BOOK 5. THE MESSAGE.
CHAPTER 2.
5.2.3. Of Christ's Prophetical Office.
Of Christ's Prophetical Office.
1. The titles of Christ, in respect of his prophetical office, were these: --
(a). Sometimes he is called doctor, or Master, Matt, xxiii. 10. "Be ye not called masters, for one is your Master, even Christ;" the word is (Kathegetes), which signifies a doctor, moderator, teaching master, a guide of the way.
(b). Sometimes he is called a lawgiver, James iv. 12. "There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy." The apostle speaks of the internal government of the conscience, in which case the Lord is our judge, Isa. xxxiii. 22. "The Lord is our lawgiver, The Lord is our King, he will save us." We must hear no voice in our consciences, but God's: no doctrine in the church, but Christ's: no offices, institutions and worship must be allowed, but such as he hath appointed; and therefore, when men brought in foreign doctrines, it is said, "That they did not hold the head" Col. ii. 19.
(c). Sometimes he is called a Counsellor, "And his name shall be called. Wonderful, Counsellor, Isa. ix. 6. "Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom," saith Christ, "I am understanding, and I have strength," Prov. viii. 14. Christ, by his office, counsels men how to fly sin, and how to please God, and how to escape hell, and how to be saved.
(d). Sometimes he is called the apostle of our profession, Heb. iii. 1. "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle, and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus." God sent him as an ambassador to make known his will; he came not unsent; the very word imports a mission, a sending, Rom. x. 15. "How shall they preach except they be sent?" Let all those who run before they be sent take notice of this, for this would not Christ do; he was sent; he was the apostle of our profession.
(e). Sometimes he is called the angel of the covenant, Mal. iii. 1. "Even the angel of the covenant whom he delights in." Christ was the publisher of the gospel covenant, he declared the gracious purpose of God towards the elect held forth in the covenant; and in this respect, he is called "a prophet," Acts iii. 22, and "the prophet," John vii. 40. and "that prophet," John vi. 14. "This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world;" whose office it was to impart God's will unto the sons of men, according unto the name angel.
(f). Sometimes he is called the Mediator of the new covenant, Heb. ix. 15. "For this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament," saith the apostle; now, a Mediator is such a one as goes betwixt two parties at variance, imparting the mind of the one to the other, so as to breed a right understanding, and thereby to work a compliance betwixt both. And thus Christ is a Mediator betwixt God and us; by him it is that the mind and will of God is imparted to man, John i. 18. "No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him;" and by him it is that we impart our mind unto God, Rev. viii. 4. "The smoke of the incense which goes up with the prayers of the saints, ascends up before God out of the angels hand." This was typified in Moses, Deut. v. 5. "I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to show you the word of the Lord." The vulgar renders it thus. Ego sequester et medius, I was a mediator, a middler betwixt God and you: and so Christ Jesus is a Mediator, a middler, an interpreter, an intermessenger betwixt God and his people.
2. The reasons of Christ's being a prophet were these; (a). That he might reveal and deliver to his people the will of his Father, (b). That he might open and expound the same, being once delivered, (c). That he might make his saints to understand, and to believe the same, being once opened.
(a). As a prophet, he delivers to the people his Father's will, both in his own person, and by his servants the ministers: in his own person, when he was upon earth as a "minister of the circumcision," Rom. xv. 8. and by his servants the ministers, from the beginning of their mission to the end of the world: thus the gospel is called, Heb. ii. 3. A great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him. Christ in his own personal preaching, is said but "to have begun to teach," Acts i. 1. And the consummate publication was the sending of the Holy Ghost to these select vessels, who were to carry abroad this treasure unto all the world: it was begun by the Lord, and it was confirmed by them that were the disciples of the Lord. In this respect, we cannot look on the publishing of the gospel to the world, but as very glorious: was there not a resemblance of state and glory in the preaching of Christ? You have heard how a forerunner was sent to prepare his way, as a herald to proclaim his approach, and then was revealed the glory of the Lord; but, because the publication was not consummate till afterwards, Christ carries it on in greater state afterwards than he did before, Eph. iv. 8. "When he ascended up on high, he then led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men;" as princes, in the time of their solemn inauguration do some special acts of magnificence and honour, they proclaim pardons, open prisons, create nobles, fill conduits with wine; so Christ to testify the glory of the gospel at the day of his instalment, and solemn re-admission into his Father's glory, he proclaims the gospel, gives gifts unto men, verse 12. "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, tor the edifying of the body of Christ."
(b). As a prophet, he opens and expounds the gospel. Thus, being in the synagogue on the sabbath day, Luke iv. 17, 18, 21. "He opened the book, and he found the place where it was written. The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor," etc. and then he closed the book, -- and said, "this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." And thus joining himself with two of his disciples, going towards Emmaus, Luke xxiv. "He began at Moses, and all the prophets, and he expounded unto them in all the scriptures, the things concerning himself." "The prophecies of Christ were dark, and hard to be understood, and therefore Christ came down from heaven to discover such truths," John iii. 13. "No man hath ascended up to heaven," i.e. to be acquainted with God's secrets, but he that came down from heaven." The gracious purpose of God towards lost mankind, was a secret locked up in the breast of the Father; and so it had been even to this day, had not Christ, who was in the bosom of the Father; and one of his privy council, revealed it unto us; hence Christ is called, "The interpreter of God, no man knoweth the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him," by his interpretation, Matt. xi. 27.
