us till the House of the Body is pulled down How else could it be said That the Body is dead by reason of sin Rom. 9.10 If we were perfect how could we die Doth it sute the Justice of God to pull and tare a perfect Creature in pieces and to deliver it up to Corruption If there be no sin within what is that which opens the Door and lets in Death If there be no Bonds of sin on the Soul how doth the Bondage of Corruption come on the Body God hath wisely ordered it that Persons shall not come to the Mark of Perfection till they also arrive at the Prize of Glory How Foolish and False is it for Persons to say they are perfect and yet have not attained to the Prize of Glory but are in a frail and miserable Estate God designs not that Persons shall be absolutely perfect in a Natural Body 1. That the Threatning may be fulfilled Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return Gen. 3.19 2. That Christians may have an Enemy to Wrestle and Conflict with whilst they are here Ephes 6.12 1 Tim. 6.12 3. That Believers may still act Faith on Jesus Christ and repair to him for Help Healing and Salvation God will not utterly take away the Fiery Serpents Satan and our Lust that we may resort to Jesus Christ for a continual Cure and Christ may never be out of date or use with us 1. Vse If Jehovah be the Righteousness of the Church this may reprove those that do not stop in or satisfie themselves with this Righteousness The Apostle Paul in Galat. 3.1 thus addresses himself to the Galatians O foolish Galatians Who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the Truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth as Crucified The Apostle Paul and others had drawn the Picture of Christ Crucified in beautiful and lively Colours he had described the Causes the Ends the Greatness and Grievousness of Christ's Sufferings and he wonders that any should darken their Minds and as it were bewitch their Eyes that they should not see the Loveliness and Excellency of this Glorious Object and comply with the Ends and Designs of Christ's Death Would Jesus Christ stoop so low Would he endure such hard and heavy things to have only a share in our Justification Shall any put in a joynt-stock with Christ Shall they contribute to their own Redemption and Justification Will Christ be a Partner only with our Works and Righteousness Shall a Crown be put on the head of the Creature as well as one set on the Head of Christ Is this the utmost product of all Christ's bitter Sufferings to do but half in our Justification Will not a Man both deceive and indanger himself that sets one Foot on a strong Bough and another on a rotten one Will not such an one fall So he that leans on Christ in part and on his own Righteousness in part will be frustrated and disappointed will miscarry and perish The Church is thus described as leaning on her Beloved Cant. 8.5 It is this Arm only that can support us and it is Christ's Righteousness that must keep us from sinking into Destruction How ignorant are Men of their Sins if they think these Waters are not so deep but they can Wade through them and not need Christ as an Ark to carry them over How blind are they that think their Wounds are not so dangerous but they can heal them or that Judge their Transgressions are not so heavy but they can cast in Religious Duties and Good Works enough to fetch up the Scale from the Ground and make a Compensation for their Offences and to Ransom themselves from Destruction The Papists here are highly guilty of darkening this Glorious Name of Christ and of Robbing him of the Honour of it they assert that a Man may do such Good Works before Justification that render it meet that God should give him Grace and that by Good Works done after Justification he may Merit Glory They affirm that we are Justified not by Forgiveness or not imputing our Trespasses as the Scripture saith 2 Cor. 5.19 but by the infusion of Righteousness into us Alensis saith that Justificatio est rectitudo liberi arbitrii that is it is the Reforming and Rectifying of Man's Free-will the bringing of the Soul to love God But this is a proud and false Doctrine in this as well as other Senses Rome is Egypt Revel 11.8 as it asserts a River of Inherent Righteousness below and that they need not that God should Rain an Imputed Righteousness on them as the Poet said of the Ground and Herbs of Egypt Nec pluvio supplicat Herba Jovi their Ground and Herbs did not Pray to Jupiter to send Rain A part of Egypt is satisfied with the River Nilus and hath no Rain as the Scriptures teach us Zech. 14.18 They think to climb to Heaven by a proud Babel of their own Building and not to ascend thither by the Ladder of Christ's Righteousness As this is a proud so it is a false Doctrine 1. It destroys the Parallel that the Apostle Paul makes between Christ's being made Sin and our being made Righeousness 2 Cor. 5.21 as Christ was made sin though he had not Inherent sin but only our sins Imputed to him so we are made Righteousness by the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness to us though we have not a perfect Inherent Righteousness of our own 2. Nothing Justifies before God but a Perfect Obedience and Righteousness our own at best is not such therefore we need Christ's Righteousness Christ as applying himself to us is the efficient cause of our Righteousness and Christ as applied is the formal cause of it as Amesius in his Bellarminus enervatus excellently asserts 3. If we are Justified by an Inherent Righteousness of our own there would be no room pretence or colour for that Objection that the Jews and all Natural Men are ready to make against the Doctrine of Justification Shall we not sin then that Grace may abound Rom. 6.1 If God Justifies by pardoning our sins and not imputing our Trespasses then the more we offend then the more Glory Grace will have in forgiving our Iniquities and so we may let the Reins loose to our Lusts But if Paul did assert our Justification to be by infusing of Righteousness into us the more Righteousness is Infused into us the more we should be restrained from sin and the less need Mercy to Pardon our sins and there would be no colour for such an Objection as the Jews did raise from the Apostle's Doctrine 2. There are others that we own as Brethren and account as sound in the main of the Doctrine of Justification yet we may modestly enquire whether some of their notions or expressions are calculated to advance the Glory of Christ's Righteousness in the Justification of the Ungodly 1. They assert that Faith and Repentance are proper conditions of the Covenant of
Masses may be said and Supplications made for their Souls * Dr. Addison of the Customs of the Jews in Barbary The Jews in the begining of the New Year do run into Rivers and there think to wash away their Sins if they see a fish in the water they will shake themselves and as it were endeavour to unlade their sins on the Fish that he may swim away with them On the day of Atonement the Men break the neck of a Cock and the Women of a white Hen as if those Birds should bear and expiate their Sins Some of the Jews as Buxtorf relates in his Synagoga Judaica do offer this Cock to the Devil to Bribe him that he may not Accuse them or hinder their Prayers When a Jew is sick and dying the Rabbi changes his Name and then Prays for him that if God were offended with one that did bear the first Name that yet he would be pacified towards him that now passes under a New Name as if the change of a Sick Person 's Name did make him another Person Indeed the Sinner must change his Name that he may be Pardoned but it is Christ's New Name that must be put on him that he may be Justified 1 Cor. 6.11 Yet these things do not quiet the Minds of the Jews but when they come to die they Pray to God That their Death may be the Expiation of all their Sins But how foolish is this to put their own Death in the room and place of Christ's Death Yet this doth not allay their Fears they further own that all or many of them must suffer pains in another World for Eleven or Twelve Moneths and that they need the help of their Living Friends to Pray them out of this place and pains The Bannians in the East-Indies are Baptized in the River Ganges for the cleansing away of their Sins as Mr. Lord relates in his History some do bring the Dead Bodies of their Friends ten days Journey or more to wash them in the River Ganges that they may be purified from guilt others do stand in painful postures with one Leg up others do Vow they will never eat any thing but what they find on the High-way There is a Tree in the East-Indies which the Natives do call Adam's Tree on the Boughes of it they do hang up sharp Irons much like such as our Butchers do hang dead Beasts on the Boughs of the Tree being low they leap up with their Naked Bodies against these Iron Hooks and if they do take hold of their Flesh they hang on them till the weight of their Bodies doth tear them off from these Iron Hooks this they do as they pretend to Expiate Adam's Sin in eating of the Forbidden Fruit. These things Tavernier Relates in the History of his Travels in the East-Indies The Mahometans do Fast go on Pilgrimage to Mecha to Mahomet's Tomb they draw Water out of a Well there and in the Water of it they think they Wash away all their sins Many more of such Foolish Inventions and Practices I could Instance in at what painful or costly service or suffering will an Awakened Sinner stick to pacifie God's Wrath and to be rid of the Fear of Eternal Torments But there is no other Shadow for Scorched or Rest for Weary Souls but in Jehovah our Righteousness I shall now give some Directions how Persons may be driven to seek Righteousness in Christ and partake of it through him 1. We must consider that we have to do with God We must appear before his Tribunal and be weighed in his Ballance we must not as Hypocrites only look at the Eye Judgements and Praise of Men Luke 16.15 Ye are they which justifie your selves before Men sought honour one of another John 5.44 but it is to God that you stand or fall he weigheth Spirits Prov. 16.2 He searcheth the heart and trieth the reins Jer. 17.10 Men may commend a fair Shew a Beautiful Tomb of out-side Religion when God seeth the Dead Souls and rotten hearts that is underneath Mat. 23.27 Acquaint your selves with the Holiness Purity and Justice of God God is a pure Light as he is Holy and a consuming Fire as he is a Just God He takes pleasure in Uprightness he hates Iniquity the Foolish shall not stand in his sight Evil shall not dwell with him Psal 5.45 An Hypocrite shall not come before him Job 13.16 He will not clear the Guilty Exod. 34.61.17 or Justifie the Wicked Prov. 17.15 He not only weighs the Actions 1 Sam. 23. but he also weighs the Spirits of Men Prov. 16.2 He hath Eyes that are exceeding pure Hab. 1.13 His eyes also are as a flame of Fire Revel 2.18 to espy the secret filth of Hypocrites God is Jealous of his Honour and Glory Nahum 1.2 He is a consuming fire to Impenitent Unbelieving Sinners We have to do with God are to present our selves in his sight and at his Tribunal The Righteous Judge of the World cannot be blinded will not be Bribed or Byassed Shall I count them pure with the wicked Ballances Micaah 6.11 Should I receive comfort in these corrupt Idolatrous Services Isa 57.6 God will not pervert Judgment accept or approve what Sinners would impose and obtrude upon him Will God allow a Faulty and Defective Righteousness Will he admit and impute it for a Full Perfect and Satisfactory Righteousness Will any other Righteousness but our Saviour Christ's please God's Eye weigh in his Ballance or be pleaded at his Tribunal Those that have not this Righteousness will be rejected as Reprobate Silver Jer. 6. last 2. Study the Purity Spirituality and Perfection of the Law of God The Law of the Lord is perfect Psal 19.7 The Word of God is very pure Psal 119.140 The Commandment is exceeding broad Psal 119.96 Though we may find out the utmost perfection that is in the Creature yet we cannot discover the depth and breadth of the Law of God We cannot say we have found out the utmost of Duty that the Law requires or the utmost of that Transgression and Iniquity that the Law forbids and condemns it obliges to the height of Love to God and forbids the least and lowest Lust to the prejudice of Men Matth. 22.37 39. Rom. 7.7 The first and last Commands do eminently discover the admirable purity and perfection of the Law of God Can you Answer Obey Stand before this perfect Law of God Should not the Terrible Trumpet of the Law Exod. 19.16 cause you to prize and long for to hear the sweet Trumpet of the Jubilee Levit. 25.9 The Law was not given to stop or detain us in it self but to drive us to Christ This was the Glory of the Law yet this Glory of it was Vailed and hidden from the Jews This was intimated by the Vail on Moses his Face The Jews did not see God's end in giving the Law 2 Cor. 3.13 God did not intend to Justifie us but to Accuse and Condemn us by
