A heavenly conference between Christ and Mary after His resurrection. Wherein the intimate familiarity,…

Beloved, It is a point of marvellous comfort, that Christ was not ashamed to call them Brethren, Psal. 22. 22. I will declare thy name amongst ⟨p. 48⟩by brethren, saith Christ. Our Saviour Christ alludeth to that Psalm in this passage, and so it is read, 2 Heb. out of that Psalm. Christ hath taken all relations (that are comfortable) upon him, towards us. He is the everlasting Father, Isai. 9. The Prince of peace. He is a second Adam, and therefore a Father in that regard. The first Adam is the Father of all that perish. The second Adam is the Father of all that shall be saved. As he is our Brother, so our Husband. He could not be our Husband, except he ¹were our Brother. He must take our nature, and be one with us, before we can be one with him. He is our friend, before this time he called them friends. As you see in John, I will call ²you friends. But here is a sweeter term Brethren. There is no relation that hath any comfort in it, but Christ hath taken it on him. He is our head, Husband, friend, Father, Brother, and whatsoever can convey comfort to us. And the truth of it is, he is these things more truly then any Relation is made true on earth. For these Relations of Husband and ⟨p. 49⟩Wife, and Brother and Sister, and Father and Child, are but shadows of that everlasting relation that Christ hath taken upon him; the reality and truth it self is in Christ. We think there is no Brother, but the Brother in flesh, no Father, but Father in flesh. Alas, these are but shadows, and quickly cease, the fashion of the world passeth away. Brother is another Relation whereof these are but shadows. These do but represent the best things that are in Heaven: Christ is the Father, Brother, Friend, and whatsoever is comfortable in Heaven; therefore go, tell my brethren.

Beloved, It is a point of marvellous comfort, that Christ was not ashamed to call them Brethren,