the iniquity of us all Charged all the sins of the elect upon him And Christ comes of his own accord to undertake the debt Heb. 10.7 Loe I come to doe thy will Gal. 2.4 He gave himself for our sins Hee becomes Surety Heb. 7.22 Jesus was made Surety of a better Covenant for testaments use not to have Sureties Hence Christ is made a Debtor in mans room legally and by consent as really and truly as sinful man was before Neither will the Father follow the Law upon the poor beggarly bankrupt elect of Mankind but prosecutes the rich Surety and Christ must pay all And though other Creditors stand bound with their Surety here the Surety Christ stands bound alone 3 The matter of this satisfaction that the Father exacts from his Son are all his sufferings upon earth especially his obedience to the death of the Crosse Isa 53.10 When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin c. The Father requires that the Son should bear all that was threatned to the first Adam Gen. 2.17 In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye 4 The form of this satisfaction stands in the manner thereof which was in every respect most perfect 1 Because the Person offering was God 2 The dignity of the offering Hee gave himself Ephes 5.2 3 The merit of the Oblation which had all perfection by the Hypostatical union Hence it must needs be of infinite value God and man in one Person voluntarily standing in the stead of faln man that is of the elect and drinking up the very dreggs of his Fathers Cup of indignation So that the Father saith I will bee gracious for I have found a Ransome Isa 53.5 Hee was wounded for our transgressions the chastisement of our peace was upon him that is Christs sufferings are the means of our reconciliation and take away the enmity between God and us the word is of the plural number comprehending all peace external internal external And the word will more fully suit the matter if it be translated as the Septuagint hath done it Psal 69.22 and it will bear retributions The chastisement of our Retributions were upon him that is the punishment wee should have paid our selves hath he paid and made all even between God and the elect Obj. But what need this satisfaction for our justification Could not God by his meer grace forgive Sol. There is a necessity of satisfaction And though man could forgive a wrong God could not Reas 1. Because of his nature Jer. 25.26 That hee might be just and to declare his righteousnesse c. 1 Holinesse and righteousnesse are not of the essence of man as they are of God neither doth man hate sin essentially as God doth Rom. 1.32 Who knowing the Judgement of God that those which commit such things are worthy of death c. Justice is to give to every one as hee deserves therefore Gods Judgement is so His holy nature requires sin to be punished in the Principal or in the Surety 2 To declare Gods righteousnesse God would shew it to all the world how just he is in punishing sin and requiring full satisfaction for sin Hee would make men and Angels know by an unheard of example in his own Son that if he bee but a Surety for sinners God will not abate him any thing of the payment he requires Zaleâ—cus King of the Locrians made a Law that Adulterers should have both their eyes put out now his Son being guilty of that sin that hee might observe the Law and yet favour his Son he put out one of his own eyes another of his Sons to declare to all his Subjects his justice in executing his Laws So the Father shewed his Justice in the severe punishment of his Son Reas 2. That Gods unchangeable Decree might stand Rom. 3.25 it is translated whom God set forth It may better be translated whom God decreed for so the word usually signifies in Scripture hinting to us that God had past an irrevocable Decree that Sin should never bee forgiven nor Man reconciled nor his Wrath pacified or appeased without satisfaction made Yea he decreed that his Son should give himself a Propitiatory Sacrifice for sin Psal 33.11 Now Gods Decree is not to be reversed therefore this satisfaction must be given Reas 3. Because of Gods Truth declaring that there shall not be pardons granted without a sufficient price paid Which was signified by all those offerings and sacrifices of old there being a Typical satisfaction exhibited in them accomplished in Christs death 1 Cor. 5.7 and Pro. 17.15 To justifie the wicked is an abomination to the Lord c. It is so always without due and legal satisfaction See also Ezeck 18.4 Heb. 9.22 But what God hath fore-told must come to passe Act. 1.16 The Scripture must needs bee fulfilled therefore satisfaction must be given Vse 1. To shew the unjustified estate of such as have no part in Christ If Christs redemption be necessary Unjustified without Christs satisfaction for the justification of a sinner then how miserable must their condition bee that are destitute of the redemption wrought by Christs satisfaction They goe away as the Pharisee unjustified still How dreadful then is the condition 1 Of Christs enemies who reject the satisfaction of Christ Enemies to Christs satisfaction through wilfulnesse carelesnesse and Apostacy Paul speaks of them with tears in his eyes full of pity and commiseration Phil. 3.18 Many walk of whom I told you often and now tell you again weeping that they are enemies to the Crosse of Christ Many that little thought they were such many where Christ is eminently profest many whom I have often warned of it many whose estate I bewail with tears many whose end is destruction described vers 19. men that mind only their back and belly earthly things Enemies they are to the Crosse of Christ for that would crucifie their lusts but they uphold them they 2 Pet. 2.1 deny the Lord. 2 Of the Contemners of the Word Contemners of his Word For such as slight the Word slight Christ and his satisfaction Joh. 12.48 they disannul Christ as to their own salvation that receive not his word Now it is not enough to testifie we take Phisick because we take it in our hands or mouthes unlesse we swallow it to purge and cleanse nor that we take food when we only take meat and set it by us unlesse we feed on it so nor to have the Word in our hands or in our ears or heads unlesse it converts us Psal 19.7 and cleanse us Joh. 15.3 Nor is it enough to admire and commend Sermons so did the Pharisees Mat. 22.22 3 Of carelesse men Careless of their foundation who take up either their own good conceits of themselves Luke 16.15 or a good testimony from their Neighbours brethren and flatterers or an approbation by the godly as Judas by the Apostles being a little sorry for their sins as Ahab
without shedding of blood there is no remission So that the blood of Christ is the Antitype aimed at in the blood of those Sacrifices that were slain for sins Doct. That Christ by way of Satisfaction for sinners suffered the full and utmost punishment due to the sins of the Elect. Col. 1.20 To clear which 1 Consider that hee endured bodily infirmities and weaknesses as hunger Matth. 4.2 thirst weariness Joh. 4.6 poverty 2 Cor. 8.9 wanting the ordinary provisions and comforts of this life Mat. 8.20 The Son of man hath not where to lay his head Isa 53.3 Hee was an abâ—ect among men a man of grief and acquainted with infirmity 2 Hee also underwent ignominy and extream disgrace by unjust accusations and vile reproaches hee is charged with blasphemy and of Leagues with Devils yea with Beelzebub the Prince of Devils Matth. 12.24 accused of sedition Rebellion Drunkenness Gluttony and that hee was a friend of Publicans and Sinners Matth. 11.19 3 Hee received many other injuries before his death as binding buffeting Luk. 22.63 scourging spitting blind-folding and evil intreating as if hee had been some fool or mad-man Isa 50.6 Hee gave his back to the smiters and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair hee hid not his face from shame and spitting 4 Hee suffered Death it self Neâ—at est vincire civem Romanam scelus verberare quid dicam in crucem tollere Cic. cloathed with all the circumstances of horror and terror both a shameful and a painful death which none but Slaves and bond-men could bee put to Roman free-men never felt it It was a lingring and tedious death his hands and feet stabbed with nailes his bones put out of joynt Psal 22.14 A death accursed of God Gal. 3.13 and therefore Paul speaks it out with an Emphasis Phil. 2.6 Christ suffered onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7. Hee was obedient to the death even the death of the Cross T is true some kind of sufferings called by Divines dishonourable sufferings not suitable to his person nor consistent with the Prophecies of him as noysome diseases tearing of his body in pieces breaking his bones or the corruption or rotting of any one part Act. 2.27 could not bee suffered by him Thus much the body of Christ suffered Now for his soul-suffering Christ not only suffered bodily death but also the pains of the second death Isa 53.12 Hee poured out his soul unto death yea unto deaths for the Original word is in the plural number to shew that it stands in two things 1 In the absence and withdrawing of God from the soul and the hiding the light of Gods countenance from it leaving it to blackness of darkness It was Sauls sad complaint That God was departed from him 1 Sam. 28.15 So was it Christs misery when hee cryed out My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Matth. 27.46 which departure of God answers the pain of loss that the Elect should have suffered yet know that Christ was left but for a time and that in regard of sense and feeling of comfort only and no farther 2 The fierce Indignation and wrath of God seized upon him setting open the flood-gates of his anger to overwhelm him with an unsufferable torture of which when Heman had but a small drop to that full Cup which Christ drunk hee complains Psal 88.16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over mee and thy terrours have cut mee off At the taste of which Job Job 6.4 cries The Arrows of the Almighty are within me the poyson whereof drinketh up my spirits the terrors of God set themselves in array against mee And this suffering of Christ answereth to that punishment of sense the Elect should indure The second death is expressed Isa 30. ult By Tophet aâ—â— a pile of fire and much wood The breath of the Lord like a river of brimstone doth kindle it The breath of Gods displeasure is the very bellows of Hell that blows up that infernal fire as truely easless as endless to these Reprobates that bear the punishment of their own sins alone but oh how heavy when upon Christ is laid the iniquity of Vs all Isa 53.6 so that hee is well said Rev. 19.15 To tread the wine-Press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God Christs suffering of the second death was either in the Garden or on the Cross 1 His Agony in the Garden is described Mark 14.33 Matth. 26.28 Luke 22.44 Mark saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee began to bee amazed and to bee very heavy or wee may more fully express it thus Hee begun to be gastred with wonderful astonishment and to bee satiated filled brimfull with heaviness A very sad condition Matth. 26.38 hee said my soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death It is beleagured or compassed round with sorrow for so sounds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All the sins of the Elect like a huge Army meeting upon him made a dreadful on-set on his soul Luke 22.43 44. 'T is said Hee was in an Agony That 's a conflict in which a poor Creature wrastles with deadly pangs with all his might mustring up all his faculties and force to grapple with them and withstand them Thus did Christ struggle with the indignation of the Lord praying once and again with more intense fervency Oh that the Cup may pass away if it bee possible while yet an Angel strengthened his outward man from utter sinking in the conflict Now if this weight that Christ bare had been laid on the shoulders of all the Angels in heaven it would have sunk them down to the lowest hell It would have crackt the Axel-tree of Heaven and Earth It made his blood startle out of his body in congealed cloddered heaps The heat of Gods fiery indignation made his blood to boil up till it ran over yea affrightened it out of its wonted chanel The Creation cost him but a words speaking and it was done but it costs bloody sweats soul-distraction to go through the work of redemption 2 His Agony on the Cross where hee drinks down the very Gall and dregs of the Cup that hee but sipped of before You hear him groaning out Matth. 27.46 with a loud voice Eli Eli Lamasabachthani Which is not as Papists say a leaving of Christ in the hand of the Jews for the misery of death of the Saints of the meanest rank doth not argue that God hath forsaken them 2 Cor. 4.9 Wee are persecuted but not forsaken Nor may we think the God-head ever had left the man-hood or that our Saviour had forsook his Father for hee called him still My God my God but the forsaking was the Fathers with-drawing the light of his countenance and then what could follow but darkness and extream horror The words are taken from Psal 22.1 where the blessed God is spoken to as quite and clean gone out of the hearing of his crying and roaring Now that must needs bee much more than forsaking that made the Son of
have destroyed Christ had not the sins of the elect met on him 2 The killing Christ is a farre fouler bloud-guiltinesse than ever David incurred than to kill an only Son or to murther a Josiah a King a godly King for this is the crucifying the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2.8 and may therefore well be lamented 3 The love we owe and bear to Christ for his unparallel'd condescentions to make us heirs of glory should engage our hearts to weep for his death as he did for Lazarus's death Joh. 11.35 56. which the Jewes took notice of to be the probate of his love Behold how he loved him Thus Christ imputes the repenting tears of that sinful woman Luke 7.47 to love Christs great graciousnesse makes the most stony heart to lament its provocations 4 The sense of our dreadful and undone estate that needed the death of Christ to establish a Covenant of Grace with us should provoke us to bee in bitternesse as God expects Ezeck 16.62 63. And I will establish my Covenant with thee and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. That thou mayest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord. 5 The Spirit of grace and supplication is now poured forth into the soul and that Spirit is a spirit of Lamentation and works and continues a broken and contrite spirit in all that receive it as it did in those Converts Acts 2.37 Pricking them to the heart for all their wrongs and injuries put upon Christ for embruing their hands in his precious bloud Look back therefore upon thy pleasure that thou hast taken in sin and with what greedinesse thou hast committed it and compare them with Christs sufferings and what hee deserved at thy hands that it may break thy heart as it did Davids 2 Sam. 12.7 8. when hee had long lain in a slumbering condition and God told him how much he had done for him wondring that after so much love he should despise his Commandements and make so wretched a requital How doth he cry out upon his sins vers 13. and loathes himself Obj. But a Christian should rejoyce in the Crosse of Christ how then comes it to be the object of sorrow Sure Paul thought otherwise Gal. 6.14 Sol. How the Crosse is a ground of rejoycing as well as of mourning It is true Christs Crosse is a ground of rejoycing as well as a ground of sorrow Of sorrow in respect of that hand we had in his death the wounds which our sins gave him the hard dealing and unkind requital he hath received for all his love Of joy in respect of the benefits and good we receive by his death Let us therefore maintain a spring of godly sorrow for our sins and streams of joy for the blessings we receive by him which is the true eating the Passeover with bitter Herbs Exod. 12.8 Also making confession of their sins Levit. 16.21 The Papists have a seeming practice of this duty keeping Good-friday in penance and lamentation setting up a Crucifix before them and zealously hating the Jewes for putting Christ to death but think not of their own sins that they had a hand in it To whom Christ might justly say as to the Women weeping at his Crosse Luk. 23 28. O yee daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me but weep for your selves for your sins whereby you have wounded me which is the duty of every Christian 2 Upon the consideration of Christs extream sufferings for Sin the Members of Christ are pressed hard Christs members should hate sin to hate every evil way and to shun all sin for ever 1 Because it was one end of Christs crucifying To hate sin is the end of Christs death that sin and the flesh should be crucified Gal. 5.24 that They that are Christs have crucified the flesh understanding by the flesh the corruption of Nature with the affections and lusts of it Christs members should pluck up the very roots of sin the very inward lusts that grow in the heart Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our Old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might bee destroyed that is the whole corruption of Nature may be killed by the death of Christ yet not so farre as to free us from all sin but that we might not serve sin or obey it in the lusts thereof For this cause did Christ bear our sin upon the Crosse That we being dead unto sin might live unto righteousnesse 1 Pet. 2.24 That is that we should behave our selves like dead men not to be moved nor inticed to sin For first this was the end which God propounded to himself in his Sons death to destroy sin Wee must be very careful how we frustrate the end of God in our giving way to sin Secondly Christ hath by his death merited the death of sin and so we are said to dye with Christ and so bee freed from sin Rom. 6.7 Thirdly adde to this the efficacy of Christs death which works the ruine of sin in all his members Hence Phil. 3.10 wee read of a power and force in the death of Christ to make us conformable to his death while his Spirit is killing sin in us So that Christs death hath no comfort for them that hate not sin 2 Our sin killed Christ We must hate sin because it killed Christ if then wee have any love to Christ wee must needs kill sin Psal 97.10 Yee that l ve the Lord hate evil The Love of Christ constraineth us to it 2 Cor. 5.14 The law of Nature makes a man that hee cannot indure the sight of one that hath killed his father or his dear Friend but his very heart will rise against him and hee cannot choose but follow the Law upon him to the utmost to hang him if all the law in the World will do it And can wee bee so unnatural that sin should destroy our dearest Saviour and we not be avenged upon it How should wee bee transported with Indignation at sin that brought on our Redeemer the pains both of the first and second death Then let us pursue our sins with all possible detestations if wee let them go wee are no Friends to Christ Let us stab them to the heart till they bleed their last that drew the blood of Christ Let them never come to any Sanctuary or City of refuge but as Avengers of that precious blood let us leave sin no shift no way to escape Let us say to them as David to the young man that told him hee had slain Saul 2 Sam. 1.14 How wast thou not afraid to stretch out thy hand to destroy the Lords annointed and David commanded him strait to bee slain do thou likewise Reason thus also against all temptations these sins were the death of my Saviour and why should they bee my delight They pierced his hands and feet