Captain of our Salvation is the mighty God Isa 9.6 no Enemy can stand before him or prevail against him no Disease is so strong or malignant but the great Physitian can cure it no Dross cleaves so close to us but he can separate it from us Christ is a refining Fire to his People and a consuming Fire to their Enemies As the first Adam corrupts and defiles inevitably so the second Adam can renew cleanse sanctify irresistibly And infallibly he can speak so as to cause the Deaf and Dead to hear Isa 29.18 John 5.25 He can woo so as to cause himself to be loved and chosen he can draw so as to make Sinners to run to him at first Isa 55.5 and to run after him ever after Cant. 1.4 The spirit of Christ is mighty in its Operations it acts as a spirit of Power it causeth Men to pass under Christ's Pastoral Rod and brings them under the Bond of the Covenant Ezek 20.37 It causeth Men to approach to God and dwell in his House Psal 65.4 It causeth Men to walk in God's ways and to keep his Statutes Ezek. 36.27 This word Cause is observable and emphatical and signifies the spirit's mighty and effectual way of working It doth not only propose Arguments and sollicite the Souls of the Elect in a moral way but renews the Will changes the Heart effectually inclines men to yield to and follow after God The event is not pendulous and uncertain and suspended on Man's free-will but Christ undertakes that his Sheep shall hear his Voice and he will bring them to his Fold John 10.16 4. Christ's Salvation is a full and comprehensive Salvation Luke 1.71 That we should be saved from the Hand of our Enemies and from all that hate us Sin the World and Death are our Enemies 1. Sin is our Enemy Our Lusts do Satan's work if he should stand still James 1.14 15. A Man is tempted and drawn away by his own Lust This is a Body of Death Rom. 7.24 it deforms our Souls as much as Death deforms our Bodies it makes them corrupt putrify and stink in the Nostrils of God it renders us as unactive for God as a dead Carcase is unserviceable to Man it defiles and enslaves our Souls lets us only do dead works Heb. 9.14 such works as are the fruits of spiritual death and the seeds of eternal death Where it prevails and reigneth it causeth us continually to go a whoring from God and to rise up in Rebellion against him it causeth us to lead a life of Vanity here and prepares us for a life of Misery hereafter 2. The World is an Enemy We need the Armour of Righteousness on the Right Hand to secure us from the danger of Prosperity and the Aamour of Righteousness on our Left Hand to guard us from the evil of Adversity 2 Cor. 6.7 Height of Prosperity and depth of Misery Rom. 8.39 are dangerous snares and may prove mortal Enemies to us if Grace doth not prevent The World's Musick is to draw and its Furnace is to drive us from God Satan takes his Bait and fetches his Weapons from some thing in the World How doth it blow up and inflame our Hearts fire and fuel our Lusts How many are made to forget God and to think they have no want and need of him in their Plenty and Abundance Psal 50.22 Job 1.14.15 Job 22.17 Jer. 3.31 3. Death is an Enemy to God's People 1 Cor. 15.26 it strikes them dumb and deprives them of the use of their Tongues in praising God which is their Glory Saints as well as others when they die go down into silence Psal 115.17 Isa 38.18 Death disables us from working for God in a body of Flesh it gives a Quietus est to one half of us and dischargeth it from the service of God The Temple in which the spirit dwelt is now pulled down and sinks into Dust and Ashes and Death that deprives us of so great and glorious an Inhabitant in our Bodies and takes us off from such noble service with our Tongues and Members must needs be our Enemy But Christ saves from these Enemies Sin shall not Reign Rom. 6.14 and in due time it shall cease to be sin and shall be utterly extirpated out of the People of God As Israel's Freedom was begun in the death of the First-born of the Egyptians and was compleated in the drowning of Pharaob and all his Host in the Red Sea so the liberty of Saints is begun in destroying the reign of beloved sins that are the first-born of the Old Man and shall be compleated by the total extirpation and destruction of all sin We are Baptized into the Death and Burial of Christ Rom. 6.3 and we must be made Partakers of the saving Benefit of both Sin shall not only die but also be buried A Dead Man hath lost his Command in the House yet his Carcase may remain in it but when he is to be buried his Corps is carried out and he ceaseth any longer to be in the House So sin shall not only cease to reign but also to be in the soul we shall be washed and free from every spot and wrinkle Ephes 5.25 26 27. 2. The World is foiled and overcome by Christ Joh. 16. last It could not divert or draw him from doing his Father's work and will and this conquered Enemy shall not have strength to captivate and destroy Believers they overcame by the Blood of the Lamb Rev. 12.1 Our victorious Saviour hath purchased conquering Strength and merited Victory for us in the midst of all snares and temptations We are more than Conquerors through the Lord Jesus that hath loved us Rom. 8.39 3. Christ will save his People from Death after this Enemy hath not only swallowed them up but digested them Christ hath abolished Death already in himself and will abolish it also in all his People Hos 13.14 he threatens Death that holds the Rod over and threatens the whole World he menaceth Death that he will be the plague of Death a mortal Disease to it He threatens the Grave that he will destroy it and in due time Triumphant Saints shall sing this Song O Death where is thy sting O Death what hast thou gotten by killing our Bodies they are alive again O Grave where is thy Victory what hast thou gotten by taking away all the shape of a Body and crumbling it into Dust 3ly This Body is now restor'd our Particles of Dust are gathered together and formed into a Body like the glorious Body of Christ 1 Cor. 15.55.57 Phil. 3.21 Christ will in Living Saints at the last day swallow up Mortality of Life 2 Cor. 5.4 and in dead Saints he will swallow up Death into Victory Isa 25.8 2dly There are those that hate Saints and so wicked Men and Satan do they hate them because they bare the Image and live the Life and uphold the interest of God but the wicked cannot kill the Souls of the Saints
of the World then the power of Christ is spread as a Tent over us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 12.9 Christ the Captain of our Salvation can be present with and mighty in all his Soldiers and ride in triumph through the World on poor Worms He that hath wounded the Head of the Old Serpent and broke the strength of Satan is able to foil all his scatter'd Forces that yet remain Rev. 6.2 He rideth forth Conquering and to Conquer and turneth the Battel even to the Gates of Hell Isa 28.6 Christ the true David doth succour his People out of the Heavenly City 2 Sam. 18.3 and send to his Fighting Soldiers the Supplies of his Spirit Phil. 1.19 8thly Christ is alive and lives for evermore Rev. 1.18 And Christ doth not live idly but to make intercession for all that come to God by him Heb. 7.25 He lives to execute his Testament sprinkle his Blood and apply his Redemption Paul reasoneth thus Rom. 5.10 If we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son much more shall we be saved by his Life Christ hath gone through with the most hard difficult and painful part of his work he gave his Life a Ransom he poured out his Soul unto the Death and will he neglect or omit the easiest part of his work He may live and save us he needs not to bleed again to go forth into any more Storms or to be set up as a Mark of God he may sit in his Throne he may wear his glittering Crown and reign in his Glory and do al the rest that is requisite to accomplish and compleat our Salvation Because Christ liveth his People shall live also John 14.19 Christ liveth and therefore his Interest shall not die in the World Our Redeemer liveth to quicken our Spirits Job 19.25 26. Now by his Spirit to receive our departing Souls and to revive our dead Bodies Christ is alive to woo his Spouse Cant. 8.8 and marry her Romans 7.4 to assault and subdue his Enemies Isa 42.13 14. Rev. 6.2 I shall come now to the use of the Doctrine Vse 1. Shall Men be most eminently saved in Christ's Days then we may be inform'd of the wonderful Mercy of God of the admirable Grace of Christ that we have such days of the Messiah The days due to Sinners are days of Punishment days of Vengeance Luke 21.22 A day of Evil a day of Destruction is properly called a Sinners day Psal 37.13 The Lord shall laugh at him for he seeth that his Day is coming Ezek. 21.25 And thou Prophane Prince of Israel whose day is come when Iniquity shall have an end By these Passages of Scripture we may see what days Sinners deserve and what days they might have looked for If God had dealt with the World according to the rigour of his Justice the Threatnings and Curse of his Law there would have been no other days but the days of the first Adam In his days Sin reigns unto Death and Death reigns Rom. 5.14.21 How terrible would it have been if there had been no other days but days for Sin and Death to Reign in It is through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that we have an Accepted time and a day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 Otherwise Men would do nothing else but sow the Seeds of Woe here and reap a full Harvest of Misery hereafter They would sin in this World and suffer in the World to come they would walk contrary to God in time and God would walk contrary to them to Eternity Vse 2. If Sinners are saved most eminently in Christ's