be greatly accepted and highly esteemed of by my heavenly father Artaxerxes the King of Persia lovingly accepted of the poor man's Present of water because his good will was in it and put it into a golden vessel and gave him the vessel of Gold accounting it the part of a truly noble and generous spirit to take in good part small presents offered with an hearty affection Oh how much more will God the father kindly accept of Jesus Christ in Jerâ—m saith that the Jews cursed Christ in their Synagogues three times a dâ—y they so greatly abhorred the name Jesus that they would not pronounce it but if they did unawars happen to pronounce it then they would punish themselve with a blow on their faces c. his Mediatory office vers 7. Thus saith the Lord the Redeemer of Israel and his holy One to him whom man despiseth to him whom the nation abhorreth to a servant of rulers Kings shall see and arise Princes also shall worship because of the Lord that is faithful and the holy one of Israel and he shall chuse thee God the father comforting of Christ tells him that though he were contemptible to to many yea to the Nation of the Jews and used basely like a servant by their Princes Herod Annas Caiphas and Pontius Pilat yet other Kings and Princes should see his dignity and glory and submit to him and honour him as the Saviour and Redeemer of the world God the father chose Jesus Christ to his servant and to be a Mediator for his Elect he designed him to that office of being a Saviour both to the Jew and Gentile and accordingly he accepted of him Thus saith the Lord In an acceptable time have I heard thee and in a day of salvation have I helped thee and I will preserve thee and give thee for a covenant of the people to establish the earth to cause to inherit the desolate heritage Here you see that God the father still goes on to speak more and more comfortably and encouragingly to Jesus Christ for he tells him that he will be at hand to hear and help and assist him and he tells him that he will preserve him both in his This Jerom applies to the time of Christ's hanging on the Cross he cried out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me for God made it appear that he heard him and forsook him not in that he raised him from the dead c. See Heb. 5. 7. person and in the execution of his office and he tells him that he will accept of his person and of his services and of his suits and intercession for himself and his people So Mat. 3. 17. And lo a voice from heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased The voice from heaven was doubtless the voice of his father in that he saith This is my beloved Son my natural son by eternal and incomprehensible generation and therefore dearest to me and most acceptable with me my judgment is satisfied in him my love is settled upon him and I have an inestimable value for him and therefore I cannot but declare my approbation and acceptation both of him and his work I am well pleased in him I am infinitely pleased in him I am only pleased in him I am at all times pleased in him I am for ever pleased in him I am so well pleased in him that for his sake I am fully appeased with all them whom I have given him and who come unto him Joh. 6. 37 38 39 40. But Seventhly God the father promiseth highly to exalt Jesus Christ and nobly to reward him and everlastingly to glorifie him And nations that knew not thee shall run Isa 49. 4 5 6. Isa 40. 10. unto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the holy One of Israel for he hath glorified thee These are the words of God the father to his son promising of him to set such a Crown of glory upon his head as should make the nations of the world run unto him God the father made Christ glorious in his birth by the Angel's Doxology Glory be to God on high in his baptism by his speaking Luk. 2. 1â— 14. Mat. 3. ult cap. 17. 1 2 3 4 5. Râ—m 1. 4. Act. 1 9 10 11. of him from heaven as his beloved son in his transfiguration on the mount in his resurrection and in his ascension into heaven So Isa 53. 12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death and he was numbered with the transgressors and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressours The meaning is this I will impart saith God the father to my son such honour glory renown and riches after his sufferings as Conquerours use to have and he shall have them as a glorious reward of all his conflicts with my wrath with temptations with persecutions with reproach with contempt with death yea and with hell it self The words are a plain allusion to Conquerours in War who are commonly exalted and greatly rewarded by their Princes for venturing of their lives and obtaining of Conquests as all Histories will tell you And indeed should not God the father reward Jesus Christ for all his hard services and his matchless sufferings he would express less kindness to him than he has done to heathen Princes for he gave Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar as his hire for his service at Tyre and to Cyrus Ezek. 29. 18 19. Isa 45. 1 2 3. he gave hidden Treasure But alas what were their services to Christ's services or their sufferings to Christ's sufferings I have read of Cyrus how that in a great expedition against his enemies the better to encourage his souldiers to fight in an Oration that he made at the head of his Army he promised upon the victory to make every foot-souldier an horse-man and every horse-man a Commander and that no officer that did valiantly Colâ—s 2. 