Heb 13 14 except we walke on continually in the loue of god of our neighbour wherefore as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrues exhorteth vs f 12 1 Let vs runne with patience the race that is set before vs. Let vs lift vp our handes 12 which hang downe and our weake knees and make straight steppes to our feete 13 least that which is halting be turned out of the way but let it rather bee healed Yea g Exo. 12.11 let vs make hast to the promised land with our loynes girte our shoes on our feete and staues in our haÌ„ds that we stay not in the way whiche leadeth from this worldly Egypt vnto the heauenly promised land And this much concerning the manner of walking in the way whiche leadeth into euerlasting life * 4. The end of the way is euerlasting life Now remaineth that we shew you the ende of the way which in order is the fourth circumstance The ende of the way wherein the Apostle exhorteth vs to walke is euerlasting life Neither is it without cause that I propose vnto you the ende of our walking For the end of all actions being first in intention and last in execution is by experience found to be of that force that it draweth vs on although it stand with our perill to accoÌ„plish that we intend in hope to atchiue the end in our minds first proposed And therfore Christ our Sauiour to incourage vs a Mat. 7.14 to enter in at the straite gate to walk in the narrow way of due obedience vnto God proposeth the ende which is life And on the coÌ„trary part to deterre vs b Mat. 7.13 from entryng through the wide gate and walking in the broaâ— way of licentiousnesse he proposeth also the end which is Destruction And what can bee more comfortable theâ— life and the same to bee inioyed eternally in the kingdome of heauen Oâ— what can bee more fearefull then destruction and the same to be coÌ„tinued for euer in hell Let vs then chearefully walke on in the way of obedieÌ„ce so shall we receiue the promised reward But that we may with more courage runne our race in hope to obtaine the crowne let vs take a vewe of euerlasting life with the eies of our mynds as in gods word it is diuersly described * 1. Euerlasting life compared to the land of Canaan god in old time gaue vnto the auncieÌ„t Israelites the land of Canaan a land for the fruitefulnes therof sayd a. Exod. 3.8 Num. 13.27 to flowe with milke and hony that they might not onely possesse it accordyng to his b Gen. 15.14 c. promise but also by the temporall benefites thereof to be put in mynde of the spirituall blessings in the land of the liuyng and by their earthly rest there inioyed after the bondage in Egypt to be stirred vp with the desire of the heauenly rest to be possessed by the people of god after their deliuerance froÌ„ the thraldom of Satan Read the fourth to the Hebrues and there shall you finde this doctrine waranted So is the land of Canaan a figure of euerlasting life Christ the wisedome of our heauenly Father * 2. Euerlasting life called saluation wel knoweth that this transitorie life of ours is subiect vnto many calamities and therefore for our incouragement he calleth euerlasting life a Mat. 10.22 Mat. 13.13 Saluation whereby vndoubtedly he would haue vs to know that euerlasting life is that blessed state wherein we shall be deliuered from all calamities of the body all griefes of the mynde all corruptioÌ„ of our nature from sinne from death from SataÌ„ So shall our bodies b 1. Cor. 15 which now are corruptible 42 become incorruptible which now ar ignominious 43 become glorious which now are weak 44 becom stroÌ„g which now are natural 54 become spiritual which now is mortal 73 become immortal And this Saluation is that life euerlasting which christ hath promised to giue to theÌ„ c Mat. 10.2 Mar. 13.13 which perseuere in patience vnto the end I therfore coÌ„clude with the Apostle a 1. Co. 15.57 ThaÌ„kes be vnto god which hath giueÌ„ vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ 58. Therfore my beloued brethren be ye stedfast vnmoueable aboundaunt alwayes in the worke of the Lord for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vayne in the Lord. Christ our Sauiour regarding the grossenes of our capacitie in heauenly mysteries compareth euerlasting life els where to b Luc. 22 29 30. a kingdome wherein we shall eate and drinke at his table and sit on seates and iudge the twelue tribes of Israell By these earthly and corporall benefites Christ signifieth heauenly and spirituall blessinges assuring vs that in the world to come we shall