Exposition of Revelation 13, Part 12
Rev. 13. 8. latter part of the verſ.
The Lamb ſlaine from the foundation of the world.
HERE is ſomething yet to be handled in this Verſe, and that is the antiquity of the ſufferings of Chriſt. He doth not only ſay that Chriſt was a Lamb, and ſlaughtered, but his death is deſcribed by the antiquity of it, From the beginning of the world: Or as it is here tranſlated (and very fitly) from the foundation of the world; though I would not put any great weight in the very nick of the foundation, for the foundation of the world was laid the firſt day of the creation, when the Lord made the higheſt heavens, and the loweſt earth: the higheſt heaven, the kingdom of the bleſſed Saints and Angels, of whom it is ſaid, Come yee bleſſed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world: There was a kingdome in the foundation of the world, and therefore the Angels were created the firſt day: and it is true Chriſt was ſlaine even then alſo, elſe thoſe Angels had not been in that kingdome: But whether you take it for the foundation in the creation, or in the nick of the creation, it is not greatly material, for the death of Chriſt reached both to the fall of Adam, and in ſome reſpect before it, and the explication of that will ſhew the truth thereof, and I would not be exquiſite nor curious in opening of it.
The Note is this.
The ſlaughter of Chriſt was from the foundation of the world.Doct. 4.
So it is ſaid here, The Lamb (that is Chriſt, The Lamb of God) ſlaine from the foundation of the world: the Lamb is Chriſt, evident it is that in fulneſſe of time he was ſlaughtered about 4000. years after the world was made, but yet the holy Ghoſt ſaith, He was ſlaine from the foundation of the world; ſo that though it was actually accompliſhed and performed in fulneſſe of time, yet as time began, the ſuffering of Chriſt began alſo; ſlaine he was therefore from the foundation of the world.
Firſt, In reſpect of Gods eternall purpoſe, who from the foundation of the world, and before the foundation of the world appointed Chriſt to this ſlaughter. We are redeemed, (ſaith Peter) not with ſilver and gold, but with the precious blood of Chriſt as of a Lamb without ſpot, who verily was fore-ordayned before the foundation of the world, but was manifeſt in theſe laſt times, &c. 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19, 20. Before the foundation of the world, and from the foundation of the world, many times in Scripture are both one in meaning; before the foundation of the world he was ordained to be ſlaughtered, the Apoſtles words are expre…ſly ſo, as of a lamb ſlaine he was ordained, and from the foundation of the world implyes long before the time he was ſlaughtered, and then you know not where to put the period, but ſome reference it hath to the foundation of the world.
Secondly, He is truly ſaid to be ſlaughtered from the foundation of the world, in regard of the promiſe of God made to Adam ſince the world began; the ſame day that Adam was created he fell, or certainly ſoon after, but moſt probable the ſame day: the ſame day that he fell, it is clear the Lord gave him a promiſe of the death of Chriſt, in Gen. 3. 15. for that is the meaning of the promiſe: He ſhall break thine head, ſpeaking to the Serpent, he ſhall cruſh the head of the Serpent: For the ſeed of the woman ſhall break the Serpents head; Thou ſhalt bruiſe his heel. Heel implyes the humanity of Chriſt, which was to be tr…d…n upon, and indeed it was all that the tempter could doe, but that bruiſing the heel was the cruſhing of his humanity, his ſoul and body was rent aſunder, that was promiſed from the foundation of the world.
Thirdly, From the foundation of the world, Chriſt was ſlaine in the foreruning types of him; for it is ſaid, that Abel brought of the firſtlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof, and that was a type of this Lamb, Gen. 4. 4. the ſacrifice of Abel was a type of Chriſt ſuffering: now becauſe offering that ſacrifice was by faith, Heb. 11. 4. And faith hath ground from the word of God, though there was no written word, yet there was from the mouth of God to Adam, that taught Adam, he and his ſonnes to offer ſacrifice in type of Chriſt that was to be ſlain, who ſhould break the head of the Serpent, and therefore as a type of the bruiſing of the heel of the promiſed ſeed which God had ſet before them, they were to offer ſacrifice, to ſhadow forth that great worke of Chriſt: Abel beleived on Chriſt, how far expreſly or diſtinctly I do not know; but had he not beleived, he had not ſacrificed by faith, nor had not been accepted.
