and gather his lambs in his armes c. sayth ver 13. Who hath directed the spirit of the Lord and who was his Counsellor with whom took he counsell and who instructed him c. certainly none beloved there was none to do it for he determined his whole work both of creation and redemption before all things if there had bin any being then for any of the sons of men who could have invēted such a way such a means of recovering of reconciling fallen man truly none but the God of wisdome and therefore Christ is called in Scripture the wisdom of God Luk. 11.49 therfore also he is called the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1 21. we preach Christ the wisdom of God c. Chap. 2.7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world began Note beloved the Lord Jesus Christ the wisdome of the Father him in whom the Father manifests his wisdome was ordained before the world began Ephes 3.10 11. it is called the manifold wisdom of God Well may it be called manifold for it is infinite there is no numbering of it Ps 47.5 Great is the Lord and of great power of his understanding there is no number How should this take off from the Saints all cares and feares concerning the things of this world he who is infinite in wisdom wisdom it selfe hath taken care for thy soul for thine eternity Doubt not but rest upon him his wisdome shall be for thee hee will so order and dispose of all thy actions as shall be most advantagious for his owne honour and thy good And know this that nothing comes to passe but by his wise disposing hand of grace nay he is made unto thee that believest wisdome 1 Cor. 1.30 ô admirable mercy that the God of wisdom should not only wisely contrive a way for the reconciling of sinners to himself but should become their wisdome he is made to us wisdome admire at this all the sons and daughters of God what God himself become your wisdome then truly thy solly shall not harm thee ô thou art ready to say I am so foolish so ignorant c. ô poore soul it matters not it is mercy thou seest thy solly for the truth is thou must be a foole that thou mayst be wise 1 Cor. 3.18 4.10 that is thou must renounce all thine own wisdom as folly for it is self-wisdome that is the greatest enemy to Christ Therefore let no man deceive himself If any man amongst you seem to be wise in this world let him be a fool that he may be wise 2 What cause have the Saints to admire God in Christ for his love ô admirable love what God to give his Son to become a propitiation for the sin of sinners Is not this rich grace and mercy for God to take upon him the nature of man and the sins of men to make peace and reconciliation for men what soule can behold this love this mercy and not stand admiring in the enjoyment of it Beloved this love of God manifested unto men it is Free Full Everlasting Love it is free without desert there was nothing in man for to procure it hee hath loved thee freely poore soule Hos 14.4 I will heal their back-sliding I will love them Freely for mine anger is turned away Beloved God loved freely for he loved his before they were Ephes 1.4 he loved them freely for he loved them when they were sinners Rom. 5.8 the manifestation of it is free for it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercie Rom. 9.16 1 Cor. 1.27 he manifests it unto them when they would none of it when men had rather keep their sins then receive Christ as a Priest and an atonement so Paul Act. 9. the Lord meets him and over powers him when he was going in a way of persecution as it is in Esay 65.1 I am sought of them that asked not for mee and found of them that sought me not c. God first seeking and finding causes the creature to seek after God 2 It is full grace and love great love John 3.16 God so loved the world that hee gave his Son c. O unspeakable love that nothing lesse then the Son of God can serve for a gift and truly beloved nothing lesse could have done the deed and therefore nothing lesse could be given from a God of love who intended in his gift to doe good to man John 4.9 10. Herein is love not that we loved God but that hee loved us and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins and herein is the love of Christ manifested to become a Priest a Sacrifice to lay down his life for sinners Iohn 5.13 Greater love then this hath no man that a man lay down his life for his friends Here is great love love to be admired of al the Saints 3 This love of God manifested in the Son is everlasting love Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore in loving kindnesse have I drawn thee Harke you beloved friends God hath loved his people from everlasting and he will love them to everlasting Iohn 13.1 Having loved his own which were in the world hee loved them to the end that is for ever Hence it is that the kindnesse of God is called everlasting kindnesse Esay 54.8 In a little wrath I hid my face frone thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercie on thee c. his mercie is everlasting mercie Psal 100.5 For the Lord is good and his mercie is everlasting and his truth endureth to generation and