Some Gospel Truths Opened, Part 5
Now in the third place.
Though I have spoken something thing to this thing already, namely, concerning our Lord the Saviour, yet again, in few words, through grace, I shall shew, that he was made, that is, born of a woman, and made under the Law, to redeem them that are under the Law. My meaning is That God is our Saviour.
And for this, see Isa. 45, 15. where you have these words; Verily, thou art a God that hidest thy self, O God of Israel, the Saviour, and ver. 21. 22, you have these words. Who hath told it from ancient times? have not … the Lord? and there is no God besides me: a just God and a Saviour, and there is none besides me. Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth: Why, who art thou? for I am God, and there is none else. Also in Isa. 54. 5. For thy maker is thine husband, the Lord of hosts is his name: and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel, the God of the whole earth shall he be called▪ read also vers. 6, 7, 8. of that Chapter. I could abundantly multiply Scriptures to prove this to be a truth, but I shall only m…nd you of two or three, and so pass on. The first is in Jude, ver. 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be glory, and Acts 20 28. Joh. 3. 16. But you will say,1 John 5. 20. How is God a Saviour of Sinners,Object. seeing his eyes are so pure that he cannot behold iniquity, Habak. 1. 13.?
For answer hereunto. First,Gal. 4. 4. when the fulnesse of time was come wherein the salvation of Sinners should be actually wrought out, God sent forth his Sonne, (which Son is equal with the Father) made of a woman, made under the Law, Joh. 1. 1.(that is, he was subject to the power and curse of the Law) to this end,Joh. 17. 5 to redeeme them that are or were,Joh. 10. 3 under the Law, that is,Gal. 3. 1… 13. to deliver us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us.
From whence take notice, that when the salvation of Sinners was to be actually wrought out, then God sent forth the everlasting son of his love into the world, cloathed with the humane nature, according to that in Joh. 1. 14. Heb. 2. 14. And 1 Tim. 3, 16. which saith, God was manifested in the flesh, that is, took flesh upon him.
2. This Sonne of God, which is equal with the Father, did in that Flesh, which he took upon him, compleatly fulfill the whole Law: So that the Apostle saith, Christ is the very end of the law for righteousnesse to every one that believes.Rom. 10. 4 This righteousness, which this Christ did accomplish, is called the righteousnesse of God, Rom. 3. 22. This righteousnesse of God, is by the faith of Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all them that believe: my meaning is, it is imputed to so many as shall by faith lay hold on it. This is also part of the meaning of that speech of the Apostle:Rom. 3. 22 As many as were baptized into Christ, Gal. 3. 27.have put on Ch…ist. That is, by faith have put on the righteousnesse of Christ, with the rest of that which Christ hath bestowed upon you, having accomplished it for you. This is also the meaning of the Apostle, Col 2. 9, 10. where he saith, For in him (that is, the sonne of Mary, chap. 1. 13 14.) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are compleat in him. That is, in his obedience, and righteousness. Which also the Apostle himselfe doth so hard presse after, Phil. 3. 6, 7, 8. saying, Doub…lesse, I count all things but losse, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, which Lord was crucified by the Jews, as it is 1 Cor, 2. 8. for whom, that is for Christ, I have suffered the loss of all things (as well the righteousness of the Law, in which I was blameless, *Phil. 3. 6as all other things) and doe count them but dung. that I may win Christ: And be found in him, not having on mine owne righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith; *Rom. 3. 22.which is unto all, and upon all them that believe. That place also in the ninth of Daniel, v. 24, 25. holdeth forth as much, where prophecying of the Messias, he saith▪ that it is he that came to finish transgression, and to make an end of sin, and to make reconciliation for iniqui…y, and to bring in everlasting righteousness. Now that the righteousnesse of the Sonne of Mary is it, mind the 26. verse; where he saith thus, And after Threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, That is, Christ shall be crucified. But not for himself, That is, not for any sin that he hath committed; for he committed none. Then surely, it must be for the sins of the people. Joh. 11. 50. as the high Piest said, It is expedient that one man should die for the people, which man was the true Messias, Dan 9 24 Which also is the Son of Mary, Mat. 1. 18, 19▪ 20, 21, 22. And the sonne of God, Mat. 3. 17. And also the true God, 1 Joh. 5. 20. And this Messias, this son of the virgin, this sonne of God, this tree God, did not die for himself, for he had not offended; Neither did he fulfill the Law or finish transgression, and bring in everlasting righteousness for himself, for he had not sinned, 1 Pet. 2. 22. therefore it must of necessity follow, that this righteousness of God, this everlasting righteousnesse, is imputed to all, and upon all them that believe, Rom. 3. 22. 2 Cor. 5. 19. 20, 21.
But Secondly, this Messias, this Son of Mary, this Son of God, this true God, he was put to death for the sins that his children had cōmitted, according to that saying, Herein perceive we the love of God, in that he laid down his life for us.1 Joh. 3. 16. Also in Acts 20. the Apostle speaking to the Pastors of the Churches,Acts 20. 28. saith,… Zac. 12. 10 Feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Now, I would not be mistaken. I doe not think, or say, that he died in his Divine Nature,… Pet. 2. 24 but as it is written, He in his owne body on the tree did bear our sins; which tree was the Crosse, Col. 2. 14. And as the Apostle saith again, Who when he had by himself purged our sins,… Heb. 1. 3. sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. And again, the Apostle speaking of this glorious God, saith on this wise, Col 1. (being before speaking of his Godhead) in the 19.…ol. 1. 19, …o, 21, 22. ver. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell; and (having made peace by the blood of his crosse) by him to reconci… all things to himselfe: By him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you who were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your minds by wicked works, yet now hath …e reconciled. But how? Why in ver. 22. he tells you, that it is in the body of his flesh, through death, to present you holy and unblameable, and unreproveable in his sight. That is, Christ, who is the true God, after that he had finished all actual obedience on earth,John 19. 22, 30. did in the power and strength of his Godhead *See Heb. 9. 14. and read that verse with under standing.yield up himselfe to the wrath of his Father,Isa. 63. 3. which was due to poor sinners (and that willingly) according to that saying in 1 Pet. 3. 18. …or Christ also hath once suffered for sinners, the just for the unjust: That is, the Son of God for poor sinners; that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the spirit. Again, 1 Pet. 4. …. For asmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us (not for himself) in the flesh, Dan. 9. 26.in his own body (which he took of the Virgin, 1 Pet. 2. 24.) let us arm our selves with the same minde. Rom. 6 10That is, let us die to sin as he did, that we might live to God as he did, and doth. And thus have I briefly shewed you, …. That the Son of Mary is very God. 2. That he made the world. 3. That he is our Saviour,Col. 1. 22. and how. 4. That he died for sinners, and how. Namely, not in his divine nature, but in his humane, in his own body, and in his own flesh, redeeming, his Church with his own blood, Acts 20. 28. and with his own life, 1 John 3. 16. John 10. 8.
We shall now passe on to some other things (the Lord willing touching his Burial, Resur…ction, Ascen…on, Intercession, Second comming, Resurrection of the body, and Eternal Judgement.