always his delight Herein is Love that be sent him to save Sinners to save them by bearing their Sins by bearing their Curse by dying their Death and by carrying their Sorrows Here is Love in that while we were yet Enemies Christ died for us yea here is Love in that while we were yet without strength Christ died for the Ungodly Rom. 5. The second Use. But Secondly as this Doctrine giveth us the best discovery of God so also it giveth us the best discovery of our selves and our own things First It giveth us the best discovery of our selves Wouldest thou know Sinner what thou art look up to the Cross and behold a Weeping Bleeding Dying Jesus nothing could do but that nothing could save thee but his Blood Angels could not Saints could not God could not because he could not ly because he could not deny himself What a thing is Sin that it should sink all that bear its burden yea it sunk the Son of God himself into death and the Grave and had also sunk him into Hell-fire for ever had he not been the Son of God had he not been able to take it on his Back and bear it away O! This Lamb of God Sinners were going to Hell Christ was the Delight of his Father and had a whole Heaven to himself but that did not content him Heaven could not hold him He must come into the World to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Ay and had he not come thy Sins had sunk thee thy Sins had provoked the Wrath of God against thee to thy perdition and destruction for ever There is no Man but is a Sinner there is no Sin but would damn an Angel should God lay it to his charge Sinner the Doctrine of Christ crucified crieth therefore aloud unto thee that sin hath made thy Condition dreadful See your selves your Sin and consequently the Condition that your Souls are in by the Death and Blood of Christ Christs Death giveth us the most clear discovery of the dreadful Nature of our Sins I say again if sin be so dreadful a thing as to break the Heart of the Son of God for so he saith it did how shall a Poor Wretched Impenitent damned Sinner wrestle with the Wrath of God Awake Sinners you are lost you are undone you perish you are damned Hell-fire is your Portion for ever if you abide in your Sins and be found without a Saviour in the dreadful Day of Judgment Secondly For your good Deeds cannot help you the Blood of Christ tells you so For by this Doctrine Christ died for our Sins God damneth to death and hell the Righteousness of the World Christ must die or Man be damned where is now any room for the Righteousness of Men room I say for Man's Righteousness as to his Acceptance and Justification Bring then thy Righteousness to the Cross of Jesus Christ and in his Blood behold the Demands of Justice behold them I say in the Cries and Tears in the Blood and Death of Jesus Christ. Look again and behold the Person dying such an one as never sinned nor offended at any time yet he dies Could an Holy Life an Innocent Harmless Conversation have saved one from death Jesus had not died But he must die Sin was charged therfore Christ must die Men therefore need to go no further to prove the Worth of their own Righteousness than to the Death of Christ They need not be to seek in that Matter till they stand before the Judgment-Seat Quest. But how should I prove the Goodness of mine own Righteousness by the Death and Blood of Christ Ans. Thus If Christ must die for Sin then all thy Righteousness cannot save thee If Righteousness comes by the Law then Christ is dead in vain Gal. 2. 21. By this Text 't is manifest that either Christ died in vain or thy Righteousness is vain If thy Righteousness can save thee then Christ died in vain If nothing below or besides the Death of Christ could save thee then thy Righteousness is in vain one of the two must be cast away either Christ's or thine Christ Crucified to save the World discovereth two great evils in Man's own Righteousness I mean when brought for Justification and Life 1. It opposeth the Righteousness of Christ. 2. It condemneth God of Foolishness 1. It opposeth the Righteousness of Christ in that it seeketh it self to stand where should the Righteousness of Christ to wit in God's affection for the Justification of thy Person and this is one of the highest affronts to Christ that poor man is capable to give him Right worthily therefore doth the Doctrine of the Gospel damn the Righteousness of Men and promiseth the Kingdom of God to Publicans and Harlots rather 2. It condemneth God of Foolishness For if Works of Righteousness which we can do can justifie from the Curse of the Law in the Sight of God then is not all the Treasures of Wisdom found in the Heart of God and Christ For this Dolt-headed Sinner hath now found out a Way of his own unawares to God to secure his Soul from Wrath and Vengeance I say unawares to God for he never imagined that such a thing could be for had he he would never have purposed before the World began to send his Son to die for Sinners Christ is the Wisdom of God as you have heard and that as he is our Justifying Righteousness God was manifest in the Flesh to save us is the great Mystery of Godliness But wherein lyeth the depth of this Wisdom of God in our Salvation if Man's Right-hand can save him Job 40. 