14 15. should be unrewarded And will God the father let the son of his dearest love who has fought against all infernal powers and conquered them go without his reward surely no. So in Psal 2. 7. I will declare the decree the Lord hath said unto me Thou art my son this day have I begotten thee David was God's son by Adoption and acceptation Psal â—9 26 27. Prov. 8. Heb. 1. 5. but Christ was his son 1. By eternal Generation 2. By hypostatical union and so God had one only son as Abraham had one only Isaac though otherwise he was the father of many nations some by this day do understand the day of Eternity where there is no time past nor to come no beginning nor ending but always one present day Others by this day do understand it of the day of Christ's incarnation and coming into the world some again do
the foundation of the Covenant of Grace with poor sinners Now let us seriously mind how this Covenant of Grace or this new Covenant runs both in the Old and in the New Testament Jer. 31. 31. Behold Though the Covenant of Redemption made to the fathers this which was given after seem divers yet they are all one and grounded on Jesus Christ save that this is called new because of the manifestations of Christ and the abundant graces of the Holy Ghost given to his Church under the Gospel 2 Cor. 3. 1 2 3. the days come saith the Lord that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah vers 32. Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt which my covenant they brake although I was an husband unto them saith the Lord. vers 33. But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people vers 34. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord For I will forgive their iniquities and I will remember their sin no more Now let us see how Paul doth exegetically explain this New Covenant in that Heb. 8. 6. But now hath he obtained a more excellent Ministry by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises vers 7. For if that first Covenant had been faultless then should no place have been sought for the second but finding fault with them he saith vers 8. Behold the days come saith the Lord when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah vers 9. Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they continued not in my covenant and I regarded them not saith the Lord. Vers 10 But this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people vers 11. And they shall not teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest vers 12. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more vers 13. In that he saith a new covenant he hath made the first old Now Where then is the fire of purgatory and that Popish distinction of the fault and the punishment as for the fiction of Purgatory it deserves rather to be hissed at than by arguments refuted And to punish sin in Purgatory as Popish Doctors teach what is this but to call sin tomind and memory to view and sight to reckoning and account which is contrary to the Doctrine of the New Covenant that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away This is the substance of the New Covenant and thus the Lord did fore-promise it by Jeremiah and afterwards expounded it by Paul some small difference there is in their words but the sence is one and the same Now this Covenant is stiled the New Covenant because it is to continue new and never to wax old or wear away so long as this world shall continue Neither doth the holy Scriptures any where reveal another Covenant which shall succeed this Covenant If any Covenant should succeed this it must be either a Covenant of works or a Covenant of Grace not a Covenant of works for that would bring us all under a curse and make our condition utterly desperate not a Covenant of Grace because more grace cannot be shewn in any other Covenant than in this here is all grace and all mercy here is Jesus Christ with all his righteousness mediatorship merits purchase This Covenant is so full so ample so large so perfect so compleat and is every way so accommodated to the condition of lost sinners that nothing can be altered nor added nor mended and therefore it must needs be the last Covenant that ever God will make with man So Heb. 10. vers 16. This is the Covenant that I will make with them after those days saith the Lord I will put my laws into their hearts and in their minds will I write them vers 17. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more Rom. 11. 26. There shall come out of Zion the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. The person delivering is Christ described here by his office and by his original his office The deliverer the original word Ruomenos which Paul useth signifies delivering by a strong hand to rescue by force as David delivered the Lamb out of the Lyon's paw vers 27. For this is my covenant unto them when I shall take away their sin This Covenant concerning the pardon of believer's sins and their deliverance by Christ God will certainly make good to his people Now from the Covenant of Grace or the new Covenant Eccles 11. 9. cap. 12. 14. Maâ— 12. 14. cap 18. 23. Luk. 16. 2. Rom. 14. