and the Blood of Goats and Birds These Bloody Sacrifices what did they signifie what were they figures of but of the bloody Sacrifice of the Body of Jesus Christ their Blood being a Shadow of his Blood and their Flesh being a Shadow of his Flesh Therefore when God declared that he took no pleasure in them because they could not make the Worshippers perfect as pertaining to the Conscience then comes Jesus Christ to offer his Sinless Body and Soul for the Sin of the People For it is not possible that the Blood of Bulls and Goats should take away sin wherefore when he cometh into the World he saith Sacrifices and Offerings thou wouldest not but a Body hast thou prepared me in Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure Then said I to I come in the Volume of thy Book it is written of me to do thy good Will Since Burnt-Offerings cannot do thy Will my Body shall since the Blood of Bulls and Goats cannot do thy Will my Blood shall Then follows By the Will of God we are Sanctified through the offering up of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all Heb. 10. 8 9 10. Thirdly The End of the Work required That Christ if he will be our Saviour should take upon him our Flesh. The End of our Salvation is That we might enjoy God and that he by us might be glorified for ever and ever 1. That we might enjoy God I will dwell in them and they shall be my People and I will be their God This Indwelling of God and consequently our Enjoyment of him begins first in its Eminency by his Possessing our Flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ. Hence his Name is called Emmanuel God with us and the Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us The Flesh of Christ is the Tabernacle which the Lord pitched according to that saying The Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his People and God himself shall be with them and be their God Revel 21. 3. Here God beginneth to discover his Glory and to be desirable to the Sons of Men. God could not communicate himself to us nor take us into the Enjoyment of himself but with respect to that Flesh which his Son took of the Virgin because sin stood betwixt Now this Flesh only was the Holy Lump in this Flesh God could dwell and forasmuch as this Flesh is the same with ours and was taken up with intent that what was done in and by that should be communicated to all the Children therefore through that doth God communicate of himself unto his People God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself And I am the Way saith Christ no man cometh to the Father but by me 2 Cor. 5. Joh. 14. 6. That Passage to the Hebrews is greatly to our purpose We have boldness Brethren to enter into the Holiest the place where God is by the Blood of Jesus by a new and living Way which he hath Consecrated for us through the Vail that is to say his Flesh Heb. 10. 19 20. Wherefore by the Flesh and Blood of Christ we enter into the Holiest through the Vail saith he that is to say his Flesh. 2. As the End of our Salvation is That we might enjoy God so also it is that he by us might be Glorified for ever That God in all things might be Glorified through Jesus Christ our Lord. Here indeed will the Mistery of his Grace Wisdom Justice Power Holiness and Glory inhabit Eternal praise while we that are counted worthy of the Kingdom of God shall admire at the Mistery and see our selves without our selves even by the Flesh and Blood of Christ through Faith therein effectually and Eternally saved O! This will be the burden of our Eternal Joy God loved us and gave his Son for us Christ loved us and gave his Flesh for our Life and his Blood for our Eternal Redemption and Salvation That Christ was made under the Law BUt Secondly Christ was made under the Law When the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law Gal. 4. 4. Of right being found in flesh he must needs be under the Law for that there is not any Creature above or without Law to God but this is not to the point in hand Christ was not therefore under the Law because he was found in flesh but he took flesh and designedly put himself or was made under the Law wherefore 't is added he was made under the Law to Redeem to redeem them that were under the Law Wherefore here is a design an Heavenly contrivance and device on foot Christ is made that is by design subjected under the Law for the sake and upon the account of others To redeem them that were under the Law Made under the Law that is put himself into the Room of Sinners into the Condition of Sinners made himself subject to the same pains and penalties we were obnoxious to We were under the Law and it had dominion over us bound us upon pain of Eternal Damnation to do compleatly all things written in the Law This Condition Christ put himself into that he might redeem for assuredly we had else perished The Law had dominion over us and since we had sinned of right it pronounced the Curse and made all men subject to the Wrath of God Christ therefore did not only come into our Flesh but also into our Condition into the Valley and Shadow of Death where we were and where we are as we are Sinners He that is under the Law is under the Edge of the Axe When David was to go visit his Brethren and to save them from the Hand of Goliah he was to look how his Brethren fared and to take their Pledg 1. Sam. 17. 