other Sins or to feed a Lust and therefore we had need to deny it as it is Lust. 2 dly You should deny them as worldly Lusts so you must abstain from them not serve them as they are stirred up by worldly Objects they keep us from better Employment and therefore Grace teacheth us to deny them as they tend only to such a vile purpose Many Arguments there are 1. Whatever is for this World must be left on this side the Grave Pomp Pleasure and Estate must be left behind us Job 1.21 Naked came I out of my Mother's Womb and naked must I return thither There is no carnal Pomp and Pleasure in the next World Here we bustle for Greatness but Death ends the Quarrel Like foolish Birds we seek to build strong Nests when to morrow we must be gone Open the Grave and look upon the Reliques of Man's Mortality thou canst not discern between the Rich and the Poor the King and the Peasant all are alike obnoxious to Stench and Rottenness Those Desires that carry you out to the World must be mortified A Mill-wheel runs round all the Day and at Night it is in the same place So whatever we gain and purchase in the World it must be left at Night when we go to Bed when Death finds us and in the same place at Death we are as naked as we came into the World 1 Tim. 6.7 For we brought nothing into the World and it is certain we can carry nothing out A Man's Wealth doth not follow him but his Sins do his Iniquity will find him out Consider at Birth a Man is contented with a Cradle and at Death with a Grave yet here we join House to House and Field to Field Isa. 5.8 as if the whole World could not contain us 2. As they are only for this World so our abode here is but short and uncertain and therefore if it be worldly Lust it should be less prized for it lasts but for a time Within a very little while those that are most potent powerful and shining in the Splendor of the World shall be turned to Dust and Ashes God hath made Life short for many wise and merciful Reasons that the time of our Labour might not last too long He hath made us to enjoy himself and because he loveth the Saints he would have them the sooner with himself and would not be long without their Company and that we might love eternal Life therefore this Life is short and that he might gratify the Saints for he that hath a Journey to go would pass it over as soon as he can God makes their Journey as short as is convenient for his Glory and to shame wicked Men because they delight in that which is but of a short continuance but their Torment is Eternal The Pleasure of Sin is but for a Season but the Torments of Sin are for ever and ever therefore this should put a check to your Desires it is only for a World that passeth away nay the Lusts of this World pass away 1 Iohn 2.17 The World passeth away and the Lusts thereof The time will come when we shall have no lusts to these things it begins at Sickness but at the Day of Judgment we shall have no relish of these things and when the whole World is burnt up it will be our torment that we have prostituted our Affections to such low and unbeseeming things we shall see the Vanity when it is too late Men will have little love to the World then 3. If they be but worldly Lusts they should not be cherished were they never so durable Why Because this is not our Happiness and our Rest. Carnal Men have more of the World Christ committed his Purse to the worst of his Disciples Of the other he saith They are not of the World even as I am not of the World John 17.16 In this World God is most liberal to the worst therefore here we should not set up our Rest. Look as it is said of Abraham Gen. 25.6 that he gave Gifts to Ishmael and to the Sons of Keturah but he gave the Inheritance to Isaac Wicked Men have their Portion but not the Inheritance God will not be in their Debt therefore they have Gifts Therefore saith a Christian Why should I cherish these worldly Lusts this is not my Portion but the Portion of others From Men of the World which have their Portion in this Life Psal. 17.14 The World is Satan's Circuit he compasseth the Earth It is the Saints Slaughter-house they shed the Blood of Saints and Prophets Rev. 16.6 It is the place where God is dishonoured They are favoured and loved most by the World whom Christ hath rejected and past by 4. Worldly Lusts do hinder us from our Work We were made for another World and this Life is lent us for a while to look after Heaven We cannot drive on those two Cares at once for the World and Heaven too as a Man cannot look with one Eye to Heaven and with another to the Earth therefore why should we indulge worldly Lusts Who would lose a Crown to be owner of a Dunghil And will you forfeit Heaven and the Joys of God's Presence for worldly Conveniences Lust hinders your care of Heaven It is true a temperate and religious use of the World furthereth it but worldly Lust doth take off your Heart from God and Heaven and unfits it for it so that your Heavenly Desires are hindered 5. In a sense worldly Lusts do hinder us of the Comfort of this World Want encreaseth with Enjoyment as the Fire encreaseth by laying on more Fuel The more we enjoy the more we desire so we do not enjoy what we do possess The more we have the more we want so that a covetous Man neither enjoys this World nor the World to come 6. If it be worldly Lust then take heed of it for thou art as thy Love is If thou lovest this World thou art a worldly Man if thou lovest God