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Heb. 9. 27. cap. 13. 17. 1 Pet. 4. 5. that God has made with sincere Christians a believer may form up this Eighth Plea to the Ten Scriptures cited in the margin that refer to the great day of account or to a man's particular account viz. Oh blessed God thou hast in the Covenant of Grace by which I must be tryed freely and fully engaged thy self That thou wilt pardon mine iniquities and remember my sins no more so runs the New Covenant Jer. 31. 34. I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more So again Heb. 8. 12. I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more So Heb 10. 17. Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more Isa 43. 25. I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins Ezek. 18. 22. All his transgressions that be hath committed they shall not be mentioned unto him Jer. 50. 20. In thâ—se days saith the Lord the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and the sins of Judah and they shall not be found for I will pardon them The New Covenaâ—t can neâ—er be broken 2 Câ—â—â—n 13. 5. Psal 89. 34. Is 1. 50.
utter any thing to the prejudice of them that put him to death but prayed for them that crucified Luk. 23. 34. Mat. 26. â—3 cap. 27. 12 14. him He was led as a lamb to the slaughter properly as an ewe-lamb or she lamb the ewe is mentioned as the quieter of that kind because the rams are sometimes more unruly and as a sheep that is dumb before the face of her shearers A lamb doth not bite nor push him that is going about to kill it but goeth as quietly to the shambles or the slaughter-house as if it were going to the fold wherein it is usually lodged or the field where it is wont to feed But Sixthly Observe with me That the original cause of this compact or Covenant between the father and the son by vertue of which God the father demands a price and Jesus Christ pays the price according to God's demands is only from the free grace and favour of God vers 10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief God the father looks upon Jesus Christ as sustaining our person and cause he looks upon all our sins as laid upon him and to be punished in him Sin could not be abolished the justice of God could not be satisfied the wrath of God could not be appeased the terrible curse could not be removed but by the death of Christ and therefore God the father took a pleasure to bruise him and to put him to grief according to the agreement between him and his son It must be readily granted that God did not incite or instigate the wicked Jews to those vile and cruel courses and carriages of their to Jesus Christ but yet that his sufferings were by God predetermined for the salvation of mankind is most evident by the Scriptures in the margin and accordingly it pleased Act. 2. 23. cap. 4. 28. the Lord to bruise him and to put him to grief The singular pleasure that God the father takes in the work of our Redemption is a wonderful demonstration of his love and affection to us Seventhly Observe with me That it is agreed between the father and the son that our sins shall be imputed unto him and that his righteousness should be imputed unto us and that all the redeemed shall believe in him and so be justified vrrs 11. He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledg or faith in him shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall hear their iniquities Or as some render it He shall see the fruit of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied That is Jesus Christ shall receive and enjoy that as the effect and issue of all the great pains that he hath taken and of all the grievous things that he hath suffered as shall give him full content and satisfaction when Christ hath accomplished the work of Redemption he shall receive a full reward for all his sufferings Christ takes a singular pleasure in the work of our Redemption and doth herein as it were refresh himself as with the fruits of his own labours God the father engages to Jesus Christ that he should not travel in vain but that he should survive to see with great joy a numerous issue of faithful souls begotten unto God you know when women after sore sharp hard labour are delivered they are so greatly refreshed delighted gladded and satisfied that they forget their former pains and sorrow for joy that a manchild is born into the world God the father undertakes Joh. 16. 21. that Jesus Christ should have such a holy seed such a blessed issue as the main fruit and effect of his passion as should joy him please him and as he should rest satisfied in Certainly there could be no such joy and satisfaction to Christ as for him to see poor souls reconciled justified and saved by his sufferings and satisfaction as 't is the highest joy of a faithful minister to see souls 1 Thes 2. 19 20. Gal. 4. 19. won over to Christ to see souls built up in Christ Christ did bear the guilt of his peoples sins and thereby he made full satisfaction and therefore he is said here to justifie many not all promiscuously but those only whose sins he undertook to discharge and for whom he laid down his life Christ's justifying of many is his discharging of many from the guilt of sin by making satisfaction to God for the same But Eighthly Observe with me That it is agreed between the Father and the Son that for those persons for whom Besides the Eleâ—t be iâ—terceeds for none Joh. 17. 