Page:Complete Works of Menno Simons.djvu/451

Rh did not come down from heaven, but must be of the flesh of Adam, if the foundation of the learned were right. Oh no. But the word came down from heaven, is become flesh or man, in the lower parts of the earth, and afterward ascended up far above all heavens where he first was.

Inasmuch then, as Christ not only speaks in this Scripture passage of his divinity, but also of his humanity (since he says The son of man), therefore it is manifest that the man Christ is not originally from earth, but from heaven, for according to his eternal divinity, if that should have been left thus unchanged, as the learned say, he cannot be called the son of man. Again, according to his humanity, he could not be in heaven at the time he spoke these words, if he was of Mary's flesh and not of heaven. Therefore we must accept these Scriptures as regarding the whole Christ, that is, both of his divinity and humanity. From which it forcibly follows that the whole Christ Jesus, God and man, man and God, is from heaven and not of earth, as also John testifies at another place, and says, "He that cometh from above is above all; he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth; he that cometh from heaven is above all," John 3: 31. Again, Christ says, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world; again, I leave the world and go to the Father," John 16: 28.

From these it follows (if we will accept the testimony of Christ, John the baptist and Paul, as true) that the Word came down from heaven, became flesh in Mary, dwelt among man, fulfilled the Scriptures, again ascended and sat down at the right hand of his Father, and is adored by all the angels of God. Mark, reader, how the one Scripture exactly fits the other, and how exactly Christ, John and Paul agree. Sure and immutable stands the testimony, that the Word is become flesh.

Paul still further explains our confession, and says, "The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and, as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly," 1 Cor. 15: 47. Reader observe. Although Paul properly speaks of the resurrection of the dead, and of its future clearness, yet he testifies by this same Scripture, the coming again, and the difference between the first and the second Adam, when he says, "The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven." For, as the first man, Adam, is called earthy on account of his being of the earth; so, also, the second man, Christ, is called heavenly because he is from heaven.

If any one should contradict this and say, That Christ here is called heavenly on account of his divinity, you should know that Paul rebukes them with these significant words: The second man, he says "The second man is the Lord from heaven." I cannot see how the great witness could express himself more plainly. And since he is, then, such a heavenly Being, and, besides, since he is again glorified of God his heavenly Father, with his eternal glory which he had before the beginning of the world, with God, therefore the holy apostle also calls all his true members, after the resurrection, heavenly. Not that they are from heaven, as Christ is from heaven, but because, by grace, through the power of God, in the resurrection, they will partake of the heavenly glory and of the nature of the angels, as Christ says, "The glory which thou gavest me, I have given them" (his disciples), John 17: 22.

Again, Paul says, "Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working, whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself," Phil. 3: 20, 21. Read also what Christ says of such, Luke 20; 1 John 3.

For this reason Paul calls them heavenly and says, "As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly," "For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality;" "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" and as the stars of heaven in brightness forever; yea, when we shall be like unto the Lord, and shall see him face to face, as he is, 1 Cor. 15: 49; Matt. 13: 43; 1 Cor. 13: 13.