Christ a Witness

    CHRIST A WITNESS

    "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness," Re 1:5.

    "Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession," &c., 1Ti 6:13.

    "For this cause came I into the world, that I should bear Witness to the truth" Joh 18:37.

    "These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, creation of God" Re 3:14.

    THE Greek word, Martur, signifies a Witness or Martyr. Beza upon Ac 22:20, says, Hic ego Græcum vocabulum servare malui, &c., i.e. "Here I have chosen rather to keep the Greek word, (viz., where Stephen is called a Martyr) than to translate it a Witness; for common use hath so prevailed, that they are peculiarly called martyrs, who not only by confession of mouth, but also by their blood, testify the doctrine of Christ." See Piscator upon the place. The Greek word signifies any Witness, yet in all tongues, except Greek, a martyr is a loser of his life for the Gospel; and often in Greek too in ecclesiastical writers.

    Christ in a spiritual sense is called a Witness, Isa 43:10; 55:4; Re 1:5, and Re 3:14. (1.) Because he is the most assured testimony to us of divine truth, Joh 18:37. (2.) Because he hath exactly fulfilled all that was foretold of him in the Old Testament, Joh 1:17. And (3.) because he was martyred upon the cross for us, to complete our redemption, and confirm the gospel.

    As Witnesses amongst men are absolutely necessary to the keeping up of justice, and deciding all matters of moment between man and man: even so Almighty God, intending to deal with men according to this rule, hath in wisdom thought fit to provide himself with a Witness for the keeping up of justice, and deciding of all matters between himself and mankind; and according to his own rich and admired grace, he hath provided a Witness, who is free from all exception, both in respect of his faithfulness and knowledge of things, and is Jesus Christ himself, who is set forth to be the true and faithful Witness, the beginning of the creation of God, who in point of antiquity is very capable to set forth and attest whatsoever is necessary to be known of God, and in whatsoever a faithful and true Witness (in point of usefulness) can be unto men, that and much more is Jesus Christ between God and mankind. For the illustration whereof take these following considerations.

    METAPHOR

    I. Witness imports something done that is to be attested when it shall be required.

    PARALLEL

    I. There was something done between the Father and the Son in respect of man before the world began, which God thought Christ a fit Person to bear Witness unto. 1. That God had a purpose of goodwill to man, and in pursuit of which made a gracious covenant in behalf of man. 2. That God promised happiness to man (through that gracious covenant) whom he saw fallen. And this Jesus Christ hath borne Witness unto, "In hopes of eternal life, that God (who cannot lie) promised before the world began,"Tit 1:2. This covenant, promise, and all other gracious acts of the Father that attend them, as they are brought to light by Christ in the gospel, he is a Witness of, together with the being and perfections of God, the necessity of faith and holiness, and belief of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment, and the world to come.

    METAPHOR

    II. A Witness hath respect to a future judgment, where a difference may come upon trial between two parties.

    PARALLEL

    II. The Witness of Christ hath a full and clear respect to a future judgment where a difference is to be tried between God and man. "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my word, I judge him not: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day," Joh 12:48.

    METAPHOR

    III. A Witness is, or ought to be a person of knowledge, who is necessarily qualified for the work.

    PARALLEL

    III. Jesus Christ is a Person of the greatest knowledge in divine things, being always with the Father, and in his bosom; spake on earth what he saw and heard in heaven. He had the Word of God immediately from his own mouth, which no others had besides himself, and therefore qualified to be a Witness in the highest degree; as it is said, "He that God hath sent speaketh the Words of God," Joh 3:34; "I speak not of myself, but the Father that dwelleth in me doeth the works," Joh 14:10.

    METAPHOR

    IV. A Witness is usually called to give testimony, and that in matters of which he hath very good knowledge.

    PARALLEL

    IV. Jesus was not only called to be a Priest, as Aaron, but also to be a Witness; God called him from his high and exalted glory in heaven, to go forth as his great Witness to the world, to testify what he knows of the Father's will from eternity. Hence, said he, "I came not of myself, but my Father sent me: and for this cause came I into the world that I might bear Witness of the truth," Joh 18:37.

    METAPHOR

    V. A Witness gives in a testimony, and leaves the matter on record that he is called to bear witness unto.

    PARALLEL

    V. Jesus Christ hath given in a full testimony and borne record of all things depending between God and mankind; he hath testified, that God loved the world, and sent him to be a Saviour; and that there is forgiveness of sin, and eternal life through his name; and that God will condemn all those that believe not: "He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned," Mr 16:16.

