let the word they have heard heedlesly to slip from them again How is it possible they should escape weigh seriously but that one Scripture Prov. 1.24 to the end Comfort to those that have interest in Christ thus proposed and purposed for their propitiation Use 2. Of comfort unto the Children of God who have part in Christ their comfort lies in these branches 1 The proposal of Christ in the Promises and Prophecies of the old Testament This wee are sure is that good old way in which the Saints were saved then as Now. Jer. 18.14 Will a man leave the Snow of Lebanon that commeth from the rock of the field Or shall the cold flowing waters bee forsaken That is Will a man leave the pure fountain water to come to dig puddles as Jerem. 2.13 as many now-adaies do Our path is the path of all the Saints of former ages Wee follow the cloud of Witnesses Heb. 12.1 And may hope to bee in Abrahams bosome that Father of the faithful while that we insist in the faith of Abraham 2 In the proposal of Christ so clearly and largely in the times of the New Testament confirmed by the voice of God and so many signs and wonders wrought Heb. 2.3.4 here is great comfort that our souls are in the right way to bliss Rom. 16.25 26. 3 In the eternal purpose of God to make Christ our Propitiation When wee consider the sleights of Satan and our own weaknesses wee have cause to say that we shall one day fall But then Rom. 9.11 2 Tim. 2.19 The purpose of God according to Election will stand when heaven and earth shall fall The Foundation of God stands sure If it were a Foundation of mans laying it would not bee sure but it s the Lords that never was nor will bee shaken Our Salvation is not built upon our Faith our Works or any sufficiency in our selves or in the Creatures But on Gods Eternal Wisdome and Counsel and unchangeable Decree and on his Son Jesus as our Foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 1 Pet. 2.6 Behold I lay in Sion a chief Corner stone Elect and pretious and hee that beleeves on him shall not bee confounded Let him therefore be exceedingly comforted and take up Pauls triumphing Challenge and say Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect its God that justifieth its Christ that dyed This is a sure breast-work against all Satans batteries and Accusations So Tit. 1.2 Wee have hope of eternal life promised us by an unalterable purpose and that from eternity Object How can that bee seeing before the World began there was no Creature to make the Promise to Answ I will not trouble you with other Interpretations but this is the truth That God the Father promised to the second Person of the sacred Trinity his own Son To give eternal life to all those that should beleeve upon him in the fulness of time And its suitable to that 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before the world began Shall wee now say that wee are unworthy of any promise or Mercy It s very true we in our selves are altogether unworthy But Jesus Christ our Redeemer is worthy to have it made to him and performed to him The Lamb that was stain is worthy And immediately only to the Lord Jesus Christ were the promises made not to us and that before the World began so that they are in a good way and a sure hand there 's nothing succeeding can disanul Gal. 3.17 nor should discourage us from taking hold thereon Christ set forth to be a Propitiation THE THIRTEENTH SERMON ON Rom. 3.24 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation Doct. THat God the Father purposed from eternity and proposed in the fulnesse of time his Son Jesus Christ to be the Propitiation to appease his wrath Vse 3. Of conviction of errors c. It may serve to discover unto us the danger of diverse erroneous Tenents about the satisfaction of Christ Some denying some lessening of it some adding thereto humane satisfactions and propitiations Which wicked errours as they do overthrow many other Principles of Christian Religion so especially this foundation of foundations So that unless God should reverse his eternal Decree verified in all ages hitherto and should give forth another Scripture and lay open another way to heaven It s impossible these men should be saved for they hold not the head Col. 2.19 nor are at all built upon the only foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 having missed of Jesus Christ and his Propitiation Use 4. This shews the gratious and wonderful concurrence The concurrence of the persons in Trinity to our salvation of all the persons of the Trinity in the salvation of a sinner Here is the Fathers purpose and eternal decree the Sons propitiation the holy Spirits application of it implyed in the work of Faith in the blood of Christ A great mistake therefore it is for any to think that we do owe much more to Christ for our salvation than wee do to God the Father as if hee did carry it but justly nay somewhat severely towards us in Christ onely was mercy Why Consider 1. That the justice of God is an an essential attribute common to all the three persons that just will to punish sin or that wrath of God against it is alike in them all Therefore there is no greater enemy to sinners than the Son and the Holy Ghost Psal 45.7 2 Though Christ only did take flesh upon him and suffer yet this was now brought about by the Fathers Councel and decree Joh. 3.16 Hee gave his Son Rom. 8.32 Hee spared not his Son 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself God the Father is the fountain of the God-head in order of subsisting And so hee is in all the works of grace that are wrought for sinners It was his love that moved him to appoint this way of salvation 1 Joh. 4.10 3 Christs satisfaction and sacrifice was no cause of the fathers love but an effect thereof and a chief means of our salvation 1 Thess 5.9 The cause of a sinners salvation but not the cause why hee is elected and chosen of God unto salvation 4 It was the wonderful free love of God the Father to give any of us in particular to Jesus Christ and to determine us to bee of that small number that were to be reconciled to him by Jesus Christ Joh. 17.6 Thine they were and thou gavest them mee Therefore it s said Joh. 5.23 That all men should honour the Son as they do honour the Father that is with like love but not with greater love Let us therefore learn to glorify God in Christ 1 Pet. 4.11 for though wee may direct our worship unto one person yet wee must take heed of excluding the other in our
