when a Sacrifice was offered he bid him to put up his Sword 1 Chron. 21.27 So in the times of the Law God did but as it were stay his Hand Sins were said to be passed by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the forbearance of God that Time is called a Time of Forbearance and God staid his Hand from punishing those that did look to Christ to come But now the great Sacrifice is offered up God's Sword is sheathed and he can magnify Grace through the sacrifice and satisfaction of Christ it may reign through the Righteousness of Jesus Christ Rom. 5.20.21 Jesus Christ being lifted upon the Cross will draw all to him John 12.32 All that is very many compared with the few that were drawn before a Dying Saviour 3dly Christ hath now paid a Ransom Matth. 20.28 and purchased a Church by his own Blood Acts 20.28 And therefore Christ hath now just ground to come to the Prison Door of Sinners and to call them forth Isa 49.9 That thou maist say to the Prisoners go forth and to them that are in darkness shew your selves Come with boldness into the presence of God appear and shew your selves with confidence in the Heavenly Sanctuary He that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Redeemer hath just Ground to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Deliverer Rom. 11.26 shall he Ransom and not Rescue shall he buy and not possess hath not Christ a just claim to what he hath purchased to take possession of it 4thly Christ hath now sealed confirmed and established his Testament by means of Death Heb. 9.15 He that might have given a Sanction to to the Threatning by our Blood and have executed the Curse in our Death hath ratified the Promises and confirmed his Testament by his own Death Christ hath given Vigour and Strength to the Promises by his being Crucified through weakness 2 Cor. 13.4 and hath given Life to his Testament by his own Death and he is rising again to be his own Executor Now he can fulfil the Promises of the New Covenant and bestow the Legacies of his new Testament and that especially because Christ is such a Testator as by his death doth purchase of God all the Legacies he bequeaths in his Testament which no other Testator doth All the Mercies of the Everlasting Covenant are the sure Mercies of this Spiritual David Isa 55.3 they are sure because Jesus Christ is risen from the Dead to bestow them Acts 13.34 And certainly Christ may freely and lawfully give forth his own 5hty Now Christ is saved and therefore in a full capacity to save others Zech. 1.9 Thy King cometh to thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Salvatus ipsemet ut de brevi transitu in locum Saved Christ had many Adversaries and did encounter with mighty Enemies they endeavoured totally to crush Christ and wholly to swallow him up it was of great concernment to the whole Church of God that Christ should be saved The Holy Ghost therefore dictated that Prayer to the Saints to be put up for Christ Psal 118.25 Save now we beseech thee we heseech thee now send Prosperity now was the time of War and utter Destruction there were many associated and united against Jesus Christ Acts 4.25 26 27. He is stiled Child Jesus Enemies thought easily to destroy him Herod Pontius Pilate the Jews and the Gentiles Many Dogs were hunting down this Morning Hart Psal 22. and the Title of Psal 16. And it was that which the Church desired and Christ himself also pray'd for that he might be delivered from their cruel and devouring Mouths Psal 69.29 I am Poor and Needy let thy Salvation set me up on high And Christ was heard in what he pray'd for He was taken from Prison and Judgment Isa 53.8 From Man's Prison Tribunal and Judgment and God did set him up on high even in a glorious Throne far above the reach and rage of all his Enemies that Christ that is so perfectly saved himself can fully save us He that did wrest himself out of the Hands of his Foes can also rescue us from the Power of all our Enemies the day of Christ's Weakness is past 2 Cor. 13.4 and the day of his Power is now come Psal 110.3 6thly Christ is now Perfected and being made Perfect he is fit to become the Author of Eternal Salvation to those that obey him Heb. 5.9 The Captain of our Salvation is made perfect through Sufferings and can lead to Glory Heb. 2.10 All the Rounds or Rongs of the Spiritual Ladder that reacheth from Earth to Heaven are compleat Gen. 28.12 13 14. with Rom. 5.33 34. Christ hath cloathed himself with our Flesh he hath died is risen again is ascended to Heaven is at the Right Hand of God to make Intercession for us His Priestly Garments are sprinkled with his own Blood and so he is fitted to enter into the Heavenly Sanctuary and to appear in the Presence of God the Sons of Aaron were to have their Priestly Garments sprinkled with the Blood of a Sacrifice before they could officiate in the Sanctuary Exod. 20.21 Christ's own Death did consecrate him as a Priest for ever and perfect him for the great work of Intercession Heb. 7. last 7thly Christ is now Victorious over all his and our Enemies he hath overcome the World John 16. last he hath made Reconciliation for Iniquity yea made an end of sin Dan. 9.24 he hath abolished Death 2 Tim. 1.10 by tasting it for a few Hours he hath swallowed it up for ever By Death he hath destroy'd him that hath the power of Death even the Devil Heb. 2.15 As a Goaler hath the power of the Law to keep a Malefactor in Prison and the Executioner hath the power of the Law to put him to Death so Sinners hath broken the Law and incurred the Penalty Satan hath the power of the Curse to cut off and destroy Sinners But Christ hath spoiled Principalities and Powers turned Satan out of his Office stript him of his Power as to those that believe The Curse is the Armour that this Strong Man trusts in Luke 11.22 And Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law by being made a Curse himself Gal. 3.13 And Christ hath now the Key of Hell and Death the Key of Hell to shut it that the Souls of his People may not enter into it and the Key of Death to rescue and bring forth the Bodies of his People out of the Grave He hath led Captivity Captive Psal 68.18 and triumphed over the Enemies of our Salvation the Captain of our Salvation is entred in triumph into his Royal City above as he hath overcome in his own Person so now he can overcome in us His strength is perfected in our weakness It is discovered to be most perfect when we are most weak and low when we seem as Christ's Soldiers to lye in the open Field and to be exposed to manifold Inconveniences and Sufferings from the rage and fury
