The Best Treasure, Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
Shewing that Chriſt is become a Purchaſer in the behalf of Believers; How he hath made this Purchaſe, and what he hath purchaſed.
I Now come to the Second Branch of Chriſts Unſearchable Treaſure, which is his purchas'd Riches: Thoſe Treaſures which he hath as Mediatour procured for all that come unto him. And in the proſecution of this, I ſhall ſhew,
1. That the Lord Jeſus became a Purchaſer in the behalf of his People.
2. How and by what means he made this Purchaſe.
3. What he hath procured by this Purchaſe. And in this I ſhall uſe what brevity I may, having ſpent a greater time already on this Subject than I intended.
Firſt, The Scriptures do hold forth the Lord Jeſus to be a Purchaſer: One that hath bought and procured great and glorious things by a Price. Acts. 20. 28. Feed the Flock of God which he hath Purchaſed with his own blood: (foreign) that is, which he hath acquired or gotten to himſelf to be a peculiar People, by the blood or cruel bloody death of his Son. So Grotius. So Heaven is called the purchaſed Poſſeſſion, Eph. 1. 14. Ʋntil the Redemption of the purchaſed poſſeſſion: (foreign) 'Tis exceeding ſignificant in the Originall, both words being near of a ſignification, until or to the purchaſing of the purchas'd, ſo 'tis in the words; foreign ſignifies a Buying or ranſoming by a price, yea a full ſum, ſo much as the worth of the thing requires: As priſoners are redeemed by a full price: So Eraſmus and Aretius. It ſignifies alſo a full and compleat Redemption, as the Prepoſition foreign implies, being added to the Primitive foreign: & (foreign) as I have ſhewn is an obtaining by purchaſe, or an aſſerting or vindicating a thing to be ones Propriety by right and purchaſe, which fully proves Chriſt to be a Purchaſer, ſo 1. Theſ. 5. 9. To obtain Salvation by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt (foreign) to the getting or purchaſing of Salvation by Chriſt. So 1. Cor. 6. 20. Ye are bought with a Price. (foreign.) The word is a buying in the Market or publick place, by paying the price demanded. So that theſe expreſſions fully Prove Chriſt to be a Purchaſer, one that hath procured great things by buying them at a Price.
Secondly; How and by what means hath Chriſt procured and purchaſed theſe great things.
Firſt; By giving himſelf in the room and ſtead of fallen Man, to procure their Atonement and Salvation. Eph. 5. 25. As Chriſt loved the Church, and gave himſelf for it: (foreign) He delivered over himſelf freely, and knowingly. To what? See Ver. 2. For an Offering and Sacrifice to God for a ſweet ſmelling ſavour, (foreign.) The firſt word ſignifies any Sacrifice, the ſecond a bloody Sacrifice, ſaies Zanchy: So Chriſt made over and delivered up himſelf to this end to become a bloody Sacrifice for his People, and to fulfil the Fathers Terms for the ſaving of all that come to him. This he did conſiderately and willingly: Heb. 10. 7. This was according to the agreement betwixt the Father and the Son. Iſa. 49. ver. 2. to 10.
Secondly; By a perfect and perpetual Obedience of all thoſe Laws that were or are required of us in order to our holineſſe and Salvation, and by a ſubjection to, and Obedience of the ſpecial Law of a Mediatour: This hath two parts.
Firſt; His Obedience of what was required of Man by any Law: By the Law of Nature, or by any Inſtituted Law, either Moral, Ceremonial, or Judicial: All this did Chriſt ſubmit to and perfectly obey as in the ſtead of all Believers; Mat. 3. 15. It became him to fulfill all Righteouſneſſe. Whatever holineſſe or Obedience was required of Man in the ſtate of Innocency, or ſince his fall. And therefore 'tis ſaid, Gal. 4. 4. He was made under the Law, as a Man or Miniſter, bound by his own conſent to the full Obedience of it.