God to recompence tribulatiō to them that trouble you here we have the same phrase used applyed to Gods distributive revenging justice and more plainly the same word is used Phil. 1.28 And in nothing terrified by our adversaries and there the word is translated a manifest token and so it is here a manifest token of demonstration and sure proof of the righteousnesse of God that hee justifies a sinner in such a way by the sacrifice and satisfaction of his Son The Points of doctrin then arising from hence are these following Doctr. 1. Not onely the exact truth of God or the abundance of his Grace but also his strict Justice doth concur to the Justification of a sinner in the sight of God Doct. 2. That the glory of Gods Justice and the manifest proof therof to the World in the death of Christ is the great end of the grace that the Lord shews forth in the Justification of Beleevers Doct. 1. Concerning the first of these The strict justice of God doth concur to the justification of a sinner That not onely the exact truth of God or the abundance of his Grace but also his strict Justice doth concur to the Justification of a sinner in Gods sight Or thus God is not onely true and merciful but also just in the justification of a finner I need not now insist upon that that the Truth and Mercy of God do shine and appear in this thing I have spoken to that formerly onely I shall lay before your confideration some Scriptures and in a few words pass it over Mic. 7.18 to 20. Who is a God like to thee that pardonest their Iniquity c. There hee speaks of justification in which work God is exalted above all the world But why doth God forgive sin because saith the Prophet hee delights in mercy it is his blessed will and pleasure to shew mercy but hee addes also thou wilt perform thy truth to Jacob and thy mercy to Abraham which thou hast sworn to our Fathers in the daies of old In which place wee have mention made both of Gods truth in keeping his promse and his Oath which hee ingaged himself in to Abraham from the daies of old and also his mercy in making and keeping such a weighty promise so Zachary praising God for the Incarnation of Christ Luke 1.72 hath these words viz. To perform his mercy promised and to remember his holy Covenant there is his mercy in sending his Son to purchase forgiveness and his truth in performing the Mercy promised and these are generally granted and acknowledged on all sides but the Text addes Moreover that hee may bee just and shew his righteousnesse therein and this is also cleared in several places besides and the truth hereof appears Reas First By all the Sacrifices of the Law which were offered up for the pacifying of Gods Anger and they all signified this that without shedding of blood there is no remission Heb. 9.22 and how comes it to pass that there was no pardon of sin in the Old Testament without shedding of blood in a Ceremonial way Surely this was to shew that Gods justice required some expiation of sin to bee made in a way of satisfaction for sin even in those times and to turn the eies of Gods people to Christs death whereby justice might bee fully satisfied and it is observable what is added ver 23 24 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of the things in the heavens should be purified with these but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these Where by the patterns of the heavenly things are to bee understood the sacrifices of the Law which typified Gospel Mysteries and by the heavenly things the Spiritual graces more plentifully poured forth in the dayes of the New Testament Now all are purified with Sacrifices and our sacrifice under the Gospel is farre better than theirs and mark how he saith that it was necessary that all purification should bee thus wrought he doth not only say that it was comely to bee so or convenient for orders sake or mercies sake but it was necessary not only by reason of Gods Decree to justifie and save some but sin being pre-supposed and God purposing to justifie and save a small remnant it was necessary and that because of the Justice of God that there should be such a sacrifice for sin and so especially I conceive those words Luk. 24.26 are to bee understood Ought not Christ to suffer such things And in vers 28. The Son of Man must bee delivered into the hands of sinful men and bee crucified c. there was a necessity of it or else all the world of Mankind must perish and be condemned and that because of the justice of God and if we doe but consider the way and manner of Justification and forgivenesse wee shall see that it must needs bee in a way of justice For 1 It was by the not sparing of his own Son Rom. 8.32 Christ was Gods own natural and eternal Son and though innocent yet now being make undertaker for sin he could not be spared the meaning is God would not spare this Son of his nor remit the least stroke of the punishment For the better illustration of this let us suppose some Malefactor be convicted of a Capital crime before an earthly Judge if the Judge shall Sentence him to death this is according to Justice but if the Judges own Son should bee charged with such a Crime and the Judge should condemn him in the gate this is exact justice indeed but the severity and exactnesse of Justice appears much more in the sufferings of Christ for there was never such an own Son as Christ yea consider the degree and kind of punishment required to bee inflicted upon this only Son it was that hee was made an expiation for sin A Curse for us that hee endured the pains of the Second Death and this was as much as Justice in its exactnesse required Gen. 2.19 Gal. 3.10 Besides this consider that place Mat. 26.39 Father if it bee possible let this Cup passe c. But if not thy will bee done c. and it is said He fell on his face and prayed c. that is he prayed with great earnestnesse and reverence and although Christ was heard in what hee feared yet the text and the event shews the cup did not passe yea that it was not possible because supposing Christ to bee the Surety by the Fathers and Christ his own appointment and Christ undertaking the Justification of the Elect it was not possible the Cup should passe away and that because of the Justice of God Obj. 1. But you will say Why may not the Lord freely forgive whatsoever sin he pleaseth and that of his free mercy and grace as a man may doe though there be no satisfaction to Justice at all can a sinfull man do it and cannot the Lord do it much more Ans 1. Because
God in such a way as to overthrow his truth his truth of his promises Tit. 1.4 Grace Mercy and Peace are from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ There is no Mercy to bee expected from God but through Jesus Christ Luk. 1.50 His mercy is on them that fear him they that do not fear God have no title to his mercy so there is the truth of his threatnings that hee will not bee merciful to any wicked transgressour Psal 59.5 to any one that loves his sin and lives in it and refuses to bee reformed Gods mercy is as it were the bridge over the pit to carry the soul to heaven but a man that hath his eies will bee careful that he tread not beside as upon the shadow of the bridge instead of the bridge Yea it is railed as it were with his truth beware of going without the rail lest you drop into the pit now those that we speak of go with out the rail and the promises and threatnings are against them so they do evidently trust in a lye saying They shall have Peace Mercy walking in the stubbornness of their own hearts Deut. 29.19 20. but the Lord saith hee will not bee merciful to such but besides the great delusion is that they do look for pardon of sin by meer mercy with the wrong or denial of the justice of God 3 There cannot possibly bee any remission of sin unlesse that God can pardon in Justice as well as Mercy There can bee no dispensation for this If God could have pardoned sin without the price of redemption then certainly Christ dyed altogether in vain For what did the father send forth Christ to bee the Propitiation for sin to shew his justice how can they beleeve that if Gods justice did not exact the price If the price might have been omitted without any prejudice to his justice could God bee eternally just if hee had not punished sin at all Prov. 17.15 To justify the wicked without satisfaction to justice is an abomination to the Lord and will the Lord do that which is abominable to