unless the Son of God will put his Shoulder to the Work but blessed be God he hath done it When the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that are under the Law Christ took upon him our Sins BUt Thirdly Christ our Saviour takes upon him our Sins This is another step to the Work of our Redemption He hath made him to be sin for us Strange Doctrine a Fool would think it blasphemy but Truth hath said it Truth I say hath said not that he was made to be sin but that GOD made him to be sin He bath made him to be sin for us 1 Cor. 5. 21. This therefore sheweth us how effectually Christ Jesus undertook the Work of our Redemption He was made to be sin for us Sin is the great block and bar to our happiness sin is the Procurer of all miseries to men both here and for ever Take away sin and nothing can hurt us for death Temporal death Spiritual and death Eternal is the Wages of sin Rom. 6. 23. Sin then and man for Sin is the Object of the Wrath of God If the Object of the Wrath of God then is his Case most dreadful for who can bear who can grapple with the Wrath of God! Men cannot Angels cannot the whole World cannot All therefore must sink under sin but he who is made to be sin for us he only can bear sins he only can bear them away and therefore were they laid upon him The Lord laid upon him the Iniquities of us all Isa. 53. Mark therefore and you shall find that the Reason why God made him to be sin for us was That we might be made the Righteousness of God in him He took our Flesh he was made under the Law and was made to be sin for us that the Devil might be destroyed that the Captives might be redeemed and made the Righteousness of God in him And forasmuch as he saith that GOD hath made him to be sin it declareth that the Design of God and the Mistery of his Will and Grace was in it He hath made him to be sin God hath done it that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him there was no other way the Wisdom of Heaven could find no other way we could not by other means stand just before the Justice of God Now what remains but that we who are reconciled to God by Faith in his Blood are quit discharged and set free from the Law of Sin and Death Yea what encouragement to trust in him when we read That God made him to be sin for us Quest. But how was Jesus Christ made of God to be sin for us Ans. Even so as if himself had committed all our Sins that is they were as really charged upon him as if himself had been the Actor and Committer of them all He hath made him to be sin not only as a Sinner but as Sin it self He was as the Sin of the World that Day he stood before God in our steed Some indeed will not have Jesus Christ our Lord to be made sin for us their Wicked Reasons think this to be wrong Judgment in the Lord it seems supposing that because they cannot imagine how it should be therefore God if he does it must do it at his Peril and must be charged with doing wrong Judgment and so things that become not his Heavenly Majesty But against this Duncish Sophistry we set Paul and Isaiah the one telling us still The Lord laid on him the Iniquities of us all and the other That God made him to be sin for us But these Men as I suppose think it enough for Christ to die under that Notion only not knowing nor feeling the Burden of Sin and the Wrath of God due thereto These make him as senceless in his Dicing and as much without reason as a silly Sheep or Goat who also died for Sin but so as in name in shew and shadow only They felt not the proper Weight Guilt and Judgment of God for Sin But thou Sinner who art so in thine own Eyes and who feelest guilt in thine own Conscience Know then that Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God in flesh was made to be sin for thee or stood sensibly guilty of all thy Sins before God and bare them in his own Body upon the Cross. God charged our Sins upon Christ and that in their guilt and burden what remaineth but that the Charge was real or feigned if real then he hath either perished under them or carried them away from before God if they were charged but feignedly then did he but feignedly die for them then shall we have but feigned benefit by his Death and but a feigned Salvation at last not to say how this Cursed Doctrine chargeth God and Christ with Hypocrisy the one in saying He made Christ to be sin the other in saying He bare our sin when indeed and in truth our guilt and burden never was really upon him Quest. But might not Christ die for our Sins but he needs must bear their Guilt or Burden Ans. He that can sever sin and guilt sin and the Burden each from other laying sin and no guilt sin and no burden on the Person that dieth for Sin must do it only in his own imaginary Head No Scripture nor Reason nor Sense saith understandeth or feeleth sin when charged without its guilt and burden And here we must distinguish between sin charged and sin forgiven Sin forgiven may be seen without guilt or burden though I think not without shame in this World But sin charged and that by the Justice of God for so it was upon Christ This cannot be but guilt and the burthen as inseparable companions must unavoidably lye on that Person Poor Sinner be advised to take heed of such deluded Preachers who with their Tongues smoother than Oil would rob thee of that Excellent Doctrine God hath made him to be sin for us for such as I said do not only present thee with a feigned deliverance and forgiveness with a feigned Heaven and Happiness but charge God and the Lord Jesus as meer Impostors who while they tell us that Christ was made of God to be sin for us affirm that it was not so REALLY suggesting this Sophistical Reason no wrong Judgment comes from the Lord. I say again this Wicked Doctrine is the next way to turn the Gospel in thy thoughts to no more than a Cunningly-devised Fable 2 Pet. 1. and to make Jesus Christ in his dying for our Sins as brutish as the Paschal-Lamb in Moses's Law Wherefore distressed Sinner when thou findest it recorded in the Word of Truth that Christ died for our Sins and that God hath made him to be sin for us Then do thou consider of sin as it is a Transgression against the Law of God and that as such it procureth the Judgment of God torments and