Image in so much that hee hath the fathers broad Seal to bee our propitiation and it can be had no where else 3 Hee is the fathers Annointed who received the Spirit without measure qualifying and furnishing of him with all such sufficiencies as were requisite to his Mediators office and this unction was with the Holy Ghost and Power Act. 10.38 i.e. with power to do whatever his office required to be done Mot. 2 Consider Christ in his person as hee is Immanuel God in our nature as being man hee is fit to be a propitiatory sacrifice and being God is able to vanquish all his sufferings and to give infinite vertue and value to them Being man he is flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone and hath a feeling of our infirmities and being God hee is able to apply all his sufferings unto us that a poor beleever may call him Ithiel and Ucal Prov. 30.1 God with mee and the strong one 2 As hee is a middle Person a Mediatour betwixt God and man 1 Tim. 2.5 6. Heb. 8.6 A Mediatour of a better Covenant established on better promises he is a daies-man between God and sinful man and one fit to deal with both parties at Variance And therefore wee need not complain as Job doth Job 9.32 33. Hee is not a man as I am that I should answer him and wee should come together in Judgement neither is there any daies man or umpire between us that may lay his hand upon us both Yea but Jobs redeemer was a fit redeemer and umpire that could lay his hand upon God and take up all matters with him and lay his hand upon the sinner and bring him to God again 3 Consider Christ in all his fulness and freeness to Communicate that fulness of his His fulness Col. 1.19 it pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell See also 1 Cor. 1.30 Heb. 7.25 how free hee is to communicate his fulness Heb. 2.17 Hee is a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining unto God to make attonement c. Joh. 7.37 38. hee makes solemn Proclamation of mercy to all commers and promises the Spirit of grace unto them 4 Consider Christ as just and a justified person and so fitted to purchase and procure our justification Truely if he had not been justified hee could not have justified us 1 Tim. 3.16 hee is said to bee justified in the Spirit i. e. justified by his divine nature whereby hee raised up himself from the dead As at his death hee was condemned by all sorts so at his resurrection hee was absolved and justified from the sins of his Elect imputed unto him and from all the accusations of the world who looked upon him as a grievous malefactour So that his righteousness both personal and publike appeared before all the world and that God the Father was well pleased with him and in him with all that shall beleeve on him Mot. 3. Consider the pretious excellency of the grace of Faith Which appears 1 In that it is an uniting grace It tyes and unites the soul to Christ and to God in Christ Other graces make the soul to bee like to Christ but faith makes the soul to bee one with him Eph. 3.17 thy Love Patience Humility Heavenly-mindedness make thee very like to Jesus Christ but faith makes thee to bee one with him as a member with the head and that is a greater and better condition for ought I can conceive than the state of the Elect Angels Though they are confirmed in glory by Christ yet they are not so united to Christ as a Beleever is They are the children of God by Creation but Beleevers by Adoption being united to the natural Son of God 2 This is the grace that assures us of our eternal Election Act. 13.48 Tit. 1.1 wee may thence most certainly conclude that our Names are written in the book of life Gods Council concerning our everlasting estate lies hidden in the bosome of God till such time as hee commends his love to us in his Son Jesus by working faith in our hearts this is the Coppy of Gods eternal decree and hath written upon it concordat cum originali it agrees with the Original This is the very meaning of this grace that God hath set his heart upon thy soul Now what ever God gives else as Honour Riches or Excellent spiritual gifts without faith brings but little comfort and a man may be a reprobate for all these things which fall alike to the just and unjust 3 Faith in Christ possesseth us of him and that no other grace will do Eph. 3.17 Heb. 11.1 And hence it is the first quieting-grace to the soul Isa 30.15 Thus saith the Lord in returning and rest yee shall bee saved in quietness and confidence shall bee your strength Heb. 4.1 3. there is a Promise made of entering into Gods Rest and wee enter into it by Faith wee who have beleeved are entered woe have this true Sabbath whereof the unbeleeving Jews had but the type wee have the true Canaan typified by the other this is the very Harbour of a tossed and weather-beaten soul As Mr. Burroughs well expresseth it Faith is the first grace that descries land when the soul is in the tempest and storm of a troubled Conscience Oh Beloved this is the excellency of faith that it not only discovers Land for wee may bee cast away for all that but it carries us safe into the harbour for that is our entrance into our Rest the landing of the wearied soul on Christ its rest Mat. 11.28 Quest But how should I get faith in Christ Direct 1 Be very careful to study the knowledge of Christ Yee may bee sure you cannot beleeve on him whom you do not know This is that which is commended by Christ himself as that wherein life eternal doth consist Joh. 17.3 and Paul who was rapt into the third heavens prefers this before any other knowledge Phil. 3.8 hee calls it the over-exceeding and super-excellent knowledge of Christ This is that which acquaints the soul with a Physitian a Redeemer a Saviour a Propitiation and whatever God requires for satisfaction or man desires or can desire for perfection Tell a wounded spirit that is full of horror of Conscience all the most profound and transcendent notions in the whole circle of Learning they will not a jot refresh him or bring him the nearer to heavenly joys Let him bee acquainted with all the motions of heaven they cannot bring him to heaven With all the secrets of nature they cannot bring him out of the dreggs of nature nor make him a Childe of Grace This is sufficiently experienced in the Heathen Philosophers who for all their great knowledge were ignorant of God witnesse the learned Athenians among whom the true God was but an unknown God Act. 17.23 and the reason was because their knowledge was not joyned with the knowledge of Christ There is no other knowledge
their peace but let mee tell you that these fruits are changeable things often in the wain and sometimes invisible and what will you do then for peace besides you rob Christ by this means of the honour of his Propitiation of his Sacrifice and whole office of mediation and is this any other than making Christ unprofitable and of none effect Gal. 5.2 4. Besides it is preposterous and disorderly to look for the fruit before the tree to look for our graces before wee look for Christ or look for children before marriage with Christ Seeing they all flow from our union with Christ if true and Evangelical hence they must needs bee but bastard graces that are found before Christ and will give but little comfort of our good and justified estate Direct 2. Set before you in your meditations the name of the Lord Jesus and what is meant by that name Psal 9.10 They that know thy name will put their trust in thee The names of Christ are of his Person Natures Offices Benefits Attributes what condition can any poor creature be in that cannot find something named in Christ for to help him out of it Cant. 1.3 Thy name is an ointment poured forth it yeelds a most pretious and comfortable savour to every one All the names of Christ have great sweetnesse in them I apply it a little to Justification Jesus a Saviour of sinners Matth. 1.21 A Prince of Peace Isa 9.6 Our Passeover 1 Cor. 5.7 The names of Christ have promises annexed to them with the strongest ingagements the Lord hath sworn and Psal 110.4 1 Tim. 1.15 Beloved it is another matter than is commonly conceived to bee contemplating on Christ It is the Angels work who stretch forth their wings over the Mercy Seat and towards the Mercy Seat shall bee the faces of the Cherubims Exod. 25.20 i.e. they look continually towards the Propitiation and Peter expounds it 1 Pet. 1.12 the Angels desire to pry into the mystery of Christ. Yea what is the beatifical vision but this to see God Heb. 12.14 It is a grievous infirmity in us that this heaven upon earth is no more frequented or delighted in by us Moreover looking upon Jesus is the best means to revive and draw forth our faith Heb. 12.1 Looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith where it is implyed that the carrying on of our faith and finishing of it is that viewing of Christ by the eye of faith Direct 3. Wee must stir up our selves to beleeve on Christ with reasons drawn from the Promises and Names of Christ Though carnal reason bee an enemy to faith yet sanctified reason is a marvellous succour to faith when wee set our reason and discourse to make inferences and draw heavenly conclusions out of Gospel promises This caused Abraham by Faith to offer up Isaac Heb. 11.17 19. viz. in that hee accounted or reasoned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that God was able to raise him from the dead vers 19. hee reasoned thus must I offer up Isaac how then shall all the families of the earth bee blessed in him why surely Gods Commandement shall not disanull his promises concerning the Messiah Thus 1 Pet. 4.1 For as much as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh arm your selves with the same mind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or discourse for hee that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin See the arguing here if Christ hath suffered for sin and killed sin so ought we to bee as ready to destroy and kill sin and cease from it forasmuch as Christ hath suffered in the flesh hee hath born our sins and they were charged upon him and hee hath given them their deaths wound let us arm our selves by this incouragement to go on to the same conflict Learn wee to use our Logick this way and it will arm us for those combates wee meet withall in dealing with sin or Satan For although faiths principles are above reason yet it discourses argumentations and conclusions are guided by reason Reason is an ill Mistress but a good Hand-maid unto faith for faith is much strengthened and the wisdome of a Christian is exceedingly seen in it by such particular conclusions and consequences drawn from the doctrin of Christ nature of God and the Promises which do overthrow particular carnal reasonings causing security presumption fears doubts or despair and without doubt this makes greatly for securing the heart and fortifying our faith and confidence against any temptation of Satan onely let mee adde a Caution or two 1 That this bee not a suddain or transient businesse either too soon and rashly to catch up a Conclusion that is not in the Premises Or when wee have a right conclusion too suddainly to have done with it but if you will have good by it it must bee permanent and abiding on the heart that it may soak into it and strengthen it against any malignant distempers that it is disturbed and troubled withall A good plaister will not benefit that is on and off immediately nor a potion work kindly that is not kept in the stomack therefore saith David Psal 119.97 98. O how I love thy Law it is my meditation all the day thou through thy Commandements hast made mee wiser than mine enemies for they are ever with mee and Psa 45.1 My heart is inditing or boiling up i. e. meditating or inventing a good matter and this requires time for a good concoction 2 Take heed of Sophistical reasonings in this case of Paralogismes James 1.22 false reasonings for by these we deceive our souls and couzen our selves If wee have the light of Christ by faith it will discover all the delusions and deceipts of darkness that Satan seeks to involve our reasonings in Therefore let us still have an eye to the proposition of Faith looking up to the Spirit for assistance in the improvement of it Direct 4. Indeavour to know that you do truely beleeve on the Lord Jesus I know whom I have beleeved 2 Tim. 1.12 There is beleeving and knowledge that wee do beleeve truely on Christ Now to know that wee do beleeve is to know not so much the strength of faith as the truth of it how weak soever and true faith is a receiving of whole Christ with the whole heart it is opposed to a partial or hypocritical receiving of Christ such as is spoken of Jer. 3.10 Psal 12.3 therefore it s called beleeving with all the heart Act. 8.37 38. and hence it s called faith unfeigned Now to know this wee must view our own hearts and consciences to see if they work thus towards Christ Now if God hath wrought such a Faith in you you may say with Paul I know whom I have beleeved and this knowledge is a reflex act and may be helped by these two Questions 1 Is there nothing of Christ my soul excepts against or cannot actually cloze withall as the holiness of Christ the selling all for him the cross of
power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings and this was that he might undoubtedly conclude his communion with Christ in his death how should be conclude that hee addes being made conformable to his death and what conformity to Christ's death can there be without mortification of sin I might adde also those places that speak of the cleansing vertue of the death of Christ Heb. 9.14 1 Joh. 1.7 Tri. 4. The true knowledge of Christ crucified doth crucifie us to the world and the world to us Gal. 6.14 Paul looked at the world as a dead thing a carrion which hee loathed so hee looked at the honours riches delights and lusts that the world dotes upon hee looked at it as a dead Carcase yea a crucified i. e. an accursed thing to set his heart upon and though Paul was eminent this way and above the ordinary sort of beleevers yet you shall find all the faithful even the weakest have some measure of this disposition in them as Zacheus when salvation came to his house Luke 19. and Phil. 3.18 19. they that minde earthly things are enemies to the Crosse of Christ but our conversation is in heaven hee speaks of all the faithful there is our trading and dealing Briefly the Apostle makes covetousnesse not only enmity against God Jam. 4.4 but intollerable in a Church of Christ 1 Cor. 5.11 If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous c. Oh then what exceeding cause is there to inquire into our knowledge of Christ to see what it is if it cannot stand with a covetous or worldly frame of heart Vse 3. Instruction to beleevers where to cast anchor in whatever storms or tempests that wee meet withall in this present life that is that we pitch our faith and exercise it in Christ crucified O beloved in the Lord I beseech you not to content your selves with Spiritual things in the lump or the Mystery of Christ in a heap though they may give some sweet savour yet they are in comparison like a bundle of Spices that are whole or a Box of Oyntment shut up and not poured out If the Spices be bruised and the Oyntment poured out oh then how sweet and fragrant is the smell and so let us break as it were this Mystery of Christ in pieces and labour for a distinct understanding and beleeving in Christ this will make these things farre more savoury behold the several beauties of Christ as the Church did Cant. 5.10 see the beauty of every part of Christ Remember what himself said Where the Carcasse is c. this is the crucified Saviour and who are Eagles but beleevers to whom the Crosse of Christ is savoury and they will sent it a great way and flock together from farre to feed upon it Mot. 1. Consider we what it is to bee a Christian truly it is to sprout and spring up out of the grave of Christ Isa 53.10 When he shall make his soul an offering for sin hee shall see his seed i. e. his posterity and Joh. 12.24 Verily verily I say unto you except a grain of wheat fall to the ground and dye it abideth alone but if it dye