concludes vers 36. and cryes out Oh the depth of the wisdome of God c. So let us alwayes doe when we cannot trace God in his wayes Eccl. 7.14 God hath set prosperity and adversity the one over against the other to the end that no man should finde any thing after him i. e. that none should see the print of his steps When God deals thus and his ways are over-clouded by us never let us quarrel or cavil at any passage of his providence but let us fall down and adore the righteousnesse of the Lord and judge him not according to outward appearance but say How unsearchable are thy judgements c. and Psal 17.19 Thy righteousnesse O God is very high c. and truly beyond the reach of men and Angels thou hast done great things oh God who is like unto thee thou hast shewed me great and sore troubles and shalt quicken me again and raise me up from the depths of the earth So when God visiteth the sins of the Fathers upon the Children acknowledge Gods righteousnesse in it for Children are part of their Parents and it is just with God to punish such as hate him when and where he pleaseth Besides many times children approve of the sins of their Parents and imitate them and doe worse than they as Belshazzar Dan. 8.22 So when God gives grace to some and denies it to others that are alike sinful this seems harsh to Arminians and carnal persons but God saith Shall I not doe what I will with mine own Mat. 20.13 The Glory of Gods Righteousnesse is the end of Redemption THE SIX AND TWENTIETH SERMON ON Rom. 3.25 26. To declare I say at this time his righteousness WEE have heard how that not only the mercy and truth of God but also his justice doth concur and act in the justification of a sinner but there is yet more in the words when it is said that this is done for the declaration of the righteousnesse of God and that with a repetition of it to signify that God would have us to take special notice of this And there is implyed an answer to a secret objection for it might bee said why did not the Lord freely forgive the sins of his Elect without the redemption wrought by Christ to satisfy such a question the Lord saith because this way of forgiveness by Christs redemption makes most for the declaration of the justice of God in the pardoning of sin The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated declaration or to declare is rendred Phil. 1.28 a manifest token so I conceive the meaning is here and it should be rendered for a manifest token or for the demonstration of the righteousness of God God would have his people to know that there was great necessity of this way of justification because that God is essentially just and cannot otherwise forgive sin except his justice be satisfied Doctr. The main end of the redemption wrought by Christ The main end of redemption and that hee was made a Propitiatory sacrifice for sin was the demonstration of the glory of the justice of God to the world This point lies clear in the Text and it is that which is signifyed by that speech that is so often used in all the great works of God especially his Mercies to his people and his Judgements upon his Enemies this is still mentioned as the end that God aims at in Exodus and Ezekiel That yee may know that I am the Lord that is Just Holy Merciful and Faithful c. and such a one as I have revealed my self to be it is expressed excellently Jerem. 9.23 24. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdome c. but let him that glorieth glory in this that hee understandeth and knoweth mee that I am Jehovah which exercise loving kindnesse judgement and righteousnesse in the earth for in these things I delight The true knowledge of God is a matter of wonderful worth and it is not onely to know him to bee a God that exercises loving kindness but also Judgement and Righteousnesse in the earth and the reason is because in these things the Lord delighteth These things are according to the nature and heart of God Now mark that the Lord would have us to know him to bee such a God and to glory in this for this is the happiness of a poor creature Now that you may know how pertinent this is to the matter in hand yee may compare with it 1 Cor. 1.30 31. where it is said That Christ is made unto us of God wisdome righteousness sanctification and redemption that according as it is written Let him that glorieth glory in the Lord. Whence there is evidently a reference to that place of the Prophet Jeremy So that to put both places together there will bee this collection from them That God the Father hath appointed and sent the Lord Jesus Christ to bee the Head and Fountain of all spiritual blessings and especially of righteousnesse to the faithful that they may know him to bee Jehovah that exerciseth loving kindness judgement and righteousness in the earth to strip all the Children of Men of all glorying in themselves and to cause them to ascribe all the glory to the Lord For the handling of this I shall open two things 1 How the shedding of Christs blood for a Propitiatory Sacrifice makes for the glory of Gods justice 2 Why the demonstration of this glory was the end of the shedding of Christs blood How the shedding of Christs blood glorifieth Gods justice Quest 1. How doth the shedding of Christs blood to be a Propitiatory sacrifice make for the glory of Gods justice Answ Not in an ordinary manner onely as all other judgements of God do shew forth the Justice of God but in a most transcendent and eminent way such as never was before and that in two respects especially 1 In regard of the person whose blood is shed his relation to the Father as being his onely begotten Son his dignity as having a Name above every Name and hee that is appointed Heir of all things by whom he made the World the brightnesse of his Fathers glory and the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.2 3 There was never Justice executed upon such a person as Christ was So yee may consider the love of the Father to him Matth. 12.18 Hee was the Fathers beloved in whom his soul delighted and his love to the Father and his doing alwaies that which was pleasing to the Father Joh. 14.31 and yee may adde to these the fervent prayers to his Father with strong cries and tears Heb. 5.7 together with the extremity of his sufferings that is an Hell upon Earth and the pains of the second death before the first death and in the daies of his flesh So that neither the Cup nor any drop of the Cup did pass away from him Matth. 26. This was a new an admirable and transcendent justice such as never
woful condition come upon you Take heed as it follows there vers 46. Seeing that you put away the Word from you and Judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life you that have a pardon offered to you being condemned male-factors and yet will bee prophane unclean and proud still you do as good as say wee care not for the pardon wee scorn the offer of remission of sins though we bee damned for them Let such desperate souls know they judge themselves unworthy c. Object You will say why whatsoever my sins are though I go on yet grace is sufficient to save mee at last Answ But doth not the Apostle say shall wee continue in sin c. far bee it that ever such a thought should enter into any heart Rom. 6.1 2. Sodomites themselves had they had this grace preached by any Messenger from God they would in all likelihood have beleeved and repented What is this but turning the Grace of God into wantonness that branded sin of Jud. 4. Ordained of old to Condemnation and the very characteristical Note of Reprobation to turn Gods grace into Lasciviousness T is true God doth not presently reject where grace proffered is neglected Rom. 10 ult All the day long c. yet it is oft a sad presage that grace will depart from those for ever that prophanely set it at nought The day of Grace is short Luke 19.41 2 Cor. 6.2 Col. 1.6 the Gospel brought forth fruit in the Colossians The first day they heard of it and knew the grace of God in truth Use 3. Comfort to beleevers that this grace is free It is an unspeakable ground of comfort to poor beleevers What better Cordial can you take than this what Doctrin should you rather learn you complain of sins before Calling of corruptions yet remaining of coldness in duty and you say how can such a wretch as I bee accepted or justified The Doctrin takes away the ground of your Lamentation in saying you are justified and pardoned freely not onely by Gods Grace and Mercy but altogether freely Rom. 5.16 the free gift is of many offences to justification So vers 18. the free gift came to justification Luth. in Epist ad Gala. Let Moses saith Luther bee dead and buried and his Sepulchre never bee found in point of justification This is your security and makes your justification such as a man may have peace in and boldness and confidence in the inward Combates of Conscience and in the panges of death for it makes the promises sure Rom. 4.16 unmortified corruption would make justification upon any other terms uncertain but Gods free grace is a sure Rock to build on a foundation that cannot bee undermined It puts you under the Kingdome of grace where grace must as surely reign unto life as sin did unto death Rom. 5.21 Further this Justification gives safety and perpetuity of happiness because this feee grace is unchangeable Rom. 5.2 Being justified by Faith wee stand in Grace wee never fall from it and vers 17. They which receive abundance of Grace and of the gift of Righteousness shall reign in Life by one Jesus Christ Consider seriously that this grace is given when wee are enemies to God lying in our blood besmeared in our filthiness Now it is not likely a poor beleever shall ever fall into a worse estate than this was So that the same grace must needs be still continued to him Use 4. Exhortation to all sorts 1 to unjust 1 Exhortation first to unjustified persons If justification bee of free grace then let carnal and prophane men see a little chink of light beaming into their dungeon of darkness Here is some possibility of obtaining mercy and pardon at the Lords hands Free Grace is the main motive to the Lord for to give Remission of sin Let it also bee a strong Motive to you to seek out after it If free why may not you have a share in it as well as others If the fault bee not in your selves it may bee yours as well as others T is not sins hainousness nor multitude can keep you out God keeps open house for Grace and Mercy and every poor beggar that will may come The Dole is not given because a man hath better Cloaths better Parts or abilities but to poor souls that come to fetch it Avoid discouragement and prophaneness when God is dispensing his grace to others as bad as thee Go then among the crowd of Prodigals thrust in among them Rom. 4.5 To him that works not that never did a good work but beleeves on him that justifieth the ungodly i. e. There are none justified but ungodly for all are ungodly before justification though afterward they are not ungodly in that they fall to working the work of God though not to trust in any work set their hearts on all the works of the Covenant though not on the Covenant of works Hear what the Spirit saies to thee Rev. 22.17 Whoever will let them take of the water of Life freely Here is a dram of Aqua vitae for a dead soul freely offered if thou wilt accept of it and wilt thou not accept of it say not I have no good work to commend mee for they that work not are not shut out Isa 55.2 but without money though not a penny in thy pocket not one good work at all To direct you in it 1 Know that Justification presupposes Damnation in a way of justice Directions to attain justification Thou therefore that desirest justification must bee convinced and certainly conclude thou art a condemned person in the rigour of Gods Justice according to that Ezek. 36.31 You shall remember your own evil waies and doings were not good and shall loathe your selves or judge your selves worthy to bee destroyed so Rom. 3.19 that all the World may become guilty Your soules must come to the bar of Gods justice and hold up your hands and cry guilty guilty yea and pass the sentence of condemnation on your own souls 2 Bee zealously diligent Direct 2 that you receive not the grace of God in vain 2 Cor. 6.1 Paul in 2 Cor. 5.21 having spoken of free justification before hee addes wee then as workers together with him beseech you that you receive not the grace of God in vain You have heard of Gods grace now wee Apostles and Ministers of Christ beseech you that this grace bee not lost or in vain If our intreaties may prevail with you Oh! suffer not this water of life to bee spilt in vain 3 You must for ever resolve to live in the Kingdome of grace Rom. 5. ult Grace ought to reign Direct 3 you must not think to subject it to your lusts for grace must have the command of all Tit. 2.12 it denies ungodliness the throne 2 To justified Persons Are you justified freely by his grace 2 To such as are justified first learn to adore free grace lye low in the dust with Paul
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