9 10. Jesus Christ should lay down his life he should stand intercessour for them also that so they may be brought to the possession of all those noble favours and blessings that he has purchased with his dearest blood vers 12. He bare the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors saying father forgive them for they know not what they Luk. 23. 24. do For those very transgressors by whom he suffered he does intercede for the article here is emphatical and seems to point unto that special act and those particular persons Not but that these words have relation also to Christ's intercession for all those sinners that belong to him and that have an interest in him which intercession continues still and shall do to the end of the world Heb. 7. 25. But The Sixth Scripture is that Isa 59. 20 21. And the The Sixth Proof redeemer shall come to Zion and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob saith the Lord. As for me this is my covenant with them saith the Lord my spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth noâ— out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from hence forth and for ever Out of this blessed Scripture you may observe these following things First the parties covenanting and agreeing and they are God the father and Jesus Christ God the father in those words saith the Lord and Jesus Christ in those words The redeemer shall come to Zion Secondly You have God the father first covenanting with Jesus Christ and then with his seed as is evident in the 21. vers Thirdly You have the persons described that shall be sharers in Redemption mercies and they are the Sionites the people of God the citizens of Zion but lest any should think that all Zion should be saved it is added by way of explication that only such of Zion 〈…〉 urn from transgression in Jacob shall have benefit by the Redeemer The true Citizens of Rom. 11. 26. Zion the right Jacobs the sincere Israelites in whom there is no guile are they and only they that turn from their sins None have interest in Christ none have redemption by Christ but converts but such as
Justice be satisfied and divine wrath pacified yet the Devil will not let his captives go therefore Christ by a strong hand wrests us out of Satan's power and destroys him that had the power of death Heb. 2. 24 25. that is the devil The Ransom which Christ paid was the ground of man's full and eternal Redemption for by satisfaction of justice way was made to pacifie wrath both which being accomplished the Devil lost his right and power over such as he held in bondage This Redemption is a full freedom from all misery and compriseth under it reconciliation justification sanctification and salvation By this Redemption divine justice is satisfied wrath pacified grace procured and all spiritual enemies vanquished The perfection of this Redemption is hinted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this word eternal the eternity here meant hath a special respect to the continual duration thereof without end yet also it respecteth the time past so as it looks backward and forward It implieth a vertue and efficacy from the beginning of the world for Christ was a lamb slain from the foundation of the world Christ himself Rev. 13. 8. Rev. 1. 8. is Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending which is and which was and which is to come Now that which is spoken of the person of Christ may very well be applied to our Redemption by Christ This Epithete Eternal is here added to Redemption in opposition to the legal purifications which were momentary and temporary They had a day and endured no longer than the time of reformation On this ground by just and necessary consequence it followeth that the Redemption wrought by Christ is absolutely perfect and that there is no need of any other This being eternal all that have been all that shall be redeemed have been and shall be redeemed by it and they who are redeemed by it need no other means The liberty whereinto Christ Jesus brings the Elect is permanent and lasting it abides irremoveable and unchangeable to all Eternity The Jews which had sold themselves to be servants were to be set free at the Jubilee yet the Jubilee lasted but for one year Levit. 25. therefore the same persons might afterwards become bondmen again But this acceptable year of the Lord 's Isa 61. 2. cap. 63. 4. redeemed is an everlasting year it shall never end therefore they shall never be subject to bondage any more It is observable that when the Lord would comfort the Jews with hopes of a return from Babilon he usually annexed Evangelical promises respecting the deliverance of poor sinners from the slavery of Satan whereof that captivity was a Type some of which promises do plainly express the perpetuity of that spiritual freedom which they shall enjoy Take a taste Isa 35. 10. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs See also Jer. 32. 39. Ezek. 37. 25 26 27 28. cap. 39. 29. and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Isa 51. 6. Lift up your eyes to the heavens and look upon the earth beneath for the heavens shall vanish away like smoak and the earth shall wax old like a garment and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner but my salvation shall be for ever and my righteousness shall not be abolished Isa 60. 