it bringeth forth much fruit fruit which springs forth from Christs death Heb. 2.10 who by suffering death brought many sons to glory i. e. the children of God and Christ the whole Catholick Church are but the seeds that sprout out from a Crucified and dying Redeemer Mot. 2. There is all sufficiency to be had for justification in a crucified Saviour Luke 14.17 Come for all things are ready and such an one that comes shall never hunger nor thirst Joh. 6.35 The soul is compleat in Christ Col. 2.10 and though there is nothing but emptinesse in other things and those that feed upon them feed on ashes Isa 44.20 and labour in the fire Hab. 2.13 follow the East wind Hos 12.1 and spend their labour for that that is not bread Isa 55.1 2. yet there is fulnesse enough in Christ crurified there is bread eough as the Prodigal saith in our Fathers house Luke 15.17 â—â— Alas quoth he I follow after those things that will not satisfie and am ready to famish for want of bread amongst the husks of the profits and pleasures of this world but in Christ crucified is bread enough full satisfaction and supply of all my wants then whither shall I goe but unto him and beleeve on him Mot. 3. Consider whose bloud it is the bloud of himself i. e. of the person that is God that must needs have infinite worth and value in it Mot. 4. The Lord Jesus himself takes contentment and satisfaction in beleevers betaking themselves to him and his crosse Hee is satisfied in seeing the travel of his soul Isa 53.10 11. The woman that hath had sore travel in Child-bearing when she beholds the fruit of her body forgets her pains and is comforted So it is with our blessed Saviour who takes great contentment when such sinful Creatures doe fly unto his precious bloud for refuge and sanctuary Dir. 1. Above all things take pains to know Jesus Christ and him crucified and that experimentally this was Pauls setled resolution and determination 1 Cor. 2.2 and he picks out above all other this sweet flower or jewel The phrase is not ordinary but it is used to signifie that Paul made it his end that he proposed to himself in Christ let me tell you there is enough in Christ crucified to busie your meditations upon Dir. 2. Labour to see the daily necessity of Christ crucified every day as long as thou livest consider that every day not only in regard of sins but the best duties you have need of this bloud of sprinkling Heb. 9.19 20. He sprinkled with bloud both the tabernacle and the people and the book and the vessels of the ministry almost all things were purged with bloud and when the destroyers are abroad Heb. 11.28 there is nothing in the world can keep off the destroyer but the bloud of the Paschal Lamb Heb. 13.20 21. Dir. 3. O have a singular care to take heed of sinning against the bloud of Christ how ever held forth to thee It is held forth in the ministry of the Gospel Gal. 3.1 2. and in the Sacraments and there is a dreadful wrong done to the bloud of Christ by unworthy receiving of the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.27 such an one is guilty of the Body and Bloud of Christ i. e. he commits such a sin as Judas or the Jewes in murthering Christ Oh! how loud doth the bloud of Christ cry against such sinners that so prophane the Lords Table either by ignorance or mean preparation to it and so Apostacy from the faith is called trampling under foot the bloud of Christ c. Heb. 10.26 27. Dir. 4. Doe as the faithful of old in offering up their sacrifices for propitiation or sin-offerings for they were all types of our Propitiation and Christs
Sacrifice what they did in the type wee must doe in the substance 1 Bind the Sacrifice to the Altar Psal 118.27 this is fixing the heart on Christ crucified in the promise and we have very slippery hearts in this case they had need to be bound to it 2 They put their hands on the head of the Burnt-offering Levit. 1.4 and the Jewes tell us they always did it with empty hands and laid on both their hands with all their might so you must lay hold on Christ in the Promise with an empty hand and doe it with all your might and weight 3 They confessed over the sacrifice their iniquities Lev. 16.21 so must wee confessing that wee have justly deserved that which Christ hath undergone So God will smell a savour of rest Levit. 16.21 Of Remission of Sins THE SEVENTEENTH SERMON ON Rom. 3.25 For the remission of sins that are past THus farre of the Object of Justifying Faith Now it remains that we speak of the ends of Justification which are two in the text 1 In respect of God to declare his righteousnesse 2 In respect of man for the remission of sins illustrated and specified in these words Sins that are past together with the ground of the specification or the impulsive cause through the forbearance of God I shall at this time begin with the latter of these viz. remission of sins that are past Two questions are here to be spoken to 1 Quest What is meant by remission of sins 2 Quest What is meant by remission of sins that are past Quest 1. What is meant by remission of sins Ans The word here translated Remission signifies loosing that is opposed to binding by a borrowed speech from Prisoners that are bound with fetters and chains that are very painful and grievous from which when they are loosed and set at liberty they are greatly eased and comforted so it is with poor sinners it is exceeding grievous to the soul to bee bound with the cords of iniquity and sin Prov. 5.22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins But when sins are forgiven then the soul that was captivated by Sin and Satan is loosed from its bands As a captive redeemed whose ransome is paid It is true the poor Sinner generally thinks himself most at liberty when he sins most and is in Satans safest custody when he is in a worse case than the vilest slave in the Gally but when once he comes to the sight of them he sees also his thraldome and bondage he longs after a discharge and freedom which he accounts the greatest happinesse in the world Quest 2. What is meant by remission of sins that are past Ans Some interpreters doe take it for the pardon of those sins that are committed before conversion that all those sins through the forbearance of God are pardoned which are mentioned they say not as though the pardon of sins is restrained unto them that are past but past sins are mentioned to warn them that are pardoned not to take liberty for the future to embolden themselves in sin But it seems to have another sense and that is to signifie the forgivenesse of sins that were committed before the coming of Christ wherein the Apostle shewes the reason why the Lord did not deferre the the revelation of Christ until his incarnation but did in the dayes of the Old Testament propose and set forth Jesus Christ in the times of the Patriarks and Prophets and this was done to signifie unto us that not only such sins might be forgiven that were committed since his coming but also such as were committed before And I incline the rather to this exposition First because he spake of proposing of Christ in the Old Testament as a propitiation as hath been shewed Secondly Because hee said vers 21. the righteousness of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ was testified by the Law and the Prophets that sins might bee forgiven to beleevers from the foundation of the World Thirdly Because hee addes by the forbearance of God or his long-suffering whereby the Lord stayed in so long expectation of the comming of his Son into the World till the satisfaction was actually made for God would not have forgiven the sins of the Fathers committed long before unless that in his great patience hee had respected the future propitiation of his dear Son Fourthly Because hee also addes vers 26. To declare at this time his rightoousness i.e. at this time since the comming of Christ hee doth declare and shew forth his righteousnesse which hee did not clearly demonstrate before his sons incarnation but now hee makes all the world to see how just hee is that hee would not forgive any sins no not in the daies of the fathers without full satisfaction by the death of his onely begotten Son Doctr. The full remission of sins That such is the efficacy and vertue of the satisfaction of Jesus Christ that it is available to the full remission of all the sins of the faithful from the beginning of the world to the end thereof This appears to bee plain and the full meaning of this place in that the Apostle insists upon the remission of sins past how long soever before Christs comming in the flesh and before his death which might seem all this while either not to bee forgiven or if forgiven yet that it was upon some other account than the death of Christ But now it appears that the sins of the Patriarks and Prophets were remitted onely upon this ground of Christs satisfaction promised and to come and therefore much more we may conclude that by the vertue of Christs death all the sins of beleevers since the coming of Christ are pardoned and forgiven Let me clear up these things to you and shew 1 That this remission is full 2 That it flows from the satisfaction of Christ 3 That it was available for the remission of the sins of the faithful before the comming of Christ 1 That this remission of the sins of beleevers is full and compleat of all their sins past present and to come and the Scriptures are clear for it Col. 2.13 And you hath hee quickened together with him having forgiven you all sins and trespasses Wee could not bee quickened to life eternal without the forgiveness of all sins any one sin retained without pardon would keep us in a state of death and this is that which God promiseth Jer. 33.8 I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against mee Here then is no exception of any sins how many and how great soever they were but saith I will pardon all Isa 1.18 Though your sins bee as scarlet they shall bee white as snow and though they bee as crimson yet they shall bee as white as wooll Scarlet and Crimson are double and deep dies dies in Grain yet God will take away these double dies that
it may be cleared from the Spiritual businesse it ever puts the soul upon it is active like the vestuous woman which puts her hand to every â—â—rk â—rov 31. â—4 17. 2 Thess 1.11 Hence it is that the 〈…〉 by his faith Heb â— â— believers doe all i. e saith 〈…〉 the faithful of old were inabled to do so great works old were inabled to do so great works Heb. 11.33 Subdued kingdoms wrought righteousnesse c. but it is most especially busie in the use of Ordinances as the Word Prayer Seals though it will not bee 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 callings it works by love and is our victory over the 〈◊〉 1 Joâ— 5.4 So that a true faith is imploying it self on all hands for a beleevers good Now alas when 〈◊〉 faith is but a dead drugge in us or is but an underling in the heart and is at the command of every lust profit or pleasure truly it is not lively much lesse shall you live eternally by it 4 Clear up the way and fruits of forgivenesse of sins the way of bringing it home unto the soul is the Word Acts 26.18 the Word was preached to open mens eyes If ever wee come to the right knowledge of the pardon of our sins it must be by the Word preached working these particulars 1. Illumination discovering effectual your sin and misery to us with a through sense and feeling of it 2 The conversion of the soul and turning of it from darknesse to light Now when the league with Hell is disaâ—ulled then wee come to receive forgivenesse of sin Besides 〈◊〉 the fruit of forgivenesse there bee many 〈…〉 of this sappy root let mee name some First the 〈…〉 heart to love Christ with fervency Luke 7.47 〈…〉 were many were forgiven her for she loved much her love was the effect not the cause of her pardon So Psal 116.1 3 4 c. Quest What kind of love is this to God Ans Such a love as inlargeth the heart in duties to God as it did that poor woman and David and Peter Hence is in them a love to the Word and Ordinances and the Children of God it is not possible for a man to have great debts forgiven him and that out of pitty and bounty when hee hath nothing to pay but that his love should bee kindled and his heart in a light fire in zeal for God 2 A forgiving disposition in case of personal wrongs Ephes 4.32 Bee yee kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven us and this note is given by our blessed Saviour with great earnestnesse and asseveration affirmatively and negatively If yee forgive men their trespasses then your heavenly Father will forgive you Matth. 6.12.14 15. and if yee from the heart forgive not every one his brother their trespasses neither will your heavenly Father forgive you Hee speaks indefinitely every one not excepting any it is a sad sentence for a malicious heart But a merciful heart that can forgive private wrongs and strive against motions of malice and revenge and be humbled for them and that from the heart how great soever the injuries are it is a sure fruit of Gods pardoning him and his freedom from guile and reigning Hypocrisie Psal 32.1 2. 1 Joh. 3.19 6 Maintain and improve the forgivenesse of sin cleared up unto thee and this will be by daily and diligent observation of our wayes by often reckonings with God and getting the Book still crossed by suing out a pardon of course and therefore Christ teacheth us to pray daily Forgive us our debts This was Davids practice as appears by Psal 119.58 59. and other places and this must bee joyned with a resolution and care to shun future sins and failings and hereby wee shall know we are of the truth i. e. sincere and shall assure our hearts before him 1 Joh. 3.19 Now this improvement is First by holy humble and thankful abasement of our selves before God continually Hos 3.5 Ezek. 16. ult so Ezek. 36.29 I will save you from all your uncleannesses then shall yee remember your own evil wayes c. Beware of pride covetousnesse carnal rejoycing shaking off sorrow for sin it is a bad symptom when a man doth so 2 Bee careful to improve your interest in the favour of God for others not only near relations but even for strangers especially for the publick as Noah Daniel Job Moses Samuel c. they were still standing in the gap 3 Bee ready to comfort other with the same comfort wherewith God hath comforted us 2 Cor. 1.4 4 Know and bear in mind your ingagement to the Lord. The Princes pardon is the condemned Malefactors life as Mephibosheth said 2 Sam. 19.28 All my fathers house were dead men before thee Pardon of sinne is the eternal life of the sinner and hee is passed from Death to Life by it Yea as the offending God by Sin is an infinite evil so the forgivenesse of the offence is an infinite good and wee may say What shall wee render to the Lord for all his benefits towards us Surely as Psalm 116.8 9. Hee hath delivered our souls from death our eyes from tears and our feet from falling that we should walk before the Lord in the land of the living Of the Righteousnesse of Christ THE NINETEENTH SERMON ON Romans 3.21 But now the righteousness of Christ c. IN the handling of the point of Justification I have spoken of the several causes thereof and the end thereof in regard of men viz. Remission of sins and thereupon immediately followes the accounting of the beleeving Sinner righteous unto Salvation that is by the imputation of the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ unto the Sinner and that being described in the context and same portion of Scripture I shall proceed unto it now where the handling of it may come in at the due place for our better understanding thereof In the two verses 19 20. the Apostle shewed before Negatively that Justification is not by the works of the Law now he shewes Affirmatively how we are justified and that is expressed 1 By the matter of it The righteousnesse of God amplified by way of opposition to the Law without the Law i. e. without the works of the Law any way Co-working or meriting our justification 2 This is set forth by the Adjunct of the approbation and testimony of the Law and the Prophets 3 By the instrument that is faith of Jesus Christ understand it not actively for the faith whereby Christ beleeved but passively the faith whereby Christ is beleeved on 4 The subject beleevers and those universally and emphatically set down unto all and upon all that beleeve Quest What is meant by the righteousnesse of God Ans It is not to be understood of that whereby God himself is righteous as Osiander said for that is essential to God and cannot be communicated to the Creature but this righteousnesse is elsewhere called the righteousnesse of Christ
