the mutualnesse of the Terms of it and that though as to our conceiving and up-taking of it there be something first and something last yet with God there is no such thing but it is one present Act. Thâ— promises made to the Mediator are in two exprâ—ssiâ—â—s with an inference in the Word Therâ—fore knitting this to what went before I will divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong In short the similitudes here used are taken from Conquerours and Victors who having been in a War and fight and having defeat and routted all their Enemies and put them off the Field have a notable Out-gate Victory and Triumph and a great Spoil as the Fâ—â—iâ— of the War And so the meaning is That the Mâ—diator by His undertaking to Sâ—tâ— fie for the Elect should have a great Fâ—ght and Combat with many Enemies but He should losse nothing by it He shou d have a notable Our gate an excellent Victory and glorious Triumph great glory and spoil So that as there was never War like Hâ—s nor Enemies like these that He had to encounter with so there should never be such Victory Triumph and Spoil as our Lord Jesus should have The word Portion is not in the Original buâ— well supplied It is only I will divide him many as the Word is often used and He shall divide the spoil with the strong That is He shall iâ— dividing the Spoil be above the strongest The Words infer and take in these Three 1. A great defeat of and Victory over all the Mediators Enemies the Devil Death and the Curse He gets a great victory over them and gives them a great defeat so that they are quite beat off the Field as dividing the spoil imports Psal 68.12 She that remained at home divided the spoil and Isa 9.3 As men rejoyce when they divide the spoil 2. The great number of Captives that our Lord in His Victory and Triumph takes and brings off that is He gets a great bootie which is that spoken of in the words before By his knowledge shall many be justified and it 's that which is exprest in that Psal 68.18 Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captivity captive that is these that were formerly captives thou hast redeemed from their capivity and led them captive that carried others captive as the people of God pray Psal 126.4 Turn again our captivity 3. It takes in the excellent Victory the great Triumph and Glory that the Mediator should have by this means He is exalted above every name that is named that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of thinge in heaven of things in earth and of things under the earth For further clearing of it we shall recommend to you Two or Three places in which it 's like there is an allusion to this as that Col. 2.14 15. Blotting out the hand writing of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us taking it out of the way and nailling it to his cross tearing as it were the Obligation that the Law had over the Elect by His paying of their Debt And having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it There is His Victory and Triumph He combats with subdues and trods under foot all His and His peoples Enemies by satisfying the Justice of God for the Elects Debt and spoils them of many Souls that were led captive by them and triumphed openly over them declaring Himself to have gotten the Victory in a most Majestick manner A 2d place is Phil. 2.8 9. Being found in fashâ—on as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto the death even to the death of the cross wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above eveâ—y name that at the name of Jâ—sus every knee should bow of things in heaven in earth and under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father This is His Victory Triumph and Glory such as none in Heaven or Earth ever had or shall have the like A 3d. Place is that Ephes 2.21 Hâ—â—alâ—ed him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places far above all principalities and powers and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but in that which is to come and hath put all things under his feet and given him to be head over all things to the church Whether they be Devils or good Angels or Men Sâ—ints militant or triumphant He is above them all all are made subject to Him and He is the head of His Church The expressions run in different Persons The first is in the First Person I will divide him a portion It 's a Promise of God the Father to the Mediator for His attaining the Victory as it 's said Ephes 1.20 God raised him from the dead The 2d Expression is in the 3d. Person He shall divide the spoil To shew that the Mediator God man concurred in the attaining the Victory Therefore Rom. 1.4 He is said to raise himself and in thâ—t it 's said I will divide and He shall divide It is to hold out the Mediator His attaining and possessing of what was promised and to shew that there is nothing promised to the Mediator but actually He is and shall be put in the full possession of it The last part of the Words holds out the conditions on the Mediators side in Four Expressions 1. Because he hath poured out his soul unto death That is because He willingly condescended to die He yetted or poured out His Soul to death 2. He was numbred with the transgressours He had a reproached and shameful Life and a reproached and cursed Death He was thought the worst of the World so that Barrabas a murtherer was preferred unto Him It also points out the respect that His Death had to a Satisfaction for the Sins of the Elect He was legally numbred and counted amongst transgressours though He was no Transgressour 3. He bare the sins of many which expones the former and sayes this much That noâ— only He simply died and died a shâ—meful Death but that He died for this end to bear and by His bearing to remove the Sins of the Elect for it relates to the many that in the former Words are said to be justified by his knowledge And it cannot be but these many shall be Justified because He did bear their Sins as to the Punishment and Curse due to them and whosoever Sins are born by Christ these are and shall be Justified and therefore He must be Victorious and have a glorious triumph and out-gate because He layes down His Life for His Sheep as it is John 10.17 Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life and take it up again And by the way it is a strange