thou art a godly Man if thou lovest Heaven thou art a heavenly Man A Man is not as his Opinion is but as his Affections are A bad Man may be of a good Opinion but a bad Man can never have good Affections The Soul as Wax receives the Impression from the Object Thou art a Person of the World if thou lovest the World Take a Looking-glass and put it towards Heaven there you shall see the Figure of Heaven the Clouds and things above put it downward towards the Earth you shall see the Figure of the Earth Trees Meadows Fruits So doth the Soul receive a Figure from the things to which it is set if the Heart be set towards Heaven that puts thee into a heavenly Frame if thou appliest it to earthly Objects thou art a Man of the Earth 7. The more we mortify these worldly Lusts the more we prevent Affliction We might prevent the bitterness of the Cross if we would
destroyed him that had the Power of Death This was a necessary means of Conquest and Christ must overcome Satan by suffering himself to be overcome visibly by him The Devil doth not conquer Christ by Death but Christ doth conquer him And still all the Temptations of the Devil are but the wounding of the Heel the Loss is not great to Christ or his Members As Dan is compared to a Serpent by the Way or an Adder in the Path that biteth the Horse-heels so that his Rider shall fall backward Gen. 49.17 Such is the Craft of Satan he doth not usually bring Temptations before our Reason but they enter in at the Back-door of Sensual Appetite but tho he bite the Heel the Life of Grace is secured Satan prevailed so far against Christ that his wicked Instruments brought him to the Cross pursued him to the Death there But 2 Cor. 13.4 Though he was crucified through VVeakness yet he liveth by the Power of God Or as it is in 1 Pet. 3.18 Being put to Death in the Flesh but quickned by the Spirit So for Christians he may divers ways wound and afflict us in our outward Interests but the inner Man is safe 2 Cor. 4.16 Though our outward Man perish yet the inward Man is renewed day by day Nay we may be bruised in the Heel by divers Temptations and Slips into Sin yet the Vitals of Grace are not hurt there is no total Extinction of our Love to God I should come now to the fourth Branch That tho Christ was bruised in the Conflict yet it endeth in Satan's total Overthrow His Heel was bruised but Satan's Head was crushed But of that anon In the mean time by way of Use let me press you chearfully to remember and celebrate this Victory of Christ. The Duty we are engaging in is an Eucharist and we come to rejoice in God our Saviour Let me bespeak you in the Psalmist's Words Psal. 98.1 O sing unto the Lord a new Song for he hath done marvellous things his right Hand and his holy Arm have gotten him the Victory Or Psal. 118.15 16. The Voice of Rejoicing and Salvation is in the Tabernacle of the Righteous The Right Hand of the Lord doth valiantly The Right Hand of the Lord is exalted the Right Hand of the Lord doth valiantly Psal. 106.2 Who can utter the mighty Acts of the Lord who can shew forth all his Praise 1. The Conqueror is the Seed of the Woman or the Son of God incarnate O let us bless God for so great a Mercy Luke 1. from 68 to 76. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his People and hath raised up an Horn of Salvation for us in the House of his Servant David as he spake by the Mouth of his holy Prophets which have been since the World began That we should be saved from our Enemies and from the Hand of all that hate us to perform the Mercy promised to our Fathers and to remember his holy Covenant The Oath which he sware to our Father Abraham that he would grant unto us 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 Life What shall the Son of God come from Heaven to subdue the Kingdom of Satan and to deliver Men from this Bondage and we be no more affected with it 2. The Manner of Overcoming it is by suffering a shameful painful and accursed Death Rev. 1.5 6. Vnto him that loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood and made us Kings and Priests to God and his Father to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen Again Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Riches and VVisdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing Rev. 5.12 And ver 9. For thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation That by a Death which he deserved not he should destroy the Death which we deserved 3. Who is overcome The Devil Rev. 12.10 Now is come Salvation and Strength and the Kingdom of our God and the Power of his Christ for the Accuser of our Brethren is cast down who accused them before our God day and night Ver. 11. And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and the VVord of their Testimony and they loved not their Lives unto the Death Ver. 12. Therefore rejoice ye Heavens and ye that dwell in them VVo to the Inhabitants of the Earth and of the Sea for the Devil is come down unto you having great VVrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short Time O Christians what will raise your Hearts in Thanksgiving to God if not these three Arguments which I have plainly mentioned to you for the Matter needeth no Descants The Incarnation of the Son of God who came as the Seed of the Woman that he might free Mankind from the Power the Devil had over them by Sin Then the Merit and Satisfaction of our Saviour for he was bruised in his Heel And