and the Blood of Goats and Birds These Bloody Sacrifices what did they signifie what were they figures of but of the bloody Sacrifice of the Body of Jesus Christ their Blood being a Shadow of his Blood and their Flesh being a Shadow of his Flesh Therefore when God declared that he took no pleasure in them because they could not make the Worshippers perfect as pertaining to the Conscience then comes Jesus Christ to offer his Sinless Body and Soul for the Sin of the People For it is not possible that the Blood of Bulls and Goats should take away sin wherefore when he cometh into the World he saith Sacrifices and Offerings thou wouldest not but a Body hast thou prepared me in Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure Then said I to I come in the Volume of thy Book it is written of me to do thy good Will Since Burnt-Offerings cannot do thy Will my Body shall since the Blood of Bulls and Goats cannot do thy Will my Blood shall Then follows By the Will of God we are Sanctified through the offering up of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all Heb. 10. 8 9 10. Thirdly The End of the Work required That Christ if he will be our Saviour should take upon him our Flesh. The End of our Salvation is That we might enjoy God and that he by us might be glorified for ever and ever 1. That we might enjoy God I will dwell in them and they shall be my People and I will be their God This Indwelling of God and consequently our Enjoyment of him begins first in its Eminency by his Possessing our Flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ. Hence his Name is called Emmanuel God with us and the Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us The Flesh of Christ is the Tabernacle which the Lord pitched according to that saying The Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his People and God himself shall be with them and be their God Revel 21. 3. Here God beginneth to discover his Glory and to be desirable to the Sons of Men. God could not communicate himself to us nor take us into the Enjoyment of himself but with respect to that Flesh which his Son took of the Virgin because sin stood betwixt Now this Flesh only was the Holy Lump in this Flesh God could dwell and forasmuch as this Flesh is the same with ours and was taken up with intent that what was done in and by that should be communicated to all the Children therefore through that doth God communicate of himself unto his People God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself And I am the Way saith Christ no man cometh to the Father but by me 2 Cor. 5. Joh. 14. 6. That Passage to the Hebrews is greatly to our purpose We have boldness Brethren to enter into the Holiest the place where God is by the Blood of Jesus by a new and living Way which he hath Consecrated for us through the Vail that is to say his Flesh Heb. 10. 19 20. Wherefore by the Flesh and Blood of Christ we enter into the Holiest through the Vail saith he that is to say his Flesh. 2. As the End of our Salvation is That we might enjoy God so also it is that he by us might be Glorified for ever That God in all things might be Glorified through Jesus Christ our Lord. Here indeed will the Mistery of his Grace Wisdom Justice Power Holiness and Glory inhabit Eternal praise while we that are counted worthy of the Kingdom of God shall admire at the Mistery and see our selves without our selves even by the Flesh and Blood of Christ through Faith therein effectually and Eternally saved O! This will be the burden of our Eternal Joy God loved us and gave his Son for us Christ loved us and gave his Flesh for our Life and his Blood for our Eternal Redemption and Salvation That Christ was made under the Law BUt Secondly Christ was made under the Law When the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law Gal. 4. 4. Of right being found in flesh he must needs be under the Law for that there is not any Creature above or without Law to God but this is not to the point in hand Christ was not therefore under the Law because he was found in flesh but he took flesh and designedly put himself or was made under the Law wherefore 't is added he was made under the Law to Redeem to redeem them that were under the Law Wherefore here is a design an Heavenly contrivance and device on foot Christ is made that is by design subjected under the Law for the sake and upon the account of others To redeem them that were under the Law Made under the Law that is put himself into the Room of Sinners into the Condition of Sinners made himself subject to the same pains and penalties we were obnoxious to We were under the Law and it had dominion over us bound us upon pain of Eternal Damnation to do compleatly all things written in the Law This Condition Christ put himself into that he might redeem for assuredly we had else perished The Law had dominion over us and since we had sinned of right it pronounced the Curse and made all men subject to the Wrath of God Christ therefore did not only come into our Flesh but also into our Condition into the Valley and Shadow of Death where we were and where we are as we are Sinners He that is under the Law is under the Edge of the Axe When David was to go visit his Brethren and to save them from the Hand of Goliah he was to look how his Brethren fared and to take their Pledg 1. Sam. 17. 18. This is true of Jesus Christ when he came to save us from the Hand of Death and the Law he looked how his Brethren fared took to heart their deplorable Condition and put himself into the same Plight to wit under the Law that he might redeem them that were under the Law I told you before that he came sinless into the World that he had a miraculous Conception and wonderful Birth And here you see a Reason for it he was to be put or made under the Law to redeem He that will be made under the Law to redeem had need be sinless and spotless himself for the Law findeth fault with the least and condemneth man for the first beginning of Sin Without this then there could not have been Redemption nor any the Sons of God by Adoption no Redemption because the Sentence of Death had already past upon all no Sons by Adoption because that 's the Effect of Redemption God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law That we might receive the Adoption of Sons Christ then
afflicts the Mind with guilt and bindeth over the Soul to answer it sever not sin and guilt asunder left thou be an Hypocrite like these wicked Men and rob Christ of his true Sufferings Besides to see sin upon Christ but not its guilt to see sin upon Christ but not the Legal Punishment what is this but to conclude that either there is no guilt and punishment in sin or that Christ bare our sin but we the Punishment for the Punishment must be born because the Sentence is gone out from the Mouth of God against sin Do thou therefore as I have said consider of sin as a Transgression of the Law 1 John 3. and a Provoker of the Justice of God which done turn thine Eye to the Cross and behold those Sins in the Guilt and Punishment of them sticking in the Flesh of Christ. God condemned sin in the Flesh of Christ. He bare our Sins IN his own Body on the Tree Rom. 8. 3. 1 Pet. 2. 