was for Jesus to be raised up unto them This word raised up is diversly taken in the Scripture 1. It is taken for sending as when he saith he raised them up Judges Saviours and Prophets he means he sent them such Judges 2. 16 18. Chap. 3. 9 15. Amos 2. 11. and thus he raised up Jesus that is he sent him I came not saith he of my self but he sent me But the Father which sent me gave me a commandment Jo. 12. 2. To be raised up intimateth one invested with power and authority Thus he raised up David to be the King of Israel he anointed him invested him with Kingly Power 1 Sam. 16. 13. Acts 13. 22. And thus was Jesus Christ raised up Hence he is called the Horn of Salvation He hath raised up for us an Horn of Salvation in the House of his Servant David Luk. 2. 69. 3. To be raised up intimateth quickning and strengthening to oppose and overcome all opposition Thus was Jesus raised up from under Sin Death the rage of the World and Hell that day that God raised him out of the Grave Thus therefore was Jesus raised up to Israel that is he was sent authorized and strengthned to and in the work of their Salvation to the compleating of it The words thus opened do lay before us these two Observations First That in all Ages God gave his People a Promise and so ground for a believing remembrance that he would one day send them a Saviour Secondly That when Jesus was come into the World then was that Promise of God fulfilled To begin with the First That in all Ages God gave his People a Promise and so ground for a believing remembrance that he would one day send them a Saviour This Zacharias testifies when he was filled with the Holy Ghost for speaking of the Messias or the Saviour he saith That God spake of him by the mouth of all the Prophets which have been since the World began To which I will add that of Peter Yea and all the Prophets from Samuel and these that follow after as many as have spoken have likewise foretold of these days Luk. 2. 69 70. Acts 3. 24. From these Texts it is evident that in every Generation or Age of the World God did give his People a Promise and so ground for a believing-remembrance that he would one day send them a Saviour for indeed the Promise is not only a ground for a remembrance but for a believing-remembrance what God saith is sufficient ground for Faith because he is Truth and cannot lye or repent But that is not all his Heart was engaged yea all his Heart in the Promise which he spoke of sending us a Saviour From this Observation I shall make inquiry into these three things 1. What it is to be a Saviour 2. How it appears that God in all Ages gave his People a Promise that he would one day send them a Saviour 3. That this was ground for a believing remembrance that a Saviour should one day come First What it is to be a Saviour This word Saviour is easie to be understood it being all one with Deliverer Redeemer c. A Saviour Jesus both words are of the same signification and are doubled perhaps to teach us that the Person mentioned in the Text is not called Jesus only to distinguish him from other Men for names are given to distinguish but also and especially to specifie his Office his Name is Saviour because it was to be his Work his Office his Business in the World His Name shall be called Jesus for he shall save his People from their sins Matt. 1. 21. Secondly This word Saviour is a word so large that it hath place in all the undertakings of Christ for whatever he doth in his Mediation he doth as a Saviour He interposeth between God and Man as a Saviour He engageth against Sin the Devil Death and Hell as a Saviour and triumphed over them by himself as a Saviour Thirdly The word Saviour as I said is all one with Redeemer Deliverer Reconciler Peace-maker or the like for though there be variation in the terms yet Saviour is the intendment of them all By Redeeming he becoms a Saviour by Delivering he becomes a Saviour by Reconciling he becomes a Saviour and by making Peace he becometh a Saviour But I pass this now intending to speak more to the same question afterwards Secondly How it appears that God in all Ages gave his People a Promise that he would one day send them a Saviour It appears evidently for so soon as man had sinned God came to him with an heart full of Promise and continued to renew and renew till the time of the promised Messias to be revealed was come He promised him under the name of the Seed of the Woman after our first Father had sinned I will put enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed it shall break thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel Gen. 3. 15. This the Apostle hath his eye upon when he saith 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 were under the Law Gal. 4. 4. 2. God renewed this Promise to Abraham and there tells him Christ should be his Seed saying In thy Seed shall all Families of the Earth be blessed Gen. 12. 3. Now saith Paul To Abraham and his Seed was the Promise made He saith not unto Seeds as of many but as of one and to thy Seed which is Christ Gal. 3. 16. 3. He was promised in the time of Moses under the name of a Prophet I will raise them up saith God to him a Prophet of their Brethren like unto thee This Peter expounds of Christ for Moses truly said unto the Fathers A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Deut. 18. 18. Acts. 3. 22. 4. He promised him to David under the Title of a Son saying I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son For this the Apostle expounded of the Saviour saying Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee and again I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son 2 Sam. 7. 14. Heb. 1. 5. 5. He was promised in the days of Uzziah Jotham Ahaz and Hezekiah Kings of Judah 1. By the name of a Branch In that day shall the Branch of the Lord be Beautiful and Glorious Isa. 4. 2. 2. Under the name of the Son of a Virgin Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a Sign Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son thou shalt call his Name Emmanuel This Matthew expounds of Christ Isa. 7. 14. Matt. 1. 22. 3. He was promised under the name of a Rod. Then shall come forth a Rod out of the Stem
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
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