18. This is true of Jesus Christ when he came to save us from the Hand of Death and the Law he looked how his Brethren fared took to heart their deplorable Condition and put himself into the same Plight to wit under the Law that he might redeem them that were under the Law I told you before that he came sinless into the World that he had a miraculous Conception and wonderful Birth And here you see a Reason for it he was to be put or made under the Law to redeem He that will be made under the Law to redeem had need be sinless and spotless himself for the Law findeth fault with the least and condemneth man for the first beginning of Sin Without this then there could not have been Redemption nor any the Sons of God by Adoption no Redemption because the Sentence of Death had already past upon all no Sons by Adoption because that 's the Effect of Redemption God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law That we might receive the Adoption of Sons Christ then
1. 24. Luk. 4. 34. He was called Jesus of Nazareth because he dwelt there with his Mother Mary and her Husband Nazareth was his City where he had been brought up whither for shelter Joseph carried him when he came up out of Egypt with him in Nazareth was his common Abode until the time that John was cast into Prison Luk. 4. 16. Mat. 2. 23. Chap. 4. 12 13. Wherefore he might well say I am Jesus of Nazareth Yea though he was now in Heaven for Heaven shall not make us forget what Country-men we were when we lived in the World Jesus you see here though Glorified in Heaven yet forgets not what Countrey-Man he was when he dwelt in the World I am Jesus of Nazareth saith he I am the Jesus that thou hatest and that thou mayest know I am he I tell thee I dwelt once in the City Nazareth in Galilee Joseph and my Mother Mary brought me up there and there I dwelt with them many years I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest Quest. 2. Secondly What was it for Jesus to come into the World Ans. 1. Not his coming in or by his Spirit in his People for so he was never out of the World 2. Neither is it his Appearance in his Ordinances 3. Nor that coming of his by which he destroyeth Antichrist 4. Nor his Appearing in his dreadful Providences or Judgments But by the coming of Jesus according to the Text we are to understand that or such a Coming whereby he was manifest to be God-Man in one Person God in our Flesh without us or distinct in his own Person by himself Such a Coming by which he was manifested to be in all points like as men are Sin only excepted Such a Coming wherein or by which the Son of God became also the Son of Man For the further clearing of this you find it expresly said he was born into the World Mary of whom was born Jesus Now when Jesus was born it 's said Where is he that is born King of the Jews Herod demanded of them where Christ should be born Mat. 1. 16. Chap. 2. 1 2 4. Luk. 1. 35. Chap. 2. 11. Now that this was fulfilled according to the very word of the Text without any juggle evasion or cunningly-devised Fable consider 1. He is called the First-Born of this Woman The Male Child that opened her Womb Luk. 2. 7 23. 2. He was not born till nourished in her Womb the full time according to the time of Life And so it was that while they were at Bethlehem the days were accomplished that she should be delivered and she brought forth her First-born Son and wrapt him in swadling Clothes and laid him in a Manger Luk. 2. 4 5 6 7. 3. She also continued in her Separation at the Birth of Jesus as other women at the Birth of their Children until the days of her Purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished Luk. 2. 22. 4. Himself also as other Hebrew Children was brought to Jerusalem to present him unto the Lord As it is written in the Law of Moses every Male that openeth the Womb shall be called Holy unto the Lord Luk. 2. 23 24. 5. Thus Jesus also as other Hebrew-Children when the set Day was come was Circumcised And when eight days were accomplished for the Circumcising of the Child his Name was called Jesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb Luk. 2. 21. 