generation His Covenant made with thee who art a believer is an everlasting covenant Esay 61.8 I will make an everlasting covenant with them saith the Lord a Covenant that shall not bee removed Esay 54.10 neither shalt thou depart out of it Jer. 32.40 and hence it is that the joy of the Saints shall be everlasting for indeed were not Gods mercies Gods Covenants c. everlasting There could he no true joy but this is that which occasions both true and everlasting joy and consolation 2 Thes 2.16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himselfe and God even our father which hath loved and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace c. Note beloved here is everlasting consolation flowing from the love of God and truly the consolation could not be everlasting were not that love communicated through grace everlasting Here is admirable mercie admirable grace free full everlasting 3 The Saints have cause to admire God in his Justice for beloved those two attributes of God are admirably exalted in this one particular giving Christ a reconciliation between God and man his love and his mercie is exalted in that he to accomplish his own end in a way of grace gives his own Son to become an offering for sin to this very end and purpose
to reconcile and save sinners Iohn 3.16 2 Cor. 5.19 such was the love of God from all eternity that nothing could hinder their design of grace The Jews that had a hand in putting Christ to death shall have a part in that mercy and grace purchased by his death Acts 2.37 38. For they did nothing but what God in his counsell had determined Acts 4.28 Now as the mercy of God was herein admirably exalted to men so is his justice his severity also Rom. 11.12 Behold therefore the goodnesse and severity of God c. Behold here is goodnesse and severity mercy and justice to be admired First the mercy of God is here admirably manifested In freely chusing some and secondly his justice in leaving others First His mercy in chusing some in his Son to life and glory Rom. 9.23 24. That he might make knowne the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory even us whom he hath called c. here is the mercy of God wonderfully made known unto the sons of men and note that this mercy was never manifested but in a way of justice justice must be sarisfied for mans transgression now that God may shew mercy without any wrong to his justice hee gives his Son to take upon him mans sin and to suffer for the sins of his people that so mercy and justice might meet together An admirable worke of grace where God shews mercy and his justice is satisfied Never any mercy to be expected but where justice is satisfied it is in vain for thee ô man to expect mercy out of Christ there justice is satisfied if ever thou hast mercy it must be there therefore Christ calls Matth. 11.28 Come unto me c. Now beloved the Saints may admire of and rejoyce in the justice of God for the justice of God is for every believer and is as ready to plead for them as the mercy of God A creditour that is honest hee will be ready to acquit and cleer the principall when the surety hath paid the debt and made full satrsfaction and to declare that he hath nothing against him it is true the surety may pay the debt and the principall not know it and hee may be affraid and troubled but when the surety shall come and tell him that the debt is paid and the creditour satisfied and when the creditor shall send his bond and discharge under his hand and seal now this satisfies the man and now he is cleer and comforted now he walks boldly So it may be with the poore soule Christ hath paid thy debt he hath satisfied the justice of his Father but perhaps thou wantest the assurance of it beloved to whomsoever the Lord hath or shall give faith there it is sure the Lord hath sent his Ministers to proclaime it to your souls That whosoever believeth shall be saved and here hee hath sent his word to confirme it unto you and if that will not satisfie thou shalt have his seal too Ephes 1.13 And justice is now ready to plead for such a soule to acquit him I am satis fied I have nothing against him and so justice is thine and for thee who indeed believest 2 The Instice of God is manifested in leaving others in a lost condition herein is the severity of God admirably manifested especially of the Saints see Rom. 9.22 What if God willing to shew his wrath and make his power known endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath made up to destruction see Chap. 11. the elect obtained mercie the rest were hardened ô how should the Saints admire at this justice what God to leave so many in a hardened-blinde-perishing-condition and shew mercie to me O wonderfull what should God see in me more then in such and such hardened ones what God shew mercie perhaps to one and leave twenty a hundred in a hardened lost condition and shall I bee one of the small number O beloved how will the due consideration of this mercie and justice this goodnesse and severity of God set your selves work to admire God and to praise him this is the new song of the