24. I would only give thee this Caution not sin in the Nature of sin Sin was not so in the Flesh of Christ but sin in the Natural Punishment of it to wit Guilt and the Chastising Hand of Justice He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities The Chastisements of our Peace were upon him and by his Stripes we are healed Isa. 53. Look then upon Christ crucified to be as the sin of the World as if He only had broken the Law which done behold him perfectly innocent in himself and so conclude that for the transgressions of God's People he was stricken That when the Lord made him to be sin He made him to be sin FOR US He was made a Curse for us FOurthly As he was made Flesh under the Law and also Sin so he was made a Curse for us Christ hath redeemed us from the Cross of the Law being made a Curse for us as it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree This Sentence is taken out of Moses being passed there upon them that for Sin are worthy of death And if a Man have committed a Sin worthy of death and thou hang him on a Tree his Body shall not remain all night upon the Tree but thou shalt in any-wise bury him that Day for he that is hanged is accursed of God By this Sentence Paul concludeth that Jesus Christ was Justly hanged because sin worthy of Death was upon him Sin not of his own but ours Since then he took our Sins he must be cursed of God for sin is sin where-ever it lies and justice is justice where-ever it finds it wherefore since Jesus Christ will bear our Sin he must be numbred with the Transgressors and counted worthy to die the Death He that committeth sin is worthy of death This though Christ did not personally do his Members his Body which is his Church did and since he would undertake for them with God and stand in their Sins before the Eyes of his Justice He must die the Death by the Law Sin and the Curse cannot be severed Sin must be followed with the Curse of God Sin therefore being removed from us to the Back of Christ thither goes also the Curse for if sin be found upon him he is the Person worthy to die worthy by our Sins Wherefore Paul here setteth forth Christ clothed with our Sins and so taking from us the Guilt and Punishment What punishment but the Wrath and Displeasure of God Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us In this word Curse are two things comprized 1. The Reality of Sin for there can be no Curse where there is no Sin either of the Persons own or made to be his by his own Consent or the Imputation of Divine Justice And since Sins are made to be Christ's by Imputation they are his though not naturally yet really and consequently the Wages due He hath made him to be sin he was made a Curse for us 2. This word Curse comprizeth therefore the Punishment of Sin that Punishment properly due to sin from the Hand of God's Justice which punishment standeth in three things 1. In charging sin upon the Body and Soul of the Person concerned and hence we read that both the Body and Soul of Christ were made an Offering for Sin Isa. 53. 10. Heb. 10. 10. 2. The Punishment standeth in Gods inflicting of the Just merits of sin upon him that standeth charged therewith and that is Death in its own nature and strength to wit Death with the Sting thereof The Sting of Death is sin This Death did Christ die because he died for our Sins 3. The Sorrows and Pains of this Death therefore must be under-gone by Jesus Christ. Now there are divers Sorrows in Death 1. Such Sorrows as Brutes are subject to 2. Such Sorrows as Persons are subjects to that stand in sin before God 3. Such Sorrows as those undergo who are swallowed up of the Curse and Wrath of God for ever Now so much of all kind of Sorrow as the Imputation of our Sin could justly bring from the Hand of Divine Justice so much of it he had 1. He had Death 2. He had the Sting of Death which is Sin 3. He was forsaken of God but could not by any means have those Sorrows which they have that are everlastingly swallowed up of them It was not possible that he should be holden of it Act. 2. 24. For where Sin is charged and born there must of necessity follow the Wrath and Curse of God Now where the Wrath and Curse of God is there must of necessity follow the Effects the Natural Effects I say the Natural Effects to wit the Sence the Sorrowful Sence of the Displeasure of an Infinite Majesty and his Chastisements for the Sin that hath provoked him There are Effects natural and Effects accidental those Accidental are such as flow from our weakness whilst we wrestle with the Judgment of God to wit hellish fear despair rage blasphemy and the like These were not incident to Jesus Christ he being in his own Person every way perfect Neither did he alwayes endure the Natural Effects his Merits relieved and delivered him God loosed the Pains of death because it was not possible he should be holden of it Acts 2. 24. Christ then was made a Curse for us for he did bear our sin the Punishment therefore from the Revenging Hand of God must needs fall upon him Wherefore by these four things we see how Christ became our Saviour he took hold of our Nature was born under the Law was made to be sin and the Accursed of God for us And observe it all this as I said before was the Handy-Work of God God made him Flesh made him under the Law God made him to be Sin and also a Curse for us The Lord bruised him the Lord put him to grief the Lord made his Soul an Offering for Sin Isa.
53. Not for that he hated him considering him in his own harmless innocent and blessed Person for he was daily hid Delight but by an act of grace to usward were our Iniquities laid upon him and he in our stead bruised and chastised for them God loved us and made him a Curse for us He was made a Curse for us That the Blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Faith in Jesus Christ Gal. 3. 13 14 15. Further Demonstration of this Truth BEfore I pass this Truth I will present thee Courteous Reader with two or three Demonstrations for its further confirmation First That Christ did bear our Sin and Curse is clear because he died and that without a Mediator 1. He died Death is the Wages of Sin Rom. 6. 23. Now if death be the Wages of sin and that be true that Christ did die and not sin either the Course of Justice is perverted or else he died for our Sins there was no cause of death in him yet he died Act. 13. 28. He did no Evil Guile was not found in his Mouth yet he received the Wages of Sin Sin therefore though not of his own was found upon him and laid to his Charge because he died Christ died for our Sins Christ gave himself for our Sins 1 Cor. 15. 1 2 3. Gal. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 2. 22. He then that will conclude that Christ did not bear our Sin chargeth God foolishly for delivering him up to death for laying on him the Wages when in no sence he deserved the same Yea he overthroweth the whole Gospel for that hangeth on THIS hinge Christ died for our Sins Object But all that die do not bear the Curse of God for Sin Ans. But all that die without a Mediator do Angels died the Cursed Death because Christ took not hold of them and they for whom Christ never prayeth they die the Cursed Death for they perish everlastingly in the unutterable Torments of Hell Christ too died that Death which is the Proper Wages of Sin for he had none to stand for him I looked saith he and there was none to help and I wondred that there was none to uphold therefore mine own Arm brought Salvation unto me And he saw that there was no man and he wondered that there was no Intercessor therefore his Arm brought Salvation unto him and his Righteousness sustained him Isa. 63. 5. Isa. 59. 