haue the fruition of the Lord and with him the fulnesse of felicitie And this is euerlasting life But know this that this onely belongeth to them c Luc. 22 28. whiche continue with Christ in his tentations * 3. Euerlastting life compared to a kingdome To set foorth vnto vs the exceedyng glorie of eternall life d 1 Co. 9.25 2. Tim. 4.8 Paule e Iam. 1.12 Iames f Reue. 2.10 and the Spirite in the Reuelation liken it to a Crowne or Garâ—and which was wont to be set in hoâ—ourable maner vppon their heades * Euerlasting life compared to a Crowne or Garland which in making masteries got the â—est But withal hereby they forewarne vs that except a 2. Tim. 2.5 wee striue for the maisterie and that lawfully we may â—ot looke to bee crowned b 1. Cor. 15.54 O noble â—ictorie atchieued for vs by Christ where Satan hell sinne the fleshe the world and all the enimies of our saluation at once were thoroughly subdued so that now he triumpheth ouer them in eternal blisse Let vs therfore fight manfully vnder his standard that we may bee crowned gloriously in his kingdome But since the ende is alwaies fresh in the eye of the minde c 1. Cor. 2.9 as is before sayd Paule vndoubtedly much meditated vpon the ende of our spiritual walking * Euerlasting life compared to ioyes not seene not heard not conceiued whiche is as I haue shewed eternall life And yet his excellent reuelation notwithstanding as one not able in wordes to describe euerlasting life he leaueth it to the meditations of our mindes shewing vs that c 1. Cor. 2.9 the thinges which God hath prepared for them which loue him are suche and so excelleÌ„t as the eye hath not seene neither eare hath heard nor hath come into the heart of man And to conclude we haue a moste excellent portrature of this eternall life in the 21. * 6. Euerlasting life compared to a goodly citie chapter of the Reuelation of Iohn where it is coÌ„pared to a citie curiously built garnished with golde and pretious stones beautified within
playne tearmes the loue of the Sonne is proposed * 2. Of the sone The second example of this vnfayned sincere and free loue is God the Sonne a Ioh. 10.11 who as a good shepheard gaue his life for vs his sheepe b Rom. 5.6 who being iust 8. died for vs vniust who when as yet we were sinners 10. died for vs who wheÌ„ we were Gods enimies reconciled vs vnto him by hys owne death that by hys life we being reconciled might be saued If therefore wee thus loue as Christ hath loued vs vnfaynedly sincerely and freely without all regarde of merite c Ephe. 5.2 then walke we in loue then are we followers of Gods as beloued children d Act. 11.26 we are called Christians of christ let vs resemble him in maners els are we our name notwithstanding monsters we take our selues to bee the Disciples of Christ let vs then learne to practise the precepte of Christ which he teacheth vs saying e Io. 13.34 A new commaundement giue I vnto you that ye loue one an other as I haue loued you that yee also loue one an other VVe would be all reputed the children of our father that is in heaueÌ„ But a Mat. 5.45 he maketh his sunne to arise on the euill and the good and sendeth rayne â—n the iust and vniust Let vs then that we may be his children b Mat. 5.44 loue our ennimies blesse them that curse vs doe good to them that hate vs and pray for them that hurt and persecute vs. Let vs consider as Christ teacheth vs c Mat. 5.46 that if we loue them which loue vs we shall haue no revvard for the publicans do euen the same 47 And if vvee be friendly to our brethren onely vve doe no singuler thing for euen the Publicans do likevvise 48 But we must be perfect as our Father whiche is in heauen is perfect Neither can there be any precept fuller of equitie then this d Ephe. 5.2 Walke in loue euen as Christ hath loued vs Wherein it is required that we whiche are beloued of God in Christ should loue our brethren whom the Father loueth in the Sonne as tenderly as hee loueth vs. And thus haue I taught you my brethren folowing Paules steppes in this place by the example both of the Father and of the Sonne what manneâ— of loue God requireth at our handes that we may proue a Ephe. 5.1 followers of him as deare children * 2. By proof of this example Now foloweth in the texte the second way whereby Paule describetâ— the manner of loue by the practisâ— whereof wee become followers oâ— God when as hee sayth b Ephe. 5.2 And hatâ— giuen himselfe for vs to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling sauour to God c Ephe. 5.2 Paul