6. After this he is often called the Young-Child the Child Jesus and further it is said of him that he grew that he increased in Wisdom and Stature Mat. 2. 20 21. Luk. 2. 40 52. Behold with what diligence even to a Circumstance the Holy Ghost sets forth the Birth of the Lord Jesus and all to convince the incredulous World of the true Manner of the coming of the Saviour into the World Secondly The Reality of the Manhood of this Lord Jesus is yet further manifest and that First By those natural Infirmities that attend Human Flesh. Secondly By the Names the Prophets gave him in the Days of the Old-Testament and the New First By those natural Infirmities that attend Human Flesh. As 1. At his Birth he could not go but as carried by his Parents 2. He was sensible of Hunger Luk. 4. 2. 3. He was sensible of Thirst John 19. 28. 4. He was sensible of Weariness Joh. 4. 6. 5. He was nourished by Sleep Mar. 4. 34. 6. He was subject to Grief Mar. 3. 5. 7. He was subject to Anger Mar. 3. 5. 8. He was subject to Weep Joh. 11. 35. Luk. 19 41 9. He had Joy as a Man and rejoyced Mat. 11. 27. Luk. 10. 21. These things I say Jesus was subject to as a Man as the Son of the Virgin Secondly The Reality of his Manhood is yet made manifest by the Names the Prophets gave him both in the Old-Testament and in the New As 1. He is called the Seed The Seed of the Woman the Seed of Abraham the Seed of David by which is meant he was to come of their Children Gen. 3. 15. Chap. 12. Chap. 22. Gal. 3. 16 17. Rom. 1. 4. 2. Therefore it is added where mention is made of the Fathers of whom as concerning the Flesh Christ came He was made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh And hence again he calleth himself the Off-spring of David therefore I say he is said to be of their Flesh their Loins and is called their Son Rom. 1. 4. Chap. 9. 5. Acts 2. 30. Revel 22. 16. 3. He therefore is frequently called a Man and the Son of Man Then shall you see the Son of man coming in the Clouds of Heaven When the Son of man shall come in his Glory and all the Holy Angels with him This Man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood It is therefore necessary that this Man have somewhat also to offer Mat. 26. 63. Chap. 25. 30 31. Heb. 7. 24. Chap. 8. 3. Chap. 10. 12. 4. What shall I say Himself gave undeniable Demonstration of all this when he said he was dead when he called to Thomas to put his Finger to and behold his Hands to reach to him his Hand and thrust it into his Side and bid him he should not be faithless but believing At another time when he stood in the midst of the Eleven as they were troubled with the thoughts of Unbelief he said Behold my Hands and my Feet that it is I my self handle me and see for a Spirit bath not Flesh and Bones as ye see me have Joh. 20. 27. Luk. 24. 39. Thus have I shewed you what it was for Jesus to come into the World namely To be born of a Woman to take flesh and to become God-man in one Person I come now to the third Question but before I speak particularly to that I will produce further Testimony that we find upon record concerning the Truth of all this Particular
hands even Joseph the supposed Father of Jesus was then become a Carpenter Poor man when Jesus was born he was fain to thrust into a Stable for there was in the Inn no room for such Guests as they The Offering also which was brought unto God the time when Jesus was presented unto the Lord was two Turtle-Doves or two young Pigeons a Sacrifice allowed only for them that were Poor and could provide no bigger And if she be not able to bring a Lamb then she shall bring two Turtle-Doves or two young Pigeons the one for a Burnt-Offring the other for a Sin-Offering Levit. 12. 8. Besides Jesus himself saith Foxes have Holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests but the Son of Man hath not whereon to lay his Head Now I say all these things were so apparent to the Jews that they could not object they felt the Romans were come they knew the Scepter was gone they smarted under the Roman Tyranny and knew the Kingly Race of Judea was over-thrown How then could they object that the time was not come for Christ to be born Further The People was generally convinced that the time was come and therefore saith the Text They were in expectation And as all the People were in expectation and all men mused in their Hearts of John whether he was the Christ or not Luk. 3. 15. The unbiassed People observing the face of things could do no other but look for the Messias And hence it is that the Lord Jesus gives the Pharisees those mortal E nemies of his such sore rebukes saying O ye Hypocrites ye can discern the Face of the Skie but can you not discern the Signs of the Times The Kingdom is lost the Heathens are come and the Scepter is departed from Judea Ye Hypocrites ye can discern the Face of the Skie and of the Earth but how is it that ye do not discern this Time Mat. 16. 