Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one Person, never to be divided, whereof is one "Christ, with his only word; in that he knew the thoughts of men's hearts; in that he had the seas at his commandment; in that he walked on the water; in that he rose from death to life; in that he ascended into heaven, and so forth; what other thing did he shew therein, but only that he was perfect God? But because no creature, in that he is only a creature, hath or may have power to destroy death, and give life; to overcome hell, and purchase heaven; to remit sins, and give righteousness: therefore it was needful that our Messias, whose proper duty and office that was, should be not only full and perfect man, but also full and perfect God; to the intent he might more fully and perfectly make satisfaction for mankind. God saith, "This is my well-beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matt. iii. 17.) By which place we learn, that Christ appeased and quenched the wrath of his Father, not in that he was only the Son of man, but much more in that he was the Son of God. Hom. xxiv. The end of his coming was to save and deliver his peopleto fulfil the Law for us to bear witness unto the truth-to teach and preach the words of his Father-to give light unto the world-to call sinners to repentance-to refresh them that labour and be heavy laden-to cast out the prince of this worldto reconcile us in the body of his flesh-to dissolve the works of the Devil: last of all, to become a propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (Matt. i. 21. v. 17. John xviii. 37. Luke iv. 18, 19. John viii. 12. Matt. ix. 13. xi. 28. John xii. 31. Col. i. 21, 22. Heb. x. 13. Rom. iii. 25.) Hom. xxiv. Necessary it was that what man had offended against God, man should atone and satisfy it; which heavy burden none but the man Jesus Christ was able to take up and bear. And other mediator could there not be to set man at one with God, and to make peace between them, but Jesus Christ, both God and man. Therefore being made man, he did, as it were, put upon him our person, that he might therein take upon him, bear, perform, and fulfil the parts of our salvation. Nowell, p. 45. h Q. What meaneth the name of Christ? A. It is as much as to say Anointed; whereby is meant that he is the Sovereign King, Priest, and Prophet.-In the name of Christ are contained was in Christ. 2 Cor. v. 19. In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Col. ii. 9. God was manifest in the flesh. 1 Tim. iii. 16. The second man is the Lord from heaven. 1 Cor. xv. 47. Jesus Christ being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Phil. ii. 6, 7. 1very God, and very man; who 'truly suffered, those three offices which the Son of God received of his Father, and fulfilled to make us partners with him of all the fruit thereof. Nowell, p. 43, 44. He of his own accord and willingly suffered, to the intent with this most sweet sacrifice to appease his Father toward mankind, and to pay and suffer the pains due to us, and by this means to deliver us from the same. Neither is it unused among men one to promise, and be surety, yea sometime to suffer, for another. But with Christ, as our surety so suffering for us, God dealt, as it were, with extremity of law: but to us whose sins, deservings, punishments, and due pains he laid upon. Christ, he used singular lenity, gentleness, clemency, and mercy. Nowell, p. 47. Q. Sith he had the power to choose his own death, why should he be crucified rather than suffer any other kind of death? A. First for his Father's will, whereunto he conformed himself, and which had been long afore in old time uttered and declared by God, by so many prophecies and oracles, signs and tokens. Moreover, his will was to suffer extremity, for that had deserved all extremity; for that kind of death was of all other most accursed and abominable, which death yet he chiefly chose to die for us, to the intent to take upon himself the grievous curse, wherein our sins had bound us, and thereby to deliver us from the same curse. Nowell, p. 50. Christ suffered not only a common death in the sight of men, but also was touched with the horror of eternal death: he fought and wrestled, as it were, hand to hand, with the whole army of i Adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. Tit. ii. 10. Looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Tit. ii. 13. They stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Acts vii. 59. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever. Heb. i. 8. By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth. He is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col. ii. 16, 17. He that built all things is God. Heb. iii. 4. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us. 1 John iii. 16. This is the true God, and eternal life. 1 John v. 20. That eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us. 1 John i. 2. Jesus Christ, the same yester day, to-day, and for ever. Heb. xiii. 8. k The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. She brought forth her first-born Son. Matt. i. 18, 25. The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit. Luke ii. 40. When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. Matt. iv. 2. Jesus saith, I thirst. John xix. 28. Jesus wept. John xi. 35. Luke xix. 41. He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow, and they awake him. Mark iv. 38. Jesus bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.