to resist and contradict the Law of God This was very strange and surprizing to Paul he was decived in this he thought the Law would have repressed beaten down and mortified Sin but it rather fortified it As a Man that doth not know the Nature of Burning Lime thinks by pouring a little water on it to quench it but when he seeth that this water makes it to burn more vehemently and fiercely How would he as amazed cry out How am I deceived that the water should increase the Fire that I thought would extinguish it So the Law doth not weaken Sin but rather strengthen it and render it more violent 4. The Law punishes every Sin with Death Every Lust is mortal every wrong step is fatal and corrupt Fruit is pernitious and destructive Though Ismael might be guilty of many other offences yet for a weighty reason Moses mentions but one and that was his mocking at Isaac and for this he was cast out and cast off Gen. 21.8 9 10 11. Ismael was Hagar's Child and so a Type of them that cleave to the Covenant of Works The Law Curses for every act of Disobedience Deut. 27. last One offence according to the Covenant of Works is enough to undo and Ruin a Man to Eternity 5. There is no access to God by the Covenant of Works When the Law was given Bounds were set about Mount Sinai to keep off the people of Israel they were charged not to break through Death was denounced as the Punishment of those that touched the Mountain Exod. 19.12.13.21 The people therefore removed and stood a-far off Exod. 20.18 None of the other Priests or Worshiping Israelites might enter into the Tabernacle till Atonement was made for their Sins by Aaron the High-Priest Levit. 16 17. But after that Sacrifices were Slain Offered and their Blood Sprinkled on the Altar and the People then Moses Aaron and Seventy of the Elders of Israel ascended Mount Sinai and saw the Glory of the God of Israel Exod. 24.4 5 6 7 8 9 10. These Sacrifices were but Types of Christ's Death he died the Just for the Unjust to bring us to God 1 Pet. 3.18 else we are shut out of the Glorious Presence of God and cut off from all Gracious and Blessed Communion with him God is not accessible by the Covenant of Works guilty Creatures are kept off from him 6. The Law genders to Bondage Galat. 4.22 a Spirit of Bondage to Fear attends it Rom. 8.15 as Hagar and Ismael had a slavish Fear of Abraham as a Master rather than a Conjugal Love to him as a Husband or a Filial Love to him as a Father Those under the Covenant of Works are still doubting of God's Favour questioning his Love dreading of his Wrath They do not know whither Death will carry them and where Judgment will fix them and therefore through the Fear of Death they are all their Life-time subject to Bondage Heb. 2.15 the fear of the evil that is future doth embitter to them all present Good The Law was given in such a Manner that it was designed to strike Fear and Terror into Sinners The Israelites were then alone with God in the Wilderness separated from all other Nations This might intimate that God and the Sinner shall be alone together and all pleasing Company and delightful Enjoyments shall be shut out The Thunder did roar in their Ears and the Lightning did flash and flame in their Eyes and the Earth did tremble under their Feet Exod. 19.16 18. Whither shall a Guilty Sinner betake himself when the Heavens do threaten Vengeance over his head and the Earth seems sinking under his feet The Mountain did burn with fire Exod. 19.16 18. with Deut. 5.23 this did represent the fiery Throne of God and his burning Wrath wherewith as a Judge he is Armed to punish and destroy those that trust in their Works and will have to do with God according to the Covenant of Works But though the Mountain did burn yet it was not consumed So guilty Creatures shall burn in the fire of God's Wrath yet never be consumed or cease to be There was Blackness Darkness and Tempest Heb. 12.18 These pointed at the perplexed state of a Sinner the horrour and consternation of the Soul when God the Judge doth shew his Justice and Wrath for the Violation of the Condition of the Covenant of Works O what black darkness will cover Sinners O what a Terrible Storm and Tempest will one day be raised in and fall upon their Souls The sound of the Trumpet that was exceeding loud Exod. 19.19 Heb. 12.19 did signifie that Sinners must be cited to and presented before the Tribunal of God neither can any decline or avoid appearing before God's Justice-Seat Yet the Apostle calls this Mount Sinai a Mountain that was in it self Tangible or might be touched that so it was an Earthly and Material Mountain because the Dispensation of the Law and Covenant of Works is but a low Dispensation A Natural Man may Touch and Reach this that God will inflict evil on those that rebel and do evil When as the Covenant of Grace is a Spiritual and Invisible Mountain far above the reach and comprehension above the sight and ken of a Natural Man And what did all this Terror in giving the Law tend to but to raise a Spirit of Bondage in sinners and by Fear to drive and force sinners to some External Obedience to the Letter of the Law which yet they perform with Regret and Reluctancy and not with Love and delight 7. There is no enjoyment of the Eternal Inheritance by the Law the Bond-woman and her Son were to be cast out Galat. 