N00342:161
The mystery of Christ opened and applied. In several sermons, concerning the person, office,…The mystery of Christ opened and applyed. In several sermons, concerning the person, office,…
The mystery of Christ opened and applied. In several sermons, concerning the person, office, and glory of Jesus Christ. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in N. England. ; [Twelve lines of quotations]The mystery of Christ opened and applyed. In several sermons, concerning the person, office, and glory of Jesus Christ. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in N. England. ; [Twelve lines of quotations]
Boston: printed by Richard Pierce for Joseph Browning, 1686
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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. Humane (sinless) Infirmities are affirmed of Christ. Therefore he is man as well as God. Indeed, as for those sinful Infirmities which we are so miserably subject unto, Christ had none of them; but other Infirmities he once had, ⟨p. 82⟩Heb. 4. 15. We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without Sin. It is therefore also said, that God sent his own son in the likeness of sinful fl••h, Rom. 8. 4. The Son of God is not only in the likeness of flesh, for he is made real flesh but only like sinful flesh: As the Brazen Serpent was like a Serpent, but had no poison in it; so Christ was like unto sinful flesh, but never had the least degree of sin in his holy nature. Only as to other Infirmities he was as all other men are. Its true, that there are many personal infirmities of men which Christ had not experience of: there are many Diseases which particular persons are afflicted with, that Christ was never subject to, but the general infirmities of humane nature, he did subject unto. e. g. To Hunger, Thirst, Weariness, &c. which are the general Infirmities of our nature. And so it was with Christ when in this world. Mat. 4. 2. Indeed now he is entered into his glory, he is not subject to any infirmity; but during his state of humiliation he was so. Hence that state is expressed by the days of his flesh. Heb. 5. 7. i. e. the time when he was subject to humane sinless infirmities. And Christ hath not laid aside the essential properties of his ⟨p. 83⟩humane nature. Tho' such in••rmityes as were accidental thereunto and necessary for his state of Humiliation are not consistent with his glorified estate; yet he carried to the right hand of God in Heaven his humane nature, even a soul and body, the very same that once suffered for the Sins of his people. He hath flesh and bones, (glorified flesh) now in heaven: And therefore a glorious body; for so does the Scripture declare and teach us to believe. We have a Saviour in heaven, who shall change our vile bodies that they be fashioned like unto his glorious body.