the following transactions to 1658. Justified partly by divers Ancient Manuscripts written many hundred years before Calvin or Luther By Samuel Morland Esq Fol. Divine Characters in two parts acutely distinguishing the more secret and undiscerned differences between the Hypocrite in his best dress of seeming vertues and formal duties and the true Christian in his real graces and sincere obedience By Mr. Samuel Crook Fol. An Exposition upon Ezekiel by Mr. William Grenhill Fol. 4º The humble Sinner resolved what hee should do to be saved or faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the only way of salvation By Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick Fol. 4º The riches of Grace displayed in the offer and tender of salvation to poor sinners By the same Author Fol. 12º The Fountain opened and the water of life flowing forth for the refreshing of thirsty sinners By the same Author Fol. 4º The Gospels glory without prejudice to the Law shining forth in the glory of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost for the salvation of sinners By Mr. Richard Byfield Fol. 8º A Declaration of the Faith and Order owned and practised in the Congregational Churches in England agreed upon and consented unto by their Elders and Messengers in their meeting at the Savoy Fol. 4º A short Catechism By Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick Hidden Manna By Mr. Fenner Fol. 12º Safe Conduct or the Saints guidance to Glory By Mr. Ralph Robinson Fol. 4º The Saints longing after their heavenly Country By the same Author Fol. 4º A Sermon at a Fast By Nathaniel Ward Fol. 4º Moses his Death a Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Edward Bright Minister By Mr. Samuel Jacomb Fol. 4º A short and plain Catechism instructing a learner of Christian Religion what hee is to beleeve and what hee is to practice By the same Author The Hypocritical Nation described with an Epistle prefixed by Mr. Samuel Jacomb Fol. 4º A Sermon of the baptizing of Infants By Mr. Stephen Marshall Fol. 4º The unity of the Saints with Christ the head By the same Author Fol. 4º God only justifieth a Sinner THE FIRST SERMON ON Romans 3.24 25. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud to declare his righteousnesse for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God AS touching the Context the Apostle had proved vers 23. That all Mankind lies under the guilt of Sin and therefore stand in need of Justification that they may be saved which Justification hee also shewed could not bee had either from any Creature or from the Law to vers 20. from whence he concludes that justification must necessarily bee sought in that Gospel Mystery propounded in the Lord Jesus Christ The whole dispute of the Apostle may be reduced to this Reason Men are justified either by Nature or by the Law or by the Gospel But they cannot bee justified either by Nature or by the Law therefore they must be justified by the Gospel The Proposition is pre-supposed and understood as manifest by it self The Assumption was demonstrated in the former part of this Epistle to vers 21. of this Chapter The Conclusion is expounded and illustrated to the end of this Chapter and so forward As touching the Text the words of it contain the Epitome of Evangelical Justification which is described 1 By the efficient principal and highest cause which is God vers 25. 2 By the inward impulsive cause the grace of God these signifying 1 Exclusively and that two-fold 1 Excluding Commutative justice or rendring like for like or so much for so much 2 Excluding Distributive justice proportionately respecting the dignity of men 2 Inclusively respecting the meer and pure grace of God observable in that Emphatical ingemination freely or gratis and by his grace 3 By the Meritorious cause which may also in some sort be called the Formal cause of our justification that is the Redemption made by Jesus Christ 4 By the Instrumental cause apprehending the object that is faith in his bloud 5 The Final cause 1 In respect of Us our Salvation and remission of Sins 2 In respect of God the manifestation of his Justice and Mercy that he might be just c. Doct. God the Father is the Fountain of justification As God the Father is the Fountain of all Happiness so is he of the justification of a sinner This is grounded upon vers 25. Whom God set forth And this is the rule of Divines generally received That wheresoever the Name of God is put in contra distinction to Christ Jesus it must not be taken essentially but personally for God the Father so here God set forth Christ to be a Propitiation i. e. God the Father For the better understanding whereof we are to know That where we say God the Father is the Fountain of our Justification it may be conceived in two respects 1 In way of opposition to the other persons of the holy and undivided Trinity 2 In opposition to the Creatures Object 1. In opposition to the Son and Spirit which will be cleared in answering