-And when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead. already, they brake not his legs. John xix. 30, 33. "was crucified, "dead, and 'buried, 'to reconcile : hell before the judgment seat of God he put himself under the heavy judgment and grievous severity of God's punishment: he was driven into most hard distress: he for us suffered and went through most horrible fears, and most bitter griefs of mind, to satisfy God's just judgment in all things, and to appease his wrath. For to sinners, whose person Christ did here bear, not only the sorrows and pains of present death are due, but also of death to come and everlasting: so when he did take upon him and bear both the guiltiness and just judgment of mankind, which was undone, and was already condemned, he was tormented with so great trouble and sorrow of mind, that he cried out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Nowell, p. 50. This came to pass according to the state of his human nature, his Godhead in the mean time not putting forth the force of his power. Nowell, p. 51. • His dead and spiritless body was laid in the grave, that his death should be more evident, and that all men might certainly know it. For if he had by and by revived, many would have brought his death in debate and question, and so might it seem that it was likely to prove doubtful. Nowell, p. 52. P Whose mediation was so acceptable to God the Father, through his absolute and perfect obedience, that he took his act m They crucified him, and with him two thieves: and the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. Mark xv. 25, 27, 28. Isa. liii. 12. n See above, John xix. 33. • When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was Jesus' disciple: he went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock, and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. Matt. xxvii. 57-60. He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death. Isa. liii. 9. p It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself. And you, that were sometime alienated and cnemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men. for a full satisfaction of all our disobedience and rebellion, whose righteousness he took to weigh against our sins, whose redemption he would have stand against our damnation. Hom. xxix. 3. We must trust only in God's mercy, and that sacrifice which our High Priest and Saviour Christ Jesus the Son of God once offered for us upon the cross, to obtain thereby God's grace and remission, as well of our original sin in baptism, as of all actual sin committed by us after our baptism, if we truly repent, and turn unfeignedly to him again. Hom. iii. 2. I believe the forgiveness of sins. Apost. Creed. He suffered for our salvation. Athan. Creed. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven. Nicene Creed. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption: who made there (by his one oblation of himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. Com. Service. q Thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin. Isa. liii. 10. Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. Heb. ix. 28. Christ died for our sins. 1 Cor. xv. 3. He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Heb. ix. 26. Christ hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. Eph. v. 2. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Col. i. 14. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John i. 29. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. 1 John i. 7. If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John ii. 1, 2. III. Of the going down of Christ into Hell. As Christ died for us, and was buried; so also is it to be believed, that he went down into Hell. As Christ by his body descended into the bowels of the earth, so, his soul severed from his body, he descended into hell and therewith also the virtue and efficacy of his death so pierced through to the dead, and to very hell itself, that both the souls of the unbelieving felt their most painful and just damnation for infidelity, and Satan himself, the prince of hell, felt that all the power of his tyranny and darkness was weakened, vanquished, and fallen to ruin. On the other side, the dead, which, while they lived, believed in Christ, understood that the work of their redemption was now finished, and understood and perceived the effect and strength thereof with most sweet and assured comfort. John v. 25. xi. 25, 26. Rom. xiv. 9, Col. i. 19, 20. Nowell, p. 52. He descended into hell. Apost. Creed. a Now that he ascended, what is xvi. 10, 11. Acts ii. 26. To this it but that he also descended first end Christ both died and rose and into the lower parts of the earth? revived, that he might be the Lord He that descended is the same also both of the dead and the living. that ascended up far above all Rom. xiv. 9. That through death he heavens, that he might fill all might destroy him that had the things. Eph. iv. 9, 10. By which power of death, that is, the devil; he went and preached unto the and deliver them, who through spirits in prison. 1 Pet. iii. 19. fear of death were all their lifeMy flesh shall rest in hope. For time subject to bondage. Heb. ii. thou wilt not leave my soul in 14, 15. O death, where is thy hell; neither wilt thou suffer thy sting? O grave, where is thy vicHoly One to see corruption. Ps. tory? 1 Cor. xv. 55. A |