N00187:173
The harmony of the Gospels, in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings of Jesus Christ, from his incarnation to his death and burial. / Published by John Eliot, teacher of the church in Roxbury. ; [Two lines from Acts]
printed by John Foster, 1678
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.
Psalm. 22.6. I am a worm and no man, despised of the people, a no body, a nothing, a poor despicable thing, this is an effect of his poverty, and therefore in the opening of it, sundry things will be coincident, and some, the same that were expressed in his sufferings of poverty, but it should not be accounted a needless Tautology, seeing the Scripture is so plentiful in this point, both in the Prophesy and in the History, to express, amplify, and dilate upon the point of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus, as being a point very remarkable, and much to be insisted upon, and often inculcated.
PSalm. 22.6. I am a worm and no man, despised of the people, a no body, a nothing, a poor despicable thing, this is an effect of his poverty, and therefore in the opening of it, sundry things will be coincident, and some, the same that were expressed in his sufferings of poverty, but it should not be accounted a needless Tau•ologie, seeing the Scripture is so plentiful in this point, both in the Prophesy and in the History, to express, amplifie, and dilate upon the point of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus, as being a point very remarkeable, and much to be insisted upon, and often inculcated.
Wealth is an exercise of the dominion of man, therefore it exalts a man in the World. poverty strippeth man of his dominion, therefore it lays him low in the World. And in that condition it pleased Jesus Christ to lay himself. He who is God humbled himself by his Incarnation, lower then Angels, though h• had been born the greatest of men on Earth, yet he humbled himself to become a man, Phil. 2.6, 7. he emptied himself to become a man, and laid himself among the lowermost ⟨p. 40⟩rank and sort of m•n, which is Rhetorically expressed by a worm, what is lower then a worm among living creatures, such was Jesus Christ in the flesh, a no body among men, the lowest of no body, therefore the Text saith a worm & no man, one of no account. But consider that this Text showeth of what esteem and account Jesus Christ was in the worlds eye only, he was not so accounted in Gods eye, nor in the Churches Eye, for see of what account Jesus Christ was in Gods Eye, Mat. 3.17. this is my well beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. See also Math. 12 18. behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my Soul is well pleased, I will put my Spirit upon him, and be shall show judgement unto the Gentiles. See what account he was of in the Angels eye, Luk. 2.10, 11. I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. See what account he is of in the estimation of the Scriptures, Isai. 9.6, 7. unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his Name shall be called wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David, and upon his Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice, from henceforth even for ever; the Zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this. Amen. This glorious person is the •ow worm we are speaking of, see also what account he is in the Eye of the Church,
Quest, What renders a man to be a no body, a nothing, a worm?
Answ. Many things, which are in no wise appertaining to Jesus Christ, as for instance 1. When a man is of low parts and gifts, a simple, sorry, foolish, creature, but Jesus Christ was not such an one, Luk. 2.40. when he was a child he was full of wisdom, and 52. as he grew up he increased in wisdom.
Answ. Many things, which are in no wise appertaining to Jesus Christ, as for instance 1. When a man is of low parts and gifts, a simple, sorry, foolish, creature, but Jesus Christ was not such an one, Luk. 2.40. when he was a child he was full of wisdome, and 52. as he grew up he increased in wisdome.
2. When a man is unfit for any action or service in his generation, like an Image finely carved, but good for nothing, as Isai. 44.10. But Jesus Christ was not such an one, he did the greatest good to man that ever was done, never man did the like, Psal. 89.6. who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord, who among the Sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord.
2. When a man is unfit for any action or service in his generation, like an Image finely carved, but good for nothing, as Isai. 44.10. But Jesus Christ was not such an one, he did the greatest good to man thar ever was done, never man did the like, Psal. 89.6. who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord, who among the Sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord.
3. When men are debauched and defiled with gross sins, this doth debase them, and make them no bodies, Prov. 14.34. But Jesus Christ was far from any such stain or spot, he is a Lamb without spot or blemish, 1 Pet. 1.19. he knew no sin, though he was made sin for us, by the imputation of our sin, and 1 Pet. 2.32, 23, 24. who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously; who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the Tree.
3. When men are deboshed and defiled with gross sins, this doth debase them, and make them no bodies, Prov. 14.34. But Jesus Christ was far from any such stain or spot, he is a Lamb without spot or blemish, 1 Pet. 1.19. he knew no sin, though he was made sin for us, by the imputation of our sin, and 1 Pet. 2.32, 23, 24. who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatned not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously; who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the Tree.
4. Men are rendered of no esteem, when they are of an ill disposition, proud, covetous, selfish, passionate, censorious, contentious, and such like. But no such thing was ever found in Jesus Christ, he was meek, lowly, lovely Math. 11.29. learn of me for I am meek and lowly, Math 12.17, 18, 20. he shall not strive nor cry, &c.
4. Men are rendred of no esteem, when they are of an ill disposition, proud, covetous, selfish, passionate, censorious, contentious, and such like. But no such thing was ever found in Jesus Christ, he was meek, lowly, lovely Math. 11.29. learn of me for I am meek and lowly, Math 12.17, 18, 20. he shall not strive nor cry, &c.
5. Lastly, When men are poor in the world, this makes them low and despicable in the worlds Eye. And this only was the case of Jesus Christ, saving that we may add, that his holiness of Doctrine and life would be, yea, was an Eye-sore to the Scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites, and to such as adhered unto them. This low condition is a part of the spotless punishment of the sin of man, unto which Jesus Christ doth voluntarily submit himself.
