the darkenesse must be dispelled before it can be lightned So this new life it is sayd to be a new Image it is a new Image indeede but iâ— is such an Image as we are not capable of till first wee be made pure Tables the former Image of Sathan and the Characters of sinne be defaced till then wee are not capable of the Image of God and the faire impressions of Grace It is called an ingrafting or inocculating now wee cannot bee grafted into Christ till we be cut off from the old stocke I say generally as wee must die to nature before we can live to glory so wee must die to sinne before wee can live to God Looke what the Angell commanded Ioshua Iosh 5.8 to put off his shooes before he came to converse with God If you please to take the allusion of Philo which is this and it is pertinent to our purpose put off thy shooes before thou come to God that is put off dead workes because shooes are made of the skins of dead beasts I say before wee can live with Christ wee must die with Christ we must die to sinne before wee can live the life of grace The reason is plaine Reas 1 First From â—he contrarietie betweene sin and grace because of the contrarietie and opposition betweene the life of grace and a life in sinne A man may live many lives if one bee subordinate to another as a man lives a vegetative a sensative and a reasonable life because these are subordinate one to another but to live in sinne and to God a man cannot because these lives are contrary they come from contrary principles they cannot consist in the same subject It is an ordinary saying The Bed and and the Throne admit not of partners It is true as Christ saith No man can serve two masters It is true when they command contrary things Now sinne and grace command contrary things therefore no man can serve them both eyther he will cleave to the one and deny the other or forsake the one and cleave to the other No man can serve sinne and Christ because they are contrary masters No man can serve two masters when they command contrary things that is the first reason Wee must first die to sinne before wee can live the life of grace because they are opposites that will not admit of one another in the same subject Reas 2 Secondly Else the spirit wells not in us till we be dead to sinne we cannot live the life of grace because we cannot till then admit of the principles of the life of grace where sinne raignes and dominiers the Spirit of grace dwells not and where that is not there is no life of grace Therefore wee must first die to sinne before wee can live the life of grace because before wee be dead to sinne the Spirit of grace that quickens and revives us doth not dwell in us Reas 3 Thirdly Because it is hard to be a Christian if it were not needefull first to die to sinne before wee live the life of grace wherein consisted the hard taske of a Christian How easie were it for a man to bee a Christian if a man might bee a Christian and live after the lusts of his owne heart if he might take libertie to doe what his corruptions prompt and suggest if a man that were ignorant might bee ignorant still and yet be a Christian if hee that is a swearer might sweare still and hee that is proud bee proud still and he that is prophane might be so still what great matter were it to bee a Christian how easie were it to perswade Agrippa not to be almost but to be altogether a Christian Therefore wee must first die to sinne before we can live to grace before we can be true Christians the reason is because the taske of a Christian is a hard taske such a taske as a man cannot performe without denying of himselfe without crucifying and mortifying of his lusts This shall suffice to have spoken for the confirmation of that point by occasion of the method of the Apostle If we be dead with Christ we shall also live with him That wee must first be dead As Christ died for sinne so wee must die to sinne before wee can live the life of grace Now I come to make use and application of it Vse 1 Which if it be so how justly doth the censure of Christ Reproofes of men dead in sinne Revel 3.1 fall upon many Christians that of the Angell of the Church of Sardis that they have a name to lâ—ve but are dead Reas 3 why dead dead because they are not dead dead to grace because they are not dead to sinne many men though they seeme to be lively and active are no better then walking breathing Carkasses The reason is this because till a man be dead to sinne hee cannot live the life of grace wee must first die to sinne with Christ before wee can live the life of grace with Christ Gal. 5. In Gallat 5. Those that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Why then on the contrary such as have not crucified the lusts and affections of the flesh they are not Christs Wheresoever any sinne reignes in whomsoever any lust dominiers what lust soever it be that man is a dead man there is no true life of grace in him The reason the Apostle gives in these words because wee must bee first dead to sinne before wee can live the life of grace first our lusts must bee mortified and crucified in us before wee can live with Christ the life of grace wee must first passe this red Sea that is to die with Christ before we can enter into the Land of Canaan â—o this life with Christ But that I may make it more usefull to you let me shew you these foure things First let mee discover to you some false deaths for as there is a false and counterfeit life of grace so there are false and counterfeit deaths to sinne Secondly let me shew you some characters whereby a man may know a true death to sinne whereby hee may judge and examine himselfe and know whether hee be dead to sinne or no. In the third place I will shew you the meanes whereby if a man bee not dead a man may get this death whereby hee may come to mortifie and crucifie the lusts and affections of the flesh and if hee bee dead whereby hee may proceede on in the worke of mortification because mortification is not one individuall act but hath a latitude and admits of degrees Fourthly I will shew you arguments to perswade you to this death to sinne with Christ especially such as are immergent arising from the words of the Text Of all which briefly First then of false deaths that seeme to be true in shew but are counterfeit deaths There is a threefold death to sinne A Morall Popish Christian death to
reckon what it would cost him Sixtly and lastly if wee must first die with Christ before we can live with him it serves for direction to teach us what order and methode to take to come to live with Christ He that will live with Christ must be sure to begin at the right end to die with Christ first he that will performe holy duties gracious actions that man must labour to crucifie and mortifie sinfull affections Sinfull affections are like weedes the Husbandman that desires his corne should thrive and live hee labours first to kill the weedes I say sinfull affections in the soule are like weedes in the ground or soyle if wee desire that grace should thrive and to performe gracious duties with content to our selves and to God we must labour to kill our lusts When wee find in our selves an unaptnesse and an indisposition to the performance of gracious duties suppose it bee to prayer to humble our selves before God to heare the word of God c. let us then reflect on our selves and see what sinfull lusts there have gotten strength and labour to abate the power of that and then certainly wee shall live with Christ wee shall bee enabled to performe holy duties So saith the Apostle in the second place If me bee dead with Christ wee beleeve that wee shall also live with him Which is the second thing I proposed in the beginning The connexion and conjunction of these two If wee bee dead with Christ wee shall also live with him Where first give me leave to remember you of what I formerly delivered in the unfolding of these words that the life that the Apostle here meanes when he saith If wee bee dead with Christ wee shall also live with him it is the same that in verse 4. hee calls Newnesse of life Therefore wee are buried with him by baptisme into