him will any King put his own Son to death to save a traitours life when hee can freely pardon the traitour if hee will surely that were an unnatural and a cruel part and can wee think that God the Father will give up his onely begotten Son to death to save sinners when hee may out of meer grace and mercy pardon them without such a sacrifice certainly God would never do it Briefly the sinner must necessarily satisfy justice either by himself or by his surety or else it is utterly impossible that his sin should bee forgiven Heb. 10.26 27. Without a sacrifice for sin there remains nothing but a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation that shall devour the adversaries Doth any soul expect pardon without Christ then hee expects peace without any sacrifice for him but the Text saith that without this there remains nothing but a fearful expectation c. Briefly such a hope of pardon is interpretatively no better than Atheism and denial of God For it denies the justice of God it denies his purity and holinesse it denies his Soveraignty yea it denies Christ if the Lord bee God hee is just and holy and Judge of all the World and if hee bee just hee cannot pardon sin but in a way of justice and that sealed by Christs blood I pray consider that Psal 89.13 14. Thou hast a mighty arm strong is thy hand and high is thy right hand consider what a God you have to deal withall hee is a mighty strong God no creature is able to withstand him if hee bee displeased Object I but he is merciful too Answ 1. Psalm 89.14 Justice and judgement are the habitation of his Throne mercy and truth shall go before his face justice and judgement are the basis and supporter of his Throne take away justice and you pull down his royal Throne you make him no longer King or Judge mercy and truth are his harbingers 2 They are offered first and when refused Justice doth execution So a like place Psal 36.5 6. Thy mercy O Lord is in the Heavens and thy faithfulnesse reacheth unto the Clouds that is there is a vastnesse and immensity in both they are very great but whence is his Justice so great his righteousnesse is like the strong mountains c. as if hee had said the righteousnesse of God is as unsupportable and unmoveable as the strong mountains and his judgements they do not swim aloft but they are an infinite and unsearchable depth You cannot bear them nor remove Gods righteousness nor measure or fathom his judgements and thou that art a sinner hast these mountains ready to fall upon thee and art sinking into this great deep What is it that makes the Devils eternally miserable but that they have no Christ to satisfy the justice of God and if a sinner on earth live and dye without Christ he is as uncapable of salvation as those in the 2 of the Ephes 12. Object 2. The Justice of God is answered in Christ for mee Answ True indeed there is no other Name under heaven given amongst men whereby wee shall be saved and happy is that soul that can groundedly plead this and most miserable is he or shee that is deceived herein it is an errour in the foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundation can no man lay Beloved let us take heed of an errour in this which is very common 1 Joh. 3.6 7. Consider whether there bee not Gods Writ sent out against you frequently signed in an open Court as Micaiah said to Ahab 2 Chron. 18 2â— hath not the Lord pronounced against thee in the threatnings in his Word yea hath not the Arrest been served upon thee in the secret accusation of thy conscience when thou hast shifted it off as Felix did Pauls Sermon Act. 24.25 Consider how thy heart is affected with the doctrin of Gods justice and the judgements to come Is it not with thee as it was with that unhappy Felix doth not thy heart I say not onely tremble but swell against the truth of God doth it not secretly wish there were no Assizes yea art thou not still in the Jailours custody as a malefactor Beware of that which Elihu speaks Job 36.17 18. thou hast fulfilled the judgement of the wicked judgement and justice take hold on thee that is they are seizing upon thee Because there is wrath beware lest hee take thee away with his stroak then a great ransome cannot deliver thee will hee esteem thy riches no not gold nor all the forces of strength Gods Justice in a Sinners Justification THE FOUR AND TWENTIETH SERMON ON Rom. 3.25 26. That he might be just and the Justifier c. NOT onely the exact Truth of God Doct. 1 or the abundance of his Grace but also his strict justice do concur and act in the justification of a sinner in
as 2 Pet. 2.12 and chained fast to his lust by the bonds of iniquity Act. 8.23 his own iniquity shall take the wicked Prov. 5.22 3 Hee suffers innumerable miseries and intollerable Heb. 2.15 through fear of death c. When a man hath spent his wit youth strength state and worn out himself in the Devils drudgery when his body soul and Credit are all lost by the Devils service what reward for his true and trusty obedience Rom. 6. ult The wages of sin is death and Psal 11.6 7. Fire snares brimstone stormy tempests of Gods furious indignation this is the portion of his Cup. 1 Aggravation of this bondage of sinners O the misery of natural man far surpassing that of a Beast if a Dog bee chained hee howls if the Swine bee bound hee cries but sinful man laughs in the middest of his bondage hee counts it his liberty to live a slave to the Devil and thinks to gratify his fleshly lusts is liberty yea and promise others liberty in this course too whilest themselves are servants of corruption 2 Pet. 2.19 though they have no more liberty than the Oxe that is lead to the slaughter 2 They will not beleeve nor understand their bondage as when Christ offered liberty to the Jews Joh. 8.32 they said they were never in bondage to any Their thraldome entered not into their thoughts and they disliked that our Saviour should mind them of it As it fared with those men that Elisha lead to Samaria they were bands of the Syrians yet followed the Prophet being blind into the City of their enemies thinking they had gone to Damascus So it is with these while the Devil lead them to Hell where they must perish beyond all hope and take up a room amongst murthering Spirits they yet conceive they are walking towards Heaven and defie the Devil as having nothing to do with him who are at the very Pits mouth the very brink of Hell and by no means will bee stopped O beloved Let no man deceive himself imagining that if the Laws of men take not hold of him but hee goes where hee lists and doth what hee will then hee is the onely man that leadeth a free Life but rather know that every States Free-man is not Christs Free-man or redeemed one No no there bee many that fare daintily live in all Lieentiousness have their fill of Worldly Pleasures and run at randome like the Beasts in the Wildernesse that are more arrant Slaves than those that row in the Gallies of Turky Let them turn the inside outward and they will finde Legions of domineering Devils commanding over them If thou didst never feel this spiritual bondage 't is a certain sign thou art under it still Colos 1.13 Who hath delivered us c. See Luke 11.21 its aggravation 1 In that it is of the Soul Peter Epist 1. Chapter 3. speaks of Spirits in Prison a natural mans spirit is one of them and shuts up in Sin too which is the worst Prison 2 Here the means of escape are far more difficult another Slave may run away or his bolts bee removed or hee may buy his liberty but here is no possibility of it Rom. 7.24 3 Here bee more bad Masters they serve divers Lusts Tit. 3.3 So many Lusts so many Masters Jacob found it hard to please Laban one bad Master 4 Here men love their bondage so that if liberty bee offered they refuse it Joh. 8.36 Christ proclaimed liberty to the Jews but they refused it Yea Caution to children of godly Parents not to think they are born free by way of Caution know That the Children of godly Parents though they use to think themselves born free through their Parents Covenant are not free from this bondage It was the Jews great delusion Joh. 8.33 39. that they stood so much upon their parentage that they were Abrahams seed Christ tells them another story you are of your Father the Devil and so said the Baptist Matth. 