Book II. A W ITNESS. ' late it a P/itmfs; for common Ufe hath fo prevailed, that they are peculiarly ' called Martyrs, who not only by Confellion of Mouth, but alfo by their Blood, tef– ' tify rhe Doctrine of Chrift.' See Pifcator upon the Place. The Greek Word ligni– fies any fVitnefs, yet in all Tongues, except Greek, a Martyr is a Lofer of his Life for the Gofpel; and often in Greek too in Eccleliaflical Writers. Chri!t in a fpiritual Senfe is called a Witnefs, lfa. xliii. to. and lv. 4· Rev. i. v. and iii. 1 4· (1.) Becaufe he is the moft alfured Tdtimony to us of Divine Truth, John xviii. 37· (2.) Becaufe he hath exactly fulfilled all that was foretold of him in the Old Te!tament, John i. 17. And (3.) becaufe he was martyred upon the Crofs for us, to compleat our Redemption, and confirm the Gofpel. As Wimelfes amongft Men are abfolutely necelfary to the keeping up of J uftice, and deciding all Matters of Moment between Man and Man: Even fo Almighty God, intending to deal with Men according to this Rule, hath in Wifdom thought fit to provide Himfelf with a Witnefs for the keeping up of J uftice, and deciding of all Matters between Himfelf and Mankind; and according to his own rich and admired Grace, he hath provided a \Vitnefs, who is free from all Exception, both in refpe<'l: of his Faithiulnefs and Knowledge of Things, and is Jefus Chrift himfdf, who is fee forth to be the true and faithful Witnefs, the Beginning of the Creation of God, who in point of Amiyuity is very capable to fer forth and atteft )Vhatfoever is necelfary to be known of God, and in whatfoever a faithful and true \Virnefs (in point of Ufeful– nefs) can be unto Men, that and much more is JefllS Chrift between God and Man– kihd. For the Illulhation whereof take thefe following Confiderations. M E T A P I-I 0 R. PARALLEL. WI'l"NE SS imports fomething done that is to be attefted when it !hall be required. THERE was lomething done between the Father and the Son in refpect of Man before the World began, which God thought Chrift a fit Perfon to bear \Vitnefs unto. t. That God had a Purpofe of Good-will to Man, and in pmfuit of which made a gracious Covenant in behalf of Man. 2. That God promifed Happinefs to Man (through that gra– cious Covenant) whom he faw fallen. And this Jefus Chrift hath borne Witnefs unto, in hopes of elernal Life, that God (who cannot lie) promifed before the World began, 'l"it. i. 2. This Covenant, Promife, and all other gracious Acts of the Father that attend them, as they are brought to light by Chrift in the Gofpel, he is a Wit– nefs of, together with the Being and Perfections of God, the Neceflity of Faith and Holinefs, e.nd Belief of the Refurre<'l:ion of the Dead, and ofeternal Judgment, and the World to come. If. A Witnefs hath refpeCl to a futu re Judgment, where a Diffe– rence may come uponTrial bet\veen two Parties. Ill. A Witnefs is, or otight to be a Perfon ofKnowledge, who is necelfarily qualified for the Work. II. The Witnefs of Chrift hath a full and clear rcfpe<'l: to a future Judgment where a Difference is to be tried between God and Man. He that rejeftelh me, and receiveth not my Word, I judge him not: 'l"he Word that I have JPoken, the fame jhalljudge him in the lafl Da)', John xii. 48. Ill. Jefus Chrift is a Perfon of the crreateft Knowledge in Divine Things, being always with the Father, and in his Bofom; fpake on Earth what he faw and heard in Heaven. He had the Word of God immediately from his own Mouth, which no others had befides him– felf, and therefore qualified to be a Witnefs in the higheft Degree; as it is faid, He that God bath fent JPeaketh the Words of God, John xiv. 20. IJPeak not of myfelf, but the Father that dwelleth in me doeth the Works, John xiv. 10. IV. A Witnefs is ufually ·called IV. Jefus was not only called to be a Prieft, as to give teflimony,and that in MatAaron, but alfo to be a Witnefs; God called him ters of which he hath very good from his high and exalted Glory in Heaven, to Knowledge. go forth as his great Witnefs to the \Vorld, to teftify what be knows of the Father's Will from Eternity. Hence, faid he, I came not of myfelf, but my Fatherfent me: and for this Cauft came I into the World, that I might bear witnefs of the 'l"ruth, John xviii. 37· V. A Wirne!s gives in a TeitiV. Jefus Cbrift hath given in a full Teftimony, tnony, and leaves the Matter on and borne Record of all Things depending between
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=