3. Luk. 12. 56. Secondly He yet again puts himself upon the Test by the Miracles which he wrought before them Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me or else believe me for the very works sake John 14. 11. For the Works which the Father hath given me to finish the same works that I do bear witness of me that the Father hath sent me John 5. 36. This Proof they could not withstand but granted that he did many Miracles while they did nothing Then gathered the Chief-Priests and Pharisees a Counsel and said what do we for this Man doth many Miracles if we let him alone all men will believe on him and the Romans shall come and take away both our Place and Nation John 11. 47 48. Yea so did Jesus confound them that by their own Records and Laws by which they were to prove persons clean or unclean they in reading their Lectures did justifie him and overthrow themselves For instance it was written in their Law If he that hath an Issue spit upon him that is clean that Spittle should make him unclean Levit. 15. 8. Now Jesus whom they counted most unclean because he said he was the Son of God as they thought speaking Blasphemy he spits upon people and makes them whole he spat and made clay with the Spittle and with that clay made a Blind Man see Joh. 9. 6. Also he spit on the Eyes of another and made him see Mar. 8. 23 24 25. Again he spit and with his Spittle touched the Tongue of one that was Dumb and made him speak immediatly Mar. 7. 33 34 35. Thus he proved himself clear of their Accusations and maintained before them that by their Law he was guiltless and the Son of God for the Miracles which he wrought were to prove him so to be Again In their Law it was written that whoso touched the Altar of Incense should be Holy Exod. 29. 37. A Woman with a Bloody Issue toucheth him and is whole of her Plague Yea they brought to him many diseased Persons and besought him that they might only touch the Hem of his Garment and as many as touched were made perfectly whole Mar. 5. 28 29. Mat. 14. 35 36. Thus was he justified before them out of their own Law and had his Glory manifest before their Faces to their everlasting confusion and contempt Indeed the Jews did make one Objection against Jesus Christ that seemed to them to have weight in it and that was because he first began to appear and manifest his Glory in Canaan of Galilee At this I say they stumbled it was their sore temptation for still as some affirmed him to be the Christ others as fast objected shall Christ come out of Galilee art thou also of Galilee search and look for out of Galilee ariseth no Prophet John 2. 1 11. Chap. 7. 40 41 42. But this their stumble might arise either 1. From the cruelty of Herod Or 2. From their own not observing and keeping in mind the Alarum that God gave them at his Birth 1. It might arise or be occasioned through the Cruelty of Herod for Jesus was born in Bethlehem the City where David dwelt But when Herod sent out to kill him and for his sake killed all the young Children in Bethlehem then was Joseph warned by an Angel of God to take the young Child and his Mother and fly into Egypt and so he did and was there till the Death of Herod Mat. 2. 1 13 16 19 20. After this the Angel comes to them in Egypt and bids them take the young Child and return into the Land of Israel wherefore they arose and went but hearing that Herod's Son that Tyrant ruled in the room of his Father they were afraid to go to Bethlehem but turned aside into the Parts of Galilee where they remained till the time of his shewing to Israel 2. This stumble of theirs might arise from their not observing and keeping in mind the Alarum that God gave them of his Birth 1. God began to give them the Alarum at the Birth of John the Baptist where was asserted that he was to go before the Face of the Lord Jesus and to prepare his Ways And fear came upon all that dwelt round about them and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill-Countries of Judea Luk. 1. 65. 2. Again What a continuation of this Alarum was there also at the Birth of Jesus which was about three months after John Baptist was born Now come the Angels from Heaven now comes a strange Star over the Countrey to lead the Men of the East to the Stable where Jesus was born now was Herod the Priests the Scribes and also the City Jerusalem awakened and sore troubled for it was noised by the Wise-Men that Christ the King and Saviour was born Besides The Shepherds Simon and Anna gave notice of him to the People they should therefore have retained the Memory of these things and have followed God in all his dark Providences until his Son of
