to undergo the wrath of God in our steed the fear whereof when he was in that grievous agony caused him to sweat great dropps of blood Luke 22. 44. and the sence thereof on the Cross being in his own sence as a man forsaken of God made him cry out My God my God why hast thou for saken me Mat. 27. 46. The acknowledgment of this wonderful love of Christ ought first to work in us a love in some measure answerable to his that as he gave himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour Eph. 5. 2. so we should present our bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto him which is our reasonable service Rom. 12. 1. And as he gave himself for us so should we bâ—willing and ready if occasion serve to lay down our lives for him the rather because he hath promised that whosoever shal lose his life for his sake and the Gospels shal save it Mar. 8. 35. We owe our selves unto Christ in a double or treble respect first for that in our creation he gave us to our selves secondly because in our redemption when we were lost he restored us to our selves thirdly when in restoring us he gave himself for us For our selves given and restored we may and ought to give and render our selves but what retribution shal we make him for himself For though we should give and render our selves to him or for him a thousand times yet what are we to him As Bernard sweetly argueth Lib. de delig Deo Secondly we are to imitate our blessed Saviour as the Apostle exhorteth us in respect of his love shewing it self in his wonderful humiliation and obedience for us Phil. 2. 5. Let the same mind be in you which was in Christ Iesus who being God coequall with his Father for our sakes abased himselfe to become man and being man humbled himself not only to all active obedience performing all righteousness as being made subject to the Law for us but also to the passive obedience being obedient to death even the death of the Crosse and all this for us men and for our salvation Thus you have heard the love of the Father in giving his Son and the love of the Son in giving himself for us whereunto we may add the love both of the Father and the Son in sending the Holy Spirit the Spirit of love to accomplâ—sh our redemption and also of the Holy Ghost who furnisheth with his graces and furnished sendeth forth the Embassadours and Ministers of God committing unto them the meanes of our salvation in and by which hee having united us to Christ and made us partakers of him he worketh effectually in the hearts of Gods chosen all those saving and sanctifying graces wherby they are not only entiâ—led unto Gods Kingdome but also fitted and prepared for the same But as in the work of our Redemption we have observâ—â— the 〈◊〉 love of God so in the second place we are to observe his infinite justice manifested in the same For such is the justice of God that rather then he would suffer the sins of his own elect children to go unpunished he hath punished them in the death of his only begotten Son The consideration whereof ought to strike a terror in them that do not believe nor repent For if God punished the sins of the faithful in Christ what shal become of them who have no part in Christ Undoubtedly every sin as it deserveth death so is it punished with death either with the death of Christ in the behalf of them that believe or with the death of the parties themselves who are not in Christ. And as it ministreth terror to the wicked so it affordeth singular comfort to the faithful who are in Christ. For they may from the consideration of this justice of God safely conclude that to them being in Christ there is not only no condemnation but not so much as any punishments so properly called which in order of justice is inflicted by way of vengeance to satisfie the justice of God For Christ having fully satisfied the justice of his Father in the behalf of all them that believe it cannot stand with the justice of God to punish the same sins in the party which he hath already punished in Christ. The children of God are indeed subject to manifold afflictions which are mala poenae but unto them the nature of them is changed so that they be not punishments to them but either fatherly chastisements for when we are judged 1 Cor. 11. 