3.9 Think not to say within your selves c. you are a Generation of Vipers To speak then a word in mercy to all Church-Children and to all the Children of Godly Parents 'T is true you have a great blessing and precious priviledges that are born of such Parents but know that this spiritual Freedome comes not by discent Joh. 1.13 Which are born not of the flesh c. Yea more godly parentage makes a Childes condemnation much worse whilest hee lies still in his natural estate Ezekiel 16.3 your Father was an Amorite c. They were in the sight of God but as the Nations devoted to destruction if they do evil though of the stock of Israel Manasses the Sonne of Godly Hezekiah did worse than the Amorites 2 King 21.11 So many Children of Godly Parents are worse than the Indian Salvages And it is to bee feared that when your Parents are gathered to their Fathers as it follows vers 12 13. The Lord will stretch over New-England the Line of Samaria and the Plummet of the house of Ahab and will wipe New-England as a man wipes a dish wiping and turning it upside down You have more to answer for than the Indians have you have publick priviledges and private instruction and examples Remember that the Lord will one day say to you if you continue in this estate as he did to the Jews Joh. 8.40 you do thus and thus so did not Abraham you are lofty and proud so was not your father you follow loose company so did not your Father you love the pot and revelling so did not your father you care not what mischief you do to others so did not your Father you live in unclean courses you talk cursedly c. as it is v. 39. if you were Abrahams children in Gods account you would do the works of Abraham that is you would be godly and humble and righteous and sober as your Parents were Therefore lay aside all such foolish conceits and look to the rock from whence you were hewen Isa 51.1 and tread in the steps of your godly Parents Redemption by Christ sufficient THE FOURTH SERMON ON Romans 3.24 25. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Doct. THat there is a singular and plenteous redemption wrought by Jesus Christ sufficient to make satisfaction to God for the vilest sinners Two uses have been handled Vse 3. Comfort to the redeemed Comfort to all those that have interest in Christ for to them belongs this plenteous redemption A mercy greater than ever was bestowed upon the Creature as appears 1 In that they are redeemed from the Justice and Wrath of God and the Curse of the Law that the blessing of Abraham may come upon them Gal. 3.13 14. that is all the blessings of the Covenant of grace And what can be more than this 2 In that they are redeemed from all iniquity Tit. 2.14 so that no sin can hurt them and though they complain of
was and confessed them as Saul and Pharaoh did and a while abstained from them as Simon Magus from his Sorcery and making restitution of their ill gotten goods In the mean time not seeking with diligence the Pearl of price but putting off all upon Christ and his grace hoping that they shall find mercy though they fly not to this satisfaction as the Man-slayer with fears terrours and restlesse speed from the Avenger of bloud to the City of refuge forgetting that God will make us know the worth of a Redeemer and of satisfaction by Christ before wee shall have it Psal 107.12 13. Hee brought down their strength with labour they fell down and there was none to help Then they cried unto the Lord c. Let all such carelesse wretches know That if justification be a state of Blessednesse Psal 32.1 2. then their state is a state of cursednesse And though they sleep in that estate their damnation slumbereth not but may come on them in a night and stop their breath while they lye sleeping Vse 2. Faln mans misery Let us hereby bee convinced of the misery of faln man whose state is not only dangerous but desperate without this satisfaction And yet alas how little is it considered by wretched Sinners our days are like those Matth. 24.39 We have many Noahs preachers of righteousnesse to warn us of the evil to come but no man takes warning Wee are singing and chanting to the sound of the Viol while God sounds an alarum by the trumpet of warre Wee are dancing in jollity while God is marching in Battalia We are drinking in the Wine and strong Drink while God is letting out our Blood Wee are devouring the Creatures while wee are devoured of the Creator Wee are joyning Sexes in Marriage while God is separating soul from body Swimming in pleasures till we are drowned in the floud and no man takes warning as if there were no danger in the matter wherefore to give you ataste of it 1 Consider that all have sinned Rom. 3.23 All without exception have been in an estate of sin and in want of that righteousnesse that should stand before God for acceptation And though education or a better nature should stop sin in some from bringing forth so early or breaking out so foulely as it doth in others yet there is no difference there lyes a hidden Spring-head in all both Jewes and Gentiles circumcised and uncircumcised binding them over to the Wrath of God And least you should therefore say you shall escape as well and your condition is as good as others 2 Consider we all are come short of the glory of God Rom. 3.23 come short of his grace by the losse of original righteousnesse and of his glory by the separation which our sins have made The fruition of God is the Goal of our race wee run to obtain our sins have cast us behind in this race as the Greek word there sounds Justification by Christs satisfaction is the only way now left to attain the end of our race which whosoever wants must never hope to enjoy God 3 Nothing in the Creature can justifie Good Works Duties Services Prayers Tears Groans are all too mean to make God to account him righteous no nor to give all his estate to the poor and his body to bee burnt for Religion for the Law required that God should bee served with all our might and all our power and ability but by the works of the law can no flesh bee justified Rom. 3.20 Moreover by the Law sin is known and manifested but what makes known sin cannot justify from it for 't is madnesse for a Traytor when hee is convicted of Treason by some Statute to expect an acquittance by that Statute that condemned his Crime to Death so 't is in man to expect Absolution by the Law which condemns his sin to death The Law therefore leaves man without all hope 4 The grace of God cannot justify any soul without Christs satisfaction Men may hope to bee saved by Gods Grace and Mercy but without Christs satisfaction their hope is meerly