Fourthly, He was ſlaine from the foundation of the world, in regard of the virtue and efficacy of his death: from thence, the lively virtue and efficacy of the death of Chriſt did expreſs it ſelfe from the very foundation of the world, that Abel did offer a more acceptable ſacrifice then Cain, it was from his faith; what was his faith faſtened on, by which his ſacrifice was accepted? (for it is ſaid, the Lord had reſpect to him, and to his offering) it is Chriſt alone, it implyes he looked not for acceptance by his ſacrifice; it is impoſſible that the blood of buls ſhould take away ſinne, but he looked to be accepted in Chriſt Jeſus: ſo Enoch is ſaid to have walked with God, Gen 5. 24. and no man can walke with God except he be reconciled with God, Amos 3 3. And is there any reconciliation but in the blood of the Sonne of God? We are reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne, Rom. 5. 10. It is ſaid of Abraham, that by faith he left his country and his fathers houſe, and his kindred, and went out, not knowing whether he went, Heb. 11. 8. Gen. 12. 1. How comes Abraham to be redeemed and reſcued from the blood of his Anceſtors and from his fathers houſe? We are redeemed from our vaine converſation received by tradition from our fathers, not with ſilver and gold, but with the precious blood of Chriſt, as of a lamb without blemiſh and without ſpot, 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19. Which argues plainly and evidently that Abraham himſelf, if he had not been waſhed in the blood of this Lamb, he could not have been ſaved from hankering after the blood of his Anceſtors; if the blood of Anceſtors had been more warme in him then the blood of Chriſt, he would not have been redeemed from his fathers houſe: but now in his old age he leaves his country and goes to ſeek that ſeed in whom they all ſhould be bleſſed in that country. It is ſaid in Gen. 15. 6. That he beleived in the Lord, and it was counted to him for righteouſneſſe: and all juſtiffication is by faith (ſaith the Apoſtle) in the blood of Chriſt, Rom. 3. 23, 24, 25. We all have ſinned, and are deprived of the glory of God, being juſtified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Chriſt Jeſus, &c. For all the ſinnes that have paſſed us from the beginning of the world, the Lord received atonement for them in the blood of his ſonne: and our father Abraham, if he were juſtified, it was by faith in the ſonne of God. How came it to paſſe that Joſeph was able to overcome the ſtrong and ſubtile temptations of his Miſtreſſe, in Gen. 39. 9. How ſhall I do this great wickedneſſe, and ſinne againſt God? Can he mortifie a luſt by any power of his own? No, let the Apoſtle anſwer it, in Gal. 5. 29. They that are Chriſts have crucified the fleſh with the paſſions and luſts; for ſo it is, it is not affections, but all the ſinful paſſions that hang about the ſoules of men, the Lord frees us from them all by the blood of his Sonne: So that if you ſee Joſeph crucified to his luſt, and Abraham … from his fathers houſe and juſtified; if you ſee Abel offering a more acceptable ſacrifice then Cain: Look at all theſe as lively fruits of the blood of the Lamb ſlaine from the beginning of the world, whence alſo ſprings their faith? heavenly mindedneſſe, their ſanctification? their power of godlineſſe was as great (and in many things greater) as in thoſe that have lived ſince his crucifying on the croſſe.
Now if it had not been as effectuall and reall before his coming, as when he did come, doubtleſſe the efficacy of his death would have been leſſe powerfull and more weak in them that lived before his coming; but when you ſee ſuch livelineſſe ſpring from the virtue and power of it, then you ſee the efficacy of it from the foundation of the world, onelyonly the manifeſtation of it was not ſo clear as afterwards, whence it comes to paſſe that the generality of Chriſtians now are, or ought to be, more cleare and more pure then the generality of Chriſtians then; but in ſome men, you have had them that exceeded thoſe that lived in Chriſts owne time, and ſince.