10 11 12 13 14. Yea wherefore hath God also given it out that there is none other Name given to Men under Heaven whereby we must be saved I say again why is it affirmed without shedding of Blood is no Remission if Mans good Deeds can save him This Doctrine therefore of the Righteousness of Christ being rightly preached and truly believed arraigneth and condemneth Man's Righteousness to Hell It casteth it out as Abraham cast out Ismael BLOOD BLOOD the sound of Blood abaseth all the Glory of it When Men have said all and shewed us what they can they have no Blood to present God's Justice with yet 't is Blood that maketh an Atonement for the Soul and nothing but Blood can wash us from our Sins Levit. 17. 11. Revel 1. 5. Heb. 9. Justice calls for Blood Sins call for Blood the Righteous Law calls for Blood yea the Devil himself must be overcome by Blood Sinner where is now thy Righteousness Bring it before a Consuming Fire for our God is a Consuming Fire Bring it before the Justice of the Law yea try if ought but the Blood of Christ can save thee from thy Sins and Devils try it I say by this Doctrine go not one step further before thou hast tried it Thirdly By this Doctrine we are made to see the worth of Souls it cannot be but that the Soul
Testimonies that this Coming of Jesus is his Coming to Save us 1. SImeon the Just gives Testimony of him And the Holy Ghost was upon him and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see Death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the Temple and when the Parents brought in the Child Jesus to do for him after the Custom of the Law then took he him up in his Arms and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation Luk. 2. 25 26 27 32. The Testimony of Anna. 2. Anna a Prophetess one of a great Age which departed not from the Temple but served God with fasting and prayer night and day And she coming in at the same instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord and spake of him to all them that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem Luk. 2. 26 27 28. The Testimony of John Baptist. 3. John Baptist as he fulfilled his Ministry he cried concerning this Jesus Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World And he saith John that sent me to baptize with Water the same said unto me Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding or remaining the same is he which shall baptize with the Holy Ghost And I saw and bear record that this is the Son of God Joh. 1. 29 30 31 32 33 34. The Testimony of the Star and Wise-Men 4. The Star that appeared at his Birth in the East and that coasted through the Heavens till it came over the Place where the young Child Jesus was that Star gave Testimony that he was the Saviour This Star alarmed many especially the Wise-Men of the East who were brought by it from afar to worship him And lo the Star which they saw in the East went before them till it came and stood over where the young Child was And when they saw the Star they rejoiced with exceeding joy And when they were come into the House they saw the young Child with Mary his Mother and fell down and worshipped him and when they had opened their Treasures they presented unto him Gifts Gold and Frankincense and Myrrhe The Testimony of the Angels 1. To Mary herself And in the sixth Month the Angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a City of Galilee named Nazareth to a Virgin espoused to a Man whose Mame was Joseph and the Virgin 's Name was Mary and the Angel came in unto her and said Hail thou that art highly favoured And the Angels aid unto her Fear not Mary for thou hast found favour with God And behold thou shalt conceive in thy Womb and bring forth a Son and shalt call his Name Jesus He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest And the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David and he shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end Luk. 2. 26 35. 2. The Angels Testimony to the Shepherds as they were feeding their Flocks in the Fields by Night And lo the Angel of the Lord came upon them and the Glory of the Lord shined round about them and they were sore afraid and the Angel said unto them Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord Luk. 2. 8 9 10. 3. How the Angels Solemnized his Birth among themselves And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and on Earth Peace good-will towards Men Luk. 2. 13 14. The Testimony of God the Father 1. When he was Baptized And Jesus when he was Baptized went up straightway out of the Water and lo the Heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him and lo a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Mat. 3. 16 17. 2. The Fathers Testimony of him at his Transfiguration And he took Peter and James and John and went up into a Mountain to pray and as be prayed the fashion of his Countenance was altered and his Raiment was white and glittering c. And there appeared Moses and Liias talking with him and a Cloud from Heaven overshadowed them at which the three Disciples began to be afraid Then there came a voice out of the Cloud saying This is my beloved Son hear him Luk. 9. 