Days O then examine your selves whether Christ's Salvation be applied to you whether God doth cloth you with the Garments of Salvation Isa 61.10 I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord that hath cloathed me with the Garments of Salvation Have you obtained the Salvation that is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2.10 Try your selves by proposing to your own Souls these following Questions 1. Were your Eyes ever opened liberty of sight makes way for liberty of Soul the opening of Mens Eyes is the first step that Christ takes towards their Salvation Isa 42.7 He is appointed to open the Blind Eyes to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison and them that sit in darkness out of the Prison-house As those Jews that were born in Babylon if they were not better inform'd would account Chaldea to be the Native Country of their Fathers and that they had always dwelt there and so be contented to stay in the Land of their Captivity They therefore needed to have their Eyes opened that they might know that Chaldea and the other Countries under the Babylonish Empire were the Land of their Captivity That God in wrath had slung them out into this strange Country Jer. 10.16 That their sins had driven them hither and scattered them among their Enemies Even so Sinners need to have their Eyes opened that they may know whose they are and where they are Men do not acknowledge and consider that they are under the Law of Sin the power of Satan and the wrath of God Sinners do not know themselves to be Condemned Men and Women shut up under a Sentence of Death and reserved to the Day of Wrath and Execution Job 21.30 Men are as careless and unconcerned as if they had not degenerated and fallen from God as if their Natures were not corrupted and depraved as if Mankind never knew a better state but were always as vitious loose and wicked as now they are Could Sinners be so quiet yea be so merry and jovial as they are if they knew they were God's Prisoners and that the Day of Judgment and Vengeance was at hand Consider therefore how it is with you did God ever open your Eyes and let in Light into your dark Prison Did you ever feel the Chains of Guilt that are about you the burden of Iniquity that is upon you Have you ever applied the Threatnings and Curse of the Law to your own Souls and so have in the bitterness of your Souls cried out that you are undone None are fit to be Christ's Patients but such as are broken in Heart or are capable of Christ's Comforts if they be not first Mourners in Zion Isa 61.1.2 The Prodigal came to himself and was sensible of his Misery before he took a Resolution that he would arise and come to his Father Luke 25.17.18 Did you ever see your worst and most dangerous Enemies to be within you Have you been made sensible of your vain Minds hard and whorish Hearts and carnal Affections 2. Were you ever effectually called 2 Tim. 1.9 He hath saved and called as with an holy Calling Hath God called you so as to save you from your unbelief and impenitency Hath God spoken to you with a strong hand Isa 8.11 Hath he laid the hand of his Power on your Hearts The Angels spake to Lot with a strong hand they did not only exhort him to hasten
and be gone out of Sodom but when he lingred they laid hold on the Hand of Lot of his Wife and of his Two Daughters and brought them out of Sodom Gen. 19.15 16. Even so Christ speaks with a strong hand to the Spouse Cant. 5.2.4.5 He not only pleaded and used Arguments why she should rise and open to him but he put in the Hand of his Spirit by the Hole of the Door His Hand was as a Key fitted to the Wards of the Lock he touched her Breasts and moved her Bowels wrought on her Affections and then she rose to open to her Beloved Hath Christ ever apprehended you as he did Paul Phil. 3.12 It is said the Converted Gentiles should follow the Church in Chains Isa 45.14 They shall come after thee in Chains Hath Christ cast sweet Chains of Light and Love about your Souls and thereby Powerfully draw you 3. Did you ever fly for Refuge and come to Christ The Heirs of Promise are said to fly for Refuge to take hold of the hope set before them Heb. 6.17 18. Men will not fly if they do not see a Cause and know a danger that is towards them Hath it been with you as with Noah's Dove it did fly Abroad but found all to be cover'd with Water and that there was no rest for the sole of her Feet and therefore she returned to the Ark and Noah stretched out his Hand and pluck'd her unto him into the Ark Gen. 8.39 So have you seen nothing but a Deluge of sin and wrath out of Christ and therefore have fled to him and he hath stretched out the Hard of his Spirit and plucked you into himself Have you joyned and given your selves to the Lord Zech. 2 11. 2 Cor. 8.5 For in the event Christ will save no more but those that are in him and of his Body Eph. 5.23 He is the head and Saviour of his Body All out of Christ must certainly sink into the mighty Sea of the wrath of God and perish everlastingly O therefore inquire whether you have ground to conclude that you are in him who is the true God and Eternal Life 1 John 5.20 As those Beasts that God would save were by him inclined to come and enter into the Ark so those that God will such are drawn to Christ John 6.44 4. Have you experienced this Salvation in the several parts of it to be executed upon you Hath Christ bound up your broken Hearts healed your wounded Spirits Isaiah 61.1 Hath he refined you from your Dross Mal. 3.23 Hath he circumcised your Hearts Col. 2.11 Have you felt Christ laying hold on your Hearts and cutting off the filthy Fore-skin that was upon them Jer. 4.4 Hath self-love been moderated reduced within its bounds The Waters covered all at first till God said Let the Waters be gathered together into one Place Gen. 1.9 So self-love overspreads the Soul till Christ doth bound and bank it in and raises up the love of God in our Souls What hath the Old Man suffered in you 1 Pet. 4.1 Have your Lusts received a deadly wound Or are you made free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.2 And doth it not reign in your Mortal Bodies Do you not obey it in the Lusts thereof Rom. 6.12 God justified Christ by raising him up from the Dead So the Gift of the Spirit to quicken us it 's the Execution of our Justification When God passes the Sentence of Life on Men Rom. 5.18 then he breaths and puts the Spirit of Life into them Ezek. 36.27 As the Beasts saved in the Ark were planted in the likeness of Noah's Death and Resurrection they entred into the Ark were buried in it and rose and came out of it with Noah so have we been planted in the likeness of Christ's Death and Resurrection Rom. 6.5 Hath Christ pick'd up and purged out Satan's Leaven out of our Souls and laid his own Leaven in our Hearts 1 Cor. 5.7 8. with Matth. 13.33 5. Have you answered Christ's ends in your Salvation He sayes that we being delivered out of the hands of our Enemies might serve him without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of our lives Luke 1.74.75 Of old in War those that the Conquerors did save alive did promise to become Servants Serva serviam Save me and I will serve thee was the words of a foiled Enemy in danger to be destroyed O hath Christ saved us when he might have destroyed us and doth not this Grace influence and oblige our Souls How much did Christ deny himself to save us and shall not we deny our selves to serve him Hath not Christ's self-denial redeemed us from Self-seeking 2 Cor. 5.14 15. He died that those that live might not henceforth live to themselves but to him that died for them Hath not Christ bought our Souls and hired our service for ever Hath God cloathed us with Garments of Salvation Isa 61.10 these will be also Garments of Praise Isa 61.3 Polybius tells us that if a Soldier was saved from Death in a Battel by his Fellow-Soldiers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Tribunes did judge that he that was saved should crown him that saved him and through his whole Life he should honour him as his Father and do all things to him and for him as if he were his natural Parent Surely if Christ hath saved us from the wrath of God the Paw and power of Satan we shall be induced to Honour Obey and Glorify our Saviour and Redeemer Every Day shall he be praised Psal 72.15 Vse 3d. If Sinners are eminently saved in Christ's Days then I would earnestly press and exhort you to seek after Salvation For Men to be saved is the glory of Christ's Days and will you cast a Reproach and Infamy on Christ's Days by neglecting of Salvation and running upon Destruction Will you envy and grudge to Jesus Christ the glory of saving you and will you put this honour on Satan that in a day of Light he is able to blind you and in a day of Salvation to destroy you and when so much is revealed to disparage his Baits and to spoil his Market that yet you see Reason to persist in your foolish and pernicious Choice and to adhere to your bitter and mortal Enemy Shall Death and Hell have a Harvest shall Satan captivate and inslave in a Day of Salvation Two things I shall insist on to prosecute this Exhortation 1. I shall lay before you some Motives to enforce this use of Exhortation 2. I shall lay down some Directions as to what you are to do in order to the obtaining and assuring this Salvation to you 1. I shall propound and press some Motives to stir you up to seek after Salvation Motive 1. This Salvation is a very great Salvation if we consider first the way of purchasing and procuring of it The Son of God assumed the nature of a Creature emptied himself and cast a thick Vail over
all his Glory How was Christ's immensity his omnipotency his eternity his omnisciency vailed by taking a Nature so weak confined to a Place and that did exist but lately and was to grow in Wisdom Luke 2.52 Christ became a Surety a Servant a Sacrifice was made Sin and a Curse to appease God's Wrath and redeem us from Destruction The Son of God was arrested as a Debtor to Divine Justice was arrained as a Criminal sentenced and executed as a Malefactor he hung on an infamous Tree among heinous Sinners he became the Captive of Death and lay in a dark and cold Grave All this Jesus Christ yielded and submitted to for to procure Salvation And shall we despise or neglect a Salvation that was purchased by such an amazing Condescention and such grievous sufferings of the Son of God Shall we undervalue and contemn the Travel of his Soul and the purchase of his Blood If the Ocean had been lessened to a Drop it had not been so much as for the Son of God to be made Man If a Prince should execute Ten Thousand of his Subjects for a Crime it had not been so much as to adjudge his own Son to a cruel death for an Offence so for God's Sword to awake against his only begotten Son was a more strange act of Justice than if he had executed all Mankind And will you not set a Price on that Salvation that is the product of the sorrows and sufferings of the Son of God 2. This Salvation is great considering the greatness of the Evils that we are saved and freed from 1st It is a Salvation from the second Death Rev. 2.11 He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second Death This is the hurting and killing Death the first Death only separates Soul and Body but this Death separates God and the Soul for ever The first Death deprives the Body of any sense or feeling of Pain but this second Death is attended with the most acute sense and feeling of Misery and Torments This Death kills all that is sweet and pleasant and leaves only a Carcase of being a bare Stock for God to graft Sufferings and Torments on It is sad for Men to be only to be miserable For to be a Footstool for God to tread on and a Mark for him to shoot at As Grapes when trod in the Wine-press all that is grateful and delightful is squeez'd out of them only a dry and harsh Husk remains and is left Even so shall it be when Sinners shall be trod in the Wine-Press of the Wrath of God Rev. 19.5 2dly Believers are preserved from a dark and dismal Prison Peter speaks of the Spirits in Prison 1 Pet. 3.19 All light of Joy and Comfort is shut out of this Prison all wo evil and misery is shut up in it This Prison is not only a Place of Confinement but also of Execution here is the Furnace of unquenchable Fire Matth. 