Twenty-Four Sermons, Sermon 16
SERMON XVI.
December 15. 1696.
PSALM LXIX. iv. laſt Clauſe.
Then I reſtored that which I took not away.
3. JEſus Christ was ordained of God to this work, and in that reſpect there was a neceſſity of his accompliſhing it. John 9.4. I muſt work the work of him that ſent me, &c. This was the work of him that ſent him, and therefore he could not decline it. Chriſt could not reſiſt the Will of the Father, any more than he could ceaſe to love him. John 14.31. That the World may know that I love the Father, as the Father gave me commandment, even ſo I do. His Obedience was an Evidence of his Love to God, as it is of ours; though there be no proportion between his and ours; for no Creatures love to God was ever ſo ſtrong, or ever ſo tried. Cyrus was ſtyled the Man that executed God's Counſel, Iſa. 46.11. but he did it ignorantly, for he knew not God; but the Man Chriſt Jeſus underſtood his Work, and who gave it him to do, and deſign'd the Execution of God's Counſel in it; as an Expreſſion of his matchleſs Affection to him. It became our Lord Jeſus in the quality of God's Commiſſioner, To be faithful to him that appointed him, Heb. 3.2. He was put in truſt with this Buſineſs, and he muſt ſhew his Fidelity in performing it. There is ſuch an exact Agreement between his and the Father's Will, that when God pleas'd to require his Service, he could not but ſay, Lo I come.
4. Chriſt had engag'd to take this Work upon him; which is a ſort of Engagement that the Scripture, more than once expreſſes by ſtriking Hands, Job 17.3. Prov. 22.26. So our Lord Jeſus had covenanted with the Father before all Time, to do that which in the fulneſs of Time he actually came to do. Now this Agreement, which bears an Eternal Date, could not be diſanulled or made void again; as God the Father had ſworn with reſpect to Chriſt, and could not repent, Pſalm 110.4. So Jeſus Chriſt having enter'd into ſuch a Bond, it ſtood firm as the Ordinances of Heaven, and he could not go back from the Execution or Performance of it. If the Covenant of Redemption might have been broken, the whole Deſign might have miſcarried, the Counſel of Peace had been overthrown, and all the Thoughts of God to us-ward had come to nothing. It was upon this unmoveable Foundation, that the Salvation of all the Believers under the Old Teſtament was built, as well as thoſe under the New; ſo that if Chriſt had not made good what he undertook, they that were let into Heaven, muſt have been caſt out. But the Conſidence that God repoſed in his Son could not be ſo defeated. He that ſweareth to his own hurt and changeth not, is the Character of a Citizen of Sion, Pſalm 15.4. But moſt eminently true of Chriſt.
5. The Infinite Love of Chriſt to Sinners did ſweetly incline him to this Work. His Delights (who was the Wiſdom of God) were with the Sons of Men, Prov. 8.31. He delighted in Mercy, and in them as the needy Objects of it, who otherwiſe were altogether undelightful. The Bowels of Jeſus Chriſt were troubled for us; he could not bear to ſee his whole reaſonable Creation in this lower World, made a Prey to the Devil, without interpoſing for the effectual Reſcue of a choſen peculiar Number. Our Miſery was the Motive to his Compaſſion; that ſwayed him to Acts of Pity, when our guilt would have provokt him to the utmoſt Revenge. This is that Love of Chriſt which paſſeth Knowledge, Eph. 3.19. A Love which is and will be the Matter of endleſs Admiration, which the saints in Heaven are always magnifying, but can never fully comprehend. 'Tis ſometimes called the Grace of our Lord Yeſus, 2 Cor. 8.9. 1 Tim. 1.14. Which is not meant of the Grace communicated to us, but that Grace in him, which is the Fountain and Spring of all ſuch Communications. We are not only to conſider the Love and Good-will of the Father in ſending, but the exceeding Kindneſs of the Son in coming; which his Deſire of, and Zeal for our Salvation, promoted him to.