Consideration is that the Saints often pray God that he would take his own way and use his own means to bring about these great ends mentioned wherein there is indeed at least a tacite insinuation that if he in his wisdom see it meet to make use of the rod and affliction in order thereto that they will not allow themselves to decline the same nor to mistake him in it But that rather they shall through grace be satisfied with and bless him for fulfilling their Petitions and granting them according to their own hearts desires though it be by such means Which is not praying for affliction but a resolved and declared Submission to infinite Wisdoms love-choise of his own midses to effectuat bring to pass the prayed for ends Tenthly If it be considered that it now neither grieveth nor troubleth any of all the glorified triumphing and Palm-bearing Company before the Throne of God and of the Lamb that they were exercised with so many and so great trials and tribulations while they were here below It troubleth not John the Baptist that he was imprisoned basely murthered and beheaded there in a hole without having access to give any publick testimony before his death And at the desire of a wanton dancing Damsel through the instigation of her Adulterous and Incestuous Mother Nor Stephen commonly called the Proto-Martyr that he was stoned to death as a Blasphemer for giving testimony to the most precious and comfortable truth of Christs being the Messiah Nor Paul that he was thrice beaten with Rods and received five times fourty stripes save one that he was in so many perils by Sea and Land in the City in the Countrey and in the Wilderness by the Heathen by his own Countrey-men and by false Brethren That he was stoned and suffered all these other things whereof he gives us an Historical Abridgment in his 2d Epistle to the Corinthians chap. 11. Nor doth it trouble any of all these Worthies of whom the world was not worthy that they were cruelly Mocked Imprisoned Scourged Tortured or Tympanized and Racked Stoned Tormented Sawen assunder Killed with the Sword Tempted driven to Dens and Caves of the Earth and put to wander up and down in Sheep Skins and Goat Skins Whose Martyrology the Apostle briefly compendeth Heb. 11. Nor doth it trouble any other of all the Martyres Saints and Servants of Jesus who have in the several Ages of the Church suffered so many and so great things while they were here in the World Nay all these their sufferings go to make up a considerable part of their Song of Praise in Heaven where the History of these Wars of and for the Lord will be very pleasant to them to read however sore and bloody they were on earth And not only so but these of them who have suffered most wonder much that they have suffered so little and that they are come to so excellently glorious a Kingdome thorow so little tribulation in the way to it Believe it there will be as much matter of thanksgiving and praise to God found treasured up under the plyes and foldings to say so of the most cross and afflicting providences that ever the People of God met with here in the World as under these that for the time were more smiling and satisfying Let us then valuing all things we meet with according to the Aspect they have on our spiritual and eternal state which is sure the justest and safest valuation of them heartily allow him to take his own will and way in afflicting us Eleventhly If it be considered that as this Submission to the will of God in cross and afflicting providences is Chronicled in the Sacred Records to the perpetual commendation of several of the Saints Namely of Aaron of whom it is said when God had slain his two Sons in a strange and stupendious manner even by Fire from Heaven for their presumptuous offering of strange fire before him that he held his peace Levit. 10.3 Of old Eli when he received a sad message concerning himself and his house by the hand of young Samuel who said It is the Lord 1 Sam 3 18 let him do what seemeth him good Of Job after by four several Messengers each of them coming immediatly on the back of the other so that he scarcely got leave to breath betwixt or the former to finish his lamentable narration the terribly allarming tidings were brought him concerning the plundering of his Oxen and Asses by the Sabeans and the killing of the Servants with the Sword Concerning the consuming of his Sheep and Servants by the Fire of God falling from Heaven upon them Concerning the carrying away of his Camels and the killing of his Servants by the Caldeans and concerning the smothering to death of all his Sons and Daughters while Feasting together by the falling of the House upon them Job 1.21 22. who said The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord In all this not sinning nor charging God foolishly Of David who in a croud of crosses saith to God Psal 39.9 2 Sam. 15.25 26. I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it And who when forced to flee from Jerusalem by his unnatural and rebellious Son Absolom and sending back the Ark thither with admirable composure and sweet stooping of Soul said If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord he will bring me again and shew me both it and his habitation but if he say thus I have no delight in thee behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good to him Of Hezekiah when that heavy Message was brought to him by the Prophet Isaiah concerning the Babylonish Captivity wherein his Royal Posterity were to have their deep share 2 King 20.19 who said Good is the Word of the Lord which thou hast spoken who said moreover Is it not good if peace and truth be in my dayes If the threatned doom and sentence shall be for a while suspended and not presently execute And of these Christians who after they had with much weeping earnestly intreated the Apostle Paul deservedly very dear to them not to go up to Jerusalem where the Prophet Agabus had foretold he should be apprehended and put in Bonds and perceived that he was inflexibly resolved at any rate of hazard to go thither Act. 21 14 ceased and submissively said The will of the Lord be done As I say it is thus Chronicled to their commendation so it is a piece of most beautiful and amiable conformity to the practice of our blessed Lord Jesus of whom we ought to be followers as dear children in all these things wherein he is proposed as a pattern for our imitation Ephes 5.1 who in a great and grievous agony of trouble and when most terribly assaulted by a strong combination of cross and afflicting providences and after condition at deprecating of that bitterest Cup and