3.12 Matth. 13.42 Sinners fall now into the Hands of God immediately Heb. 10.31 The Sovereign Judge executes his own Sentence 3dly Christ saves from a bottomless Pit Hell is so called Rev. 20.3 Sinners shall fall lower and lower and sink deeper and deeper into Misery and never know when they are at the bottom of their Misery they shall never say that now they know the utmost that God can inflict or the worst that they can suffer As in Heaven there will still be new Visions of Glory so in Hell there will be new Scenes of Misery for ever 4thly Christ saves and keeps from a Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone for ever Rev. 20.10.14 This Expression a Lake of Fire and Brimstone alludes to Sodom's Punishment God destroy'd it with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven and turn'd the Place on which Sodom and the other Cities stood into a dead-Sea or standing stinking Lake It is dreadful for Sinners to be drowned in this Lake of Fire and yet never to die Lusts are said to drown Men in Destruction and Perdition 1 Tim. 6.9 and yet they exist and continue to feel this tormenting Fire and Brimstone this Lake of Fire will never ebb away or dry up 5thly All Sorrows Pains Crying Death and any Evil whatsoever shall pass away be remembred no more but be forgotten for ever Rev. 21.4 All the Reproaches of God's People shall cease and their Tears shall be wiped away for ever Isa 25.8 3. This Salvation may well be called great Heb. 2.3 if we consider that Believers not only are freed from the greatest Evils but also enjoy the highest and best Good The Apostle Paul joins everlasting Glory with God's Salvation 2 Tim. 2.10 that the Elect may obtain the Salvation that is in Christ together with Everlasting Glory As Danicl's Three Companions were not only call'd out of and saved from the Fiery Furnace but also promoted and advanced to Honour Dan. 3. last so Saints shall not only be delivered from shame and sufferings but shall wear the Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 sit in the Throne of Christ Rev. 3.21 Reign in Life Rom. 5.17 and shine for ever in the Kingdom of their Father Matth. 13.43 They shall have an Eternal Day made by the Light of God's Countenance an everlasting Feast by the manifestation and displaying of his Love as a Banner over them Believers are Heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 and Heirs of the Kingdom James 2.5 Motive 2. We do exceedingly need this Salvation 1. We are Children of Wrath by nature Ephes 2.3 and so Hell is our Inheritance The Wrath of God might descend and be poured out on us as soon as we draw our first Breath in the World the Vessels of Wrath are then fitted for Destruction Rom. 9.22 and it is wonderful Patience that God forbears Sinners so long God had ground for a Controversy just cause for Enmity against us as soon as we were born God then saw the Plague of and the evil Treasure in our Hearts such Tares might have been rooted up such Weeds have been rooted out such corrupt Trees have been cut down long ago Do Men suffer Weeds to grow up and seed 2. We are Children of Disobedience by Practice Ephes 2.2 and so Hell is our Purchase We went astray as soon as we were born Psal 58.3 Our Whorish Hearts have continually departed from the Lord our whole unregenerate estate hath been nothing else but Barrenness and Enmity Idleness and Rebellion Jer. 32.23.30 The Children of Israel are said to have done nothing of all that God commanded them but had only done e-evil and provoked God to Anger The Carnal Mind is Enmity to God is not subject to him nor indeed can be They that are in the Flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.7.8 Sinners only sow the Seeds of their own wo being Fuel to the Fire of God's Anger and fit themselves for Destruction As a Fountain casteth out its Water so they cast forth their wickedness An evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart
about their Eternal State Hope is an Anchor cast within the Vale as soon as they set out and begin their Voyage they may cast their Anchor into their Port and Haven and so have their Hearts established Heb. 6.19 2. Those that have hope of this Salvation are supported under Afflictions and Persecutions 2 Tim. 18.9 Partake thou of the Afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God who both saved us and called us As if Paul should say Murmure not at faint not under the Afflictions of the Gospel for God hath saved you from the greatest Enemies and from the worst Evils and all your Afflictions shall turn to your Salvation Phil. 1.19 They shall further advance promote it they shall refine Saints from their Dross wean them from their strange Land and cause them to long more after their Father's House and Heavenly Country Have they any Reason to be discontented whom God loves 1 John 4.59 and that are Heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 and of the Kingdom James 2.5 3. These may die with comfort they have hope in Death Prov. 14.32 That which doth shipwrack others shall land them safe on the calm Shores of a Blessed Eternity that which impoverishes others shall enrich them Though Death doth pluck off the Rags of Mortality yet God shall cloath them with Robes of Glory When their Bodies drop down into the Pit their Souls shall be taken up into the Palace when their Flesh feeds Worms their Spirits shall feast with Saints and Angels though God doth kill them yet they may trust he will be their Salvation Joh 13.15 16. When the Eye of Sense shall be shut so that Saints shall no more see Worldly Objects yet then God will shew them his Salvation Psal 91. last They shall see God's Salvation from Sins Temptations Troubles Afflictions they shall see a freedom from Spiritual and Temporal Evils and also be translated into an Eternal Kingdom Christ will receive their departing Souls and be their Guardian and Trustee till the Resurrection O it is sweet when God adds to the Mercies of Sixty Seventy Eighty Years the enjoyment of a blessed Eternity It is Salvation that must crown Old Age with Glory Death is the critical time the Soul must then see Life or Death a Heaven must shine from God's pleasing Countenance or Hell be rained from his angry Face O how sweet is it then to see the truth of God's Promises in the enjoyment of an Eternal Salvation 4. Those interested in this Salvation shall be saved in the Day of the Lord 1 Cor. 5.6 when Sins will find out others and Vengeance will take hold of them then Believers shall be saved O what unexpressible comfort will it be to point out Jesus Christ at the Great Day and to say This is our God we have waited for him and he will save us and we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation Isa 25.9 This is a Salvation that will for ever set Souls beyond Gun-shot out of the reach of all Dangers Evils Enemies They shall then fully receive the end of their Faith even an Eternal Salvation 1 Pet. 1.9 Christ will appear unto Salvation to those that look for him Heb. 9. last Then Saints shall be Heirs in full possession of Salvation Heb. 1.14 They shall be redeemed from all Evils or possessed of all goodness be exalted to the Kingdoms and be placed in the Throne I shall lastly give you some Directions how you may be saved 1. You must be enlightned and convinced of your Danger you must see the Evils you are under and the Danger and Destruction you are exposed to Few do think themselves to be condemned to Death and to be sick unto Death That they are Children of Satan and Enemies to God They will not believe that they are captivated by the Devil enslaved by Sin and chained to the World The Scripture teaches us that Men are held Rom. 7.6 and that they are led 1 Cor. 12.2 they are held in the Snares of Sin and led by Satan Their Lusts are Bonds their depraved Wills and corrupt Affections are the Chains that the Devil leads them by Men discourse see or discern what are the true Evils that they should be saved from they are not sensible of the blindness and vanity of their Minds the deceit and desperate wickedness of their Hearts That their Wills are perverse and rebellious and the greatest Enemies to God and their own Souls They will account that Troubles Afflictions Reproaches Wants and Death are Evils but they do not perceive that their greatest Evils and worst Enemies are within themselves A Root of Bitterness an evil Treasure a Body of Death a Fountain of Iniquity that is in their Souls But Sinners must know what first cleaves to them abide in them do defile and deform their Souls and testify against them before God Isa 59.12 Our Transgressions are with us and as for our Iniquities we know them Yea Men have no liking of that which is the true Salvation Saints are said to love God's Salvation Psal 70.4 but a Carnal Creature doth not love but loath God's Salvation to be delivered from his false Notions his vain Thoughts his corrupt Opinions his inordinate love of himself and of the Creatures to be taken off from his sensual Pleasures carnal Delights to be brought to give his Heart to God set his Love on Christ to delight in Spiritual Future Invisible things this is a Salvation he dreads and hates and if he could go to Heaven with this vain Mind and carnal Heart it would be a place of Exile and of Punishment to him You must see your Danger that you are as Isaac bound laid on the Altar and ready to be sacrificed as a whole Burnt-Offering in the Flames of Wrath. You must hear the just dreadful Sentence Matth. 18.25 The Lord commanded the Debtor to be sold and Payment to be made It is dreadful to be sold into the Prison into a Place of Eternal Bondage Your Heart must be broken your Spirit wounded your Soul burdened under the sense of the guilt and filth of Sin else you will not have a due value of the Doctrine and Promise of Salvation 1 Tim. 1.15 We must account it worthy of all acceptation more valuable than all the Riches Pleasures Honours of the World If a Man were sinking and drowning he would not regard a Bag of Gold or a Box of Diamonds but prefer a Cord cast out to save him a Boat to take him in more than all the things of the World Believe that your Condition is exceeding bad and dangerous Lot's Wife looked back as one that doubted whether Sodom would be destroyed and Lots Sons in Law could not believe that the danger of Sodom was so great and its Destruction so near Gen. 19.14 So Sinners believe not that to be Carnally minded is Death that they that live after the Flesh shall die that they that are far off from God shall perish Psal 73.27