die our selves for our Sins Or 6. That sin may be pardoned without a satisfaction Or 7. That every man may merit his own Salvation But without shedding of Blood there is no Remission Heb. 9. 22. To avoid therefore these cursed Absurdities it must be granted that Jesus Christ by his Death did make satisfaction for sin But the word Satisfaction may not be used by the Holy Ghost perhaps for that it is too short and scanty a Word to express the Blessedness that comes to Sinners by the Blood of Christ. 1. To make satisfaction amounts to no more than compleatly to answer a legal Demand for harms and injuries done Now this when done to the full leaveth the Offender there where he was before he committed the Injury Now if Christ had done no more than this he had only paid our debt but had not obtained eternal redemption for us 2. For a full Satisfaction given by this Man for harms done by another may neither obtain the Love of the Person offended nor the smallest Gift which the Person offending hath not deserved Suppose I owe to this Man ten thousand Talents and another should pay him every Farthing there remaineth over and above by that compleat Satisfaction not one single half-Penny for me Christ hath therefore done more than to make satisfaction for sin by his Blood He hath also made us Kings and Priests to God and his Father and we shall reign with him for ever and ever Revel 1. 5 6. Chap. 22. 5. But take a few more Scriptures for the Proof of the Doctrine before asserted First We have redemption through his Blood Col. 1. 14. 1. Redemption from Sin Ephes. 1. 7. 2. Redemption from Death Heb. 2. 14 15. Hos. 13. 14. 3. Redemption from Satan Heb. 2. 15. 4. Redemption from the World Gal. 1. 4. 5. Redemption to God Revel 5. 9. 6. Eternal Redemption Neither by the Blood of Goats and Calves but by his own Blood he entered in once into the Holy Place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us Heb. 9. 12. Secondly We are said also to be washed in his Blood 1. Our Persons are washed He loved US and washed US from our Sins in his own Blood Rev. 1. 5. 2. His Blood washeth also our Performances Our Robes are washed and made white in the Blood of the Lamb Revel 7. 14. Thirdly We are said to be purged by his Blood 1. Purged from Sin before God When he had by himself purged our Sins he sat down on the Right Hand of God Heb. 1. 3. 2. Purged from evil Consciences How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Conscience from dead works to serve the Living God Heb. 9. 14. Fourthly We are said to be made nigh to God by his Blood But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ Ephes. 2. 13. Fifthly Peace is said to be made by his Blood 1. Peace with God Col. 1. 20. 2. Peace of Conscience Heb. 10. 19 20 21 22. 3. Peace one with another Ephes. 2. 14. Sixthly We are said to be justified by his Blood Much more being now justified by his Blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Rom. 5. 9. Justified that is acquitted 1. Acquitted before God Ephes. 5. 25 26. 2. Acquitted before Angels Mat. 28. 5. 3. Acquitted by the Law Rom. 3. 21 22 23. 4. Acquitted in the Court of Conscience Heb. 9. 14. Seventhly We are said to be saved by his Blood Rom. 5. 8 9. Eightly We are said to be reconciled by his Blood Col. 1. 2◠21 22. Ninthly We are said to be sanctified by his Blood Heb. 13. 12. Tenthly We are said to be admitted into the Holiest by his Blood Heb. 10. 19. Eleventhly We are said to have Eternal Redemption by his Blood Heb. 9. 12. Yea Lastly This Blood which was once spilt upon the Cross will be the burden of our Song in Heaven it self for ever and ever Revel 5. 9. Now if we be redeemed washed purged made nigh to God have peace with God if we stand just before God are saved reconciled sanctified admitted into the Holiest if we have eternal Redemption by his Blood and if his Blood will be the burden of our Song for ever then hath Christ paid the full price for us by his Death then hath he done more than made satisfaction for our Sins Several Demonstrations more proving the former Doctrine BUt before I conclude this Answer I will give you nine or ten more undeniable Demonstrations to satisfie you if God will bless them to you in the Truth of this great Doctrine to wit That Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid the full Price to God for the Souls of Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them The first Demonstration ANd First I begin with his Resurrection THAT God that delivered him up unto death and that made him a Curse for Sin THAT God raised him up from the dead But God raised him from the Dead Act. 3. 15. Chap. 13. 30. Now considering that at his Death he was charged with our Sins and accursed to death for our Sins That Justice that delivered him up for them must have amends made to him before he acquit him from them for there can be no change in Justice Had he found him in 〈◊〉 Sins in the Grave as he found him in them upon the Tree for he had them in his Body on the Tree 1 Pet. 2. 24. he had left him there as he left him upon the Tree yea he had as surely rotted in the Grave as ever he died on the Tree But when he visited Christ in the Grave he found him a Holy Harmless Undefiled and Spotless Christ and therefore he raised him up from the Dead He raised him up from the dead having loosed the Pains of Death because it was not possible that he should be helden of it Act. 2. 24. Quest. But why not possible now to be helden of death Ans. Because the Cause was removed Sin was the Cause he died for our Sins he gave himself for our Sins 1 Cor. 15. 1 2 3. Gal. 1. 4. These Sins brought him to death But when God that had made him a Curse for us looked upon him into the Grave he found him there without sin and therefore loosed the Pains of Death for Justice saith This is not possible because not lawful that he who lieth sinless before God should be swallowed up of death therefore he raised him up Quest. But what did he do with our Sins for he had them upon his Back Ans. 'T is said he TOOK them away Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the World 'T is said he PUT them away Now once in the End of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Joh. 1. 29. Heb. 9. 26. That is by the Merit of his undertaking he