hauyng lastly proposed Christ himselfe vnto vs as a perfect paterne after the which we must fashion that our loue wherein wee must walke that wee may be found d Ephe. 5.2 followers of God as deare children forgetteth not to proue vnto vs the perfection of the paterne of our imitatioÌ„ I mean of the loue of christ by the excellent effecte whiche came thereof namely our full and perfect redemption e Heb. 9.25 wrought by the oblation of Christ heere mentioned The rule of Christ is f Mat. 7.17.12.33 Luc. 6.43.44 that the tree is knowne by the frute so that the bad fruit sheweth the tree to be bad and â—he good fruite sheweth the tree to â—ee good Then followeth it that â—he loue of Christ to vs-wardes is most perfect a Ioh. 3.16 the fruite whereof is â—ur saluation and euerlasting life yet â—till note beloued that the loue of Christ is here proposed vnto vs not â—o muche to bee contemplated alâ—hough it deserue a most reuerend coÌ„templation as to be imitated But forsomuche as vnder this effecte of Christes loue b Ioh. 13.1 wherewith he loued vs vnto the end the worke of our whole â—edemption offereth it selfe to be considered it shall behoue me following my texte to deliuer the same vnto you as God shall inhable me more particularly * In our redemption wrought by a sacrifice 6. circumstances to bee-noted The effect of Christes loue towardes vs as I haue sayd c Ioh. 3.15 is our redemption and our redemption is wrought by a sacrifice and in this sacrifice as Paule here describeth it Sixe circumstances are to be considered The first who was the sacrificer The second How he sacrificed The third 14 what and of what kind the sacrifice was The fourth For whom it was sacrificed The fifth To whome it was sacrificed The sixt what effecte the sacrificâ— wrought VVhen I shall briefly hauâ— intreated seuerally of these six pointâ— I will conclude and commit you â— the grace of God * 1. Christ is the sacrifice Man was created by GOD in the beginning a Gen. 1 26 after his image anâ— similitude b Ephe. 4 24. in righteousnesse and trâ—â— holinesse But alas through the fall â— Adam in Man the image and similâ—tude of God is defaced and his rigâ—teousnesse and true holinesse is cleaâ— blotted out c Ephe. 2.1.3 so that now vve are deâ— in our trespasses and sinns being by natuâ— the children of wrath d Rom 3 23 and depriued the glory of God Nowe let vs consâ—der the mercy of God VVhen wâ— were not able by our owne powâ— to deliuer oure selues from this vâ—speakable miserie phe 1 4 into the which thâ—rough sinne wee were fallen e Goâ— had deuised before the foundation of tâ—â— world to restore vs to libertie by aâ— holye conciliation to bee made bâ—twene him and vs. But let vs coâ—sider how the case stoode God keâ— his couenaunt which hee made with Man Man brake the couenant which hee made with God God the Creator was offended Man the Creature had offended God needed not to seeke a reconciliation with Man a Rom. 1.25 who of him selfe without Man is blessed Man durst not seeke a reconciliation with God who of him-selfe without God b Leu. 27 26 Gal. 3.10 is curssed * Two thinges in the Sacrificer to be noted 1 his Substance 2 his Office Who then might become a fitte mediatour of peace as wel in respect of his substance or person as of his function or office Behold the c Ro. 16.25 reuelation of the misterie vvhich vvas kept secret since the world began d 1. Cor. 2.7.8 euen the hid vvisedome vvhich God had determined before the vvorlde vnto our glorye vvhiche none of the Princes of this vvorld hath knovven * 1 The Sacrificer by his substaÌ„ce or person is god man e Gal. 4 4.5 When the fulnesse of time vvas com God sent forth his sonne made of a vvoman made vnder the lavv that he might redeeme vs vvhiche vvere vnder the lavve that vve might receiue the addoption of
the sacrifice of himselfe but beleue vs when wee teach that a Luc. 22 19 1. Cor. 11.24 25 thereby the memory of his death is continued vntill his comming according to the institution of Christ himselfe Now since Christ hath loued vs more than hee hath loued his body his bloud his soule his life all the which he gaue for b 1 Co. 6.20 the price of our redemption 7 23. let vs loue one an other c Eph. 5.2 as hee hath loued vs and so become the followers of God as deare children And this much concernyng the Substance of the Sacrifice which is Christ himselfe * 2 The qualities of the sacrifice were an holy oblation an obedient suffâ—yng d Heb. 10.1 The ceremoniall lavve had the shadovv of good