this objection All the works of the Trinity that are without the God-head are undivided but Creation Redemption Justification and Sanctification are works without the Trinity or are acted and terminated on the Creature as their object and all the Persons in the blessed Trinity do work together in the effecting of them so that one and the same work is sometimes attributed to the Father sometimes to the Son and sometimes to the Holy Ghost yea what things the one doth the other is said to doe also Joh. 5.17 My Father worketh hitherto and I work and vers 19. Whatsoever things the Father doth these also doth the Son likewise how then can the Father be the Fountain in Justification Answ The Father is the Fountain of Justification not excluding the Son and Holy Ghost from being causes in it for it is said 1 Cor. 6.11 Yee are sanctified yee are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God but shewing that the Father is the original in the action of Justification Or that the Father is the first in order of working So Joh. 5.19 The Son can doe nothing of himself c. So Joh. 16.13 14. The Spirit shall not speak of himself c. so the Father justifieth through the Son by the Holy Ghost the Holy Ghost justifieth by himself from the Father and the Son the Son justifieth from the Father by the Holy Ghost and that upon two grounds 1 Because the Father is the Fountain of the Trinity and as the Persons are in order of subsisting so they are in order of working but the Father is first in order of subsisting Matth. 28.19 so also he is in working 2 The Father was the Person that most properly and directly was offended by sin hence it is said that Christ is an Advocate to the Father
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
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
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
as 2 Pet. 2.12 and chained fast to his lust by the bonds of iniquity Act. 8.23 his own iniquity shall take the wicked Prov. 5.22 3 Hee suffers innumerable miseries and intollerable Heb. 2.15 through fear of death c. When a man hath spent his wit youth strength state and worn out himself in the Devils drudgery when his body soul and Credit are all lost by the Devils service what reward for his true and trusty obedience Rom. 6. ult The wages of sin is death and Psal 11.6 7. Fire snares brimstone stormy tempests of Gods furious indignation this is the portion of his Cup. 1 Aggravation of this bondage of sinners O the misery of natural man far surpassing that of a Beast if a Dog bee chained hee howls if the Swine bee bound hee cries but sinful man laughs in the middest of his bondage hee counts it his liberty to live a slave to the Devil and thinks to gratify his fleshly lusts is liberty yea and promise others liberty in this course too whilest themselves are servants of corruption 2 Pet. 2.19 though they have no more liberty than the Oxe that is lead to the slaughter 2 They will not beleeve nor understand their bondage as when Christ offered liberty to the Jews Joh. 8.32 they said they were never in bondage to any Their thraldome entered not into their thoughts and they disliked that our Saviour should mind them of it As it fared with those men that Elisha lead to Samaria they were bands of the Syrians yet followed the Prophet being blind into the City of their enemies thinking they had gone to Damascus So it is with these while the Devil lead them to Hell where they must perish beyond all hope and take up a room amongst murthering Spirits they yet conceive they are walking towards Heaven and defie the Devil as having nothing to do with him who are at the very Pits mouth the very brink of Hell and by no means will bee stopped O beloved Let no man deceive himself imagining that if the Laws of men take not hold of him but hee goes where hee lists and doth what hee will then hee is the onely man that leadeth a free Life but rather know that every States Free-man is not Christs Free-man or redeemed one No no there bee many that fare daintily live in all Lieentiousness have their fill of Worldly Pleasures and run at randome like the Beasts in the Wildernesse that are more arrant Slaves than those that row in the Gallies of Turky Let them turn the inside outward and they will finde Legions of domineering Devils commanding over them If thou didst never feel this spiritual bondage 't is a certain sign thou art under it still Colos 1.13 Who hath delivered us c. See Luke 11.21 its aggravation 1 In that it is of the Soul Peter Epist 1. Chapter 3. speaks of Spirits in Prison a natural mans spirit is one of them and shuts up in Sin too which is the worst Prison 2 Here the means of escape are far more difficult another Slave may run away or his bolts bee removed or hee may buy his liberty but here is no possibility of it Rom. 7.24 3 Here bee more bad Masters they serve divers Lusts Tit. 3.3 So many Lusts so many Masters Jacob found it hard to please Laban one bad Master 4 Here men love their bondage so that if liberty bee offered they refuse it Joh. 8.36 Christ proclaimed liberty to the Jews but they refused it Yea Caution to children of godly Parents not to think they are born free by way of Caution know That the Children of godly Parents though they use to think themselves born free through their Parents Covenant are not free from this bondage It was the Jews great delusion Joh. 8.33 39. that they stood so much upon their parentage that they were Abrahams seed Christ tells them another story you are of your Father the Devil and so said the Baptist Matth. 