is the Highest Name the Everlasting Name the Name that he is to go by to be known by to be worshipped by and to be glorified by yea the Name by which also most Glory shall redound to God the Father Now what is the Signification of this Name but SAVIOUR This Name he hath therefore for his Works Sake and because God delighted in his Undertaking and was pleased with the Price he had paid for us therefore the Divine Majesty hath given him it hath made it High and hath commanded all Angels to bow unto it Yea it is the Name in which he resteth and by which he hath magnified all his Attributes 1. This is the Name by which Sinners should go to God the Father 2. This is the Name through which they obtain forgiveness of Sins and ANY thing If you ask anything in my Name I will do it John 14. 3. This is the Name through which our spiritual Services and Sacrifices are accepted and by which an Answer of Peace is returned into our Bosoms 1 Pet. 2. But more of this anon 3. At this Name Devils tremble at THIS Name Angels bow the Head at THIS Name God's Heart openeth at THIS Name the Godly Man's Heart is comforted THIS Name none but Devils hate it and none but those that must be damned despise it No man speaking by the Holy Ghost calls Jesus accursed or accounteth him still dead and his Blood ineffectual to save the World 3dly He hath also given him the Glory of Office 1. He is there a Priest for ever intercepting betwixt the Divine Presence and all that hate us by his Blood Sin Satan Death Hell the Law the Grave or the like cannot be heard if his Blood be presented to God as the Atonement for us This is called the Blood of Sprinkling which speaks better things than the Blood of Abel Heb. 12. 24. By this Blood he entered into Heaven by this Blood he secureth from wrath all that come unto God by him but should his Blood have had a Voice in Heaven to save withal had it not merited first even in the Shedding of it the Ransom and Redemption of Souls 'T is true a Man whose Blood cannot save may with Abels cry out for Vengeance and Wrath on the Head of him that shed it but THIS Blood speaks for better things this Blood speaks for Souls for Sinners for Pardon Having obtained Eternal Redemption for us 2. He is there a Fore-runner for us Whither the Fore-runner is for us entered even Jesus Heb. 6. 20. This Office of Harbinger is distinct from though it comes by vertue of his Priestly Office therefore they are both mentioned in the Text Whither the Fore-runner is for us entered even Jesus made an High-Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedec He is therefore our Fore-runner by vertue of his Priesthood his Blood giving worth to all he does In this Office of Harbinger or Fore-runner he prepareth for Believers their dwelling-Places in the Heavens their dwelling-Places according to their Place State Calling Service or Work in his Body the Church In my Fathers House saith he are many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a Place for you Joh. 14. This is that is mentioned in the 47th Psalm He shall chuse our Inheritance for us the Excellency of Jacob whom he loved But should he have had Power to chuse our Inheritance for us to prepare for us our dwelling-Places should he have Power to give even Heaven itself to a Company of Poor Men had he not in the first Place obtained by his Blood the Deliverance of our Soul from Death 3. He is there a Prophet for us by which Office of his he hath received to communicate the whole Will of the Eternal God so far as is fit for us to know in this World or in that which is to come Hence he is called the Prophet of the Church The Lord shall raise you up a Prophet and this is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the World But this Office he hath also now in Heaven by vertue of the Blood he shed for us upon Earth Hence the New-Testament is called The New-Testament in his Blood and his Blood is said to be The Blood of the Everlasting Covenant or Testament Yea such vertue doth his Blood give to the New-Testament or Covenant of Grace as that severed from that it is nothing worth for a Testament is of force after men are dead otherwise it is of no strength at all while the Testator liveth Heb. 9. 16 17. So that every Word of God which he hath by Christ given to us for our Everlasting Consolation is dipt in blood is founded in blood and stands good to Sinners purely I mean with respect to merit upon the account of Blood or because his Blood that was shed for us on the Cross prevailed for us for the Remission of our Sins Let no man think to receive any benefit by Christs Prophetical Office by any of the good Words of Grace and forgiveness of Sins that are sprinkled up and down in the New-Testament That looketh not for that good to come to him for the Sake of that Blood by which this Testament is established For neither was the First Testament dedicated without Blood for when Moses had spoken every Precept to all the People according to the Law He took the Blood of Calves and of Goats with Water and scarlet Wool and Hissop and sprinkled both the Book and all the People saying This is the Blood of the Testament which God hath injoyned unto you Heb. 9. 18 19 20. The Prophetical Office of Christ standeth of two parts First in Promises of Grace Secondly in Directions of Worship but neither is this last to wit the Doctrine of Worship or our subjection to that Worship of any value any further than as sprinkled also with his Blood For as in the first Testament the Tabernacle and all the Vessels of the Ministry were sprinkled with Blood and it was necessary that so it should be so the Heavenly Things themselves must be also purified with Sacrifices but yet with better Sacrifice than these for now not Moses but Christ doth sprinkle not with Blood of Calves but with his own Blood neither as entered into places made with Hands but from Heaven doth Jesus sprinkle all that Doctrine of Worship subjection of his Saints thereto which is of his own instituting and commanding Heb. 9. 23 24 25 26. 4. He hath received there the Office of a King by which he ruleth in the Church and over all things for her sake The Government is laid upon his Shoulders the Lord God hath given him the Throne of his Father David Hence it is that he saith All Power is given me in Heaven and Earth but now this Kingly Office he hath it by his Blood because he humbled himself to death therefore God hath highly exalted him and given him the Highest
Sin but that we could not be were it not that an Atonement is made for us first by the Blood of Christ our Saviour This is true for they that are quickned by the Holy Ghost are quickned by it through the Word of the Gospel which offereth Justification to Sinners through Faith in his Blood yea we are said to be quickned together with him dead and risen with him yet so as by the Spirit of God 2. We are not only quickned by the Holy Ghost but possessed therewith it is given to dwell in our Hearts Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts Gal. 4. 4 5 6. which Spirit is also our earnest for Heaven until the Redemption of the purchased Possession that is until our Body which is the purchased Possession be redeemed also out of the Grave by the Power of the same mighty Spirit of God Ephes. 1. 13 14. 3. By this Holy Spirit we are made to believe Rom. 15. 13. 