thinges to come and not the verie image of the thinges Therefore Paule knowing that e Rom. 10.4 Christ is the ende of the lawe f Mat. 5.17 whiche hathe fulfilled the law of commandementes through his obedience g Eph. 2.14 and performed what soeuer was figured in the law of ceremonies for our redemption calleth him in this text h Ephe. 5.2 an offering and a Sacrifice The kindes of Sacrificers in the lawe of Moses were manie and sundry not deuised by Men i Leu. 1.1 Num. 7.89 but ordayned by god to signifie partly the filthinesse of sinne in vs a Esa 59 2 vvhereby vvee be deuided from god and partly the expiation of sinne through Christ b Heb 9 14 vvhereby vve be reconciled vnto god All these kyndes Paule reduceth vnto two c Eph. 5.2 An oblation and an hoast both the whiche hee termeth Christ to be And not without cause For such was Christ the sacrifice in true performance as wer these in shadowed figure So by the nature of them we may learne the qualities of the sacrifice which is Christ For first Paul calleth Christ d Eph. 5.2 Prosphoran an oblation an holy offering Secondly he calleth him Thusian an host a slayne sacrifice By the first we learn Christes e Luc 1 35 holinesse by the second wee learne Christes f Psal 22 1 Mar. 27 46 Mar. 15.34 suffering It was meete that this sacrifice shoulde be holy that it might sanctifie the vnholy It was meete that this sacrifice shuld suffer that it might beare gods wrath due for sinne The offering in the olde lawe is therfore reputed holy because it was such as god which is holy appointed to bee offered The slayn sacrifice in the same law is iustly termed to suffer because it was a sensible beast or a sensible birde appoynted by God to be slayne Muche might be sayde of the figures whcich are these but for want of time I will onely speake of the trueth whiche is Christ * Two qualities of the Sacrifice to be considered And in him two things here are to be considered First his Holinesse Secondly his suffering * 1. Christs holines It was most necessarie that this sacrifice shuld be holy for otherwise a Mat. 5.13 Mar. 9.50 Luc. 14 34 it had not bene fit to haue bene offered to the most holy God It had not benefit to put away our vnholinesse It had not bene fit to haue sanctified vs. If the salt in it selfe had not saltnesse a Mat. 5.13 Mar. 9.50 Luc. 14 34 it could not season the things that it seasoneth If the fire in it selfe had not heat it coulde not heate those things which ar before it If the sun in it self had not light it could not lighten the superioure and inferiour bodyes No more coulde this sacrifice Christ make vs holie in the sight of god were it not that it is holy of it selfe For if reason require that the thing which is to imparte a qualitie with another bee first fully indued with the same it selfe then must it necessarily be required that Christ whiche was to make vs holy be first in himselfe moste holy Nowe let vs consider the gracious prouidence of God to vs-ward That Christ might become an holy sacrifice to make vs holy vnto our God a Mar. 1.18 20. Lu. 1.35 he was conceiued without sinne by the holy Ghost b Mat. 1.25 Luc. 2.7 he was borne without sinne of the virgin Mary c Mat. 5.17 1. Pet. 2 22. he liued without sin in true obedience d Mat. 27.24 Luc. 23 47 he dyed without sinne an innocent death For these causes Christe is called e Luc 1 35. the holye thinge f 1. Pet. 2 9. by whom we are become a chosen generation a royall priest-hood and holy nation a people set at liber-tie But to what end verily that g 1. Pet. 2 9. we shoulde shew forth the vertues of him that hath called vs out of darkenesse into merueilous light And what coulde we not be saued were it not that our sacrifice Christ were in this absolute manner most holy No verily For God will not that man-kind be saued except by Man his law giuen to mankinde bee fulfilled That is God will so bee found mercifull towards mankinde in remitting of sinne that he wil stil remayne iust in requiring of mankinde obedience to his lawes Therfore when all mankinde was gone astray so that a Ro. 3.10 there was none righteous no not one 11. None that vnderstood None that sought after god the sonne of god himselfe became innocent man that in the nature of man hee might obey the lawes of God that b Rom. 5 19 as by one mans disobedience manie were made sinners so by one mans obedience manie might be made righteous as also before I proued * Two lessons to bee learned And here we may learne two lessons * 1 the greatnesse of our