A Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures, Text (8 of 9)

A Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures · Text (8 of 9)

p. 300Fourthly, let the ſufferings of our Lord Jeſus raiſe in 4all our hearts, a high eſtimation of Chriſt; O let us prize a ſuffering Chriſt above all our duties, and above all our Mat. 10. 37. Luk. 14. 26.Matt 10:37Luke 14:26graces, and above all our privileges, and above all our outward contentments, and above all our ſpiritual enjoyments! a ſuffering Chriſt is a commodity of greater value than all the riches of the Indies, yea, than all the wealth of the whole world; he is better than Rubies (ſaith Prov. 8. 11.Prov 8:11Solomon, and all the things thou canſt deſire are not to be compared to him: he is that Pearl of price, which the wiſe Merchant purchaſed with all that ever he had; no Mat. 13. 46,Matt 13:46man can buy ſuch Gold too dear. Joſeph (a type of the Lord Jeſus) then a precious Jewel of the world, was far more precious, had the Iſhmaelitiſh Merchants known ſo Gen. 27. 37.Gen 27:37much, than all the Balms and Myrrhs that they tranſported: and ſo is a ſuffering Chriſt, as all will grant, that really know him, and that have experienced the ſweet of union and communion with him. Chriſt went through heaven and hell, life and death, ſorrow and ſuffering, miſery and cruelty, and all to bring us to glory, and ſhall we not prize him? When, in a ſtorm, the Nobles of Xerxes were to lighten the ſhip, to preſerve their King's life, they did their obeyſance, and leaped into the Sea: but our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, to preſerve our lives, Col. 1. 18.Col 1:18our ſouls, he leaps into a Sea of wrath. Oh, how ſhould this work us to ſet up Chriſt above all! what a deal ado has there been in the world, about Alexander the great, and Conſtantine the great, and Pompey the great, becauſe of their civil power and authority: but what was all their greatneſs and grandure, to that greatneſs and grandure, that God the father put upon our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, when Mat 28. 1…. Heb. 1. 13. Eph. 1. 20.Matt 28:1Heb 1:13Eph 1:20he gave all power in heaven and in earth unto him, and ſet him down at his own right hand? Oh ſirs! will you p. 301value men according to their titles, and will you not highly value our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who has the moſt magnificent titles given him? he is called King of Kings, Rev. 17. 14. cap. 19. 16.Rev 17:14and Lord of Lords. It is obſerved by learned Druſins, that thoſe Titles were uſually gi…n to the great Kings of Perſia, than which, there was none aſſumed more to themſelves, than they did: yet the holy Ghoſt attributes theſe great Titles to Chriſt, to let us know, that as God hath exalted Chriſt above all earthly powers, ſo we ſhould magnifie him, and exalt him accordingly. Paul, caſting his eye upon a ſuffering Chriſt, tells us, that he eſteems of foreign, Phil. 3. 8.Phil 3:8all things, as nothing in compariſon of Chriſt; All things, is the greateſt account that can be caſ… up; for it includeth all prizes, all ſumms, it taketh in heaven, it taketh in the vaſt and huge Globe and Circle of the capacious world, and all excellencies within its boſom: all things, includes all Nations, All Angels, all Gold, all Jewels, all Honours, all delights, and every thing elſe beſides: and yet the Apoſtle looks upon all theſe things foreign, quaſi foreign, micae quae canibus: vide à Lapide, vide Bezam; the original word notes the filth that comes out of the entrails of beaſts or off all, caſt to dogs.but as foreign, dung, dog's dung (as ſome interpret the word) or dogs meat, courſe and contemptible, in compariſon of dear Jeſus. Galeacius, that noble Italian Marqueſs, was of the ſame mind and mettal with Paul; for when he was ſtrongly tempted, and ſolicited with great ſumms of money, and preferments, to return to the Romiſh Church; he gave this heroick anſwer, Curſed be he that prefers all the wealth of the world, to one days communion with Chriſt. What if a man had large demains, ſtately buildings, and ten thouſand rivers of Oyl; what if all the mountains of the world were Pearl, the mighty Rocks Rubies, and the whole Globe a ſhining Chryſolite; yet all this were not to be named in the ſame day, wherein there is mention made of a ſuffering Chriſt. Look, as one Ocean hath more waters than all the rivers in the world, and as one Sun hath more light than all the Luminaries in heaven; ſo one ſuffering Chriſt is more all to a poor ſoul, than if it had the all of the whole world a thouſand times over and over. Oh ſirs! p. 302if you caſt but your eye upon a ſuffering Chriſt, a crucified Jeſus; there you ſhall find righteouſneſs in him to cover all your ſins, and plenty enough in him to ſupply all your wants, and grace enough in him to ſubdue all your luſts, and wiſdom enou…h in him to reſolve all your doubts, and power enough in him to vanquiſh all your enemies, and vertue enough in him to heal all your diſeaſes, Heb. 7. 25. I have read of a Roman ſervant, who knowing his maſter was ſought for by officers, to be put to death; he put himſelf into his maſter's cloaths that he might be taken for him; and ſo he was, and was put… to death for him: whereupon his maſter, in memory of his thankfulneſs to him, and honour of him, erected a brazen Statue: but what a ſtatue of Gold ſhould we ſet up in our hearts to the eternal honour & exaltation of that Jeſus, who not in our cloaths, but in our very nature, hath laid down his life for us!Heb 7:25and fulneſs enough in him, both to ſatisfie you and ſave you, and that to the utmoſt. All the good things that can be reckoned up here below, have only a finite and limited benignity: ſome can cloath, but cannot feed; others can nouriſh, but they cannot heal; others can enrich, bu… they cannot ſecure; others can adorn, but cannot advance; all do ſerve, but none do ſatisfie; they are like a beggars coat, made up of many pieces; not all enough, either to beautifie, defend, or ſatisfie: but there is enough in a ſuffering Chriſt, to fill us and ſatisfie us to the full; Chriſt has the greateſt worth and wealth in him. Look, as the worth and value of many pieces of Silver, is to be found in one piece of Gold; ſo all the petty excellencies that are ſcattered abroad in the creatures, we to be found in a bleeding dying Chriſt; yea, all the whole volume of perfections, which is ſpread through heaven and earth, is epitomized in him that ſuffered on the Croſs, nec Chriſtus, nec coelum patitur hyperbolen, a man cannot hyperbolize in ſpeaking of Chriſt and heaven; but muſt entreat his hearers, as Tully doth his readers, concerning the worth of L. Craſſus; (ut majus quiddam de iis quam quae ſcripta ſunt ſuſpicarentur, 3. De oratore) that they would conceive much more than he was able to expreſs: certainly, it is as eaſie to compaſs the heavens with a ſpan, and contein the ſea in a nut-ſhell, as to relate fully, a ſuffering, Chriſt's excellencies, or heaven's happineſs. O ſirs! there is in a crucified Jeſus, ſomething proportionable to all the ſtraits, wants, neceſſities, and deſires of his poor people. He is bread to nouriſh them, and a garment to John. 6. 5, 6, 37. Rev. 13. 14. Mat. 9. 12. Iſa 9. 6. Heb. 2. 10. Act. 5. 31.John 6:5John 6:6John 6:37Rev 13:14Matt 9:12Isa 9:6Heb 2:10Acts 5:31cover and adorn them, a Phyſician to h…al them, a Counſeller to adviſe them, a Captain to defend them, a Prince p. 303to rule, a Prophet to teach, and a Prieſt to make attonement Act. 7. 37, 38. Heb. 2. 17, 18. cap. 4. 15, 16. 2 Cor. 11. 2. Iſa. 9. 6, 7. John. 20. 17. Iſa. 28. 16. Rev. 22. 16. Eph. 1. 22, 23.Acts 7:37Acts 7:38Heb 2:17Heb 2:182 Cor 11:2Isa 9:6Isa 9:7John 20:17Isa 28:16Rev 22:16Eph 1:22Eph 1:23for them; an Husband to protect, a Father to provide, a Brother to relieve, a Foundation to ſupport, a Root to quicken, a Head to guide, a Treaſure to enrich, a Sun to enlighten, and a Fountain to cleanſe. Now what can any Chriſtian deſire more, to ſatisfie him and ſave him, to make him holy and happy in both Worlds? Shall the Romans and other Nations highly value thoſe that have but ventur'd to lay down their lives for their Countrey, and ſhall not we highly value the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who hath actually laid down his life for his ſheep? I have John 10. 11, 15, 17.John 10:11John 10:15John 10:17read of one, who walking in the fields by himſelf, of a ſudden, fell into loud cries and weeping; and being asked (by one that paſſed by, and over-heard him) the cauſe of his lamentation; I weep (ſaith he) to think that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhould do ſo much for us men; and yet, not one man of a thouſand ſo much as mind him, or think of him. Oh what a bitter Lamentation have we cauſe to take up, that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt has ſuffered ſo many great and grievous things for poor ſinners; and that there are ſo few that ſincerely love him, or that highly value him; moſt men preferring their luſts, or elſe the Toys and Trifles of this world above him. But,