4. By this Holy Spirit we are helped to pray and call God Father 5. By this Holy Spirit we are helped to understand and apply the Promises 6. By this Holy Spirit the Joy of Heaven and the Love of God is shed abroad in the Heart of the Saved 7. By this Holy Spirit we are made to wait for the hope of Righteousness by Faith that is to stand fast through our Lord Jesus in the day when he shall judg the World And all this is the Fruit of Redemption by Blood of Redemption by the Blood of Christ. This is yet further evident 1. Because the Work of the Spirit is to lead us into the sayings of Christ which as to our Redemption from death are such as these I lay down my Life that you may have Life I give my Life a Ransom for many And the Bread which I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the Life of the World Joh. 6. 2. Because IF the Spirit in the Wisdom of Heaven is not counted a sufficient Testimony on Earth but as joyned with the Blood of Christ. There are three that bear witness on Earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood These are the Witness of God The Spirit because it quickneth the Blood because it hath merited and the Watter to wit the Word because by that we are clean as to life and conversation 1 John 5. 8. Ephes. 5. 26. Rom. 8. 16. Psal. 119. 9. 3. Because as by the Spirit so we are sanctified by Faith in the Blood of Jesus Heb. 13. 12. 4. Because when most full of the Spirit when that doth work most mightly in us we are then most in the belief and admiring apprehensions of our deliverance from death by the Blood of Jesus Revel 15. Chap. 5. 9. 5. The Holy Ghost breaheth no-where so as in the Ministry of this Doctrine this Doctrine is sent WITH the Holy Ghost from Heaven yea as I have hinted one of the Great Works of the Holy Ghost under the Old-Testament was to testifie of the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow 1 Pet. 1. 11 12. Put all these things together and see if Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath not paid full price to God for Sinners if he hath not obtained Eternal Redemption for them The Fourth Demonstration THat Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them is evident if you consider how the preaching thereof hath been from that time to this a mighty Conquerer over all kind of Sinners What Nation what People what kind of Sinners have not been subdued by the preaching of a Crucified Christ. He upon the White Horse with his Bow and his Crown hath conquered doth conquer and goeth forth yet conquering and to conquer Revel 6. 2. And I saith he if I be lifted up from the Earth will draw all men unto me but what was it to be lifted up from the Earth Why it may be expounded by that saying As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 12. 32. Chap. 3. 14 15. He was then lifted up when he was hanged upon a Tree between the Heavens and the Earth as the Accursed of God for us The Revelation of this it conquers all Nations Tongues and People And they sang a new Song saying thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation Revel 5. 9. Hence the Apostle Paul chose above all Doctrines to preach up a Crucified Christ and resolved so to do For I determined saith he not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2 3. 1. The Doctrine of Forgiveness of Sin conquered his very Murderers They could not withstand the Grace them bloody ones that would kill him what-ever it cost them could stand no longer but received his Doctrine fell into his Bosom and obtained the Salvation which is in Christ Jesus They shall look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn for him as one mourneth for his only Son they shall be in bitterness for him as one is in bitterness for his first-born Zech. 12. 10. Now was this Scripture eminently fulfilled when the Kindness of a Crucified Christ broke to pieces the Hearts of them that had before been his Betrayers and Murderers Now was there a great mourning in Jerusalem now was there wailing and lamentation mixed with joy and rejoycing 2. Though Paul was mad exceeding mad against Jesus Christ of Nazareth yea though he was his avowed Enemy seeking to put out his Name from under Heaven yet the Voice from Heaven I am Jesus c. I am the Saviour how did it conquer him make him throw down his Arms fall down at his Feet and accept of the forgiveness of Sins freely by grace through Redemption by Faith in his Blood 3. They at Samaria though before Philip preached to them worshipped and admired the Devil in Magus yet when they believed Philip's preaching of Christ unto them and forgiveness of sins through Faith in his Name great joy was amongst them and they were baptized both Men and Women Act. 8. He preached saith the Text the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ that is all the Blessings of Life through the Name of Jesus Christ for he is the Mediator and without his Blood come no spiritual blessings to men 4. How was the sturdy Jailer overcome by a Promise of forgiveness of sins by Faith in Jesus Christ. It stopt his Hand of self-murder it eased him of the gnawings of a guilty Conscience and fears of Hell-Fire and filled his Soul with rejoicing in God Act. 16. 30 31 32 33. 5. How
the Person of Jesus Christ. Let the Peace of God therefore rule in your Hearts to the which also you are called in one body and be you thankful Col. 3. 15. The Peace of God of that we have spoken before but how should this rule in our Hearts he by the next words directs you Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly that is the Word that makes revelation of the Death and Blood of Christ and of the Peace that is made with God for you thereby Giving thanks always for all things unto God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ Ephes. 5. 20. For all things for all things come to us through this Name Jesus Redemption Translation the Kingdom Salvation with all the good things wherewith we are blessed These are the Works of God he gave his Son and he brings us to him and puts us into his Kingdom that is his true Body which Jeremiah calleth a putting among the Children and a giving us a Godly heritage of the Host of Nations Joh. 6. Jer. 3. 19. 4. Now thanks be to God which causeth us always to triumph in Christ 2 Cor. 2. 13 14. See here our cause of triumph is through Christ Jesus and God causeth us through him to triumph First and chiefly because Christ Jesus hath done our work for us hath pleased God for our Sins hath spoiled the powers of Darkness God gave Jesus Christ to undertake our Redemption Christ did undertake it did engage our Enemies and spoiled them He spoiled principalities and powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them upon the Cross Col. 2. 