N00187:181
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.
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.
6. Every one is easily induced & persuaded to destroy a worm. So were the people, who a few days before had cried Hosanna to the Son of David, easily persuaded by the Priests, Scribes and Pharisees to cry, crucify him, and give us Barabbas.
6. Every one is easily induced & perswaded to destroy a worm. So were the people, who a few dayes before had cried Hosanna to the Son of David, easily perswaded by the Priests, Scribes and Pharises to cry, crucifie him, and give us Barabbas.
7. They fear no body to take vengeance for wrong done to a worm, so were the Jews fearless of any vengeance to be inflicted upon them for the wrong and injury done unto Jesus Christ, which made them bold to expose themselves and their posterity unto any such vengeance, saying, his blood be upon us, and upon our Children. And never was blood more sharply revenged, and a curse more severely executed, for they have been under that curse near seventeen hundred years, and they are still under it to this day.
Quest. But why did Jesus Christ take upon him such a low condition in this world? why came he not a Prince in the external Royalty of his Father David?
Answ. 1. Because this low, stripped, bereaved condition, under the loss of the dominion of man in this world is one part of the punishment due to the sin of man, Gen. 3, 23, 24. and it is such a punishment as may be taken up and born with innocency, without any defilement of sin, therefore Jesus Christ did willingly submit to the deepest stroke of that punishment, for the satisfaction of Divine justice, Isai. 63.9. in all our sinless afflictions he was afflicted, and Isai. 53.4. he hath born our griefs, was wounded for our transgressions, the chastisement of our peace was upon him. And this innocent punishment for our sin he suffered most purely, perfectly, and meritoriously, unto the Infinite satisfaction of the vindictive Justice of God. And thereby took out the sting of the curse from the like low condition, that we may fall into, and he bore it away from us, Isai. 53.5, 6.
Answ. 1. Because this low, stripped, bereaved condition, under the loss of the dominion of man in this world is one part of the punishment due to the sin of man, Gen. 3, 23, 24. and it is such a punishment as may be taken up and born with •nnocency, without any defilement of sin, therefore Jesus Christ did willingly submit to the deepest stroke of that punishment, for the satisfaction of Divine justice, Isai. 63.9. in all our sinless afflictions he was afflicted, and Isai. 53.4. he hath born our griefs, was wounded for our transgressions, the chastisement of our peace was upon him. And this innocent punishment for our sin he suffered most purely, perfectly, and meritoriously, unto the Infinite satisfaction of the vindictive Justice of God. And thereby took out the sting of the curse from the like low condition, that we may fall into, and he bore it away from us, Isai. 53.5, 6
2. Jesus Christ came in this low condition to sanctify a low condition in this world, for his Saints, the elect of God. Seeing it was the purpose of God to carry the Church in this world through such a low condition, 1 Cor. 1.26, 27, 28.
2. Jesus Christ came in this low condition to sanctifie a low condition in this world, for his Saints, the elect of God. Seeing it was the purpose of God to carry the Church in this world through such a low condition, 1 Cor. 1.26, 27, 28.
Yet take this with these cautions, 1. All the Church of Gods Elect are not so, all are not in such a low condition, though most are, for the Text saith, not many noble, rich, mighty, but some such there always are, for the great support of the Church, when Kings are nursing Fathers, and Queens are nursing mothers to the Churches, Isai. 49.23.
Yet take this with these cauticus, 1. All the Church of Gods Elect are not so, all are not in such a low condition, though most are, for the Text saith, not many noble, rich, mighty, but some such there alwayes are, for the great support of the Church, when Kings are nursing Fathers, and Queens are nursing mothers to the Churches, Isai. 49.23.
2, Again, take this caution, that this low condition of the Church shall not always be so, for in the latter days Jesus Christ will more plentifully pour out prosperity, grace, which though it hath been more rarely dispensed hitherunto, yet it seemeth to me, that it shall be otherwise in the glorious times of the Church in this world as may be gathered out of the Prophesies of Isaiah from the sixty Chapter and so forward: and from many other Scriptures.
2, Again, take this caution, that this low condition of the Church shall not alwayes be so, for in the latter dayes Jesus Christ will more plentifully pour out prosperity, grace, which though it hath been more rarely dispenced hitherunto, yet it seemeth to me, that it shall be otherwise in the glorious times of the Church in this world as may be gathered out of the Prophesies of Isaiah from the sixty Chapter and so forward: and from many other Scriptures.
3. Jesus Christ came in a low condition in this world, and carrieth his Elect (many of them) through this world in a low condition, to exert and exercise Gods Sovereignty, in defending his poor worms against the proud great world, and sometimes in advancing his worm, Jacob and David from the Shepherds crook to the Sceptre, Luk. 1.48. he hath regarded the low •state of his handmaid, this Sovereignty of God is highly celebrated, 1 Sam. 2.4. ad 11. Job. 5.15, 16. and abundantly in the books both of the Scriptures and of the providences of God.
3. Jesus Christ came in a low condition in this world, and carryeth his Elect (many of them) through this world in a low condition, to exert and exercise Gods Sovereignty, in defending his poor worms against the proud great •orld, and sometimes in advancing his worm, Jacob and David from the Shephards crook to the Scepter, Luk. 1.48. he hath regarded the low •state of his handmaid, this Sovereignty of God is highly celebrated, 1 Sam. 2.4. ad 11. Job. 5.15, 16. and abundantly in the books both of the Scriptures and of the providences of God.