19 20. The sun shall be no more thy light by day neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glory Thy sun shall no more go down neither shall thy moon withdraw it self for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light and the days of thy mourning shall be ended Jer. 31. 11 12. For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion and their soul shall be as a watered garden and they shall not sorrow any more at all But The Fifth excellent Property of that Redemption that we have by Jesus Christ is this viz. It is an enriching Redemption it is a Redemption that makes men rich in spiritual blessings in heavenly places There are many choice Eph. 1. 3. and rare spiritual benefits that wait and attend on Redemption that go hand in hand with Redemption As Rom. 5. 1. cap. 3. 24 25. reconciliation remission of our sins justification of our persons adoption sanctification full glorification we have some fore-tastes of it in this life here we have the first fruits of the spirit but in the morning of the Resurrection Rom. 8. 23 30. we shall reap the whole harvest of glory It 's called by way of eminency the salvation of our souls 1 Pet. 1. 9. Redemption and the noble benefits attending on it are Salvation begun but in heaven this shall be salvation consummate Redemption is a rich Mine containing a Mass of Treasure that cannot be valued could we dig into it could we pry into it we might find variety of the choicest Jewels and Pearls in comparison whereof all the riches of the Indies all the Gold of Ophir and all the precious Jewels and most orient Pearls that are in the world are no better than dross I have read of Tiberius the Emperour that passing by a place where he saw a cross lying in the ground upon a Marble stone and causing the stone to be digged up he found a great treasure under the Cross But what was this treasure but a great nothing to that treasure that is wrap'd up in our Redemption by Christ What the Lord said once to his anointed Cyrus a temporal deliverer of his people the same he hath spoken and much more to his Anointed Jesus the greater Saviour and Redeemer of his Church I will give thee the treasures of darkness the hidden riches of secret Isa 43. 3. See my Treatise called The Vnsearchable Ruâ—es of Christ places There are unsearchable riches in Jesus Christ in him are riches of Grace of all Grace in him are riches of justification and riches of sanctification and riches of consolation and riches of glorification Would you share in the best of riches would you share in the most durable riches would you share in soul riches would you share in heavenly riches O! then secure your interest in the Redemption that is by Jesus Christ But The sixth and last excellent Property of that Redemption that we have by Jesus Christ is this viz. It is a Redemption sweetning Redemption it is such a Redemption as sweetens all other Redemptions 't is Redemption by Christ that sweetens our Redemption out of this trouble and that out of this affliction and that out of this danger and that out of this sickness and that out of this bondage and that Redemption by Christ is like that tree which Moses cast into the bitter Exed
father and the son and all your days to admire at the love of the father and the son who have from eternity by compact and agreement secured your souls and your everlasting concernments But The Sixth Proposition is this That God the father had the first and chief hand in this great work of saving sinners by vertue of this Covenant of Redemption wherein Heb. 2. 10. he and his son had agreed to bring many sons to glory Weak Christians many times have their thoughts and apprehensions more busied and taken up with the love of the son than with the love of the father but they must remember that in the great and glorious work of Redemption God the father had a great hand an eminent hand yea the first and chief hand God the father first laid the foundation stone of all our happiness and blessedness his head and heart was first taken up about that heaven-born project the salvation of sinners Isa 28. 16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone a tried stone a precious corner stone a sure foundation Heb. I am he that foundeth a stone in Zion It is God the father that hath long since laid Christ as a sure foundation for all his people to build their hopes of happiness upon it is he that first laid Christ the true corner-stone Rom. 9. 33. 1 Pet. 2. 6. Isa 53. 10. whereby Zion is for ever secured against death hell and wrath Hence 't is said the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand that is God's Eternal Decree about the work of our Redemption and salvation shall be powerfully faithfully and compleatly executed by Jesus Christ who by his word and spirit shall communicate unto all his Elect the fruit of his death to life and salvation Jeb 23. 