16. Christ then died or endured the Wages of Sin and that without an Intercessor without one between God and he He grappled immediatly with the Eternal Justice of God who inflicted on him Death the Wages of Sin there was no man to hold off the Hand of God Justice had his full blow at him and made him a Curse for Sin He died for sin without a Mediator he died the Cursed Death Secondly A Second thing that Demonstrateth that Christ died the Cursed Death for Sin It is the Frame of Spirit that he was in at the time that he was to be taken Never was poor mortal so beset with the apprehensions of approaching death as was this Lord Jesus Christ Amazement beyond measuâ—e Sorrow that exceeded seized upon his Soul My Soul saith he is exceeding sorrowful even unto Death And he began saith Mark to be sore amazed and to be very heavy Mat. 26. 38. Mar. 14. 33. Add to this That Jesus Christ was better able to grapple with death even better able to do it alone than the whole World joyn'd altogether 1. He was anointed with the Spirit without Measure Joh. 3. 34. 2. He had all Grace perfect in him John 1. 16. 3. Never none so soaked in the Bosom of his Fathers Love as himself Prov. 8. 23 30. 4. Never none so harmless and without sin as he and consequently never man had so good a Conscience as he Heb. 7. 26. 5. Never none prepared such a stock of good Works to bear him company at the Hour of Death as he 6. Never none had greater assurance of being with the Father Eternally in the Heavens than he And yet behold when HE comes to die how weak is he how amazed at death how heavy how exceeding sorrowful and I say no cause assigned but the Approach of Death Alas How often is it seen that we Poor Sinners can laugh at destruction when it cometh yea and rejoice exceedingly when we find the Grave Job 3. 22. looking upon death as a part of our Portion yea as that which will be a means of our present relief and help 1 Cor. 3. 22. This Jesus Christ couldnot do considered as dying for our Sin but the nearer death the more heavy oppressed with the thoughts of the Revenging Hand of God Wherefore he falls into an Agony and Sweats not after the common rate as we do when death is severing Body and Soul His Sweat was as it were great drops Clodders of Blood falling down to the Ground Luk. 22. 44. What I say should be the Reason but that death assaulted him with his Sting If Jesus Christ had been to die for his Vertues only doubtless he would have born it lightly and so he did as he died bearing witness to the Truth He endured the Cross and despised the Shame Heb. 12. 1 2 How have the Martyrs despised death and as it were not been careful of that having peace with God by Jesus Christ scorning the most Cruel Torments that Hell and Men could devise and invent but Jesus Christ could not do so as he was a Sacrifice for sin he died for sin he was made a Curse for us O my Brethren Christ died many deaths at once he made his Grave with the Wicked and with the Rich in his Deaths Look how many thousands shall be saved so many deaths did Jesus die yet it was but once he died He died thy death and my death and so many deaths as all our Sins deserved who shall be saved from the Wrath to come Now to feign that these Sorrows and this Bloody Agony was not real but in shew only What greater Condemnation can be passed upon Jesus Christ who loved to do all things in the most feigned Simplicity It was therefore because of sin the Sin that was put into the Death he died and the Curse of God that was due to Sin That That made death so bitter to Jesus Christ 't is Christ that died The Apostle speaks as if never any died but Christ nor indeed did there so wonderful a Death as he Rom. 8. Death considered simply as it is a deprivation of natural life could not have these Effects in a Person personally more Righteous than an Angel Yea even Carnal Wicked Men not awakened in their Conscience how securely can they die It must therefore also be concluded that the Sorrows and Agony of Jesus Christ came from a higher cause even from the Guilt of sin and from the Curse of God that was now approaching for that Sin It cannot be attributed to the Fear of
brought into the World and set before the Face of God such a Righteousness that out-weigheth and goeth far beyond that Sin and so did hide sin from the Sight of God Hence he that is justified is said to have his Sins HID and covered Blessed is the Man whose Transgressions are forgiven and whose Sin is covered Rom. 4. 7. covered with the Righteousness of Christ. I spread my skirt over thee and covered thy Nakedness thy Sins Ezek. 16. 8. Christ Jesus therefore having by the Infiniteness of his Merit taken away put away or hidden our Sins from the Face of God therefore he raised him up from the Dead You find in that 16th of Leviticus mention made of two Goats one was to be slain for a Sin-Offering the other to be left alive The Goat that was slain was a Type of Christ in his Death the Goat that was not slain was a Type of Christ in his Merit Now this living Goat HE carried away the Sins of the People into the Land of forgetfulness And Aaron shall lay both his Hands upon the head of the Live-Goat and confess over him all the Iniquities of the Children of Israel and all their Transgressions in all their Sins putting them upon the Head of the Goat and shall send him away by the Hands of a fit Man into the Wilderness and the Goat shall bear upon him all their Iniquities unto a Land not inhabited Levit. 16. Thus did Jesus Christ bear away by the Merit of his Death the Sins and Iniquities of them that Believe wherefore when God came to him in the Grave he found him Holy and Undefiled and raised him up from the Dead And observe it As his Death was for our Sin so his Rising again was for our Discharge for both in his Death and Resurrection he immediately respected our Benefits he died for us he rose from the Dead for us He was delivered for our Offences and was raised again for our Justification Rom 4. 25. By his Death he carried away our Sins by his Rising he brought to us Justifying Righteousness There are five Circumstances also attending his Resurrection that shew us how well-pleased God was with his Death 1. It must be solemnized with the Company Attendance and Testimony of Angels Mat. 28. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Luk. 24. 3 4 5 6. John 20. 11 12. 2dly At or just upon his Resurrection the Graves where many of the Saints for whom he died lay asleep did open and they followed their Lord in full Triumph over Death The Graves were opened and many Bodies of Saints which slept arose and came out of their Graves after his Resurrection and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many Mat. 27. 52. These Saints coming out of their Graves after him what a Testimony is it that he for them had taken away Sin and destroyed him that had the Power of Death yea what a Testimony was it that he had made amends to God the Father who granted him at his Resurrection to have presently out of the Grave Of the Price of his Blood even the Body of many of the Saints which slept He was declared to be the Son of God with Power by the Spirit of Holiness and the Resurrection from the Dead Rom. 1. 