blessings that are given us in Christ Yea they are dead and deadly things without Christ for the letter killeth 'T is his Divine power that sets all a work 2 Pet. 1.3 Let us then fix our thoughts therefore on Christs sufferings not onely now and then giving them a slight glance or two as they come in our way Let us dwell on the Meditation of his infinite love till our hearts are warmed and inlarged by it till it kindles heavenly affections in us till his love constrains us to every good duty 2 Cor. 5.14 'T is that the greatest part of the World never knew God hath not shewed his love to all people Let Christs love therefore work love in thee out-biding all other loves Matth. 10.37 to hate the very best things in nature in comparison of Christ yea our love to Christ should make us bold to attempt anything commanded by him So it wrought in Paul Act. 21.13 I am ready to dye for the name of the Lord Jesus And if any man love him not saith Paul 1 Cor. 16.22 Let him bee accursed till the Lord come 4 Let this Argument inforce brotherly love 'T is the Holy Ghosts own inference We cannot bestow our love better than on them whom Christ loves 1 Joh. 4.11 If Christ so loved us wee ought to love one another For wee ought to love them best that Christ loved best Wee cannot bestow our affections better than where Christ hath bestowed his Now Christ hath bestowed his dearest bowels on the Saints so also ought we to bee tender of each other Far be it from any Christian to bee of the mind of Josephs brethren to hate him the more because their Father Jacob loved him or because the Saints have more grace or more infirmities than our selves They must bee loved for their Fathers sake though they should give us some cause to slight them Christs Propitiation THE TENTH SERMON ON Rom. 3.24 25. Whom God hath set forth a Propitiation I Have spoken of the Redemption and Satisfaction of Christ and the fulness of that satisfaction Now of the efficacy thereof which is expressed in the word propitiation together with the efficient cause thereof i.e. God the Father and his manner of working in the word set forth Propitiation signifies the Lords Reconciliation to sinners by way of Sacrifice Heb. 2.17 Propitiation what it means 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ is said to bee a merciful High-Priest in things pertaining unto God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people Where the Verb of which the word in the Text comes is used It belonged to the Priest when the people had sinned to make reconciliation for them to God by way of sacrifice as often in Levit. 5. 6. for which end God appointed certain expiatory sacrifices in the time of the Law the beast must dye instead of the sinner And this doth singularly set forth and express both the Priestly Office of Christ that it belongs to him and him onely to make an attonement and that by way of Sacrifice and oblation to God So Levit. 23.27 28. Propitiation is also often used for the Mercy Seat Heb. 9.5 referring to Exod. 25.17 18 21 22. which Mercy Seat covered the Ark of the Testimony wherein were put the two tables of the Law and there saith God I will meet thee I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat from between the two Cherubims for all things that I will give thee in commandement unto the children af Israel Where wee may consider 1 That as the Mercy Seat covered the Tables of the Law from the face of God dwelling between the Clâ—â—ruâ—ims aboue the Ark So Christ doth cover the transgressions of both the Tables of the Law from the face of God that hee should not behold sin so as to impute it to the faithful Thus 1 Joh. 2.2 2 The Mercy Seat was the place where God used to meet his people and to shew himself reconciled to them 3 There they might consult with God in their straights 4 That over against the Mercy Seat the Priest went daily to offer sacrifice Heb. 9.6 So that in this word is contained both the means appointed for the attonement i.e. The Sacrifice of Christ and also the Lords reconcilement unto the persons of his people 5 The Mercy Seat contained the Law so doth Christ all our righteousnesse 6 It was interposed betwixt the Testimony and the Lord so is Christ betwixt God and our sins Doct. Through the sacrifice of Christs blood the Father is pacified That through the Sacrifice of Christ God is pacified and appeased with all those that have fellowship with Christ 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Christ is called our propitiation in the abstract Signifying that all which is requisite to pacify Gods anger against us is laid up in Christ and his Death there needeth nothing more but onely the pleading of his merit with the Father which also Christ himself doth as our Advocate 1 Joh. 4.10 God sent his Son to bee the propitation for our sins 1 Thess 1.10 Rom. 5.9 Being justified by his blood wee shall bee saved from wrath through him This was typified by all the Sacrifices from the beginning of the World All the vertue in them was by vertue of Christs death Heb. 10.4 The death of a beast could not suffice by way of Exchange for the death of a man If a subject should bee a Traytor to his Sovereign would the King take his Cattels life for his much less then can the wrath of God bee appeased with the blood of beasts It is onely by Christs death Rom. 5.1 Matth. 3.17 Eph. 1.6 Luk. 2.14 The Mercy Seat was called the Propitiatory as here Christ is called the Propitiation No propitiation was by the Mercy Seat without blood Heb. 9.7 thus sweetly prefiguring the satisfaction of Jesus Christ Quest Wherein stands this pacifying of Gods anger Answ There be three things implyed in it 1 The wrath of God before to bee kindled against sinners Rom. 3.5 2 That the effects of his anger in punishment and judgements are hanging over the sinners head 3 It doth mainly import the turning away of those judgements and the quenching of that wrath with the exemption and delivery of the sinner there-from All which wee finde Col. 1.21 And you that were sometimes alienated c. So Isa 59.2 compared with Eph. 2.13 Quest How God is pacified toward them whom he loved eternally How can God bee said to bee pacified towards them that have fellowship with Christ seeing that undoubtedly God loved them from all eternity Answ 1 Eph. 2.3 whatever wee are by grace yet by Nature wee are children of wrath Or as the Apostle Rom. 11.8 Concerning the Gospel they are enemies but as touching Election they are beloved for the Fathers-sake So indeed Gods chosen being yet in a natural estate they are enemies to God and God is an enemy to them in regard of
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
God in such a way as to overthrow his truth his truth of his promises Tit. 1.4 Grace Mercy and Peace are from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ There is no Mercy to bee expected from God but through Jesus Christ Luk. 1.50 His mercy is on them that fear him they that do not fear God have no title to his mercy so there is the truth of his threatnings that hee will not bee merciful to any wicked transgressour Psal 59.5 to any one that loves his sin and lives in it and refuses to bee reformed Gods mercy is as it were the bridge over the pit to carry the soul to heaven but a man that hath his eies will bee careful that he tread not beside as upon the shadow of the bridge instead of the bridge Yea it is railed as it were with his truth beware of going without the rail lest you drop into the pit now those that we speak of go with out the rail and the promises and threatnings are against them so they do evidently trust in a lye saying They shall have Peace Mercy walking in the stubbornness of their own hearts Deut. 29.19 20. but the Lord saith hee will not bee merciful to such but besides the great delusion is that they do look for pardon of sin by meer mercy with the wrong or denial of the justice of God 3 There cannot possibly bee any remission of sin unlesse that God can pardon in Justice as well as Mercy There can bee no dispensation for this If God could have pardoned sin without the price of redemption then certainly Christ dyed altogether in vain For what did the father send forth Christ to bee the Propitiation for sin to shew his justice how can they beleeve that if Gods justice did not exact the price If the price might have been omitted without any prejudice to his justice could God bee eternally just if hee had not punished sin at all Prov. 17.15 To justify the wicked without satisfaction to justice is an abomination to the Lord and will the Lord do that which is abominable to him will any King put his own Son to death to save a traitours life when hee can freely pardon the traitour if hee will surely that were an unnatural and a cruel part and can wee think that God the Father will give up his onely begotten Son to death to save sinners when hee may out of meer grace and mercy pardon them without such a sacrifice certainly God would never do it Briefly the sinner must necessarily satisfy justice either by himself or by his surety or else it is utterly impossible that his sin should bee forgiven Heb. 10.26 27. Without a sacrifice for sin there remains nothing but a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation that shall devour the adversaries Doth any soul expect pardon without Christ then hee expects peace without any sacrifice for him but the Text saith that without this there remains nothing but a fearful expectation c. Briefly such a hope of pardon is interpretatively no better than Atheism and denial of God For it denies the justice of God it denies his purity and holinesse it denies his Soveraignty yea it denies Christ if the Lord bee God hee is just and holy and Judge of all the World and if hee bee just hee cannot pardon sin but in a way of justice and that sealed by Christs blood I pray consider that Psal 89.13 14. Thou hast a mighty arm strong is thy hand and high is thy right hand consider what a God you have to deal withall hee is a mighty strong God no creature is able to withstand him if hee bee displeased Object I but he is merciful too Answ 1. Psalm 89.14 Justice and judgement are the habitation of his Throne mercy and truth shall go before his face justice and judgement are the basis and supporter of his Throne take away justice and you pull down his royal Throne you make him no longer King or Judge mercy and truth are his harbingers 2 They are offered first and when refused Justice doth execution So a like place Psal 36.5 6. Thy mercy O Lord is in the Heavens and thy faithfulnesse reacheth unto the Clouds that is there is a vastnesse and immensity in both they are very great but whence is his Justice so great his righteousnesse is like the strong mountains c. as if hee had said the righteousnesse of God is as unsupportable and unmoveable as the strong mountains and his judgements they do not swim aloft but they are an infinite and unsearchable depth You cannot bear them nor remove Gods righteousness nor measure or fathom his judgements and thou that art a sinner hast these mountains ready to fall upon thee and art sinking into this great deep What is it that makes the Devils eternally miserable but that they have no Christ to satisfy the justice of God and if a sinner on earth live and dye without Christ he is as uncapable of salvation as those in the 2 of the Ephes 12. Object 2. The Justice of God is answered in Christ for mee Answ True indeed there is no other Name under heaven given amongst men whereby wee shall be saved and happy is that soul that can groundedly plead this and most miserable is he or shee that is deceived herein it is an errour in the foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundation can no man lay Beloved let us take heed of an errour in this which is very common 1 Joh. 3.6 7. Consider whether there bee not Gods Writ sent out against you frequently signed in an open Court as Micaiah said to Ahab 2 Chron. 18 2â— hath not the Lord pronounced against thee in the threatnings in his Word yea hath not the Arrest been served upon thee in the secret accusation of thy conscience when thou hast shifted it off as Felix did Pauls Sermon Act. 24.25 Consider how thy heart is affected with the doctrin of Gods justice and the judgements to come Is it not with thee as it was with that unhappy Felix doth not thy heart I say not onely tremble but swell against the truth of God doth it not secretly wish there were no Assizes yea art thou not still in the Jailours custody as a malefactor Beware of that which Elihu speaks Job 36.17 18. thou hast fulfilled the judgement of the wicked judgement and justice take hold on thee that is they are seizing upon thee Because there is wrath beware lest hee take thee away with his stroak then a great ransome cannot deliver thee will hee esteem thy riches no not gold nor all the forces of strength Gods Justice in a Sinners Justification THE FOUR AND TWENTIETH SERMON ON Rom. 3.25 26. That he might be just and the Justifier c. NOT onely the exact Truth of God Doct. 1 or the abundance of his Grace but also his strict justice do concur and act in the justification of a sinner in