5. There is a fifth reſpect in which Chriſt is ſaid to be ſlaine from the beginning of the world, and that is in reſpect of the faith of Gods elect who lived from the beginning of the world: As ſoon as there was a man on the earth, the ſame day the Lord put emnity between the ſeed of the woman and the Serpent; now the ſeed of the woman looks for ſalvation in the ſeed of the woman, and they did even then look to the Lord Jeſus the Meſſias as much as we do ſince in John 8. 56. Your father Abraham rejoyced to ſee my day, he ſaw it and was glad: that was the day of the coming of Chriſt into the world to be an attonement for the ſinnes of his people: If Abraham ſaw it, then Enoch, Noah, Abel, and Adam, and Eve; and who ever lived by Jeſus Chriſt, they all ſaw Chriſt afar off, yet they ſaw him notwithſtanding, they ſaw his day, the day of his Incarnation, and Paſſion, and Reſurrection: and it is ſaid in Heb. 11. 1. That faith is the ſubſiſtence of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not ſeene; that is, it did give the Fathers before Chriſt, as clearly to ſee Chriſt already preſent to them, as if he had been actually come in the fleſh, and ſo it is with all the Saints at this day; look as we do, as really believe the Reſurrection of the body, that by faith gives it ſubſtance as verily as if it were preſent, and as we believe the ſalvation of our ſoules, as verily as if it were accompliſhed; and it is as clear, I meane, as certaine as if it were already done, and in ſome meaſure as evident; for ſo he ſaith, It is the evidence of things not ſeen; he ſpeaks in the Apoſtle words, The confidence and evidence of things not ſeen. Hence it comes, That the fathers ſaw the promiſes & embraced them, but did not receive them, Heb. 11. 39. That is, did not receive them accompliſhed (for they never ſaw Chriſt in his death) but they were perſwaded of them, and embraced them, and did verily look for them in expectation, as if they had been preſent with them; that is, if Chriſt had been come, they would not have done nor ſuffered more then they did; which argues that faith gives a baſis and ſubſiſtence to what it layes hold on; and makes it ſo reall, that we ſhall neither do more, nor ſuffer more, if it were preſent; They did believe that the time would come, when the Meſſias being bruiſed himſelfe, he would break the Serpents head.
Theſe are the ſeverall reſpects in which Chriſt is ſaid to be the Lamb ſlaine from the foundation of the world; In regard of the purpoſe of God, in regard of his promiſe, in regard of the types of him, in the Sacrifices that were ſhadowes of Chriſt, and did really hold him forth; in regard of the vertue of it, and in regard of the faith of Gods people that lived from the beginning of the world; in regard of all theſe Chriſt was ſlaine from the beginning of the world,
For the Reaſons of the point;
All the ways and reſpects I have ſpoken to,Reaſon 1. are as ſo many Reaſons; yet if a man ſhould ſtand upon a Reaſon, I would firſt ſay this; the firſt may be from the eternity of that which is infinite; what ever is infinite, is eternall: Now the value and vertue of the death of Chriſt is infinite, as being the blood of the ſonne of God, Acts 20. 28. Now that which is infinite, as well reacheth that which is before, as after it; infinite it is, or elſe it cannot be eternall: and infinite it had need to be, or elſe the infinite wrath of God could not be ſatisfied thereby; but being infinite, it was of eternall efficacy, and therefore he was a Lamb ſlain, and ſlaine from the foundation of the world: So that all that are elect were in Chriſt before the foundation of the world. Epheſ. 1. 4. Hee hath choſen us in Chriſt before the foundation of the world; in Chriſt, and in Chriſt crucified before the foundation of the world; for being of infinite value, it muſt of neceſſity be eternall; there is nothing infinite, but is eternall, they are co-incident; that which is finite will end, it began in time, and will end in time: But that which is infinite muſt needs have reſpect to eternity; and therefore ſaith our Saviour, John 8. 38. Before Abraham was I am: So that take him whether as God, or in point of the vertue and efficacy of his mediation, he was before Abraham; it could not be eternall, if it be not infinite; and if it be infinite, it muſt needs be eternall.