Fifthly, let the ſufferings of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt work 5us all into a gracious willingneſs to embrace ſufferings for his ſake; and chearfully and reſolutely to take up his Croſs, Mat. 16. 24.Matt 16:24and follow him: did Chriſt ſuffer, who knew no ſin? and ſhall we think it ſtrange to ſuffer, who know nothing but ſin? ſhall he lie ſwelthering under his father's wrath, and ſhall we cry out of men's anger? was he crowned Godfrey of Bullen firſt King of Jeruſalem, refuſed to be crowned with a Crown of Gold; ſaying, that it became not a Chriſtian to wear a Crown of Gold, where Chriſt, for our ſalvation, had worn a Crown of thorns.with thorns, and muſt we be crowned with roſe-buds? was his whole life, from the cradle to the croſs, made up of nothing but ſorrows and ſufferings? and muſt our lives, from the cradle to the grave, be filled up with nothing but pleaſures and delights? was he deſpiſed, and muſt we be admired? was he debaſed, and muſt we be exalted? was he poor, and muſt we be rich? was he low, and muſt we be high? did he drink of a bitter cup, a p. 304bloody cup; and will no cups ſerve our turns, but cups of conſolation? Let us not think any thing too much to do for Chriſt, nor any thing too great to ſuffer for Chriſt, nor any thing too dear to part with for ſuch a Chriſt, ſuch a Saviour, that thought nothing too much to do, or too grievous to ſuffer, that ſo he might accompliſh the work of our Redemption. He left heaven for us, and ſhall not John 1. 18.John 1:18we let go this world for him? he left his father's boſom for us, and ſhall not we leave the boſoms of our deareſt Relations Pſal. 45. 10, 11. Mat. 10. 37.Ps 45:10Ps 45:11Matt 10:37for him? he underwent all ſorts of ſufferings for us, let us as readily encounter with all ſorts of ſufferings for him: Paul was ſo inur'd to ſufferings for Chriſt, that … Cor. 12. 10. 2 Cor. 11. 23, to verſe 28.2 Cor 11:23he could rejoice in his ſufferings, he gloried moſt in his chains, and he looked upon his ſcars, buffetings, ſcourgings, ſtoneings for Chriſt, as his greateſt triumphs. And how ambitious were the primitive Chriſtians of Martyrdom in the cauſe of Chriſt: and of late, in the times of the Marian Perſecution, how many hundreds chearfully and willingly laid down their lives; mounting, Eliah-like to heaven in fiery charriots. And, oh, how will Chriſt own and honour ſuch Chriſtians at laſt, as have Rev. 3. 21.Rev 3:21not ſet on others, but expoſed themſelves to hazards, loſſes and ſufferings for his ſake! as thoſe brave ſouls, who Rev. 12. 11.Rev 12:11loved not their lives unto the death; that is, the deſpiſed their lives in compariſon of Chriſt; they expoſed their Heb. 11, 33, to 39. cap. 10. 34.Heb 11:33–39bodies to horrible and painful deaths, their temporal eſtates to the ſpoyl, and their perſons to all manner of ſhame and contempt for the cauſe of Chriſt: in the days of that bloody perſecutor Diocleſian, the Chriſtians ſhewed certatim Plo…ioſa in certamina ruebatur, &c. Sulpitius.as glorious power in the faith of Martyrdom, as in the faith of Miracles, the valour of the patients, and the ſavageneſs of the perſecutors, ſtriving together; till, both exceeding nature and belief, bred wonder and aſtoniſhment in beholders and readers. In all Ages and Generations, they that have been born after the fleſh, have perſecuted Gal. 4. 29.Gal 4:29them that have been born after the ſpirit; and the ſeed of the ſerpent, have been ſtill a multiplying of troubles upon the ſeed of the woman. Would any man p. 305take the Churches picture (ſaith Luther) then let him paint a poor ſilly maid, ſitting in a wilderneſs; compaſſed about with hungry Lyons, Wolves, Bores and Bears, and with all manner of other cruel hurtful beaſts; and in the midſt of a great many furious men, aſſaulting her every moment and minute: and why ſhould we wonder at this, when we conſider, that the whole life of Chriſt was filled up with all ſorts and kinds of ſufferings? Oh, where is that brave ſpirit, that has been upon the ſaints of old? Bleſſed Bradford looked upon his ſufferings for Chriſt, as an▪ evidence to him, that he was in the right way: It is better If one man did ſuffer all the ſorrows of all the Saints in the world, yet they are not worth one hours glory in heaven; Chryſoſtom.for me to be a Martyr than a Monarch, ſaid Ignatius, when he was to ſuffer. Happy is that ſoul, and to be equalled with Angels, who is willing to ſuffer, if it were poſſible, as great things for Chriſt, as Chriſt hath ſuffered for it, ſaith Jerom: ſufferings are the enſigns of heavenly nobility, ſaith Calvin: Modeſtus, Lieutenant to Julian the Emperour, ſaid to Julian, while they ſuffer they deride us (ſaith he) and the torments are more fearful to them that ſtand by, than to the tormented: Luther reports of Vincentius, that he laughed at thoſe that ſlew him; ſaying, that to Chriſtians, tortures and death were but ſports, and he gloried when he went upon hot burning coals, as if he trod upon roſes: 'twas a notable ſaying of a French Martyr, when the rope was about his fellow, give me that golden chain, and dub me a Knight of that noble Order: Paul rattled his chain, which he bore for the Goſpel; and was as proud of it, as a woman of her ornaments, ſaith Chryſoſtom: do your worſt, do your worſt, ſaid Juſtin Martyr (to his perſecutors) but this I will tell you, that you may put all that you are like to gain by the▪ bargain into your eye, and weep it out again: Baſil will tell you, that the moſt cruel Martyrdom is but a trick to eſcape death, to paſs from life to life (as he ſpeaks) for it can be but a days journey between the Croſs and Paradiſe: Their names that are written in red letters of blood in the Churches Calender, are written in golden letters in Chriſt's Regiſter, in the book of life, p. 306ſaith Prudentius: Though the Croſs be bitter, yet it is but ſhort; a little ſtorm, as one ſaid of Julian's Perſecution, and an eternal calm follows: Methinks, ſaid one, I tread upon Pearls, when he trod upon hot burning coals; and I feel no more pain, than if I lay in a bed of Down, and yet he lay in flames of fire: I am heartily angry (ſaith Luther) with thoſe that ſpeak of my ſufferings; which, if compared to that which Chriſt ſuffered for me, are not once to be mentioned in the ſame day: Paul greatly rejoyced in his ſufferings for Chriſt; and therefore, oftentimes ſings it out, I Paul a priſoner (as you may ſee by See Act. 23. 17. Eph. 3. 1. cap. 4. 1. 2 Tim. 1. 8. Philem. 1. 9. … Cor. 11. 23. Rom. 16. 7. Col. 4. 10. …il…m. 23.Acts 23:17Eph 3:12 Tim 1:8Phlm 1:9Rom 16:7Col 4:10the Scriptures in the margent) not I Paul an Apoſtle, nor I Paul wrap'd up in the third heaven; Chriſt ſhewed his love to him, in wraping him up in the third heaven; and he ſhews his love to Chriſt, in ſuffering for him: During the cruel Perſecutions of the heathen Emperours, the Chriſtian Faith was ſpread through all places of the Empire, becauſe the oftener they were mowed down (ſaith Tertullian) the more they grew: I am in priſon till I am in priſon, ſaid one of the Martyrs: I am the unmeeteſt man for this high office of ſuffering for Chriſt, that ever was appointed to it, ſaid bleſſed Sanders: Auſtin obſerved, that though there were many thouſand Chriſtians put to death for profeſſing Chriſt, yet they were never the fewer for being ſlain: Cyprian, ſpeaking of the Chriſtians and Martyrs in his time, ſaid, occidi poterant, ſed vinci Lo…d… Id corda computeth 44 ſeveral kinds of to… ment, wherewith the primitive Chriſtians were tryed Adv. Sacr. cap. 128.non poterànt, they may kill them, but they cannot overcome them: The more we are cut down by the ſword of perſecution, the more we encreaſe, ſaith Tertullian: Euſebius tells us of one that writ to his friend from a ſtinking Dungeon, and dates his letter from my delicate Orchard: Burn my foot if you will (ſaid that noble Martyr in Baſil) that it may dance everlaſtingly with the bleſſed Angels in Heaven: The young child in Joſephus; who, when his fleſh was pulled in peices with pincers, by the command of Antiochus, ſaid with a ſmiling countenance; Tyrant, thou loſeſt time, where are thoſe ſmarting pains, with which thou threatneſt me? make me to ſhrink and cry p. 307out if thou canſt: And Bainam, an Engliſh Martyr, when the fire was flaming about him, ſaid, you Papiſts talk of miracles, behold here a miracle, I feel no more pain than if I were in a bed of Down; it is as ſweet to me as a bed of roſes: Lawrence, when his body was roaſted upon a burning Gridiron, cryed out, this ſide is roaſted enough, turn the other ſide: Marcus of Arethuſa, when his body was cut and mangled, and anointed with honey, and hung up aloft in a basket, to be ſtung to death by waſps and bees; looked down, ſaying, I am advanced, deſpiſing you that are below: Henry Voes kiſſed the ſtake: Hawks clapped his hands in the flames when they were half conſumed: John Noys bleſſed God that ever he was born to ſee that day: and Biſhop Ridley called his execution day his wedding day. Thus you ſee a cloud of witneſſes to raiſe and inflame your hearts into a free, ready, willing, chearful, and reſolute ſuffering for that Jeſus, who has ſuffered ſo much for you. Oh ſirs, when we ſee all ſorts and ſexes of Chriſtians, divinely to defie and ſcorn their torments and tormentors, when we ſee them conquering in the midſt of hideous ſufferings, when we hear them expreſſing their greateſt joy in the midſt of their greateſt ſufferings; we cannot but conclude that there was ſomething more than ordinary, that did thus raiſe, cheer and encourage their ſpirits in their ſufferings; Heb. 11. 24, 25, 26. cap. 12. 2.Heb 11:24Heb 11:25Heb 11:26and doubtleſs this was it, the recompence of reward on the one hand, and the matchleſs ſufferings of Jeſus Chriſt for them on the other hand. The cordial wherewith Peter is ſaid (by Clemens) to comfort his wife when he ſaw her led to Martyrdom, was this, Remember the Lord; whoſe diſciples if we be, we muſt not think to ſpeed better than our maſter.

It is ſaid of Antiochus, that being to fight with Judas, Captain of the hoſt of the Jews; he ſhewed unto his Elephants, 1 Machah. cap. 6. v. 3, 4.the blood of the Grapes and Mulberries, to provoke them the better to fight: ſo the holy Ghoſt hath ſet before us the wounds, the blood, the ſufferings, the dying, of our dear Lord Jeſus, to encourage us to ſuffer with p. 308all readineſs and reſoluteneſs, whatſoever calamities or miſeries may attend us for Chriſt's ſake, or the Goſpel's ſake. Ah, what a ſhame would it be, if we ſhould …ot be always ready to ſuffer any thing for his ſake, who hath ſuffered ſo much for our ſins, as is beyond all conception, all expreſſion. Never was Jacob more gracious and acceptable to his father Iſaac, than when he ſtood before him, cloathed in the garments of his rough brother Eſau: then, the father ſmelling the ſavour of the elder Gen. 27. 27.Gen 27:27brothers garments; ſaid, Behold, the ſmell of my ſon, is as the ſmell of a field which the Lord hath bleſſed. And never are we more gracious and acceptable to our heavenly father, than when we ſtand before him, cloathed in the rough garments of Chriſt's afflictions and ſufferings. Oh Chriſtians, all your ſufferings for Chriſt, they are but in lets to your glorious reigning with Chriſt. Juſtin Martyr ſaith, that when the Romans did immortalize their Emperours, as they called it, they brought one to ſwear, that he ſee him go to Heaven out of the fire: but we may ſee by an eye of faith the bleſſed ſouls of Martyrs, fly to heaven like Elias in his fiery charriot, or like the Angel that appeared to Manoah in the flames. By the conſent of the School-men, all Martyrs ſhall appear in the Church triumphant, bearing the ſigns of their Chriſtian wounds about them, as ſo many ſpeaking teſtimonies of their holy courage; that what here they endured in the behalf of their Saviour, may be there an addition to their glory. But,