3.9 Think not to say within your selves c. you are a Generation of Vipers To speak then a word in mercy to all Church-Children and to all the Children of Godly Parents 'T is true you have a great blessing and precious priviledges that are born of such Parents but know that this spiritual Freedome comes not by discent Joh. 1.13 Which are born not of the flesh c. Yea more godly parentage makes a Childes condemnation much worse whilest hee lies still in his natural estate Ezekiel 16.3 your Father was an Amorite c. They were in the sight of God but as the Nations devoted to destruction if they do evil though of the stock of Israel Manasses the Sonne of Godly Hezekiah did worse than the Amorites 2 King 21.11 So many Children of Godly Parents are worse than the Indian Salvages And it is to bee feared that when your Parents are gathered to their Fathers as it follows vers 12 13. The Lord will stretch over New-England the Line of Samaria and the Plummet of the house of Ahab and will wipe New-England as a man wipes a dish wiping and turning it upside down You have more to answer for than the Indians have you have publick priviledges and private instruction and examples Remember that the Lord will one day say to you if you continue in this estate as he did to the Jews Joh. 8.40 you do thus and thus so did not Abraham you are lofty and proud so was not your father you follow loose company so did not your Father you love the pot and revelling so did not your father you care not what mischief you do to others so did not your Father you live in unclean courses you talk cursedly c. as it is v. 39. if you were Abrahams children in Gods account you would do the works of Abraham that is you would be godly and humble and righteous and sober as your Parents were Therefore lay aside all such foolish conceits and look to the rock from whence you were hewen Isa 51.1 and tread in the steps of your godly Parents Redemption by Christ sufficient THE FOURTH SERMON ON Romans 3.24 25. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Doct. THat there is a singular and plenteous redemption wrought by Jesus Christ sufficient to make satisfaction to God for the vilest sinners Two uses have been handled Vse 3. Comfort to the redeemed Comfort to all those that have interest in Christ for to them belongs this plenteous redemption A mercy greater than ever was bestowed upon the Creature as appears 1 In that they are redeemed from the Justice and Wrath of God and the Curse of the Law that the blessing of Abraham may come upon them Gal. 3.13 14. that is all the blessings of the Covenant of grace And what can be more than this 2 In that they are redeemed from all iniquity Tit. 2.14 so that no sin can hurt them and though they complain of
the eye of man So is God to the Sinner But now as transcendently evil as Sin is Christ hath satisfied for it and put an end to all troubles to thy Conscience about it By one offering hee hath perfected for ever such as are sanctified Heb. 10.15 God saith I will bring forth my Servant the branch and I will remove the iniquities of the Land in one day Zech. 3.8 9. Yee shall call therefore every man his Neighbour under his Vine and under his Fig-tree For Psal 85.10 Mercy and Truth have met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other that is all Gods excellencies gloriously shine forth in Christs satisfaction Comfort yee one another with these words 2 Consider for your Comfort Weak beleever justified as much as stronger That the weakest true beleever is justified as much as the strongest What was imputed to Abraham for his Justification was and is imputed to the weakest Saint Rom. 4.22 23 24 To Us it shall bee imputed if wee beleeve on Christ as Abraham did 'T is true all apprehend not this satisfaction alike but the matter and form of our justification is all one Therefore rejoyce O weak Christian thy cloathing notwithstanding all thine infirmities is as bright shining in the eyes of God as that of Abraham or the greatest Saint in the world Quest How can wee come to comfort through the satisfaction of Christ Answ 1 Gain your Acquittance a writing drawn with Gods own hand with your name in it 1 Joh. 5.13 These things have I writ unto you that beleeve on the Name of the Son of God that yee may know yee have eternal life So that if you beleeve there is the writing grounded on a Record vers 11. and there is your Name in it You