Secondly; His obeying all thoſe things that were required of him as Mediatour, Phil. 2. 7. That he ſhould make himſelf poor, and of no reputation, and take upon him the form of a Servant (foreign) He emptyed himſelf of his Glory: He ſtript himſelf of all his royal robes, and made himſelf of no account. This was not required by any Law natural or poſitive, but by the Law of a Mediatour. Again he humbled himſelf to the death, Phil. 2. 8. He had power or liberty, abſolutely conſidered, to lay down his life or not to do it; but with reſpect to his Mediatorſhip he had a Commandement to lay it down, Joh. 10. 18. Further, 'Twas by this Law Chriſt was bound to do all that he did for his People. Joh. 17. 19. Only for their ſakes ſanctifie I my ſelf. So ver. 9. I pray for them, I pray not for the World. So he was not to ſtrive or open his mouth, but patiently to bear whatever was laid upon him. Iſa. 42. 2. Iſa. 53. 7. Mat. 12. 19. And by this Obedience of Chriſt are believers made righteous, Rom. 5. 18, 19. For this is neceſſary to Salvation, that the Commandements be kept, Math. 19. 17. And the Law fulfilled, Math. 5. 17.
Thirdly; By his ſuffering all things we were liable to by the firſt tranſgreſſion, or any actual Sins flowing from it, Phil. 2. 8. This he did in all the ſufferings of his Life; and at his death, he bore the ſins of believers for them, 1. Pet 2. 24. He was wounded for our Tranſgreſſions. Iſa. 53. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 21. And became a Sacrifice to God for Sin. Iſa 53. 10. Heb. 9. 26. The end of which was atonement, Heb. 2. 17. He alſo paid the price that God demanded for their deliverance. 1 Cor. 7. 23. Ye are bought with a price. 1 Pet. 1. 17, 18. Math. 20. 28. He gave himſelf a ranſom for us.
Laſtly, By his Interceſſion Chriſt compleats his Purchaſe, and carries on the ſalvation of his people. Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth? it is Chriſt that dyed, yea rather is riſen again, who is alſo at the right hand of God and maketh Interceſſion for us. Though by this he doth not purchaſe for his people, yet he doth procure and apply mercy to them: As I have largely ſhewn already, therefore ſhall wave it now.
Thirdly, What are thoſe great and glorious things which J…ſus Chriſt hath procured by his blood?
Firſt, He hath purchaſed Believers themſelves unto God. Acts 20. 28. Feed the Flock of God which he hath purchaſed with his blood. Rev. 5. 9. For thou waſt ſlain, and haſt redeemed us unto God by thy blood. Every ſaved ſoul is part of Chriſts purchaſe: They are ſet apart for God. Pſa. 4. 3. A peculiar People to God. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Though the Father hath ordained them to life, yet they are not actually his till purchas'd by Chriſt. Hence it is that Believers Converſion, is not caſual or dependent upon Men or means, but is the effect and fruit of Chriſt's blood purely deſigned, and unavoidably perfected by Redemption-grace: And hence alſo their Salvation is ſure, being founded on the purchaſe of Chriſt. As ſure as Chriſts blood cannot be ſpilt in vain, ſo ſure ſhall every Believer have his Salvation perfected, becauſe it depends upon the Obedience, Merit, and Suffering of Chriſt. Hence alſo all the Means of Salvation and the Efficacy of them are certain to believers, Eph. 4. 8.
Secondly; He hath Purchaſed pardon of Sin, and peace with God. Col. 1. 20. Having made peace by the blood of his Croſſe: Chap. 2. 13. Heb. 8. 12. Rom. 5. 1. There is a full Pardon of Sin, of all the ſins of believers, and of every believers, purchaſed by the blood of Chriſt. Here are four things I ſhall ſpeak to.