Sixthly, hath Jeſus Chriſt ſuffered ſuch great and grievous 6things for you? Oh then, in all your fears, doubts and conflicts with enemies, within or without, fly to the ſufferings of Chriſt, as your City of refuge. Did Chriſt endure a moſt ignominious death for thee, did he take on him thy ſinful perſon, and bare thy ſin, and death, and croſs; and was made a ſacrifice and curſe for thee? Oh then, in all thy inward and outward diſtreſſes, ſhelter Pſal. 90. 1. Pſal. 91. 1, 4, 9.Ps 90:1Ps 91:1Ps 91:4Ps 91:9thy ſelf under the wings of a ſuffering Chriſt. I have read of Nero, that he had a ſhirt made of a Salamander's p. 309skin, ſo that if he went through the fire in it, it would keep him from burning: Oh ſirs, a ſuffering Chriſt is this Salamander's skin, that will keep the Saints from burning in the midſt of burning, from ſuffering in the Dan. 3. 24. 29. Iſa. 43. 2.Dan 3:24Dan 3:29Isa 43:2midſt of ſufferings, from drowning in the midſt of drowning. In all the ſtorms, that beat upon your inward or your outward man, eye the ſufferings of Chriſt, l…an upon Zach. 13. 10. Cant. 8. 5. 2 Cor. 2. 14. Eph. 6. 14.Zech 13:10Song 8:52 Cor 2:14Eph 6:14the ſufferings of Chriſt, plead the ſufferings of Chriſt, and triumph in the ſufferings of Chriſt. It is ſtoried of a Martyr; that writing to his wife, where ſhe might find him when he was fled from home; oh my dear (ſaid he) Surius in vita ſancti Elzearii.if thou deſireſt to ſee me, ſeek me in the ſide of Chriſt, in the cleft of the rock, in the hollow of his wounds; for there I have made my neſt, there will I dwell, there ſhalt thou find me, and no where elſe but there. In every temptation let us look up to a crucified Chriſt, who is fitted Heb. 2. 17, 18. cap. 4. 15, 16.Heb 2:17Heb 2:18and qualified to ſuccour tempted ſouls: oh my ſoul, when ever thou art aſſaulted, let the wounds of Chriſt be thy City of refuge, whither thou maiſt fly and live. Let us learn in every tentation which preſſeth us (whether it be ſin, or death, or curſe, or any other evil) to tranſlate it from our ſelves to Chriſt; and all the good in Chriſt, let us learn to tranſlate it from Chriſt, to our ſelves. Look, as the Burgeſs of a Town or Corporation, ſitting in the Parliament houſe, beareth the perſons of that whole Town or place; and what he ſaith, the whole Town ſaith; and what is done to him, is done to the whole Town: even ſo, Chriſt upon the croſs, ſtood in our Iſa. 53. 4, 5, 6.Isa 53:4Isa 53:5Isa 53:6place, and bare our ſins; and whatſoever he ſuffered, we ſuffered; and when he died, all the faithful died with him, and in him. I have read of a gracious woman; who, being by Satan ſtrongly tempted, replyed; Satan, if thou haſt any thing to ſay to me, ſay it to my ſurety, who has undertaken all for me, who hath paid all my debts, and ſatisfied Divine Juſtice, and ſet all reckonings even between God and my ſoul. Do your ſins terrifie you? oh then, look up to a crucified Saviour, who bare your ſins in his own body on the Tree. p. 3101 Pet. 2. 24.1 Pet 2:24When ſin ſtares you in the face, oh then, turn your face The ſtrongeſt Antidote againſt ſin, is to look upon ſin in the red glaſs of Chriſt's blood; Au…tin.to a dying Jeſus, and behold him with a ſpear in his ſide, with thorns in his head, with nails in his feet, and a pardon in his hands. Haſt thou wounded thy conſcience by any great fall or falls? O then, remember that there is nothing in heaven or earth more efficacious to cure the Bern. Ser. 61. in cant.wounds of conſcience. than a frequent and ſerious meditation on the wounds of Chriſt. Doth death, that rides upon the pale horſe, look gaſhly and deadly upon thee? Rev. 6. 8. Rom. 5. 6, 8.Rev 6:8Rom 5:6Rom 5:8oh, then remember that Chriſt died for you; and that, by his death, he hath ſwallowed up death in victory: Oh, 1 Cor. 15. 55, 56, 57.1 Cor 15:551 Cor 15:561 Cor 15:57remember that a crucified Chriſt hath ſtripped death of his ſting, and diſarmed it of all its deſtroying power: death may buzz about our ears, but it can never ſting our ſouls. Look, as a crucified Chriſt hath taken away the guilt of ſin, though he hath not taken away ſin it ſelf; ſo he hath taken away the ſting of death, though he hath not taken away death it ſelf: He ſpake excellently that ſaid, that is not death, but life, wbich joyns the dying man to Chriſt; Ambroſius in 1 Tim. 5. 6. Death will blow the bud of Grace into the flower of Glory.1 Tim 5:6and that is not life, but death, that ſeparates the living man from Chriſt: Auſtin longed to die, that he might ſee that head, that was crowned with thorns: Did Chriſt die for me (ſaith one) that I might live with him, I will not therefore, deſire to live long from him; all men go willingly to ſee him whom they love; and ſhall I be unwilling to die, that I may ſee him whom my ſoul loves? Bernard would have us, never to let go out of our minds the thoughts of a crucified Chriſt; let theſe, ſays he, be meat and drink unto you, let them be your ſweetneſs and conſolation, your honey, and your deſire, your reading, and your meditation, your contemplation, your life, death, and reſurrection: certainly, he that ſhall live up to this counſel, will look upon the King of terrors, as the King of deſires. Are you apt to tremble when you eye the curſe threatned in the Law? Oh then, look up to a crucified Chriſt, and remember that he hath redeemed you from the curſe of the Law, being made a curſe for Gal. 3. 13.Gal 3:13you: doth the wrath of God amaze you? Oh, then look p. 311up to a crucified Chriſt, and remember that Chriſt hath trod the winepreſs of his father's wrath alone, that he Iſa. 63. 3. 1 Theſ. 1. ult.Isa 63:31 Thess 1might deliver you from wrath to come: Is the face of God clouded, doth he that ſhould comfort you ſtand afar off? oh, then look up to a crucified Chriſt, and remember that he was forſaken for a time, that you might not be forſaken for ever: are you ſometimes afraid of condemnation? oh, then look upon a crucified Chriſt, Lamen. 1. 16.who was condemned, that you might be juſtified: who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect? it is Rom. 8. 33, 34.Rom 8:33Rom 8:34God that juſtifieth, who is he that condemneth? it is Chriſt that died: ah Chriſtians, that you would, at laſt, under all your temptations, afflictions, fears, doubts, conflicts, and diſputes, be perſwaded to keep a fixed eye upon crucified Jeſus; and remember that all he did, for you, and that all he ſuffered he ſuffered, for you; and this will be a ſtrong cordial to keep you from fainting under all Turbahor ſed non perturbabor quia vuln…rum Chriſti recordabor, Aug.your inward and outward diſtreſſes, according to that ſaying of one of the Ancients, I may be troubled, but I ſhall not be overwhelmed, becauſe I remember the print of the nails, and of the ſpear, in the hands and ſide of Jeſus Chriſt. Oh, that Chriſtians would labour under all their ſoul-troubles to keep a fixed eye upon a bleeding Chriſt; for there is nothing that will eaſe them, quiet them, ſettle them, and ſatisfie them, like this: Many, may I not ſay, moſt Chriſtians are more apt to eye their ſins, their ſorrows, their prayers, their tears, their reſolves, their complaints, than they are to eye a ſuffering Chriſt? and from hence ſprings their greateſt woes, wounds, miſeries, and dejection of ſpirit: oh, that a crucified Chriſt might be for ever in your eye, and always upon your hearts. But,

Seventhly and Laſtly, Hath Jeſus Chriſt ſuffered ſuch 7great and grievous things? then this truth looks ſadly and ſowrely upon the Papiſts: in this red Glaſs of Chriſts blood, you may ſee how vain and wicked, how ridiculous and ſuperſtitious the devices of the Papiſts are, who for pacifying of Gods wrath, and for the allaying of his p. 312anger, and for ſatisfying his juſtice, and for the obtaining Surely that Religion that lo…es to lap blood, and that is propagated and maintained by blood, and that prefers their own inventions and abominations. before the blood and ſufferings of Chriſt; that Religion is not of God: but ſuch is the Romiſh Religion; Ergo, their Religion is not of God.of pardon, &c. have appointed Penances and Pilgrimages, and Self-ſcourgings, and Soul-maſſes, and Purgatory, and ſeveral other ſuch like abominations (which the Scripture no where commands, but every where forbids:) which inventions and abominations of theirs tend only to derogate from the dignity and ſufficiency of Chriſt's ſufferings, and to reflect diſhonour and diſgrace upon that full and perfect price that Chriſt hath paid for our Ranſom, and to ſet up other Saviours, in the room of our bleſſed Redeemer: certainly all Popiſh pardons, penances, pilgrimages, maſſes, whippings, ſcourgings, &c. they unavoidably fall before the ſufferings of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as Dagon fell before the Ark, Goliah before David, Haman before Mordecai, and as the darkneſs falls before the morning-light: and as for their Purgatory, they do not know certainly where it is, nor how long it will laſt, nor what ſort of fire is there; neither can they ſhew us how corporeal fire ſhould work upon the Souls in Purgatory, they being ſpiritual and incorporeal: they cannot tell us whether the pains of Purgatory be at all times alike, neither can they tell us whether the good or evil Angels are the tormenters of the Souls in Purgatory: and as for the whipping, ſcalding, freezing of Souls in Purgatory, they are but old wives fables, and the brainſick fanſies of ſome deceitful perſons to cheat poor ignorant people of their money, under a blind pretence of praying their ſouls out of Purgatory. Chriſt offered himſelf once for all, but the Romiſh Prieſts offer Heb. 10. 10.Heb 10:10him up daily in the Maſs, an unbloody ſacrifice; and ſo they do what lies in tehm to tread underfoot the blood Act. 20. 28. H…b. 10. 29.Acts 20:28of God, the blood of the Covenant: to be ſhort; Popery in effect is nothing elſe but an under-hand cloſe witneſs-bearing againſt Chriſt in all his offices, and againſt all that he hath done and ſuffered for the Redemption and Salvation of ſinners, as might be made abundantly evident, but that I may not now lanch out into that Ocean; I only give this brief touch by the way, that I p. 313migh… raiſe up in all your hearts a greater deteſtation of Popery, in this day wherein many are ſo warm for it, as if it were there only Diana. And let thus much ſuffice, concerning the ſufferings of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt and the improvement that we ſhould make of them.

Thus you may clearly ſee, by what I have ſaid concerning A Chriſtians plea from the paſſive obedience of Chriſt. God did inſiſt on it, that our ſurety ſhould pay down the whole debt at once, and accordingly he did. Heb. 10. 10, 12.Heb 10:10Heb 10:12the Active and Paſſive Obedience of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that whatſoever we are bound to do or ſuffer by the Law of God, all that did Chriſt do and ſuffer for us, as being our Surety and Mediator. Now the Law of God hath a double challenge or demand upon us; one is of active obedience, in fulfilling what it requires; the other is of paſſive Obedience, in ſuffering that puniſhment which is due to us for the tranſgreſſion of it, in doing what it forbids: for as we were created by God, we did owe unto him all obedience which he required; and as we ſinned againſt God, we did owe unto him a ſuffering of all that puniſhment which he threatned; and we being fallen by tranſgreſſion, can neither pay the one debt, nor yet the other: of our ſelves we can do nothing that the Law requires; neither can we ſo ſuffer, as to ſatisfie God in his Juſtice wronged by us, or to recover our ſelves into life and favour again: And therefore Jeſus Chriſt (who was God-man) did become our Surety, and ſtood in our ſtead or room, and he did perform what we ſhould but could not perform, and he did bear our ſins and our ſorrows, he did ſuffer and bear for us. what we our ſelves ſhould have born and ſuffered, whereby he did fully ſatisfie the Juſtice of God, and made our peace, and purchaſed pardon and life for us: Chriſt did fully anſwer to all the demands of the Law, he did come up to perfect and univerſal conſ…rmity to it; he did whatever the Law enjoyns, and he ſuffered whatever the Law threatens; Chriſt by his active and paſſive obedience, hath fulfilled the Law moſt exactly and completely; Gal. 3. 13.Gal 3:13As he was perfectly holy, he did what the Law commanded; and as he was made a curſe, he underwent what the Law threatned, and all this he did and ſuffered p. 310duplicate page p. 311duplicate page p. 312duplicate page p. 313duplicate page p. 314in our ſteads, and as our Surety; what ever Chriſt did as our Surety, he made it good to the full: ſo that neither the righteous God, nor yet the righteous Law, could ever tax him with the leaſt defect. And this muſt be our great Plea, our choice, our ſweet, our ſafe, our comfortable, our acceptable Plea, both in the day of our particular accounts when we die, and in the great day of our account, when a crucified Saviour ſhall judge the World. Although ſin, as an act, be tranſient, yet in the guilt of it, it lies in the Lord's high Court of Juſtice, filed upon record againſt the ſinner, and calling aloud for deſerved puniſhment, ſaying, Man hath ſinned and man muſt ſuffer for ſin: but now Chriſt hath ſuffered, that plea is taken off. Lo here, ſaith the Lord the ſame Nature that ſinned, ſuffereth; mine own Son,, being made fleſh, hath ſuffered death for ſin in the fleſh; the thing is done, the Law is ſatisfied, and ſo non-ſuits the action, and caſts it out of the Court, as unjuſt. Thus whereas ſin would have condemned us, Chriſt hath condemned ſin; he hath weakned, yea nullified and taken away ſin, in the guilt and condemning power of it, by that abundant ſatisfaction that he hath given to the Juſtice of God by his active and paſſive Obedience: ſo that there is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus; for Rom. 8. 1, 3.Rom 8:1Rom 8:3the blood of the Mediator out-cries the clamour of ſin: and this muſt be a Chriſtians joy, and triumph, and plea in the great day of our Lord Jeſus. As Chriſt was made 2 Cor. 5. 21.2 Cor 5:21ſin for us, ſo the Lord doth impute the ſufferings of Chriſt to us, that is, he accepts of them on our behalf, and puts them upon our account: As if the Lord ſhould ſay unto every particular believer, My Son was thy Surety, and ſtood in thy ſtead, and ſuffered, and ſatisfied, and took away thy ſins by his blood, and that for thee: in his blood I find a ranſom for thy ſoul; I do acknowledge my ſelf ſatisfied for thee, and ſatisfied towards thee, and thou art delivered and diſcharged: I forgive thee thy ſins, and am reconciled unto thee, and will ſave thee and glorifie thee for my Sons ſake; in his blood thou p. 315haſt Redemption, the forgiveneſs of thy ſins. As when Simile.a Surety ſatisfies the Creditor for a debt, this is accounted to the Debtor, and reckoned as a diſcharge to him in particular; I am paid and you are diſcharged, ſaith the Creditour: ſo it is in this caſe; I am paid, ſaith God, and you are diſcharged, and I have no more to ſay to you but this, Enter into the joy of your Lord, Matth. 25. 21.