Saints Rev. 5.9 And they sung a new song saying thou art worthie to take the booke and to open the seale thereof for thou hast redeemed us to God by thy bloud out of every kinred and tongue and people and nation O this is that which will set thy soule a praysing God indeed when thou shalt see people tongues nations left and thou taken out of them some taken perhaps one or two out of a family others left one or two out of a generation others left some few out of a City a Nation and others left O beloved the due consideration of this one thing will occasion your fouls to sing that song that none else could ever learn Rev. 14.3 They sung a new song and no man could learn that song but they which were redeemed from the earth called out from earthly men from Nations peoples tongues c. 4 The Saints have cause also to admire the power the almighty power of God working salvation for them he doth declare himselfe to be the Al-mighty God able to doe whatsoever he pleaseth he is able to save he is able to work salvation for his people which way he pleaseth and the power of God is manifested in Christ working salvation for his people see Esay 63.1 I that speak in righteousnesse mighty to save behold the Lord Jesus is called the mighty God Esay 9.6 and a mighty redeemer Prov. 23.11 and their redeemer is mighty he shall plead their cause c. and truly beloved hee had need bee mighty for he hath undertaken a mighty work the redemption and salvation of sinners and this appears to be a mighty work 1 Because none else could do it beloved God hath done such a work for his people that no creature nor created power in heaven or earth could doe it Esay 45.21 There is no God besides me a just God and a Saviour there is none beside me none can save beside God Hos 13.4 There is no Saviour besides me therefore in vain is salvation hoped for from the mount ains truly in the Lordour God is the salvation of Israel Jer. 3.23 Beloved it is in vain to look for salvation from the hills and mountains from creatures or any thing beneath the Lord Jesus There is none other name given under heaven whereby wee may be saved but by the name of Jesus Act 4.12 O beloved how should the Saints praise God and admire him for that great and glorious salvation he hath wrought for his people this is the song the Saints sing unto his praise Rev. 7.10 11 12. And they cryed with a loud voyce salvation to our God c. blessing and glory and wisdome and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be unto our God for ever and ever c. They sing forth Gods saving power Who is
excellencie and utility of his office And this was received always in the hearts of the Saints Christ our High-Priest Christ our peace Ephes 2.14 for he is our peace c. Now to speak more punctually to the Priestly office of Christ it consists in these two particulars partly in Reconciliation partly in Intercession 1 In Reconciliation that is in reconciling God to man and man to God Now it is true God was ever reconciled to his elect in his Son from all eternity for he loved them in his Son Ephes 1.4 from before the foundation of the world he never looked upon them but in his Son yet so as with relation to his death so working peace Beloved this was the great designe of God in sending Christ into the world to make peace and reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe namely the elect amongst the Gentiles who were always counted for the world see Rom. 11.11 12 c. not imputing their sins c. This was the great work God had to doe in the world when he manifested that great mystery of godlines 1 Tim. 3.16 God manifested in the flesh c. And this Christ hath done beloved hee hath perfected it and finished it see 2 Cor. 5.18 and all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himselfe by Jesus Christ so also Rom. 5.10.11 Heb. 2.17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and faithfull High-Priest in things pertaining to God why to make reconciliation for the sins of the people a blessed word for all believers God is reconciled to them in his Son God is at peace with them this was the end wherefore Christ came into the World to make peace for the Saints and to give life unto them hence it is Christ sayth John 10.10 I am come that ye might have life and that ye might have yet more abundantly hence it is that the Gospel of Christ is called the Gospel of peace Ephes 6.15 and the glad tidings of peace Esay 57.7 the Covenant of the Gospel is a Covenant of peace Esay 54.10 Ezek. 37.26 God is a God of peace and at peace with believers Rom. 5.1 1 Thes 5.23 and Christ is a Prince of peace Esay 9 6. Thus you see beloved Christians what peace and reconciliation here is wrought by Christ for all believers a God of peace a covenant of peace a Gospel of peace God hath reconciled us to himselfe through his Son for he is our peace who hath made both one and broken down the middle wall of partition and made us Gentils one with the Father through faith having abolished in his flesh the enmity to make to himselfe of two in one new man so working peace that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the