4. It saith not by his Resurrection though that be true But by the Resurrection meaning the Resurrection of the Bodies of the Saints which slept because they rose by vertue of his Blood and by that he was with power declared to be the Son of God They I say were part of his Purchase some of them for whom Christ died Now for God to raise them and that upon and by vertue of his Resurrection what is it but an open Declaration from Heaven that Christ by his Death hath made amends for us and obtained Eternal Redemption for us 3thly When he was risen from the Dead God to confirm his Disciples in the Faith of the Redemption that Christ had obtained by his Blood brings him to the Church presents him to them alive shews him openly sometimes to two or three sometimes to eleven or twelve and once to above five hundred Brethren at once Acts 1. 3. Chap. 10. 40. Luk. 24. 13 14 15 16. 31. John 20. 19. Chap. 21. 1 2 3 c. 1 Cor. 15. 3 4 5 6 7 8. 4thly At his Resurrection God gives him the Keys of Hell and of Death Revel 1. 16 17. Hell and Death are the Effects and Fruits of Sin The Wicked shall be turned into Hell and the Wages of Sin is Death But what then are Sinners the better for the Death and Blood of Christ O! They that dare venture upon him are much the better for they shall not perish unless the Saviour will damn them for he hath the Keys of Hell and of Death Fear not saith he I am the First and the Last I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore and have the Keys of Hell and Death These were given him at his Resurrection as if God had said My Son thou hast spilt thy Blood for Sinners I am pleased with it I am delighted in thy Merits in the Redemption which thou hast wrought in token hereof I give thee the Keys of Hell and of Death I give thee all Power in Heaven and Earth save who thou wilt deliver who thou wilt bring to Heaven who thou wilt 5thly At Christ's Resurrection God bids him ask the Heathen of him with a Promise to give him the uttermost parts of the Earth for his Possession This Sentence is in the second Psalm and is expounded by Paul's Interpretation of the Words before to be spoken to Christ at his Resurrection Thou art my Son this Day have I begotten thee I have begotten thee that is saith Paul from the Dead He hath raised up Jesus again as it is also written in the Second Psalm Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Act. 13. 30 31 32 33 34. Now mark at his Raising him from the Dead he bids him ask ASK of me and that the Heathen As if God had said My Son thy Blood hath pacified and appeased my Justice I can 〈◊〉 in justice for thy sake forgive poor Mortals their Sin ASK them of me ASK them though they be Heathens and I will give them to thee to the utmost Ends of the Earth This is then the First Demonstration to prove that Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid full price to God for the Souls of Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them namely his being Raised again from the Dead The Second Demonstration SEcondly A Second thing that demonstrateth this Truth is That he Ascended and was received up into Heaven So after the Lord had spoken to them he was received up into Heaven Mar. 16. 19. This Demonstration consisteth of two parts 1. Of his Ascending 2. Of his being Received First For his Ascending He is ascended on High Ephes. 4. 8.
to offer Heb. 8. 3. which Offering and Sacrifice of his being able to perfect for ever them that are sanctified and set apart for Eternal Life Therefore the name of the Person that offered even Jesus made of God an High-Priest is acceptable with God yea therefore is he made for ever by his doing for us the Appeaser of the Justice of God and the Reconciler of Sinners to him Hence it is that HIS Name is that which it behoveth us to mention when we come before God for what God hath determined in his Counsels of Grace to bestow upon Sinners because for his Name sake he forgiveth them I write to you little Children because your Sins are forgiven you for his Name sake To him give all the Prephets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive Remission of Sins 1. Joh. 2. 14. Act. 10. 43. They therefore that would obtain the forgiveness of Sins must ask it of God through the Name of Jesus and he that shall sensibly and unteignedly do it he shall receive the forgiveness of them Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you Hence it is evident that he hath not only paid full price to God for them but also obtained Eternal Redemption for them And it is observable the Lord Jesus would have his Disciples make a Proof of this and promiseth that if they do they shall experimentally find it so Hitherto saith he ye have asked nothing in my NAME ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full Joh. 16. 24. As who should say O my Disciples you have heard what I have promised to you even that my Father shall do for you whatsoever ye shall ask him in my Name Ask now therefore and prove me if I shall not make my Words good Ask I say what you need and see if you do not receive it to the Joying of your Hearts At that day ye shall ask in my Name and I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you I do not bid you ask in my Name as if the Father was yet hard to be reconciled or unwilling to accept you to mercy my Coming into the World was the Design of my Father and the Effect of his Love to Sinners but there is sin in you and justice in God therefore that you to him might be reconciled I am made of my Father Mediator wherefore ask in my Name for there is none other name given under the Heavens among Men whereby they must be saved Act. 4. 12. Ask in my Name love is let out to you through me it is let out to you by me in a way of Justice which is the only secure way for you Ask in my Name and my Father will love you The Father himself loveth you because you have loved me and have believed that I came out from God Joh. 16. 27. My Fathers Love is set first upon me for my Name is chief in his Heart and all that love me are beloved of my Father and shall have what they need if ye ask in my Name But I say what cause would there be to ask in his Name more than in the Name of some other since justice was provoked by our Sin if he had not undertook to make up the difference that by Sin was made betwixt justice and us For though there be in this Jesus infinite worth infinite righteousness infinite merit yet if he make not with these interest for us we get no more benefit thereby than if there were no Mediator But this Worth and Merit is in him for us for he undertook to reconcile us to God it is therefore that his Name is with God so prevailing for us poor Sinners and therefore that we ought to go to God in his Name Hence therefore it is evident that Jesus Christ hath paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them The Seventh Demonstration THat Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid full price to God for Sinners c. is evident because we are commanded also to give God thanks in his Name By him therefore let us offer the Sacrifice of Praise continually that is the Fruit of our Lips giving thanks in his Name Heb. 13. 