Cut off for our Sins that as a Surety he took on himself though he was a Green Flourishing Fruit-bearing-Tree yet all our Barrenness was charged all our Corrupt Fruits were hanged on the Tree of Life by Imputation therefore a Fire was kindled against him he was hewed down and cut off from the Land of the Living Isa 53.8 Christ's submitting to Circumcision Luke 2.21 and to Baptisme Matth. 3.13 16. that were Ordinances proper and peculiar to Sinners did shew that he took our Sins on him that we in Baptisme might have our Sins put away and his Righteousness put on us 3. Christ's Sufferings may well be called and accounted a part of his Righteousness because in bearing his Sufferings he admirably exercised his Graces and was most active in fulfilling the Law to the utmost height and pitch of Perfection Indeed mere Innocence is not Rewardable but as it is accompanied and attended with an Active Obedience and Righteousness He submitted to the Will of his Father Matth. 26.42 If this Cup may not pass from me except I drink it thy will be done He evidenced declared and demonstrated to the world that he loved the Father and would do what he commanded him the Threatning of Death against us was changed into a Commandment given to Christ that he should die Therefore he would go forth to offer himself to the hands of his Enemies and to meet Death John 14. last And Christ manifested wonderful Meekness and Patience towards his Enemies and expressed admirable Goodness in Praying for his Persecutors and Murtherers Luke 23.24 Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do Sinners hated Christ without a cause and he loved them without a cause What astonishing kindness did Jesus Christ discover towards his Sheep in that he would lay down his Life for them John 10.11 15. Was not the love of Christ a love passing knowledge Ephes 3.18 19. Was it ever known that when the Butcher came to the Fold to fetch Sheep and Lambs to kill them that the Shepherd should offer and substitute himself in their room and to be contented to be slain himself that they might be spared Some have thought that this was a strain of Love above and beyond what the Law requires from one Neighbour towards another Men are to Love their Neighbours as themselves but Christ loved his Sheep more than himself he forgot he denied himself was swallowed up in most pure and ardent Love towards them Love is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.10 So that Christ was highly Righteous and perfectly conformed to the Law in all his Sufferings and Sorrows Thus Jesus Christ did Answer the Character that the Church of Old gave of him that he was white and ruddy the chiefest amongst ten thousand Cant. 5.10 Jesus Christ was White in his Active and Ruddy in his Passive Obedience and so did at once commend us to God's Holiness and secure us from his Wrath and Justice As the First Adam in Transgressing the Positive Law God gave him not to eat of the Forbidden Fruit did violate the whole Moral Law he was unjust to God injurious to himself and cruel to all his Posterity whom he betrayed defiled and ruined So the Second Adam in Obeying a Positive Law to Die Fulfilled the whole Moral Law in perfect Love to God and Man and absolute Denial of Himself 2. The Second thing I am to insist on is to Evidence That Jehovah the Son of God is our Righteousness First No other but he that was God Manifested in the Flesh could now in this degenerate state of Fallen Man satisfie and fulfil the Commands of the Law The word of God is very pure Psal 119.140 The Command is exceeding broad Psal 119.96 The Law is very Spiritual Rom. 7.14 There is a wonderful depth in the Law of God it goeth deeper than the actual consent of the Will Others of the Ten Commandments as the Fifth Sixth Seventh and Eighth do forbid heart-evils for the Law is Spiritual It is the Law of an Omniscient heart-searching Lawgiver and therefore it is not only given to the Lip and Life but reaches and extends to the Soul But the Tenth Commandment is yet more deep and spiritual it forbiddeth the First buddings and stirrings of Sin in the Soul whereby the Will is Tempted by it self and sollicited to consent and comply These are the Neighings of a Carnal Heart after fleshly objects Jer. 13.27 I have seen thy Adulteries and thy Neighings These Neighings of an unclean heart do tend to Fornication and Adultery In these First Covetings and Lustings the Old Man doth as it were cast forth its seed into the Womb of the Heart but Lust doth not conceive in the Language of James James 1.14 15. till this Seed is received cherished and embraced in the Womb of the Will till it consents and yields to a Temptation Who now of the best of the Sons of Men can stand before this holy and perfect Law of God Dare the best of Saints in the World go to a Trial before God on the account of their Works Did not David himself decline such a Trial Did he not wave and deprecate it Psal 143.23 Enter not into judgment with thy Servant For in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified But this is that excellency and glory of Christ that he was a Spiritual Beauty among deformed Ethiopians an upright Soul among crooked Creatures one that did dwell in the Torrid Zone of Love when the Hearts of others were Congealed and Frozen towards God He had the highest flame of Love and not the least spark of Lust But the obedience of no others is of sufficient purity according to the Covenant of Works to be Tried at God's Touchstone or of Weight enough to hold in God's Ballance But Christ's Obedience for Purity and Weight will be approved before the Tribunal of God The Eye of Omnisciency can see no fault in it the Holiness of God is not dissatisfied with it but highly approves of it and delights in it As no meer Creature can satisfie for the Guilt of Sin and so prevent Eternal Death so the obedience of no mere Creature can Merit Eternal Life The Command of the Law must be fulfilled as well as the Curse executed there must be a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Righteousness that there may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Justification 2. No other but Jehovah could bear the Weight of Millions of Sins and endure sufficient Punishment for them The People of Israel were a Nation of heavy Iniquity Isa 1.4 Laden with Transgressions The Earth on which they did dwell is said to Reel and stagger like a Drunken Man and the Transgression of it that is of the Inhabitants of it is said to be heavy on it Isa 24.20 And if there was Heaviness of Iniquity in one People What was there in the Whole World No other Neck could bear such a Weighty Yoke of Punishment for Transgressions but
this Table The Altar Figured Christ and he Offered his Humane Nature as a Sacrifice on the Altar of his Divine Nature and this True Sacrifice was God's Meat Here Divine Justice did Feed and was satisfied What an Honour is this for us to be admitted as Guests yea as Children to God's Table and for our Faith to feed on the same Sacrifice that Justice is satisfied with that may well quiet our Consciences that Pacifies God's Wrath The Sacrifice and Meat on the Altar is called the Fruit of it Mal. 1.12 This Phrase is very observable that the Altar is compared to a Field that did yield and bear Fruit to the Priests they had not Lands and Inheritances as the other Israelites had but the Altar was their Inheritance and their Field the part of the Sacrifice offered on the Altar that was allowed to them for their Services was the Fruit of the Altar that they Fed on and were sustained by So Christ the Altar is our Field on the Fruit of it even his Sacrifice our Souls must Live In Rom. 10.5 it is said That he that doth the Law and the things required in it shall live by them But Christ Teacheth us another way of Subsistence for our Souls John 6.57 He that eateth me shall live by me Our Drink also is not in or from our selves we are in a Pit in which there is no Water Zech. 9.11 Jesus Christ was Figured by the Rock that was smitten by the Rod of Moses even the Curse of the Law Exod. 17.6 7. 1 Cor. 10.3.4 Though Christ was Moses his Minister as a Servant made the Law and perfectly obeyed it was Holy to God Harmless to others and undefiled in himself yet he Felt the Rod of Moses he endured the Curse We were in a Dry and Barren Wilderness where no Water was we must have perished with Thirst had not Christ been Smitten He did cleave his Soul and Body were separated from each other and so Spiritual Waters did gush out for us to Drink God's Sword might have devoured our Flesh and his Arrows have been made drunk with our blood Deut. 32.42 but Jesus Christ gave us his Flesh to be Meat indeed and his Blood to be Drink indeed John 6.53 54 55. We are too prone to dig and seek Spiritual Water in our selves but we must look for it from Christ The Travelling Israelites passing through the Valley of Bacha did make it a Well they digged deep to find Water in the Earth but yet at last they were disappointed and the Rain did fill the Pools Psal 84.6 They sought Water from beneath but They received it from above So we would find Water in our selves but we must perish if Christ doth not Rain upon us Psal 72.6 He shall come down like the Rain on the Mown Grass as Showers that water the Earth When the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their Tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them I the God of Israel will not forsake them I will make the Wilderness a Pool of Water and the dry Land Springs of Water Isa 41.17 18. If any Man thirst saith Christ let him come to me and drink John 7.37 we cannot live by a fullness and sufficiency in our selves but we must live by Bread from without by eating of the Flesh and drinking of the Blood of Christ And this also is given us freely We reap that we sowed not and eat that we did not labour for as the Israelites lived in the Wilderness without Plowing and Sowing 3. We are Healed not by any Remedy we have invented or by any Medicine that we have prepared but by a wonderful Remedy that Jesus Christ hath provided The Israelites Murmured in the Wilderness and were for it bitten by Fiery Serpents and their burning poyson did kill many of them those that were hurt were utterly at a loss They knew no Physical Herbs no Soveraign Drugs no proper Remedies to apply They knew not how to draw out the Mortal Poyson but were destroyed by it Numb 21.6 7 8. The Wilderness they were in afforded no Medicines but God devised prepared revealed a Remedy he directed Moses to make a Brazen Serpent and to hang it on high upon a Pole and promised to bless this Remedy and render it effectual that whosoever looked to it should be healed and live So Mankind was bitten by Satan that Old Serpent in Paradise He drew them to Discredit God's Threatning he Leavened them with hard and base Thoughts of God that he envied their higher Knowledge and greater Happiness and so put a restraint on them Forbidding them to eate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and so drew them to Disobedience and to cast off the Authority and Yoke of God Hereby Humane Nature was corrupted and poysoned in our First Parents and by them this Vermin did spread and diffuse it self into all their Posterity and infected the whole World This Bite of the Old Serpent was deadly Tribulation and Anguish belongs to every Soul that Sins Rom. 2.9 The wages of sin is death Rom. 6. last Sin hath reigned unto Death Rom. 5. last but God hath provided a Remedy that we could never have imagined or thought of and was most remote from the Sentiments and Apprehension of the Natural Man The Son of God came down from Heaven took our Flesh and Suffered in our Nature was lifted up to the Cross and died on it that whosoever looks to him and believes to him and believes on him may not perish but have Everlasting Life John 3.14 15. Jesus Christ was lifted up before the eyes of God when he was Crucified and he is lifted up before our eyes when his Death is Preached and he is evidently set forth as Crucified before us Gal. 3.1 We are not to compose Medicines or to provide Plaisters of our own to heal our selves but we are to look to and make use of God's Remedy continually Ainsworth on Numb 21. doth probably assert That the Israelites as they Journied and did remove from one Station to another carried the Brazen Serpent along with them and set it up again in their Camp and as often as any one was bitten he looked to it for Healing So we must receive Christ to dwell in our hearts by Faith Ephes 3.17 and still carry him about with us that as often as we contract New Guilt we may look to him with a Spiritual eye and be Healed The Life that we live in the flesh we must live continually by the Faith of the Son of God Galat. 