Light for Them that Sit in Darkness, Book · Part 8
Further Demonstration of this Truth.
BEfore I pass this Truth, I will present thee (Courteous Reader) with two or three Demonstrations for its further confirmation.
First, That Christ did bear our Sin and Curse, is clear because he died, and that without a Mediator.
1. He died, Death is the Wages of Sin, Rom. 6. 23. Now if death be the Wages of sin, and that be true, that Christ did die and not sin, either the Course of Justice is perverted, or else he died for our Sins; there was no cause of death in him, yet he died Act. 13. 28. He did no Evil, Guile was not found in his Mouth, yet he received the Wages of Sin. Sin therefore, though not of his own, was found upon him, and laid to his Charge, because he died. Christ died for our Sins, Christ gave himself for our Sins, 1 Cor. 15. 1, 2, 3. Gal. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 2. 22.
He then that will conclude that Christ did not bear our Sin, chargeth God foolishly, for delivering him up to death: for laying on him the Wages, when in no sence he deserved the same. Yea he overthroweth the whole Gospel, for that hangeth on THIS hinge; Christ died for our Sins.
Object. But all that die, do not bear the Curse of God for Sin.
Ans. But all that die without a Mediator do: Angels died the Cursed Death, because Christ took not hold of them; and they for whom Christ never prayeth, they die the Cursed Death, for they perish everlastingly in the unutterable Torments of Hell. Christ too died, that Death which is the Proper Wages of Sin, for he had none to stand for him. I looked, saith he, and there was none to help, and I wondred that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own Arm brought Salvation unto me. And he saw that there was no man: and he wondered that there was no Intercessor, therefore his Arm brought Salvation unto him, and his Righteousness sustained him, Isa. 63. 5. Isa. 59. 16.
Christ then died, or endured the Wages of Sin, and that without an Intercessor, without one between God and he: He grappled immediatly with the Eternal Justice of God, who inflicted on him Death, the Wages of Sin: there was no man to hold off the Hand of God; Justice had his full blow at him, and made him a Curse for Sin. He died for sin without a Mediator, he died the Cursed Death.
Secondly, A Second thing that Demonstrateth that Christ died the Cursed Death for Sin: It is the Frame of Spirit that he was in at the time that he was to be taken.
Never was poor mortal so beset with the apprehensions of approaching death as was this Lord Jesus Christ; Amazement beyond measu…e, Sorrow that exceeded seized upon his Soul. My Soul, saith he, is exceeding sorrowful even unto Death. And he began, saith Mark, to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy, Mat. 26. 38. Mar. 14. 33.
Add to this, That Jesus Christ was better able to grapple with death, even better able to do it alone, than the whole World joyn'd altogether.
1. He was anointed with the Spirit without Measure, Joh. 3. 34.
2. He had all Grace perfect in him, John 1. 16.
3. Never none so soaked in the Bosom of his Fathers Love as himself, Prov. 8. 23, 30.
4. Never none so harmless, and without sin as he, and consequently never man had so good a Conscience as he, Heb. 7. 26.
5. Never none prepared such a stock of good Works to bear him company at the Hour of Death as he.
6. Never none had greater assurance of being with the Father Eternally in the Heavens than he. And yet behold, when HE comes to die, how weak is he, how amazed at death, how heavy, how exceeding sorrowful; and I say, no cause assigned but the Approach of Death.
Alas! How often is it seen, that we Poor Sinners can laugh at destruction when it cometh: yea, and rejoice exceedingly when we find the Grave, Job. 3. 22. looking upon death as a part of our Portion; yea, as that which will be a means of our present relief and help, 1 Cor. 3. 22.
This Jesus Christ couldnot do, considered as dying for our Sin, but the nearer death, the more heavy, & oppressed with the thoughts of the Revenging Hand of God. Wherefore he falls into an Agony, and Sweats; not after the common rate, as we do when death is severing Body and Soul. His Sweat was as it were great drops (Clodders) of Blood, falling down to the Ground, Luk. 22. 44.
What, I say, should be the Reason, but that death assaulted him with his Sting. If Jesus Christ had been to die for his Vertues only, doubtless he would have born it lightly, and so he did as he died, bearing witness to the Truth, He endured the Cross, and despised the Shame, Heb. 12. 1, 2, How have the Martyrs despised death, and as it were, not been careful of that, having peace with God by Jesus Christ, scorning the most Cruel Torments that Hell and Men could devise and invent; but Jesus Christ could not do so, as he was a Sacrifice for sin, he died for sin, he was made a Curse for us. O my Brethren, Christ died many deaths at once, he made his Grave with the Wicked, and with the Rich in his Deaths. Look how many thousands shall be saved, so many deaths did Jesus die; yet it was but once he died. He died thy death, and my death, and so many deaths as all our Sins deserved, who shall be saved from the Wrath to come.