sinnes The one The greatnesse of sinne which could not be put away but by the death of the Sonne of God * 2 The assurance of our saluatioÌ„ Leu. 11 44 The other the assurance of our saluation whiche standeth with the iustice of God Let vs therefore so hope for life euerlasting that c 1. Pet. 1.16 wee he holy as our redeemer is holy And this much of the first qualitie of the sacrifice which is absolute holinesse 2. Christs fferyng The second qualitie of this sacrifice which is Christ our Sauiour is his suffering This his condition Paule putteth vs in remembrance of when in the texte hee calleth him Thusian an hoast a Sacrifice The thinges whereof this sacrifice stoode was either a Psa 50.13 a bull or b Leu. 1.2 an Oxe or c 3 1 an heffer or d Num. 19.2 a calfe or e Leu. 4 3. a Ram or f Gen. 22.13 an ewe or g Leu. 3.7 a lambe or h 9.3 a goate or i 1.2 a turtle doue or k 12.8 a young pigion which was appointed by the law first to be l 12.8 slayne theÌ„ m 3 2. to
and without In which description as all thinges are most excellent so this is most comfortable vnto the elect that whereas he saw no temple he yealdeth the reason a Reue. 21 22 23 For the Lorde God almightie and the lambe are the temple of it Adding And this city hath no need of the sun neither of the moone to shine in it for the glory of God did light it the lambe is the light of it 24 And the people which are saued shall walk in the light of it And the kinges of the earth shall bring their glory and their honour vnto it And the gates of it shall not be shut by daye 25 for there shall be no night there 26 And the glory honor of the Gentiles shall bee brought vnto it 27 And there shall enter into it none vncleane thing neyther whatsoeuer worketh abhomination or lyes but they which are writteÌ„ in the lambs booke of life O gracious God which in mercie hast prepared so glorious a place for thy seruauntes Thy name be praysed Thy name be praysed But calling to mind our filthines through sinne let vs a Reuel 7.14 washe our robes through faithfull repentance in the bloud of the lamb that they may become white and let vs glorifie Gods name by a godly life that it may appeare that we are his children Otherwise wee may not promise to our selues the fruition of that rest And this much concerning the ende of the way which is euerlasting life * 4. The loue wherein God must be imitated must be vnfained sincere and free Now followeth the fourth end last point of the text How God is to be imitated in loue And this doeth Paule laye downe in these wordes b Ephe. 5.2 Euen as Christ hath loued vs and hath giuen himselfe for vs to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweete smelling sauour to God Heere the Apostle sheweth what maner of loue it is by the practising whereof God is imitated Namely that wee loue God and one an other vnfeynedly sincerely and freely without regard of merite For not euery shew of loue is allowed before God but that loue onely * The obiect of our loue double whiche is agreeable to the nature of that whiche is loued Then since the obiect of our loue is double a Mat 22.37 39 mar 2.30 31. luc 10.27 god and our Neighbour let vs view their natures apart * 1. God God is b Ier. 10.10 Ioh. 17.3 1. thes 1.9 true c Leu. 11.44.19.2.1 Pet. 1 16. holy and the d Iam. 1.17 fountayne of all goodnesse Therefore it is meete that we should loue him for himselfe with an vnfayned sincere and free loue Our Neighbour be it hee be an heathen yet is he an excellent creature of God e Gen. 1.26 27.5.1 made after his image and similitude * 2. Our neighbour Therfore to be beloued for the Creators sake vnfaynedly sincerely freely How much more ought our loue to be such toward our Christian neighbor considering f Ephe. 4.24 Col. 3.10 that in him the image of God g Rom. 5.17 which was decayed by Adam is renued through christ h Ioh. 1.12 wherby hee is become thorough grace the child of God a Rom. 8.17 and the heyre of euerlasting life So then it foloweth that as we ought to loue god with an vnfayned sincere and free loue because he is our father so should we loue one an other vnfaynedly sincerely freely because we are his children And this is that manner of loue whiche if we practise b Ephe. 5.1 we become folowers of God as deare children * The loue whereby we imitate God two waies described But that I digresse not from my text marke I beseeche you my brethren how Paul describeth this manner of loue two wayes in the text First by a double example theÌ„ by proofe of the second example * 1. By example Examples in imitatioÌ„ be the playnest documentes so that they be perfect Now consider the godly discretion of Paule For he heere confirmeth his doctrin by two examples agaynst the which none exception can be takeÌ„ * 1. Of the father The first example of this vnfayned sincere and free loue is God the Father c Ioh. 3.16 who so loued the worlde that hee gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life If we consider this gracious dealing of god with vs we shall finde it to be a most perfect mirrour of his free loue towardes vs what soeuer herein we way For if we examine the causes of the loue of God to vs ward When in vs whiche are most vniust and most vnholy there was no cause why the most iust and most holy God should loue vs this loue flowed froÌ„ his owne bountie as from a Iam. 1.17 1. Ioh. 4.10 the fountaine of all goodnesse If we search into the manner of the loue wherewith God loued vs so and so exceedingly that he gaue to ransome vs from our spirituall bondage b 1. Pet. 1.18 not siluer gold or precious stones not onely a creature to saue vs creatures c Heb. 2.16 not an angell to deliuer vs men d Ioh. 3.16 but his own sonne yea his onely Sonne e Mat 1.23 God to remayne God and man f Heb. 10.5 to be a sacrifice g Phil. 2.8 by an ignominious death to bee offered for vs h 1. Cor. 6.20.7.23 1. Pet. 1.19 euen the price of our redemption If we take a vewe of the ende for the which God loued vs we shall perceaue that it was not to the benefite of himselfe or of his Sonne a Rom. â— â—5 For God in himselfe and of himselfe without his creatures is absolutely blessed but to our benefite b Rom. 4.3.4 that wee through him being saued c Mat. 25. â—4 with him might liue blessedly for euer If we ponder what God whiche so dearly hath loued vs requireth againe at our handes verely nothing d Ephe 2.8 but that hee giueth vs e Rom. 5.1 a liuely fayth to receaue Christ f â— Cor. 1 â—0 that in him we may receaue all thinges necessary for our saluation g Ephe. 1.4 and that wee be holy and without blame before him in loue So then ought we to loue as the Father hath loued vs vnfaynedly sincerely and freely that we may be found h Ephe. 5. â— followers of God as dear childreÌ„ But if anie obiect that the loue of the Father is not mentioned in the text and thereupon inferre that I digresse froÌ„ the same I answere It is included in the little word Cai so that the sentence may be thus translated i 1. Ephe. 5. â— Euen as Christ also hath loued vs whereby by a secret speache the loue of the Father is insinuated as in
being all figures of the sacrifice of Christ ordeined of god to bee f Leu. 4.2 offered for the sinnes of the people do euidenly prooue that Gods people for whome Christ was offered are all polluted with sinne It is true that the auncient Israelites were greuously a Exo. 1.11 c oppressed in Aegipt by the tiranny of Pharao from thence b Exod. 14.1 deliuered by the commaundement of God through the conduction of Moses but with all therby is prefigured that we bee all through sinne became slaues to Satan in this world and through the wil of God by the power of Christ deliuered from that spirituall captiuitie The Prophets Christ and the Apostles teache that they for whome Christ died are c Rom. 5.8 steined with sinne d 1. Tim. 1 15 transgressours of Gods lawe e Gal. 3 13. and subiect to his curse Esaye propheciyng of our redemption calleth vs f Esa 53 4. weake g 53.5 wounded and sinfull h 53.6 Christ speaking of the same matter pronounceth i Mat 9 12 That the whole need not a phisition but they that are sicke k Mat. 9.13 And that hee came not to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance And Paule speaking of the accomplishment of oure saluation leaueth it thus recorded l 1. Tim 1 15 This is a true saying and by all means worthy to be receaued that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners * That christ saueth sinners teacheh vs two things our owne misery 2 gods mercye It may be the some wil demaund why I vrge so greatly thys point I answere Chiefly for two causes * 1. our own misery First to teach vs by acknowledging of our sinnes a Mat 23 12 to humble oure selues vnder the mightie hand of god that hee may aduaunce vs b Ioh. 3.16 and to seeke vnto christ by fayth that hee may deliuer vs knowing that c 11 32 God hath shut vppe all in vnbeliefe that hee might haue mercy on all And to this ende doth Paule dispute mightily in the Epistle to the Romaines prouing that d Rom 3 20 by the vvorkes