32. that is afflicted for our sins we are chastised of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world or else trials for their good Thirdly we observe how heynous and how detestable our sins are in the sight of God the guilt whereof could not be expiated nor the justice of God satisfied nor his wrath for them appeased by any other means but by the most precious blood of the eternal Son of God That both in respect of our sins past we should be touched with remorse when we consider that by our sins we nayled our Saviour to the Cross to which end we are to pray that the Lord would pour upon us the spirit of grace and supplication that when we look upon him whom we have pierced we might lament and mourn as a father mourneth for his only son and also in respect of the time to come we should not be animated to commit any sin as being smal seeing there is none so smal but the price of it was the precious blood of Christ none so light but that if we be not eased from the burthen of it by the merits of Christ it is of sufficient weight to presse us down to hell The third thing to be considered in the doctrine of Redemption are the enemies from whom we are delivered which are not carnall as the Jews imagine dreaming that their Messias should be a temporal Monarch who having subdued their enemies which held them in subjection should restore the Kingdom to Israel but spirituall And these are the Law sin death and the devill the Laâ— being the strength of sinne sinne the sting of death and death the power of the devil from the hand that is from the power of all which our Saviour Christ hath delivered us If it be demanded why among the enemies I do not reckon the world I answer if by World be meant worldly desires as 1 Ioh. 2. 15 16. they are comprehended under the title of sin if wicked worldlings they are but the feed of the Serpent and the instruments of the Devill And in both senses not only our Saviour hath overcome the world for us Ioh. 16. 33. but the faithfull also in and by him 1 Ioh. 4. 4. and 5. 4 5. The Law by reason of our transgression is an enemy unto us whether we consider the yoke of the Ceremonial Law or the bondage wherein the Morall Law did hold us
From the yoke of the Ceremonial Law Act. 16. 10 which neither we nor our Fathers were able to bear our Saviour Christ delivered us blotting out or cancelling the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nayling it to his Crosse Col. 2. 14. and abolisâ—ing in his flesh the enmity even the law of the Commandements consisting in ordinances Epheâ—â— â— 15. And as touching the morall law our Saviour hath delivered us first from the curse of the law and consequently from all punishments of sin whether temporall or eternall himself being made a curse for us Gal. 3. 13 not only so but hath also made us 〈◊〉 of the blessednesse promised in him to Abraham and to his feed that is to all the faithfull who are the 〈◊〉 of promise 2. From the rigour and 〈◊〉 of the law eâ—acting of us perfect righteousnesse inherent in us and perfect obedience to be performed by us to our justification by performing perfect righteousnesse in his owne person for us by which righteousnesse being apprehended by faith we are justified be one God without the works of the Law that is without respect of any righteousnesse inherent â—n us or obedience performed by us Rom. 3. 28. Now this two-fold bondage was most miserable to be subject to the fearfull curse of God if we did break the law when we could do nothing els but break it to be excluded froÌ„ justification salvation if we did not perfectly fulfil the law which by reason of the flesh is impossible unto us 〈◊〉 8. 3. 3. From the terrour and coaction of the law working servile feare in those who are under the Law forcing them by fear of punishment as bondslaves by the whip to the outward though unwilling performance of it From this spirit of fearfulnesse â— Tim. 1. 7. which is also called the spirit of bondage Rom. â— 15. Christ hath freed us that as a voluntary people Psal. 110. 3. Zealous of good works 〈◊〉 2. 14. we may worship God 〈◊〉 as it â—oâ—â—oweth in my text without servile fear with upright hearts and willing minds 1 Chron. â—8 9. as not being under the Law but under Grace 4. From the irritation of the Law in regard wherof especially it is called the strength of sin 1 Cor. 15. 56. whereunto our own corruptions did make us subject as unto an husband Rom. 7. 15. begetting foule issue by us tending to death For such is the corruption of our untamed nature until we be renewed by the Spirit of God that when the Law which is holy and good forbiddeth sin and seeketh to bâ—idle our sinful affections like an untamed 〈◊〉 rebelleth so much the more and that it might appear exceedingly sinfull taketh occasion by the Law forbidding sinne to work in us al manner of concupiscence Rom. 7. 8. 13. But when we being adopted in Christ are also regenerated by the Spirit and so made dead to sinne we are mortified to the Law and the Law to us in respect of this irritation accidentally caused by our corruption alwayes prone to that which is forbidden and consequently are delivered from the bondage of the Law as of a former husband being dead Rom. 7. 