CHAP. VI. Of Christ.
THE Son of God whilst cloath'd in Flesh was sub∣ject to all the Frailties and Inconveniences of Hu∣mane Nature, Sin excepted. Mr. Lock, Essay, l. 3. c. 9. §. 23. Christ, after a Life illustrious in Miracles and good Works, attended with Humility, Meekness, Pati∣ence, and Suffering, and every way conformable to the Prophecies of him, was lead as a Sheep to the slaugh∣ter, and with all Quiet and Submission brought to the Cross, though there were no guilt or fault found in him. Reason. of Christian. p. 61. Christ's coming into the World was not for such an end as the over-turn∣ing the measures of Right and Wrong, and thereby introducing and authorizing Irregularity, Confusion, and Disorder in the World; but, on the contrary, to reform the corrupt State of degenerate Man, and out of those who would mend their Lives, and bring forth fruit meet for Repentance, erect a new Kingdom. Ibid. p. 215. The chief end of his Coming was to be a King; and as such, to be received by those who would be his Subjects in the Kingdom which he came to erect. Ibid. p. 217. Thus Mr. Lock.
OBSERVATIONS.
What means Mr. Lock when he says, The Son of God was cloath'd with flesh? Is it his Meaning, that the eternal Son of God, the second Person in the Trinity, was cloath'd with Flesh? If so, it was to be wish'd that he would do that Justice to himself, plainly to declare it, and thereby remove out of mens minds the Jealousies they have of him as to this Point.
Page 21 It may be enquir'd also, what he means by that Expression, Whilst cloathed in Flesh? As there was a time before the Son of God was incarnate or cloath'd with Flesh, so hath he after his Incarnation ceas'd to be cloath'd with it? Particularly, Will Mr. Lock say that he was not cloath'd with it after his Resur∣rection? If so, I ask whether he will not plainly contradict our Blessed Saviour, who told his Disci∣ples, after his being risen from the Dead, that he had Flesh and Bones, S. Luke 24. 39. It may then concern him to explain himself as to this also.
Mr. Lock's Meaning also is not very plain, when he says, that the chief End of Christ's coming was to be a King, and to be receiv'd as such. It is most true, that the Prophets foretold that he should be a King; and it may be said, that he came to fulfil the Prophecies that had been of him, as it is also true that he was a King. But I do not remember that it is said, that the chief End of his coming was to be a King. It is written, that he came into the World to save Sinners, to seek and to save that which was lost, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting Life; that he was manifested to take away our Sins, and to dissolve the works of the Devil, 1 Joh. 3. 5, 8. that he appear'd to put away Sin by the sacrifice of himself, Heb. 9. 26. And when Pilate ask'd him, whether he was a King? he did not answer, For this cause came I into the World, that I might be a King; but, For this cause I came into the World, that I should bear witness to the Truth, S. John 18. 37. Among these several Ends, I do not find the being a King expresly mention'd for one (as every one of these is) much less is it call'd the chief End. Finally, Mr. Lock himself, Reasonab. of Christian. p. 241. mentions something else as the great End. His words are, Pardon and Forgiveness of Sins, and Salvation by him, was the great End of his coming.