see your way to finde your Names there get it sealed to your hearts by the Spirit 2 Let there bee an humble active embracing of Christ in the Word of Promise God requires besides his own good pleasure and the Councill of his will the work of faith Rom. 3.25 2 Thess 1.11 Thou must exercise thy humble obediential Faith as thy day-labour even a conflicting faith Rev. 2.17 and a praying Faith Ezek. 36.32 and a confessing faith As they did their sins laying their hands on the head of the Scape-Goat Lev. 16.21 So the hand the type of faith was put on the head of the burnt offering Lev. 14. And an humbling Faith which indeed is the most humble grace of all Rom. 11.20 Thou standest by Faith bee not high-minded From which grace Christ is never far Isa 57.15 yea they when pricked at heart saw Christ presently Act. 2.38 and Peter applies the Promise to them and reveals mercy to such bleeding souls Christ and a lamenting soul are never far asunder 3 Bee comforted That this way of yours by Christs satisfaction is the true way to Justification Men cry up many new waies 'T is a great mercy in such varieties of errors not to err The truth of this way of Justification is not onely true upon the truth of the word but upon the truth of God himself If God bee God this justification must needs bee true For here justice is satisfied and so God pardons which hee could as well un God himself as do where his justice is not satisfied So that wee may testify to you 1 Pet. 5.12 That this is the true grace of God in which you stand Men have a conceited grace different from this but here you may safely set up your resting place for ever Use 5. Remember to maintain perpetual homage and observance of Jesus Christ Never forget so great a mercy David cries Psal 116.6 O Lord I am thy servant and the Son of thy hand-maid thou hast broken my bonds The way of Servants and Slaves ingaging themselves to their Lords was they yeelded their submission with promise and oath to be Loyal to them as their Lords and holding their hands between the hands of their Lords they said I become your Servant from this day forth for life for limbs for worldly honors and shall owe you my fidelity as long as I live Well might this holy man say I am thy Servant since God had not brought him into but broken his bonds Paul argues much this way 2 Cor. 5.14 15. And hee dyed for all that they that live should not live unto themselves Which falls foul upon that ignoble conceit That if Christ gives satisfaction wee are freed from all obedience to the Commandements By which this doctrin of Christs satisfaction is made the occasion of prophaneness and Christ is become the Minister of sin which Paul abhorred Gal. 2.17 'T is true that since Christ hath paid the price of our redemption there is nothing for us to do by way of satisfaction but as much as in us lies in obedience to the will of Christ both from the nature of righteousness and holiness which are worth our exercising and from the Moral consideration of Christs yeelding obedience to every Commandement and out of a study for conformity to the state of glory hereafter Yea there is a Causal connexion such as is between the cause and effect between Christs satisfaction applyed to us and our holiness For Union with Christ by Faith produceth this fruit necessarily 1 Joh. 3.6 Hee that abides in him sins not The Spirit of Christ works it Ezek. 36.27 and true faith purifies the heart Act. 13.9 Act. 26.18 So then let every man do the works of God without him or suspect the work of God within him Lest fancy that works folly rather than faith that works purification bee found within him For hee that is bought with a price will glorify God in soul and body which are Christs by Redemption The Exactness of Christs sufferings THE SIXTH SERMON ON Rom. 3.24 25. A propitiation through Faith in his blood WEE have spoken in General of Redemption Come we now more particularly to consider first the manner and secondly the efficacy of this satisfaction The Manner of our redemption is by the blood of Christ and therefore 't is phrased here by Faith in his blood of which let us inquire Quest What is meant by blood here Answ The manner of Christs satisfaction is by blood Blood is put by a Synecdoche of the part for All the sufferings of Christ which hee underwent for the sins of the Elect especially his bloody death with all its concomitants So called First because death especially when it is violent it joyned with effusion of blood as Matth. 23.30 If wee had lived in the daies of our fathers wee would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets and Matth. 27.24 Pilate said I am innocent of the blood of this just person that is of his Death Secondly Herein respect is had to all the sacrifices of the Law whose blood was poured out when they were offered up Heb. 9.22 Almost all things are by the Law purged with blood and
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
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
