64o The I/ifdona of God; I. The Office of Prophet, to teach us both by his Dotirine and his Life. By his Doecrine. His being in the likenefs of Man, this made him more fa. miliar to us. He was a prophet raifedup from among his Brethren, as Mofes fpake, and he makes this an Argument why we fhould hear him. Should God fpekk to us immediately by himfelf, we could not hear him and live. God condefcends to us, and complies with the weaknefs of our Nature, and raifeth up a Prophet from among our brethren ; we fhould hear him. And then his being God, did add Credit and Authority to what he fpake ; he could confirm the Do&rine which he taught, byMiracles. Of his teaching us by his Life, I (hall have ocafion to 'f-Peak prefently. s. For the Office of Prieft. He was fitto be our Prieft; becaufe he was taken from among Men, as the Apoftle fpeaks ; fit to fuller as beingMan, having a body prepared, as it is Heb. io. S. and fit to fair*by his fufferings for the Sins of all Men, as being God, Which put an infinite Dignityand Value upon them, the fufferings of an infinite Perfon being equal to the offences done againft an Infinite God. And thus the Mercy of God is exalted without the Diminution of his yuJlice. And as his Incarnation did qualifie him for fuffering, fo for compaffion, and fellowfuffering with us, Heb. z. 17, 18. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful andfaithful highpriefl, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the fins of the people; for in that hehimfelf bath fuffer'd being tempted, he is able tofuccour them thatare tempted. z. His Life was a means admirably fitted to bringMen to Holinefs andGood. reefs. I might go through all the parts of it, but becaufe I intend to be very Ihort upon thefe Heads, I (hall only take notice of that Part of his Life, which was fpent in his publick Miniftry; he went about doing good ;; the Dotirinethat he Preached was Calculated for the deftroying of Sin, and the promoting of Holi- nefs ; the great End and Defign of it was to advance Righteoufnefs, and Good- nefs, and Humility, and Patience, and Self-denyal; to makeus mortifie our fen- i'ual Defires, and brutifh Paffions, to contemn and renounce this prefent World; and this being the defign of it, it was a molt proper Engine to demolifh the Works of the Devil : And to make way for the Entertainment of his Dotïrine , the whole Frame of his Life, and all the Circumflances of it did contribute. His Life was the Pra Lice of his Doé rine, and a clear Comment upon it. The Mean-. nefs of his COndition in the World, that he had no Share of the Poffeflions of it, werea great Advantage to his Doétrine of Self -denyal and Contempt of the World. The Captain of our Salvation, that he might draw off our Affeétions from the World, and !hew us how little the Things of it are tobe valued, would himfelf have no Share in it, Mat. 8. so. The Foxes have holes, andthe Birds of the air have neffs ; but the Son of Man bath not where to lay his head. The mean Circumflances of his Condition were very eminently for the Advantage of his Deign ; for had he not been ftripp'd of all worldly Accommodations , he could not have been fo free from Sufpicion of a worldly Intereft and Defign ; nay, he could not have been fo confiderable ; he wasreally greater for his Meannefs. The very Heathensdid account this true Greatnefs, (as we find Arißotle) not to ad- mire the Pleafures, and Greatnefs, and Pomp of the World. And that his Mean- nefs might be noDifadvantage to him, thofe Evidences that he gave of his Divi- nity in the wonderful Things that he did, rendred him confiderable , and gained more Reverence and Authority to his Dotlrine , than his Meannefs could bring Contempt upon it. Betides, the manner of his Converfation was a very great Advantage to him ; he was of a very fweet and converfable and obliging Temper ; and by this Means he did gain upon the People, and was acceptable to them ; and thus he did apply himfelf to them in the molt Human Ways, to make way for the En- tertainment of his Do&rine. TheMiracles that he wrought did confirm his Do- ttrine beyond all Exception, as being a Divine Teftimony, and fetting the Seal of God to the truth of it; yet becaufe many were blinded with Prejudice, and tho' Vo1.1e
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