From the preſence of all future things to Chriſt,Reaſon 2. I ſpeak in proper ſpeech, it is truly ſaid, there is nothing future to Chriſt: I confeſſe the point is unconceivable to finite capacities, but to God all things to come are preſent, as if they were in actuall being: All things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to doe, Heb. 4. 13. It is an ancient ſpeech, Eternity is like a circumference about a Center that compaſſeth it round about, that if you fit on the Center, you ſee all the lines: Suppoſe a great tower as high as the clouds, and one ſitting thereupon, he ſees one man coming this way, and another another way, he ſees they will meet in one place; they know nothing of it, it is future to them, but preſent to him: So the Lord that ſits upon the clouds of eternity (if I may uſe ſuch a word) he ſees all things as if they were preſent to him: and certaine it is, God is not one day older then he was from the beginning; the Angels are older, and Satan, but God is not older, nor is capable of being older; time addes nothing to him, his eternity ſwallows up all; that which hath been, is, and ſhall be, it is freſh ſtill to him; that which is paſt, and that which is to come, whence it is ſaid, Before Abraham was I am, he doth not ſay I was; but his paſt time is not loſt to him, no time is paſt with God; Before Abraham was I am: a thouſand yeares are but as yeſterday; when it is paſt, all are one time to God, Pſal. 90. 4. So then, if you look at Gods account of things that hath entred into ſuch a Covenant from eternity, hath written ſo many in the book of life to be brought on to God by the death, and reſurrection, and aſcention of Chriſt, he knew the perſon of the God-head would certainly take the humane nature of Chriſt; it was preſent to him, and therefore hee doth ſo elect, and govern, and diſpoſe of creatures as he that had received a ranſome before the world began: And therefore Elihu his ſpeech is weighty, in Job 33. 23. That if an interpreter, one of a thouſand come to a ſicke man, and ſhew to a man his righteouſneſſe, and that then God is gracious to him, and ſaith, deliver him, for I have found a ranſome (to wit, in the blood of the Lamb) then will he ſay, deliver him: What, had he received a ranſome in Jobs time? Job lived before Abraham? truly then he hath a ranſome, as a man hath a bond from a good ſurety: but ſo it was in his apprehenſion, not only becauſe Chriſt was a good ſurety, and would make good payment in time, but the thing was as preſent with God, and really performed; All times with God are but as now, paſt, preſent, and to come; all times with God are one and the ſame, Jeſus Chriſt yeſterday, and to day, and for ever; Yeſterday before the Law, and to day, both under the Law, and eſpecially under the Goſpel, and for ever the ſame, of the ſame vertue and efficacy, and power: So you ſee the truth of the Point.
The uſe is ſhortly thus much.
Firſt,Ʋſe 1. it ſhews you the dangerous and damnable eſtate of the world from the foundation of the world; the deep depravation and corruption of the world from the foundation of it; it is ſaid by John, 1 John 5. 19. We know we are of God, and all the world lyes in wickedneſſe: Did it lye ſo in Johns time, when all the great Nations of the world worſhipped the Devill, Apollo, Hercules, and Jupiter, and ſuch dunghill gods? Did it not then lye in wickedneſſe? Truly it was ſo ſince the world began, it was never better from Abraham to Moſes, from Moſes to Chriſts time, and from Chriſts time to this, the whole world lyes in wickedneſſe; for otherwiſe to what end ſhould Chriſt be ſlain from the foundation of the world, if there were no need of a Redeemer, elſe there had been no need of his ſacrificing from the foundation of the world There were all errors in the world, not as God made it, but they ſuddenly corrupted themſelves. Man being in honour abideth not, but is like the beaſt that periſheth, Pſal. 49. 20. The word in the Original is, he ſhall not ſleep in it, nor lodg in it, meaning that hee ſhall not take one nights reſt, but become like a beaſt, and clad with the skin of a beaſt: So this is the condition of civill men that are like bruit beaſts from the foundation of the world: The Lord looked down from heaven, and beheld the children of men: And the Apoſtle interprets it of all men; He looked downe and beheld all the children of men, to ſee if there were any that did underſtand and ſeeke God: They are all gone aſide, they are all become filthy, &c. Pſal. 14. 2, 3, 4, 5. This is the caſe of all men by nature. The Apoſtle expounds it of all, Jewes and Gentiles by nature, in Rom. 3. 10. to 16. And in Gen. 6. 