death that as Christ was raised by the glory of the Father so wee should walke in newnesse of life I say the Apostle meanes here the life of Grace which in verse 4. hee calls newnesse of life And in verse 11. hee calls it living to God Likewise reckon yee your selves dead to sinne but alive to God Though secondarily and by consequent I deny not but that the Apostle meanes living with God in life eternall And the reason is as I shewed before that the difference of the life of grace and the life of glory it is not in Nature but in degrees Grace is Glory begun and glory is nothing but grace perfected As the childe in the wombe hath the same life that it enjoyes in the world only then it is in a further degree so the life that a Christian enjoyes in this world it is the same life in nature though it differ in degrees from that hee enjoyes in heaven The Apostle useth the future tense If we bee dead with Christ wee believe that wee shall live with him for these three reasons First to shew the order and Methode betweene this life and the former death because this life in nature though not in time is after our death with Christ As it is in nature the introducing of habites in nature is after the expelling of privations as the enlightning of the ayre in nature is after the dispelling of darknesse Secondly the Apostle useth the future tense because though the life of Grace bee here begunne yet it is not consumate till afterward in which respect the Apostle saith Wee beleeve that wee shall live with him Hee makes this life in respect of the complement and consummation an act of faith according to that in the Creeds I beleeve the life everlasting Thirdly because the life of grace doth not fade as the naturall life perrisheth but it is an induring life As Christ being once raised he died no more verse 9. so every member of Christ he that is once quickned and raised with Christ from sinne hee dieth no more so saith Christ Ioh. 5.24 hee that beleeveth hath eternall life What hath every one that beleeveth life eternall Yes every one that beleeveth hath life eternall in hope and in the beginning of grace because hee hath that life for the present that doth not fade and perish but endure to eternitie Verily I say unto you hee that heareth my word and beleeveth in him that sent mee hath eternall life and shall not come into condemnation which expresseth the former Now what this life of grace is this spirituall life will appeare by comparing it with spirituall death It is the propertie of opposites being set together as to impugne and sight against the nature one of another so to discover the nature one of another Now spirituall death as 〈◊〉 Naturall includes two things First a separation from the fountaine and principle of life And as a consequent of that a privation of the faculties and acts of life Looke what the soule is to the body the same is the Spirit of Christ to the Soule it is that that enlivens and quickens it so saith Christ Joh. 6.63 Ioh. 6.63 It is the Spirit that quickens Now looke as upon the parting of the soule from the body the body dies so upon the separation of the Spirit of God from the soule the soule dies So it was in Adam when by eating the forbidden fruit hee had cut off and separated himselfe from the fountaine and principle of life he died spiritually I say as when the Soule that enlivens and quickens the body when that is separated the body dies so the Spirit of Christ that enlivens and quickens the soule when that is separated from the soule the soule dies Secondly looke as upon the separation of the soule from the body there follows a deprivation of the faculties and acts of life so upon the separation of the Spirit of God from the Soule there followes a deprivation of the habits and acts of grace The gifts and habits of grace are as the faculties the acts and operations of grace are as the acts of those faculties and as upon the separation of the soule from the body there followes a deprivation of the faculties and acts of life so upon the separation of the Spirit of Christ from the Soule there followes a deprivation of the habites and acts of grace If it be so then spirituall life includes two things First the having of the Spring and fountaine of life the Spirit of God and an union of it to the soule Secondly the having the habites and acts of this spirituall life First the having of the principle of spirituall life the having the Spirit of God in our soules for it is not sufficient that there be a quickening Spirit unlesse it bee united to us For looke as when a man dies Simile the soule of a man and the body of a man continue still but there is no life because the soule is not united to the body so I say there may be a spirituall death though there bee the
Spirit of God and the Soule if the spirit be not united to the soule that is the first thing Secondly where the Spirit of God is as a consequent of the other there followes the faculties and acts of life the habituall presence of all the graces of the Spirit and the actuall exercise of them In these two consists the nature of this life These things premised I come to shew the necessary conjunction of this spirituall life that I have explained in the kind and nature of it with spirituall death If wee be dead with Christ wee beleeve that wee shall also live with him Which Hupotheticall proposition or supposition affords us this Catagoricall Position that Those that are dead with Christ shall live with him For when the Apostle saith If wee be dead with Christ we beleeve that wee shall also live with him This is supposed as much as if he had said in effect They that are dead with Christ shall live with him Or They that are dead to sinne shall live the life of grace Looke as it was with Christ so it is with the members of Christ as hee being dead rose againe and could not choose but rise againe As it is said Act. 2. the chaines of death Act. â— the cords of death could not hold him So it is with every member of Christ hee that is dead with Christ must needes live with Christ Death cannot hold him not death in sinne The Apostle affirmes as much in this Chapter verse 5. For as wee are planted into the likenesse of his death so wee shall be also into the likenesse of his resurrection If wee be planted with Christ into his death there is our death with Christ we shall be also in his Resurrection there is the conjunction and connexion of our life with Christ where the Apostle not only averres the truth of the former proposition but withall insinuates the reason of it those that are planted with Christ into the similitude of his death shall also into the similitude of his Resurrection Why because they are planted with Christ As a Plant that is grafted into a stocke it partakes of the whole vertue of the stocke so every member of Christ hee that by faith is grafted into Christ and made partaker of the vertue of Christs death to the mortification of sinne that man also is made partaker of the vertue of his Resurrection to the reviving and quickening of him to a new life of grace The ground of it is this First to whomsoever Christ communicates himselfe hee communicates himselfe wholly to whomso ever hee imparts the vertue of his death for the killing of sinne to him hee imparts the vertue of his Resurrection to revive and quicken him to a new life of grace If wee be planted with Christ into the similitude of his death wee shall be also into the similitude of his Resurrection because are planted with him Every plant partakes of the whole vertue of the roote and by consequent wee partake as well of the quickening vertue of Christ to raise us to the life of grace as of his crucifying vertue to kill sinne The second reason is from the insufficiencie of the one without the other If wee be dead with Christ we beleeve that wee shall also live with him Why because death with Christ is insufficient unlesse wee live with Christ Philosophie saith that nature doth nothing in vaine much lesse doth Christ the God of Nature Now as in Christ it was in vaine for him to die for us unlesse hee had risen againe so it is in vaine and