Book II. CHRIST THE BR AN CH. c H R I s T THE B R A N c H. I will bring forth my Servant, the Branch, Zech. iii. 8. Behold the Man wbofe Name is the Branch, Zech. vi. 12. THEHebrew Word nrJl:, and the Latin Word, Germen," do metaphorically lignify Chrifr. The Greek Interpreters tranfrated .it, "''"T'I.''• and the Vulgate Latin, Orientem; for they judged, that Chrifr might be fo called from that Glory and Bright– nefs, by which he chafed away the Darknefs that overfpread the vVorld; but the Word will not bear that Senfe, as the Root MIJ~ fheweth. In thefe places of Scripture, where Chrifr is called a Branch, we are to underfrand his human Nature is intended; and this· according to the Judgment of divers Expofi– tors. I will cattfe the Branch of Righteoufnefs to grow up unto David: Jer. xxxiii. 15. Hence he is faid to be a Branch out of tbe Stem of Jeffe, !fa. xi. z. And this is ac– cording to the Apofrle, where he mentions, that God fware unto David, tbat of the Fruit of his Loins according to the Flejh, he would raife up Chrifl to fit upon his 'Throne, Ails ii. 30. And upon this account Chrifr is called the Son of David, and the Off-fpring of David, Rev. xxii. I6. How fitly Chrifr may be compared to a Branch, we !hall note under three or four Particulars. METAPHOR. I. A BRANCH hath a Root or Stock from whence it pro– ceeds. 11. A Branch is of the fame Na– ture with the Stock or Root from whence it naturally proceeds. PARALLEL. I. CHRIST, as concerning the Fleih, proceeded from Abraham, Je.f!e, David, Mary, &c. R om. i. 3· Mark vi. 3· II. Chrifr is really and truly Man, and hence he is called the Seed of the Woman, Gen. iii. I 5· and the Seed of Abrahmn, &c. Ge1<. xxii. 18. and, made of a Woman, made like unto us in all 'J'hings, Sin only excepted. Forafmuch as Children are Partakers ofFlejh and Blood, he alfo himfe!f like– wife took part of the fame, Heb. ii. 1 + III. A Branch partakes of Sap Ill. Chri!l: partook of Nourifhment from the and Nouriihment from the Root. Virgin not only in the Womb, but afterwards: lV. A Branch, or the Branches of a Tree, are the Glory of a Tree. B!e.f!ed arethe Papsthat thouhaft fucked, Luke xi. 2 7. and xxiii. 29. IV. Chri!l:, the Son of Man, being the real Off– fpring and Son of Davidaccording to the Fleih, is the Glory of all David's Race, and of the whole Church of God in general, Matt. xxii. 45· Rev. xxii. I6. I N F E R E N C E S. I. THIS may ferve to refute thofe that fay, The Matter ofChrill:'s human Nature · was from Heaven; and that he paffed through the Womb of the Virgin, as Water through a Conduit-Pipe; and is called the Seed of the Woman, and made of a Woman, Gal. iv. 4· upon no other account than his being born of a Woman.-From hence, 2. We may admire the Goodnefs and rich Grace of God, and his di!l:inguifhing Love to Mankind, in that the Lord Jefus took not hold of the Nature of Angels, but of the Seed of Abrabam, Heb. ii. I 6. that there ihould be a Savior for fallen Man, and none for fallen Angels. 3· Th1s fh~ws how Man is ma<>nified and exalted by the Almighty. What greater I>ignity can God confer upon us~than that our Nature ihould be united to, and made Ont: Wlth the Deity? This is the Rife and Ground of all om Hope and Confolation. • Leigh. Crit. Sacra, P• +35· 4-Z CHRIST
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