4.20 21. Gen. 21.8.10 Ismael was not admitted or allowed to be an Heir with Isaac He did not Inherit Abraham's Rich Estate Moses could not bring the Israelites into or give them possession of the Land of Canaan this Joshua the Type of Christ did Hagar and Ismael were turned out with a small pittance they had but a few Loaves and a Bottle of Water It may seem strange that Rich Abraham should provide no better for his Wife and Child but there was a Mystery in it it served to instruct us that those that are of the works of the Law cannot be Heirs of Heaven cannot possess any Spiritual Riches or an Eternal portion in Glory but are put off with Temporary Momentary Comforts and Enjoyments What are the best things that this World affords What are Earthly Riches Honours or Pleasures compared with an Eternal Happiness they are but as a few Loaves of Bread and a Bottle of Water When Hagar and Ismael were turned out they wandered in a Wilderness Gen. 21.14 O what a difference was there between the plenty and abundance of Abraham's Family and the wants of a Barren Wilderness The World it self is but a Wilderness compared with the Paradise of God Revel 2.7 A Legal state under the Covenant of Works What is it but a wretched
Luke 12.4 and Satan though he may destroy the natural Life yet he shall not quench the Life of God in them and in due time the Saints shall tread down the wicked they shall be as Ashes under the soles of their Feet Mal. 4.2 3. and the God of Peace shall shortly tread Satan under the Feet of Believers Rom. 16.20 5. This is an everlasting Salvation Isa 45.17 Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation Saints shall have a full and an eternal Victory as God did swear to Abraham that his Seed should possess the Gates of their Enemies Gen. 22.17 When not only the Field Army is beaten but the strong Towns and Cities are taken then there is a total and lasting Conquest Saints shall be saved from Sin Sinners and Satan for ever and this Salvation must needs be eternal for it is founded on the Everlasting Righteousness Psal 92.24 and the eternal Redemption of Christ Heb. 9.12 There is no possibility for glorified Saints to sin or fall there shall no Serpent creep into the Heavenly Paradise to tempt Saints shall never make Forfeitures of it or be driven out of it they shall there eat of the Tree of Life and live for ever Rev. 2.7 6. This Salvation Salvation is joined with Vengeance executed on our spiritual Enemies Isa 35.4 Your God shall come with vengeance God shall come with a Recompence and save you Isa 61.2 the acceptable Year of the Lord is come with a Day of Vengeance As Israel could not be delivered out of Egypt or be freed from Babylon but the First-born of Egypt Pharaoh and all his Host must be swallowed up and destroy'd and Babylon's Empire must cease and her Kingdom be destroyed Jer. 50.18.26 So the Elect cannot have liberty and salvation but Satan himself must be destroy'd Heb. 2.15 and his works also be rootod out of the Hearts of Men 1 John 3.5 O what Mercy is this to Believers that the wrath of God is turned away from them and that the vengeance of God falls on Satan and Sin that Sin is condemned and executed but Sinners are justified and saved Rom. 8.3 with Rom. 9.1.33 3. But why is it said that Judah should be saved and Israel dwell safely in the Days of Christ why is Salvation so eminently put on Gospel times I answer though Saints before Christ were saved yet still it was with an Eye to and prospect of Christ's coming If Christ had not been exhibited in the Flesh and bled and died in our Natures no Sinners could have been saved The Faith Hope Salvation of Saints did depend on Gospel-times and days Christ was a Lamb slain in the purpose of God and in the Typical Sacrifices from the Foundation of the World Rev. 13.3 God took Christ's word when he became a surety he depended on his performance of his Promises and his Oblation of a Sacrifice and the Eyes of Saints was to him and upon him John 9.56 Your Father Abraham saith Christ to the Jews rejoyced that he might see my day he saw it and was glad He saw the day of Christ's Birth in the Birth of Isaac He saw the day of his Death when Isaac was bound laid on the Altar and ready to be offered up in Sacrifice and in the Lamb that was substituted in Isaac's Room which pointed out Christ that was our Exchange and so our Ransom and Redeemer The words that Jacob spake was the Language of Saints in the Old Testament Gen. 49.18 I have waited for thy Salvation O Lord. Our Saints of the New Testament have this Priviledge and Advantage that they can speak as Simeon Luke 2.29 30. Mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the Face of all People The Prophets were but Seeds-Men they ministred to the Church a Promise of the Messiah to come John 4.37.38 but the Apostles and Ministers of the New Testament are Harvest-men they relate the History and preach the glad Tidings of Christ's Incarnation Death Resurrection and Ascention into Heaven and the Saints of the Old Testament enjoyed no Spiritual Liberty but with respect to the Ransom to be paid by Christ and no Legacies had been bestowed but in prospect of the Death of Christ There is therefore great Reason why it should be said with an Emphasis that in Christ's Days Judah should be saved But what is the benefit of Christ's Days What