him And these are distinguished from these not given John 17.6 11. And are called his sheep Joh. 10.15 and 17. Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life to wit for my sheep And all the strain of this Chapter being to shew Gods way of contriving and prosecuting the work of Redemption and Christs executing thereof according to the Covenant of Redemption All this spoken of Christs suffering must be expounded according to that ingagement 2. Whereas it is said v. 8. For the transgressions of my people was he stricken It is certain this our and us and we for whom Christ was stricken must be restricted to Gods people That is his peculiar people who are his by electing love as Christ saith Joh. 17.6 Thine they were and thou gavest them to me They are not his as all the World are his but are contradistinguished from the world as his own peculiar purposed designed people Sure all the World are not God's People in this sense therefore they are called his sheep and contradistinguished from these who are not his sheep Joh. 10.17 And therefore we are to look on these words our us and we as of equivalent extent with the peculiar people of God He carried the punishment of the sins of all Gods people that are his peculiar election 3. So v. 10. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed Hence we gather this that these whose iniquities Châ—ist bare are Christs Seed and for these he purposely laid down his life as these whom he expected should be saved for satisfying of him for the travel of his soul and for no moe and these cannot certainly be all the World there being such contradistinction betwixt Christ Mystical or his Seed comprehending the Elect And the Seed of the Serpent comprehending the Reprobat and Wicked who are said to be of their father the Devil These are Christs Seed who are spiritually begotten of him and these doubtless are not all the World and for these only he suffered So that our sins here are the sins of all the Seed 4. Look to v. 11. where it is said By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities Where it is clear whose sins they are that Christ bears it 's theirs who are justified by his knowledge or by faith in his blood and justification by faith in his blood and redemption by his blood are commensutable and of equal extent Now it being certain as to the event that not all the World nor all in the visible Church are justified by the Faith of Christ it must also be certain that the sins of others who are not nor shall not be justified were never purposly born by Christ And this ground as all the rest will be the more clear if we consider that it is given as an Argument why they must be justified because he hath born their iniquities A 5. ground may be gathered from the last words of the Chapter He made intercession for the transgressours Whence we may reason that Christ's intercession and his satisfaction are of equal extent he satisfies for no moe then he interceeds for Now it was not for all the World nor indefinitely and by guess for all in the visible Church that Christ did interceed but for them that the Father had given him out of the world John 17. v. 9. and v. 6. Thine they were and thou gavest them me And v. 10. All mine are thine and thine are mine Christs death being the ground of his intercession and it being by vertue of his death that he interceeded his death and intercession must be of the same extent He interceeds for such and such sinners because he hath payed a price for them that there may be a good account made of them at the last day The 1. Use of it serves to clear a great and precious truth concerning Gods Covenant and discriminating love whereby he hath put difference betwixt some and others 2. It serves to stir them up who are thus differenced to admire at and to commend his love who hath been graciously mindful of them when others are past by 3. It serves also to clear other Scriptures and this same Chapter and to teach us not to make common to all the priviledges bestowed on some peculiar ones and to guard us against the vilifying and prophaning of our Lords sufferings as if he had no special and peculiar design in them or as if they might be frustrated in the design of them contrary to the promises made to him of the Father And therefore here to obviat an Objection which is made from the 6 vers All we like sheep have gone astray Whence some would infer that it 's all who like sheep have strayed whose iniquities Christ hath born We say that that all is not meant to comprehend them whose iniquities Christ hath born only but to hold out the extent of straying or the meaning is not to shew that his suffering and satisfying of Justice extended to all that strayed but to shew that the Elect for whom he suffered had all of them strayed as well as others And this is like the reasoning which the Apostle hath 2 Cor. 5.14 If one died for all then were all dead The meaning whereof is not that Christ died for all that were dead but this is the meaning that all for whom Christ died were once dead so here while it 's said All we like sheep have gone astray It is to shew that the Elect strayed and esteemed him not as well as others and had Goâ—s curse lying on them as their due all Christ interposed and took it off them as well as others The Point might have also Use for Confirmation but we do not follow these 2. Surely he hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows that is our griefs and sorrows who are his Elect his