24. This is a full place against all Sociniâ—ans who boldly allert that God removes the curse of the Law by a free and absolute pardon without satisfaction Grotius's Exposition on the place is but flat and dull When God saith I have 〈◊〉 a ransom we are to understand it of a real Ransom of full pay or satisfaction and not of a Ransom by favour and acceptation Again Deliver me from going down into the pit for I have found a ransom The Hebrew word signifies a price paid to redeem a man's life or liberty I have found a ransom or an atonement a cover for man's sin Angels and men could never have found a ransom but by my deep infinite and unsearchable wisdom saith God the father I have found a Ransom I have found out a way a means for the redeeming of mankind from going down to the infernal pit viz. the death and passion of my dearest son But where O blessed God didst thou find a Ransom not in Angels not in men not in Legal Sacrifices not in Gold or Silver not in tears humblings and meltings of my people but in my own bosom That Jesus that son of my love who has layen in my bosom from all Eternity Joh. 1. 18. he is that Ransom that by my own matchless wisdom and singular goodness I have found I have not called a Council to enquire where to find a Ransom that fallen man might be preserved from falling into the fatal pit of destruction but I have found a ransom in my own heart my own breasts my own bosom without advising or consulting with others I have found out a way how to save sinners with a salvo to my honour justice holiness and truth Had all the Angels in heaven from the first day of their creation to this very day sat in serious Council to invent contrive or find out a way a means whereby lost man might be secured against the curse of the Law hell condemnation and wrath to come and whereby he might have been made happy and blessed for ever and all this without the least wrong or prejudice to the justice and righteousness of God they could never have found out any way or means to have effected those great things Our Redemption by a Ransom is God's own invention and God's only invention The blessed Ransom which the Lord has found out for poor sinners is the blood of his own dearest son a ransom which never entred into the thoughts or hearts of Angels and men till God had reveiled it which is called the blood of the Covenant because thereby the Covenant is confirmed and all Covenant-mercies assured to us Joh. 3. 16. Again God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son Here is a sic without a sicut that sic so signifies the firstness of the father's love the freeness of the father's love 1 Joh. 3. 19. Hos 14. 4. and the vehemency of the father's love and the admirableness of the father's love and the matchlesness of the father's love O! what manner of love is this for God to give his son not his servant his begotten son not his adopted son his only son and not one son of many his only son by eternal generation and communication of the same Essence to be a Ransom and Mediator for sinners God the father loving lost man sent his son to suffer and to do the office of a Mediator that through his mediation he might communicate the effects of his love in a way agreeable to his justice for God loved the world and that antecedently to his giving Christ and as a cause of it The design the project of saving sinners was first contrived and laid by God the father therefore Christ says The son can do nothing of himself but what he sees the father do God the father sent his son and God the father sealed his son a commission to give life to lost sinners Him hath God the father sealed that is made his Commission authentical as men do their Deeds by their seals It is a Metaphor taken from them who ratifie their authority whom they send that is approve of them as it were by setting to their seal Christ is to be acknowledged to be he whom the father hath authorized and furnished to be the Saviour and Redeemer of lost sinners and the store-house from whence they are to expect all spiritual supplies Look as Kings give sealed Warrants and Commissions to their ministers of State who are sent 1 King 21 8. Estâ— 3. 12. cap. 8. 8. out or employed in great affairs So Christ is the father's great Ambassadour authorized and sent out by him to bring about the Redemption and Salvation of lost man And look as a seal represents in wax that which is engraven on it so the father hath communicated to him his divine essence and properties and stamped upon him all divine perfection for carrying on the work of Redemption And look as a seal annexed to a Commission is a publick evidence of the person's authority so Christ's endowments are visible marks whereby to know him and clear evidences that
and satisfaction made to the Justice of God for man's sin and thereupon sin taken a-away Now sin being taken away Christ sits down on the right hand of his Father Look as the humiliation of Christ was manifested in offering a Sacrifice so his exaltation in sitting at God's right hand was manifested after that he had offered that sacrifice This phrase Set down is a note of dignity and authority and this dignity and Authority is amplified by the place where he is said to sit down viz. on the right hand of God and this honour and dignity is much illustrated by the continuance thereof which is without date For ever sat down on the right hand of God It is an Eclipse of the lustre of any glory to have a date and a period The very thought that such a glory shall one day cease will cast a damp upon the Spirit of him that enjoys that Glory Christ's constant sitting at the right hand of his Father is a clear evidence that he has finished and compleated the work of our Redemption Christ could never have gone to his Father nor never have set down at the right hand of his Father if he had not first fulfilled all Righteousness and fully acquitted us of all our iniquities Joh. 16. 