peculiar influence have they on Salvation I answer It may well be said that in Christ's Days Men are saved because 1st That now Christ is incarnate he that made all things is now made Flesh 1 John 1.2.14 And we have a two-fold Advantage for our Salvation by Christ's Incarnation 1. He is now become our Brother Cant. 8.1 and so hath right to redeem us as he is our near Kinsman Lev. 25.47 48 49. If an Israelite did sell himself for a Servant after he was sold his Brother or any that was near of Kin to him might redeem him and so restore him again to liberty We are by the first Adam and since by our sinful choice sold under sin we know of no Kinsman or Brother that could give to God a Ransom for us It was God's infinite and free Mercy to raise up Jesus Christ in our Nature to pay a Ransome for us we did not think or dream of such a Brother or Kinsman No meer Creature should have undertook the work of Redemption but he must have miscarried and sunk under it but Christ is fitted now to redeem us because he is God's Son and our Brother 2. Christ as our Brother and incarnate Kinsman is fit to be our God or Avenger of Blood he that was the Kinsman of one that was slain did claim a right to avenge his Blood on him that shed it So Christ by assuming our Nature is fitted to avenge us of Sin and Satan that are our great Enemies to destroy those that have ruined and undone us the same Hebrew Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies both a Redeemer and an Avenger so it is said God shall come with Vengeance and save us Isa 5.4 2ly Jesus Christ hath now made his Soul an Offering for sin Isa 53.10 He came to make atonement and is a propitiation for our sins 1 John 2.2 he made Peace by the Blood of his Cross Col. 1.20 and reconciles Enemies to God by his Death Rom. 5.10 And this is observable that the Year of Jubilee began from the day of Attonement Lev. 25.9.10 Then Servants were restored to their Liberty and those that had alienated their Lands recovered their sold Inheritances Even so Christ having now made at Atonement he can and doth proclaim a Year of Jubilee for the Remission of Sins and the Releasing of Sins Servants God's Prisoners and the Devil 's Captives Isa 61.2 as in David's Days when a Pestilence was sent by God for numbring the People first God bid the Angel that came to destroy Jerusalem to stay his Hand 2 Sam. 24.16 But
said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Righteousness of God so the word might be render'd and this Phrase the Righteousness of God seems to be taken and be proved from my Text Jehovah our Righteousness 2. Faith is said to be in the Blood of Christ Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth for a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood All the Garments of Christ are said to smell of Myrrh Aloes and Cassia Psal 45.7 As Christ's Garments are expounded to be his Graces so they may also be interpreted to be the Actions of Christ that flow from those Graces Garments signifie Actions so it is said they washed their Robes white in the Blood of the the Lamb Rev. 7.14 So these Garments point out the Active Obedience of Jesus Christ It is said also That Christ gave himself an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour to God Ephes 5.2 Zanchy on the place observes the Emphasis of the Apostles words that Christ is said to be first an Offering and then a Sacrifice There were Offerings of First-fruits and Fine Flower and of such things as had not life but living creatures were offered up in Sacrifice and then their blood was spilt and their lives taken away Christ's being an Offering may point out the Holiness of Christ's Life and his being a Sacrifice did signifie his Sufferings and his Death How satisfactory and refreshing is it to us to Read and Hear of the sweet smelling Garments of Christ and the sweet smelling Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus It was foretold of our Lord Jesus Christ that his Ears both his Ears should be opened Psal 40.6 one Ear was opened as he was Man to hear and obey the Commands of the Moral Law and Christ's other Ear was opened to listen to and comply with that peculiar Commandment that was given to him As Mediator to lay down his Life Joh. 10.18 Innocent Man owed but a single debt to God and that was Obedience to his Law but Fallen and Guilty Man is bound to God in a double Bond. He owes God Obedience as he is a Creature and he owes God Glory to be raised out of his Sufferings Misery and Torments as he is a Guilty Creature Therefore Sins are called Debts Matth. 6.12 because the Transgressors of the Law for Non-payment of the Debt of Obedience contract another and New Debt and that is an Obligation to endure Punishment As they wrong and rob God by their sins of Omission and Commission so they are bound to make Restitution to God by their eternal Sufferings and Torments 1. Jesus Christ was to obey the Commands of the Law Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do Jesus Christ was to Glorifie God in the Nature of a Creature in the Form of a Servant he was to be a perfect Pattern of Piety and an example of Righteousness on Earth where there had not been a full and exact Instance of Righteousness and Obedience fince the Fall Eccles 7.20 There is not a just Man on earth that lives and sins not The Earth hath been full of violence and wickedness before God Gen. 6.13 How much was it then for the Glory of God and the Honour of his Law that there should be a Man Perfectly Holy and Just on Earth A Virgin-Soul among Whores and Adulteresses A Diligent Servant among Drones and Lazy Loiterers A Loyal Subject among Rebels and Enemies How little Honour had been given to the Law if only the Penalty of it had been inflicted and its Curse