Watts - BX5200 .W3 1813 v.6

QUESTION II. 49 Commentary. In short, their notions of this matter were so very confused, so uncertain, so inconsistent, and so various, that they cannot be reduced to any certain or settled scheme of sentiments. e. ECT. II.What Ideas did Christ give his Disciples of himself. II. I proceed now in the second place to enquire, what ideas or notions our Lord Jesus Christ taught his disciples con- cerning himself. 1. He takes particular pains upon many occasions to shew that he was sent from God, or received commission from heaven to teach the doctrines which he taught, and to perform those glo- rious and surprizing miracles which he wrought, to confirm both his doctrine and his commission. This is so largely insisted on in the fifth, sixth, and following chapters of the gospel by St. John, that I need not cite particular instances. 2. He proves by most infallible evidences, that he was the Messiah, the Saviour of mankind; and he endeavoured to lead his disciples out of their own national prejudices, and to give them a juster notion of the office of the Messiah, and his spiri- tual kingdom. Thishe did in several of his discourses. But as to the proof that he himself was the Messiah, he did not labour this point so much by any long or direct discourses on this subject, as by his preaching grace and duty, so as never man spake before ; by his miracles and his appearance upon all occasions, with the marks and characters of the Messiah upon him. To prove this, I shall give but one instance instead of many : When John the baptist sent his disciples to ask him whether he was the Messiah or no, Mat. xi. 3. Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Our Lord answered them only, by bidding them tell John their master, that the blind received sight, the lame walk, the dead are raised, and to thepoor the gospel is preached, arid let John and his followers judgeby these characters whether I am the Messiah or no. Though I confess there are two or three occasions also which he took to profess himself the Messiah in direct and plain words ; John iv. 29. and ix. 37. He often takes occasion to declare, that he had abeing be- fore he came into this world. John iii. 13. No nsan kath ascen- ded up to heaven, but he that came down from heavers, even tht Son of man, &c. John v. 38. I came downfrom heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me. Ver. 51. I am the living bread which came downfrom heaven. John viii. 14. I know whence I carne, and whither I go. John xvi. 28. .1 came forth from the Father, and am come into the world; again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. i od his disci.

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