the intensnesse and strength of it that it was stronger than death and all this to wash us from our sins 1 Joh. 3.16 Hereby perceive wee the love of God because he laid down his life c. sustaining the pains of death Of what death the First and Second Death He washed us in his bloud from all the filthinesse of Hell and Death All the dunghills in the world cannot defile us as sin doth and it was the filth of sin that Christ's bloud washed us from Sin defiles the soul yea the whole man Matth. 15.19 You then that are beloved ones and washed can yee content your selves with a slight consideration of this What manner of love is this Qualis Quantus 1 Joh. 3.1 Ephes 3.18 That yee may comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge c. Mark here is a thing that concerns all Saints and wee should labour for such might and strength as not only to apprehend in our minds but comprehend and lay hold upon all the measures of this love in our hearts and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge i. e. either all other knowledge or else all the knowledge of carnal persons or all the knowledge of the Saints in the perfection of it that is it is the most desirable blessing in the world to understand the love of Christ aright Wee can never know too much of this love What should this love work upon our hearts truly wee should bee rooted and grounded in love not only have some leaves of profession but be rooted and grounded in it and it may lye deep in our hearts as roots and foundations use to doe yea this love of the Lord Jesus must bear up all the bulke and wait of our Christian trials yea as a root feed and nourish other graces and holy indeavours in us Oh it is much to be lamented that so many have left their first love They are but few sure that have ever had any rooted or grounded love to Christ at all that is suitable to Gospel measure or rule Luk. 7.47 What is the Gospel measure of love A. Matth. 10.37 Hee that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me i. e. our love to Christ should exceed all other loves and affections in our hearts yea in comparison of Christ we should hate father and mother c. Luk. 14.26.33 wee should hate all forsake all so farre as they stand in competition with Christ or the things of Christ else we cannot be the Disciples of Christ Instr 4. Redeemed ones have great boldnesse towards God This may work in all redeemed ones a marvellous boldnesse towards God that which the Scripture often expresses Ephes 3.12 In whom wee have boldnesse of accesse with confidence Heb. 10.19 Having boldnesse to enter into the Holiest by the bloud of Jesus It is sweet and precious that we have Heb. 4.16 Let us goe with boldnesse to the Throne of grace c. i. e. to Christ our High Priest hee hath set up a Mercy-seat for us And is that all Nay but saith the Apostle Heb. 12.23 Wee are come to God the Judge of all and we are come to the Seat of Justice and wee may in an humble boldnesse plead the justice of God and say Lord who art the Judge of all doe mee justice thou art just and therefore the Justifier of him that beleeveth in Jesus Oh ponder and take again upon thy heart the meaning of this it is not only that hee may bee merciful and gracious and the Justifier of beleevers though that bee a sweet and precious truth too to be beleeved and rejoyced in but it is that hee may bee just Oh beloved this is the very quintessence of faith when as the beleever by faith shall present unto God the Father the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ for satisfaction for sins and goe to him with a full price in his hand and current pay and to say as they doe in dealing here is one and there is t'other and this is not bare distributive but commutative justice between God and man where there is not only Geometrical but Arithmetical proportion that is weight for weight and measure for measure is observed Oh then tender all the pay together all the obedience of Christ active and passive tender we to the righteousnesse of God the righteousnesse of Christ it is such a jewel as exceeds our sins infinitely though they have been very many and great Gods justice shall be no loser by us at all and let poor beleevers incourage and embolden their hearts with this Luther was bold when he prayed thus not only Fiat voluntas tua but Fiat voluntas mea not only let thy will be done but let my will be done and it was but the confidence of faith upon this ground we are speaking of Oh beloved the world will account this malepertnesse to come thus before God that they are more bold than welcome but they are strangers to these things and to all that liberty we have in Christ Gal. 2.4 It would be sauciness indeed for those that are out of Christ to approach at any time on this manner to God but let the Children take this as the daily portion of the Childrens bread and it is no wrong to that text 1 Joh. 1.9 to take it in this sense If we confess our sins he is just for Christs sake to forgive us our sins nor to that 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesse Inst Adore the righteousnesse of God in all his wayes 5. If God be thus just exactly just in the justification of a Sinner let us learn to acknowledge and adore the righteousness of God in all his wayes Psal 145.17 If his mercy doth not pardon one sin but in a course of justice through the death of Christ then doubtlesse the Justice of God will not be bafled or turned aside in the managing other matters in the world The light of Nature sees nothing but mercy in this case but the light of Grace sees Gods justice also So that though God deals otherwise many times in many things than we could have expected or can see a reason of yet he is always just and holy in his proceedings and it is not enough for us to acknowledge the righteousnesse and holinesse of God in some of his ways and works or in his ways towards others and not towards our selves and in his dealing with some persons and not with all but wee must justifie the Lord in our hearts and words always in all things toward all in all the ways of his providences in his afflicting the godly as well as punishing the wicked Ezra 9.13 yea in the prosperity of the wicked In his great Counsels of Election and Reprobation in the rejection of the Jews c. of which when Paul had spoken Rom. 11. he
was besides since the foundation of the world 2 In respect of the severity and universality of the execution of justice Sea Joseph de bello Jud. upon all sin and sinners that receive not but reject Christ crucified There was never such justice executed upon any people as there was upon the Jews for this sin Mark 13.19 So I may say in regard of others that now set at nought the grace of God in Christ their judgement sleeps not Mat. 11.20 c. It shall bee more tollerable for Sodome and Gomorrah at the day of judgement than for such and dreadful is that Mal. 4.1 2. Behold the day comes that shall burn as an oven and all the Proud and all that do wickedly shall bee stubble and the day comes that shall burn them up saith the Lord of Hosts and leave them neither root nor branch but to you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousnesse appear which healing in his wings these daies of Christ to them that fear God are refreshing Sun-shining daies but for the rest the oven the fiery furnace is heating for them yea seven times hotter than ordinarily it uses what shall now become of proud ruffian-like Professors and carnal Gospellers there will bee bundles of such stubble thrown into the Oven now in the daies of the Gospel Quest 2. Why was the demonstration of the glory of Gods justice the main end of the shedding of Christs blood Rom. 9.22 23. Wee have indeed in the general that the glory of Gods mercy is aimed at in the decree of Election of the vessels of mercy and the glory of Gods justice in the vessels of wrath but how can this concern our Saviour Christ Answ All the light of the knowledge of the glory of God shines in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 but the glory of God is divided in some sort in respect of men and women Elect and Reprobate but all the glory of God is united together in Christ so to give you the reasons of the point Reas 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist Ethic. It is taken from the exceeding glorious excellency of the justice of God that as it is said of true justice though but humane that neither the morning nor the evening star is so admirable as justice is It may bee much more said of the justice of God which is infinitely brighter than the Sun in the firmament that dazles the eies of the brightest Angels in Heaven that they are fain to cover their faces from the beholding of it When the Spirit of God describes the Lord in his glorious Majesty it sets him forth with the clothing of righteousnesse See Isa 59.17 Hee put on righteousnesse as a breast-plate and the helmet of salvation upon his head hee put on the garments of vengeance for cloathing and was clad with zeal as a Cloak c. Psal 94.1 2. O Lord God to whom vengeance belongeth shew thy self Lift up thy self thou judge of the earth render a reward to the proud Gods lifts up himself exceedingly when hee sits on his judgement Seat and exercises justice in exactnesse in those famous Visions of Dan. 7.9 10. Rev. 4.2.3 the Lord is described as sitting upon his Throne of Majesty and Justice in a glorious manner and in his Royalty Yea moreover for the necessity and usefulnesse of Gods justice the World cannot bee without it hence the Lord is described with his plumb-line in his hand Amos 7.7 8. So Isa 28.17 the plumb-line is the embleme of Divine Justice look how necessary the plumb-line is to the rearing of a building and the repairing of it such is the use and necessity of Divine Justice hee takes away the unevennesse and inequality of persons and things by reason of sin hee tries them by this level were it not for this the whole frame of the world would totter and tumble down so that the demonstration of the glory of Gods Justice is a glorious end Reas 2. It was necessary that the Justice of Gods proceedings should bee cleared above all things in the death of Christ It was liable in the judgement of flesh and blood to grievous exceptions and cavils as appears both by Scripture and experience Isa 53.3 4 The Jews say Wee thought him smitten of God and afflicted So 1 Cor. 1.23 Christ crucified was to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Learned Greeks foolishnesse the Jews thought it enough excuse for them to reject Christ because hee was hanged on a tree and the Greeks thought it folly to look for salvation from him that could not save himself from such an ignominious death yea it was a cunning plot of the Devil to suggest this to the Heathen of old Stultitia est morte alterius sperare salutem It is rank folly to hope for salvation by anothers death And it is the hellish reasoning of blasphemers in these times how can it stand with the Justice of God that the just should suffer for the unjust should not the righteous rather be delivered and the unrighteous be punished Therfore the Lord here would stop every mouth and cut off all objections when hee saith that the death of Christ was to that end to demonstrate to all the World the glory of his Justice there cannot any thing in the World bee mentioned like unto this to clear up the Justice of God when as the Lord would not spare his onely Son having no more but sin imputed Thus of the second Reason Reas 3. Is taken from the glory of other attributes God hath the glory of other Attributes with the Glory of his Justice that redounds to God together with the glory of his justice as especially of his Wisdome Grace Holinesse and providential Government First The Glory of the Wisdome of God appears herein that hee hath devised a way in that desperate extremity that sin hath cast all mankinde into that a remnant might be saved I will not say as some do weakly if not dangerously to reconcile Justice and Mercy together for they are not to bee opposed or dis-agree in God but are one and the same pure and simple being in him but to glorify his infinite excellencies * The Scripture speaks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the language of men in the reconciliation of his chosen ones that sinne might bee punished and condemned and the sinner escape the Law might bee made up and accomplished Justice might have its course and the Supream Majesty offended might be reconciled Hence it is said Col. 2.3 That in Christ Jesus all the treasures of Wisdome and Knowledge are hidden The meaning whereof is not only that Jesus Christ hath all Wisdome and Knowledge in him but that also the Wisdome of the Father in all the abundance thereof shines most clearly in the sending and whole mystery of Christ And more plainly Eph. 1.7 In Christ wee have redemption through his blood the forgivenesse of our sins according to the riches of
soul from the hand c. 2 It is an irresistible and mighty redemption Luke 1.67 Hee hath raised up a Horn of salvation that is a Kingdome power Dignity and strength of salvation every way sufficient to succour 3 Perfect not only in impretation of a possibility of deliverance but also in actual application to call the Elect to bring their soules to glory Rev. 5 9. Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood so also from all our enemies Luk. 1.71 That wee should bee saved from our Enemies from all our iniquities Tit. 2.14 from death Hos 13.14 I will ransome thee from the power of the grave from the power of Satan Heb. 2.14 By death hee destroyed him that had the power of Death that is the Devil from the World Gal. 1.4 from the wrath of God Rom. 5.9 not onely present but to come 1 Thess 1.10 from the whole curse of the Law being made a curse for us Gal. 3.15 from all that which the justice of God hath pronounced against transgressors yea both of soul and body to eternity Eph. 4.30 Heb. 9.12 Reas 1 Taken from the fitness of Christs Person being the word Incarnate to accomplish the work of our redemption for three things are required 1 Power to redeem us and to vanquish our Enemies Hell Death World Devil Christ is God over all Rom. 9.5 2 Right to redeem not only of propriety but of propinquity the next kinsman onely can redeem Deut. 25.5 the second Person in the Trinity that took mans nature was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 next of kin Eph. 5.30 flesh and blood 3 Dignity must bee given to the price paid Act. 20.28 these things suited none but Christ Reas 2 From things requisite to a sufficient redemption and satisfaction as 1 Price must bee such as will content the person to whom 't is due but the ransome paid by Christ was according to the Fathers will Heb. 10.9 and a sweet smelling savour to God Eph. 5.2 2 There must be an equality too of the debt or wrong in the Price paid for therefore satisfaction is required the sin of man made all things unequal between God and man now Justice requires equality 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist Eth. Ezek. 18.29 Oh yee house of Israel are not my waies equal are not your waies unequall such is the satisfaction of Christ to all the sinnes and punishments temporal and eternal of all the Elect and is a just recompence for all the dishonour and wrong done to God by them which the glory of the World could not have reached to 1 Pet. 1.18 19. you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold c. It was such a Price as by one offering perfected for ever Heb. 10.14 those that are sanctified and what would we have more than perfection was the Law broken Christ is better than the Law hee is the essential word of God doth sin rob God of his Glory Christ is the brightness of his Fathers Glory Heb. 1.3 3 The Price paid must bee voluntary not forced for otherwise it would rather bee satispassion than satisfaction The damned in Hell do not satisfy for sin Christs payment was voluntary Joh 10.15 I lay down my Life and vers 18. I have power to lay it down He gave himself for us Eph. 5.2 4 Satisfaction must bee of that which is otherwise undue such was Christs the Father could in Justice exact no such matter at his hands being innocent He made him to be sin who knew none 2 Cor. 5.21 5 It must bee clear and evident to secure Captives or Debtors and to give their Souls and Consciences satisfaction but such was Christs redemption Heb. 9.9 14. The gifts and Sacrifices of the Law could not make him that did the services perfect as pertaining to the Conscience c. but Christ offered through the eternal Spirit that is the God-head of Christ purged the conscience from dead works Witness also the Resurrection the full price is paid seeing our surety is set at liberty from the grave Rom. 4.25 the Prison into which hee was cast for our sins Vse 1. To confute sundry errors and Heresies Confutation of Popish partial redemption and Socinian blasphemies that deny it as of Papists that make Christ a partial Redeemer and his satisfaction imperfect that bee satisfyes onely for the fault and leaves us to satisfy for the punishment or that he redeemed us from the eternal but would leave us to satisfy for the temporal punishment If Christs redemption bee perfect there is nothing left to bee done by us nor suffered in way of satisfaction Heb. 7.25 Christ saves to the utmost and needs not our botching For the Socinians they ascribe no more than Turks to Christs redemption Let us cease to rake in those Dung-hills their Nomination is a sufficient confutation Use 2. This singular redemption by Christ Bondage of unregenerate necessarily infers a singular bondage and slavery in which all unregenerate sinners lye Jer. 10.14 Egypt was never such an iron Furnace as the sinner is in Were wee not enthralled what need a ransome what need of redemption bodily bondage as in the Turkish slavery mony might redeem but nothing less than the blood of God could redeem us See the estate of the ungenerate 1 They are in hands of such Lords as do rule with rigour and severity over them 2 They have not freedome of will to do any thing they could do in their state of innocency for God 3 They are forced to indure most intollerable things to be born 1 The Lords over natural men are of two sorts 1 Principal 2 Ministerial The Principal is the most just and terrible God whose Justice they have wronged by sin therefore wee are said to bee redeemed from under the curse of the Law Gal. 4.4 7. that is from under the revenging Justice of the Law As Malefactors are called the Kings Prisoners properly not the Goalers that keep them So Sinners are Gods Prisoners and who can deliver them out of his hand but Christ Ministeriall Lords are the Devil and his Angels and the Conscience accusing condemning and tormenting for sin Hence Sinners are said before Conversion to bee under the Devils power Act. 26.18 under the power of darkness Col. 1.13 and taken as beasts alive of the Devil at his will 2 Tim. 2. ult Yea God makes a mans Conscience his keeper going up and down constantly with him haling him to condemnation Thus the Spirit often works through the Law in the affrighted Conscience and though some make this their Keeper Drunk that they may escape yet God awakens him to his former terror 2 A natural man hath no spiritual liberty to do nor enjoy good by any Promise Ordinance or Priviledge his heart is weary and burthened by all Mal. 1.13 hee is led by the nose as a slave serving divers lusts and pleasures Tit. 3.3 led along like bruite beasts with sensuality and hurried on by a violent appetite