The Fifth Plea that you are to make in order to the 5. Eccleſ. 11. 9. cap. 12. 14. Mat. 12. 14. cap. 18 23. Luk. 16. 3. Rom. 14. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Heb. 9. 27, cap. 13. 17. 1 Pet. 4 5.Eccl 11:9Matt 12:14Luke 16:3Rom 14:102 Cor 5:10Heb 9:271 Pet 4:5Ten Scriptures in the Margin, that reſpects the account that you are to give up in the great day of the Lord, is drawn from the imputed Righteouſneſs of Chriſt to us; the Juſtification of a Sinner in the ſight of God upon the account of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs imputed to him, whereby the guilt of ſin is removed, and the perſon of the Sinner is accepted as righteous with the God of Heaven, is that which I ſhall open to you diſtinctly in theſe following Branches.

Firſt, That the Grace of Juſtification in the ſight of 1God is made up of Two parts: 1. There is Forgiveneſs of the offences committed againſt the Lord: 2. Acceptation of the perſon offending, pronouncing him a righteous perſon, and receiving him into favour again, as if he had never offended: This is moſt clear and evident in the bleſſed Scriptures.

Firſt, there is an Act of abſolution and acquittal from 1the guilt of ſin, and freedom from the condemnation deſerved by ſin; the deſert of ſin is an inſeparable accident Rom. 8. 1. foreign, 'tis a forenſick word relating to what is in uſe amongſt men in their Courts of Judicature to condemn. 'Tis the ſentence of a Judge decreeing a mulct or penalty to be inflicted upon the guilty Perſon.Rom 8:1or concomitant of it, that can never be removed: it may be truly ſaid of the ſins of a juſtified perſon, that they deſerve everlaſting deſtruction; but Juſtification is the freeing of a ſinner from the guilt of his iniquity, whereby he was actually bound over to condemnation: as ſoon as any man doth ſin there is a guilt upon him, by which he is bound over to the wrath and curſe of God, and this guilt or obligation is inſeparable from ſin, the ſin doth deſerve no leſs than everlaſting damnation. Now p. 316forgiveneſs of ſin, hath a peculiar reſpect to the guilt of ſin, and removal of that: when the Lord forgives a man, he doth diſcharge him of that obligation, by which he was bound over to wrath and condemnation; Rom. 8. 1. There is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus. verſ. 33. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect? it is God that juſtifieth: verſ. 34. who is he that condemneth? it is Chriſt that died. Beloved, the Lord is a holy and juſt God; and he reveils his wrath from heaven, againſt Rom. 1. 18. Gel. 3. 10. R…m. 1. 32. Rom. 6. 23.Rom 1:18Rom 6:23all unrighteouſneſs; and there is a curſe threatned to every tranſgreſſion of the Law; and when any man ſinneth, he is obnoxious unto the curſe, and God may inflict the ſame upon him: but when God forgives ſins, he therein doth interpoſe (as it were) between the ſin and the curſe; and between the obligation and the condemnation. When the ſinner ſins, God might ſay unto him; ſinner, by your ſinning, you are now fallen into my hands of Juſtice; and for your ſins, I may, according to my righteous Law, condemn and curſe you for ever: but ſuch is my free, my rich, my ſovereign grace; that for Chriſt's ſake, I will ſpare you, and pardon you; and that curſe Jer. 31. 20.Jer 31:20and condemnation which you have deſerved, ſhall never fall upon you. Oh! my bowels, my bowels, are yearning towards you; and therefore I will have mercy, mercy J…b 33. 13, 24, 28, 30.upon you, and will deliver your ſouls from going down into the pit: when the poor ſinner is indicted and arraigned at God's bar, and proceſs is made againſt him, and he found guilty of the violation of God's holy Law, and accordingly judged guilty by God, and adjudged to Job. 33. 24.Job 33:24everlaſting death: then mercy ſteps in and pleads, I have found a Ranſom; the ſinner ſhall not die, but live. When the Law ſaith, ah ſinner, ſinner, thus and thus haſt thou tranſgreſſed, all ſorts of duties thou haſt omitted, and all ſorts of ſins haſt committed, and all ſorts of mercies thou haſt abuſed, and all ſorts of means thou haſt neglected, and all ſorts of offers thou haſt ſlighted: then God ſteps in, and ſaith, ah ſinner, ſinner, what doſt thou ſay? what canſt thou ſay to this heavy charge, is it true or falſe? p. 317with thou grant it or deny it? what defence or plea canſt thou make for thy ſelf? Alas, the poor ſinner is ſpeechleſs (Mat. 22. 12. foreign, he was muzzled or haltered up, that is, he held his peace as though he had a bridle or a halter in his mouth; this is the import of the Greek word here uſed) he hath not one word to ſay for himſelf; he can neither deny, nor excuſe, or extenuate what is charged upon him: why now, ſaith God, I muſt and do pronounce thee to be guilty; and as I am a juſt and righteous God, I cannot but adjudg thee to die eternally: but ſuch is the riches of my mercy, that I will freely juſtifie thee, through the righteouſneſs of my ſon; I will forgive thy ſins, and diſcharge thee of that obligation, by which thou waſt bound over to wrath, and curſe, and condemnation; ſo that the juſtified perſon may triumphingly ſay, who is he that condemneth; He may read over the moſt dreadful paſſages of the Law, without being terrified, or amazed; as knowing that the curſe is removed; and that all his ſins that brought him under the curſe, are pardoned, and are in point of condemnation, as if they had never been. This is to be juſtified, to have the ſin pardoned, and the penalty remitted; Rom. 4. 5, 6, 7, 8. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that juſtiſieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteouſneſs. Even as David alſo deſcribeth the bleſſedneſs of the man, to whom God imputeth righteouſneſs without works; ſaying, Bleſſed are they whoſe iniquities are forgiven, and whoſe ſins are covered: Bleſſed is the man, to whom the Lord will not impute ſin, It is obſervable, that what David calleth forgiveneſs of ſin, and not imputing of iniquity, St. Paul ſtiles a being juſtified. But,

Secondly, as the firſt part of Juſtification conſiſts in the 2pardon of ſin, ſo the ſecond part of Juſtification conſiſts in the acceptation of the ſinners perſon, as perfectly righteous in God's ſight; pronouncing him ſuch, and dealing with him as ſuch, and by bringing of him under the ſhadow of that divine favour, which he had formerly loſt by his tranſgreſſions, Cant. 4. 7. Thou art all fair, my love p. 318and there is no ſpot in thee; that is, none in my account, Deut. 32. 5.Deut 32:5nor no ſuch ſpots as the wicked are full of: Look as David ſaw nothing in lame Mephiboſheth, but what was lovely, 2 Sam. 9. 3, 4, 13, 14.2 Sam 9:32 Sam 9:42 Sam 9:132 Sam 9:14becauſe he ſaw in him the features of his friend Jonathan; ſo God beholding his people in the face of his ſon, ſees nothing amiſs in them: They are all glorious within and without, Pſal. 45. 13. Look, as Abſolom had no blemiſh from head to foot; ſo they are irreprehenſible, and Jer. 2. 32.Jer 2:32without blemiſh before the throne of God, Rev. 14. 5. The pardoned ſinner, in repect of divine acceptation, is without Eph. 5. 26, 27.Eph 5:26Eph 5:27ſpot, or wrinkle, or any ſuch thing: God accepts the pardoned ſinner as compleat in him, who is the head Coloſ. 2. 10.Col 2:10of all principality and power: Chriſt makes us comely, through his beauty; he gives us white raiment, to ſtand before the Lord: Chriſt is all in all, in regard of divine acceptance; Eph. 1. 6. He hath made us accepted in the beloved, All perſons out of Chriſt, are curſed enemies, objects of God's wrath, and Juſtice, diſpleaſing, offending, and provoking creatures, and therefore, God cannot, but loath them and abhor them.foreign, he hath made us favourites; ſo Chryſoſtom and Theophilact render it, God hath ingratiated us, he hath made us gracious in the ſon of his love: through the blood of Chriſt, we look of a ſanguine complexion, ruddy and beautiful in God's eyes; Iſa. 62. 4. Thou ſhalt no more be termed forſaken, but thou ſhalt be called Hephzibah; for the Lord delighteth in thee. The acceptation of our perſons with God, takes in ſix things: 1. God's honouring of us: 2. His delight in us: 3. His being well pleaſed with us: 4. His extending love and favour to us: 5. His high eſtimation of us: 6. His giving us free acceſs to himſelf. It is the obſervation of Ambroſe; that, though Jacob was not, by birth, the firſt-born; yet, hiding himſelf under his brother's cloaths, and having put on his coat, which ſmelled moſt fragrantly; he came into Gen. 27. 36.Gen 27:36his father's preſence, and got away the bleſſing from his elder brother: ſo it is very neceſſary, in order to our acceptation with God, that we lie hid under the precious Robe of Chriſt our elder brother; that, having the ſweet 2 Cor. 2. 15.2 Cor 2:15ſavour of his garments upon us, our ſins may be covered with his perfections, and our unrighteouſneſs with the Robes of his righteouſneſs; that ſo we may offer up our p. 319ſelves unto God, a living and acceptable ſacrifice; not Rom. 12. 1. Iſa. 64. 6. Phil. 3. 9.Rom 12:1Isa 64:6Phil 3:9having our own righteouſneſs, which are but as filthy rags, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt, the righteouſneſs which is of God by faith.