6. Jeſus Chriſt was willing not only to purchaſe a new Title for us to our forfeited Bleſſings, but to purchaſe a new Title to us for himſelf. This is expreſly ſaid to be one Part of his Intention and Deſign; Rom. 14 9. To this end he both dyed, and roſe and revived, that he might be Lord both of the Dead and Living. He was Lord of all upon the old Account of Creation, for he could not loſe his Propriety and Dominion; when Ahaz. Reign'd ſo wickedly and committed all manner of Abominations, and for that Reaſon was delivered into the Hand of the King of Syria, the Lord his God is ſaid to do it, 2 Chron. 28.5. The Lord was his God by right ſtill, though he ſinfully renounc't and diſown'd him. But now. Jeſus Chriſt was reſolv'd to be our Lord upon a new Account of Redemption; that he might lay claim to us, not only as the Lord that made us, but as the Lord that bought us. We are now the ranſomed of the Lord, Iſa. 35.10. His purchaſed Poſſeſſion, Eph. 1.14. By the Payment of the ſame ineſtimable Price he hath regain'd all that Sin and Satan had ſnatcht and torn from us, and likewiſe acquir'd a further Intereſt and Right in us, ſuch as will be acknowledg'd by all his ſaved ones to his Eternal Praiſe.
7. The Powers of Darkneſs would have been Triumphant, if Chriſt had not baffled and defeated them by this glorious Perſormance. It was a great Satisfaction to their Malice and Rage, after they were baniſht out of Heaven, and caſt down to Hell, to involve all Mankind by one ſucceſsful Temptation in the ſame Ruine with themſelves, and ſo prevent God from rejoycing in any of his Works on Earth. When Judgment was executed upon them never to be revers't, they thought it made ſome amends, that they had drawn the whole Poſterity of Adam at once into the fatal Snare. The Devil gloried over poor miſerable Man as his Conquer'd Vaſſal, and lawful Captive; having ſubdued this undone World to himſelf, as a kind of Tributary Province, where he might Drink his fill of the Blood of Souls. But this Performance of Chriſt hath diſappointed him of the Fruits of that Victory: For he hath divided the ſpoil with the Strong, Iſa. 53.12. And deſtroyed him that had the Power of Death, Heb. 2.14. Jeſus Chriſt hath pluckt his Sheep out of the Teeth of the Devourer, and pull'd down the Banners which he had ſet up, and made him give up his Slaves, as the Fiſh that had ſwallowed Jonah, vomited him alive upon dry Land.
8. Chriſt knew that his bleſſed Performance would not only be a Benefit to Man, but turn to the Advantage of Elect Angels alſo. At the ſame Time that he came about reſtoring Work for us, he might alſo do confirming Work for them. And this their Caſe requir'd; Angels wanted an Head of ſtability, as well as Men a Mediator of recovery; they ſtood in need of his Support, as well as we of his Salvation; his Blood was neceſſary for us as actually fallen, his Strength neceſſary to them, becauſe naturally mutable. All Things in Heaven and Earth, were to be gather'd together in one, even in Chriſt, Eph. 1.10. They could not ſafely meet in any other Center, but ſo as to be in danger of being ſhaken off again. We that had left our firſt Eſtate, were to be reduc'd and brought back to it; they that had kept their firſt Eſtate were to be fixt and eſtabliſht in it. Here was a double Work to be done by the ſame Hand; and the ſame Hand hath done both; Chriſt hath interpos'd for our Reſtauration, and for their Security; for the remedying of our Apoſtacy, and the Prevention of theirs. The Heart of our dear Lord is ſet upon the multiplying of Acts of Grace, from the Throne to the Footſtool, that high and low may be taken in.
V. Ʋſe.
I. Information: Many Things to be learnt from hence. As,
1. If it were Chriſts Work to reſtore what he took not away, we may ſee a vaſt difference between him, and the beſt of thoſe that were Types of him. Some of the greateſt Types of Chriſt were in ſome Things contrary to him, as well as in all Things Inferiour. There was not a more eminent Type of Chriſt in the Old Teſtament, than David, the Perſon ſpeaking in the Text, inſomuch that Chriſt is frequently ſet forth under his Name, Iſa. 55.3. and in many other Places. Now this David was ſo far from doing as Chriſt did, i. e, Reſtoring what he took not away, that he confeſſes the contrary of himſelf, in the Caſe of his numbring the People, for which ſeventy Thouſand of them dyed by the Peſtilence, 2 Sam. 24.17. He ſpake unto the Lord, when he ſaw the Angel that ſmote the People, and ſaid, Lo I have ſinned and done wickedly, but theſe Sheep what have they done? Let thy Hand I pray thee, be againſt me, &c. Our Lord Jeſus might have inverted theſe Words; theſe Sheep have gone Aſtray indeed, and turned every one to his own Way, but what have I done? Let not thy Sword be awaken'd againſt me, but them. They have deſerv'd to ſuffer, but wherein have I offended? David's Sin puniſht upon the People, and the Sins of the People upon Chriſt.
