The great mystery of godlinesse opened being an exposition upon the whole ninth chapter of the epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans / by the late pious faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. Edward Elton.

Who is God over all; blessed for ever, Amen.

HEre you see, (and it is clear,) that Jesus Christ is both true man, and true God; Now then from hence, we are to take notice of the per∣sonal union of the two Natures of Christ, into one person: and the obser∣vation arising hence is this,

That Christ Jesus is God-man, or Man-God: [Doctrine.] Christ Jesus is both God and man in one person, the Godhead of Christ is truly and personally united to his Manhood; so that in Christ, God and Man make but one Person: and that we do not misconceive this truth, touching the combi∣nation and conjunction of the two Natures of Christ, we must know, that the Godhead and Manhood of Christ, are not united with any compositi∣on, or commixture; as in mixing water and wine, no nor it by conversion, and turning the one into the other; the Godhead is not turned into the Manhood, nor the Manhood into the Godhead; the Godhead in Christ is distinct in essence from the Manhood, and the Manhood in Christ di∣stinct in substance from the Godhead, and the properties of both natures remain incommunicable, the properties of the one, is not given to the other, as to be omnipresent, and omnipotent, is not communicated to the Manhood of Christ, to be every where at one time, nor the properties of the Manhood to the Godhead, as to be circumscribed, locally present in one place, which is the nature of a true body, but the fulnesse of the God∣head dwelleth in the Manhood personally, and bodily, Col. 2.9. by per∣sonal union is the Manhood united to the Godhead, and doth solely and onely consist and subsist in one person in Christ, Joh. 1.14. the VVord was made flesh, it became flesh: and in 1 Tim. 3.16. the Apostle saith, without question, or controversie, great is the Mystery of godlinesse, and therein is God manifested in the flesh; God, and flesh, a wonderful mystery indeed: thus it is in the eternal Son of God, who took flesh upon him; so that the Man∣hood of Christ is not a Person, but a Nature, and received with the God∣head of Christ, which we all confesse, he is God and Man in one Person. Come we to the Application.

First, this serveth to inform our Judgments, [Ʋse.] in a particular point need∣ful to be known, and that is this; That the fulnesse of merit is found only in Christ, and in him alone and no other, the merit of life, and of salvati∣on, is properly in Christ; he is the proper subject of all merit of life and salvation, onely the works of Christ are meritorious, his holy sufferings, and his holy actions, these are meritorious, and none else; the work of no man or woman upon the face of the earth, though the members of Christ, are not meritorious, none but Christs: and why? because he is God and Man only, and alone in one person. The Papists, the enemies of Gods truth, think they have sufficient ground for the merit of true believers, from the union between Christ and true Believers, because true believers are one with Christ by faith, and make one mystical body, (as they do indeed) and are knit by faith, and the Spirit, and because they are thus combined to Christ by a mystical union, therefore the Papists think, they have sufficient ground to prove the merit of the good works of true believers, that be∣cause of this union they are meritorious. But their ground faileth them; it followeth not, that because true believers are one with Christ, that therefore their good works do merit, for true believers are knit to Christ mystically, not personally, for Christ and a believer are two distinct per∣sons; though they be joyned to Christ by faith, and the Spirit, it is not personally: now personal union is the ground of merit in Christ himself, and the person that must merit and deserve life and salvation, must be more then a mere man, the Manhood of Christ, apart, and by it self consi∣dered, meriteth nothing; but as it is received into unity of person with the

Son of God: so that the personal union of Christ is a ground of merit; for if Adam had stood in his innocency, he could not have merited a bet∣ter estate to himself, because he was but mere man; so then these enemies of the truth, they must prove, (which they can never do) that true belie∣vers are one with Christ, by personal union, before they can conclude the merit of good works, and that because of that mystical union they are me∣ritorious: but to make application to our selves.

[Ʋse.] This truth, That Christ Jesus is God and Man, Man-God, being duly considered and thought upon, may yeeld unto us excellent and sweet com∣fort to as many as believe in Christ, for by vertue of the two Natures of the Godhead and Manhood in Christ, by believing in Christ Jesus, we come to be partakers of all the merits of Christ Jesus, whatsoever he hath done or suffered, because we being one with him by faith, by vertue of the union, we come to be partakers of him, and to have Fellowship and Communion with God wherein standeth the true communion, and there is no coming unto God with comfort, though we cry loud, and fill heaven and earth with our cries, but by a Mediatour, if we come unto him out of a Mediatour, they come unto God angry with them, ready to pour out his vengeance upon them. Now the Divine and humane nature of Christ being knit together into one person, they make a perfect Mediatour, by whom we have accesse to the throne of grace, with comfort, he is God and Man in one person, and so we may approach with comfort; yea by this means, we believing in Christ, we come to be partakers of the sufficiency and grace of the merit of Christ, and they appertain unto us, yea we being one by faith, with the Manhood of Christ, we come to be made one with the Godhead, and so to have access unto God who is the fountain of all good∣nesse: this is a matter of excellent comfort.

Again, it is further to be observed, that the Apostle doth not rest in describing of Christ to be God over all, but addeth further, blessed for ever, he breaketh out into an addition of praise and giving glory to the name of Christ, and magnifying of him; that he is for ever, in all ages; and in all times, to be blessed, praised, magnified, and glorified, and he subjoyneth to this, the word Amen; thereby signifying the inward assent of his heart, Amen: for the word, Amen, is not here (vox optantis) a word of wish∣ing, but (vox approbantis, et vox affirmantis,) a word of approving, and a word of affirming; certainly he is so, Amen.