People his Seed who flee to him for refuge and are justified by his knowledge or by Faith in him and for whom he maketh intercession Hâ—nce Observe that Believers would endeavour the strengthening of themselves in the Faith of this that Jâ—sus Christ hath born their griefs and sorrows and hath satisfied Justice for tâ—en in particular they would study to be in case on good ground with the Prophet to say Surely he hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows To make it sure that they are in the Roll of Elect Believers and Justified Persons To say with the Apostle Paul Gal. 3.13 He was made a curse for us And with the same Apostle 2 Cor. 5. ult to say He was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him And to say with the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 2.24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree they speak alwayes by way of application So in these places whereby we confirmed the Doctrine that Christ really bare that punishment of
free so the Offer is very broad and comprehensive as we see Isaiah 55.1 Ho every one that thirsts come to the waters and Revel 22. Whosoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely And we find these expressions all that believe and whosoever believes to be frequently used in the Scriptures which takes in all that will yeeld themselves to Him on the terms of the Covenant to close the bargain with Him 4. Consider God's end in the Justification of Sinners which is to make His Grace to shine and to triumph and to make it's victory over mans Sin Conspicuous and Glorious by being beyond it not in respect of the number of Persons but in this respect that as Adams one Sin brought Death on many so the Death of Christ hath brough Justification to many as it is Rom. 5. The judgement was by one to condemnation but the free gift is of many offences unto justification Whereas Adams one Offence brought Death on many here the relieving of one Sinner is the procuring of freedom to many because in that respect Christ is a Satisfaction for many Offences But it may be Objected here is it not said that the way to Heaven is strait and few their be that enter in thereat They are thin sown to say so that are Heirs of this Inherâ—tance I answer by a distinction Though they be comparatively few yet considered in themselves absolutely they are mâ—ny or they are simply many though comparatively but few Consider and Compare them with the multitude of reprobats that are even in the visible Church they are few yet if ye will consider them in themselves they are many and it 's most true that is spoken Revel 7.9 I saw a number which no man could number if we look since the beginning of the World how some are taken in this Age and some in that some of this Nation and some of another they will be found to be but few when all of all Nations are put together yet in themselves they are many There are these three Uses of it which may be Reasons why it is put in here The 1. is to let us see the largeness of the extent of the worth of Christ and of the allowance of Grace in reference to the Justification of Sinners through Him which should make us stand pause and wonder It had been much if Grace had saved but one more if it had saved a thousand or twenty thousand But O! what ground of admiration is it when many are saved by it This is the native end why it is put in here even to shew that it is not for nought that Christ died It shall be a blessing to many I marke it because though the presumptuous thoughts of many lead them to extend the Merits of Christ to all in the visible Church yet it may be that in others there are too narrow and limiting thoughts of the extent of His Merits and of the allowance of Grace as to the number of the Elect that shall be saved It being certain that as we are in hazard and ready to abuse any thing so this if it be said that they are many that are Justified we are ready to exclude none and if it be said that they are few we are ready to make Grace as it were an a nigard and Churle and to contract and narrow too much the application of it The 2d Use of it Which is a Second Reason why this Word many is put in here may serve for encouragement to Sinners and to hearten them to assay to get this benefit of Justification made their own many trow and in some respect it is a truth that it 's a singular and odd thing to come by Justification and hence they conclude that they will never get it and indeed if the thought of it's Singularity and Rareness made them careful to win at the thing it were an profitable use of it but when it makes them heartlesse to attain the thing it 's a wrong and prejudicial use of it But Sinners there is here ground of Encouragement Provocation and up-stirring to you to seek after Justification through Jesus Christ because there are many that are the Objects of it The Righteousnesse of Christ is a Righteousness that will save many It 's an Article of the Covenant of Redemption that Christ shall get many the Promise will give Title and Right to many He will not be content if He get not many now putting these together it cannot but be very great encouragement to seek and a strong ground to expect Justification on this account because 1. That which a believing Sinner gets is Justification Pardon of Sin both Original and Actual and it 's compleat actual Justification not only the procuring the Offer of it but the Application of it Justification from all things from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses and Justification never to be reversed 2. This Justification is designed for and allowed to many the stepping in of some before others doth not wrong them and there needs not be disputs about Election for the Text sayes that the allowance of Grace is to many 3. It is Christ's Satisfaction that He get many to be Justified and the moe that step to to lay hold on this benefit He hath as it were the more Satisfaction And if the Sinner should say I know not if I be included in that number the terms of the Covenant run to all that believe if there be a fleeing to Christ by Faith for refuge there needs not be anxious disputing