part of the World have quite mistook it and where there is any discovery of it infinite errors have been broached with it And the heart of man turns and windes under it not being able to close with the way of it Bee cautelous therefore and know That there is no true Justification but what Centers in Christ Act. 4.12 There is no Salvation not a jot in any other for there is none other Name given under Heaven God the Father gave no other way nor Name Therefore no other Way nor Name can possibly bee found out Redemption was alone by Christs blood Eph. 1.7 Hee is made our redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 Hee shall give his Life Matth. 20.28 This is the great Lesson to learn Christ your satisfaction to the Father Now then as a poor man asks his Friends how hee shall pay his debts fears the Creditor will come to clap him up in Gaol and there hee must lye and dye because hee cannot pay as that complaint is 2 King 4.1 so ask you what you shall do to bee saved where you shall find a Ransome your soules are deeply indebted and you have not to pay Mat. 18.25 and the Creditor is coming hastily upon you O bee not more careful to save your bodies out of Prison than your souls out of Hell Lay hold on Christ who alone is Current mony and full satisfaction Quest But how shall we compass this satisfaction of Christ and comfort by it Answ You must do as the poor bankrupt doth First to get him a surety to undertake the debt Secondly to gain to himself an Acquittance under hand and zeal Get Christ to bee thy surety and an Acquittance written with his blood Now an Acquittance is derived by the Lawyers from the word quietantia an old barbarous term but very significant which when once it is got the Debtor is then at rest No suits in Law nor brangling controversies can bee maintained any longer against him for hee hath his quietus est a free and full discharge Plead for this from God and that from the beginning of the world to this day For Adam left his posterity in debt This Acquittance is nought else but what Paul speaks of Rom. 5.1 Peace in Conscience arising from Christs satisfaction for our sins And that you may attain this surety and Acquittance 1 Consider the necessity and worth of Justification It is the Justification of Life yee are dead without it Rom. 5.18 And having obtained it you are fit for any thing for glory whom hee justified hee glorified Rom. 8.30 Enoch had this testimony that hee pleased God Heb. 11.5 then was hee fit for Heaven Fit to bee a teacher of others Isaiah cries now send mee when his sins were pardoned But without it you are fit for nothing If Death arrests you how will you scramble for Bail how will you wish you had pleased God how unfit to go off the world O leave not that to the last gaspe that should bee done first Thou mayest bee great and rich and honourable and yet not fit to live nor to dye but he that is justified is fit for both 2 Highly esteem the Ransome It was no less than the blood of God that ransomed you And if things are to bee esteemed by what they cost nothing is more precious than this Ransome And accordingly the Apostle valued it Phil. 3.8 9. hee accounted all the worlds glory but Dirt and dung in comparison And desired to abandon all knowledge that hee might know Christ and him crucified How highly doth hee prize 1 Cor. 2.2 Christ not glorified but Crucified mainly intending to preach that Hence the whole work of the Ministery is called Preaching the Cross 1 Cor. 1.18 In a word the greatest love that God ever shewed to man and the greatest blessing man ever attained to it is this satisfaction of Christ Love with an affix 1 Joh. 4.10 3 Consider the lenity and difficulty of the satisfaction God would not have sent his Son if all the world could have made satisfaction Isa 53.10 11. Hee shall see of the travel of his soul and bee satisfied Hee saw the pay was current the travel of his soul to wit all the sufferings of Christ gave him satisfaction What need Christ take such pains if any else could do it It cost not Christ half so much pains to make the world Psal 33.9 10. Hee spake the word and it was done c. This work of satisfaction made him sweat drops of blood 4 Receive an unlimited Christ and entertain him in all his Offices Receive his person first and then his benefits Joh. 1.12 as many as received him c. Receive him and then his adoption and satisfaction Let him bee King as well as Priest Luke 19.27 Take him as a sanctifier as well as a Saviour Accept his Majesty as well as his Mercy Take Holiness as well as Happiness from him Let the water of regeneration bee welcome with the blood of Justification And that with speed for Luke 14.24 if you come not when invited you may never bee welcome The Israelites that denied to enter Canaan when God offered it Heb. 4.1 had never after an opportunity Francis Spira under dreadful torture pittifully lamented that now God would not give him one motion of his blessed Spirit more many of which he slighted before If therefore you minde eternity and have any care of your souls or any respect to Christ or fear of God if heaven bee worth having give Christ entertainment in all his Offices Use 4. Comfort to all that are in Christ Comfort to sincere Christians that your ransome is paid Lift up your heads with joy for your redemption draws nigh 1 Consider your sins are satisfied to the full Poor bankrupt souls have all Bills and bonds and hand-writings that are against them cancelled Col. 2.14 Davids prayer is answered all his Transgressions are blotted out Psal 51.12 Oh what joy what contentation should display its triumph in the heart The discharge of sin is another gates thing than all other discharges The Debt is greater the Creditor more dreadful the Gaol more horrible the Gaoler more cruel and the satisfaction fuller then men ever felt or found Your Moralists say It is the hardest of all satisfactions for an Inferiour to satisfy a Superiour in point of honour If hee had injured him in his goods satisfaction might have been made but what will hee do here will hee submit to him that hee ought alwaies to do Will hee do it by his goods no a good name is better than Riches Prov. 22.1 Sin violated Gods Justice and affronted his God-head For every sin is a kinde of Dei cidium a murthering of God Hence men are called God-haters Rom. 1.30 but hee that hateth his brother is a murtherer 1 Joh. 3.15 so is hee that hateth God And indeed hee doth kill God as to himself for as the Sun though it cannot lose its light yet is utterly eclipsed as to
God to roar even the fierce wrath of the Almighty So that as the Greek Church prayed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It was unknown torment that our Saviour underwent Hee encountred both the fathers wrath kindled by the sins of all the Elect and entered the lists with Satan and all the powers of darkness Luke 22.23 This is your hour and the power of darkness All the Devils in Hell were up in Armes and issued out of their gates Principalities and Powers are all let loose against the Redeemer of the World This is some part of the second death of Christ but to clear it further wee will answer a few objections Object How could Christ suffer the pains of the second death without dis-union of the God-head from the man-hood for the God-head could not dye Sol. 1 Joh. 3.16 God laid down his life for us The person dying was God else his person could have done us no good The person suffering must bee God as well as man but the God-head suffered not As if you shoot off a Cannon in the bright Ayr the air suffers but the light of it suffers not Actions and Passions belong to Persons Nothing less than that Person who is God man could bear the brunt of the day and overcome for our justification Object How could Christ indure Hell fire without grievous sins as blasphemy and despair Sol. The perturbations of Christ were like the shakings of pure water in a clean glass the water remains pure still When Christ was shaken there was no mudd in the bottome which rises in us when wee suffer extremity And again as the body of Christ dyed without dividing the God-head from it So his soul dyed the second death without parting of the God-head from it Besides Blasphemy and Despair are no parts of the pains of the damned but the consequents and follow the sense of Gods wrath in a sinful creature that is overcome by it Rev. 16.9 But Christ had no sin of his own nor was overcome of wrath and therefore held fast his integrity Object But when did Christ suffer hell torments they are inflicted after death not before it usually but Christs soul went strait after death into Paradise how else could hee say This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Sol. 1 'T is not impossible that the pains of the second death should bee suffered in this life Time and place are but circumstances the main substance of the second death is the bearing Gods fierce wrath The favour of God in Hell to a man would make Hell a Heaven The place is not a part of the debt neither and therefore ought to bee no part of the payment The laying down of the Price makes the satisfaction This is all that is spoken and threatned to Adam Gen. 2.17 Thou shalt dye the death and this may bee suffered here Wicked go to Hell as their Prison because they can never pay their debts otherwise the debt may as well bee paid in the market as the Gaol This Christ did in the dayes of his flesh when hee offered up strong crys and tears Heb. 5.7 not after death Object But the pains due to mans sins are to bee everlasting how can Christs short sufferings countervail them Sol. If the measure of a mans punishment were Infinite the duration needs not be infinite Sinful mans measure of punishment is finite and therefore the duration of his punishment must bee infinite because the punishment must bee answerable to the infinite evil of sin committed against an infinite God But Christ God-man suffered punishment in measure infinite and therefore there is no ground why hee should indure it eternally Add moreover that the dignity of Christs persons did excuse him from punishment infinite for duration for Act. 2.24 It was impossible that hee should bee holden of death because hee was both the Father of Life and the Lords Holy One. Besides continual imprisonment in Hell arises from mans not being able to pay the price for could hee pay the debt in one year hee needs not lye two years in Prison Now the debt is the first and second death because therefore sinful man cannot pay it in any time he must endure it eternally But Christ is ready pay hee laies it down upon the nail to the full for all Christs Elect therefore it is not required of him that hee should suffer for ever Neither can it stand with Gods Justice to hold him under the second death having paid the debt Now that hee hath paid he witnesseth Joh. 19.30 saying when hee had received the Vinegar It is finished So vers 28. After this Jesus knowing that all things were accomplished Many Interpretations are given of the place but this alone will hold water That the heavy wrath of the Lord which did pursue Christ and the second death that filled him with grievous terrors is now over and past It cannot bee construed of the fulfilling all Types and figures for many Types and Prophecies did pre-figure his death as that Dan. 10. that the Messiah must bee cut off and all the Sacrifices must dye the Prophecy of his Resurrection Psal 16.10 the prophecy of his intercession and sitting at Gods right hand Psal 110.1 Isa â—3 ult Therefore the former sense only is true Use 1. Of Terror to Carnal Persons Conceits removed if any argument can shake the heart of a careless wretch that lives in sin this may to consider Christs sufferings for sin imputed to him This will likewise remove those vain conceits men have taken up to secure themselves in sinning 1 That sin hath no such great evil in it as is imagined and therefore they make a mock of sin blaspheming them 1 Pet. 4.3 4. that run not to the same excess of riot with them Let such know that besides the judgements recorded in Scripture against sin and the tumbling of Angels down from heaven reserving them in chains under darkness besides the casting Adam out of Paradise for sin and the drowning the old World the fire and brimstone of Sodom the destruction of Jerusalem the torments of the damned in Hell-fire where the worm dyeth not and the fire goeth not out Mark 9.44 46 48. That which is ten thousand times more terrible take thou notice of that Christ suffers an agony for mans sin behold God dying for the sins of the Elect. See his misery who is but a surety 1 Cor. 2.8 Sins of men crucify the Lord of Glory and put him to so painful so shameful a death as thou hast heard God over all blessed for ever is cursed in but bearing thy sins If God so punished the surety how will he deal with the principal Canst thou hope O impenitent Soul to speed better in thy own sins than Christ could that bare but the sins of others 1 Sam. 14.39 As the Lord liveth who saveth Israel though it bee in Jonathan my Son hee shall surely dye said Saul If the Son must dye what will become of
the Servant what will become of the Slave Laugh on but know that Christ wept for sin rejoyce thou but withall remember that Christs soul was heavy to the death about it And it may bee thou wilt one day hear God laughing at thy misery as thou dost at thy sin Prov. 1.26 'T is said of Babylon Rev. 18.7 So much as shee hath glorified her self so much sorrow and torment give her Christ smarted for the sins of the Elect and thou must one day expect to feel as much torment for sin as thou hast taken pleasure in committing of it The sport and pleasure of sin is like that play 2 Sam. 2.14 where they destroyed each other Young men in merriment and jollity make a mirthful pastime of Drunkenness and riotting till their sports prove the bloody murtherers of each other Man nor Angel durst not call Christ accursed if the Holy Ghost had not said it Gal. 3.13 and surely then O vain man thy condition must needs bee exceeding cursed if Christ were accursed for sin imputed only Oh the gall of bitterness that sin will bring wretched men into Knowest thou not that it will bee bitterness in the latter end 2 Sam. 2.26 2 Conceivest thou 2 Conceit that God is merciful and therefore thou shalt do well enough though thou dost continue in sin Know that God spared not his only Son Rom. 8.32 and why should hee spare thee his very enemy would hee not spare a Son and an onely Son and will hee spare a stranger an enemy Shall a Son of Belial speed better than the Son of God Did Christs neerness of relation abate him nothing and shalt thou bee abated hopest thou to finde more mercy at Gods hands than Christ could Luke 23.31 If this bee done in the green tree what will hee do in the dry Christ was not such dry fuel for his Fathers wrath to burn up as thou art Rev. 14.10 They shall drink of the wine of Gods wrath poured out without mixture 3 But I will pray 3 Conceit and amend my life and turn over a new leaf and God will be gracious Canst thou pray better than Christ hee prayed earnestly Luke 22.44 with strong Cries and Tears Heb. 5.7 hee spent whole nights in prayer Luke 6.12 yet must he dye the death Canst thou reform and bee more holy than Christ hee fulfilled all righteousness Matth. 3.17 Hee did alwaies what pleased the Father Joh. 8.29 and yet all would not bee taken for current pay without his bearing the extremity of Gods fearful indignation What hope canst thou then maintain while thou lyest in sin 4 If I go to Hell I shall have company 4 Conceit and will speed as well as others and will bear it as well as I can wilt thou bear it O heap of dust Hast thou an Arm like God Job 40.9 knowest thou what thou sayest Christ is stronger than all Men and Angels that created the Heavens and bears up its Pillars that they stagger not yet blood leaps out of his veins when hee comes to encounter his Fathers wrath Hee cries with tears Father if it be possible Let this Cup pass from mee And again hee groans it out Psal 90.11 Who knows the power of his Anger that made his Son thus to cry out The earth trembled at it The Sun mourned under an Eclipse at the sight of it The graves opened to sigh at his sorrow The rocks cleft in sunder Was the mighty God put to all these perplexities to bear his Fathers wrath And shall such a worm as thou art bee able to wade through such a bottomless Sea of miseries All Christs sufferings were voluntary and chosen by himself and perfectly known before hee suffered them so that hee was prepared for them nor had hee any sin to weaken his strength or increase his burden and fully knew what infinite good his sufferings would do to save thousands to reconcile God and man to glorify God but not one of these chearing considerations can bee found in thy sufferings Thine will bee violent and suddain and unknown until thou feelest them and wilt have the burden of thine own sin as well as misery a pittiful gaulded back to bear so great a burden no good can come by all thy torments and canst thou hope to bear so great a burden as this to eternity Oh saies Spira That I might indure the wrath of God but twenty thousand years but it must bee eternally Thy soul must say after millions of years The pit is bottomeless The fire is unquenchable 5 But Christ hath suffered 5 Conceit therefore surely I never shall suffer these things Christs sufferings cannot prevent nor ease the torments of Christlesse souls Rev. 6.16 17. 1 Pet. 2.8 None can have the benefit of his death that have nor the benefit of his life His blood justifies none that continue strangers to the will of God Cavil But this is Legal Preaching in Gospel times speak to us of peace in Christ Reply Surely this is Gospel Preaching and a principal Doctrin of the Gospel too If justification by Christ be legal Doctrin what is Evangelical The Spirit saies in the Gospel though men love not to hear it Eph. 5.6 That the Unclean Malitious Covetous Drunkards shall never enter into the Kingdom of God And in truth all the threats of the Law and torments of the damned cannot set out sin in so ugly and dismal a face as this point doth The Law shews sin a sword to draw our blood but this shews it to be a Spear drawing the heart blood of the Son of God The Law makes man accursed the Gospel makes the Son of God accursed The sin of all the world on one man could not bring him so low as the least sin of the Elect can bring the Son of God Adams sin threw him out of Paradise from earth to earth and his Sons into hell that is but from earth to hell but Christ is by imputed sin fallen from the glory of heaven to the very sorrows of hell Whither then will the sinner fly for succour Do not think O impenitent man that thou canst better thy self by flying from the Law to the Gospel If Christ for sin suffered such things where shall the ungodly and sinner appear 1 Pet. 4.17 The Extremity and exactness of Christs Sufferings THE SEVENTH SERMON ON Romans 3.24 25. Through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Doct. WEE have already proved and in part applied this Doctrin That the Redemption of Sinners was wrought by Christs suffering the utmost and full punishment duâ— to sin Wee are now to proceed to the second use Vse 2. This informs that no punishment properly so called belongs to the Members of Christ nor are any of their Afflictions to bee deemed punishments for sin For if Christ hath suffered to the full All the punishment due to his Members then there is no punishment left to them to suffer but Christ hath suffered to
