The harmony of the Gospels, in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings…

in all their afflictions he was afflicted, when the innocent Infants were martyred for his sake, he suffered with them when their Parents lamented, when Rachel mourned, & would not be comforted, he suffered with them, when his Parents Joseph and Mary fled under the terror of Herod's persecution for their lives, he suffered with them, and not only in their flight, but also in all the sufferings that followed he suffered with them. Yea, in all these sufferings he suffered more then any, yea, More then all his Saints suffered, with whom he was a co-sufferer▪ for he suffered as our Saviour, Luk. 2.11. unto you is b••n a Saviour, he was in that Office from his birth, Isai. 9.6, 7. unto us a Son is born, unto us a Son is given, and the Government shall be on his shoulders, and his […] shall be […] wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Pri••• of peace, &c▪ & behold all this is now in performing, for the Child is born, the Son of David is given to the Church, and he is about his great and glorious work for the Redemption of Israel. he is no sooner born, but he is a sufferer, he is born in the Office of a Saviour, all his works and sufferings are Effects of his Office, when he fulfilled the Law, he did it as a public person, our Saviour, our second Adam when he suffered, he suffered as a public person▪ fulfilling the penalty of the Law. The second Adam suffering for the first Adam, and for all the Elect of God, who were committed to his charge to deliver them. All the obedience of this person both active and passive are pure, perfect, and meritorious. The sufferings of this Child Jesus are not so much to be attended as they proceed from Herod, who was jealous of loosing his Kingdom over Judea, and opposed him only upon that account. ⟨p. 16⟩But the sufferings of Jesus Christ who ever was the Instrument thereof, are upon an higher account, viz. to satisfy vindictive justice, according to the Covenant that passed betwixt the Father and the Son, in the behalf of Adam, and his Elect Seed. This is the internal and spiritual Character of all the sufferings of Jesus Christ, even from his first Incarnation, and from his birth, his first entrance into the Flesh, into this World, was attended with great sufferings.