Looking Unto Jesus, Book 6 · Chapter 3 · Section 3
SECT. III. Of deſiring Jeſus in that Reſpect.
3. LEt us deſire after Jeſus, carrying on the work of our ſalvation in his death; Jeſus Chriſt to a fallen ſinner is the chief object of deſire, but Jeſus Chriſt as crucified is the chief piece of that object. Humbled ſouls look after the remedy, and they find chiefly in Chriſt crucified; and hence are ſo many cryes after bathings in Chriſt's blood, and hiding in Chriſt's righteouſneſs, active, and paſſive. Indeed nothing doth ſo cool and refreſh a parched, dry, and thirſty ſoul as the blood of Jeſus; which made the poor woman cry out ſo earneſtly, I have an husband, and Children, and many other comforts, but I would give them all, and all the good that ever I ſhall ſee in this world, or in the world to come, to have my poor thirſty ſoul refreſhed with that precious blood of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
But what is there in Chriſt's blood or death that is ſo deſirable? I anſwer,—
1. There is in it the perſon of Chriſt, he that is God-man, man-God,Heb. 1.3. The brightneſs of his father's Glory, and the expreſs Image of his Perſon, it is he that dyed; every drop of his blood was not only the blood of an innocent man, but of one that was God as well as man, God with his own blood purchaſed the Church; Acts 20.28.now ſurely every thing of God is moſt deſirable.
2. There is in it a worth, or price; Chriſt conſidered under the notion of a ſacrifice is of infinite worth; now this ſacrifice (ſaith the Apoſtle) he offered up, Heb. 9.28.Heb. 9.28. He offered up, not in Heaven, as the Socinians would have it, in preſenting himſelf before God his Father, but upon earth, viz. in his Paſſion upon the Croſs. No wealth in heaven or earth beſides this, could redeem one ſoul, and therefore the Apoſtle ſets this againſt all corruptible things, as ſilver and gold, the things ſo much ſet by amongſt the men of this world; Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as ſilver, 1 Pet. 1.18.and gold,—but with the precious blood of Chriſt, as of a Lamb without blemiſh, and without ſpot.
3. There is in it a merit and ſatisfaction; the Scripture indeed doth not expreſly uſe theſe words, but it hath the ſenſe and meaning of them; As in that text,Epheſ. 6.7. He hath made us accepted in the beloved; to whom we have redemption through his blood. I know there is a different notion in theſe words; for merit doth properly reſpect the good that is to be procured, but ſatisfaction the evil that is repelled; but in Chriſt we ſtand not on theſe diſtinctions, becauſe in his merit was ſatisfaction, and in his ſatisfaction was merit. A great controverſie is of late riſen up, Whether Chriſt's death be a ſatisfaction to Divine juſtice? But the very words redeeming and buying, do plainly demonſtrate; that a ſatisfaction was given to God by the death of Jeſus;Tit. 2 14. 1 Cor. 6.20. Rev. 5.9. He gave himſelf for us that he might redeem us, ye are bought with a price; and what price was that? why his own blood. Thou waſt ſlain, and haſt redeemed us to God by thy blood; (i.e.) by thy death and Paſſion.Mat. 20.28. 1 Tit. 2.6. This was the foreign, that ranſome which Chriſt gave for his Elect; The Son of man came to give his life a ranſome for many; or as the Apoſtle, He gave himſelf a ranſome for all, the word is here foreign, which ſignifies an adequate price, or a counterprice; as when one doth, or undergoeth ſomething in the room of another; as when one yields himſelf a Captive for the redeeming of another out of Captivity, or gives up his own life for the ſaving of another man's life; ſo Chriſt gave himſelf foreign, a ranſome, or counterprice, ſubmitting himſelf to the like puniſhment that his redeemed ones ſhould have undergone.
The Socinians tell us that Chriſt's ſufferings and death were not for ſatisfaction to God, but in reference to us, that we might believe the truth of his Doctrine confirmed and ſealed (as they ſay) by his death, and that we might yield obedience to God according to the pattern that he hath ſet before us, and that ſo believing and obeying, we might obtain the remiſſion of Sins and eternal Life.
But the Scripture goes higher; in that mutual compact and agreement betwixt God and Chriſt, we find God the Father impoſing, and Chriſt ſubmitting to this ſatisfaction.Iſa. 53.6. 1. The Father impoſeth it by charging the ſins of his Elect upon Jeſus Chriſt. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all; not the ſins themſelves, not the evill in them, or fault of them, but the guilt and penalty belonging to them; this God laid upon his Son, and charged it upon him; he charged it as a Creditor chargeth the debt upon the Surety, requiring ſatisfaction. 2. Chriſt undertook it. He was oppreſſed, Ver. 7.and he was afflicted, or as ſome tranſlate, It was exacted, and he anſwered; (i.e.) God the Father required ſatisfaction for ſin, and Jeſus Chriſt was our Surety anſwered in our behalf;Ver. 12. He bear the Sins of many, he bear them as a porter that bears the burthen for another which himſelf is not able to ſtand under; he bear them by undergoing the puniſhment which was due for them, he bear them as our Surety, ſubmitting himſelf unto the penalty which we had deſerved; and by that means he made ſatisfaction to the juſtice of God. Surely Chriſts death was not only for confirmation of his Doctrine, but for ſatisfaction to God.
