secondly, [In] the bowels, is put for [Instar] Like the bowels, or After the bowels, according to the analogy of the Hebrew phrase: And so then the meaning were this, Like as the bowels of Jesus Christ do yearn after you, so do mine. [Bowels] are a Metaphor to signify tender and motherly affections and mercies: so Luke 1. 78. [Through the tender mercies;] In the original it is [The bowels of mercy.] Thus Paul when he would signify how tender his affections were, he instances in the Bowels of Jesus Christ, (he making Christ his pattern in this in all, [Be ye followers of me, as I am of Christ.]) Now how desirous was this great Apostle to beget men to Christ? he cared not what else he ⟨p. 60⟩lost, so he might win some: he counted not his life dear, nay not his salvation dear, but wished himself accursed for his brethren, (who yet were the greatest enemies Christ then had on earth:) How glad was he when any soul came in? how sorry when any fell off?