A85428:558
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 2: §. II.
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.
he is said greatly to desire or delight in the beauty of his Queen: that is, the graces of the Saints; and that not with an ordinary delight, but he greatly desires; his desire is increased as her beauty is: For that is there brought in as a motive unto her to be more holy and conformed unto him, to incline her care, and forsake her Fathers house, v. 10. ⟨p. 101⟩[So] shall the King greatly desire thy beauty. Christ hath a beauty that pleaseth him, as well as we have, though of another kind; and therefore ceaseth not till he hath got out every spot & wrinkle out of his Spouses face, (as we heard the Apostle speak even now) so to present her glorious unto himself; that is, delightful and pleasing in his eye. And suitably unto this (to confirm us yet more in it,) Christ in that Sermon which was his solemn fare-well before his going to heaven, assures his Disciples that his heart would be so far from being weaned from them, that his joy would still be in them, to see them prosper and bring forth fruit; so JOHN 15. 9, 10, 11. where his scope is to assure them of the continuance of his love unto them when he should be gone; so ver. 9, 10. As my Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Continue in my love, &c. As if he had said, Fear not you my love, nor the continuance of it in my absence; but look you to do your duty, &c. And to give them assurance of this, he further tells them, that even when he is in heaven, in the greatest fullness of pleasure at Gods right hand, yet even then his joy will be in them, and in their well doing; so ver. 11. These things have I spoken unto you that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. He speaks just like a Father that is taking his leave of his children, and comforting them at his departure, and giving them good counsel, to take good courses when he is gone from them, to keep his Commandments, and to love one another, so ver. 10, & 12. ⟨p. 102⟩and backs it with this motive, so shall my joy remain in you, (it is as Fathers use to speak) and it will be for your good too, your joy will be also full. To open which words a little, the word [remain] used concerning their abiding in his love, and his joy abiding in them, is used in reference to the continuing of both these towards them in heaven.