been executed but the Commands of it had never been obeyed and fulfilled Is it for the Credit or Glory of an Earthly Prince to have no Obedience paid to his Laws but only the Penalties annexed to them to take hold of and be executed on all that are under his Jurisdiction And shall God's Laws never be obeyed Shall the Penalties of them only be executed As a Foreign Prince if he Travels through the Territories and Dominions of another King doth owe him a Topical Allegiance and must needs be subject to his Laws so the Son of God though he was a Rightful and a Glorious King yet Travelling through the Dominions of his Father in the nature of a Creature to Redeem Captives must needs be subject to the Laws that God gave to all Mankind The High-Priest under the Old Testament was an eminent Type of Christ he was bound to wear a Plate of Gold joyned to his Mitre on his Forehead Exod. 25.36 37 38. This did intimate and teach us that the true substantial High-Priest was to be Perfectly holy and absolutely devoted to God Tho' God may spy Faults and observe Blemishes and Spots in the best of Saints yet he may look to the Forehead of Jesus our Great High-Priest and there read nothing but Holiness to the Lord. The Law of God was perfectly impressed on Christ's Heart and fully expressed in his Life He loved God to the Height of utmost Perfection He loved Men even his own that were in the World with the most pure ardent and intense Love John 13.1 he was so intent so fixed in Exalting and Magnifying God that when his Soul was troubled in the prospect of his Sufferings yet he Pray'd thus Father glorifie thy own Name John 12.27 28 29. As if he should say However I am clouded and eclipsed whatever bitter Cup I drink whatever heavy Burden I bear yet Father glorifie thy own Name As the First Adam ruined us by his Self-seeking so the Second Adam raised and Recovered us by his Self-denyal and Christ's Love to his People was stronger than Death He leaped over Mountains of Difficulties and brake through Hosts of Enemies and Sufferings to Redeem them He did forget himself for a time that he might remember us to eternity He veiled his Glory and Majesty to manifest his Love to us We are all as an unclean thing Isa 64.6 but Jesus Christ is that Holy Thing that was Born of the Virgin Mary Luk. 1.35 he came into this World without a Foreskin on his Heart and therefore was that Holy Seed that was Figured and Typified by Circumcision Phil. 3.3 And we may Glory in him on this account The Fountain was pure from his Conception and Birth and the Stream that did flow from it was ever after clear and clean It was requisite that Christ should be Holiness to God that he might be made Righteousness to us 2. Christ's Sufferings may well be accounted a part of his Righteousness For 1. They were the Fulfilling of the Law given to him as Mediator that he should make his Soul an Offering for Sin and pour it out to the death Isa 53.10 12. Joh. 10.18 As the Moral Law belonged to Christ as a Man he could not possess our Humane Nature in Purity or order his Conversation with Beauty without submission to it so the Ceremonial Law belonged to him as a Jew and he was obliged to die as
thing The word intimates that Christ so Covers Sin that it is never more to be seen It is so Blotted out by his Blood that it is never more to be Read so Drowned that it is never more to appear Christ by his once Offering hath perfected for ever them that are Sanctified and put an end to all Sacrifices for Sin Heb. 10.14 17 18. Fifthly That Christ so suffered for Sin that in a short time he removed the Guilt of it Zech. 3.9 God saith he would remove the Iniquity of that Land in one day O! How wonderful is this that Guilt which had been contracting Sins that had been committing many Hundreds yea some Thousands of years that these should be satisfied for in one day and should be so soon purged away Heb. 1.3 That what Sinners had been Writing Hundreds of years that Christ should blot it out in one day When Sins had long cried loud and clamoured in the Ears of God that all these should be stilled and silenced in one day Sixthly For Christ by Tasting death but part of three days to abolish it for ever 2 Tim. 1.10 by a short course of Obedience to bring in everlasting Righteousness Dan. 9.24 and by Temporary Sufferings to obtain an Eternal Redemption Heb. 9.12 this none could do but Jehovah Incarnate In the Sacrifices of the Law there was a Remembrance again of Sins every year Heb. 10.3 though there were Sacrifices offered daily to make Atonement for Sin and a Multitude of these were slain in a Year yet on the Day of Atonement that came the Tenth Day of the Seventh Moneth every Year there was a Solemn Confession and Remembrance of Sins again Levit. 16.21 27 29. which evidences the weakness and imperfection of all the Legal Sacrifices that they could never take away Sin or make the comers to those Sacrifices perfect Heb. 10.11 but Christ by one Offering perfects us for ever Heb. 10.14 Christ's one Sacrifice was the Truth and Substance of all the Sacrifices of the Law of the Burnt-offering 1 John 29. of the Sin-offering 2 Cor. 5.21 of the Trespass-offering Isa 53.10 Christ made his Soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Trespass-offering Therefore on the account of this one perfect Sacrifice God saith he will remember Sins and Iniquities no more Heb. 10.17 Hence it is very rightly inferred very justly concluded where Remission of Sins is there is no more Offering for Sin 3. The Benefits that we receive by Christ's doing and suffering the will of God do Evidence that Christ is our Righteousness and our only Righteousness 1. It was Jesus Christ that gave his Life a Ransome for many Matth. 