God to roar even the fierce wrath of the Almighty So that as the Greek Church prayed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It was unknown torment that our Saviour underwent Hee encountred both the fathers wrath kindled by the sins of all the Elect and entered the lists with Satan and all the powers of darkness Luke 22.23 This is your hour and the power of darkness All the Devils in Hell were up in Armes and issued out of their gates Principalities and Powers are all let loose against the Redeemer of the World This is some part of the second death of Christ but to clear it further wee will answer a few objections Object How could Christ suffer the pains of the second death without dis-union of the God-head from the man-hood for the God-head could not dye Sol. 1 Joh. 3.16 God laid down his life for us The person dying was God else his person could have done us no good The person suffering must bee God as well as man but the God-head suffered not As if you shoot off a Cannon in the bright Ayr the air suffers but the light of it suffers not Actions and Passions belong to Persons Nothing less than that Person who is God man could bear the brunt of the day and overcome for our justification Object How could Christ indure Hell fire without grievous sins as blasphemy and despair Sol. The perturbations of Christ were like the shakings of pure water in a clean glass the water remains pure still When Christ was shaken there was no mudd in the bottome which rises in us when wee suffer extremity And again as the body of Christ dyed without dividing the God-head from it So his soul dyed the second death without parting of the God-head from it Besides Blasphemy and Despair are no parts of the pains of the damned but the consequents and follow the sense of Gods wrath in a sinful creature that is overcome by it Rev. 16.9 But Christ had no sin of his own nor was overcome of wrath and therefore held fast his integrity Object But when did Christ suffer hell torments they are inflicted after death not before it usually but Christs soul went strait after death into Paradise how else could hee say This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Sol. 1 'T is not impossible that the pains of the second death should bee suffered in this life Time and place are but circumstances the main substance of the second death is the bearing Gods fierce wrath The favour of God in Hell to a man would make Hell a Heaven The place is not a part of the debt neither and therefore ought to bee no part of the payment The laying down of the Price makes the satisfaction This is all that is spoken and threatned to Adam Gen. 2.17 Thou shalt dye the death and this may bee suffered here Wicked go to Hell as their Prison because they can never pay their debts otherwise the debt may as well bee paid in the market as the Gaol This Christ did in the dayes of his flesh when hee offered up strong crys and tears Heb. 5.7 not after death Object But the pains due to mans sins are to bee everlasting how can Christs short sufferings countervail them Sol. If the measure of a mans punishment were Infinite the duration needs not be infinite Sinful mans measure of punishment is finite and therefore the duration of his punishment must bee infinite because the punishment must bee answerable to the infinite evil of sin committed against an infinite God But Christ God-man suffered punishment in measure infinite and therefore there is no ground why hee should indure it eternally Add moreover that the dignity of Christs persons did excuse him from punishment infinite for duration for Act. 2.24 It was impossible that hee should bee holden of death because hee was both the Father of Life and the Lords Holy One. Besides continual imprisonment in Hell arises from mans not being able to pay the price for could hee pay the debt in one year hee needs not lye two years in Prison Now the debt is the first and second death because therefore sinful man cannot pay it in any time he must endure it eternally But Christ is ready pay hee laies it down upon the nail to the full for all Christs Elect therefore it is not required of him that hee should suffer for ever Neither can it stand with Gods Justice to hold him under the second death having paid the debt Now that hee hath paid he witnesseth Joh. 19.30 saying when hee had received the Vinegar It is finished So vers 28. After this Jesus knowing that all things were accomplished Many Interpretations are given of the place but this alone will hold water That the heavy wrath of the Lord which did pursue Christ and the second death that filled him with grievous terrors is now over and past It cannot bee construed of the fulfilling all Types and figures for many Types and Prophecies did pre-figure his death as that Dan. 10. that the Messiah must bee cut off and all the Sacrifices must dye the Prophecy of his Resurrection Psal 16.10 the prophecy of his intercession and sitting at Gods right hand Psal 110.1 Isa â—3 ult Therefore the former sense only is true Use 1. Of Terror to Carnal Persons Conceits removed if any argument can shake the heart of a careless wretch that lives in sin this may to consider Christs sufferings for sin imputed to him This will likewise remove those vain conceits men have taken up to secure themselves in sinning 1 That sin hath no such great evil in it as is imagined and therefore they make a mock of sin blaspheming them 1 Pet. 4.3 4. that run not to the same excess of riot with them Let such know that besides the judgements recorded in Scripture against sin and the tumbling of Angels down from heaven reserving them in chains under darkness besides the casting Adam out of Paradise for sin and the drowning the old World the fire and brimstone of Sodom the destruction of Jerusalem the torments of the damned in Hell-fire where the worm dyeth not and the fire goeth not out Mark 9.44 46 48. That which is ten thousand times more terrible take thou notice of that Christ suffers an agony for mans sin behold God dying for the sins of the Elect. See his misery who is but a surety 1 Cor. 2.8 Sins of men crucify the Lord of Glory and put him to so painful so shameful a death as thou hast heard God over all blessed for ever is cursed in but bearing thy sins If God so punished the surety how will he deal with the principal Canst thou hope O impenitent Soul to speed better in thy own sins than Christ could that bare but the sins of others 1 Sam. 14.39 As the Lord liveth who saveth Israel though it bee in Jonathan my Son hee shall surely dye said Saul If the Son must dye what will become of
from the wicked because they seek not thy Statutes There is corn in Egypt it is best for the vile sinner to go thither Though salvation bee so nigh t is not safe to stand still Wee may safely preach this doctrin for the Text gives Commission and press it for the Text will bear it 'T is said ver 23 24. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God being justified c. This infers not that All the sinners in the world are thus freely justified This would infer universal justification but that is not here intended The meaning is That all sinners whether Jews or Gentiles are in themselves excluded from eternal life and all that are justified are justified by free grace So that though thou knowest thy self to be a vile sinner yet some sinners you may see are justified In truth none are justified but sinners and therefore thou mayest see thy self capable of justification of the same justification that the best Saints ever partook of Christ was sent into the World on purpose to pay the Ransome for Sinners and the revealing and offering this truth was to save thee whatsoever thou art that hearest it Joh. 3.17 God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World but that the World through him might be saved Quest How then comes any to be damned Answ Hee Answers None is condemned but they that love darkness rather than light Now such exclude themselves from the benefit of Christs sufferings Joh. 3.19 Doth thy conscience therefore bear witness to thy guilt Love not thy sin inseparably and thy salvation is probable Object True if I were a sinner as other men and women there is encouragement enough to look out but my sins exceed for number weight and measure and therefore my Condition is yet miserable Answ Thou canst not name any sin in the World but final impenitency but have many examples of their pardon and the salvation of some that committed them in the word of God Paul was a Blasphemer a Persecutor and yet found mercy 1 Tim. 1 13-17 Manasseh pardoned his murther witchcraft Idolatry and doing worse than the Amorites 2 King 21.1 12. yea the very murther of the Son of God was pardonable Act. 2.37 38. And what sin can bee greater Yea pardon is promised beyond the very thought and hope of man Isa 55.7 8. Rebellion against God cannot exclude from pardon Psal 68.18 Hee received gifts for the rebellious that the Lord may dwell among them God indeed gives a Caution to take heed that there bee no root among you that beareth gaul and wormwood to bless himself in sin Deut. 29.19 20. It will cost that soul dear that harbours such thoughts against God There is no mercy in Scripture nor in Heaven neither for such a soul as this is Hee must have another word that will maintain this hope the Scripture will not bear it God will not bee merciful to any such as go on in their sinful courses Psal 68.21 But for the sinner that is weary of his sins Rom. 5.17 There is abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness in Christ Luther was a man much terrified with his sin yet hee confessed this was the balsome of his soul Rom. 11.32 God hath shut up all under sin that hee might have mercy upon all Therefore let none such despair of Salvation that are in the prison of sin Yea wee may adde a word more but let not the Swine turn about and rend it That the more vile thou hast been in sin if thou beest the more vile in thine own eies thou art more fit for Mercy than a Civil man that hath pleased himself in his own honesty and civility Matth. 21.31 32. saies Christ Verily verily I say unto you that Publicans and Harlots shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven before you Christ was a door by which Publicans and Harlots exceeding vile sinners entered and this door is open this day to poor sinners his sufferings are offered his blood even the blood of God is provided and what are thy sins to his blood what then remains but that thou shouldest hasten to thy sanctuary to that precious ransome that is paid for sinners Isa 8.14 Christ is a Physitian the whole have no need of him Matth. 9.12 13. but the sick And there is no disease incurable to him and indeed to look at thy disease as incurable is to shame thy Physitian and that will be a worse sin than all the rest Quest How may a sinner come to the benefit of this satisfaction of Christ Answ 1 Rest not till thou hast an inlightned Get an awakned conscience and an awakned Conscience It is certain a sinner is put in Prison in hold Rom. 11.32 God hath shut up or put in hold before hee hath deliverance by Christ For the Conscience is a lock which must bee opened by Gods key before this Gaol-delivery can bee perfected Gal. 3.23 Before Faith come wee were kept under the Law shut up unto the Faith which should afterward bee revealed A light goes with the Word draw not the curtain to keep it out 2 Take heed When God arrests thy conscience break not away when God arrests thy Conscience thou make not an escape As some Malefactors that when Law and Justice have taken hold of them they creep out at some hole or break Prison So some Sinners when terrified in Conscience dawb with untempered Mortar healing the hurt slightly by speaking a false peace to their own hearts which was Herods Case Luke 3.19 who being stoutly reproved by John Baptist of his incontinence towards Herodias his brothers wife and many other sins Hee made his escape by putting John Baptist in Prison So did Jeroboam 1 King 13.5 6. when the man of God reproved him and the Altar rent his hand was withered and healed his Conscience was awakened but when the Prophet was slain by a Lyon his Conscience fell asleep again This was Judas overthrow he was often terrified by Christ but hee cast himself into a dead sleep again by that opinion the Disciples had concerning him and so lost all 3 Let a sinner observe diligently Observe the working of Christs death on thy heart and yeeld to the working of the death of Christ upon his heart when he comes to apply his death and satisfaction to his soul Let this bee minded with trembling for there is a drawing power in Christs blood that teacheth to sinners Joh. 12.32 33. And I when I am lifted up from the earth will draw all men after mee This he speaks signifying by what death hee should dye 1 Hee speaks of his death and lifting up from the earth 2 Hee saith then hee would draw all men unto him and that must needs be meant of them that were out of Christ and the truth is there was never any brought home to Christ but it was by the vertue and efficacy of his death drawing Christ lifted up on the
and wounded his soul and why should they be contentment to mine God forbid 3 Minde the desert of sin We must fear sin because it crushed Christ and the severe proceedings of God against it in Christ our surety Luke 23.31 If this be done in the green tree what will bee done in the dry Christ was the Green tree full of sap exceeding fruitful the true vine Joh. 15.1 the very embleme of fruitfulness yea the tree of life Rev. 2.7 yet this could not exempt him from his sharpest sufferings Christ was free from all sin in his nature the Devil himself could find nothing in him Joh. 8.46 but we have a World of wickedness in us Christ was full of righteousness Rom. 5.17 and wee full of wickedness yet God spared not his Son where shall wee ungodly and sinners appear Christ was the onely begotten and wee are in comparison strangers if hee had no tenderness to his Son what can his Slaves hope for Christ was both God and Man in personal Union strengthened by Angels yet what Agony what tears what conflicts did hee undergo wee are but stubble but a rotten stick fit fuel for everlasting burnings how shall wee stand in the day of tryal O it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Heb. 10.31 Oh that wee had hearts to apprehend the evil of sin before wee come to feel it Blessed are they that beleeve and fear and tremble and never experimentally know the vileness of sin God seeing the hardness of our hearts hath manifested the evil of sin by the sufferings of Christ a better argument then all the curses racks and torments of Hell it self could produce to demonstrate the dreadful nature of it This may convince the hardest hearts in the world and let the very godly themselves see that sin is more vile than ever they imagined it to bee 4 Know that sin will kill us as well as it killed Christ if wee prevent not the malignity of it Death is the proper wages of sin both the first and second death Object But a Childe of God is in no danger of sinning nor of eternal punishment Sol. Surely 't is true Doctrin that 1 Pet. 4.17 18. The time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God Wee know how Churches have smarted for sin for little sins in the Worlds account The Jews cast off for unbeleef Saints corrected though not damned for sin the Church of Ephesus for forsaking her first love Laodicea for lukewarmness threatned to bee dis-Churched Add that Ezek. 9.6 the destroying Angel had a charge to begin at Gods sanctuary Yea many godly men smart for their boldness in sin here in this World Paul writes to Saints Rom. 8.13 and yet tells them If you live in the flesh yee shall dye and speaks not onely of a temporal but eternal death You will say 't is not possible for Saints to dye eternally I answer 't is as possible for Saints to dye eternally as to sin eternally Let all men look to it for sin continued in will certainly destroy all its practitioners Having therefore these considerations Let us dread to have any thing to do with sin This consideration is proposed to this very end Heb. 12.2 3. that the sight of what Christ endured by sin might make us constant and couragious in withstanding all the fiery darts of the Devil and declining every evil way striving against it unto blood vers 4. as Christ did to the very death not refusing the worst of sorrows The worst sorrow is better than the best sin to eschew the best of sins to part with your heart blood as well as your good names ease and profit if God call you to it Thus doth Peter argue 1 Pet. 4.1 2. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered in the flesh for us let us arm our selves likewise with the same minde for hee that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin that hee no longer should live the rest of his life in the flesh to the lusts of men c. The issue of the words is this The Faithful have Union and Communion with Christ and therefore they must bee conformable to Christ in Holinesse but must ceafe from sinne arguing thus That if wee have lost our head for sin it is not possible we should live in sin any longer but we have lost our head for sin Or thus All they dyed in Christ for sin for whose sin Christ dyed and they that dyed once for sin cannot sin any more If therefore thou continuest to sin how beleevest thou that Christ dyed for thee Let thy conscience bee the judge 3 Hath Christ loved us so dearly Christs death merits our love that merited heaven for us as to suffer such dreadful torments for us then what shall wee do for Christ O man return this day an Answer to the Lord what course thou wilt take to walk suitable to his kindness When David received a deliverance from God hee saies Psal 18.1 I will love thee dearly O Lord my strength God shewed him much love and hee intends to make a retaliation And indeed love is the Load-stone of love Never was such love shown as that of Christ Rev. 1.5 Who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood Eph. 5.2 Who gave himself for us his life and blood and all Yea hee parted with his fathers love which was a thousand times better than life for us Hee became accursed that might have been blessed Let us not bee scanty in our love to him but give him our heart both freely and liberally to the death his death well merits our love that merits heaven for us Where Christ hath laid such deep ingagements sleepy faint good wishes will not serve the turn Love in Christ was stronger than death 't is pitty that any cold velleities of love and service should bee our sacrifice All blessings of the World should endear us more and more to the Lord but oh what an Obligation should it bee that Christ became a Curse for us The very Master-piece of all mercies and blessings to the Elect yea it gives a sweet seasoning to all our blessings which have a Curse cleaving to them for all that are out of Christ turning all their sweet morsels into the poyson of Asps or into gravel Prov. 1.32 yea their prosperity is destructive Alas what are Riches and Accommodations and good fare when the Lord once charges Sin upon the conscience what is it to bee rich and reprobate to bee deliciously fed with the rich Glutton and a damned creature The World is a Prison and Riches are shakels Creatures are enemies all wee have is vanity and vexation of spirit all blessings turned into cursings Mercies are curses without Christs death yea and all Ordinances gifts parts duties c. without Christs blood are but carnal things You say how doth that appear why Eph. 1.3 those are alone spiritual
you goe to your rules of constructions and expound the dealings of God with you Yea it is well if a spirit of utter despair and horror and astonishment do not then seize upon thee As it is said of Nabal 1 Sam. 25.37 38. Deut. 28.28 6 When that we doe make inquiry at the hearing of the Word God will take it well at our hands and when troublesome times doe come we shall have the lesse to doe and not find them troublesome So Hab. 2.16 When I heard my belly trembled rottennesse entred into my bones that I might rest in the day of trouble Thus Josiah 2 Chron. 34.21 22. with the following verses 7 It is a condition extreamly dangerous for a man to continue in sin with a senslesse spirit as Isa 42.24 25. Jer. 23.18 19 20. There is no such fire as the fire of Gods anger kindled against a Nation or person Joel 2.3 A fire devoureth before and behind a flame burneth the Land is as the Garden of Eden before them and behind them a desolate Wildernesse and nothing shall escape So Deut. 32.22 23. Obj. But I feel no such thing as this scorching heat and wee hope that though Ministers preach and Scriptures threaten yet I hope God will be better than his word Ans Yea then see Isa 31.2 Hee is wise and will bring evil and not call back his word but will arise against the house of evil doers and against the help of them that work iniquity The Lord hath forsaken the generation of his wrath Jer. 7.29 What though thou dost not yet feel it yet consider what Elihu saith to Job Because there is wrath beware lest he take thee away with his stroak then a great ransome cannot deliver thee will he esteem thy riches or all the forces of strength The greatest calmes doe usually goe before the greatest stormes 1 Thess 5.3 4. doe not thou therefore rest secure upon vain hopes and thoughts without full inquiry what thy estate is whether this wrath doth not burn against thee The World is at peace with me and my Neighbours are at peace with me but is the living God at peace with me Prov. 16.14 The wrath of a King is a messenger of death but a wise man will pacifie it When but Ahasnerosh was angry against Haman what became of him Hest 7.7 What then would the wrath of the King of Kings be Who can cast body and soul into hell Mat. 12.28 How we may know that wee are delivered from the wrath of God Quest How shall we come to attain to this knowledge of our state Ans 1. Beware of judging love or hatred by all these outward things Eccles 9.1 2. The richnesse of the lading doth not shew the goodnesse of the Vessel the more weighty the lading is the more danger if it bee put into a rotten leakie ship So are this worlds goods when it is put into a rotten heart Prosperity is not a certain argument of Gods love neither on the other side is adversity a sure note thereof Thou mayest understand much by the dictate and verdict of thine own Conscience especially being inlightned and awakned 1 Joh. 3.20 21. If our hearts condemn us not then have we confidence towards God The Lord hath appointed the Conscience as his Vicegerent in every mans heart that keeps a register yea a diary of all that passes The Gentiles had this Rom. 2.14 15. now the conscience witnesseth not alone but together with God Rom. 9.1 Thus Shimei was privie to his own wickednesse 1 King 2.44 And Balshazzar Dan. 5.5 6. though that hee understood not the writing yet horror seized upon him his Conscience telling him that he was naught and God was angry with him You shall not need to climbe unto Heaven to know this but descend into your own hearts The Conscience of man is that candle of the Lord Prov. 20.27 This discovers the works of darknesse as Lying Swearing Adultery Cousenage Drunkennesse c. Jer. 17.1 and to despise this is to despise God and his wrath kindled against the soul and if thou dost shuffle over matters now there is a day coming when thy Conscience will not be shuffled off This notary hath taken notice of thy most secret faults 1 Cor. 2.11 thus the Church confesses Isa 59.12 Our transgressions are with us and as for our iniquities we know them When Conscience doth therefore admonish of any sin doe not say to it as David to Joab 2 Sam. 11.25 Let not this trouble thee it is as the common chance of men This sin troubled David with a witnesse afterwards Now hee slighted it but afterwards he did sink under it and was troubled as Psal 38.4 to vers 9. so if thou doest not observe its admonitions now it will upbraid thee afterwards as Reuben Gen. 42.21 Did not I say unto you sin not 3 Come to the clearest light of the Word of God Joh. 3.21 He that doth the truth comes to the light c. Bee yee not as Batts and Owls that decline the light this will bee a lamp to thy feet and a lauthorn to thy paths Psal 119.105 that will keep thee from falling and discover thy filthinesse to thee and shew thee the way to purge it whatever thy estate bee it will doe thee good 4 Consider it is most certain that all that are children of men are children of wrath Ephes 2.3 This was thy condition from the Wombe and doe not stand to plead that thou art born in faederal holinesse for this doth not exempt any soul from being a childe of wrath Phil. 3.5 Paul had faederal holinesse he was circumsized the eighth day an Hebrew of the Hebrews yet born a childe of wrath Neither was it his state alone but every ones that hath the nature of man And if I be born so I still am so unlesse I can shew that I am delivered from it yea I have brought more wrath upon my soul by every sin I have committed Numb 32.14 Rom. 2.5 when it was told that there was but one Traytor among the Disciples they all enquired Lord is it I Matth. 26.22 But we are all under wrath Those that are disaffected to the word Rom. 8.7 Jer. 6.10 They that pray not nor regard God Jer. 10. ult Eph. 5.6 Scorners Prov. 3.24.19.29 therefore let not Satan put it away from us neither suffer wee our hearts to return and goe off this consideration until they have brought in a deliberate answer unto this 5 See whether you have ever had this propitiation or no. You see there is but one means to appease wrath it is the Wrath of God and therefore infinite and none but a sacrifice of infinite value can appease it And this being grounded in our very nature it is impossible that any meer creature can turn it away It is Christs peculiar Quest How may we know that Christ hath done it Ans See whether Christs propitiation hath changed thy nature yea or not and thou art a
the intensnesse and strength of it that it was stronger than death and all this to wash us from our sins 1 Joh. 3.16 Hereby perceive wee the love of God because he laid down his life c. sustaining the pains of death Of what death the First and Second Death He washed us in his bloud from all the filthinesse of Hell and Death All the dunghills in the world cannot defile us as sin doth and it was the filth of sin that Christ's bloud washed us from Sin defiles the soul yea the whole man Matth. 15.19 You then that are beloved ones and washed can yee content your selves with a slight consideration of this What manner of love is this Qualis Quantus 1 Joh. 3.1 Ephes 3.18 That yee may comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge c. Mark here is a thing that concerns all Saints and wee should labour for such might and strength as not only to apprehend in our minds but comprehend and lay hold upon all the measures of this love in our hearts and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge i. e. either all other knowledge or else all the knowledge of carnal persons or all the knowledge of the Saints in the perfection of it that is it is the most desirable blessing in the world to understand the love of Christ aright Wee can never know too much of this love What should this love work upon our hearts truly wee should bee rooted and grounded in love not only have some leaves of profession but be rooted and grounded in it and it may lye deep in our hearts as roots and foundations use to doe yea this love of the Lord Jesus must bear up all the bulke and wait of our Christian trials yea as a root feed and nourish other graces and holy indeavours in us Oh it is much to be lamented that so many have left their first love They are but few sure that have ever had any rooted or grounded love to Christ at all that is suitable to Gospel measure or rule Luk. 7.47 What is the Gospel measure of love A. Matth. 10.37 Hee that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me i. e. our love to Christ should exceed all other loves and affections in our hearts yea in comparison of Christ we should hate father and mother c. Luk. 14.26.33 wee should hate all forsake all so farre as they stand in competition with Christ or the things of Christ else we cannot be the Disciples of Christ Instr 4. Redeemed ones have great boldnesse towards God This may work in all redeemed ones a marvellous boldnesse towards God that which the Scripture often expresses Ephes 3.12 In whom wee have boldnesse of accesse with confidence Heb. 10.19 Having boldnesse to enter into the Holiest by the bloud of Jesus It is sweet and precious that we have Heb. 4.16 Let us goe with boldnesse to the Throne of grace c. i. e. to Christ our High Priest hee hath set up a Mercy-seat for us And is that all Nay but saith the Apostle Heb. 12.23 Wee are come to God the Judge of all and we are come to the Seat of Justice and wee may in an humble boldnesse plead the justice of God and say Lord who art the Judge of all doe mee justice thou art just and therefore the Justifier of him that beleeveth in Jesus Oh ponder and take again upon thy heart the meaning of this it is not only that hee may bee merciful and gracious and the Justifier of beleevers though that bee a sweet and precious truth too to be beleeved and rejoyced in but it is that hee may bee just Oh beloved this is the very quintessence of faith when as the beleever by faith shall present unto God the Father the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ for satisfaction for sins and goe to him with a full price in his hand and current pay and to say as they doe in dealing here is one and there is t'other and this is not bare distributive but commutative justice between God and man where there is not only Geometrical but Arithmetical proportion that is weight for weight and measure for measure is observed Oh then tender all the pay together all the obedience of Christ active and passive tender we to the righteousnesse of God the righteousnesse of Christ it is such a jewel as exceeds our sins infinitely though they have been very many and great Gods justice shall be no loser by us at all and let poor beleevers incourage and embolden their hearts with this Luther was bold when he prayed thus not only Fiat voluntas tua but Fiat voluntas mea not only let thy will be done but let my will be done and it was but the confidence of faith upon this ground we are speaking of Oh beloved the world will account this malepertnesse to come thus before God that they are more bold than welcome but they are strangers to these things and to all that liberty we have in Christ Gal. 2.4 It would be sauciness indeed for those that are out of Christ to approach at any time on this manner to God but let the Children take this as the daily portion of the Childrens bread and it is no wrong to that text 1 Joh. 1.9 to take it in this sense If we confess our sins he is just for Christs sake to forgive us our sins nor to that 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesse Inst Adore the righteousnesse of God in all his wayes 5. If God be thus just exactly just in the justification of a Sinner let us learn to acknowledge and adore the righteousness of God in all his wayes Psal 145.17 If his mercy doth not pardon one sin but in a course of justice through the death of Christ then doubtlesse the Justice of God will not be bafled or turned aside in the managing other matters in the world The light of Nature sees nothing but mercy in this case but the light of Grace sees Gods justice also So that though God deals otherwise many times in many things than we could have expected or can see a reason of yet he is always just and holy in his proceedings and it is not enough for us to acknowledge the righteousnesse and holinesse of God in some of his ways and works or in his ways towards others and not towards our selves and in his dealing with some persons and not with all but wee must justifie the Lord in our hearts and words always in all things toward all in all the ways of his providences in his afflicting the godly as well as punishing the wicked Ezra 9.13 yea in the prosperity of the wicked In his great Counsels of Election and Reprobation in the rejection of the Jews c. of which when Paul had spoken Rom. 11. he