then the dissolution of Satan's Power and the freeing of Mankind out of his Hands either as a Tempter or a Tormentor 4. The Effects of the Victory when 't is applied to us I shall mention three 1. Our Conversion to God and the destruction of Sin in our Hearts or our actual deliverance from Satan Luke 11.21 22. VVhen a strong Man armed keepeth his Palace his Goods are in peace but when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him he taketh from him all his Armour wherein he trusted and divideth his Spoils This was our Case All was in a sinful Quiet and Peace When Wind and Tide go together no wonder if there be a Calm Satan's Suggestions and our Corruptions suted the one with the other But blessed be God that this carnal Security is disturbed that the Kingdom of God is come upon us that Christ by a sacred Rescue hath dispossessed Satan and destroyed Sin O let us give Thanks unto the Father who 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 translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.12 13. 2. Remission of Sins Acts 26.18 To open their Eyes and to turn them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive Forgiveness of Sins and an Inheritance among them that are sanctified by Faith that is in me Col. 1.13 14. VVho hath delivered us from the Power of Darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son in whom we have Redemption through his Blood even the forgiveness of Sins Christ's Subjects have the Privileges of his Kingdom Now bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name Bless the Lord O
ye eat this bread and drink this cup. It is Sacriledge to defraud the People of the communion of the Cup and to separate what God hath joyned 2. The End declared Where what and how long 1. What is the end To annunciate or shew forth the Lord's death It may be read Indicatively or Imperatively 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They come to the same effect Annuntiare debetis Ye ought to shew forth So Vatablus 2. How long this Rite must be observed to this end Till He come that is to judgment Which implieth that this is a standing Ordinance or means to keep his Death in perpetual remembrance till we have no more need of Memorials because Christ is come in Person Doctr. The Lord's Supper is a solemn Commemoration of the Death and Passion of our Lord Iesus Christ. 1. By way of Illustration 2. By way of Confirmation I. By way of Illustration I shall explain both the Object and the Act. The Object is the Lord's death The Act is Annunciation or shewing forth First The Object Which I shall open in three Propositions 1. That the Sacraments do chiefly relate to Christ's death For Baptism Rom. 6.3 Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Iesus Christ were baptized into his death The Lord's Supper in the Text. Both Sacraments represent him dead they do not represent him Glorified but Crucified They were Instituted in favour of Men and for the benefit of Man more directly and immediately than for the honour of Christ exalted In these Duties he representeth himself rather as one that procured the Glory of others than as one that is possessed of Glory himself and would have us consider his Death rather than his present Exaltation His Death is wholly for us but his Glory is for himself and us too Only we must distinguish between what is Primarily represented in the Sacrament and what is Secondarily and Consequentially It is true the consideration of his Humiliation excludeth not that of his Exaltation but leadeth us to it But primarily and properly Christ's Death is here represented and consequentially his Resurrection and Intercession as these Acts of his Mediation receive value from his Death We remember his Death as the Meritorious Cause of our Justification and Sanctification his Resurrection as the Publick Evidence Rom. 4.25 Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification Namely as his Resurrection sheweth his Satisfaction is perfect God requireth no more for the Atonement of the World His Intercession is nothing else but a representation of the Merit of his Sacrifice and receiveth its value from his Death Heb. 9.12 By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us That is by his own Bloud he entered into Heaven having purchased Redemption for us from the Guilt and Power of Sin Well then it appeareth from the nature of the thing and the Rites here used that Christ's Body is represented to us as dead and broken and so proper Food for our Souls And his Blood as shed or poured out for the expiation of our Sins that we might obtain pardon and peace Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his Blood the forgiveness of Sins according to the riches of his grace Luke 22.20 This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you 2. That we do not Commemorate Christ's death as a Tragical Story but as a Mystery of Godliness Many when they come to these Duties look upon Christ as an innocent Person unworthily handled and so make a Tragedy of his passion for the entertainment of their fancies and the lighter part of their affections rather than for their Faith to work upon their desire joy and thankfullness or to stir up any deep Repentance in them This remembrance produceth either Compassion or Indignation against the Jews 1. Compassion Alas the History of Christ's Passion will work no more upon us than the sad preparation of Abraham when he went to