and pliably and plead all this word and work of propitiation before the Lord continually Ezek. 16. ult 2 Cor. 5.19 Job 22.21 22. Isa 12.1 2. Exhor 2 To the members of Christ 2. Seeing Gods anger is pacified towards you see that yee walk answerable to so great a priviledge 1 Blesse God for this propitiation Luk. 1.64 what had our condition been without this Psal 44.3 2 Take heed of kindling it again by relapses into your former courses Psal 85.8 He will speak peace unto his people but let them not return again to folly It is the first use the Spirit makes of this grace of Christ 1 Joh. 2.1 These things I write that you sin not So 2 Cor. 7.1.5.11 But if you shall bee bold to sin know that though God doth love your persons yet hee will bee displeased with your actions as 2 Sam. 11. ult and take vengeance on your inventions 3 Learn to make use of this propitation of Christ continually as 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Not onely before conversion but after the same it s ever to bee used more necessary than fire and water meat and drink Quest When should wee more especially make use of Christs Propitiation Answ 1 In our daily relapses into sin which make new defilements and therefore wee must have fresh recourse to the fountain Heb. 13.8 thus the daily Sacrifice prefigured the daily use of Christs sacrifice for attonement That 22 Psalm setting forth his passion was daily sung each morning with the offering up of the Sacrifice as is judged from its title 2 In all our duties and services whereof the most holy have iniquity in them and therefore stand in need of Christ that they may finde acceptance as was typified Exod. 28.38 and their sacrifices were given into the hand of the Priest and offered by him so our spiritual services by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 3 In daies of humiliation and attonement as Levit. 16 29. Heb. 10.22 It is not fasting or weeping God looks to but a sacrifice c. 4 At each Sacrament there should bee a solemn remembrance of this propitiatory sacrifice Rom. 6.3 Wee are baptized into his death 1 Cor. 11.26 It s done in remembrance of Christ 5 In our ordinary Callings and the discharge of them Whatsoever ye do do it to the glory of God Col. 3.17 6 In afflictions desertions and temptations In desertions Christs blood brings us near in temptations hee gives us victory Col. 2.15 Dan. 9.17 Isa 53.5 6. 1 Sam 26.19 How shall wee make use of it Quest How shall wee make use of Christs Sacrifice in these times and cases Answ 1 Wee are to remember our daily back-slidings with humble acknowledgement and brokennesse of heart and to see the necessity of Christs propitiation Jer. 3.12 13. Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord I will not cause mine anger to pass upon thee nor keep it for ever onely acknowledge thine iniquity c. 2 Wee are to observe as wee are able the imperfections and defaults in our duties that wee may bee humbled thereat and see what great need wee have of Christs propitiation as Nehemiah chap. 13.22 when hee had done his best then hee praies Remember me O God concerning this and spare mee according to the greatness of thy Mercy 3 In regard of the remainder of corruptions that are too strong in us Wee are to look upon the Lord of glory crucified and meditate upon the Sacrifice of Christ Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ purge our Consciences c. 4 Wee are to apprehend and plead by faith and prayer the Promises of God as confirmed to us by the blood of Christ They are all made and performed by him They are branches of the Covenant of Grace and the blood of Christ is called the blood of the everlasting Covenant Heb. 13.20 As the Priest sprinkled the people the book c. Heb. 9.19 20 23. So now ought Christians set faith on work to sprinkle all Ordinances and the word it self and our selves and all our works 5 When as Gods anger doth lye heavy upon the soul by desertion or temptation c. then wee are to cast our burden upon Christ in the free Covenant of grace and peace Psal 55.22 Isa 54.8 9. This shall bee to me as the waters of Noah c. Christ set forth to be a Propitiation THE TWELFTH SERMON ON Rom. 3.24 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation WEE have seen before of the efficient cause of a sinners justification 1 God the Father 2 The inward impulsive that 's the free grace and favour of God 3 The meritorious cause 4 The instrument apprehending the object that is faith in Christs blood 5 The end in respect of us that is our remission of sins and eternal salvation In respect of God the manifestation of his Justice and Mercy Now the Meritorious Cause is amplyfied 1 By the degree and measure and manner of it it was by blood 2 By the efficacy of it it was a propitiation 3 By the ground or manner of it in the word set forth of which next is this Quere Quest What is the meaning of setting forth Christ to bee a Propitiation Answ Christ was formerly set forth for a Propitiation in times