15. By him therefore wherefore because he also that he might sanctifie us with his own Blood suffered without the Gate ver 12. He sanctified us with his Blood but why should the Father have thanks for this even because the Father gave him for us that he might die to sanctifie us with his Blood Giving thanks to the Father which hath made us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light who hath delivered us from the Power of Darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son in whom we have redemption through his Blood even the forgiveness of Sins Col. 1. 12 13 14. The Father is to be thanked for the contrivance was also his but the Blood the Righteousness or that worthiness for the Sake of which we are accepted of God is the Worthiness of his own dear Son as it is meet therefore that God should have thanks so it is necessary that he have it in his Name for whose sake we indeed are accepted of him Let us therefore by him offer Praise First For the Gift of his Son and for that we stand quit through him in his Sight and that in despite of all inward weakness and that in despite of all outward enemies When the Apostle had taken such a view of himself as to put himself into a maze with an out-cry also who shall deliver me he quiets himself with this sweet conclusion I thank God through Jesus Christ Rom. 7. 24. He found more in the Blood of Christ to save him than he found in his own Corruptions to damn him but that could not be had he not paid full price for him had he not obtained Eternal Redemption for him And can an Holy and Just God require that we give thanks to him in his Name if it was not effectually done for us by him Further when the Apostle looks upon Death and the Grave and strengtheneth them by adding to them Sin and the Law saying The Sting of Death is sin and the Strength of Sin is the Law he presently addeth but thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory through Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. The Victory over Sin Death and the Law the Victory over these through our Lord Jesus Christ but God hath given us the Victory but it is through our Lord Jesus Christ through his fulfilling the Law through his destroying Death and through his bringing in Everlasting Righteousness Elisha said to the King of Israel that had it not been that he regarded the Person of Jehoshaphat he would not look to him nor regard him 2 Kin. 3. 14. nor would God at all have looked to or regarded thee but that he respected
is of Wonderful Price when the Son of God will not stick to spill his Blood for it O Sinners you that will venture your Souls for a little pleasure surely you know not the worth of your Souls Now if you would know what your Souls are worth and the Price which God sets them at read that Price by the Blood of Christ. The Blood of Christ was spilt to save Souls For ye are bought with a Price and that Price none other than the Blood of Christ wherefore glorify God in your Bodies and in your Spirits which are Gods 1 Cor. 6. 20. Sinners you have Souls can you behold a Crucified Christ and not Bleed and not Mourn and not fall in Love with him The third Use. By this Doctrine Sinners as Sinners are encouraged to come to God for mercy for the Curse due to Sin is taken out of the way I speak now to Sinners that are awake and see themselves Sinners There are two things in special when Men begin to be awakened that kill their thoughts of being saved 1. A Sense of sin 2. The Wages due thereto These kill the Heart for who can bear up under the guilt of Sin If our Sins be upon us and we pine away in them how can we THEN live Ezek. 33. 10. How indeed it is impossible So neither can Man grapple with the Justice of God Can thine Heart endure or can thine Hands be strong they cannot A wounded Spirit who can bear Men cannot Angels cannot wherefore if now Christ be hid and the blessing of Faith in his Blood denied wo be to them such go after Saul and Judas one to the Sword and the other to the Halter Ezek. 22. 14. Prov. 18. 14. and so miserably end their days for come to God they dare not the thoughts of that Eternal Majesty strikes them through But now present such Poor dejected Sinners with a Crucified Christ and perswade them that the Sins under which they shake and tremble was long ago laid upon the Back of Christ and the Noise and Sense and Fear of damning begins to cease depart and fly away Dolours and Terrours fade and vanish and that Soul conceiveth hopes of Life For thus the Soul argueth is this indeed the Truth of God that Christ was made to be Sin for me was made the Curse of God for me Hath he indeed born all my Sins and spilt his Blood for my Redemption O blessed Tidings O welcome Grace Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his Holy Name Now is peace come now the Face of Heaven is altered Behold all things are become new Now the Sinner can abide Gods Presence yea sees unutterable Glory and Beauty in him For here he sees Justice smite While Jacob was afraid of Esau how heavily did he drive even towards the Promised Land but when killing thoughts were turned into kissing and the fears of the Swords Point turned into Brotherly Embraces what says he I have seen thy Face as though it had been the Face of God and thou wast pleased with me Gen. 33. 10. So and far better is it with a poor distressed Sinner at the Revelation of the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses to them O! what work will such a word make upon a wounded Conscience especially when the next words follow For he hath made him to be Sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him Now the Soul sees qualifications able to set him quit in the Sight of God Qualifications prepared already Prepared I say already and that by God through Christ even such as can perfectly answer the Law What doth the Law require If Obedience here it is if Bloody Sacrifice here it is if infinite Righteousness here it is Now then the Law condemns him that Believes before God no more for all its Demands are answered all its Curses are swallowed up in the Death and Curse Christ underwent Object But reason saith since Personal Sin brought the Death surely Personal Obedience must bring us Life and Glory Ans. True Reason saith so and so doth the Law it self Rom. 10. 5. but God we know is above them both and he in the Covenant of Grace saith otherwise to wit That if thou shalt confess with thy Mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine Heart that God hath raised him from the Dead thou shalt be saved Rom. 10. 6 7 8 9. Let Reason then hold his tongue yea let the Law with all his Wisdom subject it self to him that made it let it look for sin where God hath laid it let it approve the Righteousness which God approveth yea though it be not that of the Law but that by Faith of Jesus Christ. God hath made him our Righteousness God hath made him our Sin God hath made him our Curse God hath made him our Blessing Methinks this word God hath made it so should silence all the World The fourth use Fourthly By this Doctrine sufficiency of argument is ministred to the tempted to withstand thereby the assaults of the Devil When the Souls begin to seek after the Lord Jesus then Satan begins to afflict and distress as the Canaanites did the Gibeonites for making Peace with Jehoshuah Jos. 10. 1 6. There are three things that do usually afflict the Soul that is earnestly looking after Jesus Christ. 