Some gospel-truths opened according to the Scriptures, or, The divine and humane nature of Christ Jesus, his coming into the world, his righteousness, death, resurrection, ascension, intercession, and second comming to judgment, plainly demonstrated and proved and also answers to severall questions, with profitable directions to stand fast in the doctrine of Jesus the son of Mary, against those blustring storms of the Devils temptations, which do at this day, like so many scorpions, break loose from the bottomless pit, to bite and torment those that have not tasted the vertue of Jesus by the revelation of the spirit of God / published for the good of Gods chosen ones by that unworthy servant of Christ John Bunnyan ...

Now having spoken thus much touching the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, I shal, according to the assiistance of the Lord Je∣sus, proceed, and shall speak somthing of his Godhead, Birth, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Intercession; together with, his most glorious and personal appearing the second time, which will be to raise the dead, and bring every work to judg∣ment, Eccles. 12. 14.

ANd first I shall shew you that he is very God, Co-eternal, and also Co-equal with his Father.

2. That by this Son of Ma∣ry (which is equal with his Father) the world was made.

3. That he in the fulnesse of time, was made of a woman,

made under the Law, to re∣deem them them that were (or are) under the Law; that is, was borne of a woman: And in our nature (for he made himselfe of no reputation, and took on him the forme of a servant, and was made in the likenesse of men) and in our stead he did fulfill the Law in point of Justification, Rom. 10. 4. and was crucified for our transgre••••ions, 1 Cor. 1. 23, 24, 25.

4. That very body of the sonne of Mary which was cru∣cified, did rise again from the dead, after he had been buried in Josephs Sepulchre; that he in that very body ascended up into heaven; and in that very body shall come again to these ends. 1. First to judge the quick and the dead. 2. To receive his Saints to himselfe. 3. To passe eternal condem∣nation on his enemies. These things in brief I shall touch

upon, according to the wise∣dom given me. And therefore that Christ is very God, I shall first prove by plain texts of Scripture. 2. From the testi∣mony of God, Angels, and men, witnessed by the Scrip∣tures. 3. By several Argu∣ments drawn from Scripture, which will prove the same clearly.

1. Then to prove it by the Scriptures; though indeed the whole Book of Gods holy Scri∣pture, testifie these things plain∣ly to be most true, yet there be some places more pregnant and pertinent to the thing then others; and therefore I shall mention some of them: As first, minde that in Prov. 8. v. 22, &c. and there you shall finde him spoken of under the name of Wisedome, the same name that is given him in 1 Cor. 1. 24. I say in that place of the Prov. above mentio∣ned, you shall find these expres∣sions

from his own mouth. The Lord possessed me in tho begin∣ning of his way before his works of old. I was set up from ever∣lasting, from the beginning: or ever the earth was, when there was no depths, I was brought forth; while there was no fountaine abounding with wa∣ter. Before the mountains were s••tled, before the hills, was I brought forth. While as yet he had not made the Earth, nor the fields, nor the highest pla∣ces of the dust of the world. When h•• prepared the Heavens, I was there; when he set a compasse upon the face of the depth: when he established the clouds above; when he strengthened the foun∣taines of the deep: When he gave to the Sea his decree, that the waters should not pass ••his com∣mandement. When he appoint∣ed the foundations of the Earth; then was I by him, as one brought up with him: And I was daily his delight, rejoycing in the ha∣bitable

parts of the Earth, and my delight was with the Sonne of men. Also John 1. 1 2. you have these words spoken of Christ, In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. As also in Heb. 1. 2. the Apostle being about to prove the Sonne of Mary to be very God, saith; He hath in these latter daies spoken to us by his Sonne; which sonne is the sonne of Mary, as in Matth. 3. But (saith the Apostle) Heb. 1. 8. to the Sonne he saith, Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and e∣ver, a Scepter of righteousnesse is the Scepter of thy Kingdome. Again, in John 17 5. you have the words of the sonne of Ma∣ry for it, saying, And now Fa∣ther, glorifie thou me with thine own selfe, with the glory that I had with thee before the world was. Again, he himself saith, before Abraham was, I am:

And again, I and my Father are one. And in Phil. 2. 5. the Apostle saith, Let the same mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus; who being in the form of God, thought it ••o robbery to be equal with God, but made himselfe of no reputation, and took on him the forme of a ser∣vant, and was m••de in the like∣nesse of men. Also Rev. 2. 8. Christ himselfe saith, I am the first and the last, which was dead, but am alive. And thus have I quoted some few Scri∣ptures to prove that the Sonne of Mary is the true God.