whether the Sinner will come speed but there should be a steping forward many have gotten good and many will get good and there is room sufficient for as many as will yeeld themselves up to Christ and rest upon His Righteousnesse It 's a large mantle that covers thousands and the Lord will have thousands to be hidden under it and Justifyed by it 3dly It serves to be a most terrible ground of inexcusableness to these to whom Christ's Righteousnesse is spoken of and offered in the Gospel who yet neglect to make use of it that He was content to lay down His Life and that as a ransome for many none needs to say I knew not if I will be welcome He said it was for many and though He said not it was for all yet it 's for all that will believe in Him And therefore it is not nor shall not because He hath confined the benefit to few that ye are or shall be excluded but because though He extended the benefit to many yet ye excluded your selves and none of you who hear this Gospel shall have it to say I betook my self to Christ by Faith but He refused to admit of me and He would have no moe then He had there are many who please themselves with such a Word as this when they hear that many will be saved But it will be the dearest bought
out his Soul unto death So Psal 89.34 35. Once I sware by my holiness that I will not lie unto David my covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips And indeed it cannot but be so If we consider either the Person that makes the Promise He is God unchangeable in Himself absolutely faithful and cannot deny Himself Once have I sworn and I will not lie unto David Or the party to whom the Promise is made He is the Mediator God-man in whom the Father is well pleased And the Mediator having performed what He undertook for the Elect There is no ground to question the performance of the promises made to Him Use And it is a very comfortable one look whatever is promised to the Mediator in reference to Particular Privat or Publick Mercies all shall be most certainly and infrustrably performed Christ is the Party to whom the Promises are made and Jehovah cannot fail to perform what is Promised to the Mediator more then the Mediator hath failed in performing what He undertook Now it 's promised to the Mediator Psal 110.3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power in the beauties of holinesse from the womb of the morning tbou hast the dew of thy youth Where there are these things promised to Christ 1 That His People shall be made willing in the day of His power which is exponed in that John 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father who hath sent me draw him God takes away the stubbornesse and frowardness that is in the Elect and makes them plyable to embrace and receive and give up themselves to Christ 2. That His People shall be numerous the youth of His womb shall be numerous as the dew in the morning 3. They shall be holy and shining in holiness In the beauty of holiness Again it 's promised to the Mediator that all Believers in Him shall be Justified as it 's verse 11. By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many and this is according to that John 6.39 40. This is the will of him that sent me that of all that he hath given me I should losse none and this is the will of him that sent me that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life The poor Sinner that by Faith betakes himself to Gods Promise the Promise cannot fail him because the Mediator is considered as the party to whom the Promise is made and the absolute Salvation and Redemption of Believers is in the same place Promised Though they be in hazard through many Sins indwelling Lusts Tentations and Snares to be drawn away yet they shall have eternal life they shall never perish none shall pluck his sheep out of his band He shall see his seed of all that are given him he shall loss none This would commend believing to us as a sure and sicker bargain because the ground of our Faith is Articled betwixt God and the Mediator and it 's as Impossible that it can fail as it 's impossible that God can be unfaithful and that the Mediator can fail in that He is ingaged Again if ye look to promises of publick mercies as that He shall have a Church in the World and that she shall be continued and preserved c. These Promises shall certainly be performed as that Psal 2.6 I have set my king upon my holy hill of zion ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thy inheâ—itance and the uttermost ends of the eaâ—th for thy pâ—ssession A fruit of which promise is our Preaching and your Hearing the Gospel here this day and the Promises Psal 89. from verse 20. and forward With him my hand shall be established and my arme shall strengthen him the enemy shall not exact upon him nor the son of wickedness afflict him I will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers I will make him my first-born higher then all the kings of the earth my mercy will I keep for him his seed shall endure for ever if his children forsake my law then I will visit their transgression with the rod nevertheless my loving kindness I will not utterly take from them nor suffer my faithfulnesse to fail There is Hos 3. A promise of the ingathering of the Jews And Isa 9.6 It 's said that The government shall be upon his shoulders and of the increase of his government there shall be no end And Revel 11.15 It is proclaimed The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ All these and many the like Promises shall be accomplished though the World should be turned upside down every moneth once let be every year The ground of the Churches continuance and preservation is not because such and such persons govern otherwayes what would have become of the Church when Antichrist prevailled but the promises made to the Mediator Here lyeth the Christians peace when he hath to do with challenges it 's impossible that the Believer in Christ can perish And here is insured the Churches preservation even by Gods promise to the Mediator that He shall have a Seed and that many shall be Justified that He shall divide the Spoil And though we see