1. Dreadful accusations from Satan 2. Grievous defiling and infectious thoughts 3. A strange readiness in our Nature to fall in with both By the first of these the Heart is made continually to tremble Hence his Temptations are compared to the roaring of a Lyon 1 Pet. 5. 8. For as the Lyon by roaring killeth the Heart of his Prey so doth Satan kill the Spirit of these that hearken to him For when he tempteth especially by way of accusation he doth to us as Rabshakeh did to the Jews He speaks to us in our own Language He speaks our Sin at every word our guilty Conscience knows it he speaks our Death at every word our doubting Conscience feels it Secondly Besides this there doth now arise even in the Heart such defiling and soul infectious thoughts that putteth the Tempted to their wits end for now it seems to the Soul that the very flood-Gates of the Flesh are opened and that to sin there is no stop at all now the Air seems to be covered with darkness and the Man is as if he was changed into the nature of a Devil Now if ignorance and unbelief prevail he concludeth that he is reprobate made to be taken and destroyed Thirdly Now also he feeleth in him a readiness to fall in with every temptation a readiness I say continually present Rom. 7. 21. This throws all down now despair begins to swallow it up now it can neither pray nor read nor hear nor meditate on God but Fire and Smoke continually bursteth
as he suffered from Men so he suffered for righteousness sake Observe then That as he suffered for sin so no MAN took away his Life but as he suffered for righteousness so THEY slew him by wicked hands What is it then Christ must needs have suffered and the Wisdom of God had so ordained That those things which God before had shewed by the Mouth of all his Prophets that Christ should suffer he hath so fulfilled Acts 3. 18. Thus therefore we ought to distinguish of the Causes and Ends of the Death of Christ. Again As Christ suffered for sin so he would neither be taken at mans pleasure nor die at mans time 1. Not at mans pleasure and hence it was that they so often sought his Life in vain for his Hour was not yet come to wit the Hour in which he was to be made a Sacrifice for our Sin John 13. Chap. 17. 1 2. Chap. 18. 1 2. 2. Not at their Time but contrary to all expectation when the due time was come he bowed his Head and gave up the Ghost John 19. 30. And for this last work he had power given him of God that is power to die when he would I have power said he to lay down my Life and I have power to take it again This Power never man had before This made the Centurion wonder and made Pontius Pilat marvel And indeed well they might for it was as great a Miracle as any he wrought in his Life It demonstrated him to be the Son of God Mar. 15. 38 39. The Centurion knowing that according to nature he might have lived longer concluded therefore that his dying at that instant was not but miraculously And when he saw that he so cried out and gave up the Ghost he said Truly this Man was the Son of God And the Reason why he had power to die was That he might offer his Offering willingly and at the Season 1. Willingly If his Offering be a Burnt-Sacrifice of the Lord let him offer a Male without blemish he shall offer it of his own voluntary Will at the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation before the Lord Levit. 1. 3. 2. He must offer it at the Season Thou shalt keep this Ordinance the Passeover in his Season Exod. 13. 10. Now both these Offerings having immediate respect to the Offering of the Body of Christ for sin for he came in the room of all burnt-Sacrifices the Passeover also was a Type of him Heb. 10. 3 4 5 6. 1 Cor. 5. 7 8. Therefore he being now the Priest as well as Sacrifice must have Power and Will to offer his Sacrifice with acceptation and this the Scripture testifieth he did where it saith In due time Christ died for the Ungodly Rom. 5. 8 9. In due time that is at the time appointed at the acceptable time Thou must therefore unless thou art willing to be deceived look upon the Sufferings of Christ under a double Consideration and distinguish between his Sufferings as our Example and his Suffering for our Sins And know that as he suffered as our Example so he suffered only for righteousness sake from the Hands of wicked Men but as he suffered for our Sins so he suffered as being by God reputed wicked the Punishment that was due to sin even the dreadful Curse of God Not that Christ died two deaths one after another but he died at the same time upon a double account for his Righteousness sake from Men for our sins from the Hand of God And as I said before had he only suffered for righteousness sake death had not so amazed him nor had he been so exceeding heavy in the Thoughts of it that had never put him into an Agony nor made him Sweat as it were great drops of Blood Besides When men suffer only for righteousness sake God doth not use to hide his Face from them to forsake them and make them accursed But Christ hath delivered us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us Object But if indeed Christ hath paid the full price for us by his Death in suffering the Punishment that we should have done wherefore is the Scripture so silent as not to declare that by his Death he hath made satisfaction Ans. No Man may teach God Knowledg he knoweth best how to deliver his Mind in such words and terms as best agree with his Eternal Wisdom and the Consciences of these that are truly desirous of Salvation being over-burdened with the guilt of Sin Perhaps the Word Satisfaction will hardly be found in the Bible and where is it said in so many words God is dissatisfied with our Sins Yet 't is sufficiently manifest that there is nothing that God hateth but sin and Sinners for the Sake of sin What meant he by turning Adam out of Paradise by drowning the Old World by burning up Sodom with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven What meant he by drowning of Pharaoh by causing the Ground to swallow up Corah and his Company and by his destroying Israel in the Wilderness if not to shew that he was dissatisfied with Sin That God is also satisfied yea more than satisfied by Christ's Sufferings for our Sins is apparent For granting that he died for them as these Scriptures declare Isa. 53. 1 Cor 15. 1 2 3 4. Gal. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 5. 8. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Gal. 3. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Chap. 3. 18. 1 Joh. 2. 2. Chap. 3. 16. Chap. 4. 14. Revel 1. 5. Chap. 5. 9. Isa. 49. 4 5 6. 1. It is apparent because it is said That God smelled in that Offering of the Body of Christ for our Sins a Sweet-smelling Savor He gave himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling Savor Ephes. 5. 2. 2. It is apparent because it is said expresly That God for Christ's Sake doth now forgive Be ye kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ's Sake bath forgiven you Ephes. 4. 32. 3. It is apparent that God is satisfied with Christ's Blood for our Sins because he hath declared that he can justifie those that believe in or rely upon that Blood for Life in a way of Justice and Righteousness Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through faith in his Blood to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God To declare I say at this time his Righteousness that he might be just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus Rom. 3. 24 25 26. Now I say to object against such plain Testimonies what is it but 1. To deny that Christ died for Sin or to conclude 2. That having so done he is still in the Grave Or 3. That there is no such thing as Sin Or 4. No such thing as Revenging Justice in God against it Or 5. That we must