10. Of righteousness because I go to my Father The strength of the Argument lies in this Christ took upon him to be our Surety and he must acquit us of all our sins and satisfie his Father's Justice before he can go to his Father and be accepted of his Father and sit down on the right hand of his Father If God had not been fully satisfied or if any part of Righteousness had been to be fulfilled Christ should have been still in the grave and not gone to heaven his very going to his Father argues all is done all is finished and compleated But Sixthly Christ having performed all the conditions of the Covenant on his part he now peremptorily insists upon it that his Father should make good to him and his the conditions of the Covenant on his part Christ having finished his work looks for his reward Father Joh. 17. 4 5. says he I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work which thow gavest me to do And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was There was a most This transaction between the father and the son is worthy of our most dâ—ep serious and frequent meditation blessed transaction between God the Father and God the Son before the world began for the everlasting good of the Elect and upon that Transaction depends all the good and all the happiness and all the salvation of God's chosen and upon this ground pleads with his Father that all his members may behold his glory Joh. 17. 24. Father I wilâ— that they also which thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory Father I will not only I pray I beseech but I will I ask this as my right by vertue of the Covenant betwixt us I have done thus and thus and I have suffered thus and thus and therefore I cannot but peremptorily insist upon it that those that I have undertaken for be where I am that they may behold my glory For though Glory be a gift to us yet it is a debt that is due to Christ It is a part of Christ's joy that we should be where he is Christ will not be happy alone as a tender father he can enjoy nothing if his children may not have part with him The greatest part of our happiness that we shall have in heaven lies in this that then we shall be with Christ and have immediate communion with him Oh sirs the great end of our being in heaven is to behold and enjoy the glory of Christ Christ is very desirous and much taken up with his peoples fellowship and company so that before he removes his bodily presence from them his heart is upon meeting and fellowship again as here we see in his prayer before his departure and this he makes evident from day to day in that until that time of meeting come two or three are not gathered in his name but he is in the midst of them to eye their behaviour to Mat. 18. 20. hear their suits to guide their way to to protect their persons to chear their spirits and to delight in their presence He delights to walk in the midst of the seven golden Rev. 2. 1. Mat. 5. 14 16. Psal 68 16. candlesticks the Golden Candlesticks are the Churches which are the light of the world and excel all other societies as much as Gold doth other Metals And he desires to dwell in the low and little hill of Zion Zion is his resting place his chosen place his dwelling place Psal 132. 13. For the Lord hath chosen Zion he hath desired it for his habitation Vers 14. This is my rest for ever Here will I dwell for I have desired it Christ chose Zion for his love and loves it for his choice and accordingly he he delights to dwell there The Lamb stands on Mount Rev. 14. 1. Zion Christ is ready prest for action and in the midst of all Antichrist's Persecutions he hath always a watchful eye over Mount Zion and will be a sure life-guard to Mount Isa 4. 5 6. Zion he stands readily prepared to assist Mount Zion to fight for Mount Zion to communicate to Mount Zion Isa 8. 18. and to be a refuge to Mount Zion and no wonder for he dwells in mount Zion Now if Christ take so much delight to have spiritual communion with his people in this 2 Cor. 6. 16. I will dwell in them The words are very significant â—n the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In ill in-dwell in them so the words are there are two in s in the Original as if God could never haâ—e enoughe â—â—munion with them 2 Trâ—â— 1. 10. world no wonder that he can never rest satisfied till their gracious communion with him here issue in their perfect and glorious communion with him in heaven And certainly the glory and happiness of heaven to the Elect will consist much in being in Christ's company in whom they delight so much on earth to follow the Lamb whither soever he goes to enjoy him fully and to be always in his presence is the heaven of heaven the glory of glory 't is the sparkling Diamond in the Ring of Glory The day is coming wherein Believers shall be compleatly happy in a sight of Christ's glory when he shall be conspicuously glorified and admired in all his Saints and glorified by them and when all veils being laid aside and they fitted for a more full fruition shall visibly and immediately behold and enjoy him therefore is their condition in heaven described as consisting in this that they may behold my