by being made under the Law hath recovered his from under the Law and obtained for them the Priviledg of the Adoption of Sons For as I told you before Christ stood a Common Person presenting in himself the whole Lump of the promised Seed or the Children of the Promise wherefore he comes under the Law for them takes upon him to do what the Law required of them takes upon him to do it for them He began therefore at the first Tittle of the Law and going in mans Flesh for man through the Law He becomes the End of the Law for righteousness for every one that believeth The END of the Law what is the End of the Law but perfect and sinless Obedience that is the End of the Law both with respect to its Nature and the Cause of its being imposed God gave the Law that compleat Righteousness should by that be found upon men but because sin was got into man's Flesh therefore this Righteousness by us could not be compleated Now comes Christ the Lord into the World clothes himself with the Children's Flesh addresseth himself to the Work of their Redemption is made under the Law and going through every part of the Law without Sin he becometh the End of the Law for Justifying Righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 10. 4. For he obeyed not the Law for himself he needed no obedience thereto 'T was we that needed obedience 't was we that wanted to answer the Law we wanted it but could not obtain it because then the Law was weak through the Flesh therefore God sent his own Son and he did our duty for us even to become the End of the Law to every one that believeth In this therefore Christ laboured for us he was made under the Law to redeem Therefore as I said before It behoved him to be sinless because the Law binds over to answer for sin at the Bar of the Judgment of God Therefore did his God-Head assume our humane Flesh in a clean and spotless way that he might come under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law For consisting of two Natures and the Personality lieing in the God-Head which gave value and worth to all things done for us by the Man-hood the Obedience takes denomination from thence to be the Obedience of God The Sons Righteousness the Sons Blood the Righteousness of God the Blood of God Heb. 5. 8 9. Phil. 3. 7 8. Acts 20. 28. 1 John 3. 16. Thus Jesus Christ came into the World under the Law to redeem not simply as God but God-Man both natures making one Christ. The God-head therefore did influence and give value to the human Flesh of Christ in all its Obedience to the Law else there would have been wanting that Perfection of Righteousness which only could answer the Demands and Expectation of the Justice of God to wit Perfect Righteousness by Flesh. But the Second Person in the God-head the Son the Word coming under the Law for men in their Flesh and subjecting himself by that Flesh to every tittle and demand of the Law all and every whit of what was acted and done by Jesus Christ God-man for us it was and is the Righteousness of God and since it was not done for himself but for us as he saith in the Text to redeem The Righteousness by which we are set free from the Law is none other but the Righteousness that alone resideth in the Person of the Son of God And that it is absolutely necessary thus it should be is evident both with respect to God and also with respect to Man 1. With respect to God The Righteousness is demanded by God therefore he that comes to redeem must present before God a Righteousness absolutely perfect this can be done by none but God 2. With respect to Man Man was to present this Righteousness to God therefore must the Undertaker be man Man for Man and God for God God-Man between God and Men. This Days-man can lay his Hand upon us both and bring God and Man together in peace Job 9. 33. Quest. But some may say What need of the Righteousness of one that is naturally God had Adam who was but a mean Man stood in his Innocency and done his duty he had saved himself and all his Posterity Ans. Had Adam stood he had so long secured himself from the Wages of Sin and Posterity so long as they were in him But had Adam sinned yea although he had not defiled his Nature with filth he could never after that have redeemed himself from the Curse of the Law because he was not equal with God for the Curse of the Law is the Curse of God but no man can deliver himself from the Curse of God having first transgressed This is evident because Angels for sin lie bound in Chains and can never deliver themselves He therefore that redeemeth man from under the Law must not only do all the good that the Law requireth but bear all the Penalty that is due by the Law for sin Should an Angel assume human Flesh and in that Flesh do the Law this Righteousness would not redeem a Sinner it would be but the