of the Old Testament But very darkly under Types and shadows and very restrainedly in that 't was onely to the Jews or the Proselytes that were joyned to them But now in the New Testament Christ is clearly and openly set forth in the Ministry of the Gospel and without all restraint both to Jews and Gentiles 1 Joh. 2.2 a propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world Heb. 9.7 The Mercy Seat was shut up in the times of the Old Testament though the benefit was extended to the whole Church of the Jews yet to them onely and such as joyned to them and besides none but the High Priest might go into it and that not commonly but onely once a year But now in the times of the New Testament Christ our Mercy Seat is set forth in the Promises and Preaching of the Gospel to all sorts of sinners that they have free recourse to him for themselves and that at any time This I conceive was intended by the Translators in this place and it is pious and precious The word here used doth often signify the purpose and decree of God from all eternity Rom. 8.28 And of mens purposes to do any thing Rom. 1.13 But it s especially applyed unto the mystery of Christ Gods eternal purpose in gathering of sinners unto him in one head Eph. 1.9 And this signification doth marvellously suit here to shew unto us how it comes to pass that Christ is the Propitiatory or placatory sacrifice for sin Even because God the Father purposed and fore-appointed this way of reconciliation from all eternity In regard of the composition of the word it may signify hee proposed before or held forth in former times viz.
is not only a boat or bridge to carry us into a state of Justification but it is as our leggs to walk with God in a justified state at all times and hence it is put as the condition of the Covenant with Abraham Gen. 17.1 for faith is that whereby wee walk before God and are perfect in Christ continually Object But what need wee trouble our selves any more about our Justification seeing that once justified wee are for ever justified Answ It is necessary for divers weighty reasons 1 Though a justified estate bee a sure estate yet the sureness of it depends under God upon faith 1 Pet. 1.5 Wee are kept by the power of God through Faith it is true God can keep us by his absolute power without faith but his ordinate and orderly power is through a lively and active faith 2 It is a duty that God requires of us to bee careful to continue in a justified estate Rev. 22.11 Hee that is righteous let him bee so still The word signifies let him bee justified still or let him go on and continue in a justified estate and Heb. 3.6 14. whose house wee are if wee hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of our hope vers 14. Wee are partakers of Christ if wee hold the beginning of our confidence the word translated confidence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies subsistence or standing fast to the end against all assaults wee cannot plead subsistence for our outward man without faith but this is of a higher nature we cannot subsist to God-ward without holding fast the grace of faith and use it and that stedfastly to the end 3 It is requisite for the increase and farther growth of our faith Rom. 1.16 17. in the Gospel is revealed the righteousnesse of God from faith to faith i. e. our righteousnesse for Justification is revealed that wee should proceed from one degree of faith to another and this is the way to a full assurance Heb. 6.11 12. wee desire that every one of you give the same diligence to the full assurance of hope It is much to bee lamented that ancient beleevers after a long profession are much to seek in this and are still questioning their title to Christ there are two special reasons of it 1 Their neglect of their watch and their frequent back-slidings into their sins See 1 Joh. 3.3.2 Cor. 7. ◠◠The neglect of the improving their faith upon all occasions they cannot get assurance without this 4 It is requisite for Christians safety and comfort in life and death if wee improve our faith in our Justification wee shall improve our ioy and comfort also and keep an even current without so much ebbing and flowing clouds and ecclipses and in storms and dangers it will keep a Christian on the main where he shall have See-room enough and as they did in their storms Act. 27.28 once they sounded and found it twenty fathoms again they sounded and found it fifteen and lest they should fall on the Rocks they cast out four Anchors So should Christians do I mean not content themselves that they are lanched forth into the stream of Gods Mercy but should bee often spunding in the survey of their spiritual comforts And when they finde them to grow shallow and to lessen it is dangerous to go securely on there bee rocks or sands neer it is good to have your Anchors of faith and hope in a readiness yea to cast them within the veil to prevent such dangers and desperate evils as are approaching Christ the object of