Thus you ſee that Juſtification, for the nature of it, lies in the gracious pardon of the ſinners tranſgreſſions, and in the acceptation of his perſon as righteous in Gods ſight. But,

Secondly, In order to the partaking of this grace of the 2forgiveneſs of our ſins, and the acceptation of our perſons, we muſt be able to produce a perfect righteouſneſs before the Lord, and to preſent it and tender it unto him; and the reaſon is evident from the very nature of God, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, Habak. 1. 13, that is, Habak. 1. 13. Heb. And to look on iniquity thou canſt not do it.Hab 1:13with patience or pleaſure, or without puniſhing it. There are four things that God cannot do: 1. He cannot lie: 2. He cannot die: 3. He cannot deny himſelf: 4. He cannot behold iniquity with approbation and delight: Joſh. 24. 19. And Joſhua ſaid unto the people, ye cannot ſerve the Lord, for he is an holy God, he is a jealous God, he will not forgive your tranſgreſſions, nor your ſins: ſuch is the holineſs of God's nature, that he cannot behold ſin, Pſal. 5. 4, 5, 6.Ps 5:4Ps 5:5Ps 5:6that he cannot but puniſh ſin where ever he finds it: God is infinitely, immutably, and inexorably juſt, as well as he is incomprehenſibly gracious. Now, in the juſtification of a ſinner, God doth act as a God of juſtice, as well as a God of compaſſion: God is infinite in all his attributes, in his juſtice as well as in his mercy: theſe two cannot interfere; as juſtice cannot intrench upon mercy, ſo neither may mercy encroach upon juſtice; the glory of both muſt be maintained. Now, by the breach of the Law, the juſtice of God is wronged; ſo that, although mercy be apt to pardon, yet juſtice requires ſatisfaction, and calls for vengeance on ſinners. Every tranſgreſſion Heb. 2. 2.Heb 2:2muſt receive juſt recompence, and God will not, in any caſe, abſolve the guilty: till this be done, the hands of Exod. 34. 7.Exod 34:7mercy are tied, that ſhe cannot act. And ſeeing ſatisfaction could not be made to an infinite majeſty, but by an p. 320equal perſon, and price; therefore the ſon of God muſt become a curſe for us, by taking our nature, and pouring out his ſoul to the death; and by this means juſtice and mercy are reconciled, and kiſs each other, and mercy now being ſet at liberty, hath her free courſe, to ſave poor ſinners. God will have his juſtice ſatisfied to the full, and therefore Chriſt muſt bear all the puniſhment due to our ſins, or elſe God cannot ſet us free, for he cannot go againſt his own juſt will: obſerve the force of that phraſe, Chriſt ought to ſuffer, And thus it behoved Chriſt to ſuffer, Luk. 24. 26.Luke 24:26and Mat. 26. 54. Thus it muſt be, why muſt? but becauſe it was, 1. So decreed by God: 2. Foretold by the Prophets, every particular of Chriſt's ſufferings were foretold by the prophets, even to their very ſpitting in his face. 3. Prefigured in the daily morning and evening ſacrifice; this Lamb of God was ſacrificed from the beginning of the world. A neceſſity then there was of our Saviour's ſufferings; not a neceſſity of coaction, for he died freely John. 10. 11, 14, 17, 18.John 10:11John 10:14John 10:17John 10:18and voluntarily) but of immutability and infallibility for the former reaſons mentioned. An earthly Prince that is juſt, holds himſelf bound, to inflict puniſhment impartially, upon the malefactor, or his ſurety; it ſtands upon his honour, he ſaith it muſt be ſo, I cannot do otherwiſe: this is true much more of God, who is Juſtice it ſelf, God, who is great in counſel, and excellent in working; had ſtore of means at hand, whereby to ſet free, and recover loſt man-kind; yet he was pleaſed, in his infinite wiſdom, to pitch upon this way of ſatisfaction, as being moſt agreeable to his holy nature, and moſt ſuitable to his high and ſovereign ends; viz. Man's ſalvation and his own glory: and that God doth ſtand upon full ſatisfaction; and will not forgive one ſin without it, may be thus made evident.

Firſt, from the nature of ſin, which is that abominable 1. …e…. 44. 4. God could not …ſalv… jure) paſs over the ſin of man, ſo as abſolutely to let it go unpuniſhed.thing which God hates. The ſinner deſerves to die for his ſins; Rom. 6. 23. Tho wages of ſin is death; every ſinner is worthy of death; (They which commit ſuch things are worthy of death, Rom. 1. 32.) Now God is juſt p. 321and righteous (It is a righteous thing with God, to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you; 2 Theſ. 1. 6.) yea, and God did, therefore, ſet forth Chriſt, to be a propitiation through faith in bis blood, Rom. 3. 25. To declare his righteouſneſs, that he might be juſt, verſ. 26. Now, if God be a juſt and righteous God, then ſin cannot abſolutely eſcape unpuniſhed; for it is juſt with God, to puniſh the ſinner, who is worthy of puniſhment; and certainly, God muſt deny himſelf, if he will not be juſt; 2 Tim. 2. 13.2 Tim 2:13but this he can never do: ſin is of an infinite guilt, and hath an infinite evil in the nature of it: and therefore, no perſon in heaven or earth, but that perſon, our Lord Jeſus, who is God-man, and who had an infinite dignity, that could either procure the pardon of it, or make ſatisfaction for it; no prayers, no cries, no tears, no humblings, no repentings, no reſolutions, no reformations, &c. can ſtop the courſe of Juſtice, or procure the guilty ſinners pardon; 'tis Chriſt alone, that can diſſolve all obligations to puniſhment, and break all bonds and chains of guilt, and hand a pardon to us through his own blood, Eph. 1. 7.Eph 1:7we are ſet free by the blood of Chriſt; By the blood of thy Zach. 9. 11.Zech 9:11covenant, I have ſent forth thy priſoners out of the pit: 'tis by his blood, that we are juſtified and ſaved from wrath; Rom. 5. 9. Much more being juſtified by his blood, we ſhall be ſaved from wrath by him. Pray tell me what is it to be juſtified, but to be pardoned; and what is it to be ſaved from wrath, but to be delivered from all puniſhment? Eph. 2. 13. Coloſ. 1. 20.Eph 2:13Col 1:20and both theſe depend upon the blood of Chriſt. But,

The veracity of God requires it: Look, as God cannot 2but be juſt, ſo he cannot but be true; and if he cannot but be true, then he will make good the threatnings that are gone out of his mouth, Gen. 2. 17. In the day that thou eateſt thereof thou ſhalt ſurely die: Heb. in dying, thou Under the name of death are comprehended all other calamities, miſeries and ſorrows.ſhalt die: death is a fall, that came in by a fall, and without all p…radventure, every man ſhould die the ſame day he was born, for the wages of ſin is death; and this wages ſhould be preſently paid, did not Chriſt reprieve poor ſinner's lives for a ſeaſon: upon which account, he is ſaid to p. 322be the Saviour of all men; not of eternal preſervation, but of a temporal reſervation: He will by no means clear 1 Tim. 4. 10.1 Tim 4:10the guilty: The ſoul that ſinneth, it ſhall die: Ezek. 18. Exod. 34. 7.Exod 34:720. The wickedneſs of the wicked ſhall be upon him: Rom. 2. 6. He will render to every man according to his deeds. Oh ſirs, God can never ſo far yield, as to abrogate his own Law, and quietly to ſit down with injury and loſs to his own Juſtice, himſelf having eſtabliſhed a Law, &c. The Law pronounces him curſed, that continues not in all things Gal. 3. 10.Gal 3:10that are written therein, to do them. Now, though the threatnings of men are frequently vain and frivolous, yet the threatnings of the great God, ſhall certainly take place, and have their accompliſhment; though many ten thouſand millions of ſinners periſh, not one tittle of the Mat. 5. 18.Matt 5:18dreadful threatnings of God ſhall fail, till all be fulfilled. Joſephus ſaith, that from that very time, that old Eli heard thoſe terrible threatnings, that made their ears tingle 1 Sam. 3. 11, 12, 13, 14.1 Sam 3:111 Sam 3:121 Sam 3:131 Sam 3:14and hearts tremble that heard them; Eli never ceaſed weeping: ah, who can look upon the dreadful threatnings that are pointed againſt ſinners all over the book of God, and not tremble and weep. God cannot but in juſtice, puniſh ſinners; neither is it in his choice or freedom, whether he will damn the obſtinate impenitent ſinner, or no: Look, as God cannot but love holineſs whereever he ſees it; ſo he cannot, But loath and puniſh wickedneſs where-ever he beholds it; neither will it ſtand with the infinite wiſdom of God, to admit of a diſpenſation, or relaxation of the threatnings, without ſatisfaction: God had paſſed a peremptory doom, and made a ſolemn declaration of it in his word, that he that ſinneth, ſhall die the death; and he will not, he cannot break his word: you know he had fore-ordained Jeſus Chriſt; and ſet him forth to take upon himſelf this burden, to become a propitiation Rom. 3 35. 1 Pet. 1. 20.Rom 3:351 Pet 1:20for ſin through his blood, and made known his mind, concerning it in his written word, plainly, Iſa. Exigitur, as Junius, and ſome others read it.53. 7. If we read the words (it is exacted, or ſtrictly required) meaning the iniquity or puniſhment of us all, verſ. 6. It is required at his hands, he muſt anſwer it in our ſtead, p. 323and ſo he is afflicted, and this affliction reacheth even to the cutting him off, verſ. 8. Therefore when Chriſt puts this work upon an (ought, and muſt be) he lays the weight of all on the Scriptures (thus it is written) as you may ſee in the texts lately cited, as if he ſhould ſay, God hath ſpoken it, and his truth engageth him to ſee it done; ſo God hath threatned to puniſh ſin, and his truth engageth him to ſee it done. Oh ſirs! there is no ſtanding before that God that is a conſuming fire, a juſt judg, a holy God, except I have Heb. 12: 9.Heb 12:9one to undertake for me, that is mighty to ſave, and mighty to ſatisfie divine juſtice, and mighty to pacifie divine Iſa. 63. 1.Isa 63:1wrath, and mighty to bear the threatnings, and mighty to forgive ſin: when God forgives ſin, he does it in a way of Iſa. 19. 20.Isa 19:20righteouſneſs, 1 John 1. 9. He is faithful and juſt to forgive us our ſins, and to cleanſe us from all unrighteouſneſs; he doth not ſay he is merciful, but juſt to forgive us our ſins, becauſe they are ſatisfied for, and God's juſtice will not let him demand the ſame debt twice, of the ſurety and of the debtor too: it will never ſtand with the unſpotted juſtice and righteouſneſs of God, to require ſuch debts of us; which Chriſt, Rom. 3. 25.Rom 3:25by ſhedding his moſt precious blood, hath diſcharged for us. Mark, the maledictory ſentence of death, denounced by the Law againſt ſinners, was inflicted by God upon Chriſt: this is that which the Prophet Eſay poſitively aſſerts; where he ſaith, the chaſtiſement (that is, the puniſhment called a chaſtiſement, becauſe inflicted by a father, and only for a Iſa. 53. 5, 7.Isa 53:5Isa 53:7time) of ourpeace was upon him; and again, he was oppreſſed, and he was afflicted: which, according to the genuine ſence of the Original, is better rendred, it was exacted; to wit, the puniſhment of our ſin, and he was afflicted, or he anſwered, to wit, to the demand of the penalty. The curſe, to Theod. diſp. l. 15. c. 5.which we are ſubject (ſaith Theodorus) he aſſumed upon himſelf of his own accord; the death that was not due Gr. mer. l. 3. c. 13.to him he underwent, that we might not undergo that death which was due to us: ſaith Gregory, he made himſelf Arnol. de ſep. verb Tr. 1.a debter for us, who were debtors; and therefore the Creditor exacts it from him, ſaith Arnoldus. Now, God's juſtice being ſatisfied for our offences, it cannot but remit p. 324thoſe offences to us: As the Creditor cannot demand that of the debtor, which the ſurety hath already paid; ſo neither can God exact the puniſhment of us, which Chriſt hath ſuffered; and therefore, it is juſt with God, to forgive us our ſins. It will be altogether needleſs to enquire, whether it had been injuſtice in God, to forgive without ſatisfaction: St. Auſtin's determination is very ſolid, there Aug. de Trinit. l. 13. c. 10.wanted not to God another poſſible way (and if it were unjuſt, it were impoſſible) but this of ſatisfaction was moſt agreeable to divine wiſdom; before God did decree this way, it might be free to have uſed it or not; but in decreeing, this ſeemed moſt convenient, and after it became When you are forgiven, you are then releaſed, and for ever acquitted from any after reckonings with the juſtice of God; divine Juſtice hath no more to ſay or do againſt you, for remiſſa culpa, remi…ttur paena; if the fault be forgiven, then alſo is the puniſhment forgiven; nay, let me ſpeak with an holy and humble reverence, God cannot in his juſtice puniſh, when he hath pardoned.neceſſary, ſo that there can be no remiſſion without it; and however, it might not have been unjuſt with God, to have forgiven without it: yet we are ſure it is moſt juſt with him to forgive upon ſatisfaction. Indeed the debt being paid by Chriſt, God's very juſtice (as I may ſay with reverence) would trouble him, if he ſhould not give in the bond, and give out an acquittance. The believing penitent ſinner may, in an humble confidence, ſue out his pardon, not only at the throne of grace, but at the bar of juſtice, in theſe or the like expreſſions; Lord, thou haſt puniſhed my ſins in thy ſon, wilt thou puniſh them in me? thou haſt accepted that ſuffering of thy ſon, as the puniſhment of my ſin, therefore thou canſt not, in juſtice, exact it of me, for this were to puniſh twice for one offence, which thy juſtice cannot but abhor. Oh ſirs, God doth not pronounce men righteous when they are not; but firſt he makes them ſo, and then he pronounces them to be ſuch: ſo that if a man will be juſtified, he muſt be able to produce ſuch a compleat righteouſneſs, wherewith he may ſtand before the juſtice of God: ah ſinners! the Lord is infinitely juſt, as well as merciful; and if ever your ſins be pardoned, it muſt be by an admirable contemperament, or mixture of mercy and juſtice together: it was one of the great ends of the Goſpel-diſpenſation, that God might exalt his juſtice in the juſtification of a ſinner, Rom. 3. 26. To declare, Iſay, at this time, his righteouſneſs, that p. 325he might be juſt, and the juſtifier of him that believeth in Jeſus. But