but very little appearance of the spreading of the Gospel amongst the Jews and Pagans or where Antichrist reigns the visible Church being now for many years rather incroached upon then extended yet there is not one Word here promised but it shall be accomplished And this is both a ground of our peace and of our confidence in prayer as it is Psal 7.2 Prayer also shall be made for him continually and dayly shall he be praised Two sweet exercises dayly to be praying for that which is in the pattern of prayer Let thy kingdom come and dayly to be praising Him for the coming of His Kingdom But 2ly What is spoken of Christ the Mediators part we take it for granted that there is nothing spoken of but it is or shall be performed The Father ingages to perform to Him whatever Promises are made to Him because He hath performed whatever He undertook and although Isaiah long ere the Messiah came in the Flesh spake of it as a thing done in the preterit or by-past time when as yet it was not actually done yet He doth so because it was as certain as if it had been already done Observe hence That there is no part of Christs undertaking as Mediator in the Covenant of Redemption but it is and shall be actually performed O! but there are two responsal and faithful Par ies in this Covenant it is not God and Adam who brake the Covenant and played the Traitor but it 's God upon the one side and the Mediator Immanuel God with us on the other side Therefore there is faithfulnesse in
nature of Christs Intercession and how we may make use of it And how particularly we should beware of a carnal mistake in many about his Intercession as if he were praying in heaven as a distinct partie from God It 's true he is a distinct Person of the glorious Trinity but not a distinct Partie in interceeding as some ignorantly conceive of him and therefore think him easier to have access to then the Father and therefore will pray him to pray the Father for them as if when they prayed to him they were not praying to the Father or as if there were not on object of Worship This flows from ignorance of the nature of Christs Intercession and â—s unbecoming a Christian for supposing â— man to rest by Faith on Christ the Father is content and well pleased to pardon him as well as the Son is because he is ingaged in the Covenant of Redemption so to do and if he be not a Believer neither the Father nor the Son will respect him our use making of Christs Intercession doth consist rather in the founding of our hope of speeding with God on it as on his Satisfaction then inputing up words of prayer to him to interceed for us as if he were to pray in heaven as â—e did on earth or as one man interceeds for another The point is sublimly spiritual and some way tickle and I indeed fear to enter on moe Uses at least for the time only remember that he is an Intercessour And learn to make right use of him as an Intercessour And the Lord himself make the benefit of his Intercession forthcoming to us SERMON LXVI ISAIAH LIII XII Verse 12. And he made intercession for the transgressours IF Christ were known in the greatness and vast extent of his worth O! how lovely would he be How incomprehensibly full are his Offices of grounds of consolation to his people But the mean and low thoughts we have of him and the poor consolation we feed on do evidence much ignorance of him and much unbelief of the solid worth and fulnesse that is in him and in his Priestly Office in particular and yet O! how full of consolation is it Such a high Priest became us Heb. 7.26 Even such a High Priest â—s Sinners had need of There hath been much spoken of one part of his Priest-hood to wit his Sacrifice and offering up of himself in the former verses of this Chapter Now ere the Prophet close he gives a hint of the other part of his Priestly Office to wit of his Intercession a main commendation of Christs fulnesse It 's that which evidenceth him to be a Saviour able to save to the uttermost such as come â—nto God through him because he lives for ever to make intercession for them as it is Heb. 5.25 And it 's a piece of the consolation of Gods People that Jesus Christ hath this Office by the Fathers allowance and that it is Articled in the Covenant of Redemption betwixt the Father and him That as he shall pour out his soul unto death be numbred with transgressours bear the sins of many So he shall make intercession for the transgressours Therefore Heb. 7.21 He is said to be made an high Priest with an oath by him that said unto him Psal 110.4 The Lord sware and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melhisedeck He was a Priest on earth by offering himself in a Sacrifice and by interceeding for Elect Sinners and he is a Priest in heaven by his Intercession and therefore is preferred to all the Priests on earth Who did not continue by reason of death but he continues for ever and none can start him wrong to speak so with reverence of him We shew in our entring on this verse that this his intercession is not to be a stricted to his prayer on the Cross that was but an evidence or particular instance of it but it takâ—s in his whole Intercession Because the Scope of the Prophet here is to hold out as what God promised to him on the one hand in the Covenant of Redemption so on the other what he interceeds for and so his Intercession looked on in the Covenant of Redemption takes in his whole Intercession especially as it is gone about in heaven by vertue of his Sacrifice once for all offered up when he was on earth We Observed the last day That according to the Covenant of Redemption our Lord Jesus Christ behoved not only to die but to be an Intercessour or that it belongs to our Lords Priestly Office agreed upon in the Covenant of Redemption not only to offer up himself in a Sacrifice and to die but to make intercession for his people He made intercession for the transgressours or as all the rest may be read in the future time so this He shall make intercession for the transgressours but for the certainty of the thing it 's set down in the preterit or by-past time The Father did take his word and so it past as done in the Court of Heaven We cleared this point and proposed Four Uses of it The First whereof was to inform uâ— anent Christs fulnesse to discover his insearchable riches and to let us see what an excellent high Priest we have that continues an Intercessour Not only hath he once for all offered up his Sacrifice as the high Priest under the Law did once a year but hath entered within the vail to interceed and thereby to make the benefits of his purchase effectual and forthcoming to them for whom his Sacrifiâ—e was offered Even as Levit. 