    METAPHOR

    VI. A good and credible Witness makes a cause valid to which he gives testimony.

    PARALLEL

    VI. Jesus Christ however accounted a false Witness and deceiver by the Jews, yet hath by his excellent doctrine, his holy life, and stupendous miracles, given such a testimony to the word of God's grace, and good-will in making a covenant, of his faithfulness in performing and making good the same, of the reality of his intentions, to make men happy through believing, that he renders the matter on God's side valid against all contenders whatsoever, so as that God shall be clear in judgment, and none be able to answer him one word of a thousand, Joh 5:10.

    METAPHOR

    VII. A Witness is so necessary in all matters of moment, especially that which relates to judgment, and to the determination of things, that they are seldom done without one.

    PARALLEL

    VII. Jesus, the faithful and true Witness, was so necessary to the determination of matters relating to God and man, that it could not be done without him, otherwise another might have served in his room; but none in heaven nor earth was found worthy to open the book, and loose the seals thereof, Re 5:4. "If I had not come and done what no other did, you had not had sin, but now you have no cloak for your sin," Joh 15:22,24.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. A witness is to speak the whole truth, when no less will serve to clear the case.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. Christ, as the chief Witness, hath spoken the whole truth, left nothing concealed that either concerns God's glory, or men's good, either by himself before he went to heaven, or by his apostles since; he hath declared the whole counsel of God, so that the record of his testimony is able to make us perfect and complete in the whole will of God; and if any add to, or take from his word, he shall lose his part in the book of life and heavenly Jerusalem, Re 22:19; Ac 20:27.

    METAPHOR

    IX. A good Witness is a just and impartial man, that abhors lying.

    PARALLEL

    IX. Jesus is so just and impartial a Witness; yea, and so great an Abhorror of falsehood, that he is called the "Truth itself, yea, grace and truth came by him," Joh 14:6; 1:17. He was holy, harmless, separate from sinners.

    METAPHOR

    X. A good and credible Witness ends controversies upon trial the right way; and leaves those that are cast without excuse or relief.

    PARALLEL

    X. As the testimony of Jesus will put an end to all controversies the right way, and leave the wicked wholly without excuse, and clear the justice of God: "So it shall be more tolerable for Sodom, in the day of judgment, than for that city," Ro 2:15-16; Mt 10:15, that refuses and rejects the word and testimony of Christ in the Gospel. Divine justice, however, will be cleared in the eyes or view of men and angels, in condemning them that had the light, and would not be determined by it. See Christ a Prophet.

    METAPHOR

    I. The greatest Witnesses amongst men, are but of a short standing, they are but of yesterday; know but in part, therefore can testify but in part.

    DISPARITY

    I. But Jesus Christ is an ancient Witness of long standing, "Was with the Father from the beginning," Joh 1:1-2, saw and heard all things that he spake and did: "I was by him, as one brought up with him," &c. Pr 8:24, "Before Abraham was, I am."

    METAPHOR

    II. Earthly Witnesses are but servants, and in many things return the matter of their testimony by information.

    DISPARITY

    II. Jesus Christ is the Son of the great King and Law-giver, and hath the whole matter of testimony by sight and personal knowledge. "The Father hath showed the Son all things that he himself doeth," &c., Joh 5:20; 8:38; "And what he hath seen and heard that he testified," Joh 3:32.

    INFERENCES.

    I. These things show the great value God puts upon the souls of men, that rather than they should miss the knowledge of his will, and perish for want of testimony to confirm the truth, he sent Jesus Christ, his own Son, to witness and testify divine things to them: "God who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto our fathers by the Prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son." Heb 1:1.

    II. That the Gospel is to be highly valued as the perfect will of God witnessed to, not only by him that was true and faithful, but perfect and free from the least stain or spot of sin.

    III. They deserve to be damned that live under the repeated testimony of Christ, the true Witness, and yet will not believe it, so as to be reformed by it. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb 2:2-3.

    IV. What confirmation, establishment, and consolation also, is here to all that believe and embrace the Gospel in sincerity? 1. This is the truth, as it is in Jesus, "the true grace of God wherein ye stand," 1Pet 5:12. 2. There is a high degree of blessedness to them "that have not seen and yet believed," John 20:29. 3. The abiding by this testimony and witness of Jesus Christ gives an interest in, and right unto eternal life. 4. It advanceth to great honour, makes men no less than "the children of God, and joint-heirs with Christ," Ro 8:16-17.

    V. An exhortation to all them that have received the witness and testimony of Jesus Christ, to hold it fast against all opposition whatsoever. There is great danger in being ashamed of, and the relinquishing the word, and testimony of the Son of God: "He will be ashamed of them before God, and the holy angels," Lu 9:26.

    VI. To them that have not received his testimony, to receive it with all speed, because it is the word of life, the very doctrine of salvation. "It is a fearful thing to refuse him that speaketh from Heaven, and trample under foot the blood of the Son of God," Heb 12:25.