5. Lastly, When men are poor in the world, this makes them low and despicable in the worlds Eye. And this only was the case of Iesus Christ, saving that we may add, that his holiness of Doctrine and life would be, yea, was an Eye-sore to the Scribes, Pharisees, and hipocrites, and to such as adhered unto them. This low condition is a part of the spotless punishment of the sin of man, unto which Iesus Christ doth voluntarily submit himself.
Quest. Wherein, or in what respects was Jesus Christ like unto a worm, for so he describeth himself? a worm is 1. Despicable. 2. Useless. 3, None feareth it. 4, None cares to defend it. 5. Every one is bold to tread on it. 6. They will be easily induced to destroy it. 7. None fears revenge for destroying it.
Quest. Wherein, or in what respects was Jesus Christ like unto a worm, for so he describeth himself? a worm is 1. Despicable. 2. Vseless. 3, None feareth it. 4, None cares to defend it. 5. Every one is bold to tread on it. 6. They will be easily induced to destroy it. 7. None fears revenge for destroying it.
1. Jesus Christ his poverty did so veil his glory, that in all these and such like respects he was like a worm, which cloud of obscurity was no small part of his humiliation, and suffering for our sin, he was despicable, Psal. 22.5. despised of the people, Psal. 119.141. I am small and despised, Eccles. 4.16. the poor mans wisdom is despised, Isai. 53.3, despised, rejected of men, but God did dearly accept him, Math. 3.17. and 12.18.
1. Jesus Christ his poverty did so vaile his glory, that in all these and such like respects he was like a worm, which cloud of obscurity was no small part of his humiliation, and suffering for our sin, he was despicable, Psal. 22.5. despised of the people, Psal. 119.141. I am small and despised, Eccles. 4.16. the poor mans wisdome is despised, Isai. 53.3, despised, rejected of men, but God did dearly accept him, Math. 3.17. and 12.18.
2. He was rendered hereby in the worlds eye useless, they were exceeding populous, and where it is so, the poor worms are rather a burden then of any use to their Generation, though they be godly and wise, Joh. 7.49. the poor people are cursed, Act. 4, 11. the stone set at nought, by the builders. but God made him the head of the Co•ner, and desirable to redeem, preserve and govern the world, and especially the Church,
2. He was rendered hereby in the worlds eye useless, they were exceeding populo•s, and where it is so, the poor worms are rather a burthen then of any use to th•ir Generation, though they be godly and wise, Joh. 7.49. the poor people are cursed, Act. 4, 11. the stone set at nought, by the builders. but God made him the head of the Co•ner, and desireable to redeem, preserve and govern the world, and especially the Churc•,
3. None is afraid of a worm, it cannot hurt us, so none feared Jesus Christ, Herod and his men of war set him at nought; though there was the greatest cause in the world for Herod and his men of war to have feared the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Rev. 5.5. and to kiss the Son, lest he be angry, Psal 2 12. and tremble at the w•ath of the Lamb, Rev. 6.15, 16, 17. and the Kings of the Earth, and the great men, and the rich m•n, and the chief Captains, and the mighty men, and the bond man, and every free man hid themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the mountains, and said to the Rocks and mountains fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand.
4. None careth to defend such a poor useless creature as a worm is, so no body cared to defend Jesus Christ, and his cause. Once Nicodemus spake a good word for Jesus Christ, which had a present good effect, but he was quipped for it, Joh. 7, 50.51, 52, 53. Jesus Christ complained, Psal. 22.11. there is none to help, but God taketh care of this poor worm, Isai. 40.14. fear not thou worm Jacob.
5. Any one is bold to tread upon a worm to hurt and injure it, so were the people bold to speak and do against Jesus Christ, sometimes to stone him, Joh. 8.59. and 10.31. sometime to cast him down the cleft of the Rocks, Luk 4.28, 29, 30. but God preserved him from them.
5. Any one is bold to tread upon a worm to hurt and injure it, so were the people bold to speak and do against Jesus Christ, sometimes to stone him, Ioh. 8.59. and 10.31. sometime to cast him down the clift of the Rocks, Luk 4.28, 29, 30. but God preserved him from them.
Wealth is an exercise of the dominion of man, therefore it exalts a man in the World. poverty strippeth man of his dominion, therefore it layes him low in the World. And in that condition it pleased Jesus Christ to lay himself. He who is God humbled himself by his Incarnation, lower then Angels, though h• had been born the greatest of men on Earth, yet he humbled himself to become a man, Phil. 2.6, 7. he emptied himself to become a man, and laid himself among the lowermost ⟨p. 40⟩rank and sort of m•n, which is Rhetorically expressed by a worm, what is lower then a worm among living creatures, such was Jesus Christ in the flesh, a no body among men, the lowest of no body, therefore the Text saith a worm & no man, one of no account. But consider that this Text sheweth of what esteem and account Jesus Christ was in the worlds eye only, he was not so accounted in Gods eye, nor in the Churches Eye, for see of what account Jesus Christ was in Gods Eye, Mat. 3.17. this is my well beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. See also Math. 12 18. behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my Soul is well pleased, I will put my Spirit upon him, and be shall shew judgement unto the Gentiles. See what account he was of in the Angels eye, Luk. 2.10, 11. I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. See what account he is of in the estimation of the Scriptures, Isai. 9.6, 7. unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his Name shall be called wonderful, Counsellour, the mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David, and upon his Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice, from henceforth even for ever; the Zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this. Amen. This glorious person is the •ow worm we are speaking of, see also what account he is in the Eye of the Church, Joh. 1.14. we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father. And this is the person that in the worlds Eye is a worm, and a no body, and despised of men.
