II. There was yet more required thereunto, or to render his offices effectual unto their proper ends. Not one of them could have been so, had he been no more than a man — had he had no nature but ours. This I shall particularly demonstrate, considering them in their usual distribution — unto the glory of his divine person, and our own edification in believing.
(1.) He could not have been the great and singular jirophet of the church, had he been a man only, though ever so excellent and glo- rious ; and that for these three reasons : —
[1.] He was to be the prophet of the whole catholic church ; that is, of all the elect of God, of all that shall be saved in all ages and places, from the beginning of the world unto the end thereof He had a personal ministry for the instruction of the church, whilst he was on the earth ; but his prophetical office was not confined there-
88 THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
unto. For that was limited unto one nation, Matt. xv. 24 ; Rom. XV. 8, and was for a short season only. But the church was never without a prophet — that is, one on whom it was incumbent to reveal unto it, and instmct it in, the will of God — nor can be so unto the consummation of all things. This is Christ alone. For —
1st, I take it for granted that, from the beginning, from the giv- ing of the first promise, the Son of God did, in an especial manner, undertake the care of the church — as unto all the ends of the wisdom, will, and grace of God; and I take it for granted here, because I have proved it at large elsewhere. It evidently followeth on the eternal compact between the Father and him unto this end. In the work which belonged hereunto — that which concerned its instruction in the will of God, its saving illumination and spiritual wisdom, is of such importance, as that, without it, none can be partaker of any other blessings whatever. In this instruction and illumination con- sists the discharge of the prophetical office of Christ.
2dly, Upon the account of his susception of his office even before his incarnation, considered as God, he is said to act in it so as to be sent of God unto his work, Micah v. 2, " The Ruler of Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." His goings forth are not his eternal generation, which consists in one individual eternal act of the Father; but it is the egress, the exercise of his power and care for the church, that is so expressed. These were from the beginning the first foundation of the church, in answer unto his everlasting counsels, Zech. ii. 8, 9, " Thus saith the Lord of hosts, After the glory hath he sent me imto the nations which spoiled you;" and "I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me." He who is sent calleth himself " The Lord of hosts," and affirms that he will destroy the nations by the shakuig of his hand ; who can be no other but God himself. That is, it was the Son of God, who was to be incarnate, as is declared in the next words: " Sing and rejoice, 0 daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people : and I will dwell in the midst of thee; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee," verses 10, 11. He promiseth that he will dwell in the midst of the people ; which was accomplished when "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," John i. 14; which was the time of the calling of the Gentiles, when many nations were to be joined unto the Lord; and those that were so called were to be his people: "They shall be my people." And yet in all this he was sent by the Lord of hosts : " Thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee." Wherefore,
CHRIST A PROPHET BEFORE HIS INCARNATION. 80
with respect unto his susception of his offices towards the church, the Lord of hosts in the person of the Son is said to be sent by the Lord of hosts; that is, in the person of the Father. So was he the prophet of the church even before his incarnation, sent or designed by the Father to instruct it — to communicate spiritual and saving light unto it. So he testified concerning himself unto the Jews, " Before Abraham was, I am," John viii. 58. Which, as it invincibly proves his eternal pre-existence unto his incarnation, so it is not only intended. He was so before Abraham, as that the care of the church was then and ahvays from the beginning on him. And he discharged this office four ways: —
{1st,) By personal appearances in the likeness of human nature, in the shape of a man, as an indication of his future incarnation; and under those appearances instructing the church. So he appeared unto Abraham, to Jacob, to Moses, to Joshua, as I have proved else- where. And those peculiar appearances of the person of the Son for the instruction of believers, are a full demonstration that the care and work of it were committed unto him in a peculiar manner. And I am not without thoughts, although I see some difficulty in it, that the whole Old Testament, wherein God perpetually treats with men by an assumption of human affections unto himself, so to draw us with the cords of a man, proceeded from the person of the Son, in a preparation for, and prospect of, his future incarnation.