How should such strange logic hold? Whence such a _because_, if
this had not been all his errand into the world, for which his Father
dispensed to want him as it were, and he did likewise condescend to leave
his Father for a season? And now this being the business he came about, it
is strange he appeared in so unsuitable and unlikely a form, in weakness,
poverty, misery, ignominy, and all the infirmities of our flesh which
seemed rather contrary to his design, and to indispose him for giving life
to others whose life was a continued death in the eyes of men. And the
last act of the scene seems to blow up the whole design of quickening dead
sinners, when he who was designed Captain of salvation, is killed himself.
For if he save not himself, how should he save others? And yet behold the
infinite wisdom, power, and grace of God, working under ground, giving
life to the dead by the death of life itself, saving those that are lost
by one that lost himself, overcoming the world by weakness, conquering
Satan by suffering, triumphing over death by crying. Like that renowned
king of the Lacedemonians, who, when he heard of an oracle, that if the
general were saved alive, the army could not be victorious, changed his
habit, and went among the camp of his enemies, and fought valiantly till
he was killed, whom when the armies of the enemies understood to be the
king and general, they presently lost their hearts, and retired and
fled.(230) So our Saviour, and captain of our salvation, hath offered
himself once for all, and by being killed hath purchased life to all that
believe in his death, and that eternal life. Therefore, he is not only the
Word of life in himself, and that eternal life in an essential manner, but
he alone "hath the words of eternal life, and is the alone fountain of
life to us."

Now for the certainty of this manifestation of the Word of life in our
flesh, both that he was man, and that he was more than a man, even God,
this, I say we have the greatest evidence of that the world can afford,
next to our own seeing and handling. To begin with the testimony set down
here, of those who were ear and eye witnesses of all, which, if they be
men of credit, cannot but make a great impression of faith upon others.
Consider who the apostles were, men of great simplicity, whose education
was so mean, and expectations in the world so low that they could not be
supposed to conspire together to a falsehood, and especially when