Choice Grounds and Principles of our Christian Religion, Treatise · Question 11
Quest. 11. How did Christ performe this, according to his flesh, and humane nature?
Answ. By his humiliation, and suffrings, wherein hee became obedient vntounto the death, euen to the death of the Crosse, Phil. 2.7, 8.
EXPOSITION.
OVR Lord Iesus Christ, being anoynted to be our high Priest, (not according to the order of Aaron, who needed a Successour but) according to the order of Melchizedech, to continue for euer, was appointed of God his Father,Heb. 7.3. to be a propitiatory sacrifice, and satisfaction for our sinnes by his sufferings, as by the onelyonly sacrifice of reconciliation, to deliuer both our bodies and soules from eternall death and condemnation, and to purchase for vsus the fauour of God, righteousnesse, and life. By his sufferings (I say) the which to this end, and to bring this to passe, how great and wonderful they were, what sorrowes and temptations hee endured, and into what low and base condition for this cause hee was brought, and submitted himselfe vntounto: The Euangelist Mathew, chap. 26. and Luke, chap. 22.Math. 26.37, &c. Luke 22.4, &c. doe expresse at large: As how hee began to wax sorrowfull, and grieuously troubled, and as one full of anguish, said vntounto his Disciples, My soule is heauy euen vntounto the death: That such was his terrour and feare, that he not onelyonly at two seuerall times desired his heauenly Father to deliuer him from the bitternesse of his Crosse and Passion; and so wonderfully cast downe, that there was neede of the presence of an Angell to comfort him, and for very paine and griefe swet drops of blood, but also as one almost vtterly giuen ouer, and despairing of release, cryed out, My God, my God, Math. 27.16.why hast thou forsaken mee? This was vndoubtedly a wonderfull abasement, and humiliation, most bitter anguish and extremity, the like whereof hath neuer been felt, neither can possibly be endured of any other. And what was the reason of it? Hauing taken vponupon him the burthen and Reason 1 guiltinesse of all our sinnes, which were most wonderfull loathsome, and odious before the face of God, and with the huge weight whereof hee was grieuously pressed; and therewithall also setting before his eyes, the Tribunall seat of God, and the heauenly Iudge himselfe, ready armed with incomprehensible vengeance against the same: No maruaile if (his Godhead, being as it were hid, and remaining secret for a time) according to his flesh, and humane nature, he was after this manner so wonderfully perplexed and amazed, though he so bitterly complained and cryed out. He conceiued in death, somewhat more terrible then the separation of the soule from the body, as namely, the horrible curse and punishment, which, in the wrath and iudgement of God, was iustly kindled against our sinnes, the guiltinesse whereof he had so taken vponupon him, that he was of necessity to sustaine, whatsoeuer the extremity of their haynousnesse had deserued. From hence procéeded his feare, Reason 2 his sorrow, and tribulation. For what is more heauy, what more intolerable then the wrath and vengeance of God? What comparison can there bee betwixt that which hath an end, and that which hath no end? The wrath of God is endlesse, the strength of man, in respect thereof, vtterly nothing at all; infinitely and to far too weake for the Maiestie of God. This so great wrath of God, did our Lord Iesus Christ féele sensibly and indéede, in his whole humanity, both in soule and body. For we must not thinke that bodily death it selfe, could so hauehave terrified the Sonne of God, if he had not séene and considered, that hee was to vndergoe the wrath and iudgement of God.
Thus farre did it please our Lord Iesus Christ to humble and abase himselfe for our sakes, and by such humiliation and sufferings, to performe the part and office of a perfect Sauiour and Redéemer. Of all which there was so great necessity, that without the same, the mysterie of our saluation could not possibly hauehave béene fulfilled.