Sacrifice his Son Isaac or the Crys of Ioseph in the Pit or the pittiful words of Iacob when they told him that some Beast had devoured him or than the Sacking of Ierusalem by the Babylonians or how they handled that miserable King Zedekiah when they put out his Eyes or the moans of Dido for Aeneas Austin instanced in that living in that Country Quid miserius homine flente Didonis mortem non misâ—riam suam All these things though they be not of such importance as the sufferings of the Son of God will draw tears from us and passionately affect us for the time Christ seemeth to disprove this fond Compassion as it is acted and exercised towards himself Luke 23.28 to 31. Iesus turning unto them said Daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me but weep for your selves and for your Children For behold the days are coming in the which they shall say Blessed are the Barren and the Womb that never bare and the Paps which never gave suck Then shall they begin to say to the Mountains fall on us and to the Hills cover us For if they do these things in a green Tree what shall be done in the dry The Gospel doth not propound the death of Christ as a Spectacle of humane Calamity No it is a point of higher consideration and God looketh for more inward and Spiritual motions than this passionate condoling 2. So for indignation against the Iews It is no more pleasing to Christ than the other Many Christians think it a piece of high Devotion to execrate the Memory of Iudas and the other Iews who were accessory to Christ's Death but this or somewhat like it is disproved too Peter was in a rage against Christ's Adversaries and therefore out of bravery draweth his Sword against a whole Troop or Band of Men that came to attacque him in the Garden But Christ saith Iohn 18.11 Put up thy Sword into the Sheath the Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it No question but great Injustice was shewed to Christ the Iews fact was odious Iudas his treason Execrable but as our pity should be turned upon our selves so must our exasperation also The Gospel calleth for deeper consideration of this Mystery than what is Historical Namely such as is Evangelical and may suit with God's ends in it and our Faith in the Mediator and Saviour of the World Namely the horror of our Sins that they may become odious to us the Terror of God's impartial Justice that we may never think a light thought of it more the inestimableness of God's Love that we may have more admiring thoughts of the wonders of this Condescending Grace in giving his Son to die for us and of the unspeakable benefit and the joy of Salvation which is derived thence to us These are the true reflections on the Death of Christ and best serve for the improvement of it Namely to raise our hopes of Mercy
ingage our Thankfullness and increase our Hatred of Sin In short two affections are most proper and seasonable Mourning for Sin and Rejoycing in Christ. 1. Mourning for Sin When we call to remembrance the Death of Christ the anguish of his Soul the bruises of his Body the effusion of his Blood these are all occasions of Godly sorrow For he hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows and he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the Chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed Isai. 53.4 5. Therefore godly sorrow is seasonable so far as it is a means part of Repentance The Iews on the Solemn day of attonement used to afflict their Souls on that Day as you may read Levit. 23.27 28 29. On the Tenth day of the seventh Month it shall be a day of Attonement it shall be an holy Convocation unto you and ye shall afflict your Souls and offer an offering made by Fire unto the Lord. And ye shall do no work on that day for it is a day of Attonement to make an Attonement for you before the Lord your God For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day he shall be cut off from among his people Mark when this should be at the day of Expiation or Attonement and Solemn Reconciliation with God that they might have forgiveness of all their Sins Affliction of Soul or Humiliation is inward by Godly sorrow for Sin which worketh repentance unto Salvation not to be repented of 2 Cor. 7.10 It is done by judging and loathing our selves for the Evils we have committed outwardly by Fasting and Abstinence from all fleshly Delights which the Iews observed with great rigour I press it only as it was a sign of Repentance Then we best remember Christ Crucified when we are Crucified with him Gal. 2.20 I am Crucified with Christ. When the Sensual Inclination is mortified and the Heart deadned to the pleasures of Sin which are but for a Season 2. Rejoycing in Christ Jesus The other tendeth to this as a preparation to the Solemn effect And to Repentance there must be joyned Faith which is an acceptance and acknowledgment of the benefits procured and offered to us by Christ. Therefore we cannot receive them so sealed confirmed and applied as they are in the Lord's Supper without joy We are invited to the Lord's Table as to a Feast and joy doth best become an Holy Feast This Ordinance was instituted for our Consolation as being one of those Solemn assutances given to the Heirs of Promise And their nature and use is to beget Strong Consolation Heb. 6.18 It is true we come to it with remorse but that by way of preparation and for the quickening of our appetite But the proper act wherein