16. where the rules for the high Priests offering are given after he had offered the Sacrifice he took the blood and entered within the vail and by the Sacrifice and his going in to pray he made atonement for the People typically answerable to this our Lord Jesus by his once offering hath perfected for ever these who are sanctified and by his going within the vail he executes this part of his Priestly Office in interceeding for transgressors In prosecuting this Use we answered some Questions which now we shall not insist to repeat Only there is a short Question or two that further may be asked which wil clear the former ere we go to the next Use And the 1. is if our Lord before he came in the flesh discharged this part of his priestly Office The reason of the question or doubt is because in the new Testament his intercession is alwayes at least very ordinary subjoyned to his Ascension The 2d is How his Intercession now difers from his Intercession before his Incarnation or in what respects the consolation of Believers that flows from his intercession is stronger now then the consolation of Believerâ— flowing there from was before he was Incarnat As for the First It cannot be denyed but Christ was Intercessour since he had a Church in the World for it 's a part of his priestly Office and
hast given me be where I am to behold my glory That longing and effâ—ctual desire â—nd will of his presented by him in heaven is continuing still effectuall for all the Saints in the Câ—urch militant There is ground of quieâ—nesse anâ— comfort from his Intercession â—nd by verâ—ue of it to have hope that not only presenâ— but coming snares and tentations shall not prevaiâ— Therefore the Apostle Rom. 8.38 â—o his speaking of Christs Intercession â—ubjoâ—nes his highest triumph I am perswaded that neither death nor life principalities nor p wers things present nor things tâ— come and because it 's impossible to numâ—â—r all things hâ— sayes nor any other creature shal be able to separat us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Now if all â—hese be put together beside many moe that may be gatherâ—d from Scripture what wants a Beâ—iever for his own privat and particular consolation which this one word That Christ is an intercessour doth not answer But 2. There is not only consolation for a Believers particular condition from this ground but also in reference to the publick case of Gods Church Thâ—re are Four things especially that seem very heâ—â— to the Church and publick work â—f God in reference to all which we will find consolation from this ground The 1. is the fear of a scarcity or weakness of the puâ—â—ick Ministry that being the great gift wâ—ich he hath given for the edifying of hiâ— body and it being a prejudice to the Church when she hath not Pastors accordâ—ng to Gods own heart But compare Psal 68 18. with Ephes 4.8 12 13 14. and we will find that his Intercession answers that fear In the Psalm it 's said Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captivity captive thou hast received gifts for men wâ—ich suppoâ—es his seeking of or making suite for them or as the word is thou hast received gifts in the man that is being in our nature he procured them And Ephes 4. It 's said he gave gifts to men and compare these Two places with a Third to wit Acts 1.4 Where he bids his Apostles tarry at Jerusalem till he send the promised spirit and immediatly after his ascension as it is Acts 2. He poured it out which abode on them in the likness of cloven tongues of fire It 's likewise said John 11.39 That the spirit was not given for Jesus was not yet glorified All which shew an influence that Christ's ascension hath on the pouring out of the Spirit and on the gifts given to men whether Ministers or others There is nothing amongst men readily lesse cared for then a Ministry some would have none at all others would have them of such a stamp as would please and humour them But our Lord haâ—h received gifts to give unto men And he that poured out such gifts on the Apostles and others haâ—h what gifts he pleaseth and sees needful for his Churches edification yet to give And that he gives such gifts to men that his people are not praying much for whence is it but from his Intercession Therefore Revel 1. we will find that he delights in this propertie as a piece of his spiritual state and grand our That he holds the stars in his right hand such is his respect to them and his it is to dispose of them 2. It 's a greatly exercising difficultie to the Church of God to think of the mighty opposition that is made by enemies Mahomet Heathens Antichrist false Brethren threatning to swallow up the little flock the Church of Christ which is like a bush burning with fire and not consumed But for this there is a consolation in Christs intercession according to that word Heb. 10.13 He sat down on the right hand of God from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool He hath this for his suite at the Fathers Bar and is backing it upon this it followed and as a fruit of it that all the first persecutions were broken On this it hath come to pass that Antichrists kingdom is tottering and it 's on this ground that his bearing down and utter breaking wi l be accomplished Hence it 's most emphatically said 1 Cor. 15.24 That He must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet According to the promise made by Jehovah to him Psal 110. 