the utmost whatsoever punishment was due to his Members for their sin therefore there is none remaining to be suffered by them The Proposition is thus proved If any of the Members of Christ should bee punished for their sins then God the Father should inflict a double punishment for the same sins but it cannot stand with the Justice of God to punish the same sins twice So that the bitterest afflictions Gods children suffer in this life are of a farre differing nature from punishments Simile For as the Sea-waters though they are in themselves salt brackish and brinish and very fretful yet running through the many veins turnings and windings in the earth lose their saltnesse and only retain refreshing cooling and clensing sweetnesse and moysture in them so the afflictions falling on Gods children in themselves sharp and brinish yet running through the Merits and Bowels of the Lord Jesus only retain a cleansing cooling and refreshing nature in them Obj. But Gods children suffer as many and the same material evils with other men as poverty sicknesse losses crosses and death it self Eccles 9.1 There is one event to all yea the godly have oft the worst of it Psal 73.14 All the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning while the wicked vers 5. Are not in trouble like other men How then doth it appear that Christ hath suffered all the punishment of the elect Sol A carnal eye indeed seeth things in this estate but a righteous judgement sees them farre otherwise Moses could see the Bush all on fire and yet not consumed Exod. 3.2 Daniels companions met with a fiery Furnace whose flame burned not those that were in it but those that stood by Dan. 3.22 25. These were seemingly scorching fiery flames but were not so in reality But you will say wherein is the difference 1 In regard of the Principle from whence they come Difference between afflictions of godly and the wicked they much differ The judgements laid on the wicked come from an angry Judge the afflictions of the godly from a loving Father God punisheth the wicked as part of their payment in indignation and wrath whence they are called children of wrath Ephes 2.3 And when he is about to fill his belly God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him and shall rain on him while he is eating Job 20.23 All comes to the wicked from a Sin-revenging God but to the godly from a careful Father Heb. 12.6 Whom the Lord loveth he chastneth and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth So God speaks of David Psal 89 30-34 If his children forsake my Laws and walk not in my judgements I will visit their offences Neverthelesse my loving kindnesse will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulnesse to fail 2 They differ in their nature They have not the venome nor poyson in them 1 Cor. 15.55 56. that Achitophels had who being but rejected once in his counsel had so much venome of sin in that small affliction that hee hanged himself 3 In their suitablenesse Miseries are called the Lords cup. An expression borrowed from Physitians that have their several Doses of Potions according to the several Diseases Now the wicked hath a cup fit for him Psal 11.6 Upon the wicked hee shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their cup. Where could a man step when it rained fire and brimstone in Sodome This is a killing cup. So Psal 75.8 A cup full of mixture in the hand of the Lord whose dreggs the wicked of the earth shall drink So Jer. 25.28 and Isa 27.7 The godly have another cup fit for them who also have need of Physick and this cup sometimes is very bitter Joh. 18.11 Shall I not drink of the cup that the Father hath given me When a Father gives his dear child a potion how exact will he bee rather under than over in the quantities of the ingredients Christ hath drunk already the poysonous Cup Matth. 26.39 Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me None remains but the purging cup. And Gods faithfulnesse requires that this cup bee tempered according to our strength and ability 1 Cor. 10.13 4 They differ in their end Jam. 5.11 You have heard of the patience of Job and yee have seen the end of the Lord. What end That the Lord is very pittiful and of tender mercy So did Abraham Jacob and Joseph find an happy issue of all their sorrows Deut. 8.16 To doe thee good in the latter end David said it was good for him Psal 119. And calls the man blessed who endureth correction whom God chastiseth and teacheth Psal 94.12 and it is said Dan. 11.35 Some of them of understanding shall fall to try them and to purge them and make them white Now the calamities of wicked men doe hasten and heighten their everlasting destruction and are at best but the beginnings of sorrows and furtherers of their sins by making their hearts hard and their eyes blind As it fared with King Ahaz 2 Chron. 28.22 This is that King Ahaz that in the time of his distresse trespassed yet more against the Lord. This also was the event of Jerobeams calamities for 1 King 13.4 33. after his hand was withered and again recovered he returned not from his evil ways Look what good the flames of Hell doe the damned as much and no more doe afflictions for the wicked they curse God and blaspheme more and more God therefore stabs the wicked as an enemy with his Sword but lances the godly as a Surgeon his Patient with the Launcet Thus chastisements befall the godly but punishments the wicked Vse 3. Of strong Consolation to all the children of God That Jesus Christ hath suffered all that punishment Comfort to Gods children that their poor souls might have bewailed here and must have done for ever hereafter Christ hath drunk off that cup of trembling to the bottom he hath left no Curse no Death eternal no Hell for you to suffer your condition can never be lower than it is in this world God bids the Ministers take care to comfort you O Elect and precious Isa 40.1 2. Comfort yee comfort yee my people c. they are commissioned from Heaven to speak to your very hearts telling you your iniquities are forgiven Why because you have received in your head mony enough to pay your debts to the utmost As God hath given us in charge to comfort you so hath he given you charge to receive comfort Let then the veriest babe in Christ come and refresh himself with these breasts suck at this Nipple wheresoever is the least spark of true grace let that soul rejoyce because Christ suffered all this perplexity and amazement that you might never suffer it Heb. 2.14 Hee dyed to deliver those that through fear of death c. he dyed to save you from slavish fear He wept that you might bee
and wounded his soul and why should they be contentment to mine God forbid 3 Minde the desert of sin We must fear sin because it crushed Christ and the severe proceedings of God against it in Christ our surety Luke 23.31 If this be done in the green tree what will bee done in the dry Christ was the Green tree full of sap exceeding fruitful the true vine Joh. 15.1 the very embleme of fruitfulness yea the tree of life Rev. 2.7 yet this could not exempt him from his sharpest sufferings Christ was free from all sin in his nature the Devil himself could find nothing in him Joh. 8.46 but we have a World of wickedness in us Christ was full of righteousness Rom. 5.17 and wee full of wickedness yet God spared not his Son where shall wee ungodly and sinners appear Christ was the onely begotten and wee are in comparison strangers if hee had no tenderness to his Son what can his Slaves hope for Christ was both God and Man in personal Union strengthened by Angels yet what Agony what tears what conflicts did hee undergo wee are but stubble but a rotten stick fit fuel for everlasting burnings how shall wee stand in the day of tryal O it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Heb. 10.31 Oh that wee had hearts to apprehend the evil of sin before wee come to feel it Blessed are they that beleeve and fear and tremble and never experimentally know the vileness of sin God seeing the hardness of our hearts hath manifested the evil of sin by the sufferings of Christ a better argument then all the curses racks and torments of Hell it self could produce to demonstrate the dreadful nature of it This may convince the hardest hearts in the world and let the very godly themselves see that sin is more vile than ever they imagined it to bee 4 Know that sin will kill us as well as it killed Christ if wee prevent not the malignity of it Death is the proper wages of sin both the first and second death Object But a Childe of God is in no danger of sinning nor of eternal punishment Sol. Surely 't is true Doctrin that 1 Pet. 4.17 18. The time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God Wee know how Churches have smarted for sin for little sins in the Worlds account The Jews cast off for unbeleef Saints corrected though not damned for sin the Church of Ephesus for forsaking her first love Laodicea for lukewarmness threatned to bee dis-Churched Add that Ezek. 9.6 the destroying Angel had a charge to begin at Gods sanctuary Yea many godly men smart for their boldness in sin here in this World Paul writes to Saints Rom. 8.13 and yet tells them If you live in the flesh yee shall dye and speaks not onely of a temporal but eternal death You will say 't is not possible for Saints to dye eternally I answer 't is as possible for Saints to dye eternally as to sin eternally Let all men look to it for sin continued in will certainly destroy all its practitioners Having therefore these considerations Let us dread to have any thing to do with sin This consideration is proposed to this very end Heb. 12.2 3. that the sight of what Christ endured by sin might make us constant and couragious in withstanding all the fiery darts of the Devil and declining every evil way striving against it unto blood vers 4. as Christ did to the very death not refusing the worst of sorrows The worst sorrow is better than the best sin to eschew the best of sins to part with your heart blood as well as your good names ease and profit if God call you to it Thus doth Peter argue 1 Pet. 4.1 2. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered in the flesh for us let us arm our selves likewise with the same minde for hee that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin that hee no longer should live the rest of his life in the flesh to the lusts of men c. The issue of the words is this The Faithful have Union and Communion with Christ and therefore they must bee conformable to Christ in Holinesse but must ceafe from sinne arguing thus That if wee have lost our head for sin it is not possible we should live in sin any longer but we have lost our head for sin Or thus All they dyed in Christ for sin for whose sin Christ dyed and they that dyed once for sin cannot sin any more If therefore thou continuest to sin how beleevest thou that Christ dyed for thee Let thy conscience bee the judge 3 Hath Christ loved us so dearly Christs death merits our love that merited heaven for us as to suffer such dreadful torments for us then what shall wee do for Christ O man return this day an Answer to the Lord what course thou wilt take to walk suitable to his kindness When David received a deliverance from God hee saies Psal 18.1 I will love thee dearly O Lord my strength God shewed him much love and hee intends to make a retaliation And indeed love is the Load-stone of love Never was such love shown as that of Christ Rev. 1.5 Who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood Eph. 5.2 Who gave himself for us his life and blood and all Yea hee parted with his fathers love which was a thousand times better than life for us Hee became accursed that might have been blessed Let us not bee scanty in our love to him but give him our heart both freely and liberally to the death his death well merits our love that merits heaven for us Where Christ hath laid such deep ingagements sleepy faint good wishes will not serve the turn Love in Christ was stronger than death 't is pitty that any cold velleities of love and service should bee our sacrifice All blessings of the World should endear us more and more to the Lord but oh what an Obligation should it bee that Christ became a Curse for us The very Master-piece of all mercies and blessings to the Elect yea it gives a sweet seasoning to all our blessings which have a Curse cleaving to them for all that are out of Christ turning all their sweet morsels into the poyson of Asps or into gravel Prov. 1.32 yea their prosperity is destructive Alas what are Riches and Accommodations and good fare when the Lord once charges Sin upon the conscience what is it to bee rich and reprobate to bee deliciously fed with the rich Glutton and a damned creature The World is a Prison and Riches are shakels Creatures are enemies all wee have is vanity and vexation of spirit all blessings turned into cursings Mercies are curses without Christs death yea and all Ordinances gifts parts duties c. without Christs blood are but carnal things You say how doth that appear why Eph. 1.3 those are alone spiritual
partaker of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and that by the exceeding great and precious promises so that thy lusts are destroyed and thou art no longer an enemy or a stranger unto God but acquainted and reconciled Col. 1.21 Lastly see this by the peace that the bloud of Christ hath wrought in thy soul Heb. 9.14 Obj. But hath every one peace of Conscience that hath interest in the bloud of Christ Ans Every one hath peace with God Rom. 5.1 and though it doth not always quiet the conscience yet it stayes the heart with some waiting upon God and purges the conscience every day more and more See whether thou findest this in thee Vse 5. Exhortation to get this propitiation Exhortation to betake our selves to the Sacrifice and bloud-shed of Christ Heb. 9.26 He is the only Mercy-seat We shall speak 1 To those that apprehend or have cause to apprehend Gods Wrath kindled against them 2 To the members of Christ 1 To those that lye still in a state of enmity to seek for the appeasing Gods anger and to take the right course for this Consider 1 The excellency of this condition Peace and reconciliation with God is the main businesse in the Kingdom of God that is first to be sought Matth. 6.33 the prayer of the Saints Dan. 9.16 17. O Lord according to all thy righteousnesse let all thine anger and fury be turned away 2 Consider that the Lord deals with you as he commanded his people to doe Deut. 20.10 he sends forth his servants with inessages of peace and hangs forth his white flag of truce before hee sends forth his armies of Judgements to destroy it or as Matth. 