2 c. Secondly we are by Christ freed from death both from the first death as it is a punishment and from the second For as of all other afflictions so of death the nature is changed in respect of the faithfull to whom it is not a punishment or curse the sting of it which is sin being taken away but rather a blessing no losse but advantage because to them it is the end of sin and consequently of all misery the beginning of happiness a passage from the vale of tears to the kingdom of glory the end of a mortall life and the beginning of a life immortall Likewise from the second death for he hath delivered us from the wrath that is to come 1 Thes. 1. 10. so that to them that are in Christ there is no condemnation Rom. 8. 1. this being the main promise of the Gospel that whosoever beleeveth in him shall not peâ—ish but have everlasting life Ioh. 3. 1â— 16 18. Thirdly from the power of the dâ—vil that howsoever he may assault us yet he shall not hurt us Because he that is in us being greater then he that is in the world 1 Ioh. 5. 18. hath overcome this strong man Luk. 11. 22. hath bound him as being stronger then he For by his death he hath overthrown him that had the power of death that is the devil delivering them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 14 15. having spoiled principalitiâ—s and powers meaning the devill and his angâ—ls he hath made a shew of them openly and triumphed over them on the crosse Col. 2. 15. Fourthly But the most pernicâ—ous enemy is that which we carry in our own bosom and that is sin from which if we be freed we are delivered from all the rest For if we be dâ—livered from sin then are we freed from the curse of the Law from the evill of death having lost his sting from the danger of damnatiâ—n being absolved from the guils of sin from the malice of Satan who if we be freed from sinne hath nothing to object against us For who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect It is God that doth justifie who shall condemn Christ having died and being risen again sitteth at the right hand of his Father making intercession for us Rom. 8. 33 34 Therefore in the Scriptures the whole benefit of our Redemption is expressed sometimes by deliverance from sin as Eph. 1. 7. Col. 1. 14. By Christ we have redâ—mption viz. â—reâ—â—ssion of sins For therefore Christ gave himself for us that he might redeâ—m us from all iniquity Tit. 2. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 18. Act. â—3 25 26. Now from sin he doth deliver us first in respect of the guilt thereof by 〈◊〉 us and reconciling us unto God Act. â—3 38 39. 2 Cor. 5. 19. Secondly in respect of the corruption of sin which he 〈…〉 in us by degrees he 〈◊〉 us from the bondage and dominion of â—in that howsoever it remaineth in the children of God yet it shall no more reigne in them Rom. 6. 14. The use of this doctrine concerning our redemption is First seeing Christ our Saviour hath redeemed us from our enemies that therefore we should not stand in fear of them according to that Esay 43. 1. Fear not for I have redeemed thee But as we are taught in the next words we should all the dayes of our life worship him 〈◊〉 fear and in the end of our dayes commend our soules into the hand of God saying with David Psal. 31. 6. Into thy hands I commend my 〈◊〉 for thou hast redeemed me Lord God of truth 2. When we have sinned against God the remembrance of our redemption should encourage
in bondage what need we a redeemer If not lost what need we a Saviour Mat. 9. 12. The whole need not the Physitian but they that are sick Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentauce Mat. 9. 13. to preach redemption to the Captives Luke 4. 1â— and to save that which was lost He was given unto us of his Father to be our wisdom our lustification our redemption our sanctification our life our salvation 1 Cor. 1. 30. If therefore we would be made partakers of these benefits we must acknowledg our selves to be fools in spiritual things that in him we may become wise guilty of death damnation that in and by him we may be absolved and justified defiled and polluted with sin that by him we may be sanctified dead in sin that in him we may be quickned and revived lost that in him we may be saved captives and bondmen that by him we may be redeemed 2. As touching the party by whom we are redeemed the text saith he would give us that we should be redeemed which in the beginning of this Psalm is more plainly expressed Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath visited and redeemed his people or as the words are hath wrought redemption to his people How By raising an horn of salvation that is a mighty saviour For us who according to the flesh was the Son of David The father therefore redeemeth us by giving his son for us the son redeemeth us by giving himself to be a price of redemption for us 1 Tim. 2. 