ineffectuall for the members of Christ to die to sin if they be not quickened to the life of grace The reason is this that death to sinne indeed defaceth the Image of sinne but it doth not renew in us the Image of God Now it is the Image of God that makes us fit and capable of eternall life It is true the righteousnesse of Christ gives us title to eternall life but our owne inherent righteousnesse qualifies us and disposeth and makes us fit and capable of it for without holinesse no man shall see God Flesh and bloud shall not enter into the kingdome of God By mortifying of sinne wee cease to be sinners by mortifying of sinne wee have the Image of Satan defaced but the Image of God is not renewed in us therefore besides our death with Christ there is required our life with Christ that so besides the defacing of Satans Image wee may have the Image of God renewed that wee may be capable of eternall life and be qualified and disposed and made fit to partake of the inheritance with the Saints in light The third Argument is drawne from the opposition betweene the life of sinne and the life of grace Philosophy tells us that in those opposites that are immediatly opposite that is such opposites where one must of necessitie be in the subject if one be removed the other of necessitie followes the subject Health and sicknesse are immediate objects a man must either bee sicke or well Now that which removes sicknesse restores health that that expells darknesse out of the Ayre it brings light Now the life of sinne and grace are thus opposite that that takes away the life of sinne then it must of necessitie bring with it the life of grace If Christ mortifie sinne in us and take away the life and vigour of sinne Christ of necessitie must bring into the same subject the life of grace because these are immediate objects hee that takes away the one must bring in the other as that that takes away sicknesse brings in health This shall suffice for the proofe of the point I come to make use of it If wee be deed with Christ wee shall also live with him Vse Those that are dead with Christ to sinne as Christ died for sinne those shall live the life of grace If it bee so if there be such a necessary connexion betweene these two then it followes backe againe that those that doe not live with Christ those are not dead with Christ For looke as it is betweene Faith and good Workes if good workes be necessarily joyned with Faith then where there are no good workes there is no faith So thus it followes if spirituall life the life of grace bee necessarily joyned with death to sinne then where there is no life of grace there is no death to sinne According to that of Saint Chrysostome S. Chrysost saith hee it is true indeed faith without workes is dead so it is true on the otherside workes without faith is dead No man can performe good workes though hee may for substance yet not formaliter without Faith hee that hath not Faith hath not Workes If good Workes be necessarily joyned with Faith then where there are no good Workes there is no Faith so if our life with Christ bee necessarily joyned with death to sin then where there is no life with
continuall ground and cause of light but notwithstanding the discerning and perceiving of the light may be taken from us by the night or by an eclipse or by clouds that may take away the sight of the Sunne Iust so it is with a regenerate man a mortified man hee that is not onely a babe in Christ and hath made some beginning in the course of mortification but he that is a growne man and gone on in the practice of mortification yet notwithstanding he may come to doubt and question his salvation and his right to heaven sometimes The reason is because sometimes by reason of temptations or after the committing of some great and haynous sinne mortification in him may be clouded for a time so that hee may loose his assurance the present sense and apprehension of that assurance that may bee lost for a time Iust as it was in Christ when hee was on the Crosse in combate for our sakes hâ—â— seemes to have lost for the present the assurance and apprehension of Gods love hee sayd My God my God why hast thou forsaken me The vaileing of the dietie was a kind of dissertion and forsaking of Christ in respect of evidence and assurance yet hee had the ground of his assurance still the humanitie of Christ was individually and inseparably united to the God-head which was the ground of this assurance I say then it is not every man that is mortified that hath presently assurance of salvation no nor every man that once hath had assurance of salvation that hath this assurance alway it hath ebbings and tides wanes and fulls but indifinitely true mortification seales up to a man the assurance of salvation hee that is dead with Christ that man may be assured he shall live with him Reas 1 And the reason is because God hath made a promise of life and hath intaled everlasting life as it were to those that are mortified Rom. 8.13 If yee live after the flesh yee shall die Rom. 8.13 but if through the Spirit you mortifie the deeds of the body yee shall live Looke as God threatneth death to men that walke after the flesh so he hath promised and covenanted to bestow life on those that mortifie the deeds of the flesh 2 Tim. 2.11 So in 2 Tim. 2.11 saith the Apostle This is a faithfull saying and worthy to be beleeved for if wee bee dead with him we shall also live with him It is a faithfull saying Now what firmer foundation or more pregnant rock can wee have of assurance then the promise of God saith Saint Austin S. Aug. lib. 12 cap. 1. he to whom truth it selfe hath made a promise how should hee be able to be deceived he that is truth cannot lye As God cannot be deceived so hee cannot deceiue S. August in the 12. Booke of his confessions Chap. 1. It is true saith Bellermine Bellarm. wee neede not feare in respect of God to whom hath God promised eternall life to them that are mortified and they shall certainly enjoy eternall life but here is the question How shall we know that we are mortified Quest Answ I answer briefly First where God gives a grace commonly at one time or other God gives a man a gift to discerne that grace I doe not say in the beginning when grace is as it were in its infancie and beginning or in temptation but at one time or other God gives another gift that is a gift whereby a man shall discerne that grace or else how shall God have the glory of his grace if we cannot be assured that we have it Or how shall we have comfort by the Grace of God if our selves cannot come to be assured of it But saith he Obiect Doe we not know that many men deceive themselves with false perswasions of mortification Many men thinke that sinne is dead in them when it is not dead but sleepeth As ignorant men thinke thinke the Flie in winter is dead when others know that the Flie is but benummed there is life in it though shee doe not exercise that life But I answer what then Answ what though that foolish and antick man at Athens thought all the Shippes that came to Beream were his owne because hee thought the Shippes his owne should the owners of them not thinke they were theirs If a man in a dreame think that hee eates shall not men therefore that are awake be assured that they eate It followes not that because some men are deceived with a perswasion of mortification when they have it not that therefore others that are indeed mortified should not bee perswaded of it Well saith he how shall we know it I answer Quest Answ a man may know it three wayes First by the Word of God which God hath left as a Test or Touch-stone whereby men may try the sinceritie and truth of their mortification Heretofore I have given some notes and characters whereby ye may discerne whether you are mortified or no out of the Scriptures The first thing whereby we may try the truth of our mortification is the Scripture which God hath left to bee a light to our feete and a Lanthorne tp our paths to bee a Touch-stone whereby wee may discover whether our mortification bee sincere or counterfeit Secondly there is another testimonie and