2. The unſpotted Holineſs of our Lord Jeſus, is not in the leaſt blemiſht by the Imputation of our Sins to him. He is not at all the leſs guiltleſs in himſelf, becauſe our Iniquities are laid upon him. We may with ſufficient tenderneſs preſerve the Honour of our great Redeemer, as one undeſiled, and ſeparate from Sinners, without departing from this important Truth of his being made Sin for us; for the Holy Ghoſt affirms both this, and that he knew no Sin, in the ſame Breath, 2 Cor. 5. ult. He was far from being perſonally conſcious of Sin, yet ſo far charg'd with it, as to be accountable in our ſtead for it. When the Scape-goat which had all the Iniquities of the People put upon his Head, was ſent away by the Hand of a ſit Man into the Wilderneſs, He that let him go, was to waſh his Cloaths; and bath his Fleſh in Water, and afterwards to return into the Camp, Lov. 16.26. And ſo the Prieſt was to do, after the ſprinkling of the Blood of the Heifer, Numb. 19.7. And the man that burnt her, ver. 8. To ſignifie a reputed uncleanneſs, though there was none really inherent. One of the Ancients (Auguſtine) applies the Words following the Text, ver. 5. to Chriſt in this very Senſe; they were his Sins as he bore them, though he did not commit them.
3. This ſerves to clear and vindicate the Righteouſneſs of God in his ſevere dealing with Chriſt. His engaging to reſtore, made the Caſe the ſame, with reſpect to the Equity of the Divine Diſpenſation, as if he had taken away. He undertook as our Surety, and ſo the Debt was lookt upon as his own, though if you abſtract from the Conſideration, of his Suretiſhip, he owed nothing. As Judah ſaid to Jacob, when he intreated that his Brother Benjamin might be ſent with them to Egypt; I will be Surety for him, of my Hand ſhalt thou require him; if I bring him not to thee, let me bear the blame for ever, Gen. 43.9. So Chriſt undertook for the Sinner to God; at my Hand ſhalt thou require all that is due from him; let my Life go for his Life, let my Blood be taken in the Room of his, and accepted as a Ranſom for him. Now the Caſe being ſo, though God ſpared not his own Son, he was not unjuſtly rigorous. His Son acquits and juſtifies him in all that he inflicted on him; Pſalm 22.1, 2, 3. My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? why art thou ſo far from helping me, &c. But thou art Holy. So John 17.25. He gives him the Title of righteous Father.
4. This ſhews the Reaſon of Chriſt's Silence, when he was upon his Trial, at the Bar of Men. Mark 15.3, 4, 5. The Chief Prieſts accuſed him of many Things, but he anſwered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, ſaying, Anſwereſt thou nothing? Behold how many Things they witneſs againſt thee. But Jeſus yet anſwered nothing; ſo that Pilate marvelled. It was ſtrange and aſtoniſhing to him who knew not the Cauſe, and might well be ſo. There are various Reaſons aſſign'd for it, it was foretold that he ſhould be oppreſſed and afflicted, and yet be Dumb and not open his Mouth, like a Lamb brought to the ſlaughter, Iſa. 53.7. He would do nothing to hinder his own Death, when his Hour was come; but I conceive the main Reaſon to be, that he ſtood in our Place, who were truly guilty, tho' he was Innocent; our Months were ſtopped, Rom. 3.19. And therefore he would not open his, as he could have done; our Cauſe was ſuch as could not be pleaded, it was capable of no Defence; we had nothing to ſay, why Sentence ſhould not paſs upon us; and therefore he as repreſenting us, ſilently ſubmitted to Condemnation.
5. This alſo intimates the Reaſon of the unſhaken Confidence of Chriſt in the worst part of all his Sufferings and Deſertions. He knew, that he had not perſonally deſerv'd them, and could not be always put to undergo them. If he had taken away, what he came to reſtore, it would have ſtruck a fearful damp upon his Spirit, when he enter'd into thoſe Clouds, and was drinking of the bitter Cup. Guilt breeds a great deal of Terror and Diffidence in the Mind, ſo that a Man knows not how to bear up under his Troubles, nor yet to expect an aeſcape out of them. But our Lord Jeſus having only the Chaſtiſement of our Peace upon him, and being to make Expiation for no faults but ours, had no Fears or Doubts to make him ſtagger; his Faith never faulter'd, but held on in the moſt vigorous Exerciſe to the very Laſt. He could boldly make thoſe challenges, which the Prophet does in writing of him, Who will contend with me? Let us stand together; who is my Adverſary? Let him come near to me, Iſa. 50.8. He knows what Grounds he ſuffer'd upon, and what would be the Iſſue of his Sufferings; that the Prince of the World had nothing in him, and Death could not have long Dominion over him.