and say with him 1 Tim. 1.13 I have been thus and thus vile but I obtained mercy and the grace of God was exceeding abundant c. Now to the King immortal c. v. 17. Secondly remember that Luk. 7.41 42. there was a certain Creditor that had two Debtors the one ought him five hundred pence the other fifty and when they had nothing to pay hee frankly forgave them all tell mee which of them will love him most So hath the Lord truely freely and frankly forgiven thee and that much more than many others Oh love the Lord so much the more count it a shame to bee sparing or nigardly in thy love or the expressions of it in thy duty and obedience towards him as vers 47. Her sins which are many are forgiven her for shee loved much Where for is taken not for a Cause of forgiveness but for a sign as thus surely such a Bankrupt hath a great debt forgiven him for see how loving and serviceable hee is to his Creditor 3 Freely you have received freely give Matth. 10.8 and freely forgive Redemption by Christ sufficient THE THIRD SERMON ON Rom. 3.24 25. Justified through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ HAving spoken before of the Efficient Cause of the justification of a Sinner as also of the inward impulsive Cause that is the free grace of God Come we now to the meritorious cause of Justification through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ which redemption hath the nature of the Meritorious or impetrating cause or Procatarctical Cause of a sinners justification 1 Because it was the means which Gods justice did require before grace could actually justify 2 It hath the nature of the formal cause so far forth as it is accepted for us that it being imputed and applyed to us God pronounces the sentence of our absolution Now to open the words first inquire Quest 1 What is meant by Redemption here Answ 1 Redemption is taken in Scripture two waies first improperly and generally and so it signifies any deliverance from evil or danger or enemies as it is used Exod. 15.13 Thou in thy mercy hast lead forth thy people whom thou hast redeemed The deliverance out of Egypt is called a Redemption There were of old three waies of redemption first by Manumission when a King doth let his vassal voluntarily go out free thus we could not be redeemed for the devil never meant to let us go free and especially it could not stand with Gods blessed nature Holiness Justice Truth Hatred of sin thus to set us at liberty Secondly by Permutation thus we could not be redeemed for recompence could not be made to God by exchange of any creature for that infinite wrong done to him by mans sin Matth. 16.26 Thirdly By violent oblation or conquest as Abraham redeemed Lot by rescuing him but mankind might not bee redeemed by this alone for though Christ might justly spoil Satan of his prey which hee by subtile wiles methods and falshoods had gotten yet mankind being guilty of high treason against God and therefore locked up under his wrath and curse no power was strong enough to redeem us out of his hands but these are all improper waies of redemption and too low to reach the thraldome mankind was faln into 2 Properly in a more speciall way of Redemption by giving a price or ransome for a poor Captive or Slave this is plainly signified by the word used in the Text which hints redemption by way of Ransome there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in it 1 Tim. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2.6 Christ gave his life a Ransome for all The ordinary word used for redemption is the buying of any thing again by paying a Price Object Some Hereticks object Sin and Satan to whom sinners are Captive receive no price for Ransome Sol. Wee are primarily Gods Captives who is the Judge against whom wee have sinned to whose Wrath Curse judgement and vengeance wee are in bondage the ransome therefore is paid to God as the Judge Satan is but the Goaler sin the bonds and chains the World and Death as the Prison and Torments Wee are indeed when the ransome is paid to the justice of God set at liberty from those other in a way of power and lawful conquest So Christ is said to lead Captivity Captive Eph. 4.8 that is all those enemies that had lead us Captive but the price is paid to God himself to whom wee do therefore pray for the forgiveness of our sins and that in regard of the ransome paid by Jesus Christ Heb. 2.14 Luke 11.21 Christ may bee in some sort called the strong man armed that is stronger than Satan and spoils him of his goods c. Quest 2 What is meant by the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus Answ Christ is prefixt with three several Prepositions in the Scripture phrase 1 For Christ Phil. 1.29 To you it is given for Christ not only to beleeve but also to suffer 2 In Christ Eph. 1.3 Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ 3 Through Christ Rom. 7.24 Blessed bee God who hath given us victory through Christ The reason of them is 1 Wee have redemption in Christ because in Christ as a common store-house every blessing is first laid up and then imparted to his members As our death and condemnation was in the first Adam before it was applyed or actually received by us 2 Wee have redemption through Christ because Christ doth by his obedience purchase it which in due time is communited to us as from the first Adams desert came condemnation 3 For Christ seems to bee used in regard Christ is as well the Mediatour of application as impetration obtaining grace for us and working grace in us Hence Faith and Patience are said to bee wrought in the Elect. The words thus opened afford two points 1 That the justification of every sinner is through the redemption and satisfaction wrought by Christ 2 That there is a singular and plentiful redemption wrought by Christ sufficient to make satisfaction to God for the vilest sinners Of which in the first place Doct. 1 That there is a singular and plentiful redemption Redemption by Christ sufficient for the vilest sinners wrought by Christ sufficient to make satisfaction to God for the vilest Sinners The Text is emphatical it is That redemption that is in Jesus Christ such as was never heard of before nor matched in the worlds voluminous Histories or Records T is described Matth. 20.28 Christ came to give his life a Ransome for many that must needs bee a plentiful redemption that was wrought by the death of the Son of God So 1 Tim. 2.6 Hee gave his life a ransome for all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a ransom paid for Captives and Christ himself must needs bee a great Price and for the sufficiency of it 1 It is spiritual of the soul as well as body Psal 49.15 God will redeem my
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
the iniquity of us all Charged all the sins of the elect upon him And Christ comes of his own accord to undertake the debt Heb. 10.7 Loe I come to doe thy will Gal. 2.4 He gave himself for our sins Hee becomes Surety Heb. 7.22 Jesus was made Surety of a better Covenant for testaments use not to have Sureties Hence Christ is made a Debtor in mans room legally and by consent as really and truly as sinful man was before Neither will the Father follow the Law upon the poor beggarly bankrupt elect of Mankind but prosecutes the rich Surety and Christ must pay all And though other Creditors stand bound with their Surety here the Surety Christ stands bound alone 3 The matter of this satisfaction that the Father exacts from his Son are all his sufferings upon earth especially his obedience to the death of the Crosse Isa 53.10 When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin c. The Father requires that the Son should bear all that was threatned to the first Adam Gen. 2.17 In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye 4 The form of this satisfaction stands in the manner thereof which was in every respect most perfect 1 Because the Person offering was God 2 The dignity of the offering Hee gave himself Ephes 5.2 3 The merit of the Oblation which had all perfection by the Hypostatical union Hence it must needs be of infinite value God and man in one Person voluntarily standing in the stead of faln man that is of the elect and drinking up the very dreggs of his Fathers Cup of indignation So that the Father saith I will bee gracious for I have found a Ransome Isa 53.5 Hee was wounded for our transgressions the chastisement of our peace was upon him that is Christs sufferings are the means of our reconciliation and take away the enmity between God and us the word is of the plural number comprehending all peace external internal external And the word will more fully suit the matter if it be translated as the Septuagint hath done it Psal 69.22 and it will bear retributions The chastisement of our Retributions were upon him that is the punishment wee should have paid our selves hath he paid and made all even between God and the elect Obj. But what need this satisfaction for our justification Could not God by his meer grace forgive Sol. There is a necessity of satisfaction And though man could forgive a wrong God could not Reas 1. Because of his nature Jer. 25.26 That hee might be just and to declare his righteousnesse c. 1 Holinesse and righteousnesse are not of the essence of man as they are of God neither doth man hate sin essentially as God doth Rom. 1.32 Who knowing the Judgement of God that those which commit such things are worthy of death c. Justice is to give to every one as hee deserves therefore Gods Judgement is so His holy nature requires sin to be punished in the Principal or in the Surety 2 To declare Gods righteousnesse God would shew it to all the world how just he is in punishing sin and requiring full satisfaction for sin Hee would make men and Angels know by an unheard of example in his own Son that if he bee but a Surety for sinners God will not abate him any thing of the payment he requires Zaleâ—cus King of the Locrians made a Law that Adulterers should have both their eyes put out now his Son being guilty of that sin that hee might observe the Law and yet favour his Son he put out one of his own eyes another of his Sons to declare to all his Subjects his justice in executing his Laws So the Father shewed his Justice in the severe punishment of his Son Reas 2. That Gods unchangeable Decree might stand Rom. 3.25 it is translated whom God set forth It may better be translated whom God decreed for so the word usually signifies in Scripture hinting to us that God had past an irrevocable Decree that Sin should never bee forgiven nor Man reconciled nor his Wrath pacified or appeased without satisfaction made Yea he decreed that his Son should give himself a Propitiatory Sacrifice for sin Psal 33.11 Now Gods Decree is not to be reversed therefore this satisfaction must be given Reas 3. Because of Gods Truth declaring that there shall not be pardons granted without a sufficient price paid Which was signified by all those offerings and sacrifices of old there being a Typical satisfaction exhibited in them accomplished in Christs death 1 Cor. 5.7 and Pro. 17.15 To justifie the wicked is an abomination to the Lord c. It is so always without due and legal satisfaction See also Ezeck 18.4 Heb. 9.22 But what God hath fore-told must come to passe Act. 1.16 The Scripture must needs bee fulfilled therefore satisfaction must be given Vse 1. To shew the unjustified estate of such as have no part in Christ If Christs redemption be necessary Unjustified without Christs satisfaction for the justification of a sinner then how miserable must their condition bee that are destitute of the redemption wrought by Christs satisfaction They goe away as the Pharisee unjustified still How dreadful then is the condition 1 Of Christs enemies who reject the satisfaction of Christ Enemies to Christs satisfaction through wilfulnesse carelesnesse and Apostacy Paul speaks of them with tears in his eyes full of pity and commiseration Phil. 3.18 Many walk of whom I told you often and now tell you again weeping that they are enemies to the Crosse of Christ Many that little thought they were such many where Christ is eminently profest many whom I have often warned of it many whose estate I bewail with tears many whose end is destruction described vers 19. men that mind only their back and belly earthly things Enemies they are to the Crosse of Christ for that would crucifie their lusts but they uphold them they 2 Pet. 2.1 deny the Lord. 2 Of the Contemners of the Word Contemners of his Word For such as slight the Word slight Christ and his satisfaction Joh. 12.48 they disannul Christ as to their own salvation that receive not his word Now it is not enough to testifie we take Phisick because we take it in our hands or mouthes unlesse we swallow it to purge and cleanse nor that we take food when we only take meat and set it by us unlesse we feed on it so nor to have the Word in our hands or in our ears or heads unlesse it converts us Psal 19.7 and cleanse us Joh. 15.3 Nor is it enough to admire and commend Sermons so did the Pharisees Mat. 22.22 3 Of carelesse men Careless of their foundation who take up either their own good conceits of themselves Luke 16.15 or a good testimony from their Neighbours brethren and flatterers or an approbation by the godly as Judas by the Apostles being a little sorry for their sins as Ahab
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
without shedding of blood there is no remission So that the blood of Christ is the Antitype aimed at in the blood of those Sacrifices that were slain for sins Doct. That Christ by way of Satisfaction for sinners suffered the full and utmost punishment due to the sins of the Elect. Col. 1.20 To clear which 1 Consider that hee endured bodily infirmities and weaknesses as hunger Matth. 4.2 thirst weariness Joh. 4.6 poverty 2 Cor. 8.9 wanting the ordinary provisions and comforts of this life Mat. 8.20 The Son of man hath not where to lay his head Isa 53.3 Hee was an abâ—ect among men a man of grief and acquainted with infirmity 2 Hee also underwent ignominy and extream disgrace by unjust accusations and vile reproaches hee is charged with blasphemy and of Leagues with Devils yea with Beelzebub the Prince of Devils Matth. 12.24 accused of sedition Rebellion Drunkenness Gluttony and that hee was a friend of Publicans and Sinners Matth. 11.19 3 Hee received many other injuries before his death as binding buffeting Luk. 22.63 scourging spitting blind-folding and evil intreating as if hee had been some fool or mad-man Isa 50.6 Hee gave his back to the smiters and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair hee hid not his face from shame and spitting 4 Hee suffered Death it self Neâ—at est vincire civem Romanam scelus verberare quid dicam in crucem tollere Cic. cloathed with all the circumstances of horror and terror both a shameful and a painful death which none but Slaves and bond-men could bee put to Roman free-men never felt it It was a lingring and tedious death his hands and feet stabbed with nailes his bones put out of joynt Psal 22.14 A death accursed of God Gal. 3.13 and therefore Paul speaks it out with an Emphasis Phil. 2.6 Christ suffered onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7. Hee was obedient to the death even the death of the Cross T is true some kind of sufferings called by Divines dishonourable sufferings not suitable to his person nor consistent with the Prophecies of him as noysome diseases tearing of his body in pieces breaking his bones or the corruption or rotting of any one part Act. 2.27 could not bee suffered by him Thus much the body of Christ suffered Now for his soul-suffering Christ not only suffered bodily death but also the pains of the second death Isa 53.12 Hee poured out his soul unto death yea unto deaths for the Original word is in the plural number to shew that it stands in two things 1 In the absence and withdrawing of God from the soul and the hiding the light of Gods countenance from it leaving it to blackness of darkness It was Sauls sad complaint That God was departed from him 1 Sam. 28.15 So was it Christs misery when hee cryed out My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Matth. 