6. The holy Ghost also redeemeth us when working in us the grace of â—aith he applieth unto us the benefit of redemption The father redeemeth as the gracious Author and Donor the Son as the meritorious worker the holy Ghost as the effectual applier The good wil and love of God the Father is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or antecedent moving cause the death and obedience of Christ is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or meritorious cause the application of the holy Ghost is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or effectual cause by which we are made actually partakers of redemption which is the grace wrought by Christ proceeding from the love of the father 2 Cor. 13. 14. applied unto us by the communion of the holy Ghost Now here are divers things to be observed 1. The infinite and unspeakable love of God the father in giving his only begotten Son and of God the Son in giving himself for us and of God the holy Ghost the spirit of grace in communicating unto us the mercy and love of God and the merit and vertue of all that Christ did or suâ—â—ered for us For the first herein is love saith the beloved Apostle not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Sonne to be the propitiation for our sinnes 1 John 4. 10. So God loved the world so infinitely so unspeakably so beyond all comparison that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Ioh. 3. 16. And again Ro. 8. 32. that he spared not his own son but delivered him up for us al. But her in especialy god mendeth his love towards us that whilest we were sinners and by sin enemies Christ died for us Rom. 5. 8. 10. If this love of God be shed abroad in our hearts by his holy spirit Rom. 5. 5. that is if by the Holy Ghost working in us faith we are truly perswaded and assured of it these effects wil follow 1. that we shal love God again the beams of his love inflaming our hearts and reflecting back some heat of love For therefore do we love God because he loved us first 1 Joh. 4. 19. Magnes amor is amor Love is the loadstone of love The woman in the Gospel who had many sins remitted did therefore love much Luk. 7. 47. If it be demanded why and how we should love God I answer with Bernard Libâ—de dilig Deum initio Causa diligendi Deum Deus est modus sine modo diligere God is good without measure and without measure he hath loved us therefore without measure if it were possible we ought to love him But though we cannot do so yet we ought to love him with all our heart with all our soul and with all our might Lev. 6. 5. Mat. 22. 37. Or if we cannot do so by reason of the flesh yet at the least with an upright soul and a sincere heart to the uttermost of our power And this our love we must express by keeping his commandements Ioh. 14. 15. Exod. 20. 6. and that willingly For this saith Saint John is the love of God 1 Ioh. chap. 5. ver 3. that we keep his Commandments and his Commandements are not grievous 2. We shal love our neighbour for the Lords sake it is the use which S. Iohn makeâ—h in the place even now cited 1 Ioh. 4. 10. 11. Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son to be the prâ—pitiation for our sins Beloved saith he if God so loved us we ought also to love 〈◊〉 another 3. The perswasion of this love of God affordeth unto us singular comfort in divers respects As first in afflictions For therefore do we glory in afflictions Rom. 5. 3 4 5. knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given 〈◊〉 us that is because by faith wrought in us by the holy Ghost we are perswaded of the love of God in Christ which love God commendeth towards us in that when we were sinners Christ died for us The second comfort If God did so love us when we were his enemies much more when by Christ we are become his friends For if when we were enemies we were reconciled unto God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shal be saved by his life The third comfort If God so loved us that he spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shal he not then with him also freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. all things that be expedient for us 2. The love also of God the Son exceedeth all knowledg Ephes. 3. 19. who so loâ—ed the Church that he gave himself for it Eph. 5. 25. who so loved us that he washed us from our sins in his own blood Apoc. 1. 5. Greater love hath no man then this that a man lay down his life for his friends Iohn 15. 13. But Christ our sweet Saviour being not only man but God also gave himself not for his friends but for his enemies and that not to a commoâ—and ordinary death but to the most painful most shameful and most accursed death of the Cross and not only to fuffer a corporall death but also in his soul