groundlesse Paul names Gods grace in the Text but addes through the Redemption which is in Christ Jesus not by grace without it The Devil would plead Gods grace to get out of his misery if that would do it as well as you Every carnal wretch would plead it 'T is a pretious Plea to flye to Gods grace yet none is welcome but hee that hath a High-Priest Heb. 4.15 16. Let us come boldly to the throne of Grace what may any poor soul come Surely no unlesse hee hath the Therefore to the Wherefore Unless hee hath a High Priest that was tempted in all points like unto us Else hee 'le finde the throne of Grace to bee a Judgement Seat and may call to the mountains to fall upon him Revel 6.16 to save him from the wrath of him that sits upon the Throne when hee comes to beg for grace Nothing but the redemption that is in Christ Jesus can procure the souls welcome No gift of man can appease God Prov. 6.34 35. The jealous God will not spare in the day of vengeance hee will not regard a ransome neither will hee rest contented though thou givest many gifts God-man in one person is alone the accepted price The Father would not take a farthing more than his justice did exact nor a farthing less than what was due As where ten pound is due the Creditor exacts not twenty and where twenty pounds are due hee will not accept often so the father required Christ for satisfaction being the exact return according to the fathers Justice For Job 34.23 God will not lay upon man more than is right And Paul clears him Rom. 3.5 6. what shall wee say then Is there unrighteousness with God God forbid Hee is no Extortioner to take more nor could take less than his due He doth not willingly afflict the children of men Lam. 3.34 35. much lesse doth hee exceed in the affliction of his own Son Now therefore if God required his Son as an infinite price for the satisfaction of his infinite wrongs to become a ransome for lost man surely man was faln into a most woful estate Beware therefore O sinful wretch that sleepest in thy security least God cause his consuming fire to fall on thee this moment as it did on Sodom O what a remediless what a helpless estate is thy soul fallen into Let thy tears run down like a river day and night give God no rest cease not to complain to him Let thine heart like Noahs Dove find no place to rest on till thou hast gotten Christs satisfaction to bee thy souls Ransome Use 3. Of Instruction and Exhortation to every man Instruction to take the right way to justification to take the right way for Justification The world hath been tampering about it ever since Adams fall and the Devil hath so much over-clouded it That the greatest
will justify but that and therefore to seek justification or quieting to a troubled soul by any other is but to spend our mony for that which is not bread Isa 55. or to go to buy bread with brass mony such as is not current coyn in Heaven Nay other knowledge is so far from bringing peace to a disquieted spirit that it brings with it tormenting and vexation of spirit Eccl. 1.18 Hee that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow other knowledge may and will puff up 1 Cor. 8.1 2. but this will humble humble us in our own apprehensions but really exalt us Prov. 4 8. Exalt her and shee will exalt thee Other Divine knowledge will build well but the knowledge of Christ laies the foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 this must needs have great substance and strength that bears up all the weight and bulk of the whole Christian edifice and let mee speak from my heart to all Students that hear this that unless your main care bee to get this knowledge you do but build Babels and Castles in the air And oh that many would make this their great study if they did there would not be so many new waies to heaven and false lights as there are 2 Pet. 3.18 19. Direct 2. Make this thy great heart design in comming to hear the word Preached for to get faith seeing it comes by hearing Resolve upon that end and think with thy self if thou commest with any by-ends the searcher of hearts will meet with thee if thou hast an Idol in thy heart thou shalt bee answered according unto it Ezek. 14.7 How many come with their Idols Some to get other knowledge and not of Christ Some to judge the Minister and to carp at the truths delivered Some to see and to bee seen and others out of meer formality and custome But alas where are they that stir up themselves to lay hold on Christ Isa 64.7 Direct 3. Remember to follow the example of the Bereans and in searching the Scriptures be much in studying the promises Act. 10.43 Act. 13 38 39. Think it not enough that you are Children of the Covenant as the Jews were Act. 3.25 but yee must become also the children of the promise for they only are accounted for the seed Rom. 9.8 Direct 4. Bee very watchful that carnal Objections and Cavils against Christ or his heavenly Mysteries or Doctrine arise not in your hearts without checking of them and strugling against them Thou mayest as easily empty the Ocean with a Cockle shell as measure the mystery of godliness with carnal Reason Do not cast off any truth of Christ because you can see no reason for it or cannot understand how this or that should bee Prov. 3.5 Trust in the Lord and lean not on thine own understanding Luther hath such a speech That mans corrupt reason is a terrible enemy to faith and this is the reason why many great Scholars are left of God And so our Saviour saith I thank thee O Father c. Matth. 11.25 Nicodemus will say How can these things bee Joh. 13.6 and the Philosophers will say of Paul when hee goeth to Preach these things what will this Babler say Oh! but remember God will confound the wisdome of this World thou shouldest rather say with Agur when thou hearest the Doctrin of Christ surely I am more brutish than any man when hee heard of Ithiel and Vcal I have neither Wisdome nor Knowledge of the most holy being an humble teachable heart to the word preached Pro. 8.4 5. and if any man among you seem to bee wise let him become a fool that hee may bee wise 1 Cor. 3.18 Prov. 9.4 5. Direct 5. Look at it as an extream vilenesse in thine heart and wily working of Satan when Christ is preached and the grace of God in Christ if thou canst go away from the word preached with an unbeleeving unmoved heart Observe for this two or three places Joh. 8.26.31 Christ had been preaching of the Father and of himself and his own death his mission and Commission and pleasing of the Father and vers 30. the text saith when hee spake those words many beleeved on him the Spirit takes special notice what words they were that wrought upon the hearers i.e. Christs unspeakable conjunction with the Father the Sufferings and Cross of Christ his holy Life and Death they stood out long but now they yielded So 2 Cor. 4 4-6 If our Gospel bee hid c. in whom the God of this World hath blinded the eies of them that beleeve not c. that is all the beauty of God the Father that shines in the face of Jesus Christ his Wisdome Justice Mercy Truth c. are hid from them Satan blinds them and their own naughty hearts and there is also a dreadful judgement of God in it Direct 6. Labour for Self-denial for wee must renounce all confidence in the flesh Priviledges Duties righteousnesse of our own Phil. 3.3.9.10 the righteousnesse of Faith excludes all this this is our betaking of our selves to the wings of Christ Matth. 