The Observation is this,

[Doctrine.] That Jesus Christ ought to be spoken of, and thought upon with reve∣rence and honour to his name, his name must be honourable, and pretious unto us; and when we either think upon, or have any occasion to make mention of the holy name of Jesus Christ, we are to do it with honour and reverence, and to give unto it due praise, and due glory, yea we are to mention it with fear and trembling. And to illustrate this point, hence it is that we find many excellent epithets given unto Christ, importing the glory of his name, 1 Cor. 2.8. the Apostle saith, he is the Lord of life and glory: and in 1 Tim. 6.15. The Apostle speaking of Christ, saith thus, he is blessed the Prince of princes, King of kings, Lord of lords, blessed for ever: and in Heb. 1.2, 3. the Authour of the Epistle saith, he is the heir of all things, the Lord and Governour of heaven and earth, the brightnesse of his glory, the ingraven image of the Person of God, yea he hath a more glo∣rious name then the Angels: These titles do point unto us the excellency of his name, and do manifest unto us, that indeed, the name of Christ must be honourable unto us, and we must look that we think and speak of it with reverence and honour. And there is good Reason for it.

[Reason 1] Because he is God and Man in one Person, and as he is God, his name is great, and glorious, honourable and fearful, Psal. 111.9. he hath commanded his Covenant for ever, holy and fearful is his name: as he is God, and in respect

of his Manhood, surely he is more excellent then the very Angels, and doth exceed all of them, in wisdom, holinesse, goodnesse, power, Majestie, and glory: and as the humane Nature, the Manhood of Christ, is received with his Godhead: it is to be adored and worshipped, with Divine and religious worship, not apart by it self, but as it is considered, as united to the second person, it is to be adored with the same worship wherewith we adore God, Heb. 1.6. even then let all the Angels worship him; even when his Manhood is received into unity with his Godhead, and therefore the name of the Lord Jesus ought to be honourable and pretious, and we are to give him praise and glory due to his name.

Justly then are they to be taxed and reproved that do abuse, and abase [Ʋse 1] the name of the Lord Jesus: you will say, Is there any so vile, and so debauched, as to abase the name of the Lord Jesus? Yes, many do; First of all, the Papists, when they repeat the name Jesus after the manner of ex∣orcisme to drive away the devil, and to put away some evil from them, or to bring some good: and thus do witches and wizzards, when they use the name Jesus in their charms, and inchantments, and think there is vertue in it, and are able to work a feat or wonder, by the name Jesus, they pro∣phane the holy name of Jesus: Yea is it not a common thing with many ignorant persons amongst our selves, to abuse the name of the Lord Jesus? what more common then with many to swear by the name of Jesus, and of Christ? and what more usual, then for some upon every trifling occa∣sion, out of a foolish admiration, or in merriment, or laughter, to say, oh Jesus, oh Christ, Jesus God; they abuse his name: what is it but an abu∣sing of the holy name of God? a thing little thought upon; yea some will say, what, shall we not have the name of God in our mouthes? must we name the devil? but let these know, that they take the name of the Lord their God in vain, and prophane it; and assure thy self, the Lord Jesus will not hold thee guiltlesse, that so takest his name in vain: and there is no other name to come to life and salvation, but onely this, Act. 4.10. and doest thou look for salvation by it? thou deceivest thy self, the Lord Jesus will not suffer that sin to escape his punishing hand: we are not to name it upon every trifling occasion, of laughing and merriment; for know, that the hand of the Lord will one day overtake them, and there∣fore break off this sin before the revenging hand of the Lord light upon you; for assuredly, that hand will crush thee both body and soul to hell, without timely and hearty repentance.

And in the second place, learn we every one of us, to acknowledge the [Ʋse 2] greatnesse, and the glory of the blessed Name of the Lord Jesus; the best of us all (howsoever ignorant persons are taxed herein) come far short in acknowledging the honour due to this Name: Learn we therefore to magnifie it, and give him the glory and the praise, and say, blessed for ever, assenting unto it, Amen.

And to this purpose consider, if so be the name of the Lord Jesus, (which is pretious and honourable in it self) if it be not honourable and pretious to every one of us, when we either think upon it, or have occasion to make mention of it, that we have not our mouthes opened in lauding and prai∣sing of it, it is a sign that our hearts are not right within us, our hearts are rotten and corrupt, we are not affected with the greatnesse of the ho∣ly Name of God as we ought, we have not a lively sense and feeling of the comfort to be found in Christ; the name of Christ to us is not a pretious oynt∣ment poured out, Cant. 1.2. For without question every honest and good heart is ready, upon the consideration of the comfort to be found in Christ, to break out in magnifying and praising that holy Name; so if our eyes be opened, and we see the sweetnesse found in Christ Jesus, to be the Fountain of all happinesse, how can we but blesse him, and praise him, and give him the honour and glory due to his blessed Name? all generations do call the

Virgin Mary blessed, because she found favour with God, so far as to bear in her womb the Lord Jesus; and those whose hearts are truly affected unto Christ, cannot but praise and magnifie the Instruments of publishing the name of Christ, the very feet of such are beautiful unto them, Esay 52.7. How beautiful are the feet of them that bring the glad tydings of peace, and of reconciliation, between God and man?

Now then if we would be sure of it, that our hearts are right within us, and that indeed we are heavenly minded, and that we are such that have Jesus Christ in a due admiration, and have a lively sense and feeling of the comforts in Christ; then let us whensoever we name Christ, do it ho∣nourably, and reverently, and when we do speak of it, either in publick or private, take heed of abusing his name, but speak of it honourably: for if we do not love the name of the Lord Jesus, let him be had in execration, let him be accursed, 1 Cor. 16.22. Therefore let us be stirred up to the practise of this duty, to praise the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, Bles∣sed, praised, magnified, and glorified be his name for ever, in all ages, and all times, Amen.