1. The Lord said to my Lord sit on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool He cannot be an Intercessour but his enemies must down For who I pray wiâ—l be able to stand when he gives in his complaint against them who will plead Antichrists and other persecutors cause when he appears against them â—nd he is so certain of his enemies being mâ—de his footstool that he is waiting till he see it done he must reign till then maugre all the malice and might of Devils and Men. 3. It 's a difficultie to the Church and people of God to think on such great confusions as are in the world there are but few Judicatories that are for Châ—ist but few Governours higher or lower that do consult his honour or regard him It 's others that have the Throne and Court and the guiding of things thâ—â— friends and fâ—vourers of his interest for most part But here the consolation lyes that there is a Court in Heaven that gives out orders where the Church hath an Agent constantly lying where the Devil and the World hath none Jesus Christ is the Churches Agent and Intercessour there Daniel Chap. 10.13 Hath a word to this purpose The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty dayes but Michael the chief prince came to help me And v. 21. There is none in all the court of Persia that holdeth with me in these things but Michael your Prince The great Intercessour was at Court looking that nothing went wrong seeing that no decree were past to the prejudice of the people of God and his work in the time when they were building the Temple He Zech. 6.13 is said to build the temple of the Lord to bear the glory and to be a Priest sitting and ruling on his throne having the government committed to him what hazard then is there here when heaven guids all when the Church hath an Agent at the Court to see as I said that nothing go wrong when Michael the Prince is there and sees all the Acts and Decrees of the Court and readeth them yea draweth them and looks well that there be nothing in them hurtful to his Church And O! may we not and should we not thank God for this 4. A Fourth thing that troubles the Church of God is the abounding of offences in her self and the spreading of errour which like a flood threateneth to drown the Church and great stormy winds come that are like to blow down the house of God offences and stumblings abound and errour which I just now said as a flood is like to drown all when the
but carry and be succesful for as He is Man so He is God and He is heard alwayes Thiâ— blessed Mediator as I said just now refuseth the suit of none and no suit is refused Him And now what can we say more to you for your up-stirring and incouragement to make use of Him It is no stranger we have to go to and there is good ground of confidence that when we go we shall come speed Therefore let Him ever be gone unto more and more and blesse God heartily that He hath given such an high Priest unto Sinners Who is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God through him Now to this God who can effectually teach us to make use of the Mediator every way and particulary in His Intercession suitably and succesfully And who is able to do exceeding abotnaantly above all we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end Amen FINIS ERRATA Courteous Reader A Great many Errata hath crept into the Impression of this choice Book mostly through the absence of the Publisher from the Press and partly otherwise not to load the Printer with them all whereof there are not a few literal ones as fair for far may for many did for died antecedamus for antecedanious abuse for a bussle punished for pinched valid for vailed rather for either close for classe except for accept binder for burden gnash for quash greatness for greatest rouring for rouzing stop for step seriously for furiously serious fer furious simply for singly arm for army error for erre or commit for compt particulary for peculiarly and practically being for be in warn for warm proceeding for producing case for cause warrantably for warrantable distinctions for distinctness and many others such which thou wilt easily perceive as they occur and I hope pardon several grains also must be allowed for mispointings for some very few misplacings of Parenthesees and mistakes of numbering Figures of Chapters and Verses Please to correct these following with thy Pen. PAge 6. Columne 2. Line 40. read believes p. â—4 c. 1. l. 14. dele ye p. 55. c. 1. l. 55. d. or p. 65. c. 2. l. 1. r. it would l. 4. r. and culpable p. 75. c. 2. l. 14. d. out p. 77. c. 1. l. 45. r. will be p. 80. c. 1. l. 20. read not only p. 117. c. 2. l. 40. r. loaves p. 118. c. 2. l. 28. r. is for was p. 126. c. 2. l. 48. read wakeneth up p. 131. c. 2. l 49. d not p 134. c. 1. l. 11. d. of p. 140. c. 1. l. 17. d. he p. 145. c. 1. l. 25. d. that c. 2. l. 3. r. 4. for 3. p. 147. c. 2. l last d. and. p. 164. c. r. l. 24. r. to for would p. 165. c. 1. l. 45. r. on the sinner p. 169. c. 2. l 40. r. and of p. 173. c. 2. l. 3. r. report for respect p. 175. c. 2. l. 23. d. that l. 42. r. hate God p. 180 c. 2. l. 32. r. for the debt l. 41. r. 2ly p. 184. c. l. 6 r. 2. for so p. 185. c. 2. l. 50. r. 2. that p. 190. c. 2. l. 31. d. the p. 191. c. 1. l 40. r. sentence only p. 194. c. 2. l. 24 r. his interposing l. 32 r. a matter p. 195. c. r â— l. 30. d. who p. 300. c. 2. l. 31. r. more then in p. 301. c. 1. l. 17. d. not p. 302. c. 1. l. 7. r as he became l. 15. r not only not p. 304. c. 2. l. 13. r. when thou shalt make his soul p. 309. c. 2. l. 45. r. bringing p. 312. c. 1. l. 44. d. in p. 317. c. 1. l. 13. r. he be p. 342. c. 1. l. last and c. 2. l. 1. r. you for them l. 36. taste of death p. 349. c. 1. l. 10. r strick in with p. 350. c. 1. r. in your hearing from Iohn 17.4 and in part by us from v. â—0 p. 357. c. r. l. 30. r. he for and p 358. c. 1. l. 21. r. 4 for 5. p 359. c. 2. l 5. r. satisfaction for salvation l. 20. d. not p. 362. c 2. l. 33. r. rise of them which was p. 363. c. 1. l. 15. d. making p. 371. c. 2. l. 46. d. two sorts 1. p. 373. c. 1. l. 22. d. thereupon p. 374. c. 1. l. 12. r. to be clear p 376. c. 2. l. 11. d. 2dly p. 382. c. 2. l. 20. r the meaning p. 389. c. 2. l. 29. r. and 4 lie p. 394. c. 2. l 35. r. 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Sermon in number contains in it two distinct Sermons