2. I shall give you the testi∣mony of God himselfe touch∣ing the truth of this, viz. That Christ, the Sonne of the Vir∣gin, is the true God. And first see Zach. 13. 7. and there you shall finde these words, A∣wake O Sword against my Shep∣herd, and against the Man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts. In this place the Lord

doth call that Man his fellow, which he doth not doe to any meer creature. Again, in Ma••. 3. 17. he calls him his beloved sonne, saying, This is my bele∣ved Sonne in whom I am well pleased And in the foresaid place of the Hebrews, Cap. 1. the Apostle advancing the Lord Jesus, brings in this question, To which of the Angels said he at any time, thou art my Sonne? Ver. 5. But to the Sonne he s••••h, ver. 8. Thy Throne, O God, i•• for ever and ever. And this farre of the testimony that God himselfe hath given of the Son of Mary, Jesus Christ.

3. The Angels do shew that he is God; first, in that they do obey him. 2. in that they worship him.

1. That they obey him, is clear, if we compare Rev. 21. 9. with Rev 22. 6. In the first of these places we finde, that there came one of the Angels of the seven vials, which

had the seven last plagues, and talked with John. He came not of himselfe; for in that 22 Cap. ver. 6. he saith, The Lord sent his Angel, to shew un∣to his servants the things that must be done. Now, in the 16. verse you may see who this Lord God is: He saith there, I Jesus, have sent mine Angel, to testifie these things in the Churches. * I am the ro••t (as well as) the Ofspring of David, and the bright and morning star. I say this obedience of the An∣gels doth testifie that Jesus, which is the Sonne of Mary, is the true and very God; for they do obey God only.

Secondly, The Angels doe shew that the sonne of Mary is the true God, in that they do not onely obey him, but wor∣ship him also yea, they are com∣manded so to doe, Heb. 1. 6. where it is wri••ten, When he bringeth his first bego••ten into the world, he (i e) God, saith, And

let all the Angels of God worship him, viz. the sonne of Mary. Now the Angels themselves command that we worship none but God, Rev. 22. 8 9. When John fell down to wor∣ship the Angel, the Angel said, See thou doe it not, for I am thy fellow-servant; worship God Now, if the Angels should command to worship God, and they themselves should worship him that by nature is no God, they should overthrow them∣selves, in comm••••ding one thing, and doing another, and so lose their own habitations, and be shut up in chaines of darknesse, to be punished with everlasting destruction from God himselfe at the great day. And thus much concerning the testimony of Angels touching Jesus, the Sonne of Mary, the Sonne of God, yea, very an•• true God Isa. 9. 6.

Now followeth David hi•• testimony among other of th••

Saints, who witnesse Jesus the Sonne of Mary to be true God; and that you may finde in Psa. 110. 1. where he saith, The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstoole. Also I∣saiah in the 9. Chap. verse 6. saith, For unto us a Childe is borne, unto us a Sonne is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderfull, Councellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David (which is not, nor never was the heart of any believer) and upon his Kingdome to order it, and to esta∣blish it with judgment and ju∣stice, from henceforth even for e∣ver. The zeale of the Lord of Hosts will doe this. Again, see Peters testimony of this sonne of Mary; When Jesus asked his Disciples, Whom say ye

that I am? Peter, as the mouth of the rest, said, Thou art Christ, the sonne of the living God, Matth. 16. 16. Also, when Thomas, one of Christs disci∣ples, would not be perswaded by the others that they had se••n the Lord, except he did also see in his hands the print of the Nailes, and put his fin∣gers into the prin•• of the Nails, and thrust his hand into his side 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he would not believe. Sai••h the sonne of Mary, Reach hither thy singers, and behold my h••nds, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my ••ide, and be not faithlesse but believing; and then Tho∣mas breaks out with a mighty faith, and a glorious testimo∣ny for his Master, and saith, My Lord, and m•• God, John 20. 27, 28. Again, see Pauls testi∣mony of him, Rom. 9▪ where, speaking of the s••nne of Mary, he saith, That Christ came of th•• Fathers, who is over all, God

blessed for ever, amen. And the Apostle John doth also witness as much, 1 John 5. 20. where speaking of Jesus Christ, he saith on this wise, And we know that the Sonne of God is come, and hath given us an un∣derstanding, that we might know him that is true, and we are in him that is true (Who is that? why, saith John) even in his Sonne Jesus Christ. Who is he? Why, This is the true God, and eternal life.

I could here also bring in the testimony of the very De∣vils themselves, as Luke 4. 41. Luke 8. 28. where he is by them acknowledged to be the Son of the living God: But it is needlesse so to doe, for we have plainly proved it already.

Now followeth the several Scripture-arguments, which will prove that Jesus the son of Mary is very God.

And First, There is none but he that is the true God, can

satisfie the justice of the true God for the breach of his ho∣ly Law: But if you compare Isa. 53. 6. with Matth. 3. 17. you shall finde, that Jesus the sonne of Mary did give God a full and compleat satisfacti∣on for the breach of his holy Law; therefore Jesus the son of Mary must needs be the great and true God.

Secondly, He that hath pow∣er of his own to lay down his life, and hath power of his own to take it up again, mu•••• needs be the true God; but this did Jesus the sonne of Ma∣ry the Virgin; therefore h•• must needs be the true God, Job. 10. 8. Rom, 1. 4.