that is the testimonie of our owne conscience when the conscience being renewed and sanctified conscience beares witnesse before God out of long experience of the truth and sinceritie of mortification that wee are mortified for this assurance that ariseth from mortification ariseth not from one act but from long experience of mortification Now any man knowes that knowes the nature of experience that that ariseth from many acts The second meanes then to know we are mortified it is from the testimonie of our owne conscience and spirit as the Apostle saith Rom. 8.16 Rom. 8.16 that beares witnesse that wee are the children of God that we are mortified Thirdly and lastly there comes another testimonie as a meanes and that assures the rest that is of Gods Spirit that calmes the conscience and perswades of this that wee are mortified and so by consequent that wee have right to heaven That is the first reason then hee that is mortified that is dead with Christ hee is assured to live with him because God hath promised life and salvation to such as are dead with Christ and such as are dead with Christ they may know themselves at one time or other to bee dead with Christ Reas 2 Secondly Mortification seales up to a man the assurance of salvation because it seales to a man the assurance of his being in Christ The argument is this hee that may be assured that hee is in Christ may bee assured that hee shall be saved but hee that knowes that hee is mortified and dead with Christ hee may be assured that hee is actually in Christ therefore he may be assured that hee
wise whose propertie is as the wise man informes to be as goades or nailes throughly fastned Holy and learned men amongst whom not to number were doubtlesse to injure much mine Author are not to bee too deeply charged or too troublesomely expostulated with for some peculiarities of expressions wherein perhaps they give themselves more satisfaction than others And indeed it is a hard thing for any man to write so savourly or warily but that the Reader hath need still to bring a graine of salt with him to make the nourishment wholsome The blessing of the God of heaven bee with this little peece in its going forth into the world that it may goe forth in its might and doe worthily in Israel teaching perswading many to desire with Paul the knowledge of the fellowship of Christs sufferings and how to bee made conformable to his death which is one of the greatest and most hidden misteries of Christianitie and requireth the best and greatest Masters in Israel for its Teachers Thine in the Lord Jesus IOHN GOODWINE The Contents of the ensuing Treatises Treatise 1. TO be dead with Christ what Page 5 Propos 1. Wee must die with Christ first if wee will live with him pag. 10 Reason 1. From the contrarietie between sin and grace 12 Reas 2. Else the Spirit dwells not in us 13 Reas 3. Because it is hard to be a Christian ibid. Use 1. Reproofe of men dead in sinne 14 Morall death to sinne distinguished from the true death to sinne 16 1. In the Essence of it ibid. 2. In the efficient cause 17 3. in the latitude ibid. 4. In the issue 18 Popish mortification differs from true mortification 1. In the object 19 2. The efficient cause ibid. 3. The formall cause 20 4. The finall cause ibid. Characters of a man dead to sinne 1. When occasions to sinne worke not 21 2. When all sinne is dead in us 22 3. When we doe not the service of sinne 23 4. When we abhorre sinne ibid. 5. When sinnes power is daily abated 24 6. When we can willingly have our sins wounded 25 Meanes to be dead with Christ 1. The Spirit of God 27 2. Faith in Christ ibid. 3. Prayer 28 4. Submission to the ministerie of the Word ibid. Motives to die to sinne 1. The necessitie 29 2. The commoditie ibid. 3. The facilitie 30 4. The equitie 31 5. The treacherie of sinne 32 6. The example of others ibid. The difficultie of being a Christian 33 The method to come to live with Christ 36 Spirituall death what 40 Spirituall life what 41 Propos 2. Those that are dead with Christ shall live with him 42 Reas 1. To whom Christ communicates himselfe he doth it wholly 43 Reas 2. Death with Christ insufficient without we live with him 44 Reas 3. From the opposition betweene the life of sinne and grace 45 Use Those that are not dead with Christ doe not live with him 46 How to know wee are alive with Christ 1. By the cause of spirituall life 47 2. By the exercises of spirituall life 48 3. By the properties of spirituall life 49 1 Nourishment ibid. 2 Augmentation 50 3 Generation 51 Use 2. To labour for death with Christ 52 1. Because by him wee shall enjoy a spirituall life 53 2. An eternall life ibid. Propos 3. The knowledge of Mortification seales up the assurance of salvation 55 Reason The promises of eternall life are made to the mortified 68 Use 1. For confutation of Bellarmine 72 Use 2. To labour for Mortification 75 Use 3. Those that are not dead with Christ cannot be assured of life with him 77 Propos 4. As our death to sinne so our life to grace both proceed from christ 80 Reason They are both the worke of grace 81 Christ is the author of the death of sinne and the life of grace 1. As a meritorious cause 83 2. As the exemplarie cause 85 3. The morall cause 86 4. The efficient cause 87 Christ is the efficient cause First in the first working of it three wayes 88 1. By his Spirit ibid. 2. By the Word 89 3. By Baptisme 90 Baptisme is a cause instrumentall 3 wayes 1. As a resembling cause 91 2. As a concurring meanes ibid. 3. By Stipulation ibid. Secondly for the increase of it 2 wayes 1. By Faith 92 2. The Lords Supper 94 Use To indevour to be in Christ 95 Use 2. To returne the praise of grace to Christ 97 Use 3. What to judge of men out of Christ 98 Treatise 2. Observ 1. What Christ suffred was not for his own sin 104 Use 1. To shew how Christ could beare the punishment of sinne 108 Use 2. To discover the malice of the Iewes against Christ 110 Use 3. To condemne those that judge by successe in outward things 114 Use 4. To reade us a Lecture of patience 115 Use 5. Comfort for distressed consciences 116 Obser 2. Christ suffered all for our sinnes 118 Reas 1. The love of Christ ibid. Reas 2. The love of God the Father 119 Use 1. To admire Gods wisedome 120 Use 2. To see the haynousnesse of our sinnes 121 Use 3. To provoke us to sorrow for sinne 123 Use 4. For Consolation 125 Use 5. To set forth Gods love to us 126 Use 6. To returne love againe 127 Treatise 3. Conclus 1. SVrfeiting and Drunkennesse and Covetousnesse to be taken heed of 134 Reas 1. There is danger in these sinne 137 Reas 2. There is danger of falling into them 139 Use 1. Complaint of neglect of this dutie 141 Use 2. Exhortation to Caution 143 4 Helpes to Caution ibid. Conclus 2. The best men to take heed of these sinnes 149 Reas 1. Because they are but men ibid. Reas 2. Satan envies them most 150 Reas 3. Their falling make others fall ibid. Use 1. To shew the best men are fraile 151 Use 2. Why the best should suffer admonition 152 Use 3. How to demeane our selves 153 Conclus 3. Our care and caution must be continuall 154 Reason Because there is danger of the sinnes 155 Reason Because there is danger of judgement 155 Use To discover the abounding of these sinnes 156 Conclus 4. Drunkennesse and Covetousnesse overcharge the heart 161 Reas 1. They presse the soule from heaven to earth 162 Reas 2. They presse it from earth to Hell 166 Use 1. To take heed of these sinnes 167 Use 2. To use Remedies against them 171 Meanes to be disburdened of these sinnes 172 Use 3. To see the false judgement of the world 175 Conclus 5. We should not be overcharged with immoderate eating 177 Danger in coversing with Epicures 178 Reas 1. It unfits us for good Duties 179 Reas 2. It is the nurse of securitie 180 Reas 3. It breeds many lusts 181 Reas 4. It brings Gods judgements 182 Reas 5. It hurts the body 183 Reas 6. It hurts a mans state 184 Reas 7. It hurts the Common-wealth ibid. Reas 8. It wrongs the poore 185 Use To take heed of
