It is true that both these and other prophets had revelations con- cerning his sufferings also. For " the Spirit of Christ that was in them testified beforehand of his sufferings, and the glory that should follow," 1 Peter i. 11; — an illustrious testimony whereunto we have given us, Ps. xxii., and Isa. liii. Nevertheless theh conceptions con- cerning them were dark and obscure. It was his person that their faith principally regarded. Thence were they filled with desires and expectations of his coming, or his exhibition and appearance in the flesh. With the renewed promises hereof did God continually refresh the church in its straits and difficulties. And hereby did God call off the body of the people from trust in themselves, or boasting in their present privileges, which they were exceedingly prone unto.
PROGRESS OF ERROR IN THE CHURCH OF ISRAEL. 103
In process of time this faith, which wi-ought effectually in the Church of Israel, degenerated into a lifeless opinion, that proved the ruin ijf it. Whilst they really lived in tlie faith of him as the Saviour and Ee^^mer of the church from all its spiritual adversaries, as he who was to make " an end of sin, and bring in everlasting righteous- ness," unto whom all their present ordinances were subservient and directive; all grace, love, zeal, and patient waiting for the accom- plishment of the promise, flourished among them. But in process of time, growing carnal, trusting in their ovm righteousness, and the privileges which they had by the law, their faith concerning the person of Christ degenerated into a corrupt, obstinate opinion, that he should be only a temporal king and deliverer; but as unto righteousness and salvation they were to trust unto themselves and the law. And this prejudicate opinion, being indeed a renunciation of all the grace of the promises oif God, proved their utter iiiin. For when he came in the flesh, after so many ages, filled up with con- tinued expectations, they rejected and despised him as one that liad neither fonn nor comeliness for which he should be desu-ed. So doth it fall out in other churches. That which was faith truly spiritual and evangelical in their first planting, becomes a lifeless opinion in succeeding ages. The same truths are still professed, but that pro- fession springs not from the same causes, nor doth it produce the same effects in the hearts and lives of men. Hence, in process of time, some churches continue to have an appearance of the same body which they were at first, but — being examined — are like a hfeless, breathless carcase, wherein the animating Spirit of grace doth not dwell. And then is any church, as it was with that of the Jevt^s, nigh to destruction, when it corrupts formerly professed truths, to accommodate them unto the present lusts and inclinations of men.
CHAPTER IX.
Honour due to the Person of Christ — The Nature and Causes of it.
Many other considerations of the same nature with those foregoing, relating unto the glory and honour of the person of Christ, may be taken from all the fimdamental principles of religion. And our duty it is in them all, to " consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession" — "the Author and Finisher of our faith." I shall not insist on more, but proceed unto those principles of truth which are immediately directive of our duty towards him; without diligent attendance whereunto, we do but in vain bear the name of Chris-
104 THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
tians. And tlie substance of what is designed may be included in the following assertion : —
" The glory, life, and power of Christian religion, as Christian religion, and as seated in the souls of men, with all the acts and duties which properly belong thereunto, and are, therefore, pecu- liarly Christian, and all the benefits and privileges we receive by it, or by virtue of it, with the whole of the honour and glory that arise unto God thereby, have all of them their formal nature and reason from their respect and relation unto the person of Christ ; nor is he a Christian who is otherwise minded."
In the confirmation hereof it will appear what judgment ought to be passed on that inquiry — which, after the uninterrupted profession of the catholic church for so many ages of a faith unto the contrary, is begun to be made by some amongst us — namely. Of what use is the 'person of Christ in religion ? For it proceeds on this supposition, and is deteraiined accordingly — that there is something in religion wherein the person of Christ is of no use at all; — a vain imagination, and such as is destructive unto the whole real intercourse between God and man, by the one and only Mediator 1
The respect which we have in all acts of religion unto the per- son of Christ may be reduced unto these four heads: I. Honour. II. Obedience. III. Conformity. IV. The use we make of him, for the attaining and receiving of all Gospel privileges — all grace and glory. And hereunto the whole of our religion, as it is Chris- tian or evangelical, may be reduced.
I. The person of Christ is the object of divine honour and worship. The formal object and reason hereof is the divine nature, and its essential infinite excellencies. For they are nothing but that respect unto the Divine Being which is due unto it from all rational crea- tures, regulated by revelation, and enforced by divine operations. Wherefore the person of Christ is piimarily the object of divine honour and worship, upon the account of his divine nature and excellencies. And those who, denying that nature in him, do yet pretend to worship him with divine and religious adoration, do but worship a golden calf of their own setting up; for a Christ who is not over all, God blessed for ever, is not better. And it implies a contradiction, that any creature should, on any account, be the im- mediate, proper object of divine worship ; unless the divine essential excellencies be communicated unto it, or transfused into it, whereby it would cease to be a creature. For that worship is nothing but the ascription of divine excellencies unto what is so worshipped.