27.46 which departure of God answers the pain of loss that the Elect should have suffered yet know that Christ was left but for a time and that in regard of sense and feeling of comfort only and no farther 2 The fierce Indignation and wrath of God seized upon him setting open the flood-gates of his anger to overwhelm him with an unsufferable torture of which when Heman had but a small drop to that full Cup which Christ drunk hee complains Psal 88.16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over mee and thy terrours have cut mee off At the taste of which Job Job 6.4 cries The Arrows of the Almighty are within me the poyson whereof drinketh up my spirits the terrors of God set themselves in array against mee And this suffering of Christ answereth to that punishment of sense the Elect should indure The second death is expressed Isa 30. ult By Tophet aâ—â— a pile of fire and much wood The breath of the Lord like a river of brimstone doth kindle it The breath of Gods displeasure is the very bellows of Hell that blows up that infernal fire as truely easless as endless to these Reprobates that bear the punishment of their own sins alone but oh how heavy when upon Christ is laid the iniquity of Vs all Isa 53.6 so that hee is well said Rev. 19.15 To tread the wine-Press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God Christs suffering of the second death was either in the Garden or on the Cross 1 His Agony in the Garden is described Mark 14.33 Matth. 26.28 Luke 22.44 Mark saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee began to bee amazed and to bee very heavy or wee may more fully express it thus Hee begun to be gastred with wonderful astonishment and to bee satiated filled brimfull with heaviness A very sad condition Matth. 26.38 hee said my soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death It is beleagured or compassed round with sorrow for so sounds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All the sins of the Elect like a huge Army meeting upon him made a dreadful on-set on his soul Luke 22.43 44. 'T is said Hee was in an Agony That 's a conflict in which a poor Creature wrastles with deadly pangs with all his might mustring up all his faculties and force to grapple with them and withstand them Thus did Christ struggle with the indignation of the Lord praying once and again with more intense fervency Oh that the Cup may pass away if it bee possible while yet an Angel strengthened his outward man from utter sinking in the conflict Now if this weight that Christ bare had been laid on the shoulders of all the Angels in heaven it would have sunk them down to the lowest hell It would have crackt the Axel-tree of Heaven and Earth It made his blood startle out of his body in congealed cloddered heaps The heat of Gods fiery indignation made his blood to boil up till it ran over yea affrightened it out of its wonted chanel The Creation cost him but a words speaking and it was done but it costs bloody sweats soul-distraction to go through the work of redemption 2 His Agony on the Cross where hee drinks down the very Gall and dregs of the Cup that hee but sipped of before You hear him groaning out Matth. 27.46 with a loud voice Eli Eli Lamasabachthani Which is not as Papists say a leaving of Christ in the hand of the Jews for the misery of death of the Saints of the meanest rank doth not argue that God hath forsaken them 2 Cor. 4.9 Wee are persecuted but not forsaken Nor may we think the God-head ever had left the man-hood or that our Saviour had forsook his Father for hee called him still My God my God but the forsaking was the Fathers with-drawing the light of his countenance and then what could follow but darkness and extream horror The words are taken from Psal 22.1 where the blessed God is spoken to as quite and clean gone out of the hearing of his crying and roaring Now that must needs bee much more than forsaking that made the Son of
the Servant what will become of the Slave Laugh on but know that Christ wept for sin rejoyce thou but withall remember that Christs soul was heavy to the death about it And it may bee thou wilt one day hear God laughing at thy misery as thou dost at thy sin Prov. 1.26 'T is said of Babylon Rev. 18.7 So much as shee hath glorified her self so much sorrow and torment give her Christ smarted for the sins of the Elect and thou must one day expect to feel as much torment for sin as thou hast taken pleasure in committing of it The sport and pleasure of sin is like that play 2 Sam. 2.14 where they destroyed each other Young men in merriment and jollity make a mirthful pastime of Drunkenness and riotting till their sports prove the bloody murtherers of each other Man nor Angel durst not call Christ accursed if the Holy Ghost had not said it Gal. 3.13 and surely then O vain man thy condition must needs bee exceeding cursed if Christ were accursed for sin imputed only Oh the gall of bitterness that sin will bring wretched men into Knowest thou not that it will bee bitterness in the latter end 2 Sam. 2.26 2 Conceivest thou 2 Conceit that God is merciful and therefore thou shalt do well enough though thou dost continue in sin Know that God spared not his only Son Rom. 8.32 and why should hee spare thee his very enemy would hee not spare a Son and an onely Son and will hee spare a stranger an enemy Shall a Son of Belial speed better than the Son of God Did Christs neerness of relation abate him nothing and shalt thou bee abated hopest thou to finde more mercy at Gods hands than Christ could Luke 23.31 If this bee done in the green tree what will hee do in the dry Christ was not such dry fuel for his Fathers wrath to burn up as thou art Rev. 14.10 They shall drink of the wine of Gods wrath poured out without mixture 3 But I will pray 3 Conceit and amend my life and turn over a new leaf and God will be gracious Canst thou pray better than Christ hee prayed earnestly Luke 22.44 with strong Cries and Tears Heb. 5.7 hee spent whole nights in prayer Luke 6.12 yet must he dye the death Canst thou reform and bee more holy than Christ hee fulfilled all righteousness Matth. 3.17 Hee did alwaies what pleased the Father Joh. 8.29 and yet all would not bee taken for current pay without his bearing the extremity of Gods fearful indignation What hope canst thou then maintain while thou lyest in sin 4 If I go to Hell I shall have company 4 Conceit and will speed as well as others and will bear it as well as I can wilt thou bear it O heap of dust Hast thou an Arm like God Job 40.9 knowest thou what thou sayest Christ is stronger than all Men and Angels that created the Heavens and bears up its Pillars that they stagger not yet blood leaps out of his veins when hee comes to encounter his Fathers wrath Hee cries with tears Father if it be possible Let this Cup pass from mee And again hee groans it out Psal 90.11 Who knows the power of his Anger that made his Son thus to cry out The earth trembled at it The Sun mourned under an Eclipse at the sight of it The graves opened to sigh at his sorrow The rocks cleft in sunder Was the mighty God put to all these perplexities to bear his Fathers wrath And shall such a worm as thou art bee able to wade through such a bottomless Sea of miseries All Christs sufferings were voluntary and chosen by himself and perfectly known before hee suffered them so that hee was prepared for them nor had hee any sin to weaken his strength or increase his burden and fully knew what infinite good his sufferings would do to save thousands to reconcile God and man to glorify God but not one of these chearing considerations can bee found in thy sufferings Thine will bee violent and suddain and unknown until thou feelest them and wilt have the burden of thine own sin as well as misery a pittiful gaulded back to bear so great a burden no good can come by all thy torments and canst thou hope to bear so great a burden as this to eternity Oh saies Spira That I might indure the wrath of God but twenty thousand years but it must bee eternally Thy soul must say after millions of years The pit is bottomeless The fire is unquenchable 5 But Christ hath suffered 5 Conceit therefore surely I never shall suffer these things Christs sufferings cannot prevent nor ease the torments of Christlesse souls Rev. 6.16 17. 1 Pet. 2.8 None can have the benefit of his death that have nor the benefit of his life His blood justifies none that continue strangers to the will of God Cavil But this is Legal Preaching in Gospel times speak to us of peace in Christ Reply Surely this is Gospel Preaching and a principal Doctrin of the Gospel too If justification by Christ be legal Doctrin what is Evangelical The Spirit saies in the Gospel though men love not to hear it Eph. 5.6 That the Unclean Malitious Covetous Drunkards shall never enter into the Kingdom of God And in truth all the threats of the Law and torments of the damned cannot set out sin in so ugly and dismal a face as this point doth The Law shews sin a sword to draw our blood but this shews it to be a Spear drawing the heart blood of the Son of God The Law makes man accursed the Gospel makes the Son of God accursed The sin of all the world on one man could not bring him so low as the least sin of the Elect can bring the Son of God Adams sin threw him out of Paradise from earth to earth and his Sons into hell that is but from earth to hell but Christ is by imputed sin fallen from the glory of heaven to the very sorrows of hell Whither then will the sinner fly for succour Do not think O impenitent man that thou canst better thy self by flying from the Law to the Gospel If Christ for sin suffered such things where shall the ungodly and sinner appear 1 Pet. 4.17 The Extremity and exactness of Christs Sufferings THE SEVENTH SERMON ON Romans 3.24 25. Through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Doct. WEE have already proved and in part applied this Doctrin That the Redemption of Sinners was wrought by Christs suffering the utmost and full punishment duâ— to sin Wee are now to proceed to the second use Vse 2. This informs that no punishment properly so called belongs to the Members of Christ nor are any of their Afflictions to bee deemed punishments for sin For if Christ hath suffered to the full All the punishment due to his Members then there is no punishment left to them to suffer but Christ hath suffered to
the utmost whatsoever punishment was due to his Members for their sin therefore there is none remaining to be suffered by them The Proposition is thus proved If any of the Members of Christ should bee punished for their sins then God the Father should inflict a double punishment for the same sins but it cannot stand with the Justice of God to punish the same sins twice So that the bitterest afflictions Gods children suffer in this life are of a farre differing nature from punishments Simile For as the Sea-waters though they are in themselves salt brackish and brinish and very fretful yet running through the many veins turnings and windings in the earth lose their saltnesse and only retain refreshing cooling and clensing sweetnesse and moysture in them so the afflictions falling on Gods children in themselves sharp and brinish yet running through the Merits and Bowels of the Lord Jesus only retain a cleansing cooling and refreshing nature in them Obj. But Gods children suffer as many and the same material evils with other men as poverty sicknesse losses crosses and death it self Eccles 9.1 There is one event to all yea the godly have oft the worst of it Psal 73.14 All the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning while the wicked vers 5. Are not in trouble like other men How then doth it appear that Christ hath suffered all the punishment of the elect Sol A carnal eye indeed seeth things in this estate but a righteous judgement sees them farre otherwise Moses could see the Bush all on fire and yet not consumed Exod. 3.2 Daniels companions met with a fiery Furnace whose flame burned not those that were in it but those that stood by Dan. 3.22 25. These were seemingly scorching fiery flames but were not so in reality But you will say wherein is the difference 1 In regard of the Principle from whence they come Difference between afflictions of godly and the wicked they much differ The judgements laid on the wicked come from an angry Judge the afflictions of the godly from a loving Father God punisheth the wicked as part of their payment in indignation and wrath whence they are called children of wrath Ephes 2.3 And when he is about to fill his belly God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him and shall rain on him while he is eating Job 20.23 All comes to the wicked from a Sin-revenging God but to the godly from a careful Father Heb. 12.6 Whom the Lord loveth he chastneth and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth So God speaks of David Psal 89 30-34 If his children forsake my Laws and walk not in my judgements I will visit their offences Neverthelesse my loving kindnesse will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulnesse to fail 2 They differ in their nature They have not the venome nor poyson in them 1 Cor. 15.55 56. that Achitophels had who being but rejected once in his counsel had so much venome of sin in that small affliction that hee hanged himself 3 In their suitablenesse Miseries are called the Lords cup. An expression borrowed from Physitians that have their several Doses of Potions according to the several Diseases Now the wicked hath a cup fit for him Psal 11.6 Upon the wicked hee shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their cup. Where could a man step when it rained fire and brimstone in Sodome This is a killing cup. So Psal 75.8 A cup full of mixture in the hand of the Lord whose dreggs the wicked of the earth shall drink So Jer. 25.28 and Isa 27.7 The godly have another cup fit for them who also have need of Physick and this cup sometimes is very bitter Joh. 18.11 Shall I not drink of the cup that the Father hath given me When a Father gives his dear child a potion how exact will he bee rather under than over in the quantities of the ingredients Christ hath drunk already the poysonous Cup Matth. 26.39 Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me None remains but the purging cup. And Gods faithfulnesse requires that this cup bee tempered according to our strength and ability 1 Cor. 10.13 4 They differ in their end Jam. 5.11 You have heard of the patience of Job and yee have seen the end of the Lord. What end That the Lord is very pittiful and of tender mercy So did Abraham Jacob and Joseph find an happy issue of all their sorrows Deut. 8.16 To doe thee good in the latter end David said it was good for him Psal 119. And calls the man blessed who endureth correction whom God chastiseth and teacheth Psal 94.12 and it is said Dan. 11.35 Some of them of understanding shall fall to try them and to purge them and make them white Now the calamities of wicked men doe hasten and heighten their everlasting destruction and are at best but the beginnings of sorrows and furtherers of their sins by making their hearts hard and their eyes blind As it fared with King Ahaz 2 Chron. 28.22 This is that King Ahaz that in the time of his distresse trespassed yet more against the Lord. This also was the event of Jerobeams calamities for 1 King 13.4 33. after his hand was withered and again recovered he returned not from his evil ways Look what good the flames of Hell doe the damned as much and no more doe afflictions for the wicked they curse God and blaspheme more and more God therefore stabs the wicked as an enemy with his Sword but lances the godly as a Surgeon his Patient with the Launcet Thus chastisements befall the godly but punishments the wicked Vse 3. Of strong Consolation to all the children of God That Jesus Christ hath suffered all that punishment Comfort to Gods children that their poor souls might have bewailed here and must have done for ever hereafter Christ hath drunk off that cup of trembling to the bottom he hath left no Curse no Death eternal no Hell for you to suffer your condition can never be lower than it is in this world God bids the Ministers take care to comfort you O Elect and precious Isa 40.1 2. Comfort yee comfort yee my people c. they are commissioned from Heaven to speak to your very hearts telling you your iniquities are forgiven Why because you have received in your head mony enough to pay your debts to the utmost As God hath given us in charge to comfort you so hath he given you charge to receive comfort Let then the veriest babe in Christ come and refresh himself with these breasts suck at this Nipple wheresoever is the least spark of true grace let that soul rejoyce because Christ suffered all this perplexity and amazement that you might never suffer it Heb. 2.14 Hee dyed to deliver those that through fear of death c. he dyed to save you from slavish fear He wept that you might bee