crosse The second thing considerable is the manner how he makes this peace and that is first in bearing their sins 2 In laying down his life and bloud In bearing their sins beloved Christ bears all the iniquities of all his people Esay 53.4 5 6. surely he hath borne all our griefs and carryed our sorrows he was wounded for our iniquities and bruised for our transgressions the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes are we healed and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Note First God laid sinne upon Christ Secondly Christ bare them Thirdly their God condemned them 1 God laid sin upon Christ All we like sheep have gone astray but he hath laid on him the iniquity of us all it is all laid upon Christ so that now the sin of all the elect becomes the sin of Christ they are laid upon Christ He is become sin for us that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 2 Christ bare the sinnes of his people God did not onely lay sin upon Christ but he bare it 1 Pet. 2.24 he bare our sins on his own body on the crosse and so hath born our grief and carryed our sorrows this is the way beloved by which Christ hath made peace for his people in bearing their sins there was no other way left for reconciliation between God and man but God must become man that so he might bear our sins and so our griefs and sorrows that he might be bruised for our iniquities and that the chastisement of our peace might be upon him 3 There God condemnes sin and Christ now bears not onely sin but justice for sin mansins justice is offended and that must bee satisfied Christ steps in he takes the blow he becomes surety for sinners stands in our room and payes the debt see Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not doe in that it was weak through the flesh God sent his Son in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh Note beloved God did not onely lay sin upon Christ but Christ bears it and there God condemnes it where God finds sin there he condemnes it God condemnes the sin of his people in the flesh of his Son O what doth thy soule say to this dear Christian before ever thou couldest be reconciled to thy God Christ Jesus must bear all thy sins and the condemnation of them in his own body O see see man what a burthen thy sins were to thy Saviour if thou hast any interest in him follow him to the mount of olives see him in his agony Luke 22.44 sweating drops of bloud great drops of bloud trickling down to the ground this was the weight of thy sins laid upon thy Saviour before ever thy peace was purchased see him upon the crosse bearing thy sins and my sins man woman if we have any interest in him and the condemnation of them crying out My God my God why hast thou for saken me beloved it went heavy with our Saviour Use Learn hence to take heed of sin doe not take delight in any sin truly beloved if you love the Lord Jesus you cannot love that which was such a heavie burthen unto him ô beloved how should justified saved persons take heed of sin of every sin the least sin that thou canst imagine tooke hold on Christ as well as the greatest ô therefore take heed of pride of anger foolishnesse vanity the least sin is much unbecomming Christians ô beloved how seasonable comes in that earnest exhortation of the Apostle Rom. 12.1 2. Christ having given up himselfe for your sins that you give up your selves your soules and bodies a holy living acceptable sacrifice to the Lord. 2 As Christ hath made peace in bearing the sins of his people so also in laying down his life and bloud for them beloved before ever there could be peace and reconciliation made Christ must dye for it give his life and bloud for it all those ceremoniall sacrifices under the Law were a type of a dying Christ hence it
is that he is called a Lamb slain from the beginning beloved Christ having undertaken to become a High-Priest a peace-maker between God and man nothing lesse then his bloud could doe it Heb. 9.22 Without bloud there is no remission no justification without bloud Christs dying is a Christians justification Rom. 5.9 being now justified by his bloud we shall be saved c. no purging of sin without bloud Heb. 9.14 how much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternall spirit offered himself purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God Rev. 1.5 who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own bloud c. there is no pardon and so no peace without bloud Heb. 9.22 Thus beloved you see that all must be done by bloud and that by the bloud of Christ too the bloud of all the creatures in the world nay of all the men in the world was not able to redeem to make satisfaction for one soule nay for one sin nothing lesse then the bloud of Christ could doe it 1 Pet. 1.18 19. silver and gold could not doe it the bloud of creatures could not doe it Heb. 10.5 It is not possible that the bloud of buls and goats should take away sin Object But some may say that God had never any thing against his elect he ever loved them from eternity Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love