14 15. Therefore it is evident that he paid full price to God for Sinners with his Blood because God commands us to give thanks to him in his Name through his Name And whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks unto God and the Father by him Col. 3. 17. Take this Conclusion from the whole no thanks are accepted of God that come not to him in the Name of his Son his Son must have the Glory of conveying our thanks to God because he was he that by his Blood conveyeth his Grace to us The Eight Demonstration IN the next place That Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them is evident Because we are exhorted to wait for and to expect the full and glorious Enjoyment of that Eternal Redemption at the second Coming of the Lord from Heaven Let your loins be girded about and your Lights burning and you your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord that when he cometh and knocketh ye may open unto him immediately Luk. 12. 35 36. Jesus Christ hath obtained by his Blood Eternal Redemption for us and hath taken it up now in the Heavens is as I have shewed preparing for us there Everlasting Mansions of rest and then he will come again for us This Coming is intended in this Text and this Coming we are exhorted to wait for and that I may more fully shew the Truth of this Demonstration observe these following Texts 1. It is said he shall chuse our Inheritance for us He shall chuse our inheritance for us the excellency of Jacob whom he loved Selah God is gone up with a Shout c. Psal. 47. 4 5. These latter words intend the Ascension of Jesus Christ His Ascension when he had upon the Cross made reconciliation for iniquity his Ascension into the Heavens to prepare our Mansions of Glory for us For our Inheritance is in the Heavens our House our Hope our Mansion-House and our incorruptible and undefiled Inheritance is in Heaven 2 Cor. 1. 2. Col. 1. 5 6. Joh. 14. 1 2. 1 Pet 1. 3 4 5. This is called the Eternal Inheritance of which we that are called have received the Promise already Heb. 9. 14 15. This Inheritance I say he is gone to chuse for us in the Heavens because by his Blood he obtained it for us Heb. 9. 12. and this we are commanded to wait for but how ridiculous yea how great a cheat would this be had he not by his Blood obtained it for us 2. We wait for his Son from Heaven whom he raised from the dead even Jesus Christ which delivered us from the Wrath to come 1 Thes. 1. 10. He delivered us by his Blood and obtained the Kingdom of Heaven for us and hath promised that he would go and prepare our places and come again and fetch us thither And if I go and prepare a Place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also Joh. 14. 3. This then is the Cause that we wait for him we look for the reward of the Inheritance at his Coming who have served the Lord Christ in this World 3. For our conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Phil. 3. 20. We look for him to come yet as a Saviour a Saviour he was at his first Coming and a Saviour he will be at his second Coming At his first Coming he bought and paid for us at his Second Coming he will fetch us to himself At his first Coming he gave us promise of the Kingdom at his second Coming he will give us possession of the Kingdom At his first Coming he also shewed us how we should be by his own Transfiguration at his second Coming he will change our vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto his Glorious Body Phil. 3. 21. 4. Hence therefore it is that his Coming is called our blessed Hope Looking for the Blessed Hope and glorious Appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2. 13. A Blessed Hope indeed if he hath bought our Persons with his Blood and an Eternal Inheritance for us in the Heavens A blessed Hope indeed if also at his Coming we be certainly carried thither No marvel then if Saints be bid to wait for it and if Saints themselves long for it But what a disappointment would these waiting Believers have should all their expectations be rewarded with a Fable and the result of their Blessed Hope can amount to no more if our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ either denieth to come or coming bringeth not with him the HOPE the blessed HOPE that is laid up for us in Heaven Whereof we have certainly been informed by the Word of the Truth of the Gospel Col. 1. 5 6. 5. For Christ was once offered to bear the Sin of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second Time without sin unto Salvation Heb. 9. 28. Here we have it promised that he shall come that he shall appear the second time but not with sin as he did before to wit with and in the Sin of his People when he bare them in his own Body but now without sin
for he before did put them away by the Sacrifice of himself Now then let the Saints look for him not to die for the purchasing of their persons by Blood but to bring to THEM and to bring them also to that Salvation that before when he died he obtained of God for them by his Death These things are to be expected therefore by them that believe in and love Jesus Christ and that from faith and love serve him in this world they are to be expected by them being obtained for them by Jesus Christ And he shall give the Crown saith Paul not only to me but to them that love his Appearing 2 Tim. 4. 8 9. Now forasmuch as this Inheritance in the Heavens is the Price Purchase and Reward of his Blood how evidently doth it appear that he hath paid full price to God for Sinners Would God else have given him the Heaven to dispose of to us that believe and would he else have told us so Yea and what comfort could we have to look for his Coming and Kingdom and Glory as the Fruits of his Death if his Death had not for that purpose been sufficiently efficacious O! the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that shall follow 1 Pet. 1. 11. The Ninth Demonstration THat Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for Sinners is evident Because of the Threatnings wherewith God hath threatned and the Punishments wherewith he punished those that shall refuse to be saved by Christ or seek to make insignificant the Doctrine of Righteousness by Faith in him This Demonstration consisteth of three parts 1. It suggesteth that some refuse to be justified or saved by Christ and also seek to make insignificant the Doctrine of Righteousness by Faith in him 2. That God doth threaten these 3. That God will punish these That some refuse to be saved by Christ is evident from many Texts He is the Stone which the Builders have rejected He is also disallowed of Men The Jews stumble at him and to the Greeks he is foolishness both saying this Man shall not rule over us or how can this man save us Psal. 118. 22. Mat. 24. 