consisteth our Communion with Christ and his Body and Blood is the joy and contentment that the Soul received in that Christ dyed for us Christ is not only propounded as dead but as dead for us that his Death may be our Life and a fountain of everlasting comfort to us When we come to God's Table we Eat and Drink in his presence as those that are agreed with him and reconciled to him by Jesus Christ. And then Rom. 5.11 We joy in God through our Lord Iesus Christ as those that have received the attonement So Psal. 22.26 The meek shall Eat and be satisfied they shall praise the Lord that seek him your Heart shall live for ever That is the poor humble Christian is revived and comforted by the Eucharistical Spiritual Food and the vital effects thereof of which by Faith they are made partakers He speaketh there of paying his vows and alludeth to the Peace-offerings when they feasted with their Friends Which is fulfilled in the Eucharist or Commemorative Feast which we observe in the remembrance of Christ's Death These are the Spiritual Affections we come with brokenness of Heart and go away with Joy Act. 8.39 And when they were come up out of the Water the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip and the Eunuch saw him no more and be went on his way rejoycing 3. The Commemoration of Christ's Death as a Mystery of Godliness is done by a due consideration or reflection on the cause occasion and benefits of it 1. The first inward moving cause of all is the great love and mercy of God to us Iohn 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life And 1 Iohn 4.10 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our Sins This must not be overlooked partly because this is commended to us Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ dyed for us Some things may be told us but this is commended that we may be sure not to forget it This was the great thing propounded to our thoughts this gracious act and expression of God's mercy and bounty carried on in the most astonishing way far beyond what we could conceive or imagine And partly because this calleth for thankfulness the great principle of Gospel-Obedience 2 Cor. 5.14 15. For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one dyed for all then were all dead And that he dyed for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which dyed for them and rose again Yea the Life and Soul of every Duty the very design and tenor of the Gospel and the way of Salvation by a Redeemer is so ordered by God as to raise the highest Thankfulness in Man and that we might be deeply possessed with his Love Thankfulness is the great Duty of the Gospel and which containeth and animateth all the rest For the Gospel from first to last is a benefit 1 Tim. 6.2 Partakers of the Benefit And therefore to be received with Thankfulness for what obedience is to a meer Law that is Thankfulness to a Benefit This Duty is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or an Eucharist The Lord Jesus hath gone before us as a pattern 1 Cor. 11.24 When he had given Thanks he brake it and Verse 25. After the same manner he took the cup that is giving Thanks as Matth. 26.27 He took the cup and gave thanks And all because of that Grace and Bounty of God which he came to discover to Mankind and would Seal with his Blood Well then this Grace Love and Goodâ—ess of God in giving his Son to dye for our Sins should never be over-looked by us That all our Acts may be Acts of Thankfulness our Repentance may be a thankful Repentance our Love may most affect the Heart with Sin Ezek. 16.63 Thou mayst remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified
mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread hath lift up his head against me Which was fulfilled Matth. 26.23 He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish he shall betray me And accordingly Iudas came to attack him Mat. 26.47 That he should be sold for thirty Pieces of Silver Zech. 11.12 So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver Fulfilled Mat. 26.15 That with these thirty Pieces of Silver there should be bought afterwards a Field of Potsheards Zech. 11.13 And the Lord said unto me Cast it unto the potter And I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord. Fulfilled Mat. 27.7 And they took counsel and bought with them the potters field to bury strangers in That being apprehended he should be most barbarously intreated by the Jews and be beaten and buffetted and his Face defiled with spitting according to that of Isaiah the Prophet Isa. 50.6 I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair I hid not my face from shame and spitting Fulfilled Mat. 6.67 Then did they spit in his face and buffet him and others smote him with the palms of their hands That they would wound rend and tear his Body with Scourges before they put him to death Isa. 53.5 He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed Fulfilled Mat. 27.26 When he had scourged Iesus he delivered him to be crucified And they did at length put him to death according to the Prophecy The Messiah was to be cut off but not for himself Dan. 9.26 That the Death that he should die was the Death of the Cross unto which he was nailed Hand and Foot according to that of David Psal. 22.16 They pierced my hands and my feet And that of Zech. 12.10 They shall look upon me whom they have pierced Fulfilled Luke 23.33 And when they were come to Mount