28 29 30 35. This is that Testimony of God which Peter speaks of saying We have not followed cunningly devised Fables when we made known unto you the Power and Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eye-witnesses of his Majesty for he received from God the Father Honour and Glory when there came such a voice to him from the Excellent Glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And this voice which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the Holy Mount 2 Pet. 1. 26 27 28. 3. God gave Testimony of him by Signs and Wonders Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in me The words that I speak unto you I speak not of my self but the Father that dwelleth in me he doth the Works God also bearing them witness that preached Salvation by Jesus both with Signs and Wonders and with divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own Will Joh. 14. 10. Heb. 2. 4. Concerning Jesus how he put himself upon the Test among his Adversaries THe Lord Jesus also putteth himself upon the Test among his Adversaries divers ways First he urgeth the time of the appearing of the Messias to be come The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand repent ye and believe the Gospel Mar. 1. 15. For this he had a three-fold proof 1. The Heathens had invaded and taken the Land according to that of Daniel Dan. 9. 25 26. 2. The Scepter was departed from Judah according to that of Jacob Gen. 49. 10. to which also suited that Prophecy Before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and chuse the good the Land which thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her Kings 3. The Roman Emperor had not only subdued the Nation and put down the Kingly Race of the Jews but had set up and established his own Power over them In the fifteenth year of the Reign of Tiberius Cesar Pontius Pilat was Governor of Judea Herod was Tetrarch of Galilee Philip Tetrarch of Iturea and Lysanias Tetrarch of Abilene all Heathens and of Tyberius his making Besides The Kingly Race of Judah was at this time become so low by reason of the Roman oppression that the chief of them were put to get their living by their own
afflicts the Mind with guilt and bindeth over the Soul to answer it sever not sin and guilt asunder left thou be an Hypocrite like these wicked Men and rob Christ of his true Sufferings Besides to see sin upon Christ but not its guilt to see sin upon Christ but not the Legal Punishment what is this but to conclude that either there is no guilt and punishment in sin or that Christ bare our sin but we the Punishment for the Punishment must be born because the Sentence is gone out from the Mouth of God against sin Do thou therefore as I have said consider of sin as a Transgression of the Law 1 John 3. and a Provoker of the Justice of God which done turn thine Eye to the Cross and behold those Sins in the Guilt and Punishment of them sticking in the Flesh of Christ. God condemned sin in the Flesh of Christ. He bare our Sins IN his own Body on the Tree Rom. 8. 3. 1 Pet. 2. 24. I would only give thee this Caution not sin in the Nature of sin Sin was not so in the Flesh of Christ but sin in the Natural Punishment of it to wit Guilt and the Chastising Hand of Justice He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities The Chastisements of our Peace were upon him and by his Stripes we are healed Isa. 53. Look then upon Christ crucified to be as the sin of the World as if He only had broken the Law which done behold him perfectly innocent in himself and so conclude that for the transgressions of God's People he was stricken That when the Lord made him to be sin He made him to be sin FOR US He was made a Curse for us FOurthly As he was made Flesh under the Law and also Sin so he was made a Curse for us Christ hath redeemed us from the Cross of the Law being made a Curse for us as it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree This Sentence is taken out of Moses being passed there upon them that for Sin are worthy of death And if a Man have committed a Sin worthy of death and thou hang him on a Tree his Body shall not remain all night upon the Tree but thou shalt in any-wise bury him that Day for he that is hanged is accursed of God By this Sentence Paul concludeth that Jesus Christ was Justly hanged because sin worthy of Death was upon him Sin not of his own but ours Since then he took our Sins he must be cursed of God for sin is sin where-ever it lies and justice is justice where-ever it finds it wherefore since Jesus Christ will bear our Sin he must be numbred with the Transgressors and counted worthy to die the Death He that committeth sin is worthy of death This though Christ did not personally do his Members his Body which is his Church did and since he would undertake for them with God and stand in their Sins before the Eyes of his Justice He must die the Death by the Law Sin and the Curse cannot be severed Sin must be followed with the Curse of God Sin therefore being removed from us to the Back of Christ thither goes also the Curse for if sin be found upon him he is the Person worthy to die worthy by our Sins Wherefore Paul here setteth forth Christ clothed with our Sins and so taking from us the Guilt and Punishment What punishment but the Wrath and Displeasure of God Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us In this word Curse are two things comprized 1. The Reality of Sin for there can be no Curse where there is no Sin either of the Persons own or made to be his by his own Consent or the Imputation of Divine Justice And since Sins are made to be Christ's by Imputation they are his though not naturally yet really and consequently the Wages due He hath made him to be sin he was made a Curse for us 2. This word Curse comprizeth therefore the Punishment of Sin that Punishment properly due to sin from the Hand of God's Justice which punishment standeth in three things 1. In charging sin upon the Body and Soul of the Person concerned and hence we read that both the Body and Soul of Christ were made an Offering for Sin Isa. 53. 