comforted He dyed that you might never dye eternally Hee was cursed that you might be blessed Hee was full of sorrow that you might always rejoyce Phil. 3.3 Hee was accused that we might be excused and condemned that wee might bee acquitted Hee endured the fiercenesse of his Fathers wrath and indignation that we might never know what belongs to it 1 Be comforted then in the sharpest brunt of distresse Thou shalt be pittied in sorrows whether through terror of heart within or trouble without for the Lord will pitty thee in thy worst estate for Christs sake Psal 103.13 As a father pittieth his children so the Lord pittieth all c. And Deut. 8.5 Thou shalt consider in thine heart that as a man chasteneth his Son so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee And though Christ bee in Heaven yet his bowels and compassions do yern toward thee For Heb. 4.15 Wee have not an High Priest that cannot be moved with the feeling of our infirmities but he was in all points tempted c. Ah how sweet is it to consider that our High Priest is no stranger to soul-troubles or to body-disquietments but being tempted as wee are hath a sympathie and fellow-feeling with us All our crosses and trials reach to him as well as us Isa 63.9 He is afflicted in our afflictions Hee escapes not when wee are persecuted Heb. 2.17 18. Hee was made like unto us on purpose that he might be sensible of our calamities It is a lamentable condition a poor soul is in when it hath none to pitty Lam. 1.12 It is their sad complaint that all past by and minded not the Church Shee looks for commiseration and finds none that is a doleful estate But here is our rejoycing that we have a tender-hearted Saviour both able and willing to succour his poor servants And no wonder that he is so willing for who would purchase at so dear a rate and not uphold Who would beat so much cost and at last lose all for a trifle Hath Christ as Paul speaks of the Galathians 3.4 5. suffered so many things in vain Surely as poor Creatures are not willing to lose their cost and pains so Christ will not lose the travail of his soul his bitter Death and bloudy Sufferings for nought It is the greatest absurdity in Christian Religion to suppose it Gal. 2. ult If righteousnesse be by the Law Christ is dead in vain But Christs death is in vain and his grace is in vain if it may not comfort a poor soul in distresse Turn therefore to thy Beloved in thy distresse and ask him whether hee hath not been in the state of humiliation a man of sorrows and one that drunk deep of the gall and wormwood of Gods indignation that hath felt the wrath of an angry Judge and knows what it is to be in a forlorn state and hath paid dear to undergoe the chastisement of our peace And can hee forget his poor Members in their sorrows and have no compassion Can hee forget his anoynting how he was appointed of the Father to bind up the broken-hearted to impart the oyl of gladnesse to his fellows Hath he spent so much bloud in vain try thus if he can turn his back and leave thee comfort lesse 2 Thou shalt also be freed from thy sorrows in due season Thou shalt bee freed from sorrows God will not only give thee fair words but thou shalt have real help and deliverance Help is promised in due season 1 Pet. 5.6 and the condition of the purchase is for seasonable help or help in the best season Heb. 4. ult What that season is is dark to us many times But who taught the Stork the Turtle and the Crane in the Heavens to know their appointed time Jer. 8.7 Was it not the Lord our Creator and shall not he that taught them know himself Shall he not relieve you in your seasons Now what is it that gauls if we may lay our hands upon the sore and touch it it is sin that pricks that disquiets but you know Heb. 12 18-24 Yee are not come to the mount that might not be touch'd that burned with fire nor unto blacknesse and darknesse and tempests c. but to Jesus the Mediator and to the bloud of sprinkling c. whose bloud speaks better things than that of Abel Gen. 4.9.10 which cried loud for vengeance All sins speak but his cried aloud for vengeance but Christs bloud must needs cry louder for mercy For the shedding of Christs bloud was a greater sin than the shedding of Abels for the Jews sin in Crucifying Christ was greater than Cains in killing his brother yet Christs bloud prevailed to save them Act. 2.36 Against such as these is no Law Gal. 5.22 for they are filled with joy and peace in beleeving Obj. But if Christ hath thus perfectly satisfied for my soul and sin how is it that I feel such horror in my soul Why is it thus with me the Lord seems quite to reject me Sol. Beleevers may be deferted but not utterly forsaken Christs desertion hath so qualified all thy desertions that thou shalt not utterly and finally forsake God nor hee utterly much lesse finally forsake thee Joh. 119.30 none of Gods children are secured from being forsaken by him Job was David was and Asa was and not without need For 1 Else how could they learn to live by Faith Reasons of desertion more than sense whereas God is much more honoured by a life of faith than a life of sense and feeling 2 Our condition here is that of Strangers and sojourners yea of Pilgrims now if all went well with us and that wee had new supplies of joy daily wee should take this for our Country and so displease God 3 Sometimes Gods people cleave to the Creature and forsake him and then no wonder if hee forsakes them 2 Chron. 15.2 Jer. 50. ult They compass themselves about with sparks and shall therefore lye down in sorrow 4 They must in some measure bee conformable unto Christ that they may the better judge what Christ hath suffered for them But none of Gods children are so forsaken as Christ was for Christ was forsaken in a way of revenge by God as a just Judge but ours comes from another Principle Again Christ drunk the Cup of Gods wrath to the bottome wee do but sip and taste of the Cup sweetened through Christ This is in short the main God intends about it 1 So to forsake that hee may never totally nor finally forsake thee Hee forsakes for a while that hee may receive thee for ever And that thou mayest love him the more and seek him with earnestness and to infer a mutual increase of love between God and a Christian Isa 54.7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercy c. In a little wrath have I hid my face from thee for a moment but with eternal kindness will I have mercy on thee
have destroyed Christ had not the sins of the elect met on him 2 The killing Christ is a farre fouler bloud-guiltinesse than ever David incurred than to kill an only Son or to murther a Josiah a King a godly King for this is the crucifying the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2.8 and may therefore well be lamented 3 The love we owe and bear to Christ for his unparallel'd condescentions to make us heirs of glory should engage our hearts to weep for his death as he did for Lazarus's death Joh. 11.35 56. which the Jewes took notice of to be the probate of his love Behold how he loved him Thus Christ imputes the repenting tears of that sinful woman Luke 7.47 to love Christs great graciousnesse makes the most stony heart to lament its provocations 4 The sense of our dreadful and undone estate that needed the death of Christ to establish a Covenant of Grace with us should provoke us to bee in bitternesse as God expects Ezeck 16.62 63. And I will establish my Covenant with thee and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. That thou mayest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord. 5 The Spirit of grace and supplication is now poured forth into the soul and that Spirit is a spirit of Lamentation and works and continues a broken and contrite spirit in all that receive it as it did in those Converts Acts 2.37 Pricking them to the heart for all their wrongs and injuries put upon Christ for embruing their hands in his precious bloud Look back therefore upon thy pleasure that thou hast taken in sin and with what greedinesse thou hast committed it and compare them with Christs sufferings and what hee deserved at thy hands that it may break thy heart as it did Davids 2 Sam. 12.7 8. when hee had long lain in a slumbering condition and God told him how much he had done for him wondring that after so much love he should despise his Commandements and make so wretched a requital How doth he cry out upon his sins vers 13. and loathes himself Obj. But a Christian should rejoyce in the Crosse of Christ how then comes it to be the object of sorrow Sure Paul thought otherwise Gal. 6.14 Sol. How the Crosse is a ground of rejoycing as well as of mourning It is true Christs Crosse is a ground of rejoycing as well as a ground of sorrow Of sorrow in respect of that hand we had in his death the wounds which our sins gave him the hard dealing and unkind requital he hath received for all his love Of joy in respect of the benefits and good we receive by his death Let us therefore maintain a spring of godly sorrow for our sins and streams of joy for the blessings we receive by him which is the true eating the Passeover with bitter Herbs Exod. 12.8 Also making confession of their sins Levit. 16.21 The Papists have a seeming practice of this duty keeping Good-friday in penance and lamentation setting up a Crucifix before them and zealously hating the Jewes for putting Christ to death but think not of their own sins that they had a hand in it To whom Christ might justly say as to the Women weeping at his Crosse Luk. 23 28. O yee daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me but weep for your selves for your sins whereby you have wounded me which is the duty of every Christian 2 Upon the consideration of Christs extream sufferings for Sin the Members of Christ are pressed hard Christs members should hate sin to hate every evil way and to shun all sin for ever 1 Because it was one end of Christs crucifying To hate sin is the end of Christs death that sin and the flesh should be crucified Gal. 5.24 that They that are Christs have crucified the flesh understanding by the flesh the corruption of Nature with the affections and lusts of it Christs members should pluck up the very roots of sin the very inward lusts that grow in the heart Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our Old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might bee destroyed that is the whole corruption of Nature may be killed by the death of Christ yet not so farre as to free us from all sin but that we might not serve sin or obey it in the lusts thereof For this cause did Christ bear our sin upon the Crosse That we being dead unto sin might live unto righteousnesse 1 Pet. 2.24 That is that we should behave our selves like dead men not to be moved nor inticed to sin For first this was the end which God propounded to himself in his Sons death to destroy sin Wee must be very careful how we frustrate the end of God in our giving way to sin Secondly Christ hath by his death merited the death of sin and so we are said to dye with Christ and so bee freed from sin Rom. 6.7 Thirdly adde to this the efficacy of Christs death which works the ruine of sin in all his members Hence Phil. 3.10 wee read of a power and force in the death of Christ to make us conformable to his death while his Spirit is killing sin in us So that Christs death hath no comfort for them that hate not sin 2 Our sin killed Christ We must hate sin because it killed Christ if then wee have any love to Christ wee must needs kill sin Psal 97.10 Yee that l ve the Lord hate evil The Love of Christ constraineth us to it 2 Cor. 5.14 The law of Nature makes a man that hee cannot indure the sight of one that hath killed his father or his dear Friend but his very heart will rise against him and hee cannot choose but follow the Law upon him to the utmost to hang him if all the law in the World will do it And can wee bee so unnatural that sin should destroy our dearest Saviour and we not be avenged upon it How should wee bee transported with Indignation at sin that brought on our Redeemer the pains both of the first and second death Then let us pursue our sins with all possible detestations if wee let them go wee are no Friends to Christ Let us stab them to the heart till they bleed their last that drew the blood of Christ Let them never come to any Sanctuary or City of refuge but as Avengers of that precious blood let us leave sin no shift no way to escape Let us say to them as David to the young man that told him hee had slain Saul 2 Sam. 1.14 How wast thou not afraid to stretch out thy hand to destroy the Lords annointed and David commanded him strait to bee slain do thou likewise Reason thus also against all temptations these sins were the death of my Saviour and why should they bee my delight They pierced his hands and feet
partaker of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and that by the exceeding great and precious promises so that thy lusts are destroyed and thou art no longer an enemy or a stranger unto God but acquainted and reconciled Col. 1.21 Lastly see this by the peace that the bloud of Christ hath wrought in thy soul Heb. 9.14 Obj. But hath every one peace of Conscience that hath interest in the bloud of Christ Ans Every one hath peace with God Rom. 5.1 and though it doth not always quiet the conscience yet it stayes the heart with some waiting upon God and purges the conscience every day more and more See whether thou findest this in thee Vse 5. Exhortation to get this propitiation Exhortation to betake our selves to the Sacrifice and bloud-shed of Christ Heb. 9.26 He is the only Mercy-seat We shall speak 1 To those that apprehend or have cause to apprehend Gods Wrath kindled against them 2 To the members of Christ 1 To those that lye still in a state of enmity to seek for the appeasing Gods anger and to take the right course for this Consider 1 The excellency of this condition Peace and reconciliation with God is the main businesse in the Kingdom of God that is first to be sought Matth. 6.33 the prayer of the Saints Dan. 9.16 17. O Lord according to all thy righteousnesse let all thine anger and fury be turned away 2 Consider that the Lord deals with you as he commanded his people to doe Deut. 20.10 he sends forth his servants with inessages of peace and hangs forth his white flag of truce before hee sends forth his armies of Judgements to destroy it or as Matth. 