us from the danger of our vain Conversation 1 Peter 1.19 from the wasting or mis-spending of our time It was a pretious Resolution of Joseph Genesis 39.9 How shall I do this great wickedness and sinne against my God hee speaketh it is true of Adultery which is a great wickednesse but his Argument to resist will as well hold to resist even the least sinne How shall I sin against God yea conclude certainly that though all sins are not equal yet they agree all in this that God hates them and cannot but in his justice punish them and there is abundance of evil in every sin Rom. 5.20 Where sin aboundeth grace doth super-abound he speaketh there of all the sins of the Elect. Every sin abounds with wickednesse Oh Beloved suffer the word of Exhortation Heb. 12.5 Resist sin unto blood much more to shame or disgrace or poverty c. 2 Hate that which hates God Psa 139.21 22. Do not I hate them that hate thee 3 Get the love of God into your hearts then yee will hate sin indeed Psal 97.10 All yee that love the Lord hate evil 4 Labour to know God to bee your God and then you will know what it is to sin against him Psal 143.10 Teach mee to do thy will for thou art my God if ye look upon God as a stranger as one in whom you have no interest then you will not bee careful how to avoid sinning against him Justice concurres to a Sinner Justification THE FIVE AND TWENTIETH SERMON ON Romans 3.25.26 That hee might bee just and to declare at this time his righteousness Doct. NOt only the exact Truth of God or the abundance of his Grace but also his strict Justice doth concurre to the justification of a Sinner Vse 3. Satisfied justice the strongest comfort to beleevers It may serve for an invincible ground of comfort to every true beleever every soul that is in Christ Jesus that hee is justified by the strictest justice of God And as for those that are not in Christ let them stand by and behold with lamentation their estrangement from these consolations yet let them admire and long for and desire these heavenly injoyments that belong unto the Saints though for the present poor souls they are in the condition of such as have no part or fellowship in this businesse It was a sad speech that was spoken by the Prophet Elisha to the unbeleeving Lord 2 King 7.2 about the great plenty in Samaria Thou shalt see it with thine eyes but thou shalt not eat thereof I will not dare to speak this concerning any that hears this word but this is sure that for the present whilst men abide in the state of unbelief and impenitency it will bee extreme presumption and delusion for such an one to conceit any interest in this consolation The Comfort stands in these particulars Comf 1. In the blessednesse of that estate and the surenesse of the ground thereof the blessednesse of this estate stands in the pardon of sins Psal 32.1 Blessed is the man whose unrighteousness is forgiven c. It is commonly accounted an easie matter to obtain forgivenesse of sins and there is none so vile but hee will presently conceit that hee can get it when he is giving up the ghost but such persons know not what such a mercy costs nor what is requisite on their parts to the injoying of it nor what a mighty power of God is exercised in forgiving sin See how Moses prayed when the people had sinned Num. 14.16 19. Now let the power of my Lord be great as thou hast said the Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy forgiving iniquity and transgression and by no means clearing the guilty c. Pardon I beseech thee the iniquity of this people according to the greatnesse of thy mercy Gods omnipotent power in all his Attributes is put forth in forgiving of sin and in special the greatnesse of his mercy and justice surely this must needs bee of great use and worth to beleevers in so much that it is so strongly built and that on a rock of eternity for it is built on the justice truth and mercy of God Righteousnesse and peace kisse each other mercy and truth meet together in the beleevers justification Psa 85.9 Comf 2. That which is the greatest terrour in the world to unbeleevers is the strongest ground of comfort to beleevers that is the Justice and the Wrath of God against sin Look how it was Matth. 28.4 5. when the Angel appeared at the Resurrection of our Saviour Christ The keepers were affrighted and became as dead men but it was said to the women Fear not yee for yee seek for Jesus of Nazareth that was crucified So it is much more in this case when Gods Justice is powerfully manifested the sinners of Sion and of the world are affraid and terrified but yee poor beleevers seek for Christ who was crucified yee need not fear any thing yea you may be wonderfully cheared at this and it is your greatest comfort that you have to deal with this just God who hath already received satisfaction for your sins for Revel 15.3 4. it is the substance of the Song of Moses and the Lamb wherein the Saints triumph in the justice and judgements of God that are most terrible to Gods enemies Luk. 21.26 28. where the Day of Judgement is described and that in it there shall bee distresse of Nations and mens hearts failing them for fear viz. of the Justice and Wrath of God Why so it is for looking after those things that are to come upon the earth for the powers of the earth shall bee shaken c. but when these things begin to come to passe then look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth near This day is the most dreadful day that ever was in the world to all the ungodly but the just and the faithful then shall bee able to lift up their heads to see all the world on a light fire about them and all the Elements in terrible confusion But how dare a poor Creature lift up his head in such a case as this They shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory here is enough to comfort the poor members of Christ to see Christ on whom they have beleeved and who hath satisfied Gods justice for them to appear to Judgement Isa 40.1 Comfort yee comfort yee my people saith the Lord speak yee comfortably to Jerusalem and say unto her that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquity is pardoned for she hath received at the Lords hands double for her sins i. e. this conflict with the wrath of God is at an end the punishment of their iniquity is accepted they have received in their Head and Surety Christ Jesus double for their sins i. e. Justice hath past upon them in their Head Christ Jesus and they be sure the Judge of all the world will doe
know thou justifiest thy self O vile man as Elihu speaks Job 32.2 more than God and in justifying thy self condemnest the Lord. Yea nothing doth more hinder thine own justification than thy self-justification for what carest thou for another to justifie thee that canst doe it thy self as the Pharisee Luke 18.11 went away unjustified because he justified himself while the poor self-condemning Publican was sent away rather justified for that remarkable reason because hee abased himself And thou disanullest Gods Judgement and condemnest him that thou mayest bee righteous Job 40.8 thou bringest the Lord to thy barre to stand as guilty before thee Many please themselves that they are justified by their companions and fellows because their iniquity is secret and hath escaped the view of man but alas the Malefactor shall not speed according to the sentences of Fellow-prisoners but according to the sentence of the Judge Paul cries 1 Cor. 4.3 4. What doe you tell me of mans judgement this is the prophane mans day and the proud mans day but the Lords Court-day is coming when hee shall bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and then you will bee self-damned Tit. 3.11 thy conscience shall set thy sins in order before thee and thy abetters in sin shall curse thee as the Shechemites afterward cursed Abimelech Judg. 9.27 The Devil shall lay the load of all thy sins upon thee to bring thee to despair and it may be to the Halter as he did Judas yea the senselesse creatures shall rise up against thee the stone out of the wall the beam out of the timber shall cry out against thy sins Hab. 2.11 every Sermon thou hast heard yea the dust of the Ministers feet shall rise up in judgement against thee Luke 9.5 but that which is worse than all God himself will bee a swift witnesse against thee Malac. 3.5 his mercy patience and long suffering shall condemn thee and his sentence of everlasting destruction shall certainly passe against thee and then thou wilt finde Jeremiahs words too true cha 23. ver 20. The anger of the Lord shall not return until hee have executed and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart and though thou wilt not now consider it yet in the latter days thou shalt consider it perfectly Vse 3. It is a ground of strong consolation to poor penitent Sinners Comfort to penitent sinners that God the Father justifies against whatsoever the World or Devil can lay to his charge The Apostle challenges World and Devil to doe their worst Rom. 8.33 Who dares lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect let them bring in what Bills of Complaint Accusation or Indictments they can invent against the poor soul and they will invent enough yet they shall not hurt Why because it is God that justifieth And in 1 Cor. 4.2 3. I passe not to be judged of you or of mans judgement Men will have their Court-days to judge the Saints there is many such a Court kept in the Chimney corner over the Pot thither they summon and cite Gods servants to be tried they sit on their persons or names or estates and give them their doom but let not the Christian passe for mans day which way the cause goes there is another day behind which is the Lords Day of Judgement Acts 17.31 and then he that is holy shall bee happy and he that makes conscience of his ways shall bee acquitted for ever This makes Isaiah exceeding confident chap. 50.8 9. because he is neer that justifieth me who shall contend with me Let us stand together who is mine adversary let him come forth behold the Lord will help me Who shall condemn me Loe they all wax old as doth a garment the moath shall eat them up It is a pithy comparison Many will professe they will stick as close to such and such professors as the garments to their backs many spick and span new accusations laid to the charge of Gods people ever and anon Well saith the Prophet all such Accusations will be soon worn out soon moath-eaten they have a worm in them that will soon consume them and then God will bring forth their righteousnesse c. Psal 37.6 This ground of comfort is three-fold Three-fold ground of comfort that God justifies 1 Because no body hath any thing to doe with a beleevers soul but God and he will Non-suit all the Pleas made against him and if the Lord say He is satisfied and paid who can take any advantage against him All the sin is committed against the Lord only Psal 51.3 and if he say I le remember thy sins no more as he doth Isa 43.25 Who dares commence a Suit against him Hee is the Creditor all the Debts wee owe are due to him if hee crosse the Book and cancel the Hand-writing who shall challenge the debt 2 God doth justify Us therefore wee may bee sure it shall go well with us because his sentence is unchangeable once justified by God and never condemned for whom hee justifies hee glorifies Rom. 8.30 Isa 54.10 Mountains shall depart and Hills bee removed but my kindnesse shall not depart c. Jews cryed sometimes Hosannah sometimes Crucify if the Lord should deal so by us woe bee to Us. Yet Papists and Arminians hold a man may bee justified to day and damned to morrow but the Lord saith My Caunsel shall stand Psal 33.11 3 As there is no change on Gods part so there is no appeal to bee made Gods Court is the highest Court no appeal from the Court of Heaven if the world Devil or our own Consciences bee cast here they can never remove the Suit to another Court Eccl. 5.8 Use 4. Let it serve for Direction Direction to troubled Consciences in case of distress of Conscience Since it is God the Father that justifieth Let your afflicted souls take heed of admitting any other Judge to sit upon your Hearts and Consciences but bee sure to repair to God for sentence and whatsoever hee speaks that attend and submit to Poor souls too often give way to many unrighteous Judges to sit upon their everlasting estate Sometimes they admit Satan and hee eclipseth all their comfort 2 Cor. 2.11 if Satan get advantage the Soul will bee swallowed up of grief ver 7. Sometimes they set up their Carnal Reason that is unacquainted with the things of God sometimes their Care and Suspicion shall try their Case which have infinite cavils to suggest to the heart to vex and trouble All and then they presently conclude they have lost the day T is madness to make our Adversary Judge as Satan is in a Cause depending about our whole estate And folly to put over thy cause to some ignorant Person as carnal Reason is Look onely to stand or fall by Gods judgement Mind not what wrangling Proctors or Lawyers say who can pick a hole in the best estate and surest conveyance but listen after the Judge of the
determination of the work to Christ our head to dye and rise again from the dead Rom. 4. ult So it was free grace 3 In the effectual application of Christs merits and in our actual vocation when true faith is wrought in the heart Eph. 2.7 8. so free grace is apparent 4 In the sealing of it up to the heart when as the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 all which are implyed or expressed in the Text. Proofs for the Confirmation of this point abound as Tit. 3.4 5. After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared c. kindness and love of God are asserted as the moving or impulsive Cause of our Salvation but not a tittle of the works of righteousness in our selves taken notice of and vers 7. Justified by his Grace wee should bee made Heirs Eph. 1.6 7. To the praise of the Glory of his Grace wherein hee hath made us accepted in his Beloved in whom wee have Redemption c. Which grace farther appears 1 That God prosecutes not his Cause against us according to the rigour of the Law and his vindictive justice but leaves any place space and probability for Reconciliation 2 That being the Party offended hee should yet appoint the manner and means of our Reconciliation 3 That hee spared not his beloved Son nor any care to effect this Reconciliation 4 That hee without any dignity of ours ingrafts us into his Son and makes us partakers of his righteousness Quest Why is a sinner so freely justified Reas 1 Because it was impossible for the Law or any legal Righteousness to justify sinners Rom. 8.3 That which was impossible for the Law in that it was weak through the flesh the Lord sending his Son c. Exact righteousness free from Spot the Law required or it could not justify But sinful man through the flesh that is corruption of his heart and inclination to evil could not so observe the Law as to attain to such perfect righteousness because Eccl. 7.20 There is not a just man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not much less can any natural man do it Reas 2 To remove two inconveniences 1 To exclude boasting 2 Those terrors of Conscience which otherwise sinners must needs bee subject to whilst they live in the world 1 Boasting is excluded Rom. 3.27 Where is boasting then it is excluded By what Law by the Law of Works No but by the Law of Faith Justification by works puffs up the proud heart of man with a Conceit of ability to justify himself as the Doctrin of the Pelagians Papists Arminians doth They can answer that question 1 Cor. 4.7 Who hath made thee to differ I have made my self to differ this breeds pride but justification through free grace laies low having nothing of our own but all of free gift 2 Terrors of Conscience are excluded which Legal righteousnesse exposeth to 2 Thess 2.16 God hath loved us and given us everlasting Consolation through Grace but without grace our Case is desperate Rom. 4.15 The Law worketh wrath Hence intelligent Papists are driven to horrid extremities even to desperation it self oftentimes Hence those large allowances which in their Cases of Conscience their Casuists use to give men about the breach of the Law Hence their Doctrin of venial sin And they use to renounce their Principles at their death and fly to free Grace living in one Religion dying in another Reas 3 Because those things that are conferred in justification cannot bee deserved but must bee granted by free favour as Remissions of sins and imputation of divine righteousness for so it is call'd Rom. 3.22 The Righteousnesse of GOD without the Law Now nothing in a finite Creature can deserve or procure that which is of infinite worth and eternal duration Use 1. Of refutation of that Popish Doctrin of Merit Popish merit of Congruity and condignity refuted and first of their merit of Congruity as a necessary and acceptable Preparative to justification which is a meer Dream 1 Because without faith 't is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 but this merit is before faith is infused 2 The tree must needs bee good before the fruit can bee good Matth. 