4. There is in it not only a true, but a copious, and full ſatisfaction; Chriſt's death and blood is ſuperabundant to our ſins; The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant 1. Tim. 1.14. foreign it was over-full, redundant, more than enough. Many an humble ſoul is apt enough to complain, Oh if I had not been ſo great a ſinner, if I had not committed ſuch and ſuch tranſgreſſions, there might have been hope; This is to undervalue Chriſt's redemption, this is to think there is more in ſin to damn, than in Chriſt's ſufferings to ſave; whereas all thy Sins to Chriſt are but as a little cloud to the glorious Sun; yea, all the Sins of all the men in the world, are but to Chriſts merits as a drop to the Ocean. I ſpeak not this to encourage the preſumptuous ſinner; for alaſs, he hath no part in this ſatisfaction; but to comfort the humble ſinner, who is loaden with the ſenſe of his Sins; what though they were a burthen greater than he can bear? yet they are not a burthen greater than Chriſt can bear; there is in Chriſt's blood an infinite treaſure, able to ſanctifie thee, and all the World, there is in Chriſts death a ranſome, a counterprice ſufficient to redeem all the ſinners, that ever were, or ever ſhall be; the price is of that nature, that it is not diminiſhed, though it be extended to never ſo many; as the Sun hath fulneſs of light to enlighten all the world; and if the blind do not ſee by it, it is no any ſcarcity of light in the Sun, but by reaſon of his own indiſpoſition; ſo if all men are not acquitted by Chriſt's death, it's not becauſe that was inſufficient, as if it had not vertue enough to reach them as well as others, but becauſe they by their unbelief do reject this remedy. Oh what large room hath ſaith to expatiate in! ſit down, and dive, and dive, yet thou canſt not come to the bottom of Chriſt's blood; but as the Prophet Ezekiel ſaw ſtill more and greater abominations, ſo mayeſt thou in the ſufferings of Chriſt obſerve more and more fulneſs. See what a notable oppoſition the Apoſtle makes, Rom. 5.15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. between the firſt and ſecond Adam; proving at large that Chriſt doth ſuper-abound in the fruits of his grace, above the firſt Adam in the fruits of his ſin; he calls it grace, and the abundance of grace, and this abundance of grace reigneth to life; Ver. 17.ſo that theſe Texts ſhould be like ſo much oyl poured into the wounds of every broken-hearted ſinner. Oh is there any thing that can be deſired more than this?
5. There is in it remiſſion of ſins; ſo ſaith Chriſt,Mat. 26.28. This is my blood of the New Teſtament, which is ſhed for many for the remiſſion of ſins, Remiſſion of ſins is attributed to Chriſt's death as a cauſe; it is not thy tears, or prayers, or rendings of heart that could pay the leaſt farthing,Heb. 9.22. Without ſhedding of blood (ſaith the Apoſtle) there is no remiſſion. God will have tears and blood alſo, though not for the ſame purpoſe; for all thy tears thou muſt flie to Chriſt only as the cauſe; it is true, thou muſt mourn, and pray, and humble thy ſelf, but it's Chriſt's blood only that can waſh us clean; Oh remember this! God will not pardon without ſatisfaction by the blood of Chriſt. And ſurely this makes Chriſt's death ſo deſirable; Oh my ſins afflict me, (cries many a one) Oh I am loathſome in mine own eyes, much more in Gods, ſurely God is offended with my dulneſs, ſlothfulneſs, and my thouſand imperfections; I am all the day long entangled with this ſin, and that ſin, and the other ſin; but let this contrite ſpirit look on Chriſt's death, and therein he may find all ſin is pardoned: ſee here what an Argument is put into thy mouth from theſe ſufferings of Chriſt, well mayeſt thou ſay, O Lord I am unworthy, but it is juſt and right that Chriſt obtain what he died for; Eph. 2.13, 14.O pardon my ſins for his death's ſake, and for his precious blood ſake.