Righteousness of an Angel and so far short of such a Righteousness as can secure a Sinner from the Wrath of God But thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Soul with all thy Heart with all thy Mind with all thy Strength If there was no more required of us now to redeem our selves it would be utterly impossible for us to do it because in the best there is sin which will intermix it self with every duty of Man This being so all the Heart all the Soul all the Strength and all the Mind to the exact requirement of the Justice of the Law can never be found in a Natural Man Besides For this Work there is required a perfect Memory always to keep in mind the whole Duty of Man the whole of every tittle of all the Law lest sin come in by forgetfulness 2. A perfect Knowledg and Judgment lest sin come in by ignorance 3. An everlasting Unweariedness in all lest sin and continual Temptations tire the Soul cause it to fail before the whole be done For the Accomplishing this last he must have 1. A Perfect Willingness without the least thought to the contrary 2. Such an hatred of sin as is not to be found but in the Heart of God 3. A full delight in every Duty and that in the midst of all temptations 4. A continuing in all things to the well-pleasing of the Justice of God I say should the penalty of the Law be taken off should God forgive the Penalty and Punishment due to sins that are past and only demand good works now according to the Tenour of the Law no man could be saved there would not be found that Heart that Soul that Mind and that Strength any-where in the World This therefore must cease for ever
afflicts the Mind with guilt and bindeth over the Soul to answer it sever not sin and guilt asunder left thou be an Hypocrite like these wicked Men and rob Christ of his true Sufferings Besides to see sin upon Christ but not its guilt to see sin upon Christ but not the Legal Punishment what is this but to conclude that either there is no guilt and punishment in sin or that Christ bare our sin but we the Punishment for the Punishment must be born because the Sentence is gone out from the Mouth of God against sin Do thou therefore as I have said consider of sin as a Transgression of the Law 1 John 3. and a Provoker of the Justice of God which done turn thine Eye to the Cross and behold those Sins in the Guilt and Punishment of them sticking in the Flesh of Christ. God condemned sin in the Flesh of Christ. He bare our Sins IN his own Body on the Tree Rom. 8. 3. 1 Pet. 2. 24. I would only give thee this Caution not sin in the Nature of sin Sin was not so in the Flesh of Christ but sin in the Natural Punishment of it to wit Guilt and the Chastising Hand of Justice He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities The Chastisements of our Peace were upon him and by his Stripes we are healed Isa. 53. Look then upon Christ crucified to be as the sin of the World as if He only had broken the Law which done behold him perfectly innocent in himself and so conclude that for the transgressions of God's People he was stricken That when the Lord made him to be sin He made him to be sin FOR US He was made a Curse for us FOurthly As he was made Flesh under the Law and also Sin so he was made a Curse for us Christ hath redeemed us from the Cross of the Law being made a Curse for us as it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree This Sentence is taken out of Moses being passed there upon them that for Sin are worthy of death And if a Man have committed a Sin worthy of death and thou hang him on a Tree his Body shall not remain all night upon the Tree but thou shalt in any-wise bury him that Day for he that is hanged is accursed of God By this Sentence Paul concludeth that Jesus Christ was Justly hanged because sin worthy of Death was upon him Sin not of his own but ours Since then he took our Sins he must be cursed of God for sin is sin where-ever it lies and justice is justice where-ever it finds it wherefore since Jesus Christ will bear our Sin he must be numbred with the Transgressors and counted worthy to die the Death He that committeth sin is worthy of death This though Christ did not personally do his Members his Body which is his Church did and since he would undertake for them with God and stand in their Sins before the Eyes of his Justice He must die the Death by the Law Sin and the Curse cannot be severed Sin must be followed with the Curse of God Sin therefore being removed from us to the Back of Christ thither goes also the Curse for if sin be found upon him he is the Person worthy to die worthy by our Sins Wherefore Paul here setteth forth Christ clothed with our Sins and so taking from us the Guilt and Punishment What punishment but the Wrath and Displeasure of God Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us In this word Curse are two things comprized 1. The Reality of Sin for there can be no Curse where there is no Sin either of the Persons own or made to be his by his own Consent or the Imputation of Divine Justice And since Sins are made to be Christ's by Imputation they are his though not naturally yet really and consequently the Wages due He hath made him to be sin he was made a Curse for us 2. This word Curse comprizeth therefore the Punishment of Sin that Punishment properly due to sin from the Hand of God's Justice which punishment standeth in three things 1. In charging sin upon the Body and Soul of the Person concerned and hence we read that both the Body and Soul of Christ were made an Offering for Sin Isa. 53. 10. Heb. 10. 10. 2. The Punishment standeth in Gods inflicting of the Just merits of sin upon him that standeth charged therewith and that is Death in its own nature and strength to wit Death with the Sting thereof The Sting of Death is sin This Death did Christ die because he died for our Sins 3. The Sorrows and Pains of this Death therefore must be under-gone by Jesus Christ. Now there are divers Sorrows in Death 1. Such Sorrows as Brutes are subject to 2. Such Sorrows as Persons are subjects to that stand in sin before God 3. Such Sorrows as those undergo who are swallowed up of the Curse and Wrath of God for ever Now so much of all kind of Sorrow as the Imputation of our Sin could justly bring from the Hand of Divine Justice so much of it he had 1. He had Death 2. He had the Sting of Death which is Sin 3. He was forsaken of God but could not by any means have those Sorrows which they have that are everlastingly swallowed up of them It was not possible that he should be holden of it Act. 2. 24. For where Sin is charged and born there must of necessity follow the Wrath and Curse of God Now where the Wrath and Curse of God is there must of necessity follow the Effects the Natural Effects I say the Natural Effects to wit the Sence the Sorrowful Sence of the Displeasure of an Infinite Majesty and his Chastisements for the Sin that hath provoked him There are Effects natural and Effects accidental those Accidental are such as flow from our weakness whilst we wrestle with the Judgment of God to wit hellish fear despair rage blasphemy and the like These were not incident to Jesus Christ he being in his own Person every way perfect Neither did he alwayes endure the Natural Effects his Merits relieved and delivered him God loosed the Pains of death because it was not possible he should be holden of it Acts 2. 24. Christ then was made a Curse for us for he did bear our sin the Punishment therefore from the Revenging Hand of God must needs fall upon him Wherefore by these four things we see how Christ became our Saviour he took hold of our Nature was born under the Law was made to be sin and the Accursed of God for us And observe it all this as I said before was the Handy-Work of God God made him Flesh made him under the Law God made him to be Sin and also a Curse for us The Lord bruised him the Lord put him to grief the Lord made his Soul an Offering for Sin Isa.
is of Wonderful Price when the Son of God will not stick to spill his Blood for it O Sinners you that will venture your Souls for a little pleasure surely you know not the worth of your Souls Now if you would know what your Souls are worth and the Price which God sets them at read that Price by the Blood of Christ. The Blood of Christ was spilt to save Souls For ye are bought with a Price and that Price none other than the Blood of Christ wherefore glorify God in your Bodies and in your Spirits which are Gods 1 Cor. 6. 20. Sinners you have Souls can you behold a Crucified Christ and not Bleed and not Mourn and not fall in Love with him The third Use. By this Doctrine Sinners as Sinners are encouraged to come to God for mercy for the Curse due to Sin is taken out of the way I speak now to Sinners that are awake and see themselves Sinners There are two things in special when Men begin to be awakened that kill their thoughts of being saved 1. A Sense of sin 2. The Wages due thereto These kill the Heart for who can bear up under the guilt of Sin If our Sins be upon us and we pine away in them how can we THEN live Ezek. 33. 10. How indeed it is impossible So neither can Man grapple with the Justice of God Can thine Heart endure or can thine Hands be strong they cannot A wounded Spirit who can bear Men cannot Angels cannot wherefore if now Christ be hid and the blessing of Faith in his Blood denied wo be to them such go after Saul and Judas one to the Sword and the other to the Halter Ezek. 22. 14. Prov. 18. 