sinne The morall death to sinne is distinguished from the true death to sinne especially in foure things First the maine difference is in the Essence of it the truth is a morall death is indeede no death hee that is morally dead to sinne is not indeede dead to sinne for such a mortification takes away not the life of sinne but the harshnesse and rudenesse of sinne it takes it and restraines it it makes sin more tractable and smooth and subtill but it takes not away the life of sinne that is the first Secondly it differs in the efficient cause the efficient cause of a Christians mortification is the Spirit of God Rom 8.13 Rom. 8.13 If yee mortifie the deeds of the flesh through the Spirit but the cause efficient of morall mortification it is from the temper of the body or good education or the like Consider therefore if it proceede from the Spirit from the generall common operation of the Spirit or from the speciall saving and sanctifying vertue of Gods Spirit Thridly morall mortification differs from that which is true in respect of the Latitude he that is morally mortified he is mortified onely in respect of outward grosse sinnes in respect of such things as are more notorious such as run in the eyes of men such as cause disgrace and dishonour and obloquie but secret spirituall sinnes are unmortified nay it is the observation of Saint Austin that a morall man though he seeme to the eye to be never so much mortified as indeede if a man looke on their formal austerity to looke on Gato or such a one a man would judge them mortified yet commonly they feede one lust and for the sake of that they curbe the rest So Saint Austin upon the Romans observes the lust of covetousnesse of injustice of intemperance c. they curbe them being over borne with the lust of ambition saith he they keepe down all other lusts that they may give more scope to this one lust in his fift booke de Civit dei Chap. 12. But a true Christians mortification is universall hee doth not kill some sinnes as Saul killed the small Cattell and left Agag and the great ones but he mortifies and crucifies all sinne true mortification will not suffer a man to allow himselfe in the practice of any one sinne Fourthly morall mortification differs from Christian in respect of the issue hee that is truly mortified in such a one sinne hath received its deaths wound in him it never comes fully to be healed and recovered it selfe againe Indeede if hee be negligent in the exercise of mortification it may get strength upon us as the Canaanites being neglected of the Ifraelites grew stronger but they never obtayned that absolute command and dominion in Canaan as before but for a morrall man because sin is not truly mortified in him therefore when those restraints and retentives are taken away that kept in sinne it rages and dominiers as much as it did before in him or as it doth in another man Let this suffice to be spoken of the difference of morall mortification from that of a true Christian Secondly Popish mortification differs from true mortification in all the degrees and causes It differs from Christian mortification In the efficient materiall formall finall cause First Popish mortification differs from Christian in respect of the object matter the principall object in Popish mortification is not so much perhaps sinne in the members but the members themselves they lash and teare them with scourges and whips their ayme is not so much against sinne as the members whereas true mortification is a revenge on the members as they are instruments of sinne a mans principall grudge is against sinne in his members and not against the members that sinne dwells in Secondly they differ in the efficient cause the cause efficient of true mortification is the Spirit of God Rom. 8.13 Rom. 8.13 If yee through the Spirit doe mortifie the deeds of the body but the cause efficient in Popish mortification is among toot many themselves they offer violence to themselves selfe considerations is the summe of their mortification Thirdly the formall cause of Popish mortification is humbling the body abstinence and rending the humane body by whippes and scourges this they make the true bearing of the dying of Christ in their members So saith Getzer in his second booke of discipline Getzer 2. booke discipline chap. 8. Chap. 8. They beare the dying of Christ in their body that shed their blood with whipping and lashing themselves willingly for Christ such a man is sayd a to mortifie himselfe It is a strange thing as if wee should goe about to please the divinitie by inhumanitie Fourthly they differ in respect of the end and ayme of both Popish mortification ends not in the destruction of sinne and infeebling the power of it so much as the satisfying of God for sinne Heare what Getzer saith in the same place in his second booke of discipline Chap. 8. saith he such as whip themselves till the blood came for their sinnes by such whipping of themselves they satisfie Gods justice for their sinnes What Christian heart can heare such Doctrine and his heart not ake his ears not glow and his joynts tremble Blessed Saviour that they that stile themselves by thy name should derogate from thee by their blasphemies Wee say the blood of Christ expiates sinne they say their owne blood wilfully shed satisfies God for their sinnes whereas the end of Christian mortification is not to satisfie God for sinne but to infeeble the power of sinne to breake downe the command and dominion of sinne This shall suffice to bee spoken concerning the first point proposed the false deaths to sinne and those are two Morall and Popish Now I come to shew the Characters of a man that is truly dead to sinne with Christ The first signe of a man that is dead to sinne is this that when occasions are offered and invite him to sinne hee doth not yeeld this is an argument that that man is dead to sinne It is true I confesse there is great power in occasions that except wee keepe a jealous guard they are able to transport a holy sanctifyed man and so they have done the best but I say such a man as when no sooner an occasion is presented but hee is ready to give way to satisfie his lust such a man let him pretend what he will hee is not dead to sinne He is like a tree wee know in winter there is no visible apparent difference betweene a dead tree and that that is alive neither of them have eyther fruite or leaves Simile they differ not in outward view but when the spring comes againe and the Sunne approacheth then there is a difference then the juice in the roote shootes up and diffuseth it selfe into the rest of the parts you may know a tree whether it be dead or alive when the Spring comes
to labour to die with Christ to sin that so wee may come at the last to live with him The meanes are foure The first cause which is the principall cause is the Spirit of God so saith the Apostle Rom. 8.13 the place before alleadged If yee mortifie the deeds of the flesh through the Spirit yee shall live Rom. 8.13 It is true we are enjoyned mortification but wee cannot doe it till by the Spirit of God our sinnes be mortified It is with sinne as it is with some wilde beasts Simile they cannot bee taken and apprehended till they be shot and wounded So it is with sinne till the Spirit of God give the deaths blow to sinne wee cannot mortifie it of our selves therefore the first and principall cause is the Spirit of God he that is in us is stronger then he that is in the world The Spirit of God is strong and powerfull to subdue sinne Secondly Faith in Christ for by faith we must be ingrafted into Christ and so partake of the Spirit of Christ whereby sinne is dead in us so saith the Apostle Rom. 6.5 Rom. 6.5 For if we be planted into the likenesse of his death wee shall be also into the likenesse of his resurrection First we must be planted and grafted into Christ As a Syens must be planted into the stocke of a tree before it partake of the juice of it So we must be planted into Christ by faith before we be made partakers of the vertue of the death of Christ to kill our sins so saâ—th the Apostle Col. 2.13 Wee are raysed though the faith of the operation of God it is through faith not â—â—â—ely as a perswading mooving cause but as an efficient