10.11 13. Luk. 10.6 Enquire in the house or city who is worthy and if the son of peace bee there let your peace come upon it else shake off the dust c. Thus are the offers of peace in the word of reconciliation sent to you Is there any child of peace here that will hear it and give it entertainment And know that though you should not regard it yet the Kingdom of God is come nigh to you and Conscience will one day find it upon the file for a testimony against you And hereafter will wisdom say Because I have called c. Prov. 1.24 28. Luk. 19.42 Verily I perswade my self that there are many thousands in these days of the Gospel that are wounded deep and lye bleeding to destruction under that word of wisdoms mouth for refusing stiffely so fair an offer as we are making this day unto you Quest What course should a poor soul take to have the benefit of this propitiation Ans 1. It will be very needful for a Sinner advisedly toset down with himself what he hath in all the world to support his heart when the evil day shall come upon him Isa 10.3 What will you doe in the day of visitation Job 31.14 What shall I doe when he rises up when he visits what shall I answer Then your thoughts will be so snarled and perplexed that you will not know whether to goe nor how to bear nor avoyd nor remove the evil that is coming upon you As Luther speaks of the Papists That at the approaches of death they were so perplexed in spirit that they were like Birds taken in a Lime-bush which the more they flutter the more they are hampered so fearfully saith he that I have seen many Murtherers and Malefectors condemned to death goe to their execution more couragiously than they So it falls out with poor obdurate sinners in the evil day though you out brave it now outwardly yet what a black bosome and Scorpions stings of guilt hast thou within thy soul rankling and gathering against the evil day whither will yee then fly to the Creatures they are all Gods Armies and Subjects and will fight against you as the Stars against Sisera Judg. 5.20 will you goe to your wits and shifts but then you shall bee at your wits ends Psal 107.27 will yee goe to an angry God the Judge of all the World But he saith Hos 13.7 8. I will be to them as a Lion and as a Leopard by the way to observe them c. yea the Lord will be more terrible than all these Wilt thou goe to thy Conscience alas that 's that Hell-worm the tormentor and the rack Ah it is better to be a Dogge or a Toad or any thing than to bee without Christs propitiation yet at such a time doth a poor member of Christ know what to doe See Job 13.15 Hab. 3.17 Psal 94.19.49.5 Heb. 13.6 2 Strive to apprehend as much as possible thou mayest the infinite power of that God whose anger is kindled against thee 1 Cor. 10.21 Doe you provoke the Lord Are you stronger than he Isa 27.4 Who will set the bryars and thorns against him c Remember what the very Philistims said 1. Sam. 6.6 Wherefore doe you harden your hearts as the Aegyptians and Pharaoh hardned their hearts c. Ezek. 22.14 How can thy heart endure or thy hands bee strong c. Isa 45.9 Psal 76.7 3 Consider that it is possible to appease Gods anger See Jonah 3.9 though it bee not certain yet if it bee possible it is enough to set us a seeking after it 4 See the large extent of the blessed propitiation of Christ Jesus 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Hee is a propitiation not for our sins only c. that is the elect and beleevers he wrote to but to all others over all the world Not that all or the greater part shall bee saved by the death of Christ but that by this large extent of the efficacy of Christs death the elect themselves might be the better encouraged to embrace the sacrifice of Christs death by faith He gave his life a ransome for all 1 Tim. 2.6 that is some of all sorts of persons or people no kind excluded He keeps a free and open house unto all comers Isa 45.20 22. 5 God though he be the person injured yet he is content to lay down the quarrel and hath eminently shewed his willingnesse thereto in that he sent his Son to make reconciliation for sinners 1 Joh. 4.10 Dan. 9.24 and hath committed to his Ministers the word of reconciliation that as in Christs stead they might pray men to accept of this peace Quest How doth the Lord entreat us to bee reconciled unto him Doth not the Lord know that it is not in our power to bee reconciled to him our nature being enmity against God Ans Christs propitiation or expiatory sacrifice hath purchased all those things to bee wrought in sinners that may make them partakers of and comforted in this sacrifice of his As Faith Phil. 1.29 Repentance Acts 5.31 change of nature Isa 11.6 7. Heb. 13.21 22. so that all a poor sinner hath to doe is to fall down at the feet of Christ in the use of his Ordinances to wait upon him and to follow his directions both willingly
power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings and this was that he might undoubtedly conclude his communion with Christ in his death how should be conclude that hee addes being made conformable to his death and what conformity to Christ's death can there be without mortification of sin I might adde also those places that speak of the cleansing vertue of the death of Christ Heb. 9.14 1 Joh. 1.7 Tri. 4. The true knowledge of Christ crucified doth crucifie us to the world and the world to us Gal. 6.14 Paul looked at the world as a dead thing a carrion which hee loathed so hee looked at the honours riches delights and lusts that the world dotes upon hee looked at it as a dead Carcase yea a crucified i. e. an accursed thing to set his heart upon and though Paul was eminent this way and above the ordinary sort of beleevers yet you shall find all the faithful even the weakest have some measure of this disposition in them as Zacheus when salvation came to his house Luke 19. and Phil. 3.18 19. they that minde earthly things are enemies to the Crosse of Christ but our conversation is in heaven hee speaks of all the faithful there is our trading and dealing Briefly the Apostle makes covetousnesse not only enmity against God Jam. 4.4 but intollerable in a Church of Christ 1 Cor. 5.11 If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous c. Oh then what exceeding cause is there to inquire into our knowledge of Christ to see what it is if it cannot stand with a covetous or worldly frame of heart Vse 3. Instruction to beleevers where to cast anchor in whatever storms or tempests that wee meet withall in this present life that is that we pitch our faith and exercise it in Christ crucified O beloved in the Lord I beseech you not to content your selves with Spiritual things in the lump or the Mystery of Christ in a heap though they may give some sweet savour yet they are in comparison like a bundle of Spices that are whole or a Box of Oyntment shut up and not poured out If the Spices be bruised and the Oyntment poured out oh then how sweet and fragrant is the smell and so let us break as it were this Mystery of Christ in pieces and labour for a distinct understanding and beleeving in Christ this will make these things farre more savoury behold the several beauties of Christ as the Church did Cant. 5.10 see the beauty of every part of Christ Remember what himself said Where the Carcasse is c. this is the crucified Saviour and who are Eagles but beleevers to whom the Crosse of Christ is savoury and they will sent it a great way and flock together from farre to feed upon it Mot. 1. Consider we what it is to bee a Christian truly it is to sprout and spring up out of the grave of Christ Isa 53.10 When he shall make his soul an offering for sin hee shall see his seed i. e. his posterity and Joh. 12.24 Verily verily I say unto you except a grain of wheat fall to the ground and dye it abideth alone but if it dye it bringeth forth much fruit fruit which springs forth from Christs death Heb. 2.10 who by suffering death brought many sons to glory i. e. the children of God and Christ the whole Catholick Church are but the seeds that sprout out from a Crucified and dying Redeemer Mot. 2. There is all sufficiency to be had for justification in a crucified Saviour Luke 14.17 Come for all things are ready and such an one that comes shall never hunger nor thirst Joh. 6.35 The soul is compleat in Christ Col. 2.10 and though there is nothing but emptinesse in other things and those that feed upon them feed on ashes Isa 44.20 and labour in the fire Hab. 2.13 follow the East wind Hos 12.1 and spend their labour for that that is not bread Isa 55.1 2. yet there is fulnesse enough in Christ crurified there is bread eough as the Prodigal saith in our Fathers house Luke 15.17 â—â— Alas quoth he I follow after those things that will not satisfie and am ready to famish for want of bread amongst the husks of the profits and pleasures of this world but in Christ crucified is bread enough full satisfaction and supply of all my wants then whither shall I goe but unto him and beleeve on him Mot. 3. Consider whose bloud it is the bloud of himself i. e. of the person that is God that must needs have infinite worth and value in it Mot. 4. The Lord Jesus himself takes contentment and satisfaction in beleevers betaking themselves to him and his crosse Hee is satisfied in seeing the travel of his soul Isa 53.10 11. The woman that hath had sore travel in Child-bearing when she beholds the fruit of her body forgets her pains and is comforted So it is with our blessed Saviour who takes great contentment when such sinful Creatures doe fly unto his precious bloud for refuge and sanctuary Dir. 1. Above all things take pains to know Jesus Christ and him crucified and that experimentally this was Pauls setled resolution and determination 1 Cor. 2.2 and he picks out above all other this sweet flower or jewel The phrase is not ordinary but it is used to signifie that Paul made it his end that he proposed to himself in Christ let me tell you there is enough in Christ crucified to busie your meditations upon Dir. 2. Labour to see the daily necessity of Christ crucified every day as long as thou livest consider that every day not only in regard of sins but the best duties you have need of this bloud of sprinkling Heb. 9.19 20. He sprinkled with bloud both the tabernacle and the people and the book and the vessels of the ministry almost all things were purged with bloud and when the destroyers are abroad Heb. 11.28 there is nothing in the world can keep off the destroyer but the bloud of the Paschal Lamb Heb. 13.20 21. Dir. 3. O have a singular care to take heed of sinning against the bloud of Christ how ever held forth to thee It is held forth in the ministry of the Gospel Gal. 3.1 2. and in the Sacraments and there is a dreadful wrong done to the bloud of Christ by unworthy receiving of the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.27 such an one is guilty of the Body and Bloud of Christ i. e. he commits such a sin as Judas or the Jewes in murthering Christ Oh! how loud doth the bloud of Christ cry against such sinners that so prophane the Lords Table either by ignorance or mean preparation to it and so Apostacy from the faith is called trampling under foot the bloud of Christ c. Heb. 10.26 27. Dir. 4. Doe as the faithful of old in offering up their sacrifices for propitiation or sin-offerings for they were all types of our Propitiation and Christs
there is nothing left to trouble our peace and hinder our comfort Isa 35. last The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Sion with Songs and everlasting joies upon their heads It is a blessed time the ransomed of the Lord have none can hinder their joy and blessedness Rom. 4.6 Psal 32.1 There is nothing can hinder our blessedness but sin and that being slain by Christs death our great enemy is overcome So that the blood of Christ that is available for the pardon of our sins past is also available for the sins that are to come and follow his death Use 3. Lay claim to pardon Instruction to true Beleevers Seeing there is such efficacy in the blood of Christ for the remission of all their sins let them learn this high part of spiritual wisdome to lay claim to this full pardon and let them not charge their consciences with the guilt of their sins for this is in a sort to lessen if not deny the force and vertue of the death of Christ which is to bee abhorred by every Christian Heb. 10.2 They that are once purged have no more Conscience of sin i.e. of the terrours and guilt of sin unsatisfied for if God and his word conclude us to bee under sin then wee must conclude so too but if they discharge us and set us at liberty then shall wee wrong Scripture wrong God and Christ and our own Souls to charge our selves with the guilt of our Iniquities One would think Beleevers need not any advice in matters of this nature but it is a sure rule that the Carnal man and unbeleever thinks it the easiest matter in the World to put over all his sins upon Christ and perswade his heart that his sins are pardoned whereas a Beleever accounts it a difficult business to remove the mountains of sin and as it were by faith to cast them into the midst of the Sea so as to conclude the Remission and Forgiveness of all their sins So that they have great need of this advice and the want of this wisdom is that which breeds so many bad thoughts fears doubts discouragements and darknesse in the hearts of true beleevers When as sometimes they think upon their sins they are ready quite and clean to sink them thus it was with David Psal 38.4 Our Iniquities are gone over our heads c. with Job Job 13.26 Thou writest bitter things against mee and makest mee possesse the sinnes of my Youth Job 14.16 17. Thou watchest over my sins thou sealest up my Transgression in a bag c. and with Moses Psal 90.8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance who speaks there in behalf of the Church then in distresse This is that which is so grievous to Christians in case of temptations and desertions spiritual that they look at their sins as unpardoned or standing in full force against them and so the death of Christ as invalid and not reaching to the pardon of them Truely in such and the like cases I know not what to call it whether Pride or Weakness or Folly that poor Beleevers do frame inditements against themselves and take their debts upon themselves which the Lord Jesus hath discharged And it is like as if some poor man were cast into Prison for debt and some rich friend should lay down a full summe to discharge the debt and cancell his bonds and so set him at liberty and hee refuse the kindness and say nay but this payment is not sufficient but I must discharge it my self or else I will never come out What will you call this Truely this is your case that your spirits are over-whelmed with your sins you go like malefactors with fetters and bolts about their heels Though your liberty is purchased and the Prison doors are set wide open yet you will not bee delivered and come out You account not the pay of Christ current and go about drooping discouraged and uncomfortable disabling your selves for any duties and create needless miseries to your selves Well remember the point and use in hand that the blood of Jesus Christ hath cleansed us i. e. all true beleevers from all iniquities 1 Joh. 1.7 Dan. 9.24 Rom. 5.11 Isa 38.17 Thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back It is a borrowed speech from men when they regard not a thing they cast it behind their backs and thus God doth with the guilt of beleevers sins Object But is not this a ground of looseness prophaneness and incouragement to Libertines Drunkards and Unclean persons for they will say why should wee bee troubled for our sins how many soever wee have committed seeing Christ by his death hath purchased the full remission of our sins therefore they think they may revel carouse swagger drink whore cozen what not and need never bee troubled for their sins Answ This is just the conceit of the Familists and Antinomians that maintain wee need not to bee troubled for our sinnes and that justified persons have nothing to do with repentance any more or if they do repent they do undervalue Christ and his Death as if hee had not sufficiently satisfied for our sins Now to prevent the cavils of ungratious hearts and to give Gods people that portion of Instruction that belongs to them I answer in these particulars Answ 1. There is no unbeleever hath any ground in the Word to conclude the pardon of his sins in the state of his unbeleef or that hee hath any real benefit by the death of Christ If they conceive otherwise they couzen their own souls Heb. 10.38 If any man with-draw himself my soul shall have no pleasure in him that is he will not pardon him Joh. 3.18 Hee that beleeves not is condemned already The sentence is already passed upon every unbeleever in the Word of God yea and in the Counsel of God upon him that shall continue obstinately and finally in the sin of unbeleef whereby such great indignity is offered to Gods Grace and Word and especially such horrid rebellion and unthankfulnesse to the Lord Jesus Christ For so it follows because hee hath not beleeved in the Name of the only begotten Son of God Surely hee that is condemned for sin hath not the remission of sin but is going to execution for sin 2 There is no unregenerate unsanctified or disobedient person but is an unbeleever and therefore destitute of any comfort in Christs death This the Scriptures do clearly hold forth for Regeneration and Faith goe together 1 Joh. 5.1 Whosoever beleeveth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God Psal 32.1 2. Joh. 1.12 13. They that beleeve are sanctified Heb. 10.11 By one offering hee hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Without obedience there is no faith Heb. 5.9 and dreadful is that place spoken of Christ Exod. 23.21 Provoke him not obey his voice for hee will not bear your transgressions so it may bee rendred hee