10.11 13. Luk. 10.6 Enquire in the house or city who is worthy and if the son of peace bee there let your peace come upon it else shake off the dust c. Thus are the offers of peace in the word of reconciliation sent to you Is there any child of peace here that will hear it and give it entertainment And know that though you should not regard it yet the Kingdom of God is come nigh to you and Conscience will one day find it upon the file for a testimony against you And hereafter will wisdom say Because I have called c. Prov. 1.24 28. Luk. 19.42 Verily I perswade my self that there are many thousands in these days of the Gospel that are wounded deep and lye bleeding to destruction under that word of wisdoms mouth for refusing stiffely so fair an offer as we are making this day unto you Quest What course should a poor soul take to have the benefit of this propitiation Ans 1. It will be very needful for a Sinner advisedly toset down with himself what he hath in all the world to support his heart when the evil day shall come upon him Isa 10.3 What will you doe in the day of visitation Job 31.14 What shall I doe when he rises up when he visits what shall I answer Then your thoughts will be so snarled and perplexed that you will not know whether to goe nor how to bear nor avoyd nor remove the evil that is coming upon you As Luther speaks of the Papists That at the approaches of death they were so perplexed in spirit that they were like Birds taken in a Lime-bush which the more they flutter the more they are hampered so fearfully saith he that I have seen many Murtherers and Malefectors condemned to death goe to their execution more couragiously than they So it falls out with poor obdurate sinners in the evil day though you out brave it now outwardly yet what a black bosome and Scorpions stings of guilt hast thou within thy soul rankling and gathering against the evil day whither will yee then fly to the Creatures they are all Gods Armies and Subjects and will fight against you as the Stars against Sisera Judg. 5.20 will you goe to your wits and shifts but then you shall bee at your wits ends Psal 107.27 will yee goe to an angry God the Judge of all the World But he saith Hos 13.7 8. I will be to them as a Lion and as a Leopard by the way to observe them c. yea the Lord will be more terrible than all these Wilt thou goe to thy Conscience alas that 's that Hell-worm the tormentor and the rack Ah it is better to be a Dogge or a Toad or any thing than to bee without Christs propitiation yet at such a time doth a poor member of Christ know what to doe See Job 13.15 Hab. 3.17 Psal 94.19.49.5 Heb. 13.6 2 Strive to apprehend as much as possible thou mayest the infinite power of that God whose anger is kindled against thee 1 Cor. 10.21 Doe you provoke the Lord Are you stronger than he Isa 27.4 Who will set the bryars and thorns against him c Remember what the very Philistims said 1. Sam. 6.6 Wherefore doe you harden your hearts as the Aegyptians and Pharaoh hardned their hearts c. Ezek. 22.14 How can thy heart endure or thy hands bee strong c. Isa 45.9 Psal 76.7 3 Consider that it is possible to appease Gods anger See Jonah 3.9 though it bee not certain yet if it bee possible it is enough to set us a seeking after it 4 See the large extent of the blessed propitiation of Christ Jesus 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Hee is a propitiation not for our sins only c. that is the elect and beleevers he wrote to but to all others over all the world Not that all or the greater part shall bee saved by the death of Christ but that by this large extent of the efficacy of Christs death the elect themselves might be the better encouraged to embrace the sacrifice of Christs death by faith He gave his life a ransome for all 1 Tim. 2.6 that is some of all sorts of persons or people no kind excluded He keeps a free and open house unto all comers Isa 45.20 22. 5 God though he be the person injured yet he is content to lay down the quarrel and hath eminently shewed his willingnesse thereto in that he sent his Son to make reconciliation for sinners 1 Joh. 4.10 Dan. 9.24 and hath committed to his Ministers the word of reconciliation that as in Christs stead they might pray men to accept of this peace Quest How doth the Lord entreat us to bee reconciled unto him Doth not the Lord know that it is not in our power to bee reconciled to him our nature being enmity against God Ans Christs propitiation or expiatory sacrifice hath purchased all those things to bee wrought in sinners that may make them partakers of and comforted in this sacrifice of his As Faith Phil. 1.29 Repentance Acts 5.31 change of nature Isa 11.6 7. Heb. 13.21 22. so that all a poor sinner hath to doe is to fall down at the feet of Christ in the use of his Ordinances to wait upon him and to follow his directions both willingly
sake of the imputed righteousness of Christ In this sense faith is no cause nor hath any influence at all into a sinners justification but Justification taken passively is that whereby beleevers by faith as by an hand do receive apprehend and apply to themselves the merits of Christs death and in this sense faith is an instrumental cause viz. A passive Instrument and cannot bee denyed its place in and influence into a sinners justification And this distinction you may see clearly grounded both in the places mentioned and Rom. 8. and in this chapter and in Rom. 5.1 the word is used in a passive sense Quest 2 How are Paul and James reconciled for James Ch. 2.21 saith that Abraham and Rahab were justified by works and ver 22. hee sets down this general conclusion that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone Answ Paul and James reconciled The conclusion of the Apostle is not as the Papists say that good works are a part of our righteousness and the cause of our justification before God neither as many of our Divines say That good works do justify as they declare us to bee just before men though that be a truth also but he shews that justifying faith is such as is effectual by good works or that it is a working faith that doth justify us which he proves both by comparing the faith of men and devils together as also by the example of Abraham and Rahab thence hee hath a distinction of faith which is lively and fruitful in good works and of a false and dead faith which is a bare profession of faith and formal acknowledgement of the Articles of Religion destitute of all good fruites so that James his discourse comes to this upshot That wee are not justified by a false or a dead faith and though James saith wee are justified by works he means by a common Metonymy a working faith Infants justifi cation Quest How are Infants justified by Faith Answ 1 Justification by faith belongs to persons grown and of understanding Rom. 10.17 2 Without doubt God hath his secret waies of applying the righteousness of Christ to infants by his Spirit which hee gives to them Isa 44.3 Quest Why is it rather through Faith than any other grace Why faith justifies Answ 1 Because by Faith is our union with Christ and our ingrafting into him and justification is a special priviledge and benefit properly arising from our union with Christ And then is the imputation of Christ's righteousness to us according to the Gospel dialect when it is apprehended by faith and hence justification is set after vocation Rom. 8.30 and therefore after faith because faith is wrought in vocation 2 The proper nature and office of faith is to rely and rest on Christ or the grace of God in Christ for Righteousness and Salvation hence the phrases of resting beleeving leaning on him as on the Rock the Corner stone c. 1 Pet. 2.6 Isa 26.3 4. and other places Faith makes it its proper distinguishing action to look out for a righteousness for justification and finding it in Christ wholly rests and relies on it as the Rock and Foundation the poor Sinner must be stayed by and built upon 3 Faith makes a special use of all the Promises draws water out of those wells receives and imbraces all the good things held forth in them but especially imbraceth remission of sins as one of the highest and chiefest Gospel concernments which hee hath to appropriate and improve to his greatest comfort and the foundation for to build on and exercise all other graces and duties and thence the just is said to live by faith Hab. 2.4 4 Because faith is constituted and ordained of God in the Covenant of grace as a necessary and indispensible means for attainment of this end in adult persons He did from eternity pitch on the grace of faith above all other for the applying the righteousnesse of Christ unto the soul of a Sinner 5 Because faith gives more glory to God and Christ than any other grace having free grace for its support and in a special manner free grace in Justification and going out of and denying it self more than any other grace receiving all from and attributing all to Christ and his fulnesse Joh. 1.16 and most especially whatever it hath or expecteth for justification Which makes the Apostle speak as hee doth Eph. 2.8 and every true beleever with him by grace we are saved through faith Use 1. This Doctrin doth clearly discover the dangerous estate of unbeleevers The danger of unbeleevers above all others there being no other way to receive that grace that is offered unto us in Christ or to attain unto the comfort of it Heb. 11.6 Without faith it is impossible to please God and what comfort or support can that man have who is not pleasing unto God There is but one Ark in all the World to save a poor sinner from the deluge of destruction that is Christ Jesus and no getting into this Ark but by faith There is death all the World over but in Christ As it was in the daies of Noah c. So shall the comming of the Son of man bee Matth. 24.38 39. how many on the face of the earth shall the second deluge or overwhelming destruction finde out of Christ the only Ark for poor sinners to bee saved by When the flood came the world knew nothing i. e. beleeved nothing and therefore rejected and despised the Ark that was preparing Oh! unbeleef is a soul-damning sin 2 Thess 1.8 9. especially in those that live under the clear dispensation of the Gospel Matth. 16.15 16. It was for this sin the Jews were broken off Rom. 11.20 even the whole body of the Nation and have been ever since the most accursed people in all the world Mark it all yee unbeleevers your curse is doubled and your Condemnation is The Condemnation Joh. 3.19 The Law pronounceth a curse for the breaking of it but the Gospel a far greater for not receiving Christ and your Life and Salvation which is offered unto you through him A Malefactor dies by the Law justly because by his wickedness hee hath deserved it but if hee hath an offer of a pardon and refuseth it hee is doubly guilty of his own destruction And this is the misery of poor unbeleevers in the daies of the Gospel Joh. 3.18.36 Obj. Why do you tell us of the danger of unbeleef which are not Infidels but hristians Ans Innumerable multitudes of souls do perish like the herd of Swine in the Sea that are driven headlong to destruction by Saran upon this conceipt that they are in the faith when they are not Therefore Use 2. Let this teach us to examine and try our selves whether wee are in the faith 2 Cor. 13.5 seeing we are justified by Faith Say thus have I gotten this precious grace viz. faith in Christs blood yea or not and bee
will justify but that and therefore to seek justification or quieting to a troubled soul by any other is but to spend our mony for that which is not bread Isa 55. or to go to buy bread with brass mony such as is not current coyn in Heaven Nay other knowledge is so far from bringing peace to a disquieted spirit that it brings with it tormenting and vexation of spirit Eccl. 1.18 Hee that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow other knowledge may and will puff up 1 Cor. 8.1 2. but this will humble humble us in our own apprehensions but really exalt us Prov. 4 8. Exalt her and shee will exalt thee Other Divine knowledge will build well but the knowledge of Christ laies the foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 this must needs have great substance and strength that bears up all the weight and bulk of the whole Christian edifice and let mee speak from my heart to all Students that hear this that unless your main care bee to get this knowledge you do but build Babels and Castles in the air And oh that many would make this their great study if they did there would not be so many new waies to heaven and false lights as there are 2 Pet. 3.18 19. Direct 2. Make this thy great heart design in comming to hear the word Preached for to get faith seeing it comes by hearing Resolve upon that end and think with thy self if thou commest with any by-ends the searcher of hearts will meet with thee if thou hast an Idol in thy heart thou shalt bee answered according unto it Ezek. 14.7 How many come with their Idols Some to get other knowledge and not of Christ Some to judge the Minister and to carp at the truths delivered Some to see and to bee seen and others out of meer formality and custome But alas where are they that stir up themselves to lay hold on Christ Isa 64.7 Direct 3. Remember to follow the example of the Bereans and in searching the Scriptures be much in studying the promises Act. 10.43 Act. 13 38 39. Think it not enough that you are Children of the Covenant as the Jews were Act. 3.25 but yee must become also the children of the promise for they only are accounted for the seed Rom. 9.8 Direct 4. Bee very watchful that carnal Objections and Cavils against Christ or his heavenly Mysteries or Doctrine arise not in your hearts without checking of them and strugling against them Thou mayest as easily empty the Ocean with a Cockle shell as measure the mystery of godliness with carnal Reason Do not cast off any truth of Christ because you can see no reason for it or cannot understand how this or that should bee Prov. 3.5 Trust in the Lord and lean not on thine own understanding Luther hath such a speech That mans corrupt reason is a terrible enemy to faith and this is the reason why many great Scholars are left of God And so our Saviour saith I thank thee O Father c. Matth. 11.25 Nicodemus will say How can these things bee Joh. 13.6 and the Philosophers will say of Paul when hee goeth to Preach these things what will this Babler say Oh! but remember God will confound the wisdome of this World thou shouldest rather say with Agur when thou hearest the Doctrin of Christ surely I am more brutish than any man when hee heard of Ithiel and Vcal I have neither Wisdome nor Knowledge of the most holy being an humble teachable heart to the word preached Pro. 8.4 5. and if any man among you seem to bee wise let him become a fool that hee may bee wise 1 Cor. 3.18 Prov. 9.4 5. Direct 5. Look at it as an extream vilenesse in thine heart and wily working of Satan when Christ is preached and the grace of God in Christ if thou canst go away from the word preached with an unbeleeving unmoved heart Observe for this two or three places Joh. 8.26.31 Christ had been preaching of the Father and of himself and his own death his mission and Commission and pleasing of the Father and vers 30. the text saith when hee spake those words many beleeved on him the Spirit takes special notice what words they were that wrought upon the hearers i.e. Christs unspeakable conjunction with the Father the Sufferings and Cross of Christ his holy Life and Death they stood out long but now they yielded So 2 Cor. 4 4-6 If our Gospel bee hid c. in whom the God of this World hath blinded the eies of them that beleeve not c. that is all the beauty of God the Father that shines in the face of Jesus Christ his Wisdome Justice Mercy Truth c. are hid from them Satan blinds them and their own naughty hearts and there is also a dreadful judgement of God in it Direct 6. Labour for Self-denial for wee must renounce all confidence in the flesh Priviledges Duties righteousnesse of our own Phil. 3.3.9.10 the righteousnesse of Faith excludes all this this is our betaking of our selves to the wings of Christ Matth. 23.37 i.e. wholly to bee under the covert of them as chickens under the wings of a Hen in a storm Use 4. It is a great comfort to you that beleeve in the Lord Jesus you are in the right way to the Father Joh. 14.6 you are in a most blessed estate Eph. 1.16 Jam. 2.5 the world looks at you as poorly provided for but you have abundance you are rich in faith and rich in Christ partakers of his unsearchable riches Eph. 3.8 1 Cor. 1.5 Vse 5. It serves to teach beleevers a main duty that most concerns them to practise i. e. to go on in a justified estate by faith in the Lord Jesus or imbracing the mercy of God in Christ and that because 1 They have the main principle in them to maintain a justified estate which others want viz. justifying faith Gal. 2.6 Though the well of living waters bee very deep beleevers have wherewithall to draw out of it They have a price in their hands to get wisdome Christ is neer Eph. 2.13 he is neer who iustifieth Isa 50.8 Isa 46.13 2 The benefit of justification should be maintained constantly in a Christians heart and that lively and as far as may bee without interruption and though our justification bee in it self unchangeable yet it is changeable in the diverse effects of it Our peace and comfort is often ebbing and flowing and subject to darknings as with David when hee saith I am cast out of the sight of God Psal 31.22 and cryed his bones were broken and that hee lay in the deep and therefore that wee may maintain our peace its worth our while to take pains in preventing our decaies and declinings It is easier to preserve peace and joy than to recover it out of an afflicted and dark condition as its easier to maintain health and strength than to fetch it at deaths door easier to keep the fire burning than to blow it up