Now to feign that these Sorrows, and this Bloody Agony was not real, but in shew only; What greater Condemnation can be passed upon Jesus Christ, who loved to do all things in the most feigned Simplicity? It was therefore because of sin; the Sin that was put into the Death he died, and the Curse of God that was due to Sin; That, That made death so bitter to Jesus Christ; 'tis Christ that died. The Apostle speaks as if never any died but Christ, nor indeed did there, so wonderful a Death as he, Rom. 8. Death considered simply, as it is a deprivation of natural life could not have these Effects in a Person, personally more Righteous than an Angel. Yea, even Carnal Wicked Men not awakened in their Conscience how securely can they die. It must therefore also be concluded, that the Sorrows, and Agony of Jesus Christ came from a higher cause, even from the Guilt of sin, and from the Curse of God that was now approaching for that Sin.
It cannot be attributed to the Fear of Men, their Terrour could not make him afraid; that was contrary to his Doctrine, and did not become the Dignity of his Person; it was sin, sin, sin, and the Curse due to sin.
Thirdly, It is evident that Christ did bear and die the Cursed Death for sin; from the Carriage and Dispensation of God towards him.
First, from the Carriage of God. God now becomes as an Enemy to him.
1. He forsakes him. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Yea, the Sence of the Loss of God's comfortable Presence abode with him even till he gave up the Ghost.
2. He dealeth with him as with one that hath sinned, he chastiseth him, he bruiseth him, he striketh and smiteth him, Isa. 53. and was pleased, that is, his Justice was satisfied, in so doing. It pleased the Lord to bruise him, he hath put him to grief.
These things could not he, had he only considered him in his own Personal standing, (where was the Righteous forsaken.) Without the Consideration of Sin, he doth not willingly afflict, nor grieve the Children of Men; that is, not out of pleasure, or without sufficient cause.
Jesus Christ then, since he is under this withdrawing, chastising, bruising, and afflicting Displeasure of God, he is all that time under sin, under our sins, and therefore thus accursed of God, his God.
Secondly, Not only the Carriage of God, but his Dispensations, his visible Dispensations, plainly declare that he stood before God in our Sins, Vengeance suffered him not to live. Wherefore God delivered him up. He spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, Rom. 8. 32.
1. He delivered him into the Hands of Men, Mar: 9. 31.
2. He was delivered into the Hands of Sinners, Luk. 24. 7.
3. He was delivered unto Death, Rom. 4. 25.
4. Yea, so delivered up, as that they both had him to put him to death, and God left him for that purpose in their Hands: yea, was so far off from delivering him, that he gave way to all things that had a tendency to take his Life from the Earth.
Now may men do what they will with him, he was delivered to their Will.
1. Judas may sell him.
2. Peter may deny him.
3. All his Disciples forsake him.
4. The Enemy apprehends him, binds him, they have him away like a Thief to Caiaphas the High-Priest, in whose House he is mocked, spit upon, his Beard is twitched from his Cheeks; now they buffet him and scornfully bow the Knee before him: Yea, his Visage is so marred more than any mans, and his Form more than the Sons of Men, Isa. 52. 13, 14, 15.
Now he is sent to the Governor, defaced with Blows and Blood; who delivereth him into the Hand of his Souldiers; they Whip him, Crown him with Thorns, and stick the Points of the Thorns fast in his Temples, by a Blow with a Staff in their Hand: Now is he made a Spectacle to the People, and then sent away to Herod, who with his Men of War set him at naught; no God appearing for his Help.
In fine, they at last condemn him to Death, even to the Death of the Cross, where they hang him up by Wounds made through his Hands and his Feet, between the Earth and the Heavens, where he hanged for the space of Six Hours, to wit, from Nine in the Morning, till Three in the Afternoon. No God yet appears for his help, while he hangs there; some rail at him, others wagg their Heads, others tauntingly say, He saved others, himself he cannot save; some divide his Raiment, casting lots for his Garments before his Face, others mockingly bid him come down from the Cross, and when he desireth succour, they give him Vinegar to drink. No God yet appears for his help.
Now the Earth quakes, the Rocks are rent, the Sun becomes black, and Jesus still cries out that he was forsaken of God; and presently boweth his Head and dies: read Mat. 26. Chap. 27. Mar. 14. Chap. 15. and Luk. 22. Chap. 23. John 18. Chap. 19.
And for all this there is no cause assigned from God, but Sin. He was wounded for our Transgressions, he was bruised for our Iniquities, and the chastisement of our Peace was upon him, and by his Stripes we are healed, Isa. 53.
The Sum then is, That Jesus Christ the Lord by taking part of our Flesh, became a Publick Person, not doing, nor dying in a private Capacity, but in the room and stead of Sinners, whose Sin deserved Death and the Curse of God: all which Jesus Christ bare in his own Body upon the Tree. I conclude then, that my Sin is already crucified, and accursed in the Death and Curse Christ under-went.