Firſt; That there is a full Pardon of ſin procured; The Scripture ſets this forth by clear and pregnant arguments, and by ſeveral terms that leave no room for the leaſt Suſpition to the believing Soul. 'Tis called ſometimes Remiſſion of Sin, Luke 24. 47. And that Repentance and remiſſion of ſins ſhould be preached in his Name: (foreign) it ſignifies Diſmiſſion or Releaſing. All unchanged Souls are in Debt to God, bound over to wrath, and laid up in Priſon, but by Jeſus Chriſt there is a diſcharge of this Debt procured, the bond Cancell'd, the Priſon opened, and the Sinners ſet free, Iſa. 61. 1.
Sometimes 'tis call'd not imputing ſin, not laying it to the ſinners charge, Pſa. 32. 1, 2. imputeth not iniquity; that is, doth not charge, and reckon it, and lay it on his account: As a Merchant that ſends his Bill to his Debtour, and charges ſeveral ſums upon him: 'Tis true every Believer is a Debtor in himſelf, but God chargeth the Debt on another, and not on them.
Sometimes 'tis termed a covering or hiding of ſin, not from the ſinners, but from Gods judicial Eye; Pſal. 85. 2. Thou haſt forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou haſt covered all their ſin. Pſal. 78. 38. He being full of compaſſion forgave their iniquity. [Caphar] to cover or conceal; from this Root is derived Caphoreth, the covering of the Ark or Mercy-ſeat, in which was the Law or knowledge of ſin, but by the blood of Chriſt was covered or purged away.
Sometimes 'tis expreſſed by not remembring ſin any more; Jer. 31. 34. I will remember their ſin no more: I will be propitiouſly merciful, or pacifiedly favourable to their ſins, and their ſinful errours and unrighteouſneſs will I remember no more; or I will not remember them again: Here are two Negatives which make the denyal the more vehement. 'Tis an alluſion to men that forgive and forget, and it ſignifies that God will not upbraid or reproach them with them any more: hence Paul challengeth all the world to lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect, Rom. 8. 33.
Further, 'tis ſet forth by a taking away of ſin; Exod. 34. 7. Forgiving iniquity, tranſgreſſion and ſin. The word in the Original is, lifting up or taking away all ſorts of ſins and iniquities.
Again, 'tis ſignified by blotting out of ſin, ſo that it ſhall never be ſeen more; Iſa. 43. 25. I even I am he that blotteth out thy tranſgreſſions: Like the Merchant when the debt is paid croſſeth the Book, throws Ink on it, blots it out, that it may not be read any more; ſo God the Father caſts the blood of Chriſt on a Believer's ſin, and blots it out, ſo that Juſtice can lay no more to their charge.
Again, 'tis called a caſting of ſin behind his back, Iſa. 38. 17. He doth remove them out of his ſight as far as the Eaſt is from the Weſt, Pſ. 103. 12. He will caſt all their ſins into the depth of the Sea, Mic. 7. 18, 19. O the latitude of Believers pardon, and the full diſcharge of all their ſin! Sometimes God ſeems to be throwing off his people, and giving them a final farewel; but, oh! he returns again, and caſteth their ſins, (not them,) into the depth of the Sea, where they ſhall be certainly drowned as the Egyptian… were, never to be ſeen more.
Thus you ſee there's a full pardon procured for God's people, not the leaſt ground for a Queſtion left to them.
Secondly, There is not only a full pardon procured, but a pardon of every ſin. All the ſins of Gods people are forgiven: Col. 2. 13. 14. Having forgiven you all treſpaſſes, blotting out the handwriting: that not one debt may be ſeen; as a Book or Bill that is blotted out can be never more ſued againſt one: 1 Joh. 1. 7. The blood of Chriſt cleanſeth us from all ſin. Jer. 50. 20. The iniquity of Iſrael ſhall be ſought for, and there ſhall be nove; and the ſins of Judah, and they ſhall not be found, for I will pardon them whom I reſerve: The moſt cruel Enemy upon the ſtricteſt ſearch ſhall not find one; they ſhall be all forgiven: And indeed if Grace be free, there is the ſame reaſon why all ſhall be pardoned as well as one: And if the grace of God bring ſalvation then all muſt be forgiven or none: And the ſame blood of Chriſt can as well pardon all as one. For if the blood of Chriſt be the blood of God, then 'tis of an infinite value, and can as eaſily blot out every ſin as one ſin; and as well diſcharge Talents as Pence. Ezek. 18. 22. Larga Dei pietas veniam non dimidiabit. Aut nihil aut totum dabit.
