ΧΡΙΣΤΟΛΟΓΙΑ : OR, A DECLARATION OF THE GLORIOUS MYSTERY OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST, GOD AND MAN. WITH THE INFINITE WISDOM, LOVE, AND POWER OF GOD IN THE CONTRIVANCE AND CONSTITUTION THEREOF: AS ALSO, OF THE GROUNDS AND REASONS OF HIS INCARNATION; THE NATURE OF HIS MINISTRY IN HEAVEN; THE PRESENT STATE OF THE CHURCH ABOVE THEREON; AND WITH AN ACCOUNT AND VINDICATION OF THE HONOUR, WORSHIP, FAITH, LOVE, AND OBEDIENCE, DUE UNTO HIM, IN AND FROM THE CHURCH. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.--PHIL. iii. 8. THE PREFACE. Ir is a great promise concerning the person of Christ, as he was to be given unto the church, (for he was a child born, a son given unto us, Isa. ix. 6.) that God would lay him in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation, whereon he that believeth, shall not make haste;' Isa, xxviii. 16. Yet was it also foretold concerning him, that this precious foundation should be for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence, to both the houses of Israel; for a gin, and for a snare unto the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so as that many among them should stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken;' Isa. viii. 14, 15. According unto this promise and prediction, it hath fallen out in all ages of the church, as the apostle Peter declares concerning the first of them; 'Wherefore,' saith he, also it was contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him, shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even unto them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed;' 1 Epist. ii. 6—8. Unto them that believe unto the saving of the soul, he is, he always hath been, precious; the sun, the rock, the life, the bread of their souls, every thing that is good, useful, amiable, desirable here or unto eternity. In, from, and by him, is all their spiritual and eternal |