14. and so miserably end their days for come to God they dare not the thoughts of that Eternal Majesty strikes them through But now present such Poor dejected Sinners with a Crucified Christ and perswade them that the Sins under which they shake and tremble was long ago laid upon the Back of Christ and the Noise and Sense and Fear of damning begins to cease depart and fly away Dolours and Terrours fade and vanish and that Soul conceiveth hopes of Life For thus the Soul argueth is this indeed the Truth of God that Christ was made to be Sin for me was made the Curse of God for me Hath he indeed born all my Sins and spilt his Blood for my Redemption O blessed Tidings O welcome Grace Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his Holy Name Now is peace come now the Face of Heaven is altered Behold all things are become new Now the Sinner can abide Gods Presence yea sees unutterable Glory and Beauty in him For here he sees Justice smite While Jacob was afraid of Esau how heavily did he drive even towards the Promised Land but when killing thoughts were turned into kissing and the fears of the Swords Point turned into Brotherly Embraces what says he I have seen thy Face as though it had been the Face of God and thou wast pleased with me Gen. 33. 10. So and far better is it with a poor distressed Sinner at the Revelation of the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses to them O! what work will such a word make upon a wounded Conscience especially when the next words follow For he hath made him to be Sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him Now the Soul sees qualifications able to set him quit in the Sight of God Qualifications prepared already Prepared I say already and that by God through Christ even such as can perfectly answer the Law What doth the Law require If Obedience here it is if Bloody Sacrifice here it is if infinite Righteousness here it is Now then the Law condemns him that Believes before God no more for all its Demands are answered all its Curses are swallowed up in the Death and Curse Christ underwent Object But reason saith since Personal Sin brought the Death surely Personal Obedience must bring us Life and Glory Ans. True Reason saith so and so doth the Law it self Rom. 10. 5. but God we know is above them both and he in the Covenant of Grace saith otherwise to wit That if thou shalt confess with thy Mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine Heart that God hath raised him from the Dead thou shalt be saved Rom. 10. 6 7 8 9. Let Reason then hold his tongue yea let the Law with all his Wisdom subject it self to him that made it let it look for sin where God hath laid it let it approve the Righteousness which God approveth yea though it be not that of the Law but that by Faith of Jesus Christ. God hath made him our Righteousness God hath made him our Sin God hath made him our Curse God hath made him our Blessing Methinks this word God hath made it so should silence all the World The fourth use Fourthly By this Doctrine sufficiency of argument is ministred to the tempted to withstand thereby the assaults of the Devil When the Souls begin to seek after the Lord Jesus then Satan begins to afflict and distress as the Canaanites did the Gibeonites for making Peace with Jehoshuah Jos. 10. 1 6. There are three things that do usually afflict the Soul that is earnestly looking after Jesus Christ. 1. Dreadful accusations from Satan 2. Grievous defiling and infectious thoughts 3. A strange readiness in our Nature to fall in with both By the first of these the Heart is made continually to tremble Hence his Temptations are compared to the roaring of a Lyon 1 Pet. 5. 8. For as the Lyon by roaring killeth the Heart of his Prey so doth Satan kill the Spirit of these that hearken to him For when he tempteth especially by way of accusation he doth to us as Rabshakeh did to the Jews He speaks to us in our own Language He speaks our Sin at every word our guilty Conscience knows it he speaks our Death at every word our doubting Conscience feels it Secondly Besides this there doth now arise even in the Heart such defiling and soul infectious thoughts that putteth the Tempted to their wits end for now it seems to the Soul that the very flood-Gates of the Flesh are opened and that to sin there is no stop at all now the Air seems to be covered with darkness and the Man is as if he was changed into the nature of a Devil Now if ignorance and unbelief prevail he concludeth that he is reprobate made to be taken and destroyed Thirdly Now also he feeleth in him a readiness to fall in with every temptation a readiness I say continually present Rom. 7. 21. This throws all down now despair begins to swallow it up now it can neither pray nor read nor hear nor meditate on God but Fire and Smoke continually bursteth