justifying faith THE FIFTEENTH SERMON ON Rom. 3.24 25. Beeing justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Doct. FAith as it justifieth The mercy of God in Christ the object of faith hath especially Jesus Christ or the mercy of God in Christ for its object It is expresly said that God is the justifier of him that beleeveth in Jesus i. e. to renounce all other things for Justification and relye only on Jesus Christ and his righteousness Justifying faith may be considered two ways 1 According to the general object and action of it which is to embrace the whole Word of God Joh. 2.22 it receives the Commandements beleeves the Threatnings respects the Promises it receives the good things promised it is a guide to all our actions the fountain of all our obedience it is also exercised about all the Attributes and Works of God about the Immortality of the Soul the Resurrection of the Body and the last Judgement But in none of these senses it doth justifie 2 Justifying faith is considered according to the especial and most eminent effect of it Hath Jesus Christ for the object Acts 16.31 Beleeve on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved Joh. 11.25 I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeveth on me though he were dead yet shall he live Joh. 3.16 Whosoever beleeveth on him shall not perish Acts 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witnesse that through his name whosoever beleeveth on him shall receive remission of sins Righteousnesse is still tied to faith in Christ who is said to be the end of the law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth Rom. 10.4 and this is that which he commandeth to be preached throughout all Nations Luke 24.47 and this is that the faith of all the Saints hath in a special manner respected and imbraced It was Peters faith Matth. 16.16 and the Eunuchs faith Act. 8.28 and Martha's faith Joh. 11.26 27. Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God This is the faith that justifieth and by it the righteousnesse of God is unto all and upon all them that beleeve Rom. 3.22 and hence it is called the faith of Christ because it apprehendeth Christ as its object Now I adde the mercy of God in Christ because faith in this is all one with faith in Christ So that 1 Pet. 1.21 it is said by him i.e. Christ we beleeve in God that raised him from the dead Christ is not the object of faith abstractly and nakedly considered but Christ with his benefits procured and purchased by him and promised by God the Father The reasons of this duty are Reas 1. Because nothing in the world can make us righteous before God further than it doth lay hold on such a righteousnesse as is perfect and accepted for us as such by God Nothing will make a poor man rich further than it doth convey or impart riches into his possession and all that we can doe by faith to our justification is to receive the righteousnesse bestowed on us and there is no such perfect righteousnesse that is able to cover our shame as Christ's is Revel 3.17 2 Because justification of Sinners doth mainly imply a freedome and discharge from the curse and condemnation of the Law and a way for the full satisfaction of it in order to Sinners pardon and discharge and this is to bee found no where but in
will justify but that and therefore to seek justification or quieting to a troubled soul by any other is but to spend our mony for that which is not bread Isa 55. or to go to buy bread with brass mony such as is not current coyn in Heaven Nay other knowledge is so far from bringing peace to a disquieted spirit that it brings with it tormenting and vexation of spirit Eccl. 1.18 Hee that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow other knowledge may and will puff up 1 Cor. 8.1 2. but this will humble humble us in our own apprehensions but really exalt us Prov. 4 8. Exalt her and shee will exalt thee Other Divine knowledge will build well but the knowledge of Christ laies the foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 this must needs have great substance and strength that bears up all the weight and bulk of the whole Christian edifice and let mee speak from my heart to all Students that hear this that unless your main care bee to get this knowledge you do but build Babels and Castles in the air And oh that many would make this their great study if they did there would not be so many new waies to heaven and false lights as there are 2 Pet. 3.18 19. Direct 2. Make this thy great heart design in comming to hear the word Preached for to get faith seeing it comes by hearing Resolve upon that end and think with thy self if thou commest with any by-ends the searcher of hearts will meet with thee if thou hast an Idol in thy heart thou shalt bee answered according unto it Ezek. 14.7 How many come with their Idols Some to get other knowledge and not of Christ Some to judge the Minister and to carp at the truths delivered Some to see and to bee seen and others out of