2.20 All the Healing Remedies are out of our selves and are in Christ His Stripes are Healing Isa 53.5 he hath healing beames Mal. 4.2 out of the side of the Altar there came forth Living Waters that healed the corrupt and dead Sea Ezek. 41.1 2 8. so out of Christ's side there came forth Water and Blood John 19.34 The Blood of Christ is a Soveraign Remedy against the Guilt
Rom. 7.18 As Jacob did Travel towards Canaan yet he halted on one Foot as he Journied on Gen. 32.31 So though Saints do walk with God and hold on their way towards Heaven Job 17.9 yet they halt on the Unregenerate side and part With my Mind I serve the Law of God ' but with my Flesh the Law of Sin Rom. 7. last This is a wonderful Mystery of the Gospel that Believers are perfected as to the Conscience Heb. 9.14 Heb. 10.14 Though the Sacrifices of the Law could not make them that brought them perfect as touching the Conscience Heb. 9.9 they did Shadow Pardon they did Typify Reconciliation but they could not confer and bestow Pardon and Peace But this is the Excellency and Perfection of Christ's Sacrifice that it doth Purge and Perfect Conscience though the Soul and its Faculties are not perfected by a Compleat Inherent Righteousness yet Conscience is Perfected and hath no more ground to Accuse and Condemn than as if there were no Corruption remaining no Sin dwelling in us O what a Mystery of Grace is this that Conscience should be perfected and yet the Soul remain imperfect in Grace 8. Our own Inherent Righteousness is so defective and comes so short of a full Conformity to the Law that we cannot dwell at home but must fly unto and inhabit in the City of Refuge Though the Old Man be wounded in every Member in the Saints yet it is not Maimed no one of our Members on Earth is perfectly cut off 3 Cor. 5. And therefore we must not stay at home or dare to be found in our own Righteousness Phil. 3.9 As the Man-slayer was not to continue at his House Numb 35.15 22 24 25. He was in hast to leave it and fly to the City of Refuge and there to abide till the Death of the High-Priest Tho' a Man did without Enmity Hatred or Design but by meer Chance Kill his Neighbour yet he must not abide at Home Then we that have sinned knowingly and that with the bent and purpose of our Hearts have Transgressed a Righteous Law set before us do much more need Jesus Christ as a City of Refuge We are in more danger of Revenging Justice than the Man-slayer was of the Avenger of Blood O! how much Mercy is it that we have a City of Refuge to fly to tho' we have sined greatly and heinously When Jesus Christ our High-Priest died when the Temple of his Body was destroy'd John 2.19 then was this City of Refuge built up It is wholly Inhabited by Creatures that have been Guilty of Heinous and Innumerable Transgressions O what encouragement is this that there is yet Room in the City of Refuge to receive Guilty Creatures that fly to it And what great need have we of it not only for our Acts that are meer Sins but also for the best of our Duties and Performances There is Iniquity that cleaves to our Holy Things Exod. 28.36 37 38. We need an High-Priest not only for our Deformed Facts of Sin but for our Beautiful Acts of Worship by reason of the Dross that is in them our High-Priest did bear the Iniquity of our Holy Things they lay Heavy on him And can we purchase Heaven by those things that we need a Pardon and Jesus Christ endured a Heavy Punishment for If the Man-slayer did come forth and was found without the Borders of the City of Refuge the Avenger of Blood might kill him Numb 35.26 27. So if the best of Saints should go forth of Christ the City of Refuge and think to dwell at Home by trusting in their own Inherent Righteousness God's Revenging Justice might destroy them therefore it is our wisdom and safety to abide in Christ 1 John 2.28 Little children abide in him Because we are but weak little children not grown to perfect strength and full stature in Grace we are still to abide in Christ The Apostle Paul seems to me to refer to that expression of the Man-slayer's being found without the Border of the City of Refuge Numb 35.26 where he expresses it as his Great Design and Desire to be found in Christ Phil. 3.9 The Man-slayer and the Avenger of Blood might converse freely and comfortably together without fear of danger in the City of Refuge So a God of Vengeance and a Believing Sinner may have sweet Communion with each other in the Lord Jesus That Just One died for the Unjust to bring them to God not as Guilty Malefactors to be punished but as Reconciled Friends to be Embraced 1 Pet. 3.19 By the better hope we draw nigh to God Heb. 7.19 Noah though a sincere and Just Man was not to stay in his Tent or House but to leave it and enter into the Ark that he might not be Drowned by the Waters of the Flood so we must go out of our selves fly to and trust in Christ as God's Ark of Salvation that we may be deliver'd from Destruction by the Deluge of God's Wrath. 9. We do not ascend up to Heaven by a Lofty Tower or by a Proud Babel of our own Building the Top of our highest Structure cannot reach Heaven as those Foolish Builders thought theirs would do Gen. 11.3 4. Our Sins are increased and grown up to Heaven Ezra 9.6 If our Trespass be grown up to Heaven as Ezra acknowledges if our Sins affront provoke and dare God to destroy us How shall our Righteousness grow up to Heaven to enter into it and take possession of it We de serve by our Iniquities to be thrown down to Hell and do not Merit by our Righteousness to Ascend up to Heaven If Men could fly to Heaven by the Wings of their own Works or get up thither by the Ladder of their own Righteousness What need was there that God should provide and set up a Ladder to Heaven for us Gen. 28.12 13 14 15 16 17. Jacob was Travelling to Padan-Aram and in a Dream God minds him of the Great Journey up to Heaven and discovers to him a Ladder the Foot of which did stand on Earth and the top of which did reach Heaven By this Ladder was signified both the Person of Christ that was to be God-man and so at once to stand on Earth and reach to Heaven and the Office of Christ that as Mediator was to Reconcile God and Man and so joyn Earth and Heaven together The Foot of this Ladder stood in Bethel which signifies the House of God In the Church Christ the Mediator is Revealed and Preached At the top of this Ladder is the Gate of Heaven Gen. 28.16 17. Heaven is only accessible and open over this Ladder to those that climb and ascend up by it This Ladder is now Compleat in all the Rongs or Parts of it the Foot of the Ladder stood near the Head of Sleeping Jacob this might point that the Ladder is Raised from Christ's Sleeping the sleep of Death Jesus is now not only Born and hath Died but is Risen again and
Bashan were given to Israel that they might have a passage to Canaan their Inheritance Deut. 2.30 Deut. 3.1 So God gives the Earth to his People that they may have a passage through it to their Heavenly Country 8. All the Afflictions of Justified persons 1. Are allayed and mitigated Saints do acknowledge that God punishes them less than their Iniquities do deserve Ezra 9.13 the Wind is not so high the Furnace is not so hot the Burden is not so heavy as their sins do Merit yet God as a Father accounts the Sufferings of his People to be too much Isa 40.1 Thou hast received double at the hand of the Lord for thy sins These Sufferings that are not enough to Rigorous Justice are too many to Fatherly Mercy He stops his Hand sheathes his Sword throws away his Rod when yet our Sins call for more Strokes and Stripes He refines us but not with Silver Isa 48.10 he doth not so long keep us in the Furnace of Affliction till our Dross is quite separated and consumed for then our whole life would be nothing else but a Series of Misery and Sufferings 2. Our Afflictions have a new face they are not the fruits of pure Vindictive Justice or Wounds from an Incensed Implacable Judge but Chastisements from a Father who tho' he Corrects in time yet is pacified and reconciled for Eternity Yea Afflictions spring from God's Care of us and Love to us Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth If you endure chastening God dealeth with you as sons Heb. 12.6 7. Those that are without Chastisement are Bastards and not Sons those that are an Illegitimate spurious seed the Father is ashamed to own and acknowledge them or to take any care about their breeding and education and regards not to correct them when they do amiss but a Lawful Posterity are better bred duely taught and timely corrected and God Chastens them with Judgment not in Anger Jer. 10.24 God may be said to Correct with Judgment when he considers their Relation and the Nearness of his People to him Lam. 2.20 Behold O Lord and consider to whom hast thou done this and when God considers rather how little his People can bear than how much they deserve and God hath gracious ends in Afflicting his People 1. That they may not be Condemned and perish with the wicked World 1 Cor. 11.32 We are judged and chastened of the Lord that we may not be condemned with the World 2. God Afflicts to purge away sin to separate us from our dross of Iniquity and sin of Hypocrisie Isa 1.25 this is the fruit and end of Corrections to take away sin Isa 27.9 to drive away that Spiritual folly that is in our hearts God is a Refining Fire that he may not be a consuming fire as a Physitian takes away Blood to allay a Feaver and cure a Disease 3. God designs by Afflictions to make us partakers of his Holiness Heb. 12.10 11. that we might learn more to live to him and be brought more to live on him that we might less solace our selves in the Creature and more delight in himself that we might be more conformed to him and be better fitted to converse with him Though Afflictions are Punishments to the Old Man to pull it down yet they are Mercies to the New Man to build it up A poor Man