10. Heb. 10. 10. 2. The Punishment standeth in Gods inflicting of the Just merits of sin upon him that standeth charged therewith and that is Death in its own nature and strength to wit Death with the Sting thereof The Sting of Death is sin This Death did Christ die because he died for our Sins 3. The Sorrows and Pains of this Death therefore must be under-gone by Jesus Christ. Now there are divers Sorrows in Death 1. Such Sorrows as Brutes are subject to 2. Such Sorrows as Persons are subjects to that stand in sin before God 3. Such Sorrows as those undergo who are swallowed up of the Curse and Wrath of God for ever Now so much of all kind of Sorrow as the Imputation of our Sin could justly bring from the Hand of Divine Justice so much of it he had 1. He had Death 2. He had the Sting of Death which is Sin 3. He was forsaken of God but could not by any means have those Sorrows which they have that are everlastingly swallowed up of them It was not possible that he should be holden of it Act. 2. 24. For where Sin is charged and born there must of necessity follow the Wrath and Curse of God Now where the Wrath and Curse of God is there must of necessity follow the Effects the Natural Effects I say the Natural Effects to wit the Sence the Sorrowful Sence of the Displeasure of an Infinite Majesty and his Chastisements for the Sin that hath provoked him There are Effects natural and Effects accidental those Accidental are such as flow from our weakness whilst we wrestle with the Judgment of God to wit hellish fear despair rage blasphemy and the like These were not incident to Jesus Christ he being in his own Person every way perfect Neither did he alwayes endure the Natural Effects his Merits relieved and delivered him God loosed the Pains of death because it was not possible he should be holden of it Acts 2. 24. Christ then was made a Curse for us for he did bear our sin the Punishment therefore from the Revenging Hand of God must needs fall upon him Wherefore by these four things we see how Christ became our Saviour he took hold of our Nature was born under the Law was made to be sin and the Accursed of God for us And observe it all this as I said before was the Handy-Work of God God made him Flesh made him under the Law God made him to be Sin and also a Curse for us The Lord bruised him the Lord put him to grief the Lord made his Soul an Offering for Sin Isa.
God The Consequences are 1. The Person charged sustains or suffereth the Wrath of God 2. This Wrath of God is expressed and inflicted on Body and Soul The Consequences are 1. God forsaketh the Person charged and being left if he cannot stand he falleth under the Power of guilt and horror of the same If the Person utterly fall under this Charge as not being able to wrestle with and overcome this Wrath of God then despair horror of Hell rage blasphemy darkness and damnable anguish immediately swallow him up and he lieth for ever and ever in the Pains of Hell a Monument of Eternal Vengeance Now that Christ under-went the Wrath of God 't is evident because he bare our Curse That God forsook him he did with strong crying and tears acknowledg and therefore that he was under the Soul-afflicting sence of the loss of God's Favor and under the sence of his Displeasure must needs flow from the Premises But now because Christ Jesus the Lord was a Person infinitly differing from all others that fall under the Wrath of God therefore those things that flow from damned Sinners could not flow from him 1. Despair could not rise in his Heart for his Flesh did rest in hope and said even when he suffered Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell Acts 2. 27. 2. The Everlastingness of the Punishment therefore nor the Terrors that accompany such could not fasten upon him for he knew at last that God would Justifie him or approve of his Works that they were Meritorious And mark Everlasting Punishment is not the proper Wages of sin but under a supposition that the Person suffering be not able to pay the Debt Thou shalt not depart thence till thou hast paid the very last Mite The difference then of the Persons suffering may make a difference though not in the Nature of the Punishment yet in the Duration and Consequences of it 1. Christ under the Sentence was as to his own Personal Acts only altogether innocent the Damned only altogether Sinners 2. Christ had in him even then the utmost Perfection of all graces and vertues but the Damned the Perfection of Sin and Vileness 3. Christ's Humanity had still Union with his God-head the Damned Union only with Sin 4. Now an Innocent Person perfect in all graces as really God as Man can better wrestle with the Curse for sin than either sinful Men or Angels 1. While they despair Christ hopes 2. While they blaspheme