20.28 we did not contribute towards it or make up any part of it We cannot give to God a Ransom for our Bodies to prevent Temporal Death Psal 49.78.9 How then could we provide a Ransome for our Souls to prevent Eternal Death we could not satisfie Justice that our Bonds might be loosed our Prison door opened as God the Father found out the way of Redemption Job 33.24 I have found a Ransome So God the Son paid the Ransome and found Eternal Redemption Heb. 9.12 He gave his Flesh for the Life of the World John 6.51 he was slain and Redeemed us to God by his Blood Revel 5.9 As the Ram was the Ransom of Isaac Gen. 22.12 13. Abraham's hand was staid the Life of Isaac was spared and the Ram was offered up in stead of him So we were bound with Chains of Guilt the Justice of God was ready to give us the Fatal Stroke the Mortal Wound we were under the Sentence of death and knew not how we should be preserved but then Jesus Christ was substituted in our Room and this Lamb of God was offered as a Ransome for us therefore our Righteousness is wholly of him 2. We do not feed on or live by Food of our own providing but Christ is Living Bread and Bread of Life to us John 6.48.50 51. He came down from Heaven that we might eat and not die Christ speaks of a double giving John 6.51 First He gave his Flesh upwards in Sacrifice to God his Father so he gave his flesh for the Life of the World Secondly he gives it downwards as Food and Sustenance to us There is neither Sacrifice for God or Bread for us to be found in this lower World but both must come down from Heaven By our Fall and Apostacy from God we have brought our selves into a Barren Spiritual Wilderness as the Israelites when they came out of Egypt into the Wilderness they could not subsist there but by an extraordinary and Miraculous Provision that God made for them God Rained down Manna from the Clouds and fed the Israelites with the Corn of Heaven Psal 78.24 But Christ may more truly and properly be called the Corn of Heaven This very Bread did first spring up in the Mind and grow in the Heart of God he laid the great Design of a Spiritual Feast for fainting and famishing Souls He Predestinated Jesus Christ to be a Sacrifice to himself and Food to us This is a great and wonderful Mystery of Grace that Bread should come down from Heaven to Nourish us Bread should naturally Grow out of the Earth for our Souls as well as for our Bodies Our Righteousness should spring and grow out of our selves and be wrought by our selves but none of us have any thing of our own to relieve our selves with to subsist upon or to keep our selves alive by Psal 22.29 none could keep alive his own Soul we were ready to perish with Famine as the Prodigal Luke 15.17 Now what astonishing Kindness is this that Jesus Christ should be a Sacrifice that Sinners might have a Feast on him 1 Cor. 5.7 8. Believers are made Spiritual Priests Revel 1.6 and this is their Priviledge Honour and Happiness that they have an Altar to eat off Heb. 13.10 In the Times of the Law none might eat of a Sacrifice that was offered for their Sins if the Priest offered Sacrifice for his own Sins he might not eat of any part of it Levit. 8.10 11. those Sacrifices offered for Sin did not yield any Food or Sustenance to the Worshippers that brought them This did evidence and argue their weakness and imperfection that they could not feed or nourish those that brought them Levit. 6.30 it is ordained that no Offering whereof any of the blood is brought into the Tabernacle of the Congregation to reconcile withall in the Holy Place shall be eaten it shall be burnt in the fire But this is the Excellency of Christ's Sacrifice that though he was made Sin and a Trespass-offering yet we are called to Feed on and Eat his Body that was broken and Sacrificed for us Matth. 26.26 1 Cor. 11.24 25. There is still Food on Christ our Altar it is never empty The Altar was called God's Table Mal. 1.12 Ezek. 41.22 and the Sacrifice is called his Meat God did as it were Feed at
Kingdom Christ's Testament doth make both Children and Heires 1. Saints have their new nature from God's Gracious Covenant so they are born of the Covenant that promises a new Heart and Spirit Ezek. 36.26 and on this account are said to be the Children of the promise Rom. 9.8 And they have the Eternal Inheritance from the same gracious Covenant and so are stiled the Heires of promise Heb. 6 17.11 We cannot obtain a blessing by our own Righteousness and Works but by the Sacrifice and Death of Jesus Christ Levit. 9.22 23. This Text of Scripture is observable when Aaron had offered Sacrifice then he was to Bless the people in the Name of the Lord the form of Blessing is expressed Numb 6.24 25 26. The Lord make his Face to shine the Lord lift up the light of his Countenance upon thee When Christ was Sacrificed God hid his Face from him and did forsake him Psal 22.1 Christ's Sufferings purchased and procured this Blessing for us That God's Face may shine on us and the light of his Countenance may be lifted up upon us Jesus Christ bare the Curse Galat. 3.13 He was made a Curse that the Blessing of Abraham might come on us Gentiles Galat. 3.14 God promised to Abraham That in his seed all the Nations of the Earth should be Blessed Gen. 22.18 Christ was the Seed meant and intended Galat. 