Thirdly, The only matter of mans righteouſneſs ſince the fall of Adam, wherein he can appear with comfort before the Juſtice of God, and conſequently whereby alone he can be juſtified in his ſight, is the obedience and ſuffering of Jeſus Chriſt, the righteouſneſs of the Mediatour; there is not any other way imaginable, how the Juſtice of God may be ſatisfied, and we may have our ſins pardoned in a way of juſtice, but by the righteouſneſs of the Son of God; and therefore this is his name Jehovah-Tſidkenu, the Lord our Righteouſneſs: this Jer. 23. 6.Jer 23:6is his name, that is, this is the Prerogative of the Lord Jeſus, a matter that appertaineth to him alone, to be able to bring in everlaſting righteouſneſs, and to make reconciliation Dan. 9. 24.Dan 9:24for iniquity. The coſtly Cloak (of Alciſthenes) 'Tis a ſign of great favor from the Great Turk, when a rich garment is caſt upon any that come into his preſence, Knolls Hiſt. The application is eaſie.which Dionyſius ſold to the Carthaginians, for an hundred talents, was indeed a mean and beggarly rag, to that embroidered Mantle of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs that he puts upon us, Iſai. 61. 10. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord, my ſoul ſhall be joyful in my God; for he hath cloathed me with the garments of ſalvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteouſneſs, as a bridegroom decketh himſelf with ornaments, and a bride adorneth her ſelf with her jewels: Chriſt's Righteouſneſs is that garment of wrought gold, that we all need to cover all our imperfections, Pſal. 45. 13. Rom. 5. 19. Col. 2. 10. Eph. 5, 27. Rev. 14. 5. Rom. 3. 21, 22, 25, 26.Ps 45:13Rom 5:19Col 2:10Eph 5:27Rev 14:5Rom 3:21Rom 3:22Rom 3:25Rom 3:26and to render us perfectly beautiful and glorious in the ſight of God: in this Robe of Righteouſneſs we are complete, we are without ſpot or wrinkle, we are without fault before the throne of God; through the imputation of Chriſt's righteouſneſs, we are made righteous in the ſight of God; God looking upon us, as inveſted with the righteouſneſs of his Son, accounts us righteous. All believers have a righteouſneſs in Chriſt as full and complete, as if they had fulfilled the Law, Chriſt being the end of the Law for righteouſneſs to believers, Rom. 8. 3, 4.Rom 8:3Rom 8:4inveſts believers with a righteouſneſs every way as complete, as the perſonal obedience of the Law would have p. 326inveſted them withal. When men had violated God's holy Law, God in juſtice reſolved that his Law ſhould be ſatisfied before man ſhould be ſaved: now this was done by Chriſt, who was the end of the Law; he fulfilled it actively and paſſively, and ſo the injury offered to the Law is recompenced. God had rather that all men ſhould be deſtroyed, than that his Law ſhould not be ſatisfied. No man can perfectly be juſtified in the ſight of God without a perfect righteouſneſs, every way commenſurable to God's holy Law, which is the Rule of righteouſneſs; Do this and live: neither can any perſon have any choice, ſpiritual, lively communion with a righteous God, till he be clothed with the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt. All Chriſt's active and paſſive obedience was either for himſelf or in our ſtead and behalf; but it was not for himſelf, but for us that he ſuffered and obeyed: whatſoever Chriſt did or ſuffered in the whole courſe of his life, he did it; and ſuffered it as our Surety, and in our ſteads: for as God would not diſpenſe with the penalty of the Law without ſatisfaction, ſo he would not diſpenſe with the commands of the Law without perfect obedience. Remember once for all, that the Actions and ſufferings of Chriſt make but up one entire and perfect obedience to the whole Law; nor had Chriſt been a perfect and complete Saviour, if he had not performed what the Law required, as well as ſuffered the penalty which the Law inflicted. The imputation of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs to us is a gracious Act of God the Father, according to his good will and pleaſure, whereby as a Judge he accounts believers ſins unto the Surety, as if he had committed the ſame; and the righteouſneſs of Chriſt unto the believer, as if he had performed the ſame, the ſame obedience that Chriſt did in his own perſon: ſo that Chriſt's imputed Righteouſneſs is as effectual to the full, for the acceptance of the believing ſinner, as if he had yielded ſuch obedience to the Lord himſelf: hence his righteouſneſs is called our righteouſneſs, Jer. 23. 6. now without this righteouſneſs p. 327there is no ſtanding before the Juſtice of God. But

Thirdly, As this great deſign of Chriſt's redeeming 3ſinners, by his blood and ſufferings, and by his being made a curſe for them, doth ſound aloud the glory of divine Juſtice, and the glory of Gods Veracity, ſo it ſounds forth the glory of his Wiſdom; for hereby he Solon, that wiſe Law—maker, could never find out a law to put all other good laws in execution; but ſuch as are living laws, will make the laws to live: and will not the wiſe and living God make his laws and threatnings to live? ſurely he will.maintains the authority of his righteous Law. When a Law is ſolemnly enacted, with a penalty in caſe of tranſgreſſion, all thoſe whom it concerns may conclude for certain, that the Law-giver will proceed accordingly; and it is a Rule in Policy, That Laws once eſtabliſhed and publiſhed, ſhould be vigorouſly preſerved: If the Lord ſhould have wholly wav'd the execution of the Law upon ſinners, or their ſurety, it might have tended greatly to the weakning of its authority, and the diminiſhing of the reverence of his ſovereignty in the hearts of the ſons of men: How often does. God uſe that Oath, As I live, for the fulfilling of his threatnings as well as of his Jer. 22. 24. Ezek. 5. 9, 10, 11.Jer 22:24Ezek 5:9Ezek 5:10Ezek 5:11promiſes: the Lord Jehovah is as true, faithful and conſtant in his threatnings as in his promiſes; what he hath threatned ſhall undoubtedly come to paſs; he will be made known by his Name Jehovah in the full execution of all his threatnings: The old World found it ſo, and Jeruſalem found it ſo; yea the whole Nation of the Jews have found it ſo to this very day. Look as all the ſaints See Ezek. 5. 13, 15.Ezek 5:13Ezek 5:15in heaven will readily put to their Seals, that God is true and faithful in all his Promiſes; ſo all the damned in hell will readily put to their Seals, that God is faithful in all his threatnings. Men frequently deride the Laws, and threatnings of great men, when they are not put into execution; it is the execution of Laws, that is the very life and ſoul of good Laws. Should God pardon ſin, without exacting the penalty of the Law, how Eccleſ. 8. 11. Mal. 2. 17. Such an emphaſis there is in the Hebrew, as Corn. à Lapide obſerves.Eccl 8:11Mal 2:17would ſinners be hardned and emboldned to ſay, with thoſe men or rather monſters in Malachi, Where is the God of judgment? i. e. no where; either there is no God, or at leaſt, not a God of that exact, preciſe and impartial judgment, as ſome men ſay, and as others teach: p. 328But now when God lets ſinners ſee, that he will not pardon ſin, without exacting the penalty of the Law, either of the ſinner, or of his Surety; then the ſinner cries out, O the depth of the riches both of the wiſdom Rom. 11. 33.Rom 11:33and knowledge of God! God ſtood ſo much upon the complete ſatisfaction and accompliſhment of his Law, that he was willing that Chriſt ſhould be a ſacrifice, that the Law might be ſatisfied in its penalty, and that Chriſt Rom. 8. 3, 4, 5.Rom 8:3Rom 8:4Rom 8:5in his own perſon ſhould fulfil the righteouſneſs of the Law, that it might be ſatisfied in its commands: now in this plenary ſatisfaction made to the Law, the Wiſdom of God does gloriouſly ſhine. The heart of God was ſo ſet upon a full ſatisfaction to his Law, that, rather than it ſhould not be done, his own Son muſt come from heaven and put on fleſh, and be himſelf made under the Gal. 4. 4, 5.Gal 4:4Gal 4:5Law; he muſt live a holy life, and die a curſed death, and all to ſatisfie the Law, and to keep up the Authority of it. But

Fourthly; God doth ſtand upon full ſatisfaction, and 4will not forgive one ſin without it, that he might hereby cut off all occaſions, which the Devil, his Archenemy, might take to calumniate and traduce him: for if God did not ſtand upon full ſatisfaction, the Devil might accuſe him 1. of Inconſtancy and Changeableneſs, that having threatned death to tranſgreſſors, he did quite forget himſelf, in waving the threatning, and diſpenſing wholly with his Law, by granting them free remiſſion: Yea, 2. of Partiality and reſpect of perſons, that he ſhould be ſo eaſie and forbearing; as to let them paſs without any puniſhment at all; having been formerly ſo ſevere and rigid againſt himſelf in caſting him and his Angels down to hell, and keeping them in everlaſting flames and chains of darkneſs, without the leaſt 2 Pet. 2. 4. Jude. v. 6.2 Pet 2:4hope of recovery. Satan might ſay, Lord, thou mighteſt have ſpared me as well as Man: but the Lord can now anſwer, Man hath made ſatisfaction, he hath born the Curſe, and thereby fully diſcharged all the demands of the Law; if he had not, I would no more have ſpared p. 329him than thee. Ambroſe brings in the Devil boaſting againſt Chriſt, and challenging Judas as his own; He is not thine, Lord Jeſus, he is mine, his thoughts beat for me; he eats with thee, but is fed by me; he takes bread from thee, but money from me; he drinks with thee, but ſells thy blood to me: Had God pardoned ſin without ſatisfaction, ah how would Satan have boaſted and triumphed over God himſelf! But

Fifthly and laſtly, God's ſtanding upon full ſatisfaction, 5and his not forgiving one ſin without it, bears a viſible character of his goodneſs and loving kindneſs, as well as it ſounds out aloud the glory of divine Juſtice. The great and the holy God whoſe Name is holy, Exod. 15. 1, 11.Exod 15:1Exod 15:11might have rigorouſly exacted the penalty of the Law on the perſons of ſinners themſelves; but he hath ſo far diſpenſed with his own Law, as to admit of a Surety, by whom the end of the Law, that is, the manifeſtation of his Juſtice and hatred of ſin might be fulfilled, and yet a conſiderable part of Mankind might be preſerved from the jaws of the ſecond death, Rev. 20. 6.Rev 20:6which otherwiſe muſt unavoidably have periſhed to all eternity. God ſeems to ſpeak at ſuch a rate as this; I may not, I will not ſuffer this high affront of Adam Rom. 7. 12, 14.Rom 7:12Rom 7:14and his poſterity againſt my holy and righteous Law, whereby the honour both of my Juſtice and Truth is in danger to be trampled underfoot; and yet if I ſhould let out all my wrath upon them, they were never able Pſal. 78. 38.Ps 78:38to ſtand under it, but their ſpirits would fail before me, and the ſouls that I have made: I will therefore let out Iſa. 57. 16.Isa 57:16all my wrath upon their Surety, and he ſhall bear it for them, that they may be delivered: and thus the Lord in wrath remembers mercy, Hab. 3. 2. But