Christ submits 3. While they rage Christ justifies God 4. While they sink under the burden of Sin and Wrath Christ recovereth by vertue of his Worthiness Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy one to see corruption He was Gods Holy one and his Holiness prevailed So that it follows not That because Christ did undergo the Curse due to our Sins he therefore must have those accidental Consequences which are found to accompany damned Souls 3. Object But the Scripture saith That the Wages of Sin is everlasting punishment Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25. Ans. This Objection is partly answered already in the Answer to that fore-going But further 1. Consider The Wages of Sin is Death and punishment under the Wrath of God Till those that die the Death for Sin have paid the utmost Farthing Mat. 5. 25. Luk. 12. 58 59. 2. So then the everlastingness of the Punishment lieth here If the Person suffering be not able to make amends to justice for the Sins for which he suffereth else justice neither would nor could because 't is just keep such still under punishment 3. The Reason then why fallen Angels and damned Souls have an everlastingness of Punishment allotted them is because by what they suffer they cannot satisfy the Justice of God 4. The Conclusion then is though the Rebukes of God for Sin by death and punishment after be the Rebukes of Eternal Vengeance yet the Eternity of that Punishment is for want of merit could the Damned merit their own Deliverance Justice would let them go 5. It is one thing therefore to suffer for sin by the stroke of Eternal Justice and another thing to abide for ever a Sufferer there Christ did the First the Damned do the Second 6. His Rising therefore from the Dead the third Day doth nothing invalid his Sufferings but rather sheweth the Power of his Merit And here I would ask a Question Had Christ Jesus been more the Object of Faith if weakness and endless infirmity had kept him under the Curse than by rising again from the Dead want of merit causing the one sufficience thereof causing the other 7. If men will not believe that Christ hath removed the Curse because he is risen again they would much more strongly have doubted it had he been still in the Grave But O amazing darkness to make that an Argument that his Sufferings wanted merit which to God himself is sufficient proof that he hath purged our Sins for ever For this Man after he had offered up one sacrifice for Sins for ever sat down on the Right Hand of God Heb. 10. 12. 4. Object But the Scripture saith Christ is our Example and that in his very death 1 Pet. 2. 21. Ans. Christ in his Sufferings and Death is both Sacrifice and Example 1. A Sacrifice Christ our Passeover is Sacrificed for us And again He gave himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling Savor And thus he made Reconciliation for Iniquity and brought in Everlasting Righteousness 1 Cor. 5. 8. Ephes. 5. 1 2. Dan. 9. 2. 2dly He was also in his Sufferings Exemplary and that in several particulars 1. In his meek Deportment while he was apprehended Isa. 53. 7. 2. In doing them good that sought his Life Luk. 22. 50 51. 3. In his Praying for his Enemies when they were in their Out-rage Luk. 23. 34. 4. When he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth Righteously 1. Pet. 2. 23. In these respects I say he was Exemplary and brought honour to his Profession by his good Behaviour And O how beautiful would Christianity be in the Eyes of Men if the Disciples of our Lord would more imitate him therein But what Because Christ is our Pattern is he not our Passeover or because we should in these things follow his Steps died he not for our Sins Thus to conclude would not only argue thee very erroneous but such a Conclusion would overthrow the Gospel it being none other but a great flight of Satan to shut out the whole by a Part and to make us Blasphemers while we plead for Holiness Look then upon the Death of Christ under a double Consideration 1. As he suffered from the Hand of God 2. As he suffered from the Hand of Men. Now as he suffered by God's Hand so he suffered for sin but
the Doctrine I come now to make some use of and to apply this Blessed Doctrine of the Undertaking of Jesus Christ and of his paying full Price to God for Sinners and of his obtaining Eternal Redemption for them The first Use. BY this Doctrine we come to understand many things which otherwise abide obscure and utterly unknown because this Doctrine is accompanied with the Holy Ghost that Revealer of secrets and Searcher of the deep things of God 1 Pet. 1. 2. Ephes. 1. 17. 1 Cor. 2. The Holy Ghost comes down with this Doctrine as that in which it alone delighteth therefore is it called The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledg of Jesus Christ. He giveth also the Light of the Knowledg of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 6. Little of God is known in the World where the Gospel is rejected the Religious Jew and the Wise Gentile may see more of God in a Crucified Christ than in Heaven and Earth besides For in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and knowledg not only in his Person as God but also in his Undertakings as Mediator Hence Paul telleth us That he determined not to know any thing among the Corinthians but Jesus Christ and him Crucified Col. 2. 