7.18 but yet the man is not sanctified 3 God accepts not the offerer for the gift but the gift for the offerer Gen. 4.4 4 When the Conscience is defiled all things are defiled Tit. 4.15 Now for their merit of Condignity wherein their righteous works done by a righteous man make God a Debtor to them and he in Justice is bound to justify them consider only Rom. 11.6 If by grace it is no more of works otherwise grace is no grace but if it bee of works it is no more of grace otherwise work is no more work Papists are Martyres Diaboli i. e. grace and works are flatly opposite to each other Gal. 5.4 Yee are faln from grace that is saith Luther as hee that falls out of a ship is drowned c. and hee calls such Martyrs Diaboli that undergo much and perish at last as your Popish Justiciaries Use 2. To shew the inexcusable condition of all the World before God that slight this admirable free grace of God If Christ holds forth this free grace daily to prophane wretches what will become of them what will they say for themselves at the day of judgement that despise it or turn it into wantonness what Paul pressed upon the Jews at Antioch Act. 13.38 is at this day commended to unbeleevers and prophane ones of this age The Embassadors cry Be it known unto you Men and Brethren that through this man is preached unto you forgivenesse of sins And by him all that beleeve are justified from all things from which you could not bee justified by the Law of Moses Hearken unto this all you that remain unjustified you that have followed lewd courses uncleanness pride wantonness company keeping despising of the word bee it known unto you that through Christ is preached unto you the free remission of your sins If any that lived civilly could be justified by the works of the Law yet your hearts can tell you you cannot but behold here is free Justification tendred you by Gods rich Grace How long will you stand out and despise this Grace As you love your own souls accept of the mercy offered Say yee wee like our sins and our profits better then hear what follows vers 40. Beware least that come upon you which was spoken of by the Prophets Behold yee despisers and wonder and perish c. that is as your rebellion and contempt is intollerable so the Lord shall bring his dreadful and unsupportable destruction upon you and this shall bee your misery that you shall not beleeve it until it seizes upon you more than ordinary judgements both here and hereafter follow the neglect of such great salvation Beware then in the fear of God least this
the greatnesse and multitude of their sins yet have they a good and sure hope through grace still Psal 130.6 O Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption From 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 multum esse magnum esse plurimum esse The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying great and multiplied redemption that though sin abounds yet grace shall much more abound 3 In that they are redeemed from the perpetuity of all miseries felt or feared Thus did Job comfort his heart Job 19.25 Oh that my words were written oh that they were printed in a book that they were graven with an Iron Pen and in-laid in a Rock for ever What words were these that hee would thus eternize Why these I know that my redeemer lives and that he shall stand the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy my body yet in my flesh shall I see God c. that is hee will redeeme me from all my troubles in life and death it self and saies at death Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed mee O God of truth Psal 31.5 Quest How shall we know that we have a part in this Redemption Answ Trial of our redemption by Christ 1. If we be not in bondage to sin which appears in the commission and practise of sin according to that rule Joh. 8.34 Verily verily I say unto you that whosoever commits sin is a servant of sin This rule is universally true no man is set at liberty that commits sin and vehemently asserted Verily verily without all controversie and generally inclusive Whosoever doth it as 1 Joh. 3.8.10 He that commits sin is of the Devil yet note that committing sin is not intended of every particular individual act for so all men commit sin 1 Joh. 1.8.10 the free-men of Christ as well as the bondslaves of the Devil but of the common practice and work of wicked men so 't is 1 Ioh. 3.9 Hee that is born of God doth not work sin and 't is opposed to vers 7. where 't is said Hee that doth or worketh righteousnesse is righteous Now to doe righteousnesse is to exercise it customarily voluntarily deliberately to chuse a righteous course so to commit sin is voluntarily to live in the practice or allowance of any course of sin whatsoever So that he which gives common allowance to any one sin can have no comfort in this redemption but is in bondage still for saies Paul Rom. 6.16 Know you not that to whom you yeeld your selves servants to obey his servants you are c. You lose your own freedome yea you have sold your selves Isa 50.1 Behold for your iniquities you have sold your selves you take profit and pleasure and sell the Devil the eternal possession of your souls yea he holds them by conquest too 2 Pet. 2.19 Of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought in bondage Satan fights by tentations and subdues the soul so that it obeys him as a lawful Soveraign as often as it voluntarily chooses any sin ransack therefore an enlightned conscience and it will soon give an Account of liberty or bondage through the observation of thy course of life Obj. But may not a childe of God live and dye in such a state as David 2 Sam. 12.9 or as Paul Rom. 7.14 I am carnal and sold under sin Sol. It is impossible 1 Joh. 3.9 that hee that is born of God should so sin because the seed of grace abides in him and works these four things 1 A will and resolution in all things to live honestly Heb. 13.18 2 A resistance and reluctation against every known sin Gal. 5.17 3 Watchfulnesse about every concernment to prevent sin 1 Ioh. 5.18 4 Restlesnesse in case of relapse As in the Natural body all is restlesse till every joynt be in its place again so in a gracious heart 't is never satisfied till it come back into Gods way Where therefore this restlesnesse and reluctancy is wanting the soul is plunged into the depths of this hellish bondage The heart is hard to be perswaded of this estate and therefore Christ hath spoken so earnestly If thou seest not this misery or act unwillingly to try thy self or wouldest passe over the matter slightly thou mayest infallibly report thy self a slave to Satan and subject to this bondage 2 Consider how Redemption is applied of which Elihu gives an elegant description Job 33.19 to vers 25. Hee is such a one as is pinched with his bondage and chastened with strong pain his soul draws neer to the Grace and his life to the Buryers Then if there be a messenger one of a thousand to declare to man his righteousnesse God will be gracious unto him and say Deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransome 1 The Lord opens the Ears to Discipline How redemption is applied which were before quite stopped up 2 Then he is arrested with the Lords indignation clapt up in prison and laid by the heels 3 Then he looks for deliverance and bayl and some messenger of glad tidings How earnestly doth his soul long for a ransome 4 At last the Lord saith I will be gracious Thus the spirit of bondage precedes and the spirit of adoption follows None set at liberty but such as know their bondage Obj. But a man may see his bondage and never be redeemed out of it Sol. True but none miscarry that are painfully inquisitive after the means of redemption Acts 23.7 16.30 For Reprobates see their bondage and sink under it as Cain and Judas seeking either no means through sluggishnesse and deadnesse of heart or false means through folly and blindnesse 3 Consider what resistance hath been made against thee in thy deliverance out of thy captivity for none is set at liberty without much opposition Satan like Pharaoh Exod. 3.19 will not let you goe no not with an high hand Hee will never let goe as long as he can hold you Luke 11.21 The strong man armed keeps the Palace holds his Prisoners with all his might till a stronger than he comes and ejects him Seek after this resistance 4 See what assistance of God thou hast had against all this resistance by the Devil As he stretched out his arme to deliver out of Aegypt Exod. 6.6 so he puts forth mighty power to deliver from the powers of darknesse by the spirit of his grace Col. 1.12 13. Acts 26.28 Hast thou felt this mighty power Vse 4. Of instruction and exhortation to shew men whither to goe for Redemption And 1 To those that find themselves to bee in this bondage Haste you for there is redemption in Christ none such to be had or heard of all the world over beside And what then should you doe but seek after this Zech. 9.12 Instruction to men in Spiritual bondage Turn you to your strong hold
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
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
In former times by the sacrifice of the Law the Mercy Seat and other types thus was Christ then set forth Act. 10.36 All these interpretations are usefull and precious which I comprehend therefore in this Doct. Christ was purposed and proposed our Propitiation That God the Father purposed from eternity and proposed in fulness of time his Son Jesus Christ to bee the propitiation for sinners 1 It s much insisted on in Scripture that the eternal decree and purpose of God is mentioned as the ground mark of our redemption 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God and the sanctification of the Spirit and obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Here wee have three works of the divine persons in the salvation of souls The Fathers election the Sons redemption and the Spirits application And these two latter are grounded in the former As also 1 Thess 5.9 1 Joh. 4.10 Act. 4.28 2 Christ was proposed formerly in the Old Testament I mean in the promises prophecies and types Act. 10.36 Luke 1.70 1 Pet. 1.10 11. The Prophets prophecyed of the grace of God in Christ and testified before hand of the sufferings of Christ c. Heb. 9.22 3 Most clearly in the Gospel-times 1 Pet. 1.20 The Lamb fore-ordained was manifested and offered in our times 2 Tim. 1.9 10. Gods purpose and grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began but is now made manifest by Christ c. when he came in flesh then was the fountain set open Zach. 13.1 Quest How was the decree of God the Father about the propitiation of Christ Answ There was from all eternity a gracious Covenant betwixt the persons of the Holy Trinity as it is expressed Isa 53.10 c. with Heb. 10.8 The Father saith If hee will make his soul an offering for sin c. And the Son saith Loe I cometo do thy will my God Quest Why did God the Father purpose from eternity Christ to be our propitiation Answ No reason can bee given but the good pleasure of the Lord Isa 53.10 It pleased the Lord to bruise him c. It s called the love of God and the free love of God 1 Joh. 4.10 that hee sent his Son to bee our propitiation Nothing without God whether faith or works or perseverance foreseen could move God to purpose any mans salvation For I may speak it with reverence God could not foresee any mans faith and good works except hee had decreed to give faith and obedience too himself Quest Why did God propose in the times of the Old Testament Christs propitiation Answ 1. It was necessary for the salvation of all the Elect before the comming of Christ there being no salvation to be had in any other but him Act. 4.12 and no salvation by Christ but by his sacrifice Heb. 9.22 but this is certain that God appointed their salvation and therefore appointed the means thereof that is the proposal of the Sacrifice and propitiation of Christ 1 Thess 5.19 2 It was necessary for after times for hence it is that Christ and his Apostles did Preach still out of the Old Testament Besides If they had one way of salvation and wee another then there would have been more waies to heaven than one and that would have endangered our salvation for wee should have been left in doubt and suspicion which way to take But the Scripture shews us that wee must bee saved as the fathers were Act. 15.11 Quest Why was Christs sacrifice proposed so openly since the comming of Christ Answ 1. In respect of the Elect both Jews and Gentiles that both might see their free admittance to him and acceptation in him Act. 2. cap. 3. 