so prosperous as a pardoned estate And this right use of pardon stands in deep humility and abasement of our selves Ezek. 16.63 That thou mayest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified towards thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord. 2 Another use of it is in vigilancy and watchfulnesse at all times and in all places against sin Psal 85.8 3 In a resolved care and conscience of obedience for the time to come Jerem. 31.33 38. 4 To love God so much the more as the poor woman Luke 7.47 Now I come to shew you how farre a Christian ought to goe in comforting his soul about the forgivenesse of his sin 1 A beleever holding his integrity should never conceive How farre a beleever ought not to charge his soul with sin or let his heart be perswaded that any of all his sins shall ever bring guilt upon him so as to cause Gods revenging justice to bind him over to wrath If any one shall doe so hee sins and bears false witnesse against God and his own Soul It is one thing to say we are worthy to bee condemned and another thing to say or think we shall be condemned indeed For there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus c. Rom. 8.1 because Christ hath condemned their sin sins guilt is on them as the Viper on Pauls hand which he soon shook off without any hurt Or like the Lions in the Den where Daniel was cast who though they were hungry God shut their mouthes and they had no power on Daniel Dan. 6.22 25. but when they who caused Darius to make the Decree were cast in the Lions tare them suddenly in pieces before they came to the ground Just so it is with the sins of the faithful and the sins of wicked men and unbeleevers the sins of the faithful though they are of a killing and Lion-like nature for the wages of every sin in it self is death yet the Lord Jesus in the behalf of beleevers stops the Lions mouthes and takes away the guilt and the condemning power of it so that it cannot hurt them But when it meets with an unbeleever it soon slayes him Psal 34.21 Evil shall slay the wicked yea sin shall lye at his door Gen. 4.7 the filthinesse of the unclean person shall devoure him the disobedience of the stubborn shall plague him the pride of the haughty and scorner shall rend the very caul of his heart one day c. but so it is not with poor beleevers though their sin hath teeth and jaws and power to make them worthy of condemnation yet it shall never be able to fasten condemnation on them 2 Every faithful soul is bound to perswade his heart that God doth not nor ever will charge any one sin upon him He will never follow the Law upon him here for his hurt curse or mischief in this life God may indeed hide his face from him and write bitter things against him and deal with him as an angry Father with a disobedient Childe but will never prosecute him at his Law as an enemy or Judge but a beleever may say with holy Job chap. 13.15 Though hee stay me I will put my trust in him because he sees no iniquity in Jacob Numb 23.22 What is that Not to trouble you with the delusions of the Familists the meaning is that the Lord takes no notice of the sins of his Israel to impute them or to punish them but only to pardon cover and cure them Isa 53.6 all the sins of beleevers meet in Christ as in the center like so many Diameters of a Circle or as all the Rivers meet in the Sea so all the Sins of beleevers on Christ in the full punishment and curse of them Therefore let every beleever make conscience to consider what God hath revealed in the Promise and take heed that you make not God a Lyar and be sure that you are discharged from all your sins by Christ but let not any unbeleever or prophane person meddle with this priviledge for he hath no part or fellowship with it they shall bear their own drunkennesse scorning Sabbath-breaking and all manner of prophanenesse the Devil is let loose iniquity is upon them and the flying roul of Curses and Divine vengeance is gone forth against them They have sinned and be sure their sin will find them out Num. 32.23 as a Bloud-hound findes out a Thief But you that are beleevers glorifie the name of Christ and his Death and I charge you take heed what you say or think in this case as though God would avenge himself on you or deal with you as an enemy 3 Every true beleever should exempt his soul from any fear of the charge of any sin upon it by any accuser in this world so as to break off the love of God in Christ from him Famous is that bold challenge of Paul Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect be it Devil or World or Conscience there is nothing can be of such force and power as to affright us as though wee might fall from the love of God whereby hee hath loved us in Christ Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace c. 4 A beleever should take heed of speaking or thinking that God is so displeased with him as to neglect him reject him or forget him for his sins Isa 40.27 28. Why sayest thou O Jacob and speakest O Israel my way is hid from the Lord c. Isa 49.14 Sion said God hath forsaken mee c. yea though he should fall into some foul sin yet hee should not conceive his condition hopelesse and helplesse 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Psal 130.3 though he must see that he repent and bee suitably humbled for such falls but this is his comfort when hee falls he shall arise not perish-through hardnesse and impenitency but be raised by true remorse hearty sorrow and humiliation for his sins or any one in particular that he hath fallen by Vse 4. It is exhortation to the performance of several duties about or concerning the pardon of our sins 1 Wee should learn from hence highly to esteem the pardon and forgivenesse of our sins for these grounds 1 Because it is a peculiar property of God A property of God to forgive sin belonging to the Lord alone to forgive sin that is expressed in the text in these words through the forbearance of God forbearance and remission belong only to the Lord as his Prerogatives royal Exod. 34.7 Forgiving iniquity transgression and sin Isa 47.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions c. Mic. 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth Iniquity c. Oh! there is an infinite evil in sin and therefore requires an infinite power to remove it Hence it is made an argument of the God-head of Christ to forgive sin Matth.
it may be cleared from the Spiritual businesse it ever puts the soul upon it is active like the vestuous woman which puts her hand to every â—â—rk â—rov 31. â—4 17. 2 Thess 1.11 Hence it is that the 〈…〉 by his faith Heb â— â— believers doe all i. e saith 〈…〉 the faithful of old were inabled to do so great works old were inabled to do so great works Heb. 11.33 Subdued kingdoms wrought righteousnesse c. but it is most especially busie in the use of Ordinances as the Word Prayer Seals though it will not bee 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 callings it works by love and is our victory over the 〈◊〉 1 Joâ— 5.4 So that a true faith is imploying it self on all hands for a beleevers good Now alas when 〈◊〉 faith is but a dead drugge in us or is but an underling in the heart and is at the command of every lust profit or pleasure truly it is not lively much lesse shall you live eternally by it 4 Clear up the way and fruits of forgivenesse of sins the way of bringing it home unto the soul is the Word Acts 26.18 the Word was preached to open mens eyes If ever wee come to the right knowledge of the pardon of our sins it must be by the Word preached working these particulars 1. Illumination discovering effectual your sin and misery to us with a through sense and feeling of it 2 The conversion of the soul and turning of it from darknesse to light Now when the league with Hell is disaâ—ulled then wee come to receive forgivenesse of sin Besides 〈◊〉 the fruit of forgivenesse there bee many 〈…〉 of this sappy root let mee name some First the 〈…〉 heart to love Christ with fervency Luke 7.47 〈…〉 were many were forgiven her for she loved much her love was the effect not the cause of her pardon So Psal 116.1 3 4 c. Quest What kind of love is this to God Ans Such a love as inlargeth the heart in duties to God as it did that poor woman and David and Peter Hence is in them a love to the Word and Ordinances and the Children of God it is not possible for a man to have great debts forgiven him and that out of pitty and bounty when hee hath nothing to pay but that his love should bee kindled and his heart in a light fire in zeal for God 2 A forgiving disposition in case of personal wrongs Ephes 4.32 Bee yee kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven us and this note is given by our blessed Saviour with great earnestnesse and asseveration affirmatively and negatively If yee forgive men their trespasses then your heavenly Father will forgive you Matth. 6.12.14 15. and if yee from the heart forgive not every one his brother their trespasses neither will your heavenly Father forgive you Hee speaks indefinitely every one not excepting any it is a sad sentence for a malicious heart But a merciful heart that can forgive private wrongs and strive against motions of malice and revenge and be humbled for them and that from the heart how great soever the injuries are it is a sure fruit of Gods pardoning him and his freedom from guile and reigning Hypocrisie Psal 32.1 2. 1 Joh. 3.19 6 Maintain and improve the forgivenesse of sin cleared up unto thee and this will be by daily and diligent observation of our wayes by often reckonings with God and getting the Book still crossed by suing out a pardon of course and therefore Christ teacheth us to pray daily Forgive us our debts This was Davids practice as appears by Psal 119.58 59. and other places and this must bee joyned with a resolution and care to shun future sins and failings and hereby wee shall know we are of the truth i. e. sincere and shall assure our hearts before him 1 Joh. 3.19 Now this improvement is First by holy humble and thankful abasement of our selves before God continually Hos 3.5 Ezek. 16. ult so Ezek. 36.29 I will save you from all your uncleannesses then shall yee remember your own evil wayes c. Beware of pride covetousnesse carnal rejoycing shaking off sorrow for sin it is a bad symptom when a man doth so 2 Bee careful to improve your interest in the favour of God for others not only near relations but even for strangers especially for the publick as Noah Daniel Job Moses Samuel c. they were still standing in the gap 3 Bee ready to comfort other with the same comfort wherewith God hath comforted us 2 Cor. 1.4 4 Know and bear in mind your ingagement to the Lord. The Princes pardon is the condemned Malefactors life as Mephibosheth said 2 Sam. 19.28 All my fathers house were dead men before thee Pardon of sinne is the eternal life of the sinner and hee is passed from Death to Life by it Yea as the offending God by Sin is an infinite evil so the forgivenesse of the offence is an infinite good and wee may say What shall wee render to the Lord for all his benefits towards us Surely as Psalm 116.8 9. Hee hath delivered our souls from death our eyes from tears and our feet from falling that we should walk before the Lord in the land of the living Of the Righteousnesse of Christ THE NINETEENTH SERMON ON Romans 3.21 But now the righteousness of Christ c. IN the handling of the point of Justification I have spoken of the several causes thereof and the end thereof in regard of men viz. Remission of sins and thereupon immediately followes the accounting of the beleeving Sinner righteous unto Salvation that is by the imputation of the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ unto the Sinner and that being described in the context and same portion of Scripture I shall proceed unto it now where the handling of it may come in at the due place for our better understanding thereof In the two verses 19 20. the Apostle shewed before Negatively that Justification is not by the works of the Law now he shewes Affirmatively how we are justified and that is expressed 1 By the matter of it The righteousnesse of God amplified by way of opposition to the Law without the Law i. e. without the works of the Law any way Co-working or meriting our justification 2 This is set forth by the Adjunct of the approbation and testimony of the Law and the Prophets 3 By the instrument that is faith of Jesus Christ understand it not actively for the faith whereby Christ beleeved but passively the faith whereby Christ is beleeved on 4 The subject beleevers and those universally and emphatically set down unto all and upon all that beleeve Quest What is meant by the righteousnesse of God Ans It is not to be understood of that whereby God himself is righteous as Osiander said for that is essential to God and cannot be communicated to the Creature but this righteousnesse is elsewhere called the righteousnesse of Christ
hee must renounce his own righteousnesse Quest How should a man come to renounce his own righteousness Answ There are two sorts of Actions required to this end 1 In the Understanding 2 In the Will 1 Something must bee wrought in the understanding as appears Rev. 3.17 18. Laodicea knew not that shee was wretched and miserable and blinde c. I Counsel thee to annoint thine eies with eye-salve that thou mayest see i.e. her self to bee blind and miserable c. The soul must bee convinced of the inconceivable misery of its natural estate that every Childe of Adam hath lost all righteousnesse being dead in sin a Childe of wrath and under the power of the Devil Rom. 7.18 I know that in me that is in my flesh there dwelleth no good thing Mat. 7.18 A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit Rom. 8.8 They that are in the flesh cannot please God This eye-salve to bring this discovery by opening our eies must bee had of and derived from the Lord Jesus and it is called the Spirits conviction Joh. 16.8 The Spirit 's convincing the world of sin 2 The second thing is Conviction of the righteousness of God Joh. 16.9 For it is the ignorance of Gods righteousness that makes us trust in our own It is exceeding requisite to have a discovery of the righteousness of Christ made unto us this white raiment that we may buy it to cover our nakedness and that wee may see this raiment wee have need of Christ's eye-salve and this is not a general discovery only that Christs righteousness is provided for sinners and that it is to bee attained but it is particular and respecting our selves It is for a man to bee wise for himself and to bee convinced of the nature worth and excellency of the righteousness of Christ in relation to the naked and needy condition that hee himself is in And this will make a man desire as Paul that hee may be found in him It also breeds deliberate thoughts and serious projects for the supplying our wants Besides it is so strong and effectual that it will not suffer the soul to rest without it and concludes thus I must go unto Christ for his righteousness or else I perish This being backed with infallible and undeniable arguments taking such impressure in the knowledge and judgement must needs set the will and affections on work to go to choosing this so great bonum apparens or rather real good now appearing presented unto them 2 The next main duty concerns the will and its subjection to this righteousnesse and it is spoken of by Paul Rom. 10.3 That the Jews would not submit to it Now this submission is especially of the heart and will and stands 1 In a serious renouncing of all confidence in the flesh Phil. 3.3 it is the resolving to say no more to the works of our hands that they are our Gods Hos 14.3 It is a kinde of habitual despair of all help by any thing in us or done by us and that not only in our first conversion but afterwards when the soul is more acquainted with God and with its own self 2 In the subjecting our selves to Gods righteousnesse the bowing and abasing the soul before the Lord in a thorow sight of our misery and unworthinesse and this is called the receiving the sentence