Doct. 2. That Christ, having taken our nature upon him, is not ashamed to accept and acknowledge us for brethren.
What cause of shame there might be in it we intimated before in the explication, notwithstanding our meanness and unworthiness, and his own glory and excellency. Divines observe, that he never giveth his disciples the title of brethren but after his resurrection; before,
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servants, little children, and friends, were tlieir usual designations ; but then expressly he calleth them brethren. Servants : Johnxiii. 13, 14, * Ye call nie Lord and master ; and ye say well, for so I am.' And friends : John xv. 15, ' I have called you friends.' And elsewhere children, Mark x. 24. But after his resurrection this style of brethren is very frequent : Mat. xxviii. 10, ' Go to my brethren, and tell them that I go into Galilee, and there they shall see me.' So John xx. 17, 'Go to my brethren, and tell them that I ascend to my Father and their Father, my God and their God.' And at the hist day he givetli this title to all the elect, Avhom he setteth at his right hand: Mat, xxvi. 40, ' Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.' What is the reason of this ? I answer — Though the ground was laid in the incarnation, when Christ naturalised himself to us and became one of our line, yet he doth expressly own it after his resurrection, and will own it at his coming to judgment, to show that his glory and exaltation doth not diminish his affections towards his people, but rather the expressions thereof are enlarged. He still continueth our brother, and will do so as long as our nature remaineth in the unity of his person, which it will do to all eternity.
But here a doubt ariseth. May we, by virtue of this relation, call the Son of God our brother ? He calleth us brethren, but may we call him brother ? (1.) For the term ; (2.) The comfort thence result-
1. For the term. Though Christ calleth christians brethren, yet we do not read in scripture that ever any christian called Christ his brother, but rather his Lord ; as we say in the creed, Jesus Christ our Lord, or Saviour and Kedeemer. Modesty teacheth us to use such terms as express our respect and reverent esteem of him. Surely the sense of the greatness of Christ, and the conscience of our own vileness and unworthiness, will prompt us to speak at a more humble rate ; for though Christ vouchsafe this honour to us, that he is not ashamed to call us brethren, yet it would seem to savour of arrogancy for us to speak so of him. Inferiors do not use to give like titles of equality 'to their superiors as superiors do to their inferiors. Men of dignity and high place may condescend, out of love and humility, to put them- selves into the same rank with men of lower degree, as a general may call his fellow-soldiers commiUtones ; but it would seem arrogancy and contempt for inferiors to speak so of those above them. Indeed, when we pray, we say, '' Our Father.' We call God our Father be- cause of his command, who requireth such a profession of our child- like trust and confidence from us. And besides, father is not a name of equality, as brother is. But to call Christ brother in our prayers is without command and example ; and therefore christian humility would dissuade us from using such a term.
2. But as to the comfort thence resulting, it is clear that we may comfort ourselves with the humiliation and condescension of the Son of God,who by taking our nature vouchsafed to become our brother. Surely such a title was not given us as an empty honour or vain com- pliment, that should signify nothing ; and therefore it doth not exclude the comfort of faith, though it warrants not the rude boldness of pre- sumptuous expressions.
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But what use may we make of it ?
[1.] It comforts us against the sense of our own unworthiness. Though our nature was removed so many degrees of distance from God, and at that time polluted with sin, when Christ purified it and assumed it into his own person, yet all this hindered him not from taking our nature, and the title depending thereupon. Therefore the sense of our unworthiness, when it is seriously laid to heart, should not hinder us from looking after the benefits we need, and are in his power to bestow upon us. This term should revive us. Whatever may serve to our comfort and glory, Christ will think it no disgrace to do it for us. This may be one reason why Christ biddeth them tell his brethren ' I am risen,' Mat. xxviii. 10. The poor disciples were greatly dejected and con- founded in themselves ; they had all forsaken him and fled from him ; Peter had denied him and forsworn him ; what could they look for from him but sharp and harsh exprobrations of their fear and cowardice? But he comforts them with this relation, ' Go tell my brethren and Peter' — (the fallen man is not forgotten, 'and Peter') — 'that I am risen,' Mark xvi. 7.