Keach - Houston-Packer Collection BS537 .K4 1779

332 CHRIST A D 0 0 R. Book it 3· Befldes this, we may learn from hence what Fools many Men are; whilft the purfue after the poor Hart, they ftudy not the Way to hunt for this fpititual Venito!. Jefus Chnft IS worth the Chafe; who would not hunt for fuch an Hind? 4· Let Saints be comforted, Chrift has Hinds Feet; he will foon get over all Diffi• culties, and deliver them. La.ftly; Let us pray with the Church, Make ha.fte, my Beloved, and be thou like a Roe or a )'Oung Hart, upon the Mountain of Spices, Cant. viii. 14- • ' CHRIST A :D 0 o R., Eyw "I"' " 3-vp~,-1 am the Door, John x. 9· A MONGST the manr Metaphors that our Bldfed Savior is expreffed by in the Holy Scnpture, certamly this ofDoor muft carry fameEmphafis and Signification for U fe and Improvement; otherwife He that was wifer than Solomon, and jpake a; never Man jpakc, (for Excellency of Matter and Form) would never have likened himfelf to a Door. And therefore whatever may be imagined concerning a Door, in Point of Excellency and .Ufefulnefs, in refpeCl: of Appointment and Necellity to the Children of Men, accordmg to the Scope ot the Text, that (even that) by way of Emi– nency is the Son of God unto Sinners. For the better Underflanding of which we Jhall diftinCl:ly confider the Subject, and run the Parrallel as followeth. ' METAPHOR. I. A Door is of the fame Sub– ftance with fame Part of the Houfe, to which it is purpofed or intended as an ufeful Part. PARALLEL. I. JESUS Chrift, the fpiritual Door, was of tire fame Subftance in refpeCl: of his human Nature, that Men are, even like to them in all Things, Sin only excepted. In as much as Chil– dren are Partakers of Flejh and Blood, be himftlf took part of the fame, Heb. ii. 14. therefore very often in Scripture called a Man. I!. A Door is fitted, by the Power Il. Jefus Chrift is fitted by the Power and ·and Wifdom of him who is concernvVifdom of him, who bath laid a moft worthy ed to make it, for an intended End. Platform and Contrivance, and purpofeth all Things to his own moft wife and admirable Ends. He Jent forth his Son made of a Woman, Gal. iv. 4· A Body haft thou prepared me, Heb. x. 5· Ili.ADoorisfetapartorafligned Ill. Jefus Chrift is f.mCl:ified, or fer apart by toaproperPlaceanc!Service, which God the Father, to be a Mediator and Savior, other Parts of a Houfe are not fit which no other befides himfelf is fit for: I 'l'im. for. ii. 5· 'John x. 36. Whom the Father bathJanflijied (or fer apart) and font into the World. And there is no Name under Heaven givne, by which Men can be faved, but by him, Afls iv. 12. IV. A Door is ofNecefiity; who IV. Jefus Chrift is of fuch abfolute Neceflity, ·can be without it, that is of human that none can be happy without him, that have Race whofe dwellincr is with Men? immortal Souls to fave. Wbofo jindeth me,jindetb ' 0 Life, andfball obtai;z Pavor of the Lord. He that hates me loves Death, Prov. viii. 35, 36. Unlefsye believe that I am be, )'efball (abide without, viz.) die in your Sins, 'John viii. 24. V. A Door is as really the ProV. Jefus Cluift is truly and really God's Propriety of the Owner of the Houfe, priety, as the Church, and each particularBeliever, as any other Part or Parts of the or Member thereof; therefore m Scnpture ,IS Houfe bef1des. called his own Son. All ts yours, )'e are Chri.ft s, and Chri.ft is God's, Rom. viii. 32. I Cor. iii. 23. VI. A Door lets into Poffellion; if Men hire or purchafe, and take Poffefiion, the Door is the Entrance thereto. VI. J efus Chrift has the Honor and Office of letin<> all true Believers into the Poffefiion of that 0 eternal Inheritance purchafed by his own Blood for them; it was he that gave the poor Thief entrance into Heaven, Luke xxiii. 43· VII. A Door is under the ComVII. Jefi.ts Chrifl is under the Command of mand of the Mafler that owns it; God the Father, as Man; and . he receives in, and

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