3.8 There could be no Blessing without Redemption from the Curse and we could not be Redeemed from the Curse if Jesus Christ did not endure it There are blemishes and defects in our best Works and they deserve a Curse and therefore cannot earn and merit a Blessing but we must seek it in Christ they that are of Faith are Blessed with Faithful Abraham Gal. 3.9 It is not said they are Blessed with working Abraham but with Faithful believing Abraham Abraham himself did not get the Blessing by Working but by believing He did not find that in his own Heart or Life that would warrant him to Glory in himself before God The same way that Abraham got the Blessing all his believing seed must attain it Object But here it may be Objected Is it not said Psal 112.1 Blessed is the man that Feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Commandments and Psal 119.1 2. Blessed are the undefiled in the way that walk in the Law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his Testimonies and seek him with their whole heart Answ No man since the Fall did ever earn a Blessing by his obedience to the Works of the Law therefore Calvin excellently observes Rom. 32. ver 1 2. that all such passages are grounded on the Blessing we have by the free and full forgiveness of our Sins Psal 32.1 2. Blessed is the man whose Transgression is forgiven whose Sin is covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord Imputeth not Iniquity Paul asserts that David describeth the Blessedness of the Man to whom the Lord imputeth Righteousness without Works saying Blessed are they whose Iniquities are forgiven Rom. 4.6 7. No man is blessed for any Righteousness or works of his own but as the person is a Believer in Christ and freely Justified by Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom. 3.24 Fearing God walking in his Law keeping his Testimonies are sweet Indications and Comfortable Characters who the persons are that are Blessed But it is the Forgiveness of Sin that is the true cause of our Blessedness The Mercies that God bestows are not conferred by our Covenant as if we had earned and merited them but by his Covenant as the Fruits of his meer and pure Grace Observe well this distinction which God makes between our Covenant which is a Covenant of Works and his Covenant that is a Covenant of Grace and that Good things are given by his Covenant but not bestow'd by our Covenant Weigh well the Importance of this Scripture Ezek. 16.61 62. 12. We enter into Rest by Faith in Christ and not by our own Works Heb. 4.3 We that have believed do enter into rest It is not said We that have wrought Righteousness do enter into Rest It was the Speech of Fisher Bishop of Rochester Fides Faeta Justificat sed ante partum * Treat of Justiffcation Faith that is impregnated with Good Works doth Justifie but yet before it brings them forth yet Faith doth not Justifie as it is adapted fitted or disposed to bring forth Good Works but as it respects Christ eyes his Righteousness and Obedience The Faith big with Good Works doth Justifie but not because it is so or as it is such but by virtue of its respect to Christ and the Free Promise Noah by Faith entred into the Ark and rested there it had no Rudder or Helm for him to handle and manage no Sailes for him to trim no Rigging for him to look after he did nothing to Stear or Sail the Ark up and down but he sweetly rested by Faith in the Ark He believed God would Stear and Guide it that it should not be broken dashed to pieces sink or miscarry Noah in this Temporal deliverance from the Flood saw and apprehended an Eternal Salvation from the Flood of Divine Vengeance in and by Christ the true Ark of Salvation and that blessed rest and security that is attained by Faith in him Hence the Apostle saith That Noah became Heir of the Righteousness that is by Faith Heb. 11.7 he did believe that by the Righteousness and Obedience of the Messiah to come as an Ark he should be saved from the Wrath to come This is much to be observed that the Sabbath Instituted in Paradise was the Seventh in order after Six Working days and was suited to Man's State of Innocency and did most properly belong to the Covenant of Works that Promiseth a Blessed Life and Rest after perfect Works of Righteousness wrought by us Rom. 10.5 The man that doth those things shall live by them But the Christian Sabbath is the First Day of the Week before our Six Working days and therefore is suited and fitted to the New Covenant that Promiseth a Rest to the Consciences of them that believe before uhey do Works of Righteousness Those that are Justified by Faith have peace with God through Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 Calvin doth think that God pointed at this in such a severe and rigid injunction of the Sabbath He that would not have us to be weary in well-doing Galat. 6.9 yet commands us to cease from our own works Nonne eo ipso pronuntiat omnia oper a nostra mala esse And Isaiah teaching us that the Sabbath is violated Quando invenitur nostra voluntas Isa 58.13 When we find our own will and pleasure doth shew a necessity of ceasing from our own Wills and Works in our Justification Calvin thus Discourses in the 1st and 6th Book against Pighius concerning Free-will we are Justified not by shewing our Good Works but by our Evil Works being hid and covered
he that Instructs us should learn obedience himself Heb. 5.8 The Father that laid Sins inflicted Punishment executed the Curse on Christ was as the Master and the Son that endured all things was as the Scholar He learned by experience what a hard and difficult thing Obedience was how costly and painful it was to subject himself to the Father loading him with Sins and sorrows chastising him for our Iniquities bruising him for our Transgressions that such an Obedience should be rendered by the Son is a deep Mystery and we should never have known it if Jesus Christ had hid it in his heart As the Israelites did not know Manna Dent. 8.3 he fed thee with Manna which thou knewest not neither did thy Fathers know when they found it and saw it first on the ground they wondered and cried out What is this Exod. 16.4 So the Margin renders the word very properly and this is most suitable to