N00187:187
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. 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.
4. Jesus Christ came in such a low condition, to set us a pattern of exercising suffering graces, which must be in this militant world or not at all, for there will be no occasion in Heaven for the use of suffering grace, when all tears shall be wiped away from our eyes.
5. Jesus Christ came in such a low condition, to leave an occasion (not a cause) in the hand of Satan, easily to prevail with the wicked Jews, and Pagan Romans, to be so bold as to put to death that innocent person Jesus Christ; for the accomplishing of Gods Counsel, Act. 2.23. for the salvation of man, his low condition obscured his glory, whom if they had known, they would not have put to death the Lord of glory, 1 Cor. 2.8.
5. Jesus Christ came in such a low condition, to leave an occasion (not a cause) in the hand of Satan, easily to prevail with the wicked Jews, and Pagan Romans, to be so bold as to put to death that innocent person Iesus Christ; for the accomplishing of Gods Counsel, Act. 2.23. for the salvation of man, his low condition obscured his glory, whom if they had known, they would not have put to death the Lord of glory, 1 Cor. 2.8.
From all this we may see and learn that a poor low condition in this world is a sinless affliction, which Jesus Christ hath sanctified to be wholesome and good for his Church in this life, and giveth us opportunity of exerting and acting many graces of the Spirit, and Jesus Christ hath a most tender care over all his poor worms.
From all this we may see and learn that a poor low condition in this world is a sinless affliction, which Iesus Christ hath sanctified to be wholsome and good for his Church in this life, and giveth us opportunity of exerting and acting many graces of the Spirit, and Iesus Christ hath a most tender care over all his poor worms.
This is an eminent part or branch of the Humiliation and sufferings of Jesus Christ, a servant is the lowest order of mankind, a servant is beneath a Son, Luk 15.14. I am not worthy to be called thy Son, make me as one of thy hired Servants, it was a word of humiliation in the penitent prodigal, but an unexpressible act of humiliation in Jesus Christ, he came to be a Servant to his Father & that •e might have been, if he had been an Earthly King. King David counts it his honour to be a Servant of God, Psal. 116.16. O Lord truly I am thy Servant, I am thy Servant. But Jesus Christ took the form of a Servant among men. There be degrees of a Servant beneath that condition which Jesus Christ condescended unto, which he could not submit unto; but as low as it was possible, he condescended, and that was, to take the form of a Servant. Sin hath stripped Adam of his dominion, and brought him into bondage, Jesus Christ condescended as low as it was possible without sin, to bear as much of the punishment of sin, as he could wi•h Innocency, and therefore took upon himself the form of a Servant, to redeem man from his servitude; and to bring us into the adoption of Sons, a freedom of the Gospel, Math. 20.28. the Son of came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, Gal. 4.4, 5. God sent fo•th his Son made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that they might receive the Adoption of Sons.
THis is an eminent part or branch of the Humiliation and sufferings of Iesus Christ, a servant is the lowest order of mankind, a servant is beneath a Son, Luk 15.14. I am not worthy to be called thy Son, make me as one of thy hired Servants, it was a word of humiliation in the penitent prodigal, but an unexpressible act of humiliation in Iesus Christ, he came to be a Servant to his Father & that •e might have been, if he had been an Earthly King. King David counts it his honour to be a Servant of God, Psal. 116.16. O Lord truly I am thy Servant, I am thy Servant. But Iesus Christ took the form of a Servant among men. There be degrees of a Servant beneath that condition which Iesus Christ condescended unto, which he could not submit unto; but as low as it was possible, he condescended, and that was, to take the form of a Servant. Sin hath stripped Adam of his dominion, and brought him into bondage, Iesus Christ condescended as low as it was posible without sin, to bear as much of the punishment of sin, as he could wih Innocency, and therefore took upon himself the form of a Servant, to redeem man from his servitude; and to bring us into the adoption of Sons, a freedome of the Gospel,
To open this point, we must consider there be sundry kinds or degrees of Servants, or Service.