2 3. 1 Cor. 2. 2 3. I say more of God is revealed in this Doctrine to us than we can see of him in Heaven and Earth without it First Here is more of his WISDOM seen than in his making and upholding all the Creatures His Wisdom I say in devising means to reconcile Sinners to an Holy and Infinite Majesty to be a Just God and YET a Saviour to be just to his Law just to his Threatning just to himself and yet save Sinners can no-way be understood till thou understandest why Jesus Christ did hang on the Tree for here only is the Riddle unfolded Christ died for our Sins and therefore can God in justice save us Isa. 45. 21. And hence is Christ called The Wisdom of God not only because he is so essentially but because by him is the greatest Revelation of his Wisdom towards man In Redemption therefore by the Blood of Christ God is said to abound towards us in all wisdom Ephes. 1. 7 8. Here we see the highest Contradictions reconciled here Justice kisseth the Sinner here a Man stands just in the Sight of God while confounded at his own Pollutions and here he that hath done no good hath yet a sufficient Righteousness even the Righteousness of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ. Secondly The JUSTICE of God is here more seen than in punishing all the Damned He spared not his own Son is a Sentence which more revealeth the Nature of the Justice of God than if it had said he spared not all the World True he cast Angels from Heaven and drowned the Old World he turned Sodom and Gomorrah into Ashes with many more of like nature but what were all these to the Cursing of his Son yea what were ten thousand such manifestations of his Ireful Indignation against Sin to that of striking afflicting chastising and making the darling of his Bosom the Object of his Wrath and Judgment Here it is seen he respecteth not persons but judgeth sin and condemneth him on whom it is found yea although on Jesus Christ his well-Beloved Rom. 8. 32. Gal. 3. 13. Thirdly The Mystery of God's WILL is here more seen than in hanging the Earth upon nothing while he condemneth Christ though Righteous and justifieth us though Sinners while he maketh him to be sin for us and us the Righteousness of God in him 1 Pet. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 5. 20. Fourthly The POWER of God is here more seen than in making of Heaven and Earth for for one to bear and get the Victory over Sin when charged by the Justice of an Infinite Majesty in so doing he sheweth the Height of the Highest Power For where sin by the Law is charged and that by God immediatly there an Infinite Majesty opposeth and that with the whole of his Justice Holiness and Power So then he that is thus charged and engaged for the Sin of the World must not only be equal with God but shew it by over-coming that Curse and Judgment that by Infinite Justice is charged upon him for Sin When Angels and Men had sinned how did they fall and crumble before the Anger of God! they had not power to withstand the terrour nor could there be worth found in their Persons or Doings to appease displeased Justice But behold here stands the Son of God before him in the Sin of the World his Father finding him there curseth and condemns him to death but he by the Power of his God-head and the Worthiness of his Person and Doings vanquisheth sin satisfieth God's Justice and so becomes the Saviour of the World Here then is Power seen Sin is a Mighty thing it crusheth all in pieces save him whose Spirit is Eternal Heb. 9. 14. Set Christ and his Sufferings aside and you neither see the Evil of Sin nor the Displeasure of God against it you see them not in their utmost Had'st thou a view of all the Legions that are now in the pains of Hell yea couldest thou hear their shreeks and groans together at once and feel the whole of all their burden much of the evil of Sin and of the Justice of God against it would be yet unknown by thee for thou wouldest want power to feel and bear the utmost A Giant shews not his Power by killing of a little Child nor yet is his might seen by the resistance that such a little one makes but then he sheweth his power when he dealeth with one like himself yea and the Power also of the other is then made manifest in saving himself from being swallowed up with his Wrath. Jesus Christ also made manifest his Eternal Power and God-head more by bearing and over-coming our Sins than in making or upholding the whole World Hence Christ Crucified is called the Power of God 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. Fifthly The LOVE and MERCY of God is more seen in and by this Doctrine than any other way Mercy and Love are seen in that God gives us Rain and fruitful Seasons and in that he filleth our Hearts with food and gladness from that bounty he bestoweth upon us as men as his Creatures Oh! but herein is Love made manifest in that Christ laid down his Life for us And God commended his Love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us 1 Joh. 3. 16. Chap. 4. 10 Rom. 5. 8. Never Love like this nor did God ever give such discovery of his Love from the beginning to this Day Herein is Love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our Sins Here is Love that God sent his Son his Darling his Son that never offended his Son that was