the following words for they wist not what it was To say they called it Manna for they wist not what it was is not so good and fit a sense Some have conceived that the phrase hidden Manna was borrowed from the Israelites Question and Ignorance of Manna indeed the Jews were and all Natural Men are ignorant of the Righteousness of God Rom. 10.3 The Wrath of God is indeed revealed from Heaven to all Men by Afflicting Providences Desolating Destroying Judgments as War Famin Pestilence Inundations and Earthquakes but the Righteousness of God is only revealed in the Gospel God might have stopt in the Revelation of his Wrath and have gone no farther but he hath proceeded to reveal his Righteousness in the Gospel that he is Just and the Justifier of them that believe in Jesus Rom. 3.25 26. The Fountain is now opened in which we must wash the Ransom is now paid for which we must be Released the Obedience is now performed by which we must be Justified The Sun of Righteousness is now risen with Healing under his Wings Mal. 4.2 The glorious beams of this Sun of Righteousness dispels not only the thinner Mists of lesser Sins but the thickest Clouds of Heinous Iniquities that not only hide the Light of God's Countenance from us but would pour down a storm of Vengeance upon us 5. The Gospel is the Ministration of Righteousness 2 Cor. 3.9 and the Ministry of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.18 Christ in sprinkling Nations with the dew of the Gospel Isa 52. last he doth also sprinkle them with the drops of his Blood Jesus Christ is Justified himself Isa 50.8 and so in a full capacity to Justifie us and that because he hath born our Iniquities Isa 53.11 He that hath loosed his own pains of Death Act. 2.24 can loose our bonds of Iniquity There is an exhibiting and Communication of Righteousness for Justification in the Dispensation of the Gospel 3. Consider the Excellency of this Righteousness it is clean water to wash us Ezek. 36.25 It is clean Linen to adorn us Revel 19.8 Saints are but a Candle or Lamp of Righteousness but this is a Glorious Sun Mal. 4.2 It is a during lasting Righteousness it is styled Everlasting Righteousness Dan. 9.24 This garment never wears or decays It hath been of price and virtue in all Former Ages and it will last till the end of the World yea we may consider whether Saints shall not call Christ by this Glorious Name The Lord our Righteousness to Eternity A Candle wastes and consumes but so doth not the Sun So this Sun of Righteousness will never decay or lose his light and glory The Blood of Christ is still fresh he appeares even now as if he had been but a Lamb lately slain Revel 5.6 And because his Blood is still so fresh and the virtue of it so lasting therefore the Redemption that flows from it is Eternal Heb. 9.12 But more particularly I shall set forth the excellency of Christ's Righteousness and the pretiousness of his Sacrifice in these Following propositions 1. Jesus Christ's Obedience and Righteousness was one whole entire piece it was a continual Series of Holy acts without any interuption our Righteousness is made up of patches and pieces there are interuptions in our obedience but Christ obey'd during his whole Life and at last became obedient to the Death of the Cross Phil. 2.8 As Oxen of old did draw in the Yoke and at last were Offered in Sacrifice 2. Christ did neither stop or pause in his Work or stray at all from his way John 8.29 2. Jesus Christ did not pay our debt by halves but discharged it at once in an intire sum The Damned are always Suffering and yet never satisfie God But Jesus Christ offered one Sacrifice the vertue of which lasts for ever and by this one Sacrifice he perfected us for ever Heb. 10.12.14 Christ hath by this one Sacrifice put an end to all Offerings for Sin Heb. 10.18 Bloody Sacraments do cease in the Church and Bloody Sacrifices are much abolished now out of the World 3. Jesus Christ by his Sacrifice hath taken down the Vail and opened a way to the Heavenly Sanctuary This shewed that the Sacrifices of the Law were weak and defective that though they were still offered yet the Vail still stood and the way into the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest those Sacrifices could not give access to God and entrance into Heaven But this discovered the excellency and efficacy of Christ's Sacrifice that when he Died Matth. 27.50 51. The Vail of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom To intimate that now a way to Heaven was made by the renting the Vail of Christ's Flesh and by separating of his Soul from his Body Heb. 10.19 Christ by travelling to Heaven hath made a way by entring into it he hath made a door by landing on the Shores of a Blessed Eternity he hath made a Harbour this is a way still new a living way This way is never stale dead or out of date the High-Priest of old did kill a Sacrifice and with the Blood of it he entred into the Typical Holy of Holies Levit. 16.11.14 But the virtue of that Sacrifice was exhausted and the way made by it was dead so that he could not enter again a Second year without killing of a new Sacrifice But Christ's Sacrifice is of such virtue that it makes a way always new a living lasting way into the Heavenly Sanctuary that Believers in all ages may make use of 4. Jesus Christ hath carried his Blood into Heaven and Sprinkled the Throne of God with it The Mercy-Seat was sprinkled with the Blood of the Sacrifice Levit. 16.14 and this did figure and teach that the Throne of God must be sprinkled with the Blood of Christ and how admirable a change doth it make by turning a terrible Tribunal of Justice into a sweet and amiable Throne of Grace Heb. 4. last Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace Dan. 7.9 10.