of his work, or his coming into the World, when many Prophesies and Divine Predictions had gone before concerning it.
1. The expression of his Mind is in that word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, I said. There is no ne∣cessity, as was before observed, that these very words should at any one season be spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ. The meaning is, this is my Resolution, this is the Frame of my Mind and Will. The representation of our Mind, Will and Desires unto God, is our speaking to him: He needs not our words unto that end; nor absolutely do we so our selves upon the account of his Omnisci∣ence. However this is the work that the Lord Christ ingaged his Truth and Faithfulness to undertake. And in these words, I said, he engageth himself in the work now proposed unto him. Hereon whatever difficulties afterwards arose, what∣ever he was to do or suffer; there was nothing in it but what he had before solemnly engaged unto God.
And we ought in like manner, to be faithful in all the Engagements that we make to him and for him. Surely, faith he, they are my people, Children that will not Lie.
2. There is the season, wherein he thus said, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, then, or thereon. For it may respect either the Order of the Time, or the stating of the Case in hand. First, it may respect an Order of Time; He said, Sacrifice and Burnt Offerings thou wouldst not have; Then said I. But it is, as I judge, better extended unto the whole Case in hand. When things were come to this pass, when all the Church of Gods Elect were under the Guilt of Sin, and the Curse of the Law thereon; when there was no hope for them in themselves, nor in or by any Divine Institution; when all things were at a loss, as unto our Recovery and Sal∣vation; then did Jesus Christ the Son of God in Infinite Wisdom, Love and Grace, interpose himself in our behalf, in our stead, to do, answer and perform all that God in Infinite Wisdom, Holiness and Righteousness required unto that end. And we may observe, that
There is a Signal Glory put upon the undertaking of Christ, to make Reconciliation for the Church by the Sacrifice of himself.
3. This undertaking of Christ is Signalized by the Remark that is put on the Declaration of it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Behold. A Glorious Spectacle it was to God, to Angels and to Men: To God, as it was filled with the highest Effects of Infinite good∣ness, Wisdom and Grace, which all shone forth in their greatest Elevation, and were glorified therein. It was so unto Angels, as that whereon their Confirmation and Establishment in Glory did depend, Eph. 1. 10. which therefore they en∣deavoured with Fear and Reverence to look into, 1 Pet. 1. 12, 13. And as unto Men, that is, the Church of the Elect, nothing could be so Glorious in their Sight, nothing so desirable. By this call of Christ, behold I come, the Eys of all Creatures in Heaven and Earth ought to be fixed on him, to behold the glori∣ous work he had undertaken, and the accomplishment of it.
4. There is what he thus proposed himself for, saying Behold me. This in ge∣neral is expressed by himself; I come. This coming of Christ, what it was, and wherein it did consist, was declared before. It was by assuming the Body that was prepared for him. This was the Foundation of the whole work he had to do, wherein he came forth like the Rising Sun, with Light in his Wings, or as a Giant rejoycing to run his Race.
The Faith of the Old Testament, was, that he was thus to come: And this is the Life of the New, that he is come. They by whom this is denyed; do overthrow the Faith of the Gospel. This is the Spirit of Antichrist, 1 Joh. 3. 1, 2, 3. And this may be done two ways. (1.) Directly and Expresly. (2.) By just conse∣quence. Directly, it is done by them who deny the Reality of his humane Nature, as many did of old, affirming that he had only an Aetherial, Aerial or Phan∣tastical Body; For if he came not in the Flesh, he is not come at all. So also it is by them who deny the Divine Person of Christ, and his preexistence therein, before the assumption of the Humane Nature. For they deny that these are the words of him when resolved, and spoken before this coming. He that did not exist before in the Divine Nature, could not promise to come in the Humane. And Indirectly it is denied by all those, who either in Doctrines