would quietly suffer his Lord to pull down an old decaying sinking Cottage if he did believe that he designed to raise and build up a strong and better House all Afflictions tend but to wast and extinguish the life of the First Adam in the Body to make room for and to let in the glorious life of Christ into it at the Resurrection 4. This is a weighty and powerful consideration to lessen and lighten the anguish and bitterness of our Afflictions that Justification gives a Fatal and Mortal Blow at the root of them The time is coming when the Inhabitants of Zion shall not any more say that they are sick for their Iniquities shall be forgiven them Isa 33. last God shall wipe away all tears from the eyes of Saints there shall be no more pain sorrow or crying no more Death Revel 21.4 No more Curse Revel 22.3 The days of Saints mourning shall be at an end Isa 60.20 All Afflictions are but short and momentary and therefore but light 2 Cor. 4.17 9. Death is an Advantage to Justified Persons Death is theirs 1 Cor. 3.22 To die is gain Phil. 1.21 In Death the Wicked Fear the greatest evil but the Righteous hope for the greatest good Prov. 14.32 When the Body falls under the Bondage of Corruption the Souls of Believers are perfectly freed from the Bondage of Sin Though it be a Mournful Seed-time to our Flesh it is sown in corruption 1 Cor. 15.42 yet it is a Joyful Harvest to the Spirit for it reaps Everlasting Life Gal. 6.8 Death that is in it self the most terrible thing hath Colour put into its pale Cheeks and it is changed into a comfortable thing Death in Christ is the purchase of all our happiness and Death to Believers is the way to possess it by Christ's Death they are Heirs in Reversion by their own Death they are Heirs in Possession that which utterly impoverishes others greatly enriches them that which kills the Body perfectly cures the Soul When our baser part shall return to the Dust feed Worms dwell in the darkness of the Grave our better part shall be called up to the Marriage Feast to see the Face of God and dwell in glorious Light and Reign in a Blessed Life Christ hath made Death Mortal and threatens to be a Plague a Deadly disease to it and to be Destruction to the Grave Hos 13 14. 10. Justified Persons shall Rise by the Power of Christ their Head and Second Adam 1 Cor. 15.22 His Spirit will find out the Ruines and Rubbish of its old Temple and build it up again as a Glorious and Everlasting habitation for it self Rom. 8.11 in Saints that shall be found alive at the last day mortality shall be swallowed up of life 2 Cor. 5.4 Dead Saints shall be raised and in them Death shall be swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15.54 a Body shall be formed up again so the Grave shall lose its Victory this Body shall be animated and alive so Death shall lose its sting 1 Cor. 15.55 when the Soul bears the Image of Christ in Holiness 2 Cor. 3. last and the being in a Glorious Immortality 1 Cor. 15.49 then we shall be satisfied with his likeness Psal 17. last then Christ will give his Members clear and full Evidences of their Adoption Rom. 9.23 when their Bodies shall be redeemed from the Bondage of Corruption and Soul and Body both shall possess a lot in the Heavenly Canaan Dan. 12. last As Saints die to the Lord Rom. 14.8 sleep in him 1 Thes 4.14 so they shall be made alive in Christ 1
no hurt but good for their Bonds were broken or consumed Dan. 3.23.25 And is it not as great a Miracle of Grace that Believers walk with God that is a consuming Fire Heb. 12. last and yet have no hurt but good God is for them Rom. 8.31 How low did Jesus Christ stoop that he might be the Lord our Righteousness He thus represents his own Sufferings Psal 22.14 I am poured out like water this seems to point at his Bloody Sweat on the ground All my bones are out of Joint This did intimate that Christ's Body was so stretched out and extended on the Cross that all his bones were put out of Joint He further complains that his Heart was melted as wax within him and this was by the sence he had of the Heat and Fire of Gods Wrath. The Manna which came down from Heaven was ground in a Mill or beaten in a Mortar and then baked in a pan to be Food for the Israelites Numb 11.8 So Jesus Christ was Bruised Isa 53.10 as Manna in the Mill or Mortar yea this Lamb of God was rosted in the Fire of his Father's Wrath Exod. 12.8 9. The Sacrifices of the Law were not only killed but burnt afterwards which was a kind of second death to them Levit. 1.13 yea there were whole burnt Offerings Psal 51.19 and this whole Burnt-Offering did signifie not only that Christ's Body was wounded but his Soul did suffer and was made an Offering for Sin Isa 53.10 The sense that Jesus had of his Fathers displeasure and forsaking of him was a kind of second death to Christ As Adam was a Criminal cast out of paradice so Christ was as a prisoner led out of the Garden to suffer Death He became a Servant that he might Justifie us Isa 53.11 O how would this affect our Souls that where we deserved all the Creatures should be withdrawn and should serve us no more as God threatens Hos 2.8 9 10. That when the Lord of Glory should take on him the form of a servant 2 Phil. 6.7 8. we deserved that the Flower and the Wine-press would feed us no more Hos 8.2 yet that then the Son of God should come down from Heaven to feed us with his Flesh and chear us with his Blood John 6.53 54 55.57 Flesh is weak and because of this Christ is said to be Crucified through weakness 2 Cor. 13.4 yet this Flesh of Christ is set forth by bread that strengthens Man's Heart Psal 104.15 Christ's Blood is figured by Wine in his last Supper Though the Blood of Christ was shed with unexpressible Anguish and Pain yet this is set forth by Wine that chears Man's Heart Psal 104.15 Our strength comes out of the weakness our comfort comes out of the Sorrow of Christ Christ was the true Rock smitten by the Rod of Moses the Curse of the Law As that Rock being smitten did cleave so Christ being smitten with the Curse his Soul and Body did part that water of Life might flow forth to us and that we might enter in and dwell safely in him Cant. 2.14 O my Dove that art in the clefts of the Rock We had vastly run in debt with God and that God should pay himself out of the Sufferings and Blood of his Son We had proudly exalted our selves against God and that Christ should debase himself so low to satisfie for our pride and that his Self-denial should make a Recompence to God for our Self-seeking We dishonoured God Reproached Blasphemed him as a poor portion as a hard Master as a Righteous Law-giver And how wonderful is that the Reproaches wherewith we Reproached God should fall on Christ Rom. 15.3 4. Though we are Justified so Freely yet so Righteously The Mercy-seat that covers the Curse of the Law is sprinkled with Christ's Blood Levit. 16.13 14. We are Justified through the Redemption that is in Christ Rom. 3.24 The prison is opened to them that were bound because the Life of Christ is given as a Ransom Matth. 20.28 Christ died as a Testator that we might not be executed as Criminals and Malefactors When Christ became a Testator he stript himself as it were of all good Peace Liberty and exposed himself to all Evil to Sufferings Pain Reproaches and Death it self and all this was to enrich us 2 Cor. 8.9 and that all good things might come to us in a Righteous way that all Blessings might Swim to us in the Blood of our Testator Christ would have had nothing to give to us if he had not bought off our Transgressions from us and purchased all good for us As Moses lifted up his Rod over it and the Red Sea was divided Exod. 14.16.21 So we may by Faith lift up the Cross of Christ over the deep Sea of the Wrath of God and it will divide and give us passage to the Heavenly Canaan Grace shall Reign through Christ's Righteousness to Eternal Life Rom. 5. last 5. What Praise doth this call for that God and Christ do so often call us and so earnestly invite us to come into this Righteousness of the Son of God Come to me all ye that Labour and are heavy Laden and I will give you rest Matth. 11.28 Look unto me all the ends of the Earth and be saved Isa 45.22 Christ tells us that This is the Work of God that you Believe on him whom he hath sent John 6.29 This is the great Work that God requires and is best pleased with It is a pleasure to Christ to see his Seed and to behold the Travel of his Soul Isa 35.11 This satisfies Christ when he seeth Souls Feed on the Bread that he gives to wash in the Fountain he hath opened and to use Remedies he hath provided and to put on the garment of Righteousness he hath prepared He hungers after the Justification and Salvation of Men and he is satisfied when Sinners trust on him for Justification and look to him for Salvation That Christ doth thrust forth Labourers into his Harvest to reap perishing Sinners though they are under many fears difficulties dangers discouragments yet Christ thrusts them out into his Harvest Matth. 9. last And then doth charge his servants by their earnest importunity to compel guests to come in Luke 14.23 God's pleasure hath been fulfilled in Bruising of Christ and now it is God's pleasure that Men should listen to and obey his call and run to Christ O that it should be the pleasure of God to Bruise Christ and to Heal us to Condemn Christ and to Justifie us O that it should be the pleasure of the Lord to exercise Severity on Christ and extend Mercy to us Christ charges his Servants by their earnest importunity to compel Guests to come into his Feast Luke 14.23 Famishing Sinners do not feel their wants and they do not press into Christ's House but the Servants are commanded by urgent and continual Solicitations to compel them Christ would have his House filled with Guests and his Provisions