Calvary there they crucified him That he was crucified between two Malefactors one on the right hand and the other on the left according to that of Isa. 53.12 He was numbred with the transgressors Luke 22.37 For I say unto you that this which is written must yet be accomplished in me And he was reckoned among transgressors for the things concerning me have an end He was to pray for his Enemies and Persecutors according to that of Isa. 53.12 He made intercession for the transgressors And this was fulfilled in that Prayer Luke 23.24 Then said Iesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do So Psal. 69.21 In my thirst they give me vinegar to drink Fulfilled as before That they should divide his Apparel and cast Lots for his upper Garment Psal. 22.18 They part my garment among them and cast lots upon my vesture Fulfilled Mat. 27.35 And they crucified him and parted his garments casting lots Well then all these Particulars foretold of the Messiah were exactly fulfilled in our Saviour and so conduce to settle our Hearts in believing his Person and Office Well then might he say now It is finished 2. That the substance of the Types were accomplished in him as that of the Brazen Serpent the Paschal Lamb the Daily and Yearly Sacrifices the Offering of Isaac all which praefigured that Christ should die for the Sins of the World As Abraham offered his only Son Isaac to God as a Proof and Demonstration of his Faith and Obedience Now I know that thou fearest God seeing thou hast not withheld thy son thine only son from me Gen. 22.12 So God gave his Son as a proof and demonstration of his Love 1 Iohn 4.10 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son to be a propitiation for our sins Isaac carried the Wood to the Sacrifice of himself so did Christ his Cross. The lifting up of the Brazen Serpent in the Wilderness that whosoever looked upon it should be healed Numb 21.9 And Moses made a serpent and put it upon a pole and it come to pass that if any serpent had bitten any man when he beheld the serpent of brass he lived This figured Christ lifted up upon the Cross that all those bitten by the old Serpent might by looking be cured Iohn 3.14 15. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal Life The Paschal Lamb was slain just at the time when Christ died and his Flesh eaten not a Bone broken Iohn 19.33 His Blood sprinkled on the Door-Posts all which were accomplished in Christ who is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Iohn 1.29 The Daily Sacrifice was offered Morning and Evening to shew our daily Use of Christ who was a Lamb without spot and blemish 1 Pet. 1.19 The Anniversary Sacrifice of the two Goats on the day of Expiation Numb 16. when there was a live Goat to be sent into the Wilderness and the other was slain and Aaron was to put both his hands upon the Head of the Scape-Goat confessing the Sins of the People and that Scape Goat was to carry all their Sins into the Land of Forgetfulness all which signified the Expiation of all our Sins by Christ dying for our Offences and rising again for our Justification For the Scape Goat was sent into the Wilderness far from the Sanctuary to shew that all our Sins are put far away out of God's sight the other Goat is said to be kept for the Lord that it might be slain and be offered to him for Sacrifice upon the Altar Well now these and all other Types were finished that is obtained their End and Accomplishment 3. All was finished that was necessary to make him a fit Pattern of Patience to us For he had born the extremity of his Enemies Malice all that Man or Devils could by the permission of God execute upon him for he saith Luke 22.53 This is your hour and the power of darkness Yea he had drunk up the Cup which the Father had put into his hands to the very Dreggs One end of Christ's Death was to give us an Example 1 Pet. 2.21 Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps Now here is a full Copy and Pattern of the right way of Suffering for all his own to imitate 1. From the Matter Are you tempted and opposed by Satan and his Instruments So was Christ. Have you discountenance from Men Christ had much more Doth God seem to forsake you So he did by Christ. Are you sain to lye on your Knees crying for Mercy Christ in the days of his flesh offered up prayers and supplications with strong cries and tears to him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he
Benefits purchased thereby 2. Positively that the Work of our Redemption so far as related to Sufferings was now about to be Consummate Christ's Sacrifice which he was about to offer for us was no imperfect Sacrifice This appeareth by his Message to Herod Luke 13.32 I do cures to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected That is the Work of his Office was then fully to be accomplished Heb. 2.10 The captain of our salvation was made perfect through sufferings Christ as Mediator seemed to lack something till the full number of his Sorrows was accomplished then he was perfectly fitted to do us good So Heb. 10.14 By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified As to an Offering there needeth no more A patched Salvation of half of Christ and of half of the Creature will not do good as if Christ must do a part and we must merit the rest This is inconsistent with God's Design we must not part Stakes with God this is neither for our Comfort God's Glory nor our Redeemer's Welcom to