23.37 i.e. wholly to bee under the covert of them as chickens under the wings of a Hen in a storm Use 4. It is a great comfort to you that beleeve in the Lord Jesus you are in the right way to the Father Joh. 14.6 you are in a most blessed estate Eph. 1.16 Jam. 2.5 the world looks at you as poorly provided for but you have abundance you are rich in faith and rich in Christ partakers of his unsearchable riches Eph. 3.8 1 Cor. 1.5 Vse 5. It serves to teach beleevers a main duty that most concerns them to practise i. e. to go on in a justified estate by faith in the Lord Jesus or imbracing the mercy of God in Christ and that because 1 They have the main principle in them to maintain a justified estate which others want viz. justifying faith Gal. 2.6 Though the well of living waters bee very deep beleevers have wherewithall to draw out of it They have a price in their hands to get wisdome Christ is neer Eph. 2.13 he is neer who iustifieth Isa 50.8 Isa 46.13 2 The benefit of justification should be maintained constantly in a Christians heart and that lively and as far as may bee without interruption and though our justification bee in it self unchangeable yet it is changeable in the diverse effects of it Our peace and comfort is often ebbing and flowing and subject to darknings as with David when hee saith I am cast out of the sight of God Psal 31.22 and cryed his bones were broken and that hee lay in the deep and therefore that wee may maintain our peace its worth our while to take pains in preventing our decaies and declinings It is easier to preserve peace and joy than to recover it out of an afflicted and dark condition as its easier to maintain health and strength than to fetch it at deaths door easier to keep the fire burning than to blow it up
for remission of sins as to declare the justice of God yea and though sin abounds yet Grace abounds much more 3 Remember also that this justice is satisfied in the death of Christ for sins of all sorts and degrees I might tell you of multitudes for Davids Murther and Adultery for Pauls persecution and blasphemy for the Corinthians Theft Covetousnesse Drunkenness Extortion reviling unnatural Lusts 1 Cor. 6.10 11. Thence it is said 2 Cor. 5.21 That Christ was made sin for us that is all manner of sin was imputed unto him yea and he was made a sacrifice for all manner of sin without exception on the behalf of all beleevers this may much incourage a poor sinner to fly to him 4 Faith in Christs blood so it bee of the right kind though never so weak is the means to bring home the satisfaction of Christ I have spoken of it before and also that wee ought especially to attend unto that faith of the right kinde seems to bee described by that phrase The justifier of him that is of the Faith of Jesus that may imply two things First That true faith is a separating and distinguishing grace as when the Jews are said to bee of the Circumcision Gal. 2.12 Col. 4.11 it is spoken to distinguish them from all others Alas That is a poor faith that makes no distinction between a beleever and an unbeleever a ruffian and a Saint 2 The phrase imports a powerful and efficacious faith that overswaies the whole man and the whole Course so that hee may bee said to be of the faith So Gal. 3.9 They which be of the faith are blessed with faithful Abraham that is as Abraham was of the faith I mean efficaciously for kind though not for degree see that ye be not mistaken in this Use 5. Exhortation to beleevers in three branches Beleevers should understand and claim their priviledge 1 Let it perswade them now to understand their good estate and boldly to claim their priviledge their good estate is such as is very pretious in these times I may tell them of that 1 Pet. 5.12 and testify as Peter did that this is the true grace of God wherein yee stand much is spoken in these daies of the grace of God but I fear many will find at the last that the grace they trust in will not bee found the true grace of God neither will they stand in it but the beleevers estate that builds upon his union with Christ and his communion with him in Gods justice satisfied is that which will stand and the beleever shall stand by it Now hereupon humbly and boldly claim a discharge from satisfied justice upon all occasions in infirmities relapses temptations desertions and sinkings of heart lay claim to the manifest demonstration of the justice and mercy of God in Christs death for both are here wrapped together and our ground is 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Little Children these things I write unto you that ye sin not if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father and a Propitiation c. every Child of God though but a little one and such an one as makes conscience not to sin may have daily recourse to this Propitiation where mercy and justice meet These bee the wings of God as it were that with David wee should make our refuge in the worst times Psal 57.1 2 Let us eternally celebrate the name of God in Christ They should praise the name of God in Christ his justice mercy holiness wisdom providence c. for his glory in all these things is the last end of all these dispensations towards his people this therefore should bee adored by us and by these things wee live wee may take up Davids Song of mercy and judgement in this sense also Psal 101.1 and adde that Psal 17.15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousnesse and salvation all the day for I know not the numbers thereof David was a good Arithmetician in counting Gods mercies judgements hath his new Songs still for renewed mercies but he is fain to confesse that his Arithmetick fails him hee cannot sum up the numbers thereof so wee may say we cannot number things God hath and should have all his glory in the Saints 2 Thess 1.10 3 Let this bee an ingagement to us 3 They should bee righteous as God to be righteous as our heavenly Father is righteous that is to follow the pattern of Gods righteousnesse Oh beloved if the Lord hath thus declared and glorified himself to us in a way of righteousness and if it cost him so dear to shew himself both just and merciful towards us what an inviolable bond is this to us to be righteous before him and to glorify Gods righteousnesse in a righteous conversation in righteous dealing and judging and walking continually yea let us declare and demonstrate this before God and men yea make it our end as the Lord makes it his Lastly Let us do it at This time Now when there is so much unrighteousness among Professors as it is said of Noah Gen. 6.9 That Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation that is the worst Generation that ever water wet so though the Generation wee live in be very bad yet let us labour to be just in it for they must be such that would bee sheltered in this Ark when the floods of error and sin and wrath do overflow all Finally let me conclude with that Hos 10.12 Sow to your selves in righteousnesse and reap in mercy break up your fallow ground for it is time to seek the Lord till hee come and rain down righteousnesse upon you the seed of righteousnesse sown by us shall bee watered with the showres of Gods righteousnesse from heaven and you may then conclude assuredly that yee shall have a plentious harvest and crop of everlasting mercy from the Lord. Finis Deo Gloria A Table of the chief things in this Treatise For the readier use of which thou art desired Gentle Reader first to correct the figures of the 20 21 29 66 69 178 272. pages In the exact enumeration of any other escapes of the Press we should little advantage the Work and seem too too mistrustful of thy ability to correct them and of thy charity to cover them they being not many nor of any great moment A. ACquittance of our sins to bee gotten from God pag. 46 49 Affection of God to his elect is eternal but the manifestation of it not before faith pag. 91 Afflictions of the godly are not properly called punishments pag. 61 Wherein they differ from the punishments of the wicked pag. 62 95 Comforts to be had under them pag. 65 Agony of Christ in the Garden and on the Cross described pag. 53 54 Anger of God its severity unknown to several sorts of sinners pag. 93 94 No appeal to bee made from Gods sentence pag. 9 The manner of application of redemption pag. 32 104 Attributes of God