(c). As a prophet, he gives us to understand, and to believe the gospel, Luke xxiv. 45. "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures:" and thus was the case of Lydia, "whose heart the Lord opened," Acts xvi. 14. He that at first opens scriptures, at last opens hearts, John i. 9. "He is that true light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world." He enlightens every believer, not only with a common natural light, but with a special supernatural light, of saving, spiritual, and effectual knowledge: now, there is no prophet can do this save only Jesus Christ; he only is able to cause our hearts to believe and to understand the matter, which he doth teach and reveal. Other prophets may plant and water, Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, but he, and only he can "give the increase:" other prophets may teach and baptise, but unless Christ Come in by the powerful presence of his Spirit, they can never be able to save any poor soul, 1 Pet. ii. 5. "We, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house," saith Peter: but Psal. cxxvii. 1. "Except the Lord do build the house, they labour in vain that build it." O alas! Who is able to breathe the Spirit of life into these dead stones, but he of whom it is written, John v. 25. "The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear it, shall live?" Who can awaken a dead soul out of a dead sleep? And who can give light unto these blind eyes of ours, but he of whom it is written, Eph. v. 14. "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light?"
3. The excellencies of Christ above all other prophets, are in these respects. --
(a). Other prophets were but shadows and types of this great prophet; even Moses himself was but a figure of him. Acts vii. 37. "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me," saith Moses: these words "like unto me," do plainly show, that Moses was at the best but an image and shadow of Christ: now, as substances do far excel shadows, so doth Christ far excel all the prophets; they were but shadows and forerunners to him.
(b). Other prophets revealed but some part of God's will, and only at some times. God, saith the apostle, "at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in times past, unto the fathers by the prophets," Heb. i. 1. i.e. He let out light by little and little, till the day-star and Sun of righteousness arose; "But in these last days he hath spoken by his Son," verse 1. i.e. He hath spoken more fully and plainly in this respect, saith the apostle. Gal. iv. 1, 2. The heirs of life and salvation were but children before Christ's incarnation. As now we see but through a glass darkly towards what we shall do in the life to come, so did they of old in comparison of us; their light in comparison of ours, was but an obscure glimmering light: Christ's discovery of himself then was but "a standing behind the wall, and looking forth of the window, a showing himself through the lattice," Cant. ii. 9.
(c). Other prophets spake only to the ears of men, but Christ spake, and still speaks to the heart: He hath the keys of David, that openeth and no man shutteth, that shutteth and no man openeth," Rev. iii. 7. It is a similitude taken from them that keep the keys of a city or castle, without whom none can open or shut; no more can any man open the heart or break in upon the spirit, but Christ: he only is able to open the eyes of the mind by the secret, kindly and powerfully working of his own Spirit.
(d). Other prophets preached wisdom unto men, but only Christ preacheth men wise; other prophets warned men, by telling them of their sins, and denouncing the judgments of God; but Christ reclaimed them, and turned them from sin: hence it is said, that "he taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes," Matt. vii. 29. It came dryly and coldly from them, but it came from him as being full of conviction and reproof, full of the evident "demonstration of the Spirit, and of power," 1 Cor. ii. 4.
(e). Other prophets might not preach themselves; the apostle inveighs against self-commenders, "We dare not, (saith he) make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves," 2 Cor. x. 12. Yea, Christ himself, relating to himself, as a mere man, saith, That "his witness is not true, if he bear witness of himself" John v. 31. But, in another place, relating to himself as a mediator, he speaks clean contrary, "Though I do bear record of myself, yet my record is true," John viii. 14. Here then is a quite difference betwixt other prophets in respect of their office and Christ! they might not preach themselves, but he bears witness of himself, because he hath not a greater in the point of our justification, sanctification and salvation, to bear witness of than himself. And hence are those self-predictions of his which we find in scriptures, as, Isa. xlv. 22. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, ye ends of the earth." Matt. xi. 28. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden." And conferring with the two disciples, it is said. That "beginning at Moses, and all the prophets, he expounded unto them all the scriptures, the things concerning himself," Luke xxiv. 27. Surely it commends to us the prophecy of Christ, that he might preach, and commend himself without any blot or arrogancy, or taking too much upon him.
(f). Other prophets had their commission and authority from him, Eccles. xii. 11. "The words of the wise are as goads and nails fastened by the masters of the assemblies, which are given from one shepherd," i.e. the words of the wise are divine and heavenly instructions; the masters of assemblies are gospel ministers, and Christ is that one shepherd from whom these words are given, and from whom these masters have their authority; are they not called "ambassadors for Christ?" 2 Cor. v. 20. And doth not Ezekiel tell us, "that he must drop his words towards the south?" Ezek. xx. 46. Now what is the meaning of that dropping? It is a phrase borrowed from rain, as the clouds from whence the rain descends, have not their water originally and natively in themselves, but from the sea: so have not the prophets a spirit of prophecy of themselves, but all is drawn up out of Christ, as out of a full sea of all excellent wisdom and knowledge. In him are all the treasures, a sea, an ocean of knowledge, and from him all the prophets derived whatsoever they had.