Heaven No Christ is a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed he could avouch his Work before the Tribunal of God all is finished Now he can plead his Right aâ— the Bar of Justice Psal. 2.8 Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession II. The Evidences and Reasons of this compleat Satisfaction 1. From the Dignity of the Person satisfying Two Things are required in our Mediator that he might be a sufficient Undertaker for us One is That he should be perfectly Holy and Righteous for how could he redeem us from Sin who being defiled with Sin had needed to be redeemed himself The second was that he should be a Divine and Infinite Person for Sin being committed against an Infinite Majesty therefore the Suffering by which it must be expiated must be of an infinite Value Now both these do perfectly concur in Christ for as Man He was holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners Heb. 7.26 And died The just for the unjust that he might bring us to God 1 Pet. 3.18 He was perfectly Holy even Holiness it self Luke 1.35 That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God As he was God over all blessed for ever he was capable to give a Value to his Sufferings To which purpose God is said to purchase the Church with his own Blood Acts 20.28 Feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood In short God was resolved to lose no Glory by the Fall and therefore whosoever was the Redeemer he was to restore what Adam took away by the Fall God's Authority was violated by the Creatures Transgression whose Command was just and our Obedience reasonable Now it was meet that God should keep up the Authority of his Law His Majesty also was despised in slighting the Threatning and his Holiness wronged as if he did not hate Sin and his Justice and Truth as if he would not Punish it his Power lessened for Sin is an Act of Presumption and implieth a Contest with God Now in all these Respects it was necessary that God should vindicate his Glory and be no Loser which was fully brought to pass by Christ to whom there is in Scripture a double Fulness and Sufficiency attributed A Fulness of Grace or Holiness For it pleased the father that in him should all fulness dwell and by him to reconcile all things to himself Col. 1.19 20. And therefore he is said To be full of grace and truth that of his fulness we may all receive and grace for grace Iohn 1.14 16. Besides this there is a fulness of the Godhead that dwelt in him bodily Col. 2.9 Not Mystically and Spiritually as in Believers not Symbolically as in the Sacraments not Typically as in the Law But Bodily that is Really and Personally as Body is opposed to Shadow or noteth a Person Well then the Argument is strong if the Person satisfying were not only Holy and Undefiled but also Infinite the Satisfaction also must be Infinite and therefore most Perfect and Sufficient for what can be Greater and more Perfect than what is Infinite And therefore all is finished if such a Person will take a Body and die for us there needeth no other Satisfaction 2. I Reason from the Unity of the Mediatory Office and that Oblation or Sacrifice which was made by Christ by Virtue of that Office 2 Cor. 5.14 If one died for all then were all dead 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one Mediator between God and Man the man Christ Iesus And as these places prove that there is but one Mediator so there is but one Sacrifice Heb. 10.10 By the which Will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Iesus Christ once for all And Vers. 14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Rom. 5.18 By the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all to justification of life Heb. 9.26 But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Vers. 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many The Scripture so emphatically insisting upon this Term Once certainly all is finished there needeth no more to be done by us to satisfie God's Justice that is sufficiently done already 3. From the greatness of the Punishment imposed upon Christ. For if he suffered all the Punishments due to us it cannot be that any thing more should be done to pacifie God all is finished Now Christ omitted none of those Things which Divine Justice required He fulfilled all Righteousness Mat. 3.15 Was obedient to death even the death of the cross Phil. 2.8 Yea and suffered all those Things which the Law did put upon Sinners either as to Loss or Sense as to Desertion or as to the Curse And therefore he is said To bear our griefs and carry our sorrows and to be wounded for our transgressions and to be bruised for our iniquities Isa 53.4 5. To be made a curse for us Gal. 3.15 To be made sin for us 2 Cor. 5.21 God spared him not but put him to Grief not out of Hatred to his Son but Love to our Salvation Hence those Agonies of Christ and Prayers and Tears and strong Cries 4. From God's Approbation of the Person and Sacrifice of Christ. If God did so far approve the Sacrifice of Christ as willingly to accept it for our Redemption that upon it he grounded a Covenant and made Offers of Terms of Grace to us and Reconciliation with us there is no question but that upon Christ's Death all was finished No more was necessary for paying the Price and Ransom for God the most just Judge would not accept of an imperfect Satisfaction or give Testimony that he was well pleased with it But that Christ's