Fourthly, we can receive no benefit by the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt for Juſtification in the ſight of God, nor can we be pardoned and accepted thereupon, until that righteouſneſs become ours, and be made over unto us: how can we plead this righteouſneſs before God, except Iſa. 45. 2…, 25.Isa 45:2Isa 45:25we have an intereſt in this righteouſneſs? how can we p. 330rejoyce and triumph in this righteouſneſs, if this righteouſneſs 2 Cor. 2. 14. …al. 6. 14. Rom. 5. 1. …b. 4. 15, 16. …ſal. 22. 1 2. Rom. 4. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Rom. 4. 3. If Chriſt's obedience be imputed to us, it muſt be ſo imputed as to be our righteouſneſs before God; no imoutation be…ow this will ſerve our turns, …h…ar our heart▪ …nd ſave our ſouls. Rev. 14. 8. Iſa. 63. 1. R…v. 3. 18.2 Cor 2:14Rom 5:1Rom 4:7Rom 4:8Rom 4:9Rom 4:10Rom 4:11Rom 4:3Rev 14:8Isa 63:1be not made ours? how can we have peace with God and boldneſs at the throne of grace through this righteouſneſs, except we can lay claim to this righteouſneſs? how can we conclude that we are happy and bleſſed upon the account of this righteouſneſs, except it be made over to us? There is none of us that have ſuch an inherent righteouſneſs in our ſelves that we dare plead before the Bar of God: and though God hath provided ſuch a glorious Robe of righteouſneſs for poor ſinners, as is the wonder and amazement of Angels, yet what would all this avail the poor ſinner, if this righteouſneſs be not made over to him? O ſirs! remember this, Chriſt's Righteouſneſs muſt be yours, it muſt be made over to you, or elſe it will never ſtand you in ſtead, Rom. 5. 17. For if by one mans offence, death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteouſneſs, ſhall reign in glory by one Jeſus Chriſt: except they receive the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, it is nothing to them: Chriſt's Righteouſneſs is in it ſelf white rayment and beautiful and glorious apparrel, but it will never cover our nakedneſs, except it be put on, and we are cloathed with it; it muſt be made over to us, or we can never be juſtified by it, 1 Cor. 1. 30. He of God is made to us righteouſneſs; if he be not made to us righteouſneſs, we ſhall never be righteous: Though man hath loſt a righteouſneſs to be juſtified by, yet there is an abſolute neceſſity of having one; God cannot love nor delight in any thing but righteouſneſs: God is a holy God, a righteous God, and therefore can only love and take pleaſure in thoſe that are righteous, both by a righteouſneſs imputed and a righteouſneſs imparted, Iſa. 45. 24. Surely ſhall one ſay, in the Lord have I righteouſneſs and ſtrength, ver. 25. In the Lord ſhall all the ſeed of Iſrael be juſtified and ſhall glory: Iſa. 54. 17. Their righteouſneſs is of me, ſaith the Lord: Pſal. 71. 16. I will make mention of thy righteouſneſs, even of thine only. Look as no man can be made p. 331rich by another mans riches, except they are made his; ſo no man can be made righteous by the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, except his righteouſneſs be made over to him: hence he is called, the Lord our righteouſneſs. Jer. 23. 6. and hence we are ſaid to be the righteouſneſs of God in him, 2 Cor. 5. 21. hence we are ſaid by his obedience to be made righteous, 2 Cor. 5. 21.

Fifthly and laſtly, The way whereby this Righteouſneſs 5of Cods providing is conveyed and made over to us, that we may receive the benefit thereof, and be juſtified thereby, it is by way of Imputation; the meaning is this, God doth reckon the righteouſneſs of Chriſt unto his people, as if it were their own; he doth count unto them Chriſt's ſufferings and ſatisfaction, and makes them partakers of the vertue thereof, as if themſelves had ſuffered and ſatisfied: This is the genuine and proper import of the word Imputation; when that which is perſonally done by one, is accounted and reckoned to another, and laid upon his ſcore, as if he had done it. Thus it is in this very caſe: we ſinned and fell ſhort of Rom. 3. 21. Iſa. 53. Imputed righteouſneſs ſeems to be prefigured by the skins wherewith the Lord after the fall cloathed our firſt parents; the bodies of the beaſts were for ſacrifice, and the skins to put them in mind, that their own righteouſneſs was like the ſig-leaves imperfect, and that therefore they muſt be juſtified another way.Rom 3:21Isa 53the glory of God, and became obnoxious to the vindictive Juſtice of God; and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt by his obedience and death hath given full content and ſatisfaction to divine Juſtice on our behalf: now when God doth pardon and accept us hereupon, he doth put it upon our account, he doth reckon or impute it unto us as fully, in reſpect of the benefit thereof, as if we our ſelves had performed it in our own perſons: and this is the way wherein the holy Ghoſt frequently expreſſeth it, Rom. 4. 6. Even as David alſo deſcribeth the bleſſedneſs of the man unto whom God imputeth righteouſneſs without works; and ver. 11. That righteouſneſs might be imputed to them alſo: and therefore it highly concerns us to mind this Scripture-rule, That in order to the ſatisfaction of the Juſtice of God, the ſins of Gods people were imputed and reckoned unto Chriſt, and in order to our partaking of the benefit of that ſatisfaction, or deliverance thereby, Chriſt's righteouſneſs muſt be imputed and p. 332reckoned unto us. The firſt branch of this Rule you have, Iſa. 53. 5, 6. He was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, he was bruiſed for our iniquities, &c. and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all: And for the other branch of the Rule, ſee Rom. 5. 19. As by one mans diſobedience many were made ſinners, ſo by the obedience of one ſhall many be made righteous: ver. 17. As by one man's offence death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteouſneſs, ſhall reign in life by one Jeſus Chriſt. From the compariſon between the firſt and ſecond Adam, it is evident, that as Adam's tranſgreſſion of the Law of God, is imputed to all his poſterity, and that in reſpect thereof they are reputed ſinners, and accurſed, and liable to eternal death; ſo alſo Chriſt's obedience, whereby he fulfilled the Law, is ſo imputed to the members of his myſtical body, that in regard of God, they ſtand as innocent, juſtified and accepted to eternal life. Look as Adam was the common root of all Mankind, and ſo his ſin is imputed to all his poſterity; ſo Jeſus Chriſt is the common root of all the faithful, and his obedience is imputed to them all: for it were ridiculous to ſay, that Adam's ſin had more power to condemn, than Chriſt's righteouſneſs hath to ſave: and who but fools in folio will ſay that God doth not impute Chriſt's righteouſneſs as well as Adam's ſin? The Apoſtle's parallel between the two Adams does clearly evidence, That as the guilt of Adam's diſobedience is really imputed to us, inſomuch that in his ſinning we all ſinned; ſo the obedience of Chriſt is as really imputed unto us, inſomuch that in his obeying, reputatively and legally we obey alſo. How did Adam's ſin become ours? Why, by way of imputation, he tranſgreſſed the Covenant, Gen. 3 6, 11, 12. As imitation of Adam only made us not ſinners, ſo imitation of Chriſt only makes us not righteous, but the imputation. Dew…. of Juſtification.Gen 3:6Gen 3:11Gen 3:12and did eat the forbidden fruit, and it was juſtly reckoned unto us: it was perſonally the ſinful act of our firſt Parent, but it is imputed to all of us who come out of his loyns; for we were in him not only naturally, as he was the Root of Mankind, but alſo legally, as he was the great Repreſentative of Mankind. In the Covenant p. 333of works and the tranſactions thereof, Adam ſtood in the ſtead, and acted in the behalf not only of himſelf but of all his poſterity, and therefore his ſin is reckoned unto them; even ſo, ſaith the Apoſtle, after the ſame manner, the obedience and righteouſneſs of Chriſt is made over to many for Juſtification. I cannot underſtand the analogy betwixt the two Adams (wherein the Apoſtle is ſo clear and full) unleſs this imputation, as here ſtated, be granted. Look as Chriſt was made ſin for us only by imputation, ſo we are made righteous only by the imputation of his righteouſneſs to us, as the Scripture every where evidences, 2 Cor. 5. 21. 1 P…t. 2. 21.He hath made him to be ſin for us, who knew no ſin, that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him. How was Chriſt made ſin for us? not ſin inherent, for he had no ſin in him (he was holy, harmleſs and undeſiled, ſeparate Heb. 7. 26.Heb 7:26from ſinners, and made higher than the heavens) but by imputation: Chriſt's righteouſneſs is imputed to us in that way wherein our ſin was imputed to him. Now our ſin was imputed to Chriſt, not only in the bitter effects of it, but he took the guilt of them upon himſelf (as I have in this Treatiſe already evidenced:) ſo then his righteouſneſs or active obedience it ſelf muſt be proportionably imputed to us, and not only in the effects thereof. The Mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt can no way become the believers, but as the firſt Adam's diſobedience became his poſterities (who never had the leaſt actual ſhare in his tranſgreſſion) that is by an act of imputation from God as a Judge, the Lord Jeſus having fulfilled the Law as a ſecond Adam, God the Father imputeth it to the believing ſoul, as if he had done it in his own perſon. I do not ſay that God the Father doth account the ſinner to have done it; but I ſay that God the Father doth impute it to the believing ſinner, as if he had done it, unto all ſaving intents and purpoſes. Hence Chriſt is called the Lord our righteouſneſs, Jer. 23. 6. (An awakened ſoul, that is truly ſenſible of his own baſeneſs and unrighteouſneſs, p. 334would not have this golden ſentence, The Lord our righteouſneſs, blotted out by a hand of heaven out of the Bible for as many worlds as there are men in the world:) ſo is that Text to a believer living and dying, a ſtrong cordial, In this 1 Cor. 1. 30. the Apoſtle 1. diſtinguiſheth Righteouſneſs from Sanctiſication, imputed Righteouſneſs, from inherent Righteouſneſs: 2. he ſaith that Chriſt's Righteouſneſs is made ours of God See Rom. 4. 6. Pſal. 71. 16.1 Cor 1:30Rom 4:6Ps 71:16viz. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Chriſt Jeſus is made unto us of God wiſdom, righteouſneſs, &c. And pray how is Chriſt made righteouſneſs to the believer? not by infuſion, but imputation; not by putting righteouſneſs into him, but by putting a righteouſneſs upon him, even his own righteouſneſs, by the imputing his merits, his ſatisfaction, his obedience unto them, through which they are accepted as righteous unto eternal life, Rom. 5. 19. Chriſt's righteouſneſs is his in reſpect of inheſion, but it is ours in reſpect of imputation; his righteouſneſs is his perſonally, but ours meritoriouſly: we are juſtified by anothers righteouſneſs, and that only, and therefore by imputed righteouſneſs, for anothers righteouſneſs can no other way be made ours but only by imputation, Rom. 5. 18. By the righteouſneſs of one the free gift came upon all men to juſtification: were it any other than imputed righteouſneſs, it would be as manifold a righteouſneſs as there are perſons juſtified; but it is ſaid to be the righteouſneſs of one that comes upon all men for juſtification of life. That is a choice word that you have in Rev. 19. 8. And to her (that is Chriſt's Spouſe) was granted, that ſhe ſhould be arrayed in fine linnen, clean and white; for the fine linnen is the righteouſneſs of the ſaints: the Greek word here is foreign, righteouſneſſes or juſtiſications; this, ſay ſome, ſignifieth a double righteouſneſs given to us; 1. The righteouſneſs of Juſtification, whereby we are juſtified before God: 2. The righteouſneſs of Sanctification, by which we evidence our Juſtification to men: but others ſay, it is an So the Hebrew word is uſed, Iſa. 45. 24.Isa 45:24Hebraiſm rather, by the plural righteouſneſſes, nothing the moſt abſolute, complete and perfect righteouſneſs which we have in Chriſt. Now though I would not exclude inherent righteouſneſs, yet I judge that imputed righteouſneſs is the righteouſneſs here meant; and that firſt, becauſe this cloathing is that which is the righteouſneſs p. 335of all Saints, by which they ſtand recti in curia before Pſal. 76. 7, Pſal. 143. 2. J…b 9. 15. cap. 22. 2, 3, 4. Jeb 35. 7. The Saints are ſaid, Rev. 7. 15. to he clothed in white Robes, not becauſe they had merited or adorned themſelves with goodworks, but becauſe they had waſhed and made white their Robes in the blood of the Lamb.Ps 76:7Ps 143:2Rev 7:15God: now there is no ſtanding before God in our inherent righteouſneſs; for though next to Chriſt, our graces are our beſt jewels, yet they are but weak and imperfect, they have their ſpecks and ſpots; they are like the Moon which when it ſhines brighteſt, yet has her black ſpots. 2. Chriſt's righteouſneſs is the only pure clean, white, ſpotleſs righteouſneſs, there is is no ſpeck or ſpot to be found upon Chriſt's righteouſneſs: but we are all as an unclean thing, and al our righteouſneſſes are as filthy rags, as that evangelical Prophet ſpeaks, Iſa. 64. 6. 3. The word here is plural, foreign, righteouſneſſes; Chriſt hath many righteouſneſſes: firſt, he hath his eſſential and perſonal righteouſneſs, as God; now this eſſential perſonal righteouſneſs of Chriſt cannot be imputed to us. Oſiander was of opinion, that men were juſtified by the eſſential righteouſneſs of Chriſt as God, which was a moſt dangerous opinion, and learnedly and largely confuted by Calvin in his Inſtitutions, and by others ſince. Secondly, there is the mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt; now this is that righteouſneſs which he wrought for us as Mediator, whereby he did ſubject himſelf to the precepts, to the penalties, commands and curſes, anſwering both Gods vindictive and rewarding Juſtice: there is Chriſt's Active righteouſneſs, and there is Chriſt's Paſſive righteouſneſs, &c. of theſe I have ſpoken already in this Treatiſe, and therefore a hint here is enough. But fourthly, How can it ſtand with reaſon that the Papiſts by the Popes indulgences ſhould be made partakers of the …ner… and good works one of another, and yet be againſt reaſon that we by the ordinance of God ſhould be made partakers of …e merits and righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt.there are ſome expreſſions in the Text (that is under conſideration) that do beſt agree with the righteouſneſs of Chriſt; as firſt that, that ſhe is arrayed in fine linnen, clean and white; this clearly points at imputed righteouſneſs, which Chriſt puts upon his Bride as a royal Robe. That which makes Chriſt's Bride beautiful, yea whiter than the ſnow, and more glorious than the Sun in his eyes, is not any beauty of her own, nor any inherent righteouſneſs in her ſelf, but the white Robe of Chriſt's own righteouſneſs that he puts upon her: 2. That expreſſion in the Text, To her it was granted, that ſhe p. 336ſhould be arrayed in fine linnen, &c. It was granted to her to ſhew that this fine linnen was none of her own ſpinning, it was a free gift of Chriſt unto her; Saints have no other righteouſneſs to make them comely and lovely in the eyes of God, but the Robe of Chriſt's righteouſneſs, which is that fine white linnen that Chriſt gives them, and that he puts upon them. Laſtly, obſerve the confirmation and ratification that is given to theſe words in the 9. verſ. write, theſe are the true ſayings of God; theſe are not my ſayings, nor the ſayings of Angels, but they are the ſayings of that God that is truth it ſelf, that cannot die, nor lie, nor deny himſelf, nor deceive the ſons of God; and therefore you may ſafely reſt upon theſe ſayings of God both in the 8. and 9. verſes, as moſt ſure and certain: Surely, the righteouſneſs the believer hath is imputed, it is an accounted or reckoned righteouſneſs to him, it is not that which he hath inherently in himſelf, but God through Chriſt doth eſteem of him as if he had it, and ſo deals with him as wholly righteous: 1. It ſtands with reaſon that that ſatisfaction ſhould be imputed to me, which my Surety hath made for my debt: now Chriſt was our Surety, as the Apoſtle calls him, Heb. 7. 22. 2. Adam's ſin was juſtly imputed by God to all his poſterity, though it was not their own inherently and actually, as the Apoſtle tells us, Rom. 5. 14. and the ſins of all the elect were 2 Cer. 5. 21. Iſa. 53. 6. This muſt be Lu…her's meaning, when he ſaith, Chriſt was the greateſt ſinner; he was Manaſſeh. thit Idolater, David that Adulter…r, Peter that denier of his maſter, &c. to wit, by imputation only, he being made ſin f…rthem, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks.Isa 53:6imputed unto Chriſt, though they were not his own inherently and actually: He made him to be ſin for us, who knew no ſin, ſaith the Apoſtle; and upon him was laid the iniquitie of us all: All the ſins of all the believers in the world, from the firſt Creation to the laſt Judgment, were laid on him; how laid on him, but by imputation? Surely there was in Chriſt no fundamental guilt, no, no, but he was made ſin by imputation and law-account; he was our Surety, and ſo our ſins were laid on him in order to puniſhment: And to prefigure this, all the iniquities of Gods people were imputed to their ſacrifice, though they were not inherently his own, as we read Levit. 16. 21, 22 p. 337Aaron ſhall put all the iniquities of all the children of Iſrael, and all their tranſgreſſions and all their ſins, upon the head of the Goat; and the Goat ſhall bear upon him, all their iniquities: and why then ſhould it ſeem ſtrange, that the perfect righteouſneſs of our ſacrifice and ſurety, though it be not our own inherently, ſhould be imputed to us by the Lord, and made ours.