If hee had not suffered these anguishes Reason 3 and extremities at all, we should hauehave remained in the guiltinesse of sin and death, without any hope of eternall life. If hee had suffered but onelyonly in body, he should hauehave béene the Redéemer and Sauiour only of our bodies: It was of necessity therfore, that our Sauiour and Redéemer should both in body and soule sustaine the curse and punishment due vntounto our sins, that so through Faith in his redemption, we might both in body and soule be eternally blessed. This was the cause of his humiliation and sufferings, yea of whatsoeuer he endured both in soule and body. Wherefore hee became our high Priest, and made himselfe an offering and a sacrifice for sin, yea such a sacrifice, as wherevnto the very curse of God was ioyned: As Gal. 3.Gal. 3.13. Christ hath redeemed vsus from the curse of the Law, when hee was made a curse for vsus; for it is written, Deut. 21.23Cursed is eueryevery one that hangeth on tree. He tooke that to himselfe which was ours that he might impart vntounto vsus that which was his; hee tooke our sinnes and cursednesse to him: he indued, and enriched vsus with his blessednes. For this cause in diuers places of the Scripture, is he called Sinne, and an offering for sinne: As 2. Cor. 5.2. Cor. 5.21. Hee hath made him to be sinne for vsus, which knew no sinne, that wee should be made the righteousnesse of God in him. And Es. 53.Esa. 53. Yet the Lord would breake him, and make him subiect to infirmities, when hee shall make his soule an offering for sinne. For this, no doubt, did all the Prophets fore sée in Spirit, that our Lord Iesus Christ should be accounted the greatest sinner and transgressor, that euer was vpō the face of the earth. Not that hee himselfe had any spot of sinne, but because he tooke the sinnes of the world vponupon him, and for them dyed vponupon the Crosse. For this cause it was, that (as the Prophet fore-told) hee was accounted among transgressours and trespassers. Whatsoeuer sinnes either hauehave béene committed, are, or shall be hereafter, by any, or all of Gods elect and chosen, from the beginning of the world vntounto the end, they were all imputed vntounto Christ, and hee bare the burthen of them: According to that of the Prophet againe, He is despised, and reiected, hee is a man full of sorrowes, and hath experiences of infirmities: we hid (as it were) our faces from him, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely hee hath borne our infirmities, Esa. 53.3, 4, 5, 6, 8.and carried our sorrowes, yet we did iudge him, as plagued, and smitten of God, and humbled. But hee was wounded for our transgressions, he was broken for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace vvas vponupon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All wee like Sheepe hauehave gone astray, wee hauehave turned eueryevery one to his owne way, and the Lord hath layd vponupon him the iniquity of vsus all. And a little after, For the transgression of my people was he plagued. Whereunto agréeth that of the Apostle Peter, 1.1. Pet. 2.25. Epist. 2. Who his owne selfe, bare our sinnes in his body on the tree, that vvee being deliuered from sinne, should liue in righteousnesse, by vvhose stripes ye vvere healed. For this cause, Ioh. 1.Joh. 1.29. is he called the Lamb of God vvhichwhich taketh away the sinne of the vvorld. And Heb 10.Heb. 10.14, 18. the Apostle saith, that vvith one offering hee consecrated for euer them that are sanctified. All these places serue plainely to proue, that our Lord Iesus Christ, when he purchased for vsus eternall redemption, offered himselfe for a sacrifice vponupon the Crosse, that he might sanctifie vsus for euer. The force and efficacie of which sacrifice, continueth without any end: According to this most comfortable sentence, a little after in the very same Chapter, Where remission of these things is, there is no more offering for sinne.
The Instruments which the Lord vsed to bring Christ vntounto his death, were most wicked, as Satan, the high Priests, Iudas and Pilate; for who, but such as were most wicked, could hauehave found in their hearts to accuse, and condemne him, that was most innocent and harmelesse? Yet the Lord vsed them in such sort, as by their meanes, that worke was brought to passe, which of all other workes of God, was most holy, and most admirable, as namely, the Redemption of Gods Elect. These wicked ones, although they apprehended Christ, arraigned, accused, condemned, and crucified him, yet was his death neuerthelesse a voluntary and willing death, freely, and of his owne accord, giuing vp himselfe to suffer all that was inflicted. For if he had beene vnwilling to dye, and had not willingly yeelded himselfe into their hands; neither they, nor all the world could possibly so farre hauehave preuailed against him: According to that, Io. 10.Ioh. 10.17, 18. I lay down my life, that I might take it againe: No man taketh it from me, but I lay it downe of my selfe: I hauehave power to lay it downe, and hauehave power to take it againe; this commandement hauehave I receiued of my Father. And this is also further manifest by the mighty power which hee expressed, in throwing the armed multitude to the ground, which came to apprehend him, as Ioh. 18.Ioh. 18.6. For, assoone as he had said vntounto them, I am hee, they went backward, and fell to the ground. And by his speech to Peter, Math. 26.Math. 26.53, 54. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he will giuegive mee moe then twelue legions of Angels? how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must be so? Hee might also hauehave preuented Iudas, and confounded him in his deuillish purpose, before it tooke any effect at all, if it had so pleased him, seeing he perfectly knew the same beforehand, as we may see, Mat. 26. Ioh. 13.Mat. 26.21 Ioh. 13 26. But for our sakes he would not, but would rather suffer the wicked Traytor to hauehave his deuillish desire, and to endure the vttermost villany that the tyrannous Iewes could doe vntounto him; rather, I say, then any part of our Redemption should remaine vnperformed, the which without this manner of humiliation and suffering, could not possibly hauehave been effected. For this cause, said he not to Iudas, Leaue off thy deuillish purpose: but, That thou doest, Ioh. 13.27.doe quickly. Neither said he to Peter, Fight manfully, and get my deliuerance by force of Armes: but, Put vp thy Sword into his place, Mat. 26.52for all that take the sword, shall perish with the Sword.