6. There is in it reconciliation and peace with God, In Chriſt Jeſus ye who ſometimes were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Chriſt, for he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. Rom. 5.10. Eph. 2.16. Col. 1.20.—When we were enemies, we were reconciled unto God by the death of his Son—that he might reconcile both (viz. Jews and Gentiles) unto God in one body by the Croſs.—And having made peace through the blood of his Croſs, by him …o reconcile all things to himſelf. This certainly ſhould admirably ſupport the drooping ſoul; it may be thou cryeſt, My ſins have made a breach betwixt God and my ſoul; I have warred againſt heaven, and now God wars againſt me; and oh what odds? if the Lord be angry, yea, but a little; what will become of my poor ſoul? is a little ſtubble able to contend with the conſuming fire? how then ſhould I contend with God? but come now, and look on Chriſt's death as the means and meritorious cauſe of reconciliation, and thou canſt not but ſay, O this death is deſirable! When God the Father looks at a ſinner in the bloody glaſs of Chriſt, then ſaith God, Oh now fury and wrath is not in me; I have no more quarrel or controverſie with this ſoul: ſeeing Chriſt hath ſuffered, it is enough, I have as much as my juſtice can demand, my frowns are now turned into ſmiles, and my rod of iron into a Scepter of grace. Why this is it that makes Chriſt's death and blood ſo deſirable to the ſoul; what ſhall Jacob ſo rejoyce in ſeeing Eſau's face altered to him? ſhall he ſay to Eſau, I have ſeen thy face, as the face of God? how much rather may the humble and believing ſinner be filled with gladneſs, when through Chriſt's blood ſhall be thus appeaſed and reconciled with him?
7. There is in it immunity and ſafety from all the judgments and dangers threatned againſt our ſins. Surely if there were ſuch force in the blood of the type, that by the effuſion of it the Iſraelites lay ſafe, and untouched of the revenging Angel, how much more in the blood of Chriſt?Rev. 12.11. Satan himſelf is ſaid to be overcome by the blood of the Lamb; and God's revenge due to our ſins is ſaid to be removed by the blood of Jeſus, therefore it is called The blood of ſprinkling, that ſpeaks better things than the blood of Abel; Heb. 12.24.the blood of ſprinkling was for ſafety, and Chriſt's blood is for ſafety; it cries not for revenge, as Abel's blood cryed, but for mercy and for deliverance from all miſery.
8. There is in it a bleſſed vertue to open Heaven, and to make paſſage thither for our ſouls, Having boldneſs or liberty to enter into the holieſt by the blood of Jeſus: Heb. 10.19.it is the blood of Chriſt that rents the Vail, and makes a way into the Holy of Holies, that is, into the Kingdom of Heaven; without this blood there is no acceſs to God; it is only by the blood of Chriſt that heaven is open to our prayers, and that Heaven is open to our perſons; this blood is the key that unlocks Heaven, and lets in the ſouls of his Redeemed ones: And I looked (ſaith John) and behold a door was open in Heaven, and the firſt voice I heard, was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, which ſaid, come up hither; Rev. 4.1.and no ſooner was he in the Spirit, and entred in, but he heard the new ſong of the four beaſts,Rev. 5.9. and four and twenty Elders, ſaying to Chriſt, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the ſeals thereof, for thou waſt ſlain, and haſt redeemed us to God by thy blood.
Come now, and gather in all theſe ſeveral particulars, there is in Chriſt's blood incluſively the perſon of Chriſt, the price of ſouls, a merit and ſatisfaction, a copious and full ſatisfaction, remiſſion of ſins, reconciliation with God, immunity from dangers, a paſſage into glory; I might add all other priviledges, benefits, dignities of the ſoul, for they all flow from the blood of Jeſus, and they are all contained either expreſly, or vertually in the blood of Jeſus; and is not all this worth the looking after? O my ſoul, where is thy languor, and fainting towards this bleſſed object? Shall Ahab eagerly deſire after Naboth's vineyard, yea, ſo eagerly deſire it, that his deſire ſhall caſt him upon his bed? and is not Chriſt's blood better than Naboth's vineyard? how is it O my ſoul, that thou art not ſick on thy bed in thy deſires after Jeſus? when David deſired ſtrongly after God's Law, he expreſſed his longings by the breaking and fainting of his ſoul,Pſal. 119.20, 81. My ſoul breaketh for the longing that it hath to thy judgment at all times;—and my ſoul fainteth for thy Salvation: Oh where be theſe breakings and faintings?2 Cor. 5.2. ſtrength of deſire is expreſſed by the Apoſtle by groaning, which is the language of ſickneſs; Oh where be theſe groanings after Chriſt's death? when I call to mind that Chriſt's death is my ranſome, that Chriſt's wounds are my ſalves, that Chriſt's ſtripes are my cures, that Chriſt's blood is my fountain to waſh in, and to be clean; how ſhould I but pray in this ſence, His blood be upon us, and on our children? Oh I am undone except I have a ſhare in this blood; why it is only this blood that can heal my ſoul, it is only this Fountain opened to the houſe of David, and to the inhabitants of Jeruſalem, that can quench my thirſt; and now I have ſeen the Fountain opened, how ſhould I but thirſt, and cry out with the woman of Samaria, O give me this water that I thirſt no more? John 4.15.But alas, I ſay it, I only ſay it. Oh that I could feel it! Oh my Jeſus that thou wouldſt breed in me ardent deſires, vehement longings, unutterable groans, mighty gaſpings; O that I were like the dry and thirſty ground, that gapes, and cleaves, and opens for drops of rain! when my ſpirit is in right frame I feel ſome deſires after Chriſt's blood, but how ſhort are theſe deſires, how unworthy of the things deſired? come Lord, kindle in me hot burning deſires, and then give me the deſirable Object.