5. The Lord looked upon the earth, and beh…ld it was corrupt. And in Gen. 11. v. 12. The earth alſo was corrupt before God, &c. And God ſaw that all the imaginations of mans heart were evill, onelyonly evill, and that continually. The word tranſlated, Imaginations, in the Originall is, The frame and bent of his thoughts is evill, and onelyonly evill, and that continually; bent to back-ſliding from God, not a good thought in any mans heart ſince the world began; take him as hee is by nature, not a good thought riſeth in any mans heart, not a good word from his lips, nor a good action from his hands; Take him without the vertue of Chriſt ſince the world began, there never roſe a good thought in all mens hearts; if there did, it was by the vertue of this Lamb of God that was ſlaine from the foundation of the world. The heart of man, (Jeremiah complained long before Chriſts time) is deceitfull above meaſure, and deſperately wicked, who can know it, Jer. 17. 9▪ Who can know the bottomleſſe depth of it. This is the very ſtate of all the world ſince the world began; the whole frame and ſtate of the world is enmity againſt God, Rom. 8▪ 7. It is not ſubject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, and that in ſuch a deep meaſure, you may ſee by the medicine that the Lord prepares for it; it ſhews the depth of the depravation of the world from the beginning, it hath been corrupt and incurable, unleſſe it were by the vertue of the death of Chriſt, by the ſonne of God made man, taking upon him mans nature; and the greatneſſe and infiniteneſſe of the vertue of this remedie doth evidently argue the bottomleſſe depth of the corruption of the world ſince the world began: No man would beſpeak a Smiths great hammer to break an egg-ſhell, a man would think it a marvellous vanity if he ſhould. Truly the Lord hath prepared the ſtrongeſt iron hammer to break the Serpents head; and which is wonderfull, this iron hammer, the Lord Jeſus, that breaks all before it; The ſtone cut out of the mountaine, that breaks the iron mountaine of Rome, Dan. 2. 34. It is the ſame it was: it makes men many times wonder how they came to be well conceited of the old Religion, when Antichriſt re…gned; then were golden dayes (as they ſay) then there was nothing, but every man regarded other mens good as their own; precious golden ſeaſons in the old world, then an eaſie matter would have perſwaded them all: but to what end was Chriſt ſlain from the beginning of the world, if it were not full of wickedneſſe? if it were not ſo tough that this hammer of hammers muſt come to break it in pieces? If men were ſo tractable, children to Parents, ſervants to Maſters, and yoke-fellows ſo abundantly in ſweetneſſe and amiableneſſe, what needed Chriſt to be cruſhed in pieces? Say not, ſaith Solomon, Eccleſ. 7. 10. what is the cauſe that the former dayes were better then theſe, for thou doſt not enquire wiſely concerning this: It is not a wiſe queſtion; for the truth is, thou art deceived to think the elder times were better; it is true, it is poſſible men by the policy of Satan may grow worſe; But take them at the beſt, had there not been a Lamb ſlain to reſcue the ſame from the corruption of it, no fleſh had been ſaved. It is true, in ſome ages, when the Goſpel found free paſſage, there was ſome difference. It was ſo in Davids time, better then in Sauls and Solomons, for a time better then in Davids; and ſo in Hezekiah's time, better then in Zedekiah's, and ſo it hath been up and down: but take it the beſt, all fleſh have corrupted their wayes, there is not a good thought, not a good word, nor a good practice ſince the world began. Sometimes in morall vertues men have more exceeded, when the Devill knew they were farre off from ſpiritual grace; he tempted them not when he knew he had them faſt in a golden and ſilken chaine, or cord of morall vertues (ſo I may call them) he led the priſoners of thoſe dayes in a golden chaine. The ſtrong man armed kept the houſe all the time of the Grecian and Perſian Monarchy long before Chriſt: and if any were delivered, it was by the death of Chriſt as well as now. It is true, we read in ancient Poets, I think it was fetched out of Daniel from Nebuchadnezzars dreame; there was a golden world, and then a ſilver world, and then a braſſe, and ſometimes iron, there was all. The Babylonian Monarch was gold: but when it was gold, it was but golden fetters of ſinne, and a land of wickedneſſe that held men cloſe to the Devill; and the ſilver Monarch of Perſia was but ſilver fetters; and the braſſe Monarch of Greece it was but brazen fetters.
It is true, when Religion brake forth, then hee put upon them more chaines, ſtrong beaſtly luſts, men with men committing filthineſſe, Rom. 1. 17. Theſe were iron chains to cary men captive to Satan: He ſees Learning break forth, and therefore he layes ſtronger chains and bands upon them: Be no more ſtiffe-necked, leſt your bands encreaſe, ſaith the Lord: and ſo from golden bands you have ſilver, and from ſilver, braſſe, and from braſſe, iron, and all to lead you captive to your laſt execution: And what is the difference? if a man be pynion'd with a golden cord, or a ſilver, or a brazen and iron cord, the one is more glittering then the other, but all bring to deſtruction: Therefore look at all the world living in wickedneſſe ſince the world began, or elſe in vain was the Lamb ſlain: The very frame of mans tranſgreſſion brought in a neceſſity of a like remedy, and therefore a like need of the blood of Chriſt.