see the helplesnesse of such persons who though there be but one way in the world to be saved Acts. 4.12 yet they set at nought this way There is but one Ark to save them from eternal destruction and that they make a mock of as the Old world did and now it is in vain to look for salvation any where else Jer. 3.22 Nay this refusal is your condemnation Joh. 3.19 Joh. 10.26 Luke 12.46 Joh. 12.39 and though by common providence you are saved from the miseries of your outward man yet know this that it is another businesse to bee saved from your sins and Christ came not to save us from our afflictions but from our sins Matth. 1.21 and these are by farre the greatest calamities and evils that we are subject to Briefly there you are in the gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquity and must bear your own iniquities your selves and in your unbelief are bound to keep the whole Law Rom. 11.32 and bound to the curse of the Law Gal. 5.3 Quest How shall I know whether the bond of my iniquity bee broken or no Ans You may know by what Christ tells you Joh. 8.34 Verily verily I say unto you he that committeth sin is a servant of sin Now to commit sin in his sense is to practise iniquity or to live in the commission of any known sin be it Pride Covetousnesse Uncleannesse Malice or whatsoever evil way it is thou art still then a slave of sin and Christ hath not set you free from the bondage of it Rom. 7.5 When we were in the flesh the motions of sin which were by the Law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death and so long as these motions are at work say not I have Abraham to my father and God to my Father for there is another father whose lusts yee doe and you see how peremptory the Lord Jesus is in affirming it because he knowes the world will not easily beleeve it Vse 2. Comfort to beleevers in regard of this effectual satisfaction of Christ and the comfort stands in the blessednesse of their estate which is 1 That they are discharged from all their sins without exception Be of good chear your sins are forgiven you Matth. 9.2 though there be some sins which yee have committed are more hainous than the rest as David and Paul have done yet the grace of God is exceedingly abundant 1 Tim. 1.13 and there is no sin that can bring or plead any accusation against you Rom. 8.3 God sending his Son in the similitude of sinful flesh for sin condemned sin in the flesh i.e. all our sin is condemned in the flesh of Jesus Christ he hath undertook to answer and hath answered all the pleas and accusations of sin that are made against a beleever so that the righteousnesse of God is fulfilled in us and sin being pardoned God thinks no worse of us than if we had never sinned 2 Consider what manner of discharge from sin this is it is perfect and it is everlasting It is perfect and leaves the soul all fait Cant. 4.10 and he gave himself for his Church that he might make it without spot or blemish to present it to himself a glorious Church Ephes 6.26 27. and Ezek. 16.9 I washed thee with water yea I throughly washed away thy bloud c. Besides it is everlasting Jer. 31.33 34. I will remember thy sins no more Isa 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions c. as our of a debt-book So Heb. 10.16 And though wee can remember them to charge them upon our selves that were such and such yet God will not charge them on us and if he doe not who is the Judge what hath any caviler to doe with us Quest But how can this bee that God should be so forgetful of our sins Ans He saith I will not remember your iniquities that is as yours I have put them upon another account 2 Cor. 5.19 20. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them Q. Why but suppose I should fall again and again into the same sins c. Ans First look that your faith and interest in Christ be sound and if it bee sound this doctrin will not embolden you to sin for we write these things that you sin not 1 Joh. 2.1 and then your new folly shall not be charged upon you for you have the same Advocate with the Father as ever you had and God doth not play fast and loose with his servants but his promises are all Yea and Amen and his Covenant that shall stand inviolable maugre the gates of Hell it is to remember thy sins no more It may be the world judges hardly of thee and layes these and those Inditements against thee but it is no matter the Judge of all the world will acquit thee and will not mention them against thee either in the day of Death or Judgement 1 Cor. 4.3 It is a small thing for me to be judged of you he that judgeth me is the Lord. He that hath said it will stand to it he will never remember thine iniquities though they have been never so many never so great and though corruptions still remain in thee yet God sees them not so as to impute them but to pardon and heal them He sees no iniquity in Jacob c. Numb 23.21 Suppose the rod of God be upon thee and thou smartest and sayest Now God calleth my sins to remembrance yet beleeve it God is true when he speaks of the future time that hee will remember thy sins no more It may be when God afflicts you hee would have you call your sins to remembrance but hee will not doe it 3 Consider that this was Gods end in giving his Son and Christs end in giving himself to be a Propitiation it was for the remission of sins i. e. for all the sins of beleevers and can we think that God will lose his end Paul saith that his grace was not in vain 1 Cor. 15.10 for if it bee then it is either because he cannot attain his end or because he will not if he cannot obtain his end he should not be Omnipotent or something should hinder him and be stronger than he if he will not hee would derogate from his wisdome to bee so changeable and from his truth that he fails not of his word and promise yea that absurdity would follow that Christ is dead in vain Gal. 2.21 which is the greatest absurdity in the world 4 The bloud of Christ alone dischargeth us from our sins it needs no addition to be made to it Heb. 10.14 By one offering c. that now which is perfected by one offering is spoyled by any addition whatsoever if any thing should bee required to be performed by us in way of addition to it then we were undone and could never bee able to attain to this discharge So that
and disanul in their thoughts and apprehensions the Justice of God as though it were altogether Heterogeneal Heterodox and impertinent to the mystery of the Gospel Now I beseech you that yee would bee convinced of this whatsoever yee forget that there is more of the justice of God declared and demonstrated in the Gospel and Gospel mysteries thereof than there is in the Law I might tell you of those dreadful Threatnings against them that sin against the Gospel See Heb. 2.2 3. Heb. 10.26 27. Heb. 12.25 where there is a far heavier punishment denounced against the Gospel sins and sinners than there ever was against the transgressions or transgressors of the Law and if wee look into Examples it is true that there were heavy punishments inflicted in the times of the Old Testament as the drowning of the whole World the destruction of Sodome and Jerusalem yea take in the rejection of the evil Angels yet none of all these were comparative to the example in the text and Heb. 1. Christ is set above the Angels and hath a name above every name yet even upon him Divine Justice hath passed never any Justice was like this yet this must go for Gospel-justice yea this is the end of all that grace that the Lord hath shewed in the Gospel and in the death of Christ it is for the demonstration of the Justice of God yea the indispensable Justice of God The Lord would convince all the World in the Tenor of the Gospel how terrible his Justice and his Wrath is That is very remarkable Rom. 1.17 18. That in the Gospel the Righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith Even since that in the same Gospel The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousnesse and ungodliness of men c. why but was not Gods Wrath revealed in the Old Testament Truely the Text shews that it was never so cleared and demonstrated before Now let mee adde this that the Text holds forth in those words at this time what time was that time but the time of the Gospel whereby the Spirit of God intimates that there would bee mighty need and more than ever in the secure times of the Gospel that the Justice of God should bee manifested now many will think that since the death of Christ nothing but the Grace of God should bee heard of and that it would be accounted Legal Preaching to tell the people of the Justice of God but even at this time behold I say in these wanton times of the Gospel behold that God would have his justice declared more than ever in former times and say not that in the Gospel times this justice as executed onely upon Christ is declared for though that bee true in regard of the members of Christ yet doubtlesse as for others no doubt but the state of Chorazin and Bethsaida Tyre and Sidon is far worse than the state of unbeleevers and impenitent persons in the times of the Old Testament I do willingly receive and imbrace the difference betwixt the Law and Gospel held forth by the Protestant divines that free grace and remission of sins is promised and bestowed in the Gospel upon all beleevers Joh 3.16 which the Law strictly taken mentions not yet the contempt or neglect of this grace being a greater sin than any other must needs bring an heavier weight of justice upon them that are guilty thereof Let all this serve to rectify our judgement concerning the main Scope of the Gospel which is not onely to set forth Gods infinite grace in Christ but also to demonstrate his justice against sin Vse 3. The grounded security of the faithful Instruction It may shew us the impregnable and grounded security of the faithful and the strongest foundation of assurance that I know of in the whole book of God that is in short the infinite love of God in Christ that follows necessarily upon this demonstration of his justice in the death of Christ If that the Lord had forgiven sinners without any more adoe of his meer will and Grace without any price or ransome this easy way of forgiveness prated of by the Socinians and Carnal Gospellers would in no sort have so declared or demonstrated the infinite love of God to the Elect as this doth that when as God the Father without violence and wrong to his just and holy nature I may speak it with reverence could not pardon one sin by his grace yet in his admirable wisdome and grace hee hath been at that cost to give his Sons blood to bee a ransome for sin that justice may have its due course This is the meaning of that vers 24. wee are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ this is admirable grace and free grace indeed All the Angels in Heaven and men on earth may bee astonished at this Oh! how exceeding pretious were our sinful souls to the Lord our God that they should bee valued at such a price by the Lord himself when as the Son of God himself was valued but at thirty peeces of silver by sinful men there was never such a price as this given for any creature besides and never such a love as this that either would or could be at this cost Object It is prophanely and wickedly objected by Hereticks in this case that if Christ dyed for sinners then the Sons love to us far exceeded the Fathers love the Father deals rigorously with sinners but the Son laies down his life for them God the fathers love to the faithful in scripture expressions and divers effects so all the Love is in the Son and not in the father Answ In the general the love of all the Divine persons is infinite and the same and therefore cannot admit degrees let us therefore abhor all such odious comparisons More particularly to root out all such evil surmises see what course the Scripture takes to discover the Fathers love in this whole mystery which is by all means to bee acknowledged and adored 1 There is the Fathers eternal Purpose and Decree to save a certain number of faln man-kinde and to redeem them from destruction which is called his so loving of them Joh. 3.16 2 There is the Fathers love in sending of his Son to take flesh upon him 1 Joh. 4.9 10. herein is the love of God manifested that he sent his Son into the World c. 3 There is the Fathers commandement given to his Son to dye for his Elect thus the Son himself acknowledgeth Joh. 10.18 I have power to lay down my life and power to take it up This commandement have I received of my father 4 God the Father therefore loves his Son because hee laid down his life Joh. 10.17 Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life 5 God the Father is pleased to reveal this grace in the Gospel and the ministry thereof 2 Cor. 5.18 All things are of God who hath
concludes vers 36. and cryes out Oh the depth of the wisdome of God c. So let us alwayes doe when we cannot trace God in his wayes Eccl. 7.14 God hath set prosperity and adversity the one over against the other to the end that no man should finde any thing after him i. e. that none should see the print of his steps When God deals thus and his ways are over-clouded by us never let us quarrel or cavil at any passage of his providence but let us fall down and adore the righteousnesse of the Lord and judge him not according to outward appearance but say How unsearchable are thy judgements c. and Psal 17.19 Thy righteousnesse O God is very high c. and truly beyond the reach of men and Angels thou hast done great things oh God who is like unto thee thou hast shewed me great and sore troubles and shalt quicken me again and raise me up from the depths of the earth So when God visiteth the sins of the Fathers upon the Children acknowledge Gods righteousnesse in it for Children are part of their Parents and it is just with God to punish such as hate him when and where he pleaseth Besides many times children approve of the sins of their Parents and imitate them and doe worse than they as Belshazzar Dan. 8.22 So when God gives grace to some and denies it to others that are alike sinful this seems harsh to Arminians and carnal persons but God saith Shall I not doe what I will with mine own Mat. 20.13 The Glory of Gods Righteousnesse is the end of Redemption THE SIX AND TWENTIETH SERMON ON Rom. 3.25 26. To declare I say at this time his righteousness WEE have heard how that not only the mercy and truth of God but also his justice doth concur and act in the justification of a sinner but there is yet more in the words when it is said that this is done for the declaration of the righteousnesse of God and that with a repetition of it to signify that God would have us to take special notice of this And there is implyed an answer to a secret objection for it might bee said why did not the Lord freely forgive the sins of his Elect without the redemption wrought by Christ to satisfy such a question the Lord saith because this way of forgiveness by Christs redemption makes most for the declaration of the justice of God in the pardoning of sin The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated declaration or to declare is rendred Phil. 1.28 a manifest token so I conceive the meaning is here and it should be rendered for a manifest token or for the demonstration of the righteousness of God God would have his people to know that there was great necessity of this way of justification because that God is essentially just and cannot otherwise forgive sin except his justice be satisfied Doctr. The main end of the redemption wrought by Christ The main end of redemption and that hee was made a Propitiatory sacrifice for sin was the demonstration of the glory of the justice of God to the world This point lies clear in the Text and it is that which is signifyed by that speech that is so often used in all the great works of God especially his Mercies to his people and his Judgements upon his Enemies this is still mentioned as the end that God aims at in Exodus and Ezekiel That yee may know that I am the Lord that is Just Holy Merciful and Faithful c. and such a one as I have revealed my self to be it is expressed excellently Jerem. 9.23 24. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdome c. but let him that glorieth glory in this that hee understandeth and knoweth mee that I am Jehovah which exercise loving kindnesse judgement and righteousnesse in the earth for in these things I delight The true knowledge of God is a matter of wonderful worth and it is not onely to know him to bee a God that exercises loving kindness but also Judgement and Righteousnesse in the earth and the reason is because in these things the Lord delighteth These things are according to the nature and heart of God Now mark that the Lord would have us to know him to bee such a God and to glory in this for this is the happiness of a poor creature Now that you may know how pertinent this is to the matter in hand yee may compare with it 1 Cor. 1.30 31. where it is said That Christ is made unto us of God wisdome righteousness sanctification and redemption that according as it is written Let him that glorieth glory in the Lord. Whence there is evidently a reference to that place of the Prophet Jeremy So that to put both places together there will bee this collection from them That God the Father hath appointed and sent the Lord Jesus Christ to bee the Head and Fountain of all spiritual blessings and especially of righteousnesse to the faithful that they may know him to bee Jehovah that exerciseth loving kindness judgement and righteousness in the earth to strip all the Children of Men of all glorying in themselves and to cause them to ascribe all the glory to the Lord For the handling of this I shall open two things 1 How the shedding of Christs blood for a Propitiatory Sacrifice makes for the glory of Gods justice 2 Why the demonstration of this glory was the end of the shedding of Christs blood How the shedding of Christs blood glorifieth Gods justice Quest 1. How doth the shedding of Christs blood to be a Propitiatory sacrifice make for the glory of Gods justice Answ Not in an ordinary manner onely as all other judgements of God do shew forth the Justice of God but in a most transcendent and eminent way such as never was before and that in two respects especially 1 In regard of the person whose blood is shed his relation to the Father as being his onely begotten Son his dignity as having a Name above every Name and hee that is appointed Heir of all things by whom he made the World the brightnesse of his Fathers glory and the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.2 3 There was never Justice executed upon such a person as Christ was So yee may consider the love of the Father to him Matth. 12.18 Hee was the Fathers beloved in whom his soul delighted and his love to the Father and his doing alwaies that which was pleasing to the Father Joh. 14.31 and yee may adde to these the fervent prayers to his Father with strong cries and tears Heb. 5.7 together with the extremity of his sufferings that is an Hell upon Earth and the pains of the second death before the first death and in the daies of his flesh So that neither the Cup nor any drop of the Cup did pass away from him Matth. 26. This was a new an admirable and transcendent justice such as never