of death in our selves 2 Cor. 1.10 to become an afflicted and poor people that will trust in the name of the Lord for it is nothing but pride that keeps up the heart above God and his righteousness 3 In the hastening of the soul unto Christ and his righteousness a labouring constantly to go beyond the means though a man shall use the means never so diligently As it is with the Mariner though his hand bee upon the Oar and Helm yet his heart is ever towards the Haven So it is with the Sinner that longs after the satisfaction of Christ though his hand bee on the means yet his heart is on the righteousness of Christ 1 To make the means powerful on the soul to bring it to Christ to bee as winde to his Sails For if a ship have never so good tackling and have no winde and be becalmed it makes no speed towards its haven 2 Hee sees the need of Christ to cover the weaknesses of his services and for this his heart is on Christs righteousnesse seeing that no sacrifice will bee accepted but what comes thorow the hands of this High Priest who is also the only Altar Heb. 13.10 3 As the substantial injoyment in all means and ordinances These hee looks at but as dishes to bring to him the bread of life in and dishes are onely for the meats sake Hee looks at them but as boats to bring him to Christ and therefore intends to dwell in them no longer than he is on his journey and therefore he often stirreth up himself to lay hold on Christ 4 In a considerate serious deliberate choice of Christ or the passing over the spiritual and everlasting estate to the Lord Jesus and this is the frequent casting the soul upon the righteousnesse of Christ Psal 91.16 and it is a work of faith and prayer Psal 62.8 Trust in the Lord at all times yee people c. Pour out your hearts before him or roule your hearts upon him and all this is the Lords working and he must be mightily intreated to do this great work for us Vse 5. It is a ground of everlasting Thank fulness unto God for all beleeving sinners That the God of all grace hath thus provided for their eternal peace What an Incomparable mercy is it that the Lord when hee findes his poor Church and People in their blood polluted and cast forth That hee should love them and spread his skirt over them Ezek. 16.8 c. That hee should cover their nakednesse annoint them with oyle cloath them with broidered work fine linnen c. the very description of the justification of a sinner What a wonderful love is it that makes a Great Monarch take a beggar in raggs and nastinesse and marry her to himself yet it is the King of Glory doth so with us Oh let us magnify the Lord for this great mercy and think often upon his love and take heed of the Sin of the Church of the Jews vers 15. They trusted in their own beauty and so went a whoring away from Christ But take heed of so much as speaking in thy heart for my righteousnesse the Lord hath done this Deut. 9.4 5. understand that it is not for thy righteousnesse for thou art a stiffe-necked people It is spoken of bringing of the people into the land of Canaan but apply it to the present point Ezek. 36.32 when the Lord had spoken of Justification c. hee addes not for your sakes do I do this saith the Lord God bee it known unto you bee ashamed and confounded c. still the Lord beats upon this in all the mercies
a people that have no understanding â— therefore he that made them will have no mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour Yee have no understanding as if he should have said Yee have unmade and undone your selves by your folly wherefore I will not pitty you as my Creatures but if there were any validity in what this Objector saith then the Devils might comfort themselves which are the Creatures of God as well as men but of them and all the wicked of the world is that verified Prov. 16.4 God made all things for himself and the wicked for the evil day Obj. 5. If I must be the everlasting Object of Divine justice and vengeance for my sin I will bear it as well as I can Answ Now wretched creature is it come to that pass dost thou know what thou sayest know the Lyon by his paw Cain said Gen. 4.13 My punishment is greater than I can bear Proverbs 18.14 A wounded spirit who can bear Remember how it was with Job chapter 6.12 Is my strength the strength of stones Again Job 7.14 15. My soul chuseth strangling c. And Hezekiah Isa 38.13 I reckoned till morning That as a Lion so will he break all my bones Psal 88.15 Heman said whilst hee suffered the terrours of God he was distracted Job 31.23 Destruction from the Almighty was a terror unto me and by reason of his highnesse I could not endure Now these men that are last mentioned were precious Saints and Servants of the Lord that had a singular support of divine grace and yet they upon some lesser manifestations of the terrors of God in this life did thus expresse themselves But what is this in comparison of the Sinners of Sion Isa 33.14 15. what is this in comparison of everlasting burnings everlasting punishment Matth. 25. and the last vers streamings of brimstone chains of darknesse everlasting fire c. Matth. 25.41 the bottomeless pit an everlasting death immortal mortality according to that expression Rev. 9.6 they shall seek death and shall not find it they shall desire to dye and death shall flee from them consider but that expression of everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Matth. 25.41 the words are these Then shall hee say also unto them on the left hand depart from me yee cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mark that word prepared it is spoken as if the Almighty Wisdome did deliberate and as it were set down and devise all stinging and terrible ingredients for a temper of greatest torture to make up that dreadful fire wherein hee meant to torment eternally his enemies do but cast an eye upon the sufferings of the Lord Jesus and his agony and prayer under the sense of his Fathers wrath and judge how well thou art like to bear the wrath of a sin-revenging God In a word let mee shut up this discourse with that of the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 13. vers 11. Yee speak peace false peace to your own hearts build the Wall and dawb it ever with untempered mortar thus saith the Lord say unto them you dawb it with untempered mortar that it shall fall and there shall bee an overflowing showre and yee O great hail-stones shall fall and the stormy wind shall rent it The great God commands the great hail-stones to throw down the walls and daubings that yee shall say where is the daubing wherewith wee have daubed it All the vain Cavils of impenitent sinners shall bee scattered and do them no good I shall finish this use with a few conclusions following thence Conclusi 1. It is a horrible depth of Satans subtilty to hold an unbeleeving or impenitent sinner in a senseless security without feeling or fear of divine vengeance seeing such a soul is continually subject to bee seized on by the justice of God and that notwithstanding this sinners should bee so desperate that they turn to their course as the horse to the battel Jerem. 8.6 This is suitable to those expressions 2 Thes 2.9 10. where the Apostle tells us of the efficacy of Satan with all power and with all deceivablenesse of unrighteousness in them that perish Now these are Satans plots by which hee deceives souls 1 To procure them secrecy and successe in their wicked enterprizes for secrecy you have a place in Esay chapter 29.15 Their works are in the dark and they say who seeth mee or who knoweth us they dig deep to hide their counsel from the Lord much more from me saith the Prophet surely your turnings of things up and down shall bee as the Potters clay for shall the work say of him that made it hee made mee not Psal 64.5 They incourage themselves in an evil matter they commune of laying snares privily and say who shall see them but God shall shoot at them c. Now for their success in their wickedness and attempts the Devil makes fair promises of that too and for a while it may bee they may prosper Thus Haman Doeg the Scribes and Pharisees for some time prospered so did Julian the Apostate We read of this delusion of prospering in sin in Dan. 8.24 Hereupon the poor deluded wretches strengthen themselves in their wickedness Psal 52.1 2 He draws them by all the Baits hee can to engage them to their lusts to Ale-houses drinking revelling gaming feasting all manner of good-fellow-meetings and Bedlam-fooleries where the Devil himself is present in his Pontificalibus Prov. 1.11 Come say they let us lay wait for blood c. wee shall finde all pretious substance wee shall fill our houses with spoil cast in thy lot c. 3 Hee fills their heads with a multitude of worldly occasions with hope of gathering wealth so hee dealt with Cain in his building and as the Idolaters used when they sacrificed their Children to Moloc to drown the cries of their children with the noise of Drumms so these drown all the noise of Conscience with the lowder noise of the cumber and clutter of those worldly affairs 4 The Devil like a crafty juggler casts mists before the eies of his slaves or else as the Philistims dealt with Sampson puts out their eies that they shall not see the ugly face of sin They call evil good and good evil and so draw on iniquity and Isa 5.19 20. there they challenge God and say Let him make speed and hasten his work c. Let the Counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come c. Oh how miserable is that soul that is thus deluded by the Devil and led captive at his pleasure and what a fearful thing is it to abide one moment in such a condition Conclusi We are to justify God in all his severity 2. Then let us justify God in all the severity of his Commands Threatnings Judgements this was the frame of Davids heart when hee was kindly humbled Psal 51.4 That thou maiest bee justified when thou speakest
right and will not punish sins twice So that although they are not exempted altogether from Gods fatherly Chastisements and afflicting hand in this life yet there shall bee no condemnation unto them the exactnesse of Gods Justice cannot doe this Job 38.10 11 12. Farre be is from the Almighty that hee should doe wickednesse c. It would be rightly accounted great injustice in a Magistrate to punish the same offence twice therefore much lesse can God be guilty of it Comf 3. This serveth to answer all cavills and objections though there were Millions of them that can bee made against the good estate of a beleever That is a precious truth that alone overthrows all contrary errours Such is this that our sins are pardoned not only in a way of truth and mercy but in a way of justice Sathan and our own Consciences will object many things against our comfort if we plead only the mercy and the truth of God and will say but where is then the Justice of God Can Mercy pardon without the consent of his Justice but now whilst we beleeve in Christs satisfaction justice and peace kisse each other yea justice saith I am pleased Many things will bee cast in our dish in the day of temptation about the multitude and greatnesse of our sins and our manifold grievous relapses but Tit. 2.14 Christ hath redeemed us from all iniquity hee hath paid the full price that justice could exact or require and we may say as it is in Jam. 2.13 Mercy coming through saith rejoyceth against judgement Comf 4. This is the special favour of the Spouse of Christ that they can plead the righteousnesse of God in Christ as the Lord saith Hos 2.19 I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in rightteousnesse and in judgement and in loving kindnesse i. e. in free grace pittying our miserable condition and in faithfulnesse and truth performing his promises that he hath made but is that all No but hee will doe it in righteousnesse too that is in a way whereby he will declare his justice as well as his mercy and truth This is the sure match that the Lord hath made with a poor soul which will stand good not only in the Court of Chancery but in the Court of Justice or Common Pleas too Such an inviolable match hath the Lord made with a poor beleever and how then can he break off from it to leave the soul in a state of Widdowhood Isa 62.4 Thou shalt bee no more termed forsaken but thou shalt bee called Hephsibah for the Lord delighteth in thee Vse 4. For instruction and exhortation and there might be several branches of it 1 If pardon of sin is given and must be received in a way of justice as well as in a way of mercy and truth then let every soul seek pardon of God in such a way as may stand with Divine justice There is many a condemned Malefactor standing at the barre that cries for mercy in vain at the hands of the Judge not considering the place of the Judge which is to doe justice So it fareth with many convicted and awakened sinners they goe to God in such a natural way as Benhadad went to Ahab saying The Kings of Israel wee have heard are merciful Kings so they say we have heard the God of Israel is a merciful God I will goe to him with sackcloath about my loyns and ropes about my neck i.e. with Humiliation and Self-judging and I hope that hee will pardon me Beloved in the Lord this is needful and commendable and I would not discourage any one from it but the distressed sinner is forced to it by the sense of his misery and some natural instinct and indeed alone it is insufficient to prevail with God unlesse he can plead his justice too as well as his mercy Thence you finde that God is described so Isa 45.21 There is no God else besides me a just God and a Saviour i. e. none besides me that is a just God in saving of sinners hee so saves as that hee may be just still and none can save so besides this just God as Jer. 3.22 23. Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills and the multitude of the mountains in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel for shame hath devoured the labours of our fathers and we lye down in their shame for we have sinned against the Lord our God It is but a vain thing for you to take pains to goe to any other for salvation besides this just God and if ever he save you it will be in a way of justice Quest What is that way of justice that we must expect justification in Ans There is or can be but one way that was ever heard of to satisfie the justice of God that sinners might bee justified i.e. by the Father's making his own Son a propitiation for them that is the mystery in the text that God forgiveth sins through the bloud of his Son and beloved consider that Luther took a great deal of pains to understand this and prayed much and earnestly to the Lord for it before he could get the right meaning of it The mystery is this That the Son of God manifested in the flesh must make his soul an offering for sin to satisfie Divine justice or else all Mankind must perish eternally Then if this bee so let every one see the great necessity of getting into Christ and accordingly fly without delay to the Lord Jesus Let me say to thee as it was said to Lot Escape for thy life neither stay c. lest thou bee consumed deliver thy self as a Roe from the hands of the Hunter or as a Bird from the hand of the Fowler My thinks this Argument should fire every sinful man out of his miserable estate and make him fill Heaven and Earth with cries that he may gain Christ yea my thinks the Lord seemes to take the Lingerers by the hand as he did Lot Gen. 19.16 The Lord being merciful to them to bring them to Christ The Arguments whereby I would presse this upon poor sinners are The urgent and extreme necessity of a Redeemer for a sinner not only because the Scripture cannot be broken Joh. 10.35 which saith Without shedding of bloud there is no remission Heb 9.22 Besides there is no pardon of sin but in the New Testament and where a Testament is there must needs be the death of the Testator Heb. 9.16 or else the Testament is of no force Nor only the necessity of Gods unchangeable Decree who chuseth every soul that shall bee saved in Christ Ephes 1.4 and these are inviolable things but this is the extreme necessity that now I must needs put you in mind of i.e. the necessity of Gods nature that he is so just that hee can by no means acquit or clear the guilty Look how impossible it is that the God of truth should