And it is a vain Queſtion, as Solomon ſaith, why the former times ſhould be better then theſe: ſo it is a vain apprehenſion that men have of themſelves as good, to ſay, I thank God I have a good heart, and you ſhall finde me tractable, and reaſonable, (though they be but naturall) and ſo their children are very tractable, you may lead them with a twinde theerd, and need not uſe violence, you may ſoon break them; what then are you but eggſhels? what need then a iron hammer to cruſh all the power of the enemy? do not you and your children ſtand in need of the virtue of the blood of the Lamb as much as others have ſince the world began? That men have ſtood in need of the blood of the Lamb from the foundation of the world to reſcue them from the power of the ſtrong man, if they were ſo tractable, young or old? I know there is a great difference between ſpirits. God forbid we ſhould defame the work of God in nature, but take the beſt ſpirit, there is unconceivable enmity in the beſt natur'd man againſt Chriſt; there is an in-bred emnity againſt him ever ſince the world began, as is impoſſible to be healed, but by the blood of Chriſt; Chriſt came to cruſh them whiles they are in the ſhell, and unleſſe he heal them, verily children of a ſpan long cannot be ſaved: Therefore let no man flatter themſelves in their good inclination; there is that in us ſince the world began, that Chriſt muſt be broken and cruſhed to break the league between us and the Devill: Chriſt himſelfe in his ſoule and body muſt be ſtriken, he kils himſelfe by the ſtroke he gives to the enemy.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and it is no… goodneſſe of nature, or what ever elſe you can talke of, that will root it out; nor the rod of correction, unleſſe the blood of the Lamb be ſprinkled upon it, and then it may be of great uſe, and any other ordinance to bring them to the wayes of Chriſt Jeſus. Now if this were well ſtamped and revetted into the ſpirits of men, it would humble proud fleſh, and not onelyonly take them off from the free will of Popery, and Arminianiſme, and a pack of ſuch; but I hope there is leſſe need of ſpeaking againſt ſuch hereſies, but to ſet it home upon our own hearts; whatever our fathers have been, we their children are not better: Some accidentall difference there may be, but ſetting aſide ſuch accidentall differences for the ſubſtance of prevailing corruptions, they have ruled and reigned in the hearts of men, ſince the world began, by invincible power unable to be ſubdued, but onelyonly by the blood of the Lamb: And therefore you that are children of godly Parents, hear this word and know it; you bring ſuch engagements into the world with you to the ſtrong man, and now are ſo engaged, that unleſſe Chriſt be broken for you, and his death ſuffered for you, and his blood ſhed for you; you ſee how it is with younger and elder people, and let all Parents tell it to their children, and Maſters to their ſervants, and all that have to do with the world; be not deluded with a good affection to your own nature you are in, this is the ſtate of all ſince the world began; they are all ſprauling in wickedneſſe, and there is ſuch a league between the Devil and them, that unleſſe the Lamb be ſlaughtered, we cannot be ſaved.
Secondly,Ʋſe 2. Let all the ſonnes of nature, and all other ſons of grace, know, that if Chriſt was ſlaughtered from the beginning of the world, and onelyonly to break the Serpents head, which had plotted our deſtruction from the foundation of the world, then certainly it is not poſſible we ſhould live in thoſe ſinnes by which we have ſlaughtered Chriſt; can any man that knows the difference between the right hand and left, commit ſinne that ſlaughters Chriſt Jeſus, and live and die in it well enough? and think with himſelfe, that notwithſtanding the lewd luſts that hurry me, I ſhall do well enough with it? an oath is not ſuch a great matter, or to ſit …ippling till we be drunk, or gaining too much in bargains, it is no ſuch great matter: I tell thee, if it be breach of the law of God, thou canſt not live in it; Chriſt himſelfe could not, it coſt his breaking.