cause because faith as a pipe of Silver conveyes the juice the water of life the Spirit of God whereby our sinnes are mortified it unites us to Christ and makes us partake of the vertue of his death whereby our sinnes are killed The third meanes to worke this death in us it is Prayer Psal 19.13 so David Psal 19.13 Lord keepe mee from presumptuous sinnes let them not have dominion over me that is mortifie and crucifie them so that they may not have dominion over me or not have a being if it were possible Let them not have dominion over me Fourthly and lastly a speciall meanes to put sinne to death is to submit our selves to the Ministery of the Word such as can manage and brandish the two edged Sword of the Spirit against sinne And so in private by meditation to apply to our selves the curses and judgements that God hath threatned against such sinnes as wee give most way to for if once the principall and vitall sinne as I may call it be destroyed then other sinnes will die of themselves this shall be sufficient for the third part touching the meanes to die with Christ I come now in a few words to the motives to perswade us to die with Christ The first ariseth from the necessitie of dying to sinne eyther wee must die to sinne or die for sinne Rom. 8.13 woe to us if we doe not die to sin If yee live after the flesh yee shall die Rom. 8.13 that is if yee live unmortified yee shall die how eternally not onely the death of the body but of the soule too here is the choyce we must eyther mortifie our lusts or incurre the danger of damnation there is no other way to escape it If yee live after the flesh yee shall die that is eternally therefore there lies a necessitie that should perswade us to die to sinne Secondly from the commoditie by dying to sinne we shall not onely free our selves from eternall death but from much trouble and molestation and disquiet also that wee should be sure to have by keeping sinne alive and by yeelding to the lusts of sinne Most true it is that it is with our lusts as with little children humour and observe them and give them that they cry for Simile and you shall never have rest but still they will cry for something more so it is with our corruptions and sinfull lusts yeeld to them upon every desire and we shall never have done when we have satisfied one lust it will call upon us againe and will never have done whereas by mortifying of it we shall bring to ourselves much quiet and free our selves from much molestation Thirdly consider the facilitie by mortifying the deeds of the flesh we loose nothing that will make to our happinesse Adam in innocencie in Paradise was happy without these lusts Christ on earth was happy without them the Saints in heaven are happy without them Iam. 1.21 these are but superfluities Iam. 1.21 Lay aside all superfluitie of naughtinesse and malice Wee may have all true contentment whatsoever yet part with our lusts they are things that we may well spare By mortification of them a man looseth no profit nor pleasure nor honour whatsoever but there is recompence with advantage Let a man mortifie his lusts that bring him profit hee shall have profit in durable riches not onely in this life but for his reward hee shall have a whole kingdome to enjoy Let him loose some present pleasures as we have all too much of common Souldiers in us we love present pay hee shall have infinite recompence he shall have pure pleasures peace of conscience God will praise him and say well done good and faithfull servant he shall have peace of conscience that will lift a man above ground an infinite recompence in the losse of other pleasures Secondly for honour what if a man for the crucifying of his lusts be reproached and contemned in the world yet he shall have true honour of God in heaven he shall have honour of Angels of good men honour did I say of good men nay wicked men shall honour him God is able to command honour from the hearts even of wicked men so much as hee is mortified Let a wicked man see one that is a mortified man that as David was he behaves himselfe as a weaned child from the world he cannot but give a good testimony but if he will not now let him be on the racke in sicknesse let death appeare then he will desire to die the death of the righteous and that his last end may be like his It is true while he is in his jollitie and bravery then such men load a mortified man with reproach and contempt but wee must doe as Phisitians doe when they judge by urine of the state of the body they looke not on the urine that is voyded when men are walking up and downe before they goe to bed Simile but that which they make after their first sleepe when they are come to themselves So take not a wicked man now in the fulfilling of his lusts but looke on that man when hee hath slept and you will judge otherwise of him he cannot chuse but give
vertue that is derived from the head to the members so in the mysticall body all the spirituall motion it proceeds from the influence of the head Christ is the head and from him as from the head is derived all the vertue to the members of Christ by which the death to sinne and the life of grace is wrought in us likewise Looke as it was in the oyle of Aaron the oyle that was powred on the head of Aaron it stayd not on his head but descended to the skirts of his cloathing So the Spirit of Christ it rests not on Christ onely but from Christ as the head it descends upon all the members of Christ The reason thereof why as our death to sinne so the life of grace proceeds from Christ is because both are the workes of grace according to that of the Evangelist in him dwells all the fulnesse of grace and in Collos the Apostle saith In him dwells the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily For the better and fuller opening of the point give me leave to propose and resolve one question and that is this Quest If our death to sinne and our life of grace both proceede from Christ that Christ is the author of them actions then how is Christ the author of them what kinde of cause is Christ sayd to be both of our death to sinne and of the life of grace I answer briefly Answ Christ may be sayd to be the cause both of our death to sin and of the life of grace in a fourefold respect or hee is a fourefold kind of cause Christ is the 1 meritorious 2 exemplary 3 morall 4 efficient Cause as of our death to sin so likewise of our life to grace First Christ is the meritorious cause for Christ did by his death and obedience not onely purchase for us a release and freedome from hell and consequently title to heaven but Christ merited for us the donation of the Spirit of God whereby we are made fit for and capable of that inheritance Christ not onely purchased a right to heaven but grace holines whereby we might come at last to jus inâ—re For as I sayd before by the righteousnes of Christ onely we come to have right to heaven but it is our owne righteousnesse whereby we come to be made capable of that right to heaven for saith the Apostle flesh and blood shal not enter into the kingdome of heaven Flesh and blood that is nature uncorrected unsanctified and uncontrolled it shall not inherit the kingdome of God therefore Christ hath purchased not onely redemption from hell and title to heaven but the donation of the Spirit of God whereby we are made fit and capable of heaven whereby wee are made meete as the Apostle saith to be partakers of the inheritance with the Saints in light Ioh. 17.19 So saith the Evangelist Ioh. 17.19 For their sakes saith our Saviour I sanctifie my selfe that they also may be sanctified through the truth Christ sanctified himselfe not onely to redeeme us from hell and to procure title to heaven but he sanctified himselfe that his members might bee sanctified that by the merit and vertue of Christs sanctification we might be sanctified So saith the Apostle to Titus he hath bestowed on us the spirit through Christ Tit. 3.5 Tit. 3.5 not by the workes of rightcousnesse that wee had done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing if the holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Iesus