John 5:20

This unity, and equality in operation, betwixt the Father and the Sonne, is againe repeated, confirmed and amplified, from several considerations. 1. That this unity floweth from, and is conjoined with the Fathers special love to the Sonne. 2. That this communication, of counsell, and power in operation, is universal, as he communicates his whole essence, and 3. He promiseth more ample proofes of this equality, then they had seen in the late cure, though they should make but little good use of it. This promise, of more ample proofes of his equality with the Father, though it be verified in all the following instances, to which this is a transition; Yet as to them, it is to be understood specially of his great miracles wrought afterward, of, opening the eyes of the blind, raising the dead, &c. Whence learn. 1. There is true love betwixt the Father and the Sonne, accompanying their communion in essence and operation; And Christ is beloved of the Father, in a special manner, not only as Mediator and man, by vertue of the personal union, but as God, he is the object of his eternal love, as being the substantial image of himselfe, and the splendor and brightnesse of his glory; for, the Father loveth the Sonne, and sheweth him, &c. See Prov. 8.30. And it teacheth us to tryst with the Fathers love, by coming to the Sonne, to be assured of it in him; and as Christ is beloved, and therefore gets the Fathers counsels, so by studying to be beloved of God, we are sure to get his minde and secrets, in so far as is for our good, Joh. 15.15. 2. As the Father and the Sonne are alsufficiently blessed in themselves with the holy Spirit, loving and delighting in one another, without needing of the creature: So it commends Gods love to sinners, that he would send the beloved Sonne of his bosome to them, and Christs love, who would come out of the Fathers bosome, who would have his delights among the sonnes of men also, and would purchase to himselfe love, and an object of love from among them; And it should teach all to love him who is the Fathers beloved, and in whom others are beloved: So much further may be gathered from this, the Father loveth the Sonne. 3. Gods love is communicative, and will manifest it selfe in effects, according to the capacity of the party beloved; so much appeareth in that unspeakable love of the Father to the Sonne, the Father loveth the Sonne, and sheweth him all things, &c. or, communicateth his nature, wisdom, and power for operation with him; which is expressed in termes taken from among men, because of our weaknesse, and ought to be spiritually taken up, and not carnally conceived of; And therefore also these termes of the Fathers shewing, and the Sonnes seeing, are made use of, to prevent all carnal and grosse conceptions of this inexpressible communication from the Father, and participation by the Sonne. 4. Christ, as he is, and knoweth, and worketh from the Father, so he is not posterior, but coeternal with him in his nature and attributes, and worketh in the same time with him; for, he sheweth him, not what he hath done, but what he doth, as being joynt with him in counsel and working, and at all times, and consequently, in his being also. 5. It is a point to be much and often studied, that the glory not onely of the Father, but of Christ, as God, shineth in all the Fathers works, that so we may adore the infinite glory of our Head, and may see him in all that is done in the world; Therefore, is it again inculcate, that the Father sheweth him all things that himself doth. 6 Christs omnipotency, working from the Father, is infinite, and when great things are done by him, it cometh farre short of what omnipotencie can do, and will do as need requires; for, he will shew him, (or communicate with him in, and he, from the Father, will work before your eyes) greater things then these. 7. Albeit Christs works do speak his praise, and his own will get good of them, and glorifie him for them; Yet most part of men (and especially hardened enemies) will reap no saving benefit by them; Christ may convince them of his glory in his works, may dash their unbelief, and make them wonder; but they go no further then stupid astonishment; for; he will shew him greater works, that ye may marvel. He speaks of their wondring, as the Fathers end, and his, in these works, as to them, because it is indeed his glory to convince them so farre, and put them to silence; and withal, it is his righteous judgment, to give them up, to reap no more fruit by his working.