2 In respect of the reprobates that they might be left without excuse and Gods justice cleared in their destruction Eph. 2.13 Use 1. The hainousness of their sin who do neglect Christ This may serve to discover the hainousnesse of their sin that do either neglect or despise Christs Sacrifice or propitiation For 1 Consider that that revelation of Christ in the Old Testament though but dark and imperfect yet was sufficient and effectual unto the salvation of all the Elect then the Patriarks and Prophets c. John 1.29 Act. 10.43 Could the Ceremonies and the shadows save how much more Jesus Christ the body it self as hee is now revealed Could they see the Promises afar off and embrace them then And wee when they are near at hand put them away from us Had they but the predictions of Christs death and were saved by it and wee are not who have the full accomplished thereof God reserved for us these better things sad and very sinful is it if wee become never the better but the worse Act. 13.32 33. The Promise which God made unto the Fathers hee hath fulfilled unto us their children the neglect of these must needs be a more hainous sin for which the Patriarks and Prophets of old shall stand up in the judgement and condemn us 2 Because Christ is so generally and freely offered to all that will receive him Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will let him come and take of the waters of life freely What can men say but that their destruction is now of themselves wholly and that they are self-murtherers This will make the fire of Hell furnace seven times hotter than ordinary and worse than Sodomes Hell to think how ready and open the way to the Mercy Seat was and nothing hindered thee from it but thine own vile heart To see persons worse sinners than thy self saved in Heaven and thou thrust out Mat. 8.11 12. Many shall come from the East and West c. 3 It s aggravated by this that Jesus Christ was the onely propitiation determined of God for sinners from everlasting both his person and the manner of his redemption Psal 33.11 And hence unless wee could null the Counsel of God its impossible to finde any other propitiation No equivalent price for mans redemption besides this No Mercy Seat but meerly this By Gods decree the matter is eternally limitted that there is not any other way than by Christs death How shall wee escape if wee neglect so great Salvation Heb. 2.2 3. what recompence of vengeance can bee sufficient for this sin not onely if wee despise or scorn but if wee neglect or care not for this salvation Now hee that doth take care about this salvation will use all means rowl every stone take any pains about it will as Darius Dan. 6.14 18. Set his heart to the matter cared for it laboured about it passed the night without his accustomed meal his musick or his sleep and early and in haste arose and went unto Daniel whom he cared for thus 2 Cor. 7.11 Now if this bee the true care then those who have no fixed settled serious thoughts about their salvation That will not abate one jot of their sinful delights nor carnal contentments for it but
let the word they have heard heedlesly to slip from them again How is it possible they should escape weigh seriously but that one Scripture Prov. 1.24 to the end Comfort to those that have interest in Christ thus proposed and purposed for their propitiation Use 2. Of comfort unto the Children of God who have part in Christ their comfort lies in these branches 1 The proposal of Christ in the Promises and Prophecies of the old Testament This wee are sure is that good old way in which the Saints were saved then as Now. Jer. 18.14 Will a man leave the Snow of Lebanon that commeth from the rock of the field Or shall the cold flowing waters bee forsaken That is Will a man leave the pure fountain water to come to dig puddles as Jerem. 2.13 as many now-adaies do Our path is the path of all the Saints of former ages Wee follow the cloud of Witnesses Heb. 12.1 And may hope to bee in Abrahams bosome that Father of the faithful while that we insist in the faith of Abraham 2 In the proposal of Christ so clearly and largely in the times of the New Testament confirmed by the voice of God and so many signs and wonders wrought Heb. 2.3.4 here is great comfort that our souls are in the right way to bliss Rom. 16.25 26. 3 In the eternal purpose of God to make Christ our Propitiation When wee consider the sleights of Satan and our own weaknesses wee have cause to say that we shall one day fall But then Rom. 9.11 2 Tim. 2.19 The purpose of God according to Election will stand when heaven and earth shall fall The Foundation of God stands sure If it were a Foundation of mans laying it would not bee sure but it s the Lords that never was nor will bee shaken Our Salvation is not built upon our Faith our Works or any sufficiency in our selves or in the Creatures But on Gods Eternal Wisdome and Counsel and unchangeable Decree and on his Son Jesus as our Foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 1 Pet. 2.6 Behold I lay in Sion a chief Corner stone Elect and pretious and hee that beleeves on him shall not bee confounded Let him therefore be exceedingly comforted and take up Pauls triumphing Challenge and say Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect its God that justifieth its Christ that dyed This is a sure breast-work against all Satans batteries and Accusations So Tit. 1.2 Wee have hope of eternal life promised us by an unalterable purpose and that from eternity Object How can that bee seeing before the World began there was no Creature to make the Promise to Answ I will not trouble you with other Interpretations but this is the truth That God the Father promised to the second Person of the sacred Trinity his own Son To give eternal life to all those that should beleeve upon him in the fulness of time And its suitable to that 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before the world began Shall wee now say that wee are unworthy of any promise or Mercy It s very true we in our selves are altogether unworthy But Jesus Christ our Redeemer is worthy to have it made to him and performed to him The Lamb that was stain is worthy And immediately only to the Lord Jesus Christ were the promises made not to us and that before the World began so that they are in a good way and a sure hand there 's nothing succeeding can disanul Gal. 3.17 nor should discourage us from taking hold thereon Christ set forth to be a Propitiation THE THIRTEENTH SERMON ON Rom. 3.24 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation Doct. THat God the Father purposed from eternity and proposed in the fulnesse of time his Son Jesus Christ to be the Propitiation to appease his wrath Vse 3. Of conviction of errors c. It may serve to discover unto us the danger of diverse erroneous Tenents about the satisfaction of Christ Some denying some lessening of it some adding thereto humane satisfactions and propitiations Which wicked errours as they do overthrow many other Principles of Christian Religion so especially this foundation of foundations So that unless God should reverse his eternal Decree verified in all ages hitherto and should give forth another Scripture and lay open another way to heaven It s impossible these men should be saved for they hold not the head Col. 2.19 nor are at all built upon the only foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 having missed of Jesus Christ and his Propitiation Use 4. This shews the gratious and wonderful concurrence The concurrence of the persons in Trinity to our salvation of all the persons of the Trinity in the salvation of a sinner Here is the Fathers purpose and eternal decree the Sons propitiation the holy Spirits application of it implyed in the work of Faith in the blood of Christ A great mistake therefore it is for any to think that we do owe much more to Christ for our salvation than wee do to God the Father as if hee did carry it but justly nay somewhat severely towards us in Christ onely was mercy Why Consider 1. That the justice of God is an an essential attribute common to all the three persons that just will to punish sin or that wrath of God against it is alike in them all Therefore there is no greater enemy to sinners than the Son and the Holy Ghost Psal 45.7 2 Though Christ only did take flesh upon him and suffer yet this was now brought about by the Fathers Councel and decree Joh. 3.16 Hee gave his Son Rom. 8.32 Hee spared not his Son 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself God the Father is the fountain of the God-head in order of subsisting And so hee is in all the works of grace that are wrought for sinners It was his love that moved him to appoint this way of salvation 1 Joh. 4.10 3 Christs satisfaction and sacrifice was no cause of the fathers love but an effect thereof and a chief means of our salvation 1 Thess 5.9 The cause of a sinners salvation but not the cause why hee is elected and chosen of God unto salvation 4 It was the wonderful free love of God the Father to give any of us in particular to Jesus Christ and to determine us to bee of that small number that were to be reconciled to him by Jesus Christ Joh. 17.6 Thine they were and thou gavest them mee Therefore it s said Joh. 5.23 That all men should honour the Son as they do honour the Father that is with like love but not with greater love Let us therefore learn to glorify God in Christ 1 Pet. 4.11 for though wee may direct our worship unto one person yet wee must take heed of excluding the other in our
prize the pardon more and to esteem the grace of God in Christ much more Hee that is throughly pained with sicknesse will highly esteem the Physician when Davids bones were broken hee praies for multitude of tender mercies Psal 51.1 7 8. and so it was with Paul Rom 7.24.25 Our spiritual conflicts in the trouble of our Consciences for sin make us to judge the better of the grace of Christ towards us in his grievous agonies when hee cries out My God my God c. and say with Paul The grace of God was exceeding abundant 1 Tim. 1.14.18 3 Repentance is a grace that plows up and stirs the heart fitting of it for the seed of the Word to take better root in it Plow up the fallow ground Jer. 4.3 and when this is plowed and plowed deep the seed is not so likely to bee choaked with thornes Repentance will make a thriving and fruitful Christian under the means of grace and one that shall have a plentiful and joyful harvest They that sow in tears shall reap in joy hee that goeth forth with weeping bearing pretious seed shall come again with rejoycing bringing his sheaves with him Psal 126.5 6. 4 Repentance breeds a patient frame of heart under Gods afflicting hand Whereas otherwise at such a time the heart will be very unruly and outragious Take David in his saddest time that hee under passed after his great sins when his heart was kindly broken hee would justify God Psal 51.4 and this is because it makes us humble and laies the heart low in consideration of our great unworthinesse of the least mercy and desert of the greatest judgements from Gods hands and then what ever God threatens yea whatever he inflicts the heart is quiet silent and patient not in the least repining against but justifying of God in all his wayes 5 Repentance makes the heart charitable and pittiful to others that fall into sin and will keep us from rigour and pride in censuring of them too severely from the remembrance of our sinful failings and frame of spirit as Tit. 3.2 3. Shew meeknesse towards all men for we our selves were sometimes foolish c. 6 This repenting frame is a Sin-mortifying frame of spirit No grace carries on the work of mortification more in the heart than repentance seeing it is continually weeding out and plucking up the remainders of corruption in the heart Sin no sooner shews it self but a broken heart is repenting of it and mourning for it God hath placed this grace in a beleevers heart to bee continually cleansing out and throwing forth the filth and dreggs of corruption still adhearing to the heart in this life and hence it is that wee read after all the faylings of the most precious Servants of God the wheel of repentance was still turned over their sins though they were fully certified of pardon and forgivenesse Concl. 2. A beleever whatsoever his faith is had need be fervent and instant in prayer for the pardon of his sin This our Saviour taught his Disciples in the rule of prayer Matth. 