and pliably and plead all this word and work of propitiation before the Lord continually Ezek. 16. ult 2 Cor. 5.19 Job 22.21 22. Isa 12.1 2. Exhor 2 To the members of Christ 2. Seeing Gods anger is pacified towards you see that yee walk answerable to so great a priviledge 1 Blesse God for this propitiation Luk. 1.64 what had our condition been without this Psal 44.3 2 Take heed of kindling it again by relapses into your former courses Psal 85.8 He will speak peace unto his people but let them not return again to folly It is the first use the Spirit makes of this grace of Christ 1 Joh. 2.1 These things I write that you sin not So 2 Cor. 7.1.5.11 But if you shall bee bold to sin know that though God doth love your persons yet hee will bee displeased with your actions as 2 Sam. 11. ult and take vengeance on your inventions 3 Learn to make use of this propitation of Christ continually as 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Not onely before conversion but after the same it s ever to bee used more necessary than fire and water meat and drink Quest When should wee more especially make use of Christs Propitiation Answ 1 In our daily relapses into sin which make new defilements and therefore wee must have fresh recourse to the fountain Heb. 13.8 thus the daily Sacrifice prefigured the daily use of Christs sacrifice for attonement That 22 Psalm setting forth his passion was daily sung each morning with the offering up of the Sacrifice as is judged from its title 2 In all our duties and services whereof the most holy have iniquity in them and therefore stand in need of Christ that they may finde acceptance as was typified Exod. 28.38 and their sacrifices were given into the hand of the Priest and offered by him so our spiritual services by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 3 In daies of humiliation and attonement as Levit. 16 29. Heb. 10.22 It is not fasting or weeping God looks to but a sacrifice c. 4 At each Sacrament there should bee a solemn remembrance of this propitiatory sacrifice Rom. 6.3 Wee are baptized into his death 1 Cor. 11.26 It s done in remembrance of Christ 5 In our ordinary Callings and the discharge of them Whatsoever ye do do it to the glory of God Col. 3.17 6 In afflictions desertions and temptations In desertions Christs blood brings us near in temptations hee gives us victory Col. 2.15 Dan. 9.17 Isa 53.5 6. 1 Sam 26.19 How shall wee make use of it Quest How shall wee make use of Christs Sacrifice in these times and cases Answ 1 Wee are to remember our daily back-slidings with humble acknowledgement and brokennesse of heart and to see the necessity of Christs propitiation Jer. 3.12 13. Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord I will not cause mine anger to pass upon thee nor keep it for ever onely acknowledge thine iniquity c. 2 Wee are to observe as wee are able the imperfections and defaults in our duties that wee may bee humbled thereat and see what great need wee have of Christs propitiation as Nehemiah chap. 13.22 when hee had done his best then hee praies Remember me O God concerning this and spare mee according to the greatness of thy Mercy 3 In regard of the remainder of corruptions that are too strong in us Wee are to look upon the Lord of glory crucified and meditate upon the Sacrifice of Christ Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ purge our Consciences c. 4 Wee are to apprehend and plead by faith and prayer the Promises of God as confirmed to us by the blood of Christ They are all made and performed by him They are branches of the Covenant of Grace and the blood of Christ is called the blood of the everlasting Covenant Heb. 13.20 As the Priest sprinkled the people the book c. Heb. 9.19 20 23. So now ought Christians set faith on work to sprinkle all Ordinances and the word it self and our selves and all our works 5 When as Gods anger doth lye heavy upon the soul by desertion or temptation c. then wee are to cast our burden upon Christ in the free Covenant of grace and peace Psal 55.22 Isa 54.8 9. This shall bee to me as the waters of Noah c. Christ set forth to be a Propitiation THE TWELFTH SERMON ON Rom. 3.24 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation WEE have seen before of the efficient cause of a sinners justification 1 God the Father 2 The inward impulsive that 's the free grace and favour of God 3 The meritorious cause 4 The instrument apprehending the object that is faith in Christs blood 5 The end in respect of us that is our remission of sins and eternal salvation In respect of God the manifestation of his Justice and Mercy Now the Meritorious Cause is amplyfied 1 By the degree and measure and manner of it it was by blood 2 By the efficacy of it it was a propitiation 3 By the ground or manner of it in the word set forth of which next is this Quere Quest What is the meaning of setting forth Christ to bee a Propitiation Answ Christ was formerly set forth for a Propitiation in times of the Old Testament But very darkly under Types and shadows and very restrainedly in that 't was onely to the Jews or the Proselytes that were joyned to them But now in the New Testament Christ is clearly and openly set forth in the Ministry of the Gospel and without all restraint both to Jews and Gentiles 1 Joh. 2.2 a propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world Heb. 9.7 The Mercy Seat was shut up in the times of the Old Testament though the benefit was extended to the whole Church of the Jews yet to them onely and such as joyned to them and besides none but the High Priest might go into it and that not commonly but onely once a year But now in the times of the New Testament Christ our Mercy Seat is set forth in the Promises and Preaching of the Gospel to all sorts of sinners that they have free recourse to him for themselves and that at any time This I conceive was intended by the Translators in this place and it is pious and precious The word here used doth often signify the purpose and decree of God from all eternity Rom. 8.28 And of mens purposes to do any thing Rom. 1.13 But it s especially applyed unto the mystery of Christ Gods eternal purpose in gathering of sinners unto him in one head Eph. 1.9 And this signification doth marvellously suit here to shew unto us how it comes to pass that Christ is the Propitiatory or placatory sacrifice for sin Even because God the Father purposed and fore-appointed this way of reconciliation from all eternity In regard of the composition of the word it may signify hee proposed before or held forth in former times viz.