6. If Christ hath made Restitution, then Remiſſion is unquestionably ſure. Sin hath been Condemned in the Fleſh of Chriſt, therefore the Believer muſt be certainly abſolved. God is as righteous now in forgiving, as he would have been otherwiſe in puniſhing. He can do it now without any Impeachment of his Juſtice, Violation of his Truth, or Reflection on his Holineſs; yea all theſe Attributes ſway him to forgive; becauſe there is full Satisfaction made, all his Demands are anſwer'd, and he can exact no more; Payment is accepted, the Surety is diſcharg'd and taken from Priſon, and ſo your Indempnity infallibly obtain'd on the moſt honourable Terms. The Believer's Sins are therefore as ſurely blotted out, as the Unbelievers are written down. 'Tis obſerv'd by ſome, That the Trumpet of the Jubilee was order'd to begin to ſound on the Day of Atonement, and then every Man had his Liberty, and return'd to his Poſſeſſion, Lev. 25.9, 10. So hath Chriſt by his atoning Sacrifice proclaim'd our Releaſe. The Scape-goat ſent into the Wilderneſs, never came back; but (as ſome ſay) thrown off from a ſteep Rock, and notice given by blowing of Horns throughout the Land. The Goſpel gives the like comfortable Notice to us, that Chriſt hath abſolutely procur'd our Pardon, and Sin once pardon'd, ſhall never be remember'd againſt us.
II. Exhortation.
1. Let none reſt contented without Chriſt. They that can be ſatisfied in the want of him, never conſider what he came about, and of what Concernment that is. When God calls for his Dues, and proceeds in a legal Manner againſt you (as he will do, for you are under the I aw, if not under Grace) How will you render them to him? Or where will you borrow? Who can lend you ſo vaſt a ſumm, as is requifite to be laid down? Whither can you fly for help, above or below, in Heaven or Earth. To which of the Saints will you turn? Who among them all can by any means redeem his Brother? They will tell you, that they have not enough for themſelves, they muſt have periſht without relief from Chriſt, as well as you, what a dreadful reckoning will it be, when the Books are open'd, the whole ſcore caſt up, and all your Arrears ſtrictly enquir'd into? When inſtead of appeaſing God by ſufficient Reſtitution, you muſt look to be repaid by him with implacable Fury? Bethink your ſelves of your Condition, all you that are far from Righteouſneſs: Think what it is, For your Iniquities to be before the Lord continually, Pſalm 109.15. Whereas by coming to Chriſt, They would be all removed in one Day, Zech. 3.9.
2. Take heed of detracting from Chriſt, who does ſo much for you. He that repairs all our Loſſes for us, will not give the Glory of it to us, and woe be to us, if we aſſume the leaſt Part of that Glory to our ſelves. 'Tis Honour enough to us to be free Receivers, but 'tis a diſparagement to Chriſt, if we preſume in any Reſpect to be rightful Purchaſers. This is to commit a piece of unpardonable Theft, to add to all our other Violences. When God hath raiſed up ſuch an Horn of Salvation for us, Luke 1.69. Shall we ſay, That we have taken to us Horns by our own Strength? Amos 6.13. Is the Iniquity of our heels too little for us, that we muſt back it with ſuch Pride of Heart? Hath the Work of Faith any Vertue or Power in it ſelf to juſtifie, or is it the Dignity of the Object, that Faith lays hold upon? Does our New Obedience make any recompence to God for our Old Sins? Does any Man in the common Affairs of humane Life imagine to clear himſelf from former Debts, by paying thoſe of a later Date? is our Repentance any Reparation for our Offence? That's the Duty of a ſinful Creature, without the help of any new (ſuppos'd) Law to make it ſo; Light of Nature teaches, that 'tis a Sin to detain what hath been wrongfully taken, Job 20.10.
