236 `Doll. Chr1h in all things hach the preheminence. Col. r.r8. r Cor.r¡.zo. z;. Inr}ance in re fritrcftion. r. 2. 3. Join:. r9. .Ephefianf,Chap. 2, V $R, 7, we mull look at himwhogoeth between God and us. When we have offended force great perfonages, if force mean one fhould move them inour behalf, it would not fo flay us z for we know theywill often not hear them fpeak, or have them in light regard, if they give them hearing : but if we can procure fuch as be their Peers to deal effe- Etually for us,we doubt not but that things !hall be well compounded; what will they denyfuch as are equal( to themfelves,and molt needy acquainted with theme So withus, if we have Chrift,&c. Again,this phrafe [in Chrifl] Both give us to confider, How that in all things Chrifl bath the preheminence ; all the benefits wecome to in him,he himfelf is firft poflelfedof them. And this is that the Apo. {tie fpeaketh to the Coleffians, that He is the firfl-fruits of the dead, that in all things he might have the preheminence : and this is that which (r Cor. r5.) is taught, whenhe calleth Chrifl the lift-fruits of them thatfleep; and teacheth, that the fame things (hall beapplyed in us, but in our order, ftrfl Chrifl, then they that are of Chrifl. He is the Lord of the quick and of the dead, and by whom all are quickned. Chrifts Refurrecetion bath a fpeciall preheminence and priviledge above all others; for all others before were not begotten from a- .mong the dead, becaufe they were railed up with mortality, 'tending to death again ; but in that he dyed, he dyed but once, not long to be held of it, but in that he is rifen, he is raifed to live for ever, death (hall no more have power over him. Again, all other rote as private andfngular men, not as publike perfons in the name of other, giving hope to all other of their Re. furreaion; therefore they were not the firft.fruits duly gathered,but like a fingular ear of Cornmore timely gathered. Now Chrifl is ri fen (as he dyed) not for himfelfonely, but for all us, and we all are raifed in him ; as a Burgeffe of a Parliament, what he Both or fpeak. cth, it is in the name of the Corporation, who doth it in him. Laflly, he railed himfelf, as he was the Lord from heaven, the quickening fpirit. Defíroy this Temple, and In three dayes 1 will raifi it up, Great therefore every way is the prerogative of our 'Lord Jefus Chrift. All (pirituall and faving bleffings are firft in Chrifl, andby Faith are derived to us from Chrifl ; and before we can have any of thefe bleffings which come fromChrifl, we muff have Chrift by Faith. Our Redemption Chrifl bath begged, or rather bought of his Father, yet weare ofour felves, as if there were no fuchmatter, till by Faith we come to be inhim. Suppofe there were twenty Traitors in the Tower, who lay cons dunned ; fay again, the Prince fhould yeeld his Father fuch fatisfa- ¿lion for Come whom he would fave, wherewith the Kinghis Father fhould reft content, and give him their pardon thereupon ; here the thing is done betwixt the King and his Son; yet till the Prince feed to them, write to the Keeper to deliver..fuch and fuch, they are in the
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