Christ our Saviour It is through Christ onely as through the meritorious cause by whom wee obtaine the Spirit of God by which Spirit our sinfull lusts are mortified in us and by which we are quickned and revived to the life of grace so Christ is the meritorious cause hee deserved the donation of the Spirit from his Father Secondly Christ as hee is the meritorious so he is the exemplary cause as of death to sinne so of our life to grace Christ in dying to sinne he set himselfe as a patterne to us to teach as also that wee should dye to sinne Christ in rising from the grave hee set himself a patterne to us to teach us to rise from sinne so he is the exemplary cause For Christ is a patterne for our immitation in his morall actions and wee must resemble after a sort some of his Mediatorious actions also not onely in the good duties that are commanded in the Law but in those that he performed for our redemption It is true in a different manner Christ is a patterne to us in actions morall that is in the good things that he performed that are commanded in the Law he is our patterne to be imitated in the same kinde As Christ was gracious to the poore so should wee to them that are poore and in distresse in the same kind as he was temperate so may wee imitate him in the same kinde though not in the same degree But for his actions Mediatorious we are to resemble some of them too though not in the same kinde yet in some way of use As hee died for sinne so wee should dye to sinne as he rose from the grave so wee should rise from sinne to newnesse of life so still Christ is our patterne As Saint Austin saith Christ came not onely to helpe us and to performe the things that wee ought to have done but he came to teach us by his example what we ought to do And he teacheth us he is our Schoolemaster not only in his actions morall but in his actions mediatorious ous in the former we may imitate him in the same kind though we cannot in the same degree in the latter wee cannot imitate him in the same kinde yet in some sort wee may We should be as the Heletropium that opens and shuts with the Sunne so wee may follow the lambe wheresoever he goeth as hee dyed for sinne so we must dye to sinne as hee rose from the grave so we must rise from the death of sinne to newnesse of life so Christ is the exemplary cause of our death to sinne and the life of grace Thirdly Christ is the morall moving perswading cause of both That the Apostle wills Timothy to remember 2 Tim. 2.8 Remember saith hee that Iesus Christ of the seede of David was raised from the dead according to my Gospel he bids him remember it why remember it because the very thought and remembrance that Christ dyed and rose againe it cannot chuse but be a powerful motive to holinesse for it makes men conclude argue with themselves what did Christ lay downe his life for us and shall not wee lay downe our lusts for him Did Christ arise againe the third day from the Grave and shall not wee rise from the death of sinne to newnesse of life Doe wee professe our selves to bee members of Christ and not indeavour conformitie with our head Christ Shall wee be like the
Blasphemer and what you will saving what they should and so that he suffered death for his owne sinnes and transgressions This But checks and controlls the conceit that the world had of Christ Which being so The deduction hence in a word is that What Christ suffered on earth either torments of body or anguish of soule it was not for any sinne or fault of his owne that hee was guiltie of personally Wee looking to outward appearance wee judged him smitten of God and afflicted but this But hath the force of a negation there was no such thing I say whatsoever Christ suffered on earth whether torment of body or anguish of soule it was not for any sinne of his owne This the Apostle Saint Peter witnesseth 1 Pet. 3.18 Christ suffered once for sinne 1 Pet. 3.18 saith the Apostle The just for the unjust that hee might bring us to God Where the Apostle Saint Peter having said that Christ suffered for sinne lest some should misconceive that Christ suffered for his owne sinne hee prevents this cavill and removes the ground of suspition The just for the unjust If Christ had suffered for his owne sinnes hee had not suffered as just but as unjust as a malefactour hee had suffered the punishment due to his owne transgressions so saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 2.20 21 22. Exhorting those to whom hee wrote 1 Pet. 2.20 21 22. to patient suffering and induring of injuries though undeserved hee sets before them the patterne of Christ who though hee had committed no evil and there was no guile found in his mouth yet when he was reviled reviled not againe when hee suffered yet notwithstanding hee reproached not but committed himselfe to God that judgeth righteously Marke though hee had committed no evill nor there was no guile found in his mouth there was no sinne or demerite of his owne that he should deserve such punishments And this is one difference that the Apostle observes Heb. 7.26 betweene the high Priests under the Law and our high Priest Christ they offered first for their owne sinnes and then for the sinnes of the people but Christ had no need to offer sacrifice for his owne sinnes for he had none but we have such a high Priest and such a one it became us to have as is holy and undefiled separate from sinners And this is the reason likewise why the Prophet Isay in this Chapter assigning the true reason of Christs suffering hee repeats and inculcates these and the like phrases Hee bore our infirmities and carried our sorrewes hee was broken for our iniquities and wounded for our transgressions and with his stripes wee are healed Still hee layes all the fault and blame upon our selves but hee doth not so much as mention any fault in himselfe whereby hee did deserve to die And indeed how could hee suffer for his owne sinne that was free from all sinne So saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.21 2 Cor. 5.21 Hee was made sinne for us that knew no sinne Hee knew no sinne that is hee did practise none he committed none for in spirituall things wee are said to know no more good then wee practise so Christ is said to know no evill that is hee practised it not Hee made him sinne for us that knew no sinne Hee was free from originall sinne in his birth and conception And hee was free from actuall sinnes in his life and conversation First hee was free from Originall sinne in his birth and conception For whereas there are two parts of originall sinne First the imputation of the guilt of that actuall sinne of Adam in eating the forbidden fruit Secondly the corruption or perversnesse derived and propagated to us from our first Parents Christ was free from both First Hee was free from the guilt of Adams sinne though hee had his nature of Adam hee was a child of Adam but hee was not begotten by Adam not by a sonne of man the latter whereof is that that entitleth us to our first Parents transgression and makes it ours By one man sinne entred into the world c. Secondly for that corruption and perversnesse that followed on that transgression of the command of God Christ was free from this not by vertue of the Wombe that bare him as if the blessed Virgin Mary had beene free from sinne as Scotus affirmes upon the Third sentence distinct 26. Article 4. but hee was free from sinne by the supernaturall worke of the holy Ghost sanctifying and purging that substance of the Virgin whereof his body was framed from the common infection of our nature so that he is styled by the Angell Luke 1.75 Luk. 1.75 That holy thing by way of excellencie Secondly as Christ was free from originall so from actuall sinne as hee was free from Originall sinne in his birth and conception so he was free from actuall sinne in his life and conversation so in the ninth verse of this chapter Hee had done no violence there was no deceit in his mouth hee committed no evill as Saint Peter speakes On this ground Christ challengeth the Iewes Which of you can accuse mee of evill It is true they accused him