Book II. CHRIST PR 0 P H .E T . 355. PR 0 PH ET. VI. A Prophet, though never fo good or great, is flighted by his own Neighbours and People; he IS without honor in bis own Countr)', Mall. xiii. 37· VII. A true Prophet is ordained ofGod, is fent forth to do that Work and BuGnefs: Before thou camej! o11t of the 11/omb, I oi·dtiined thee to be a Prophet unto the Natiom, ]er. i. 5· VIJI. AProphet is anointed to do and perform the Work proper to his place; as it is (aid, Elifha, -the Sail of Shaphat, thoujha!t anoint to le a Pt·ophet, 1 Kings xix. 16. dX. AProphet is the Leader and Guide of the People, as it is (aid, 'E)' a Prophet the Lord led Ifrael aUJ -.f Egypt. PAR ALL EL. VI. J efus Chri£1:, though he was the greateO: and bell: of Prophets that ever was fent to the Children of Men, yet was he Uighted by his own People, and rejeCl:ed by his near Neighbours : He came unto his own, and his own received him not, John i. I 1. Is not this the Carpenter's Son, whof< Father and Motber <oe know? &c. · VII. Jefus Chrilt was ordained, and fent of God to do the Vv'ork and Office of a Prophet: I came not of myfe!f, ?ut the Father fent me. lie was faithful to him !hat appointed bim, as Mofes a!fo was, Heb. iii. 2. VIII. J cfus Chrift is anointed to be a Prophet, and to perform the Work proper to his place ; as it is faid, Becarife thou bajllovcd Nigbteoufnefs, and hated bliquity, therefore God, even thy God, bath anointed tbee witb the Oil of G!adnefs above tby J?e!!ows, Heb. i. 9· 'Ihe Lord God bath anointed me to preacb the GoJPei to the Poor, &c. Luke iv. 18. , IX.· Je!lts Uuift is the Leader or Guide of his People, called the Fore- runner and Captain of our Sa'lvation. Hejha!! feed his Flock like a Shep– herd, and gem!;· lead thofe that are with young, &c. !fa. xl. 1 I. /iebo!d, I have given bim for a Wit– -nejs to tbe People,. a.Leader and Commander to the People, !fa. lv. 4· X. A true Prophet ought to be X . Jdus Chrifl ought w be believed. God .believed: Believe his Prophets, fo co111mands ail Men to hear him, and unlefs they jhai! )'OU p;·o.fper, 2 Chron. xx. ·i o. believe in him, they fl1all die in their Sins. For · Mofes t;7•/;' f aid tmto the Fathers, A Prophet fba,, ·the Lordyour God·raife up.nuto ;•ou, ofyour B;·ethren, likermto me, himjha!l;•e bear i11 a/! ,<[bings bejba!lfay llillo )'Oil. A~d it jha!! come to pa.fs, that evety Sou! tbat will not bear ·tbat Prophet, jha!l be dejlroyed from -mnong the Peopl'o At?s iii. 22, 23. XI. A Prophet bears witne(s to XI. J efus ChriO: did bear witnefs to the Truth; .the Truth: 'Iobimgivsa!! the Prohe witndli:d a good .Confeffion before Pontius . phcts Witnefs, Afls x. 43· .Pi/ate., znd is called the faithful and true Witne[s, XII. A Prophet is a ·Man of 'God, a Servant of God, and knows ' his Secrets, Jcr. xliv. 4· .. Ezek. .xxxviii. .r 7· Dan..ix. 6. Amos iii. 7· XIII. The.Prophets of God laid ·a Foundation for the Church to . build upon, in refpeCl: of Faith and DoCl:rine: And that the Chilrch is .built upon the Foundation of tpe . Apqft!es and Propbets, 1-."pb. ii. 20. and Fbjf begottm from the Dead. XII. J efm Chri£1: is a Man of God indeed, a . Servatlt of God, wholeMeat and Drink it was to do his Will, and one who knew all the Father's Se– crets: No Nlail bath feev God at any 'rime, fave the on!;•.bcgotten Son. of Gad, which is in the Bofom of the Father, he batb declared him, Matt xi. 27. X III. Jefus Chrilt bath excelled all that went before him in this refpeCl:. He was not applauded by the People only, who faid he was a 'Ieacher come from God? tl1at he taught like one that had Autbo– rit)', and ne•ver Manfpake like him, Nfatt. vii. 29. but he was commended as one fit to be heard, by God himfelf, and that with an audible voice from H eaven, 'Ihis.is my beloved So11, hear ye him, Mall. iii. 17. This great Prophet of the MoO: High bath, in purfuit of his prophetical Office, laid a fair Foundation.for the Church to build upon, in thefe great and moO: important .Po111ts: · I. He bath fet forth God in the Excellencv of his Nature, and Perfttl:ions. He hath told us, we are to have .Faith in hiR{, to.love him with all our whole Soul, and witll all our Strength, and to wor.fhip him .ln.Spirit and in Truth. 2. He I \ \
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