TIttE IHVDIAN N lvberéby false and mischievous ideas or representations of him are infused into the minds of men, The Pa- pists would learn and teach him by images, the work of men's hands, and teachers of lies. For, besides that they are forbidden by God himself to be used unto any such purposes, and therefore cursed with barrenness and uselessness as to any end of faith or holiness; they are in themselves suited only to ingenerate low and carnal thoughts in depraved superstitious minds. For, as the worshippers of such images know not what is the proper cause nor the proper object of that reverence, and those affections they find in themselves, when they approach unto them and adorebefore them; so the apprehensions which they can have hereby, tend but to the knowing after the flesh, which the apostle looked on as no part of his duty, 2 Cor. v. 16. But the glory of the human nature, as united unto the person of the Son of God, and engaged in the discharge of his office of mediator, consists alone in these eminent, peculiar, ineffable com- munications of the Spirit of God unto him, and his powerful operations in him, this is represented unto us in the glass of the gospel, which we beholding by faith, are changed into the same image by the same Spirit, 2 Cor. iii. 18. Sect 15. Our Lord Christ himself did foretel us that there would be great inquiries after hilt', and that great deceits would be immixed therewithal; " If," saith he, " they shall say unto you, He is in the wilderness, " go not forth, behold he is in the secret chambers, be- " lieve it not," Matta. xxiv. 26. It is not a wilderness, low, persecuted, unglorious and invisible condition, as to outward profession, that our Saviour here intendeth. For himself foretold that his church should be driven into the wilderness, and nourished there, and that for a long season, I{ev. xü. 6. And where his church is, there is Christ; for his promise is to bewith them, and among them, unto the end of the world, Matth. xxviii, 20. Nor by secret chambers doth he intend those private places of meeting for security, which all his dis- ciples for some hundreds of years were compelled unto, and did make use of, after his apostles who met some.. times in an upper room, sometimes in the night, for fear of the Jews. And such it is notorious were all the meetings of the primitive Christians. But our Saviour here foretels the, false ways that some would pretend he is taught by and foundin. For, first, some would say ATONE OF CHRIST. 1Oú3 he was , rn i -sso, in the desert or wilderness;, and if men would go forth thither, there they would see him, and find him. And there is nothing intended hereby, but the ancient superstitions monks, who, under a pre- tence of religion, retired themselves into deserts and so- litary places. For there they pretended great intercourse with Christ, great visions and appearances of him, be- ing variously deluded and imposed on by Satan and their own imaginations. It is ridiculous, on the one hand, and deplorable, on the other, to consider the woful follies, delusions, and superstitions this sort of men fell into: yet was in those days nothing tbore common, than to say, that Christ was in the desert, conversing with the monks and anchorites. Go notforth unto them, saith our Lord Christ; for, in so doing, you will be de- ceived; and again saith he, If they say unto you he is, e To s'wrs s, in thesecret chambers, believe it not. There is, or I am much deceived, a deep and mysterious in- struction in these words. To,,sse, signifies those secret places in an house where bread, and wine, and cates of all sorts are laid up and stored. This is the proper sig- nification and use of the word. What pretence then could there be for any to say that Christ was in such u place? Why, there issued so great a pretence hereof, and so horrible a superstition thereon, that it was of di- vine wisdom to foresee it, and of divine goodness 'to forewarn us of it. For it is nothing but the Popish fig- ment of transubstantiation that is intended. Christ must be in the secret places where their wafer and wine was exposited, that is, o s-US eu0s, . Concerning this saith our Saviour, believe them not. All crafts, and frauds, and bloody violences, will be used to compel you to believe a Christ in the pix and repository; but, if you would not be seduced, believe them not. Such are the false ways whereby some have pretended to teach Christ, and to learn him, which have led them from him into hurtful snares and perdition, The con- sideration that we have insisted on-will guide us, if at- tended to, untoa spiritual and saving knowledgeof him, and we are to learn thus to know him. Sect. 16.First; That we may love him with a pure unmixed love. It is true, it is the person of Christ ag God and man, that is the proper and ultimateobject of our love towards him. But a clear distinct considera- tion of his natures, and their excellencies, is effectual to stir up and draw forth our love towards him, Sci .
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