3. Let all that have Chriſt, be excited to Glory in him. 'Tis that which they not only may, but ought to do, Iſa. 45. ult. The humbling ſight of Sin ſhould not hinder or leſſen our Holy Rejoycing in his Salvation. It becometh every one that believeth in Jeſus, to lift up his Face without Fear, and without Confuſion; Chriſt hath Pray'd againſt it; ver. 6. of this Pſalm, Let not them that wait on Thee oh Lord, be aſham'd for my ſake, &c. If there be any Cauſe of ſhame remaining to a Believer (as a Believer) Chriſts Work muſt be imperfect, and the reproach will lye at his Door. 'Tis a part of our gratitude to Chriſt to commend him to the World, as one mighty to ſave. Thus he is daily to be praiſed, Pſalm 72.15. As he did not hide God's Righteouſneſs within his Heart, ſo neither muſt we, Pſalm 10.10. Our Tongues are to Publiſh his Righteouſneſs, and make honourable mention of it, Pſalm 71.16. It is not more our Priviledge to be inveſted with it, than 'tis our Duty to confeſs it, and to take all fit occaſions of magnifying him for it.
4. Remember your increaſed Obligations of faithful Subjection to Chriſt. It would be vilely diſingenuous; and inexcuſably Preſumptuous to take encouragement from this Doctrine to run up new ſcores. They that can be guilty of ſuch ill behaviour towards Chriſt, and wax ſo wanton againſt him, ſhew plainly, that they have no real Part in him. He that hath not the Spirit of Chriſt is none of his; Rom. 8.9. And does this kind of Carriage diſcover any Thing of the Spirit of Chriſt? No ſurely, but on the contrary, the Spirit of the Devil, who would ſtain the Glory of our Holy Redeemer, by ſetting him forth as the Miniſter of Sin. God will not bear ſuch abominable ſilth upon the Foundation of his laying; even a Man would not ſuffer his Kindneſs to be ſo perverted and abus'd, but expreſs his juſt Reſentment of it. If we Sin through weakneſs, we have an Advocate ready, but if we Sin wilfully, there is no more Sacrifice to be offer'd; confident Debtors that Care not how they Live, nor what they ſpend, are not to be countenanc'd; thoſe Bankrupts whom Chriſt hath once reinſtated, are made very Cautious afterwards.
5. Learn not to Repine at any of your deſerved Chaſtenings. Straggling Sheep can have no Reaſon to complain, when they paſs under the Rod, conſidering how the good Shepherd was ſmitten. How can ſuch dry Trees as we are fly in God's Face, when he is hewing of us with gentle ſtrokes, if we did but bear upon our Minds, how the Green-Tree was cloven in ſunder! Know thou that God exacteſt of thee leſs than thine Iniquity deſerveth, Job 10.6. Thy Afflictions are moderate, and God deals with thee in Mercy, rather than in Judgment; and thou haſt need of theſe Things to bridle or reclaim thee, but our Lord Jeſus was more roughly handled, who was worthy of the higheſt Expreſſions of Love, and never could be caſt out of the Boſom of the Father. Chriſt was not indebted to the Juſtice of God, and therefore Typiſied by an Heifer upon which no Yoke ever came, Numb. 19.2. And yet how was he proſecuted at the ſuit of Heaven it ſelf! Therefore when God deals ſo favourably with us real Offenders (as he does indeed at the worſt, if we compare our Sufferings with Chriſt's) we ſhould lay our Hand upon our Mouths, and calmly bear his reſtrained Indignation.
6. Follow the ſteps of Chriſt, by being meek and patient as he was, under the ſharpeſt Exerciſes from cauſeleſs Enemies. The having of Truth and Juſtice on our ſide will not warrant unruly Clamour and Contention. 'Tis much better in many Caſes for a Man to give up his own Right, than to behave himſelf unſeemly in the Defence of it, ſo as utterly to break the Bond of Peace, and ſtain the Credit of his Chriſtian Profeſſion. The Church of Corinth was therefore condemn'd for going to Law before the Unbelievers, for the ſmalleſt Matters; and the Apoſtle puts it to them; Why do you not rather take wrong, and ſuffer your ſelves to be defrauded? 1 Cor. 6.7. 'Tis one of the glories of Chriſt's Diſciples to lye down with quietneſs under the worſt of Injuries from unreaſonable Men, when they cannot regularly help them, i. e. without Sin and Scandal. In the Caſe of our good Name (which is more valuable than great Riches) when Things are laid to our Charge which we know not, there ought to be an aſſerting of our Innocence indeed, but yet a bearing of Reproach; we ſhould diſown the guilt, and yet ſubmit to the diſhonour. Thus Job would not remove his Integrity, nor let go his Righteouſneſs (Chap. 27.5, 6.) and yet ſays, That if his Adverſary had written a Book, he would take it on his Shoulder, and bind it as a Crown to him, Chap. 31.35, 36. This is to imitate the Temper and Practiſe of our Bleſſed Lord, who readily restor'd what he took not away.