Ephes 1.4 he chose us in him from before the foundatien of the world Ans True God ever loved his elect and ever intended mercie and love unto them yet he so loved them as with relation to the death of his Son and from everlasting determined to satisfie his justice to take away sin and work peace by the death of his Son and the truth is that God had as really an eye to the death of his Son from all eternity and saw it as actually then as if Christ had then suffered see Ephes 1.4 He chose us in him from before the foundation of the werld in him with relation to his death to his making satisfaction for sin not that God could not have made the Saints at once and have saved them presently and never have suffered them to sin but this is the way God in his wisdome appointed to manifest his mercie on the vessels of mercie and his justice on his enemies so that now beloved God having appointed this to be the means to bring sons to glory there could never have been any remission any peace but by a dying Christ therfore he is called a Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 and indeed Christ was as a lamb ever slain in Gods account and he beheld all things as present and saw both the work of creation redemption and glory of his Saints from all eternitie The second part of Christs priestly office consists in his intercession at the right hand of the glory of his Father Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed year ather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Heb. 7.25 Hee ever liveth to make intercession Beloved this is one part of Christs Priestly office to intercede for the Saints Note beloved Christ intercedes 1 In the Saints 2 For them 1 In them Rom. 8.26 27. The Spirit it selfe to wit of Christ Gal. 4.6 Maketh intercession for us or in us according to the will of God that is God by his Spirit helpeth us to ask things according to the will of God for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit helpeth us c. 2 He maketh intercession For us also hee ever liveth to make intercession O blessed word for the Saints hee maketh intercession for every particular Saint hee maketh intercession for his Churches for us saith the Apostle and through him it is wee have accesse with boldnesse unto the Father c. Object But some may object did not Christ make satisfaction peace and reconciliation when hee dyed upon the crosse when he sayd It is finished Ans It is true that Christ in his death and resurrection finished the work of mans justification Rom. 5.9 being justified by his bloud and he made peace and reconciliation Col. 1.20 having made peace by the bloud of his crosse but wee are not to understand by Christs interceding any new act of Christ done eyther in way of satisfaction or justification neyther are wee to understand that Christ sits in Heaven pleading with the Father in words as a counfellour pleads a cause before the judge but Christ is in Heaven with the Father at his right hand that is in glory with him presenting our persons and in presenting our persens all our services in his owne person not by any new act of doing but by the worth of his merits the excellency of his person the neer relation of the Saints to himself viz. members of his body so that now God cannot look upon the Son but he must behold the Saints in him he having so neer a relation to his Father both by his personall presence and the excellent worth of his merits whose bloud spake better things then the bloud of Abel Heb. 12.24 he continually makes intercession to God for the Saints Esay 53.12 He hath poured out his soule to the death and he was numbred among the transgressors he bare the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors here you have the whol priestly office of Christ 1 Bearing sin and so working peace 2 Making intercession by that means for transgressors Use If so that Christ Jesus is to be exalted and lifted up as the alone High-Priest in the dayes of the Gospel hence will properly arise foure words of application 1 A word of Admiration 2 A word of Information 3 A word of Exhortatiō 4 A word of Consolatiō Use First a word of Admiration O what cause have the Saints to admire God who hath manifested himselfe in his Son I say to admire him 1 His Wisdom 2 His Love and his Mercie 3 His Iustice 4 His Power all manifested in his Son to and for the good of sinners whom he maketh Saints 1 How should the Saints admire his wisdom truly beloved the wisdom of God as in other things so in this particular making peace by the bloud of his Son is very admirable the wisdom of God wonderfully appeared in the whole work of God with relation to the creation Iob 37.14 15 16. Chap. 38.4 c. and this the Saints should be acquainted with that their hearts might admire him But the redemption of the Saints is much more admirable for beloved this was Gods end in making a world that he might set forth his wisdom in the redemption of the Saints Esay 40. The Lord speaking as it seems with relation to the comming of his Son a Saviour ver 11. he shall feed his flock like a sheepherd