Vse 1 And now who can sufficiently admire and maruell at it? Who can sufficiently ertoll, and magnifie this wonderfull louelove of the Sonne of God? Wee were not his friends, but his enemies, by reason of our sinnes; and yet, that hee should endure such, and so many things for vsus: this is assuredly such rare and surpassing kindnes, as can neuer be sufficiently expressed: For what would hauehave become of vsus, and of our saluation, if he had not thus farre abased himselfe; the iustice of God, being not possibly to hauehave beene satisfied any other way? For sinne is so odious in the sight of God, that he cannot but punish it with an extreme punishment wheresoeuer he findeth it. Our Lord Iesus Christ then standing in our roome, was therfore of necessitie, not onelyonly to suffer the miseries of this life, but also to dye, that the very extremity of the punishment, which we had deserued, and which wee should hauehave borne, being laid vponupon him, wee in him might fully satisfie the iustice of God, and so hauehave cause to glory with the Apostle, Rom. 8.Rom. 8.33, 34, 35, &c. and to say, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? It is God that iustifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that dyed, yea, rather that is risen againe, who is euen at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for vsus; who shall separate vsus from the louelove of Christ, &c? And a little after; I am perswaded that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, &c. shall be able to separate vsus from the louelove of God, which is in Christ Iesus our Lord.
Secondly, although it is manifest, that Vse 2 the death of Christ depended vponupon Gods Decree, and nothing came to passe in his humiliation, and sufferings, but what God had determined for the glory of his name, and for the good and saluation of his people, according to his owne words, Math. 26.Mat. 26.24 and Luke 24.Luk. 24.46. and to that of the Apostles, Acts 2. & chap. 4.Acts. 2.23. chap. 4.27, 28. yet it followeth not, that either Iudas, or any of the other instruments whom God vsed, are therefore in any measure to bee commended, or excused; but rather to bee accounted (as they were indeed) most bloudy and cruell murtherers of the innocent and guiltlesse; forasmuch as they had no respect at all, either to the fulfilling of the Lords Decree, or to the saluation of his people, but were carried to iniquity; some by malice, some by pride, some by couetousnesse, some by one vngodly and carnall respect, and some by another: According as all obiections herein, most notably preuenteth the Apostle Peter in the same place of Acts 2. where hee saith expressely, that hee was taken by the hands of the wicked. And whereas our Lord Iesus Christ pronounceth a most fearefull woe and curse vponupon Iudas, Math. 26.Mat. 26.24. that it had beene good for him that he had neuer been borne. Whereby it is cleere, that although it was ye Decree of God, that Christ should suffer all that he did (which Decree in it selfe was good and holy) yet the execution of the Decree, in regard of the instruments, was most wicked; and farre better it had beene for them all, (as Christ said of Iudas) if they had neuer beene borne.
Thirdly, the truth of this point directly Vse 3 tendeth to the confutation of the Papists, who, besides the alone Passion and sufferings of Christ, most grossely and wickedly maintaine workes of satisfaction; partly of their owne, and partly of the Saints departed, which they adde to the Passion of Christ, as though that alone were not sufficient, cleane contrary to the many testimonies of the Scripture which hauehave beene remembred. And whereas they also blasphemously affirme, that in Christ we hauehave forgiuenesse of the fault, but not of the punishment: they manifestly spurne against the Word of God, which plainely teacheth, that Christ is our Sauiour, Redeemer, and Aduocate; who hath deliuered vsus, not onelyonly from part of our sinnes, but from all our sins; not onelyonly from part of the punishment, which our sinnes had deserued, but also from eueryevery part thereof, as we hauehave seene sufficiently proued in that which goeth before. And indeed, it should otherwise greatly impeach the wisedome of God, if hee should send downe his Sonne, the second person in the Trinity, into this vale of misery, heere to take our flesh, & in the forme of a Seruant, and abiect man, to suffer a most vile and reprochfull death, and all to bee in the end but a party-Redeemer, and a party-Sauiour, and to yéeld a great part of the glory and honour thereof vntounto another. No, no, he is God, he giueth not his glory vntounto others. He onelyonly (onelyonly hee, I say) is our full, and perfect Reconciler and Redeemer, and all the residue that I hauehave spoken of before. This is the doctrine of the glorious Gospell of Christ, which we teach, beleeue, and professe: this is no new doctrine, but that which was conceiued in the bosome of Gods wisedome, before the beginning of the world.
Vse 4 Last of all, the consideration of Christs death and sufferings, must worke in vsus a godly sorrow for our sins; forasmuch as our sins were the cause of all the paines, sorrowes, and calamities, which our Lord Iesus Christ did sustaine, and indure, both in life and death. So often (I say) as we remember the humiliation and sufferings of our Lord Iesus Christ, so often should we thinke vponupon our sinnes, arraigning, as it were, accusing, and condemning our selues in regard of them: and euermore withall keep this in mind, that Christ suffered not for himselfe, but for our offences, which were the proper cause of all his woe and misery. And therefore, as Christs Passion was grieuous, and bitter vntounto him; so should our sinnes bee bitter and grieuous vntounto vsus. This wee must alwayes remember, and this vse (among the rest) we must be religiously carefull to make, as often as wee thinke vponupon the Death and Passion of Christ; or else shall wee neuer reape any sound benefit thereby.