6.12 and we are still to doe it in these respects 1 Because our sins are daily renewed and wee had need have pardon renewed and remission afresh applied unto us as our sins are renewed therefore we had need continually be praying for this that our sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come Act. 3.19 2 That we may get faith and assurance of pardon and forgivenesse Worldly men would not only have outward Estates Lands and Possessions but they seek to have assurance thereof Now this assurance of pardon is not gotten ordinarily without much contention in prayer Hab. 6.11 We desire that every one of you doe shew the same diligence to the full assurance c. It is much to bee lamented that any Christian should content himself with an opinion or conjecture of forgivenesse and so become no other than James calls them chap. 1.3 Double-minded men unstable in all their wayes A double-minded man is such a one as is alwayes questioning Gods grace in Christ unto him and his interest in the Promises whereby he is very unstable and here he contents himself without indeavouring a stability of faith and assurance to say with Job I know my Redeemer liveth Wee have need of a great increase of faith and measure of assurance that our sins are pardoned that wee may bee able to undergoe great trials and strong temptations and to lay up like the rich man riches for many years and with Joseph store of provision against the years of famine For so the Thessalonians when they had much-assurance received the Word in great affliction with joy in the Holy Ghost 1. Thess 1.5 6. Oh then a daily course of prayer is needful that wee may get the sense and feeling of the mercy of God to our souls in the pardon of our sins Yea this is more than naked assurance when a man can feel the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 when a man is sealed with the holy Spirit of promise Ephes 1.13 and hath the earnest of his heavenly inheritance in his heart Many by the strength of their faith have trusted in Gods mercy even then when the Lord hath hid his face from them or shewed them an angry countenance but the feeling of the grace of God is more this is for the heart to find the warmth of his love and behold the gracious smiles of his countenance in the lowest condition and it is a very heaven upon earth or a lively fore-taste of the joyes of heaven 3 This is needful that the soul may have the pardon of frâ— in all the fruits and effects thereof in their further accomplishments and perfection though wee are freed from the damnation and dominion of sin yet wee are not freed from the remainders of it Wee know how Paul groaned under his unmortified corruptions Rom. 7.23 24. and the Church is taught to pray Take away all iniquity and Hos 14.2 wee must look sometimes to meet with terrours of Conscience and to bee in darknesse without any light wee must look for desertions and temptations by reason of the remainders of sin and therefore we are to pray for full redemption from sin in all the fruits and effects of it 4 It is needful to pray that we may make a right use of the pardon of sin having once obtained it For the heart is apt under such a favour to wax proud and wanton and carelesse as it is with many an ungodly childe when a father hath made over a great estate into his hands he will care no more for his father nor doe any duty belonging to a childe so the children of God would doe being left to themselves when God hath made known to them this blessed estate of the pardon of their sins they are ready in their prosperity to say they shall not bee moved Psal 30.6 and there is no state
9.5 and this is a greater argument than the working any miracle true in a sense it is attributed also to the Apostles whose sins ye remit c. but this is but ministerially in the Court of the World or Church but in the Court of heaven none but God can forgive sin Now this shews the transcendent excellency of this grace The worth of Christs blood that it is the only remedy in the World for the disease of sin it is God only can cure us with the blood of Christ and this is the greatest miracle that ever was wrought for us that we read of in the Gospel 2 The great force of forgiveness appears by the price that was paid for the purchase of it It was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the worthy pretious blood of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.18 19. and it is expressed in the text in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his own blood as Beza notes The blood of Jesus Christ his Son 1 Joh. 1.17 Assuredly God 's love was so great to his onely begotten Son that if any creature could have laid down a sufficient price he would not have sent his Son out of his own bosome to make satisfaction Or if any other excellency in Christ as the integrity of his nature or his active obedience could have procured the pardon of sin for his Elect Christ should not have dyed for that end but Christ must bee offered to take away the sins of many Heb. 9.27 28. It is as if a subject have a disease that can bee cured no other way than with the heart blood of the Prince for no other potion than such an one will heal sins diseases and wounds for the Lord himself who is the onely wise God would not lay down more than was necessary and hence hee spared not his own Son but delivered him up c. Rom. 8.32 3 The worth of it appears because this is a leading grace in the new Covenant And though there bee many other blessings in the Covenant of Gods grace purchased by Christs blood for it purgeth our consciences Heb. 9.14 nourisheth all grace and works the growth and increase of it Joh. 6.55 and gives us an entrance into the holy of holies Heb. 10.19 I say though all other spiritual blessings do flow from Christ yet remission of sins is the chiefest of them the first grace in communion and the first in 〈…〉 soul that is united unto Christ Rom. 5.1 When wee are justified by Faith then follows peace and joy and access to God c. As a King first receiving a Rebel into favour forgives him his treason and disloyalty then hee 〈…〉 or priviledge upon him So the Lord 〈◊〉 in this case wee are all rebells against God and wee can expect nothing at the hands of God till our guilt curse horror and expectation of vengeance bee removed Now this cannot bee removed till Faith All unbeleevers being under condemnation â— So that pardon belongs onely to beleevers Isa 33. last and such an one David pronounceth blessed Psal 32.12 for forgiveness brings a man into favour with God and our salvation stands in it Luke 1.77 Oh let these and many other considerations stir up men highly to prize forgiveness of sins Remarkable is the reproof by the Evangelical Prophet Isa 55.2 Wherefore do you spead your silver c. why are you so eager about baser inferiour things you do but lose your mony and labour after them Moreover consider that Remission is equally bestowed on all beleevers Though some have more sins forgiven them than others yet all beleevers have their sins equally forgiven them the weaker ones as well as Abraham Rom. 4.22 23. and therefore being attainable by the weakest beleever all should look after it as a matter of greatest importance If we felt but the weight of guilt once wee should know what forgiveness is Psal 38.4 Let the conscience bee once arrested by God and persued by Divine Justice it would bee then like the entangled surety Prov. 6.4 Hee would give no sleep to his eies c. but would deliver himself as a Roe from the hands of the Hunter and as a bird from the hands of the Fowler Now I beseech you brethren get and maintain this experience of a wounded spirit get a clearer understanding and sense of your own guiltiness together with the loathsomenesse of sin and then wee shall know how to value the mercy of forgiveness None can prize health but a sick and languishing person nor food but the hungry So that when your soul is truely pained with the horror of sin then you will know better what the remission of sin is as David Psal 32. Exh. â— The second branch of this Exhortation is to testify your true prizing of Remission by unwearied diligence in the use of means to obtain it as First Leave not your heart and Conscience till they are shiftless and past all carnal evasions in regard of the charge of sin It is most sure that every soul naturally is at emnity with Christ hee is one of the Citizens that hated him and will not come at him as long as wee can shift without him So it was with the Prodigal Luk. 15.14 17. that would not come to his Father till hee had spent all and was driven to feed Swine yea to feed with them and no man gave to him So that hee was put beyond all his shifts before hee would return So God deals with sinners as Rom. 11.32 God hath shut up all in unbeleef that hee might have mercy upon all Gal. 3.22 The Scripture hath shut up all in sin c. Gods shutting up in both places seems to be by putting them beyond their shifts by the full convictions of his word that they have never a starting hole to escape by Oh beloved there is never a soul inlightned living under the means but is in a maze and runs from hole to hole from mountain to hill and being ferreted out of one hole runs into another There is no remission in this case whilst you are running like Adam to shift into a wood far away from God as you think but all your strong holds must bee pulled down 2 Cor. 10.4 2 Take a thorough survey of the free offers of Christ and him crucifyed to every soul that hears the Gospel preached and this is both by God the father and Christ himself Joh. 6.40 Rom. 5.8 Joh. 3. â—7 Isa 11.10 Act. 10.43 Rev. 3.20 Now in this case consider two things 1 What end the Lord hath or can have in offering himself thus to a vile sinner who shall bee the gainer if wee do receive him or the looser if wee receive him not what said John the Baptist to our Saviour though hee were more than a Prophet Mat. 3.14 I have need of being baptized of thee and comest thou to mee to bee sure wee have need of Christ but hee hath no need of us Yea what need hath Christ of a
filthy beast a Drunkard Scorner Murderer Atheist as Achish said of David in a matter of lesser moment 1 Sam. 21. last yee see the man is mad have I need of mad men consider what objection or exception thou hast or canst make against the offer of Christ dost thou think hee gets any thing by thee If thou bee righteous what givest thou him Or if thy transgressions bee multiplyed what dost thou unto him Job 35.6 7. thou art but a lost man at the best Luke 19.10 See then yee refuse not him that speaketh Heb. 12.25 lest the King bee wrath and send his Armies against you Math. 22.7 3 Observe the sweet Invitations of Christ and the persons whom hee doth invite to come to him with their qualifications His offers are more general than his Invitations which are of particular persons so and so qualified The weary and heavy laden Matth. 11.28 The thirsty Joh. 7.37 The poor the meek the broken-hearted the blind the captives c. Such who groan under these infirmities Luk. 4.18 19. hee calls and invites these to Riches Liberty Eye-sight to a Jubilee an acceptable year of the Lord. Hear therefore and fear all yee stubborn stiff-necked Impenitent hard-hearted sinners whose Consciences can evidence your unbrokennesse for sin and that it is your greatest content that you have elbow-room enough for the Commission of it and your greatest trouble is when Commands or Threatnings cross you in it expect not a good look from Christ in this condition Psal 138.6 Jam. 4.6 hee resists the proud c. but on the contrary the poor broken-hearted humble sinner shall bee welcome to Christ for a contrite and bruised spirit hee will not despise or cast off 4 You must look at it as absolutely necessary to get Christ and to stir up earnest and restlesse desires after him This is the thirst that Christ calls for and it is wrought by a knowledge of his worth Joh. 4.10 If thou knewest the gift of God c. for the desire is answerable to that certain and clear judgement that wee have of the necessity worth and dignity of the great gift of God The Merchant sees the Pearl to bee of unspeakable price and therefore meditates the attaining of it Matth. 13.44 46. Desires are not to be dead and sluggish but eager and careful for the getting and possessing satiating blessings Isa 26.9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit with a mee will I seek thee early c. This is the taking the Kingdome of heaven by force Now such an one will not only cry God have mercy on mee c. or use some formal Prayers for pardon but will cry earnestly and wrastle for it as David did Psal 51.1 2. Sin is soon committed but pardon is not so soon obtained a sickness or wound is soon got but a cure is a long and busy work Psa 69.3 God will have us have pardon in his order and for right ends It is Gods order that wee should have Christ crucified before remission of sins Rom. 8.1 2. 2 Cor. 3.19 So that hee that is not in Christ must not think to get a pardon Object But should not a man out of Christ pray for pardon Or is it in vain so to do Answ No for if thy case were as bad as Simon Magus his case thou shouldest pray for it Act. 8.22 but you must not think to have it without Christ but first Christ and then pardon and so God is ready to forgive Psal 86.5 Besides seek pardon for a right end it may bee thou wouldest onely bee eased of thy horror but that alone is a sinister end Psal 13â— 4 5 Hence we should learn by all means to get the pardon of sin cleared to our hearts this doth necessarily flow from the transcendent excellency of forgiveness A wise man in a case of this nature would not contentedly bee in the dark a condemned malefactor is not satisfied by knowing a pardon may bee had but hee would fain have it in hand and read his own name in it and such must bee our care in this which is a greater matter Quest How should a sinner get the pardon of his sins cleared unto him Answ It must bee thy main care to clear up thine interest in Christ and then it will bee clear Many think it enough to say that Christ dyed for sinners and that Justification is by Christs blood why beloved the Devils are perswaded of this What is a poor man the better to bee perswaded there is Gold at the Indies or the hungry man that there is meat at the Cooks shop or the Prodigal that there is bread in his fathers house hee may perish for hunger for all that Beloved we should be of Pauls mind Phil. 3.8 9. Yea doubtlesse I account all things losse c. Mark the words 1 That there is an excellency in the knowledge of Christ above other knowledge 2 He suffered the losse of all other things for it 3 He did this not out of a rash zeal but advisedly hee said I account c. 4 Consider what kind of knowledge this was that Paul made so great account of it was the super-excellency of the knowledge of Christ and again I account all things but drosse and dung that I may win Christ and be found in him To know Christ to be my Lord and Saviour to win him and wear him as mine own Then a man is safe As a poor Woman married to a rich Husband if she bee arrested for Debt she will plead that she is under Covert baron and the Law takes no hold of her but of her Husband so it is with a poor beleever that is married to Christ but they that are single persons as unbeleevers are must answer their own debts and lye in prison for them 2 Labour to clear up the efficacy of Christ's bloud unto thy Conscience that is the Fountain set open for sin and for uncleanenesse Zach. 13.1 Heb. 10.22 for the sprinkling of us from an evil Conscience and the healing of all our Spiritual maladies as well as for the pardon of our sins 1 Cor. 6.11 Psa 103.3 Who forgiveth all thy sins and healeth all thy diseases Yea this is certain that that sin that is not healed in some measure is not pardoned and if one sin be unpardoned on sin at all is pardoned Now what is the healing all diseases but the killing lusts and corruptions in the heart when the soul doth not only forsake the practice of sin but it hates it and will not let it get power Rom. 6.6 and many things may conduce to the killing of it but nothing doth it like grace Education may doe something the Law something Civil honesty something and Afflictions something but Grace conquers all Rom. 8.34 38. See then what the bloud of Christ hath done towards the shealing thy sins and killing thy corruptions 3 Endeavour to clear up to faith in Christs bloud and