Thirdly, There was never any able to bear the sins of all the believers in the world, that ever were, now are, or here∣after shall be, but the true God But Jesus, the sonne of the Vir∣gin Mary, did bear them all, in his own body on the 〈◊〉〈◊〉

1 Pet. 2. 24. Isa. 53 6. There∣fore Jesus the•• sonne of Mary must needs be true God as well as man.

Fourthly, There was never any meer man able, by his own power, to overcome the Devil in all his temptations, but he that is also the true God (for Adam in his state of inno∣cency was overcome by them, and fell under them:) But Je∣sus the sonne of the Virgin did overcome them all by his own power; there ore (see Gen. 3. 15. Isa. 51. 9. Isa. 63. 5. Matth. 4. Luke 4.) he is very God as well as very man.

Fifthly, There was never any that did call himselfe the true God (and was not) which did please God in so doing, But Jesus the sonne of Mary did call himselfe the true God, or account himselfe equal with God (which is all one) yet God was well pleased with him, Phil. 2, 6, 7. John 8. 29.

And therefore Jesus the sonne of Mary must needs be true God as well as man.

Sixthly, There was never any that had all power in hea∣ven and in earth, but the true God. Jesus the sonne of the Virgin Mary, who was espous∣ed to Joseph, hath all power in Heaven and in Earth in his own hand. Therefore, Matth. 28. 18. he is the true and great God.

Seventhly, There was ne∣ver any able to keep poor souls from falling from God, saving he that is that is the true God. Jesus the sonne of Mary did, and doth this, John 10. 27, 28, 29, 30. John 17. 12. There∣fore, &c.

Eighthly, Never could any justly call himselfe the first and the last, except the true God, nor truly (as the Lord did say) I am. But these did Jesus the sonne of Mary, Rev. 1. 1. com∣pared with v. 17, 18. Rev. 2. 8.

and Joh. 8. 58. Therefore Jesus must needs be true God as well as man.

9. Never was there any that could absolutely forgive sinnes but God, Mar. 2. 7 Luke 5. 21. But Jesus the sonne of the Vir∣gin Mary, can forgive sinnes, Luk. 5. 10. Mar•• 2. 5. Therefore Jesus the son of M••r•• must n••eds be true God as well as man.

Tenthly, The Scriptures ne∣ver call any the true and living God; but he that is the true God. The Scriptures call Je∣sus, the sonne of the Virgin the true God, Isa. 9 6. •• John 5. 20. Therefore he is the true and great God.

11. He that made all things, whether they be visible or invi∣sible▪ whether they be Thrones or Dominions, or Principali∣ties, or Powers, must needs be the true God But Jesus the son of the Virgin Mary did make all these, Col 1. 14. ••0 the 18. John 1. to v. 16. Heb. 1, 2, 3.

And thereforre he is the true God as well as man.

12. The blood of a meer fi∣nite creature could never ob∣tain eternal redemption for sin∣ners. But the blood of Jesus, the sonne of the Virgin Mary, hath obtained eternal redem∣ption for sinners, Eph. 1. 7. Heb. 9. 12, 14. Heb. 10. 19, 20. There∣fore the blood of the sonne of the Virgin must needs be the blood of God. And so the A∣postle calleth it, saying to the Pastours of the Churches, feed the Church of God, which he hath puchased with his own blood, Acts 20. 28. 1 John 3. 16.

13. Never was there any that could overcome death in his own power, but the true God▪ Hos. 13. 14. Jesus the sonne of the Virgin Mary did overcome death by himselfe, Heb. 2. 14 Therefore, &c.

14. He that searcheth the hearts, and knoweth the thoughts of men, must needs be

the true God, Jer. 17. 10. But Jesus the sonne of the Virgin doth, Luke 5. 22. Luke 9. 47. John 2. 24, 25. Therefore, &c.

15. He that by his own power commandeth the raging Sea, must needs be the true God, Job 38. 10, 11. Prov. 8. 29. But this did Jesus the sonne of Ma∣ry, Mark 4. 39, 41. Luke 8. 24. Therefore, &c.

16. He that is the wisedom, power, and glory of God, must needs be the true God. But Jesus the sonne of the Virgin is all these, as 1 Cor. 1. 23, 24. Heb. 1. 1, 2, 3. Therefore Jesus the son of the Virgin must needs be true God as well as man.

Notes

• ••al. 4. 4.
• Compare Rev. 1. 1.
• If all the Quakers and Ran∣ters in the world,: were but under the guilt of one sinful thought, it would make them to cry out with Cain my pu∣nishment is greater then I can bear, Gen. 4. 13.
• Mat. 3. 17.
• Rom. 3. 25.
• Rom. 5. 9.
• Heb. 9. 12.
• 1. Tim. 1. 10.
• Heb. 1. 2,