In former times by the sacrifice of the Law the Mercy Seat and other types thus was Christ then set forth Act. 10.36 All these interpretations are usefull and precious which I comprehend therefore in this Doct. Christ was purposed and proposed our Propitiation That God the Father purposed from eternity and proposed in fulness of time his Son Jesus Christ to bee the propitiation for sinners 1 It s much insisted on in Scripture that the eternal decree and purpose of God is mentioned as the ground mark of our redemption 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God and the sanctification of the Spirit and obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Here wee have three works of the divine persons in the salvation of souls The Fathers election the Sons redemption and the Spirits application And these two latter are grounded in the former As also 1 Thess 5.9 1 Joh. 4.10 Act. 4.28 2 Christ was proposed formerly in the Old Testament I mean in the promises prophecies and types Act. 10.36 Luke 1.70 1 Pet. 1.10 11. The Prophets prophecyed of the grace of God in Christ and testified before hand of the sufferings of Christ c. Heb. 9.22 3 Most clearly in the Gospel-times 1 Pet. 1.20 The Lamb fore-ordained was manifested and offered in our times 2 Tim. 1.9 10. Gods purpose and grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began but is now made manifest by Christ c. when he came in flesh then was the fountain set open Zach. 13.1 Quest How was the decree of God the Father about the propitiation of Christ Answ There was from all eternity a gracious Covenant betwixt the persons of the Holy Trinity as it is expressed Isa 53.10 c. with Heb. 10.8 The Father saith If hee will make his soul an offering for sin c. And the Son saith Loe I cometo do thy will my God Quest Why did God the Father purpose from eternity Christ to be our propitiation Answ No reason can bee given but the good pleasure of the Lord Isa 53.10 It pleased the Lord to bruise him c. It s called the love of God and the free love of God 1 Joh. 4.10 that hee sent his Son to bee our propitiation Nothing without God whether faith or works or perseverance foreseen could move God to purpose any mans salvation For I may speak it with reverence God could not foresee any mans faith and good works except hee had decreed to give faith and obedience too himself Quest Why did God propose in the times of the Old Testament Christs propitiation Answ 1. It was necessary for the salvation of all the Elect before the comming of Christ there being no salvation to be had in any other but him Act. 4.12 and no salvation by Christ but by his sacrifice Heb. 9.22 but this is certain that God appointed their salvation and therefore appointed the means thereof that is the proposal of the Sacrifice and propitiation of Christ 1 Thess 5.19 2 It was necessary for after times for hence it is that Christ and his Apostles did Preach still out of the Old Testament Besides If they had one way of salvation and wee another then there would have been more waies to heaven than one and that would have endangered our salvation for wee should have been left in doubt and suspicion which way to take But the Scripture shews us that wee must bee saved as the fathers were Act. 15.11 Quest Why was Christs sacrifice proposed so openly since the comming of Christ Answ 1. In respect of the Elect both Jews and Gentiles that both might see their free admittance to him and acceptation in him Act. 2. cap. 3. 2 In respect of the reprobates that they might be left without excuse and Gods justice cleared in their destruction Eph. 2.13 Use 1. The hainousness of their sin who do neglect Christ This may serve to discover the hainousnesse of their sin that do either neglect or despise Christs Sacrifice or propitiation For 1 Consider that that revelation of Christ in the Old Testament though but dark and imperfect yet was sufficient and effectual unto the salvation of all the Elect then the Patriarks and Prophets c. John 1.29 Act. 10.43 Could the Ceremonies and the shadows save how much more Jesus Christ the body it self as hee is now revealed Could they see the Promises afar off and embrace them then And wee when they are near at hand put them away from us Had they but the predictions of Christs death and were saved by it and wee are not who have the full accomplished thereof God reserved for us these better things sad and very sinful is it if wee become never the better but the worse Act. 13.32 33. The Promise which God made unto the Fathers hee hath fulfilled unto us their children the neglect of these must needs be a more hainous sin for which the Patriarks and Prophets of old shall stand up in the judgement and condemn us 2 Because Christ is so generally and freely offered to all that will receive him Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will let him come and take of the waters of life freely What can men say but that their destruction is now of themselves wholly and that they are self-murtherers This will make the fire of Hell furnace seven times hotter than ordinary and worse than Sodomes Hell to think how ready and open the way to the Mercy Seat was and nothing hindered thee from it but thine own vile heart To see persons worse sinners than thy self saved in Heaven and thou thrust out Mat. 8.11 12. Many shall come from the East and West c. 3 It s aggravated by this that Jesus Christ was the onely propitiation determined of God for sinners from everlasting both his person and the manner of his redemption Psal 33.11 And hence unless wee could null the Counsel of God its impossible to finde any other propitiation No equivalent price for mans redemption besides this No Mercy Seat but meerly this By Gods decree the matter is eternally limitted that there is not any other way than by Christs death How shall wee escape if wee neglect so great Salvation Heb. 2.2 3. what recompence of vengeance can bee sufficient for this sin not onely if wee despise or scorn but if wee neglect or care not for this salvation Now hee that doth take care about this salvation will use all means rowl every stone take any pains about it will as Darius Dan. 6.14 18. Set his heart to the matter cared for it laboured about it passed the night without his accustomed meal his musick or his sleep and early and in haste arose and went unto Daniel whom he cared for thus 2 Cor. 7.11 Now if this bee the true care then those who have no fixed settled serious thoughts about their salvation That will not abate one jot of their sinful delights nor carnal contentments for it but