runs away from Christ and his People and Ordinances and can rejoyce when hee is furthest from Communion with him or can be content with beholding Christ afar off or conceit he hath enough of Christ already this is to bee far from Christ and from beleeving Caut. 6. Take heed that we bar not our selves out from Imputed Righteousnesse by inventing or pleading some pretence distinction or difference to exclude us as to say that it is the greatness and multitude of our sins shall hinder us or the imperfection of our duties and services or the littlenesse of our humiliation or the fewnesse of our good works declaration of his righteousness which is mentioned and repeated as a principal matter that the Spirit of God would have us take notice of the which is amplified First by an Exegosis or Explication Secondly By the adjunct of time to declare at this time c. This latter remains to be spoken to Quest What is meant by the Righteousness of God here Answ This is needful to bee opened because it is certain that Righteousnesse is ascribed to God in several respects and significations Righteousness of God the father taken four waies Divines do usually reduce them to four significations First That the Justice or Righteousness of God doth signify his Rectitude and Integrity and Purity as it is opposed to sin Psalm 11. vers the last the Righteous Lord loves righteousness his countenance doth behold the just It was said before vers 5. The Lord tryeth the Righteous but the wicked his soul hates c. This is usually called universal Justice and comprehends all virtues or moral perfections in it Secondly It is taken for the Mercy Goodness bounty of God whereby hee bestows many benefits on his Creatures 1 Sam. 12.7 Samuel saith to Israel Let mee reason with you of the Righteous Acts of the Lord which the Lord did in Egypt sending Moses and Aaron to them and bringing them out of Egypt and in the 45. of Isa 13. The Lord raiseth up Cyrus in Righteousnesse that hee should build up Jerusalem and let go the Captives and his thus sending of Moses and Aaron and raising up of Cyrus were signal Acts of his Mercy Thirdly The Righteousnesse of God signifies his Truth and constancy in keeping his Word and fulfilling his Promises 1 Joh. 1.19 If wee confess our sins hee is just and faithful to forgive c. Not that hee will forgive meerly for our confession of them as if there were any thing in the Act of confession to deserve forgiveness but 't is because hee is faithfull hee hath promised to forgive them and so will bee as good as his word Isa 45.19 I said not unto the seed of Jacob seek yee mee in vain I the Lord speak Righteousness that is this I have promised and I will do it Fourthly Gods Righteousness signifies that perfection of God whereby hee distributes to every one according to their works rewarding the godly and punishing the wicked Psal 9.7 8. The Lord hath prepared his Throne for Judgement and hee shall judge the world in righteousness The Lord is there described as the Judge of all the World and so judging righteously every person So also the Word is taken Rom. 1.32 Who knowing the righteous judgement of God that they that do such things are worthy of death and the word is rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies righteous Judgement and that is to punish with death them that are worthy of it Nahum 1 2-6 So Jerem. 51.56 The Lord God of recompence shall surely requite you I will not further inlarge this but still the Question remains which of these waies the righteousnesse of God is taken in this place for it is manifest that the righteousnesse of God is in all these respects evidenced in the Justification of a sinner for First There is the Truth and Faithfulnesse of God Luk. 1.69 70. Hee hath visited us as hee spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets c. So Act. 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witnesse c. Secondly His Mercy and Goodnesse doth appear in our Justification This David hath recourse unto in Psal 51.1 2. Bee merciful unto mee and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquities But I conceive the Apostle doth intend onely the first and last sense for they are not contrary I mean Gods rectitude and his distributive or his relative and vindictive justice but are co-ordinate and the one doth infer the other but especially his vindictive justice is meant in the Text and this appears first because the Apostle had mentioned before both his Grace and Free grace in the forgiveness of our sins and also the imputation of righteousness vers 24. and his Truth too vers the 21. This was testified in the Law and the Prophets therefore now he speaks of another distinct Attribute of God namely his Justice Secondly The Apostle addes several Expressions to signify this as first hee saith that hee might bee just and the Justifier they are Conjugates and relate to the proper meaning of the word Justice which is suum cuique tribuere The Justifier of him that is of man who is unjust So that the Apostles meaning is the Lord justifies a sinner in a way of Justice Secondly Hee saith that God would declare his Justice in the way that hee proposes for the sinners Justification Thirdly Hee doubles the words to declare his Righteousness implying this that God would have us to take special notice of it for it is as much as if the Apostle should have said there is not onely Mercy and Truth in a sinners justification but there is also Justice in it The Lord declareth his justice in this thing and therefore it is that the Father set forth Christ to bee a Propitiation that hee might declare his Righteousness If the Lord had said Well ye are great and grievous sinners I am content to forgive you all your sins this would have declared the grace of God But when hee saith also that this is through the redemption that is in Christ and that hee hath set forth Christ to bee a Propitiation and that the blood of Christ was shed for thy sins this doth declare his Justice as much as his Truth and Grace Fourthly There is another expression to this purpose To declare I say at this time what is that but in the times of the Gospel since that Jesus Christ hath shed his blood for though the Justice of God was but darkly signified in the Old Testament by the Types of the Sacrifices and punishments inflicted yet it was far more clearly held forth by the Death of Christ and that the chastisement of our peace was on him Fifthly Adde to all these the like phrase used in other Scriptures declaring the justice of God 2 Thess 1.5 6. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgement of God c. and vers 6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with
God to recompence tribulatiō to them that trouble you here we have the same phrase used applyed to Gods distributive revenging justice and more plainly the same word is used Phil. 1.28 And in nothing terrified by our adversaries and there the word is translated a manifest token and so it is here a manifest token of demonstration and sure proof of the righteousnesse of God that hee justifies a sinner in such a way by the sacrifice and satisfaction of his Son The Points of doctrin then arising from hence are these following Doctr. 1. Not onely the exact truth of God or the abundance of his Grace but also his strict Justice doth concur to the Justification of a sinner in the sight of God Doct. 2. That the glory of Gods Justice and the manifest proof therof to the World in the death of Christ is the great end of the grace that the Lord shews forth in the Justification of Beleevers Doct. 1. Concerning the first of these The strict justice of God doth concur to the justification of a sinner That not onely the exact truth of God or the abundance of his Grace but also his strict Justice doth concur to the Justification of a sinner in Gods sight Or thus God is not onely true and merciful but also just in the justification of a finner I need not now insist upon that that the Truth and Mercy of God do shine and appear in this thing I have spoken to that formerly onely I shall lay before your confideration some Scriptures and in a few words pass it over Mic. 7.18 to 20. Who is a God like to thee that pardonest their Iniquity c. There hee speaks of justification in which work God is exalted above all the world But why doth God forgive sin because saith the Prophet hee delights in mercy it is his blessed will and pleasure to shew mercy but hee addes also thou wilt perform thy truth to Jacob and thy mercy to Abraham which thou hast sworn to our Fathers in the daies of old In which place wee have mention made both of Gods truth in keeping his promse and his Oath which hee ingaged himself in to Abraham from the daies of old and also his mercy in making and keeping such a weighty promise so Zachary praising God for the Incarnation of Christ Luke 1.72 hath these words viz. To perform his mercy promised and to remember his holy Covenant there is his mercy in sending his Son to purchase forgiveness and his truth in performing the Mercy promised and these are generally granted and acknowledged on all sides but the Text addes Moreover that hee may bee just and shew his righteousnesse therein and this is also cleared in several places besides and the truth hereof appears Reas First By all the Sacrifices of the Law which were offered up for the pacifying of Gods Anger and they all signified this that without shedding of blood there is no remission Heb. 9.22 and how comes it to pass that there was no pardon of sin in the Old Testament without shedding of blood in a Ceremonial way Surely this was to shew that Gods justice required some expiation of sin to bee made in a way of satisfaction for sin even in those times and to turn the eies of Gods people to Christs death whereby justice might bee fully satisfied and it is observable what is added ver 23 24 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of the things in the heavens should be purified with these but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these Where by the patterns of the heavenly things are to bee understood the sacrifices of the Law which typified Gospel Mysteries and by the heavenly things the Spiritual graces more plentifully poured forth in the dayes of the New Testament Now all are purified with Sacrifices and our sacrifice under the Gospel is farre better than theirs and mark how he saith that it was necessary that all purification should bee thus wrought he doth not only say that it was comely to bee so or convenient for orders sake or mercies sake but it was necessary not only by reason of Gods Decree to justifie and save some but sin being pre-supposed and God purposing to justifie and save a small remnant it was necessary and that because of the Justice of God that there should be such a sacrifice for sin and so especially I conceive those words Luk. 24.26 are to bee understood Ought not Christ to suffer such things And in vers 28. The Son of Man must bee delivered into the hands of sinful men and bee crucified c. there was a necessity of it or else all the world of Mankind must perish and be condemned and that because of the justice of God and if we doe but consider the way and manner of Justification and forgivenesse wee shall see that it must needs bee in a way of justice For 1 It was by the not sparing of his own Son Rom. 8.32 Christ was Gods own natural and eternal Son and though innocent yet now being make undertaker for sin he could not be spared the meaning is God would not spare this Son of his nor remit the least stroke of the punishment For the better illustration of this let us suppose some Malefactor be convicted of a Capital crime before an earthly Judge if the Judge shall Sentence him to death this is according to Justice but if the Judges own Son should bee charged with such a Crime and the Judge should condemn him in the gate this is exact justice indeed but the severity and exactnesse of Justice appears much more in the sufferings of Christ for there was never such an own Son as Christ yea consider the degree and kind of punishment required to bee inflicted upon this only Son it was that hee was made an expiation for sin A Curse for us that hee endured the pains of the Second Death and this was as much as Justice in its exactnesse required Gen. 2.19 Gal. 3.10 Besides this consider that place Mat. 26.39 Father if it bee possible let this Cup passe c. But if not thy will bee done c. and it is said He fell on his face and prayed c. that is he prayed with great earnestnesse and reverence and although Christ was heard in what hee feared yet the text and the event shews the cup did not passe yea that it was not possible because supposing Christ to bee the Surety by the Fathers and Christ his own appointment and Christ undertaking the Justification of the Elect it was not possible the Cup should passe away and that because of the Justice of God Obj. 1. But you will say Why may not the Lord freely forgive whatsoever sin he pleaseth and that of his free mercy and grace as a man may doe though there be no satisfaction to Justice at all can a sinfull man do it and cannot the Lord do it much more Ans 1. Because