Thirdly, This pardon of ſin is procured for repenting Believers, and for all of them: Acts 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witneſs, that through his name whoſoever believeth in him ſhall receive remiſſion of ſins: Acts 13. 38. chap. 26. 18. Faith is neceſſary to pardon, becauſe it takes off all ſelf-righteouſneſs, and all pretences of merit. Faith carries the ſoul off to a dependance on another for righte…ſneſs and ſalvation. Faith is a ſelf-denying Grace, and expects all upon the account of the Promiſe. Believers, and every Believer, have their ſins pardoned, and ſhall not periſh, Joh. 3. 16. Now leſt ſome ſhould pretend to believe, who indeed do not, the Seripture qualifies this Faith by certain Characters. 'Tis alſo to repenting ſouls that pardon is aſſured, and therefore remiſſion of ſin is joined with repentance, Acts 5. 31. Luke 24. 46, 47. Ezek. 18. 30. But what is this repentance? Doth it conſiſt only in an external ſorrow for ſin, and an audible begging of mercy? No, no, Judas and Cain were thus troubled for ſin, and yet never arrived to ſound repentance: 'Tis the mourning and returning believer to whom this Promiſe is made: and to ſuch, and to every one of theſe is a full pardon procured.
Fourthly, This pardon is procured by the blood of Chriſt, and that ſatisfaction made to the Father by his ſuffering. It is an Opinion ſprung up of men of corrupt minds, that pardon of Sin is the procurement of Inherent grace, and external Righteouſneſs, but not the product of Chriſt's blood, ſuffering and ſatisfaction, which I ſhall now endeavour to diſprove, Math. 20. 28. To give his Life a Ranſome for many. Heb. 9. 26. But now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away ſin by the Sacrifice of himſelf, chap. 9. 12. Col. 1. 14. Thus you ſee 'tis the blood of Chriſt offer'd up to God, that procureth peace, and removeth the guilt of ſin: and indeed pardon of ſin with reſpect to Gods Juſtice could be no otherway obtain'd. For,
Firſt, God had paſt an irrevocable ſentence, that the Soul that ſinneth ſhould dye, Gen. 2. 17. Now if this penalty was not inflicted upon Tranſgreſſing Adam; how would there be a fulfilling of this threatning. But ſome may enquire, How comes Adams ſin to be charg'd on his Poſterity? Anſw. Adams Tranſgreſſion, by the ſtrict union there was betwixt him and all mankind, (he being their Head, Root, and Repreſentee) was moſt juſtly devolv'd on his Off-ſpring, Rom. 5. 14, 19. And therefore God would not have been true to his word, had not this penalty been inflicted on the Debtor, or his Surety: But let God be true, and every Man a lyar.
Secondly, Fallen Man could not pay this debt, and make this ſatisfaction for ſin: For the ſin being of an infinite Guilt, and the puniſhment being Death Eternal, Rom. 6. 23. Man could never pay his ranſom, and ſet himſelf at liberty, and therefore ſome other way muſt be found out, which was only by the Lord Jeſus, God-Man, whoſe God-head was able to ſupport his humane Nature under ſuffering, and render his endurings of an Infinite value, Heb. 9. 14. Acts 20. 28. This is the ſecond Fruit of Chriſt's Purchaſe; the forgiveneſs of all the ſins of penitent believers, even paſt, preſent, and to come, that nothing ſhall be laid to their charge, Rom. 8. 1.