42. 1 Pet. 2. 4. 1 Cor. 1. 23. Luk. 19. 14. The Causes of mens refusing Christ are many 1. Their Love to sin 2. Their Ignorance of his Excellency 3. Their Unbelief 4. Their Deferring to come to him in the acceptable Time 5. Their leaning to their own Righteousness 6. Their entertaining Damnable Doctrines 7. Their loving the praise of Men. 8. The meanness of his Ways his People c. 9. The just Judgment of God upon them 10. The Kingdom is given to others Now these as they all refuse him so they seek more or less some practically others in practice and judgment also to make insignificant the Doctrine of Righteousness by Faith in him 1. One does it by preferring his Sins before him 2. Another does it by preferring his Righteousness before him 3. Another does it by preferring his Delusions before him 4. Another does it by preferring the World before him Now these God threatneth these God punisheth First God threatneth them Whosoever shall not receive that Prophet shall be cut off from amongst his People Acts 3. 23. The Prophet is Jesus Christ the Doctrine that he preached was that he would lay down his Life for us that he would give us his Flesh to eat and his Blood to drink by Faith and promised that if we did eat his Flesh and drink his Blood we should have Eternal Life He therefore that seeth not or that is afraid to venture his Soul for Salvation on the Flesh and Blood of Christ by Faith he refuseth this Prophet he heareth not this Prophet and him God hath purposed to cut off But would God thus have threatned if Christ by his Blood and the Merits of the same had not paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them Secondly Sit thou on my Right Hand until I make thine Enemies thy Foot-stool Psal. 110. 1. Mat. 22. 44. Heb. 1. 13. The Honour of sitting at God's Right Hand was given him because he died and offered his Body once for all This Man when he had offered up one Sacrifice for sins for ever sat down on the Right Hand of God from henceforth expecting till his Enemies be made his Foot-stool Heb. 10. 11 12 13. Expecting since God accepted his Offering that those that refused him should be trodden under foot that is sunk by him into and under endless unsupportable vengeance But would God have given the World such an account of his Sufferings that by one Offering he did perfect for ever them that are sanctified yea and would he have threatned to make those foes his Foot stool that shall refuse to venture themselves upon his Offering for they are indeed his Foes had not his Eternal Majesty been well pleased with the Price he paid to God for Sinners had he not obtained Eternal Redemption for them Thirdly He shall come from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming-fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes. 1. 7 8. Here he expresly telleth us wherefore they shall be punished Because they know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ where also is notably intimated that he that obeyeth not the Gospel of Christ knoweth not God neither in his Justice or Mercy But what is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ but good tidings of good things to wit Forgiveness of Sins by Faith in his Blood an Inheritance in Heaven by Faith in his Blood as the whole of all the foregoing discourse hath manifested Now I say can it be imagined that God would threaten to come upon the World with this Flaming-Fiery-Vengeance to punish them for their Non-subjection to his Sons Gospel if there had not been by himself paid to God full price for the Souls of Sinners if he had not obtained Eternal Redemption by his Blood for Sinners Fourthly And Enoch the seventh from Adam also prophesied of these saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints to execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly Deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard Speeches which ungodly Sinners have spoken against him Jude 14. 15. The LORD that is here said to come with ten thousands of his Saints is Jesus Christ himself and they that come with him are called his Saints because given to him by the Father for the Sake of the shedding of his Blood Now in that he is said to come to execute judgment upon all and especially those that speak hard Speches against him 't is evident that the Father tendereth his Name which is Jesus a Saviour and his undertaking for our Redemption and as evident that the hard
the Doctrine I come now to make some use of and to apply this Blessed Doctrine of the Undertaking of Jesus Christ and of his paying full Price to God for Sinners and of his obtaining Eternal Redemption for them The first Use. BY this Doctrine we come to understand many things which otherwise abide obscure and utterly unknown because this Doctrine is accompanied with the Holy Ghost that Revealer of secrets and Searcher of the deep things of God 1 Pet. 1. 2. Ephes. 1. 17. 1 Cor. 2. The Holy Ghost comes down with this Doctrine as that in which it alone delighteth therefore is it called The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledg of Jesus Christ. He giveth also the Light of the Knowledg of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 6. Little of God is known in the World where the Gospel is rejected the Religious Jew and the Wise Gentile may see more of God in a Crucified Christ than in Heaven and Earth besides For in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and knowledg not only in his Person as God but also in his Undertakings as Mediator Hence Paul telleth us That he determined not to know any thing among the Corinthians but Jesus Christ and him Crucified Col. 2. 2 3. 1 Cor. 2. 2 3. I say more of God is revealed in this Doctrine to us than we can see of him in Heaven and Earth without it First Here is more of his WISDOM seen than in his making and upholding all the Creatures His Wisdom I say in devising means to reconcile Sinners to an Holy and Infinite Majesty to be a Just God and YET a Saviour to be just to his Law just to his Threatning just to himself and yet save Sinners can no-way be understood till thou understandest why Jesus Christ did hang on the Tree for here only is the Riddle unfolded Christ died for our Sins and therefore can God in justice save us Isa. 45. 21. And hence is Christ called The Wisdom of God not only because he is so essentially but because by him is the greatest Revelation of his Wisdom towards man In Redemption therefore by the Blood of Christ God is said to abound towards us in all wisdom Ephes. 1. 