Frequently and ſeriouſly conſider, that the word anſwering this imputing, is in the Hebrew, Chaſhab, and in To impute in the General, is to acknowledg that to be another's, which is not indeed his: and it is uſed either in a good or bad ſenſe; ſo that it is no more, than to account or reckon. It is the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed to us, and accepted for us, by which we are judged righteous.the Greek, foreign; of which, the ſumm (as the learned ſay, comes to this:) That though the words in the general ſignifie to think, to reaſon, to imagine, &c. yet very frequently they are uſed to ſignifie, to account, or reckon by way of computation, as Arithmeticians uſe to do: ſo that it is, as it were, a judgment paſſed upon a thing, when all reaſons and arguments are caſt together. And from this it is applied to ſignifie any kind of accounting or reckoning: and in this ſence, imputation is taken here, for God's eſteeming and accounting of us righteous: foreign, ſignifies to reckon or account; 'tis taken by a borrowed ſpeech from Merchants reckonings, and accounts; who have their debt-books, wherein they ſet down how their reckonings ſtand in the particulars they deal in. Now in ſuch debt-books, Merchants uſe to ſet down, whatever payments are only made, either by the debtors themſelves, or by others in the behalf of them; an example whereof we have in the Epiſtle to Philemon, verſ. 18. where Paul undertakes to Philemon, for Oneſimus; if he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee any thing, put that on my account: that is, account Oneſimus his debt, to Paul, and Paul's ſatisfaction or payment to Oneſimus which anſwers the double imputation, in point of juſtification, Pſal. 32. 1, 2.Ps 32:1Ps 32:2that is, of our ſins to Chriſt, and of Chriſt's ſatisfaction to us; both which are implyed, 2 Cor. 5. 21. He made him to be ſin for us (that is, our ſins were imputed to him) that we might be the righteouſneſs of God in him (that is, that his rightcouſneſs might be imputed to us.) The language of Jeſus Chriſt to his father, ſeems p. 338to be this; Oh holy Father, I have freely and willingly taken all the debts, and all the ſins of all the believers in the world upon me; I have undertaken to be their paymaſter, to ſatisfie thy juſtice, to pacifie thy wrath, to fulfil thy Law, &c. and therefore, Loe, here I am ready Pſal. 40. 6, 7, 8. Heb. 10. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.Ps 40:6Ps 40:7Ps 40:8Heb 10:4Heb 10:5Heb 10:6Heb 10:7Heb 10:8Heb 10:9to do what ever thou commandeſt, and ready to ſuffer whatſoever thou pleaſeſt, I am willing to be reckoned a ſinner, that they may be reckoned righteous; I am willing to be accounted curſed, that they may be for ever bleſſed; I am willing to pay all their debts that they may be ſet at liberty; I am willing to lay down my life, that John 10. 11, 15, 17, 18. Rev. 20. 6.John 10:11John 10:15John 10:17John 10:18Rev 20:6they may eſcape the ſecond death; I am willing that my ſoul ſhould be exerciſed with the moſt hideous Agonies, that their ſouls may be poſſeſſed of heaven's happineſſes. Oh, what wonderful wiſdom, grace and love is here manifeſted! that when we were neither able to ſatisfie the penalty of the Law, or to bring a conformity to it; that then Chriſt ſhould interpoſe, and become both redemption and righteouſneſs for us.

Now, from the imputed righteouſneſs of Chriſt, a believer may form up this fifth plea, as to all the ten Scriptures E…cleſ. 11. 9. cap. 12. 14. Mat. 12. 14. cap. 18. 23. Luk. 16. 3. Rom. 14. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Heb. 9. 27. cap. 13. 17. 1 Pet. 4. 5.Matt 12:14Luke 16:3Rom 14:102 Cor 5:10Heb 9:271 Pet 4:5in the margent, that refer to the great day of account. Oh, bleſſed God, thou haſt given me to underſtand, that the mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt includes, firſt, the habitual holineſs of his perſon, in the abſenſe of all ſin, and in the rich and plentiful preſence of all holy and requiſite qualities: Secondly, the actual holineſs of his life and death by obedience. By his active obedience he perfectly fulfilled the commands of the Law; and by his paſſive obedience, his voluntary ſufferings, he ſatisfied the penalty and commination of the Law for tranſgreſſions: That perfect ſatisfaction to divine juſtice, in whatſoever it requires; either in way of puniſhing for ſin, or obedience to the law, made by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, God and man, the Mediator of the new Covenant, as a common head, repreſenting all thoſe, whom the father hath given to him, and made over unto them that believe in him. This is that righteouſneſs that is imputed to all believers p. 339in their Juſtification, and this imputed righteouſneſs of thy dear ſon, and my dear ſaviour, is now my plea, before thy bar of Juſtice. Imputed righteouſneſs is the ſame materially with that which the Law requireth; The Righteouſneſs which the Law requireth, upon pain of damnation, is a perfect obedience & conformity to the whole Law of God, performed by every ſon and daughter of Adam in his own perſon. Now imputed righteouſneſs is the ſame materially with that which the Law requireth.it is obedience to the Law of God exactly, and punctually performed to the very utmoſt Iota and tittle thereof, without the leaſt abatement, Chriſt hath paid the uttermoſt farthing. He is the fulfilling of the Law for righteouſneſs, and he hath fulfilled the Law in the humane nature, to the intent, that it might be fulfilled in the ſame nature, to which it was at firſt given; and all this he hath expreſly done in all their names, and on all their behalfs, that believe in him; That the righteouſneſs of the Law might be fulfilled in them, Rom. 8. 3, 4. It is as if our dear Lord Jeſus had ſaid, oh bleſſed father, this I ſuffer, and this I do to the uſe, and in the ſtead, and room of all thoſe that have ventured their ſouls upon me, that they may have a righteouſneſs, which they may truly call their own, and on which they may ſafely reſt, and in which they may for ever glory; Iſa. 45. 24, 25. Now, it will never ſtand with the unſpotted holineſs, juſtice and righteouſneſs of God, to reject this righteouſneſs of his ſon, or that plea that is bottomed upon it. Oh, the matchleſs happineſs of believers, who have ſo fair, ſo full, and ſo noble a plea to make in the great day of our Lord Jeſus.

But ſome may ſay, what bleſſed fruit grows upon this Que. glorious Tree of Paradiſe; viz. the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, that is imputed to all believers? what ſtrong conſolations flows from this fountain, the Imputed Righteouſneſs of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt? I anſwer there are theſe nine choice conſolations, that flow in upon all believers, through the righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed to them.