said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Righteousness of God so the word might be render'd and this Phrase the Righteousness of God seems to be taken and be proved from my Text Jehovah our Righteousness 2. Faith is said to be in the Blood of Christ Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth for a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood All the Garments of Christ are said to smell of Myrrh Aloes and Cassia Psal 45.7 As Christ's Garments are expounded to be his Graces so they may also be interpreted to be the Actions of Christ that flow from those Graces Garments signifie Actions so it is said they washed their Robes white in the Blood of the the Lamb Rev. 7.14 So these Garments point out the Active Obedience of Jesus Christ It is said also That Christ gave himself an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour to God Ephes 5.2 Zanchy on the place observes the Emphasis of the Apostles words that Christ is said to be first an Offering and then a Sacrifice There were Offerings of First-fruits and Fine Flower and of such things as had not life but living creatures were offered up in Sacrifice and then their blood was spilt and their lives taken away Christ's being an Offering may point out the Holiness of Christ's Life and his being a Sacrifice did signifie his Sufferings and his Death How satisfactory and refreshing is it to us to Read and Hear of the sweet smelling Garments of Christ and the sweet smelling Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus It was foretold of our Lord Jesus Christ that his Ears both his Ears should be opened Psal 40.6 one Ear was opened as he was Man to hear and obey the Commands of the Moral Law and Christ's other Ear was opened to listen to and comply with that peculiar Commandment that was given to him As Mediator to lay down his Life Joh. 10.18 Innocent Man owed but a single debt to God and that was Obedience to his Law but Fallen and Guilty Man is bound to God in a double Bond. He owes God Obedience as he is a Creature and he owes God Glory to be raised out of his Sufferings Misery and Torments as he is a Guilty Creature Therefore Sins are called Debts Matth. 6.12 because the Transgressors of the Law for Non-payment of the Debt of Obedience contract another and New Debt and that is an Obligation to endure Punishment As they wrong and rob God by their sins of Omission and Commission so they are bound to make Restitution to God by their eternal Sufferings and Torments 1. Jesus Christ was to obey the Commands of the Law Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do Jesus Christ was to Glorifie God in the Nature of a Creature in the Form of a Servant he was to be a perfect Pattern of Piety and an example of Righteousness on Earth where there had not been a full and exact Instance of Righteousness and Obedience fince the Fall Eccles 7.20 There is not a just Man on earth that lives and sins not The Earth hath been full of violence and wickedness before God Gen. 6.13 How much was it then for the Glory of God and the Honour of his Law that there should be a Man Perfectly Holy and Just on Earth A Virgin-Soul among Whores and Adulteresses A Diligent Servant among Drones and Lazy Loiterers A Loyal Subject among Rebels and Enemies How little Honour had been given to the Law if only the Penalty of it had been inflicted and its Curse been executed but the Commands of it had never been obeyed and fulfilled Is it for the Credit or Glory of an Earthly Prince to have no Obedience paid to his Laws but only the Penalties annexed to them to take hold of and be executed on all that are under his Jurisdiction And shall God's Laws never be obeyed Shall the Penalties of them only be executed As a Foreign Prince if he Travels through the Territories and Dominions of another King doth owe him a Topical Allegiance and must needs be subject to his Laws so the Son of God though he was a Rightful and a Glorious King yet Travelling through the Dominions of his Father in the nature of a Creature to Redeem Captives must needs be subject to the Laws that God gave to all Mankind The High-Priest under the Old Testament was an eminent Type of Christ he was bound to wear a Plate of Gold joyned to his Mitre on his Forehead Exod. 25.36 37 38. This did intimate and teach us that the true substantial High-Priest was to be Perfectly holy and absolutely devoted to God Tho' God may spy Faults and observe Blemishes and Spots in the best of Saints yet he may look to the Forehead of Jesus our Great High-Priest and there read nothing but Holiness to the Lord. The Law of God was perfectly impressed on Christ's Heart and fully expressed in his Life He loved God to the Height of utmost Perfection He loved Men even his own that were in the World with the most pure ardent and intense Love John 13.1 he was so intent so fixed in Exalting and Magnifying God that when his Soul was troubled in the prospect of his Sufferings yet he Pray'd thus Father glorifie thy own Name John 12.27 28 29. As if he should say However I am clouded and eclipsed whatever bitter Cup I drink whatever heavy Burden I bear yet Father glorifie thy own Name As the First Adam ruined us by his Self-seeking so the Second Adam raised and Recovered us by his Self-denyal and Christ's Love to his People was stronger than Death He leaped over Mountains of Difficulties and brake through Hosts of Enemies and Sufferings to Redeem them He did forget himself for a time that he might remember us to eternity He veiled his Glory and Majesty to manifest his Love to us We are all as an unclean thing Isa 64.6 but Jesus Christ is that Holy Thing that was Born of the Virgin Mary Luk. 1.35 he came into this World without a Foreskin on his Heart and therefore was that Holy Seed that was Figured and Typified by Circumcision Phil. 3.3 And we may Glory in him on this account The Fountain was pure from his Conception and Birth and the Stream that did flow from it was ever after clear and clean It was requisite that Christ should be Holiness to God that he might be made Righteousness to us 2. Christ's Sufferings may well be accounted a part of his Righteousness For 1. They were the Fulfilling of the Law given to him as Mediator that he should make his Soul an Offering for Sin and pour it out to the death Isa 53.10 12. Joh. 10.18 As the Moral Law belonged to Christ as a Man he could not possess our Humane Nature in Purity or order his Conversation with Beauty without submission to it so the Ceremonial Law belonged to him as a Jew and he was obliged to die as
he was a Mediator He must be obedient to death even the death of the Cross Phil. 2.7 8. 2. The Sufferings of Christ were part of his Righteousness because they were the enduring of what Jesus Christ as a Surety did undertake to undergoe If one Man doth bind himself in a Bond to pay the Debt of another it is but Justice that he should satisfie it if he refuse or decline it he acts contrary to the Rules of Righteousness So when Jesus Christ took our Debt on him it was Righteous that he should pay it off A Surety doth first make the Debt his own and then binds himself to the payment of it So Christ first took our sins themselves and then became liable to punishment for them As the Sacrifices of the Law had first Sins put and laid on them Levit. 1. v. 4. and then thereby were exposed to wounds and death If Jesus Christ had not been made sin he could not have been made a Curse 2 Cor. 5.21 Gal. 3.13 Christ's being made a Curse seems somewhat different from his being made Sin and was a Fruit and Consequent of it The Curse could not Fall Fasten or Abide on a Person but where Sin opened the Door drew and pluckt it upon him Jesus Christ by becoming a Surety was snared was taken by the words of his own Mouth Prov. 6.2 Jesus Christ said to the Father Psal Ch. 40.7 8. Loe I come that is to be an Atoning Sacrifice I delight to do thy will O my God that is to offer up my Body once for all Heb. 10.9 10. Now Jesus Christ was come into the Hand of his Father to be punished Prov. 6.3 It was just for God the Father to wound and bruise him to call the Sword of his Justice to awake against him Zach. 13.6 7. verses the Cup could not pass from Christ but he must drink it the Debt must be exacted of him Chastisement must be laid on him Isa 53.5 because Jesus Christ had engaged as a Surety to draw near to God sitting on a fiery Throne holding a flaming Sword and clothed with the garments of vengeance Jer. 30.21 Sins being laid on Christ Isa 53.6 Sorrows and Sufferings were to follow Isa 53.4 because he bare our sins he must also be burthened with our sorrows It was just with God on this account to wound the Man that was his Son and to smite the Man that was his Fellow Zech. 13.7 God's Sword had as it were slept for a long time in the Scabbard of his long-suffering his Justice had been silent and not roared against Sinners But now the Surety was come the great Atoning Sacrifice was presented and exhibited it was high time for God's Sword to awake The Times before Christ were the days of Forbearance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 3.26 God took Christ's Word till then but now the Day of Payment was come and therefore Christ could not be secured from a Dark Hour or be exempted from drinking of a bitter Cup Matth. 26.39.42 John 12.27 28. he came into the World to have such a Terrible Hour and to walk through the Dark Valley of the shadow of Death As he was loaded with our Sins God must not only forsake him Psal 22.1 but wound him Isa 53 5. He had not only a dark Night as the Light of God's pleasing Countenance was hid from him but he felt Dews and experienc'd the Drops of the Night Cant. 5.2 as God's punishing hand was stretch'd out against him Christ had not only a very Dark Night but a very Stormy and Tempestuous Night as we had estranged our selves from God and had forgotten our Relation to him so God estranged himself from Christ and seemed for a time to veile and forget his Relation to his Son to carry it as a Stranger and as one unconcerned in the Sufferings of Jesus Christ Psal 22.1 2. My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me Why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring O my God! I cry unto thee in the day time but thou hearest not and in the Night season and am not silent O! how strange is this that God should thus withdraw himself from his own Son that the Father should deliver him up into the hands and leave him to the Will of his Enemies That God's ear should be stopt and his Bowels shut up against his own Son That Jesus Christ should roar out his doleful Complaints and yet God be as it were deaf and dumb to him and inexorable towards him when the Son was not silent to his Father day or night Surely Christ's Cup was very bitter his Burthen heavy and the Fire that Roasted this Lamb of God was very hot and scorching or else Christ that had the Power of the God-head to support him was now in the midst of his Enemies and near the end of his Sufferings would never thus have roared out The words of the Psalmist David do exactly Point out and Foretel that which Matthew Records Matth. 27. v. 46. And about the Ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani that is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Yet Jesus Christ justifies the Father in forsaking of him in not hearing of him But thou art holy O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel Psal 22.3 Though others tast thy Goodness admire and glorifie thy Grace and thou inhabitest their Praises yet thou art deaf to me I feel thy Wrath and Severity But thou art holy in all this I am come into thy hand as a Surety and must fall under thy weighty Arm as a God of Vengeance This was the true reason and cause why Jesus was wanting to himself did not plead his own Cause or more confute the Slanders and wipe off the Reproaches his Enemies cast on him clear and justifie himself from their Calumnies False and Forged Accusations Mark 15.3 4 5. Jesus Christ kept silence he Answered nothing to what the High-Priest charged him with He also Answered nothing to Pilate so that Pilate marvelled that he would not plead for and defend himself that he carried it as if he had no Reply no Reproofes in his Month to vindicate himself and silence his Adversaries This Silence of Christ was foretold Isa 53.7 He was dumb he opened not his Mouth The truth was that Jesus took our Sins and bare our Iniquities in order to his submitting to Punishment for them Isa 53.6 1 Pet. 2.24 Confusion of face did belong to us Dan. 9.8.9 Guilt might stop our Mouths seale up our Lips We had cause to lie down in our Shame to cover our selves with Confusion never to open our Mouths to deny extenuate or justifie our Practises Ezek. 16. last Christ now stood in our place he did as it were assume our Person Silence did become us Our Cause was so bad that it could not be pleaded or defended It was Just now that Christ should be Condemned Executed