7 8. Here we see the highest Contradictions reconciled here Justice kisseth the Sinner here a Man stands just in the Sight of God while confounded at his own Pollutions and here he that hath done no good hath yet a sufficient Righteousness even the Righteousness of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ. Secondly The JUSTICE of God is here more seen than in punishing all the Damned He spared not his own Son is a Sentence which more revealeth the Nature of the Justice of God than if it had said he spared not all the World True he cast Angels from Heaven and drowned the Old World he turned Sodom and Gomorrah into Ashes with many more of like nature but what were all these to the Cursing of his Son yea what were ten thousand such manifestations of his Ireful Indignation against Sin to that of striking afflicting chastising and making the darling of his Bosom the Object of his Wrath and Judgment Here it is seen he respecteth not persons but judgeth sin and condemneth him on whom it is found yea although on Jesus Christ his well-Beloved Rom. 8. 32. Gal. 3. 13. Thirdly The Mystery of God's WILL is here more seen than in hanging the Earth upon nothing while he condemneth Christ though Righteous and justifieth us though Sinners while he maketh him to be sin for us and us the Righteousness of God in him 1 Pet. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 5. 20. Fourthly The POWER of God is here more seen than in making of Heaven and Earth for for one to bear and get the Victory over Sin when charged by the Justice of an Infinite Majesty in so doing he sheweth the Height of the Highest Power For where sin by the Law is charged and that by God immediatly there an Infinite Majesty opposeth and that with the whole of his Justice Holiness and Power So then he that is thus charged and engaged for the Sin of the World must not only be equal with God but shew it by over-coming that Curse and Judgment that by Infinite Justice is charged upon him for Sin When Angels and Men had sinned how did they fall and crumble before the Anger of God! they had not power to withstand the terrour nor could there be worth found in their Persons or Doings to appease displeased Justice But behold here stands the Son of God before him in the Sin of the World his Father finding him there curseth and condemns him to death but he by the Power of his God-head and the Worthiness of his Person and Doings vanquisheth sin satisfieth God's Justice and so becomes the Saviour of the World Here then is Power seen Sin is a Mighty thing it crusheth all in pieces save him whose Spirit is Eternal Heb. 9. 14. Set Christ and his Sufferings aside and you neither see the Evil of Sin nor the Displeasure of God against it you see them not in their utmost Had'st thou a view of all the Legions that are now in the pains of Hell yea couldest thou hear their shreeks and groans together at once and feel the whole of all their burden much of the evil of Sin and of the Justice of God against it would be yet unknown by thee for thou wouldest want power to feel and bear the utmost A Giant shews not his Power by killing of a little Child nor yet is his might seen by the resistance that such a little one makes but then he sheweth his power when he dealeth with one like himself yea and the Power also of the other is then made manifest in saving himself from being swallowed up with his Wrath. Jesus Christ also made manifest his Eternal Power and God-head more by bearing and over-coming our Sins than in making or upholding the whole World Hence Christ Crucified is called the Power of God 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. Fifthly The LOVE and MERCY of God is more seen in and by this Doctrine than any other way Mercy and Love are seen in that God gives us Rain and fruitful Seasons and in that he filleth our Hearts with food and gladness from that bounty he bestoweth upon us as men as his Creatures Oh! but herein is Love made manifest in that Christ laid down his Life for us And God commended his Love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us 1 Joh. 3. 16. Chap. 4. 10 Rom. 5. 8. Never Love like this nor did God ever give such discovery of his Love from the beginning to this Day Herein is Love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our Sins Here is Love that God sent his Son his Darling his Son that never offended his Son that was
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
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
forth of the Heart against him now sin and great confusion puts forth it self in all yea the more the Sinner desireth to do a duty sincerely the further off it always finds it self For by how much the Soul struggleth under these distresses by so much the more doth Satan put forth himself to resist still infusing more poison that if possible it might never struggle more for strugglings are also us poison to Satan The Fly in the Spider's Webb is an emblem of the Soul in such a condition the Fly is entangled in the Webb at this the Spider shews himself if the Fly stir again down comes the Spider to her and claps a Foot upon her if yet the Fly makes a noise then with poisoned Mouth the Spider lays hold upon her if the Fly struggle still then he poisons her more and more what shall the Fly do now why she dies if some-body does not quickly release her This is the case of the Tempted they are entangled in the Webb their Feet and Wings are entangled now Satan shews himself if the Soul now struggleth Satan laboureth to hold it down if it now shall make a noise then be bites with blasphemous Mouth more poisonous than the Gall of a Serpent If it struggle again then he poisoneth more and more infomuch that it needs at last must die in the Net if the Man the Lord Jesus helps not out The afflicted Couscience understands my words Further though the Fly in the Webb is altogether uncapable of looking for relief yet this awakened tempted Christian is not what must he do therefore how should he contain hopes of life If he looks to his Heart there is Blasphemy if he looks to his duties there is Sin if he strives to mourn and lament perhaps he cannot unbelief and hardness hinder shall this Man lie down in despair No shall he trust to his duties No shall he stay from Christ till his Heart is better No What then Let him NOW look to Jesus Christ Crucified then shall he see his Sins answered for then shall he see Death a-dying then shall he see Guilt born by another and there shall he see the Devil overcome This sight destroys the Power of the first Temptation purifies the Heart and inclines the Mind to all good things And to encourage thee tempted Creature to this most Gospel-Duty Consider that when Jesus Christ read his Commission upon the entering into his Ministry he proclaimed The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the Poor he hath sent me to heal the broken-Hearted to preach deliverance to the Captives and recovering of sight to the Blind to set at liberty them that are bruised to preach the acceptable Year of the Lord Luk. 4. 