I ſpeak nothing to the difference between mortall and veniall ſins; was it a veniall ſin, think ye, that ſlaughtered the Son of God? they have been breaking him ſince the world began; and is it poſſible that if he lye a bleeding for ſin, is it poſſible that this or that ſinne ſhould be veniall and ought to be paſſed over? be not deceived, look what ſlaughter it hath brought of the chiefeſt of the world, even the God of the world, it ſlaughtered him; and there are none of all his people that ſhall be ſaved by him, but muſt be ſlaughtered in his luſts and paſſions, they muſt be crucified with Chriſt, if they have any part in him; he was ſlaine from the beginning, and ſo from firſt to laſt, they muſt be crucified from the power of ſinne, or elſe they cannot be ſaved. And therefore let no man bleſſe himſelf, and think he ſhall do well enough though he continue in ſin; for the truth is, there is no ſin but coſt Chriſts breaking and cruſhing, and either thou muſt lay hold on his death, and be conformable unto him, or elſe thou ſhalt never have part in him; it is tough work to ſlaughter ſin; let this ſlaughter of Chriſt cut off all out-runnings of ſinne, whether in thoughts, words, and deeds; let it be as a ſlaughtering knife to all our luſts, conſidering there is no taking leave in this and that; for the truth is, it coſt the very blood of Chriſt.
Thirdly,Ʋſe 3. It may teach us the unity of our Religion with the Religion of the ancient Patriarks ſince the world began; how did they look to be ſaved? In Acts 15. 11. they all looked to be ſaved by grace, and by the blood of the Lord Jeſus, as we doe in doing and ſuffering all for them, and we know no other way: There is no name under heaven whereby wee muſt be ſaved, but onelyonly the name of Chriſt, and by that we are ſaved from the guilt and filth of ſinne, and ſupplyed with grace to conform… us to Chriſt Jeſus, and to make us like to him our head and husband; there is the old way of ſalvation, and it is the ſame now; there is unity and true antiquity. The Papiſts ſpeak much of antiquities, but let them bring no other way of ſalvation but the blood of the Lamb, and we will look at them as Churches for point of ſalvation; we will grant them the right hand of fellowſhip if they will look for no ſalvation neither from free will, nor from merits of their own, nor from the interceſſion of Saints and Angells, nor from diſpenſations of the Pope, nor from the going on pilgrimage, nor from the ſatisfaction of Saints, but that they look for ſalvation onelyonly from the blood of the Lamb; truly we will give them the right hand of fellowſhip; let them have errours, there may be many errours otherwiſe: but let them hold there, and look for all ſalvation there, and reſt not upon any other hopes of ſalvation, but what they receive from the blood of the Lamb by faith in him (for ſo alone it is received) faith in the blood of the Lamb, breeds and ſheds abroad every grace in ſome meaſure and makes fruitfull. No man hath waſhed his roabs in the blood of the Lamb, but is fit to walk with Chriſt in white to juſtification to his ſanctification, Rev. 7. 14. And ſo you ſhall have a true and perfect agreement in Religion, if that we agreed upon looking there for ſalvation, and put not ſalvation elſe-where: but when men magnifie nature, and pinch upon, and extenuate the blood of Chriſt, and in their deep devotion you ſhall have pictured, here is the blood of Chriſt, and the blood of the ſonne of the Virgin; when he looks upon the ſonne of the Virgin, he thinks there is perfect ſalvation; but when he looks upon other things, to the mi…k of his mother; oh there is more ſweetneſſe in milk then in blood! when he looks againe to the paſſion of Chriſt, then he priſeth that; but when he looks to the tenderneſſe of his m…her, hee thinkes there is more in that: And thus doth their blaſphemous devotion hang between the milk of the mother, and the blood of the Lamb, which argues their religion is tranſported to a notion of the blood of the Lamb, and they are captive hither and thither, and any whether, rather then to the blood of Chriſt.
Fourthly,Ʋſe 4. It may be of inſtruction to us, that never any evill can befall us, but there is a remedy prepared before it come upon us: The Lamb was ſlaine from the beginning of the world.
Though we lived before Chriſts time, and much more, if after it: there is no ſinne that Adam nor his wife committed, but there was a remedy prepared for it before the foundation of the world; it was of infinite value, it was provided from eternity, and promiſed from the foundation of the world; it was ſhadowed in types, and exhibited in ſundry repreſentations, and in the lively efficacy of it in the hearts and lives of his people ſince the world began: All that we read of Noah, Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, of David, and Solomon, of Kings, Prieſts, and Prophets, and Apoſtles, what have they all been, but lively repreſentations and foot-ſteps of the power of the blood of the Lamb: the Lord provided his ſlaughter of the Lamb, for the redemption of all his people, out of the world, before the world began.