meer formality and custome But alas where are they that stir up themselves to lay hold on Christ Isa 64.7 Direct 3. Remember to follow the example of the Bereans and in searching the Scriptures be much in studying the promises Act. 10.43 Act. 13 38 39. Think it not enough that you are Children of the Covenant as the Jews were Act. 3.25 but yee must become also the children of the promise for they only are accounted for the seed Rom. 9.8 Direct 4. Bee very watchful that carnal Objections and Cavils against Christ or his heavenly Mysteries or Doctrine arise not in your hearts without checking of them and strugling against them Thou mayest as easily empty the Ocean with a Cockle shell as measure the mystery of godliness with carnal Reason Do not cast off any truth of Christ because you can see no reason for it or cannot understand how this or that should bee Prov. 3.5 Trust in the Lord and lean not on thine own understanding Luther hath such a speech That mans corrupt reason is a terrible enemy to faith and this is the reason why many great Scholars are left of God And so our Saviour saith I thank thee O Father c. Matth. 11.25 Nicodemus will say How can these things bee Joh. 13.6 and the Philosophers will say of Paul when hee goeth to Preach these things what will this Babler say Oh! but remember God will confound the wisdome of this World thou shouldest rather say with Agur when thou hearest the Doctrin of Christ surely I am more brutish than any man when hee heard of Ithiel and Vcal I have neither Wisdome nor Knowledge of the most holy being an humble teachable heart to the word preached Pro. 8.4 5. and if any man among you seem to bee wise let him become a fool that hee may bee wise 1 Cor. 3.18 Prov. 9.4 5. Direct 5. Look at it as an extream vilenesse in thine heart and wily working of Satan when Christ is preached and the grace of God in Christ if thou canst go away from the word preached with an unbeleeving unmoved heart Observe for this two or three places Joh. 8.26.31 Christ had been preaching of the Father and of himself and his own death his mission and Commission and pleasing of the Father and vers 30. the text saith when hee spake those words many beleeved on him the Spirit takes special notice what words they were that wrought upon the hearers i.e. Christs unspeakable conjunction with the Father the Sufferings and Cross of Christ his holy Life and Death they stood out long but now they yielded So 2 Cor. 4 4-6 If our Gospel bee hid c. in whom the God of this World hath blinded the eies of them that beleeve not c. that is all the beauty of God the Father that shines in the face of Jesus Christ his Wisdome Justice Mercy Truth c. are hid from them Satan blinds them and their own naughty hearts and there is also a dreadful judgement of God in it Direct 6. Labour for Self-denial for wee must renounce all confidence in the flesh Priviledges Duties righteousnesse of our own Phil. 3.3.9.10 the righteousnesse of Faith excludes all this this is our betaking of our selves to the wings of Christ Matth. 23.37 i.e. wholly to bee under the covert of them as chickens under the wings of a Hen in a storm Use 4. It is a great comfort to you that beleeve in the Lord Jesus you are in the right way to the Father Joh. 14.6 you are in a most blessed estate Eph. 1.16 Jam. 2.5 the world looks at you as poorly provided for but you have abundance you are rich in faith and rich in Christ partakers of his unsearchable riches Eph. 3.8 1 Cor. 1.5 Vse 5. It serves to teach beleevers a main duty that most concerns them to practise i. e. to go on in a justified estate by faith in the Lord Jesus or imbracing the mercy of God in Christ and that because 1 They have the main principle in them to maintain a justified estate which others want viz. justifying faith Gal. 2.6 Though the well of living waters bee very deep beleevers have wherewithall to draw out of it They have a price in their hands to get wisdome Christ is neer Eph. 2.13 he is neer who iustifieth Isa 50.8 Isa 46.13 2 The benefit of justification should be maintained constantly in a Christians heart and that lively and as far as may bee without interruption and though our justification bee in it self unchangeable yet it is changeable in the diverse effects of it Our peace and comfort is often ebbing and flowing and subject to darknings as with David when hee saith I am cast out of the sight of God Psal 31.22 and cryed his bones were broken and that hee lay in the deep and therefore that wee may maintain our peace its worth our while to take pains in preventing our decaies and declinings It is easier to preserve peace and joy than to recover it out of an afflicted and dark condition as its easier to maintain health and strength than to fetch it at deaths door easier to keep the fire burning than to blow it up
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
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
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