Thirdly, Acceptation of their Perſons is another Fruit of Chriſt's purchaſe, Eph. 1. 6. Where in he hath made us accepted in the beloved: 'Tis not enough to the compleating of Chriſts deſign in ſaving Souls, that their ſins be forgiven, and the guilt and penalty removed, and a diſcharge of all the Obligations to wrath by reaſon of ſin procured. All this a perſon may have, and yet no intereſt in the full favour of God, nor right to any ſaving bleſſing from him; for 'tis not ſufficient to give a Man a Title to Glory, that he be innocent, or free from offending, but he muſt come up to the terms of the firſt Covenant, and do all things required of him; and have a Poſitive as well as a Negative Righteouſneſs: There muſt be in order to an acceptance with God, not only a not imputing of ſin, but a reckoning of Righteouſneſs (ſaith Dr. Owen); he muſt be reputed fully Obedient alſo. The Law requires a perfect and perpetual Obedience, Gal. 3. 10. Should thy Soul be ſet free from all the charge of paſt ſins, yet thy defect of Righteouſneſs would undo thee for ever. They muſt be righteous that enter into Life Eternal, Math. 25. 47. Even as Righteous as God is Righteous: But this is impoſſible to be attain'd by lapſed man, In many things we offend all, Jam. 3. 2. There is none Righteous, no not one, Rom. 3. 10. And therefore there muſt be a Righteouſneſs procured for, and imputed to Believers, and that is the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt: The Commutation of his Obedience for our Diſobedience, Rom. 5. 19. By the Obedience of one ſhall many be made Righteous. This Righteouſneſs is called a white Robe, and fine Linnen, Rev. 7. 9. Chap. 19. 8. The ſweet ſmelling Garment of our Elder Brother wherein God takes infinite delight and pleaſure, Math. 3. 17. Iſa. 42. 1. The ground of all that pleaſure that God taketh in his people, is the Righteouſneſs of his Son: not any of their Services and duties: And look what pleaſure the Father takes in his Son as Mediatour, the ſame he takes in every Soul that truly comes unto him, John 17. 26. That the ſame love wherewith thou haſt loved me may be in them, and I in them.
ƲSE. If Believers are pardoned and accepted with God, then hence it follows,
Firſt, That God never puniſhes them in wrath and diſpleaſure. All the ſtroaks of God on Believers are but fatherly chaſtiſements: Not Judicial acts, Heb. 12. 6. He takes vengeance on their inventions, but never on their perſons▪ Puniſhment always bears ſome proportion to the offence, but the ſufferings of Gods people are infinitely leſs then their deſerts, and therefore are the Fruit of Divine Faithfulneſs, and Covenant Love, Pſal. 119. 75. Pſal. 78. 30, to 34.
Secondly, God will accept of all their ſincere deſires and ſervices, though never ſo mean, through Chriſt. Iſa. 38. 14. Iſa. 63. 8. Exek. 20. 40, 41. Pſal. 51. 17.
Thirdly, They have acceſs to God with boldneſs at all times, Eph. 3. 12. chap. 2. 8.
Fourthly, They are entred into reſt, and have peace with God, and with their own Conſciences. Math. 11. 28. Heb. 4. 9. Rom. 5. 1. 2 Theſ. 1. 6, 7. Pſal. 116. 7. H…b. 4. 3.
Fifthly, Sin ſhall never more have dominion over them. Rom. 6. 14.
Sixthly, God will withhold no good thing from them, Rom. 8. 32. No temporal bleſſing, Math. 6. 33. No ſpiritual bleſſing, 1 Tim. 4. 8. No inſtruction, Jer. 31. 33. Iſa. 54. 13. Joh. 14. 26. No ſanctified correction, Heb. 10. 10, 11. Rom. 5. 3, to 5. No conſolation, Iſa. 51. 3. 2 Cor. 1. 4. No edification and increaſe in Grace, Eph. 4. 12, 16. Nay all things ſhall work together for good to them that love God, Rom. 8. 28.