It is many a conceit that Chriſtians have; this and that might have fallen out better, if ſuch means had been taken in time, ſuch a mans life had been ſaved; according as Martha ſaid unto our bleſſed Saviour in John 11. 21. Lord if thou hadſt been here, my brother had not dyed; why ſo? Chriſt had been able to heal him; By what virtue ſhall he raiſe a man from death to life? Is it not by the virtue of his death and reſurrection? If it be, was not his death and reſurrection before the world began? For it is of infinite value; and therefore though he came four dayes after Lazarus death was paſt, yet he came timely enough, for he brought virtue with him; and ſo let no man ſay, if I had known as much now as before, I ſhould not have done thus: By what virtue ſhould you have been preſerved? if there be any ſaving benefit, it muſt be by the blood of the Lamb, for it is from that, that we look for all our redemption from all afflictions and temptations from his blood, then there was remedy enough before, but it was not applyed, becauſe God hath ſome other work more heavenly and ſpirituall and uſefull to us then the accompliſhment of our hearts deſire, then the repairing of our loſſes and croſſes.
So then this is of ſpeciall uſe to us, that if his blood be ſhed from the founda…ion of the world, then the remedy is never too late: If we thinke if we had not known many things, we might have ſaved a world of ſorrow: why did we not? was it becauſe there was no balm in Gilead, or no vettue in the blood of the Lamb, or that the vertue of it is dryed up? No, God forbid; but the Lord hath ſome other exerciſe for us to make us conformable to Chriſt, he would have us more weaned from the world, and more Chriſt-like, and more Lamb-like; more ſpirituall, and every way more conformable to Chriſt, and for that his blood was ſufficient, for he came not to ſave us from croſſes, but from curſes from any thing that might hurt our ſoules, as might break our heads, as might hurt our union with Chriſt, and communion with his ſpirit, for that it may be of value; it was of value 4000. yeares before his coming in the fleſh; and do you think it is not of value 4000. yeares after? it is not yet 2000. yeares ſince his coming, but 1600. and ſome odde: then be perſwaded that the blood of Chriſt is ſtill lively and freſh to remove all ſinne and croſſes, and to leave a gracious Tincture on all croſſes, to do us more good then if we were without them; This is the efficacy of this blood which is a ſtay to Chriſtians that are troubled with the power of their corruptions and temptations, they are not able to overcome and reſiſt ſuch temptations; why not able? If all the powers of hell come againſt you, verily there was a remedy provided long ago, and it was abundantly efficacious foure thouſand yeares before, and it is of more efficacy now, though they had the Goſpel before, yet not in that clear manifeſtation: and therefore if you read that Abraham ſacrificed, and he pleaſed God; but I doubt my prayers and my prophecying… pleaſe not God; why do they not? Abraham knew of the meanes whereby he ſhould pleaſe God. … walked with God, but I ſhall never keep …uch fellowſhip with him; he was reconciled to God, and there was no meanes of reconciliation but by the blood of the Lamb, it is able to put ſtrength … faith. Abraham … Countrey and his Fathers he uſe, onelyonly becauſe … blood of the Lamb: and if he prevailed ſo far, why not we? …f he was fully ſatisfied in the … of his … by believing him that had promiſed, what … it that his death i… not of infinite value … as well as before? If Joſeph was able to withſtand his wanton …, doubtleſs there is the like power now; how ſhall I crucifie the Sonne of God, and put him to open …? Thus poor Chriſtians work upon this infinite vertue, and lively power of the death of Chriſt; it wonde…fully calmes and purifies the heart, it mightily ſtrengthens againſt all corruption: and what ever riſeth in the hearts of Gods people that prevailes againſt them, it is becauſe the blood of the Lamb is not applyed, otherwiſe it could not be they ſhould be dead-hearted and blind-ſpirited, and many times at a loſſe in this and that practice, and wreſtling with this and that temptation, it ſprings only from want of applying the efficacy of this blood which hath been of ſuch infinite vertue from the beginning of the world.