18 19. These things therefore should the Tempted believe but believing is now sweating-work for Satan will hold as long as possible and only stedfast Faith can make him fly But O! the Toyl of a truly gracious Heart in this Combate if Faith be weak he can scarce get higher than his Knees Lord help Lord save and then down again till an Arm from Heaven takes him up until Jesus Christ be evidently set forth Crucified for him and Cursed for his Sin for then and not till then the Temptation rightly ceaseth at leastwise for a Season Now the Soul can tend to look about it and thus consider with it self If Christ hath bora my Sin and Curse then 't is taken away from me and seeing thus to take away sin was the Contrivance of the God of Heaven I will bless his Name hope in his Mercy and look upon Death and Hell with Comfort Thine Heart shall meditate terrour thou shalt see the Land that is very far off Isa. 33. 16 17 18. The fifth use Fifthly This Doctrine makes Christ precious to the Believers Unto you therefore which believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2. 5. This Head might be greatly enlarged upon and branched out into a Thousand particulars each one full of weight and glory 1. By considering what Sin is 2. By considering what Hell is 3. By considering what Wrath is 4. By considering what Eternity is 5. By considering what the loss of a Soul is 6. What the loss of God is 7. What the loss of Heaven is 8. And what it is to be in utter Darkness with Devils and damned Souls for ever and ever And after all to conclude from all these Miserie 's the Lord Jesus delivered me Further This makes Christ precious if I consider in the next place 1. How he did deliver me 't was with his Life his Blood it cost him Tears Groans Agony Separation from God to do it he endured his Fathers Wrath bare his Fathers Curse and died thousands of deaths at once 2. He did this while I was his Enemy without my desires without my knowledg without my deserts he did it unawares to me 3. He did it freely cheerfully yea he longed to die for me yea Heaven would not hold him for the Love he had to my Salvation which also he hath effectually accomplished for me at Jerusalem Honourable Jesus precious Jesus loving Jesus Jonathan's Kindness captivated David and made him precious in his Eyes for ever I am distressed for thee my Brother Jonathan said he very pleasant hast thou been to me thy Love to me was wonderful passing the Love of Women 2 Sam. 1. 26. Why what had Jonathan done O! He had delivered David from the Wrath of Saul But how much more should he be precious to me who hath saved me from Death and Hell who hath delivered me from the Wrath of God! The Love of Christ constraineth us Nothing will so edge the Spirit of a Christian as Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood This makes the Heavens themselves ring with joy and shouting Mark the Words Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God with thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation and and hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the Earth What follows now And I beheld and heard the Voice of many Angels round about the Throne and the Beasts and the Elders and the Number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands saying with a loud Voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing and every Creature which is in Heaven and on the Earth and such as are in the Sea and all that are therein heard I saying Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the LAMB for ever and and ever Revel 5. 9 10 11 12 13. Thus also is the Song that New-Song that is said to be sung by the Hundred fourty and four thousand which stand with the LAMB upon Mount Sion with his Fathers Name written in their Fore-heads These are also called Harpers Harping with their Harps And they sang as it were a new Song before the Throne and before the four Beasts and the Elders and none could learn that Song but the Hundred and fourty and four thousand which were redeemed from the Earth Revel 14. 1 2 3. But why could they not learn that Song Because they were not redeemed none can sing of this Song but the Redeemed they can give Glory to the Lamb the Lamb that was slain and that redeemed them to God by his Blood 'T is Faith in his Blood on Earth that will make us sing this Song in Heaven These Shoutings and Heavenly Songs must needs come from Love put into a Flame by the Sufferings of Christ. The last Use. If all these things be true what follows but a Demonstration of the Accursed Condition of those among the Religious in these Nations whose notions put them far off from Jesus and from venturing their Souls upon his Bloody Death I have observed such a Spirit as this in the World that careth not for knowing of Jesus the Possessed therewith do think that it is not material to Salvation to venture upon a Crucified Christ neither do they trouble their Heads or Hearts with inquiring whether Christ Jesus be risen and ascended into Heaven or whether they see him again or no but rather are for concluding that there will be no such thing These Men speak not by the Holy Ghost for in the Sum they call Jesus Accursed but I doubt not to say that many of them are Anathematised of God and shall stand so till the Coming of the Lord Jesus to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen THE END Books writ by Mr. Bunyan and printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle near the Royal Exchange in Cornhil 1. SIghs from Hell or the Groans of a Damned Soul discovering the Lamentable Estate of the Damned 2. Resurrection from the Dead and Eternal Judgment asserted and with what Bodies the Dead arise 3. A Discourse of Prayer and what it is to pray with the Spirit and with Understanding 4. The Holy City or the New-Jerusalem or the Glorious State of Believers after this Life asserted 5. Christian Behaviour teaching Husbands Wives Parents Children Masters Servants to walk so as to please God 6. Grace abounding to the chief of Sinners discovering the woful Estate of the Impenitent and the Greatness of Gods Mercy 7. A Map shewing the Order and Causes of Salvation and Damnation c. 8. Serious Meditations on the four last things viz. Death Judgment Heaven and Hell 9. A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification by Faith in Jesus Christ. 10. A Confession of the Author's Faith and a Reason of his Practice in Matters of Worship