Laſtly, They can never forfeit their ſtate of Grace, and intereſt in the Favour of God, Joh. 13. 1. 2 Cor. 7. 10. They ſhall be ſure to be kept by the mighty power of God unto Salvation, 1 Pet. 1. 5. There is not the leaſt room left for a falling off from Grace: Becauſe,
Firſt, Salvation is purchaſed for them; and if the end be purchaſed, then all the means to the end; and God in Juſtice is bound to make good Chriſts purchaſe, and to deliver what he bought and paid for, 2 Tim. 4. 8.
Secondly, Preſervation in grace is ingaged to them. Jer. 32. 40. 1 Theſ. 5. 23, 24. The very God of peace ſanctifie you wholly; and I pray God your whole Spirit, Soul, and Body be preſerved blameleſſe unto the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: Faithful is he that calleth you, who alſo will do it Here we may ſee both Sanctification and Salvation is ſecured to all that are ſavingly called of God. Salvation is the End, and ſanctification is the Means, and both are ſounded not on the will of Man, or on his care and fidelity, but as depending on the act and faithfulneſſe of God; not only the firſt Act of Sanctification, but Preſervation; continuance, and growth in Grace is the work of God, and it's perſeverance is laid upon divine preſervation; to which God hath bound himſelf by promiſe to every Soul that is truly ſanctified, and his Faithfulneſs is engag'd to make it good.
Thirdly, They are put into the Hands of Chriſt on purpoſe to be ſecured in Grace to Glory, Joh. 10. 28, 29. They ſhall never periſh, neither ſhall any pluck them out of my hand: They are engraven on the palms of his hands; their walls are continually before him, Iſa. 49. 16. Their Walls, that is their ſafety: This was ſpoken in a time when the Walls of Jeruſalem were broken down: Yet at that time God had Walls about them to ſecure them, which they ſaw not. Both Believers themſelves, their Graces, and all the Promiſes are put into the hands of Chriſt, hence they cannot fall away.
Fourthly, True Grace is of an abiding nature, 1 Joh. 3. 9. Whoſoever is born of God doth not commit ſin, for his ſeed abideth in him, and he cannot ſin, becauſe he is born of God. foreign not at conſtantiam & penitiſſimam inhaeſionem, (ſaith one) 'Tis an abiding, and conſtant inheſion of Grace. Some to evade the evidence of this Truth, would pervert the ſenſe of it, taking it for the new Creature which is born of God; whereas the Original is clear againſt it foreign, in the Maſculine Gender, which notes a perſon, not a thing. Again, it would be a Tautologie to add a reaſon why ſuch a one cannot ſin, becauſe he is born of God, and his ſeed remaineth in him, whereas the new Creature, and the ſeed of God are all one, but here they note two things; Firſt, A Perſon; Secondly, The Regenerate part of the Perſon; which is fully explain'd in the following ver. where he that is born of God, or the Child of God, is oppoſed to the Child of the Devil, which is meant of a diſtinct Perſon, not a different Nature in the ſame Perſon; and this ſeed of God is of an abiding nature wherever it comes, it comes never wholly to depart more, Iſa. 59. 21.
Fifthly, Becauſe their Life is hid in Chriſt, and therefore cannot be loſt and periſh at their pleaſure, Col. 3. 3, 4. The Believers Grace is ſure in the Root, however it be in the Branch, and therefore Chriſt engages to his people, that they ſhall live becauſe he lives, Joh. 14. 19.
Laſtly, They have an Inſeparable union with the Spirit of Grace that dwells in them, Rom. 8. 11. He that raiſed up Jeſus from the dead ſhall alſo quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Where the Article foreign as one obſerves, ever notes the Perſon of the Holy Ghoſt, not his Graces; ſo that the Saints have an abiding union with the Spirit of God the third Perſon, and ſo cannot periſh for want of Grace, but are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation. He can never want Water that may have acceſs to the Fountain or Ocean; nor can any Soul be deſtitute of Grace that is united to the Spirit of Grace. The Graces of Saints are ſure; their Faith, their Preſervation is ſure: O what a glorious priviledge is this that flows to Believers, from this purchaſe of Chriſt, that their Salvation is ſure, and they may know it to be ſo.