of the law no flesh can be iustified in the sight of God But that e 24 wee are iustified freely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ concluding that f 28. a man is iustified by fayth without the workes of the law * 2 Gods mercy Then to sette before the eyes of our mindes the exceeding measure of the loue of God towardes vs g Io. 3 16 which so loued the world that he hath giuen his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleueth in him shuld not perish but haue eternall life But seeing h Rom 5 10 God hath thus loued vs when we were hys enimies that he reconciled vs vnto himself by the death of his Sonne ought not we then a Eph 5 1 to be followers of god as deare children 2. and to walk in loue as Christ hath loued vs and giuen himselfe for vs to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweete smelling sauour to god Hetherto concerning the persons for whome christ died euen for vs miserable sinners * 5 This sacrifice was offered to God The fifth circumstance in our redemption diligently to bee considered is vnto whome this holy sacrifice was offered by Christ for our reconciliation This doth Paule in this text euidently shewe when as hee teacheth that it was offered b Eph 5 2 to god When parties at vnitie growe to discorde then is there occasion offered of reconciliation whiche cannot be accomplished but by the good discretion of a dayes-man by whose meanes the partie offending is reconciled to the party offended So stoode the case betweene god and man continued in that perfection c Gen 1 26. wherein God had created him 5.27 But when Man had transgressed the lawes of his God d Gen 3 6.7 by eating of the forbidden fruite then grew there discorde betweene God and Man Man the creature Man the party offending God offended became the partie offending and God the creator the partie offended But such was the peril of this falling out a Gen 2 17 that Man became subiect to gods wrath and iudgment Hence grewe the occasion of an holy reconciliation wherein the fauour of God onely which was offended was to be obtayned for Man onely whiche had offended Christ the Dayesman But what fit days-man could than be found to reconcile man vnto God Onely Christ both God mā as more at large before I shewed And how then God woulde not that this reconciliation should be wrought by diminishing the least iote of his iustice * The iustice of God considered in two pointes 1 obedience punishment Heerein standeth the iustice of God vrged by him in this reconciliation 1. That mankinde keepe the lawe giuen 2. That man-kinde be punished for the law broken And thus was hee affected vnto whome the sacrifice of pacification was to be offered Marke now the discretion of christ our dayes-man In his Manhead hee b 2 Cor. 5 21 obeyeth Gods lawes In his man-head hee is c Pet 2 22 punished for the breache of Gods lawes hee obeyeth Gods law by his innocent life * Obedience yelded by Christs innocent life He is punished for the breache of Gods lawe by his dolorous death By his obedience he satisfieth Gods iustice By his suffering * punishmēt sustained by Christs dolourous death he pacifieth Gods wrath Thus did Christ our dayes-man offer himself obedient and patient to God the partie offended so to winne his fauour to Man the partie offending By thys meanes Christ a 2 Cor 5 21 which neuer committed sinne made himselfe to be reputed a sinner for vs that we which are ful of sin should be reputed in him righteous before God That b Gal 3.13 he becomming accursed for vs 14 we might become blessed thorough him So was it necessary that vnto God this sacrifice shoulde be offered that we therby vnto god might be recōciled Of this point this much may suffice * 6 This sacrifice wrought our full redemption The sixt and last circumstance of our redemption proposed by Paule in this text to oure consideration sheweth vvhat effect this sacrifice wrought and vvhat successe Christ had in this his attempt thus to recōcile mankinde vnto god This point is therfore the more deepely to bee considered because therein eyther is the rising againe into consolation or the downfall into desperation For if Christ preuailed in this his mediation then are wee saued but if hee fayled then are wee damned Paule therefore to heale the wounde of the conscience pearced with sin concludeth that this Sacrifice thus offered by Christ yeelded a Eph. 5 2 as a sweete smelling sauoure in the nose-therles of God By this metaphoricall speach borrowed from the manner of offering