always his delight Herein is Love that be sent him to save Sinners to save them by bearing their Sins by bearing their Curse by dying their Death and by carrying their Sorrows Here is Love in that while we were yet Enemies Christ died for us yea here is Love in that while we were yet without strength Christ died for the Ungodly Rom. 5. The second Use. But Secondly as this Doctrine giveth us the best discovery of God so also it giveth us the best discovery of our selves and our own things First It giveth us the best discovery of our selves Wouldest thou know Sinner what thou art look up to the Cross and behold a Weeping Bleeding Dying Jesus nothing could do but that nothing could save thee but his Blood Angels could not Saints could not God could not because he could not ly because he could not deny himself What a thing is Sin that it should sink all that bear its burden yea it sunk the Son of God himself into death and the Grave and had also sunk him into Hell-fire for ever had he not been the Son of God had he not been able to take it on his Back and bear it away O! This Lamb of God Sinners were going to Hell Christ was the Delight of his Father and had a whole Heaven to himself but that did not content him Heaven could not hold him He must come into the World to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Ay and had he not come thy Sins had sunk thee thy Sins had provoked the Wrath of God against thee to thy perdition and destruction for ever There is no Man but is a Sinner there is no Sin but would damn an Angel should God lay it to his charge Sinner the Doctrine of Christ crucified crieth therefore aloud unto thee that sin hath made thy Condition dreadful See your selves your Sin and consequently the Condition that your Souls are in by the Death and Blood of Christ Christs Death giveth us the most clear discovery of the dreadful Nature of our Sins I say again if sin be so dreadful a thing as to break the Heart of the Son of God for so he saith it did how shall a Poor Wretched Impenitent damned Sinner wrestle with the Wrath of God Awake Sinners you are lost you are undone you perish you are damned Hell-fire is your Portion for ever if you abide in your Sins and be found without a Saviour in the dreadful Day of Judgment Secondly For your good Deeds cannot help you the Blood of Christ tells you so For by this Doctrine Christ died for our Sins God damneth to death and hell the Righteousness of the World Christ must die or Man be damned where is now any room for the Righteousness of Men room I say for Man's Righteousness as to his Acceptance and Justification Bring then thy Righteousness to the Cross of Jesus Christ and in his Blood behold the Demands of Justice behold them I say in the Cries and Tears in the Blood and Death of Jesus Christ. Look again and behold the Person dying such an one as never sinned nor offended at any time yet he dies Could an Holy Life an Innocent Harmless Conversation have saved one from death Jesus had not died But he must die Sin was charged therfore Christ must die Men therefore need to go no further to prove the Worth of their own Righteousness than to the Death of Christ They need not be to seek in that Matter till they stand before the Judgment-Seat Quest. But how should I prove the Goodness of mine own Righteousness by the Death and Blood of Christ Ans. Thus If Christ must die for Sin then all thy Righteousness cannot save thee If Righteousness comes by the Law then Christ is dead in vain Gal. 2. 21. By this Text 't is manifest that either Christ died in vain or thy Righteousness is vain If thy Righteousness can save thee then Christ died in vain If nothing below or besides the Death of Christ could save thee then thy Righteousness is in vain one of the two must be cast away either Christ's or thine Christ Crucified to save the World discovereth two great evils in Man's own Righteousness I mean when brought for Justification and Life 1. It opposeth the Righteousness of Christ. 2. It condemneth God of Foolishness 1. It opposeth the Righteousness of Christ in that it seeketh it self to stand where should the Righteousness of Christ to wit in God's affection for the Justification of thy Person and this is one of the highest affronts to Christ that poor man is capable to give him Right worthily therefore doth the Doctrine of the Gospel damn the Righteousness of Men and promiseth the Kingdom of God to Publicans and Harlots rather 2. It condemneth God of Foolishness For if Works of Righteousness which we can do can justifie from the Curse of the Law in the Sight of God then is not all the Treasures of Wisdom found in the Heart of God and Christ For this Dolt-headed Sinner hath now found out a Way of his own unawares to God to secure his Soul from Wrath and Vengeance I say unawares to God for he never imagined that such a thing could be for had he he would never have purposed before the World began to send his Son to die for Sinners Christ is the Wisdom of God as you have heard and that as he is our Justifying Righteousness God was manifest in the Flesh to save us is the great Mystery of Godliness But wherein lyeth the depth of this Wisdom of God in our Salvation if Man's Right-hand can save him Job 40. 10 11 12 13 14. Yea wherefore hath God also given it out that there is none other Name given to Men under Heaven whereby we must be saved I say again why is it affirmed without shedding of Blood is no Remission if Mans good Deeds can save him This Doctrine therefore of the Righteousness of Christ being rightly preached and truly believed arraigneth and condemneth Man's Righteousness to Hell It casteth it out as Abraham cast out Ismael BLOOD BLOOD the sound of Blood abaseth all the Glory of it When Men have said all and shewed us what they can they have no Blood to present God's Justice with yet 't is Blood that maketh an Atonement for the Soul and nothing but Blood can wash us from our Sins Levit. 17. 11. Revel 1. 5. Heb. 9. Justice calls for Blood Sins call for Blood the Righteous Law calls for Blood yea the Devil himself must be overcome by Blood Sinner where is now thy Righteousness Bring it before a Consuming Fire for our God is a Consuming Fire Bring it before the Justice of the Law yea try if ought but the Blood of Christ can save thee from thy Sins and Devils try it I say by this Doctrine go not one step further before thou hast tried it Thirdly By this Doctrine we are made to see the worth of Souls it cannot be but that the Soul