and laid many crimes to his charge as what innocent was ever so happy as to be exempted and priviledged from unjust imputations but how slight they were you may judge by this in that the Iudge before whom he stood as prisoner at the barre accounted him acquitted though hee used no oratory but silence I find no sinne in this man If Christ had had any sinne of his owne hee could not have satisfied God for us hee might have quit scores with God for himselfe but for our hand-writing it had stood still Let this suffice to shew that what Christ suffred on earth in body or soule it was not for any sinne of his owne but for us not that hee stood personally guiltie But how then could it stand with the justice of God to suffer him to die Obiect if hee did not deserve death for so wee find in Ezek. 18.20 so runnes the menace Ezek. 18.20 if Christ did not sinne how could God suffer him to indure the punishment due to sinne I answer briefly Christ is to bee considered in a double respect Answ either as a private person or as a publike person standing in our roome and stead If Christ bee considered as a private person so it is true it could not stand with the justice of God to suffer him to die because hee was not guiltie of inherent personall sinne and shall not the Iudge of all the world doe right But consider Christ as a publike person standing in our roome and stead taking on him the guilt and burden of our transgressions so the justice of God required that hee should die because though hee were not guiltie of any personall sinne yet hee was so guiltie as our sinnes were translated and imputed to him and so it was requisite hee should die Looke
these premises they concluded presently that he was an hypocrite Thus it was with the barbarous people Act. 23. Act. 23. when they saw a Viper fastned upon Saint Pauls hand presently the Viper strongly indited him a murtherer Nay Christs Disciples did so Joh. 9.29 Ioh. 9.29 no sooner did they see a man that was borne blind but they they questioned with our Saviour Who sinned this man or his parents that he was borne blind implying that it must needs bee that this man must sinne himselfe blinde So it was with the Iewes in this Chapter Vers 3. they saw Christ despised and rejected of men and presently they inferre that he was rejected of God smitten of God and humbled for his owne sinnes but such men must thinke that even Christ himselfe who like Absalom from the crowne of his head to the sole of his foote had no stayne or blemish of sinne in him yet hee tasted as deepe of the cup of Gods wrath and more than any mortal man besides he that stood highest in his Fathers favour was most low and despicable in the eyes of the world he that was the favourite of his Father in whom his Father was well pleased yet hee was not exempt from that scourge wherewith God chasteneth every Sonne that he receiveth Fourthly if Christ suffered not for his owne sinnes This readâ—s us a Lecture of patience to put up injurice though they bee not deserved in the world It is the plea of some men when they are injured it would not trouble me if I deserved iâ— thinke what Christ deserved at the hands of the Iewes what hee had done that hee was so usâ—d In 2 Pet. 4 21. Christ dyed 2 Pet. 4.21 and hath left us an example to follow his steps What example but an example of patience that we should follow him when wee suffer underserving Seneca gives that advise in his 69. Epistle as if hee had beene a Disciple of Christ 2. Pet. 3.21 We should labour to imitate Corâ—st in this in putting up and digesting injuries though on our part they be causelesse and undeserved In 2. Pet. 3.21 What glory is it if when yee be buffeted for your faults yee take it patiently what great matter is it but if when you doe well and suffer for it then you beare it patiently this is acceptable to God It is true it is acceptable to God that wee suffer punishment patiently when wee have deserved it but when wee are patient and have not deserved it it is highly acceptable as the word imparts Fiftly and lastly Christ dyed not for his owne sinnes then here is Balme in Gilead comfort for wounded and distressed consciences that faint under the weight and burden of their sinnes It is true indeede if Christ had dyed for his owne sinnes then our estate had beene woefull and lamentable then hee had quit scores only with God for himselfe but we should still have remayned as deepely ingaged as ever and have beene cast into utter darkenesse and have beene reserved in chaynes till we had payd the utmost farthing but now Christ hath suffered for us Then as the Apostle inferres Rom. 8.34 Rom. 8.34 Who shall condemne Let Sathan the accuser of the brethren bring what objections hee will this one plea will answer all Christ dyed if he dyed then he hath appeased the wrath of God to us and payd the debt of the Law and the punishment of the Law and fulfilled obedience and given satisfaction to God Christ had no sinne of his owne therefore what hee suffered it was for our sinnes and transgressions This shall suffice to bee spoken of the negative part from this particular But that carries the force of a negation That Christ was affirmed to suffer for his owne sinne We judged him smitten of God and humbled But. The affirmative part followes to be handled But He was wounded for our transgresâ—ions Where I shall not neede to tell you that by being wounded in this place wee are not to understand onely nor principally as some Popish writers doe the bodily torments and tortures of Christ that hee as this day indured on the Crosse but withall and especially those secret agonies and conflicts of soule that he felt that were caused out of a deeper apprehension of the greatnesse of our sinnes that hee suffered for and the sense of the greatnesse of Gods wrath that hee then sustained which being so the conclusion from this affirmitive part is this that Christ Iesus suffered exâ—reame torments in his body and sad and amazing agonies in his soule for our sinnes and trangressions He was wounded for our transgressions c. For the proofe of it I neede not range far from the Text. In the fourth verse of this Chapter surely saith the Prophet hee hath borne our griefâ—s and sorrowes In the fifth vers hee was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was on him by his stripes wee are healed In the sixth vers The Lord hath layd upon him the iniquitie of us all In the eighth vers For the transgression of my people was he stricken In vers 10. He made his soule an offering for sinne In the 12. vers he poured out his soule to death Wee see he was broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was on him and this not onely in body but in soule too be poured out his soule to death he made his soule an offering for sinne If you aske the reason why I answer first It is a rule of the Schooles where the gift is free and undeserved without merit or desert on our part there the best if not the onely reason that can bee assigned of that gift is the free grace and love of the doner So this gift is freely from Christs love to us so saith the Apostle Eph. 5.2 Eph. 5.2 Let us love one a other as Christ hath loved us and given himselfe a ransome for us where hee shewes not only the manner how wee should love one another As Christ hath loved us but the motive how he loved us hee suffered for us he loved us and gave himselfe a ransome for us Secondly as it was the love of Christ to give himselfe so it was the love of God that gave Christ as Christ saith it of himselfe so hee speakes it likewise of his Father Ioh. 3.16 God so loved the world Joh. 3.16 that hee gave his only begotten Sonne c. Wee must not thinke that God then begins to love us when God is actually reconciled to us in his Sonne so some conceive but amisse if I be not deceived and mistaken for saith the Apostle Rom. 5.18 Rom. 5.18 Hee loved us when wee were enemies God loves us not only when wee are friends when wee are actually reconciled by the death of his Sonne but when wee were enemies S. Aug. Psal 113. So saith S. Austin upon Psal 110. God loves us when hee hates us hee loves us