Justice is one of Gods Essential Attributes so that he is denied to be God if he bee denied to bee just hence Paul reasons Rom. 3.5 Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance God forbid for then how should God judge the world this is to thrust God out of his Judgement Seat Hence it is that there is no work of God that hee doth to Mankind at any time but there must needs be an act of Justice in it Psal 145.17 The Lord is righteous in all his wayes therefore if he pardon sin he must doe it in a way of righteousnesse and if he punish sin he must doe it in a way of righteousnesse this he doth by the necessity of his nature It is most certain this righteousnesse of Gods nature is eternal and sin is committed in time but this being supposed that sin is committed it must necessarily follow that a just God must punish it Obj. 2. But with what punishment must he punish it For Answer look into Rom. 1.32 who knowing the Judgement of God c. the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies the righteousnesse of God In this answer of the Apostle there are three things to be noted First That this is universally known even by the very Heathens that he speaks of and whose wickednesse he describes before even they by the light of nature and the workings of their own Consciences do acknowledge the justice of God Secondly That this righteousnesse of God is the cause fountain and rule of all punishments that are inflicted for thus it is described that they that commit such things are worthy of death and that the wages of sin is death yea even eternal death Thirdly this is natural and essential to God for though in respect of the exercise of it it is occasioned by men or devils yet in respect of the foundation and root of it the Divine perfection or Gods blessed nature requires it Now for the Objection Object If a man can forgive a trespass committed against him then God can without satisfaction Answ It follows not for first a man forgives wrong done unto him but to forgive sin without satisfaction is another matter for sin hurts an universal good Secondly It is one thing for a private person to forgive the offence and another thing for a publick person as a Judge if a Judge forgives without satisfaction hee sins against his office and calling now shall not the Judge of all the world do right Thirdly a mans justice is not essential hee may bee a man though unjust but Gods justice is himself Fourthly a man is subject to a Law but God is a Law to himself Object If God punish sin naturally and necessarily then hee must punish sin to the utmost of his power as fire burns but God doth not so Answ This follows not for that necessity whereby God punisheth sin requires not that hee should punish sin as much as he can but as much as is just for God doth not act as senselesse creatures but with understanding and will with liberty accompanying his actions Eph. 1.11 Hee worketh all things after the counsel of his own will thus you see how the justice of God being the very nature of God it must needs act in the justification of a sinner Reas 2. The same may bee cleared by the infinite holinesse and purity of God which is likewise one of his divine perfections Thou art a God of purer eies than to behold iniquity So 1 Sam. 2.2 God cannot behold sin with an eye of approbation but when hee looks upon it it is with an angry and revenging eye Psal 5.4 5. Thou art not a God that hast pleasure in wickedness God hates sin naturally and necessarily therefore hee must punish it either in the Sinner or the Surety according to the demerit of it Exod. 31.7 He will by no means acquit the guilty though hee bee most merciful to those that are in Christ in whom his justice is satisfied yet hee irreconcilably hates and abhors all such as are guilty Jer. 44.4 Do not this abominable thing that I hate hee cannot acquit them or free them from punishment but hee must violate his own nature therefore hee must needs condemn and punish them and whomsoever hee justifies it is upon the ground of the satisfaction of his justice in and by Christ on their behalf and thus you see there must needs be justice in the pardon of them because he is unchangeably holy Reas 3. A third Reason or Ground is taken from the supream providence of God and his Government of the world considered with the nature of sin Psal 9.4 5. Thou sittest in thy throne judging right and vers 5. Thou hast rebuked the heathen thou hast destroyed the wicked thou hast put out their name for ever This Supream government of God is universal and extended to all the World Hee doth necessarily impose and exact obedience at the hands of reasonable creatures and in case of disobedience hee must needs reduce the creature into order as being Judge and Law-giver Hence are these places 2 Thess 1.6 It is righteous with God to recompence vengeance to those that trouble you Heb. 2.2 Every transgression of the Law received a just recompence of reward Jude 7. The Sodomites suffer the vengeance of the justice of eternal fire Now let sin bee considered and it overthrows the supream government of God Rom. 1.31 It s rebellion against him it pulls him out of his Throne and deposes him from it therefore by some act of Government and Authority which is exercised in a way of justice the sinner must bee brought into order and though Gods wise and gracious dispensation hath laid upon Christ the punishment of our sins I mean the sins of the elect yet punished they must bee in the sinner or surety and there can be no dispensation for that without denial of the judiciary power and justice of Almighty God Vse 1. First use for Conviction and Terrour to vile sinners that are out of Christ It is a terrible thing to be out of Christ That seeing pardon of sin is not onely in a way of mercy and truth but also in a way of righteousnesse it shews us what a groundlesse delusion they please themselves withall that live in their unbeleef and impenitency and yet hope to bee saved by the Mercy of God In vain such do hope for the mercy of God yea there is none so desperately wicked living near the means but that upon this very ground they sleep securely in sin and commit it with greediness because God is so merciful Now to discover the grosseness of this deceit consider first that though God bee infinitely merciful yet his mercy alwaies goes together with his truth Psal 86.15 Hee is plenteous in Mercy and Truth i. e. as God hath abundance of mercy so hee is plenteous in truth his truth is in fulfilling both his promises and threatnings thou canst not expect mercy of
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
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
for remission of sins as to declare the justice of God yea and though sin abounds yet Grace abounds much more 3 Remember also that this justice is satisfied in the death of Christ for sins of all sorts and degrees I might tell you of multitudes for Davids Murther and Adultery for Pauls persecution and blasphemy for the Corinthians Theft Covetousnesse Drunkenness Extortion reviling unnatural Lusts 1 Cor. 6.10 11. Thence it is said 2 Cor. 5.21 That Christ was made sin for us that is all manner of sin was imputed unto him yea and he was made a sacrifice for all manner of sin without exception on the behalf of all beleevers this may much incourage a poor sinner to fly to him 4 Faith in Christs blood so it bee of the right kind though never so weak is the means to bring home the satisfaction of Christ I have spoken of it before and also that wee ought especially to attend unto that faith of the right kinde seems to bee described by that phrase The justifier of him that is of the Faith of Jesus that may imply two things First That true faith is a separating and distinguishing grace as when the Jews are said to bee of the Circumcision Gal. 2.12 Col. 4.11 it is spoken to distinguish them from all others Alas That is a poor faith that makes no distinction between a beleever and an unbeleever a ruffian and a Saint 2 The phrase imports a powerful and efficacious faith that overswaies the whole man and the whole Course so that hee may bee said to be of the faith So Gal. 3.9 They which be of the faith are blessed with faithful Abraham that is as Abraham was of the faith I mean efficaciously for kind though not for degree see that ye be not mistaken in this Use 5. Exhortation to beleevers in three branches Beleevers should understand and claim their priviledge 1 Let it perswade them now to understand their good estate and boldly to claim their priviledge their good estate is such as is very pretious in these times I may tell them of that 1 Pet. 5.12 and testify as Peter did that this is the true grace of God wherein yee stand much is spoken in these daies of the grace of God but I fear many will find at the last that the grace they trust in will not bee found the true grace of God neither will they stand in it but the beleevers estate that builds upon his union with Christ and his communion with him in Gods justice satisfied is that which will stand and the beleever shall stand by it Now hereupon humbly and boldly claim a discharge from satisfied justice upon all occasions in infirmities relapses temptations desertions and sinkings of heart lay claim to the manifest demonstration of the justice and mercy of God in Christs death for both are here wrapped together and our ground is 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Little Children these things I write unto you that ye sin not if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father and a Propitiation c. every Child of God though but a little one and such an one as makes conscience not to sin may have daily recourse to this Propitiation where mercy and justice meet These bee the wings of God as it were that with David wee should make our refuge in the worst times Psal 57.1 2 Let us eternally celebrate the name of God in Christ They should praise the name of God in Christ his justice mercy holiness wisdom providence c. for his glory in all these things is the last end of all these dispensations towards his people this therefore should bee adored by us and by these things wee live wee may take up Davids Song of mercy and judgement in this sense also Psal 101.1 and adde that Psal 17.15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousnesse and salvation all the day for I know not the numbers thereof David was a good Arithmetician in counting Gods mercies judgements hath his new Songs still for renewed mercies but he is fain to confesse that his Arithmetick fails him hee cannot sum up the numbers thereof so wee may say we cannot number things God hath and should have all his glory in the Saints 2 Thess 1.10 3 Let this bee an ingagement to us 3 They should bee righteous as God to be righteous as our heavenly Father is righteous that is to follow the pattern of Gods righteousnesse Oh beloved if the Lord hath thus declared and glorified himself to us in a way of righteousness and if it cost him so dear to shew himself both just and merciful towards us what an inviolable bond is this to us to be righteous before him and to glorify Gods righteousnesse in a righteous conversation in righteous dealing and judging and walking continually yea let us declare and demonstrate this before God and men yea make it our end as the Lord makes it his Lastly Let us do it at This time Now when there is so much unrighteousness among Professors as it is said of Noah Gen. 6.9 That Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation that is the worst Generation that ever water wet so though the Generation wee live in be very bad yet let us labour to be just in it for they must be such that would bee sheltered in this Ark when the floods of error and sin and wrath do overflow all Finally let me conclude with that Hos 10.12 Sow to your selves in righteousnesse and reap in mercy break up your fallow ground for it is time to seek the Lord till hee come and rain down righteousnesse upon you the seed of righteousnesse sown by us shall bee watered with the showres of Gods righteousnesse from heaven and you may then conclude assuredly that yee shall have a plentious harvest and crop of everlasting mercy from the Lord. Finis Deo Gloria A Table of the chief things in this Treatise For the readier use of which thou art desired Gentle Reader first to correct the figures of the 20 21 29 66 69 178 272. pages In the exact enumeration of any other escapes of the Press we should little advantage the Work and seem too too mistrustful of thy ability to correct them and of thy charity to cover them they being not many nor of any great moment A. ACquittance of our sins to bee gotten from God pag. 46 49 Affection of God to his elect is eternal but the manifestation of it not before faith pag. 91 Afflictions of the godly are not properly called punishments pag. 61 Wherein they differ from the punishments of the wicked pag. 62 95 Comforts to be had under them pag. 65 Agony of Christ in the Garden and on the Cross described pag. 53 54 Anger of God its severity unknown to several sorts of sinners pag. 93 94 No appeal to bee made from Gods sentence pag. 9 The manner of application of redemption pag. 32 104 Attributes of God