Forty-nine Sermons upon Colossians, Part 1 · Sermon 6

Forty-nine Sermons upon Colossians · Part 1 · Sermon 6

p. 46THE VI. SERMON.

COL. I. Ver. XIV.

Verſ. XIV. In whom we have redemption by His blood, to wit, the remiſsion of ſins.

DEar Brethren, As the true, and thorough knowledge of that great Redeemer, whoſe remembrance we are at this day to celebrate, is the only foundation of the piety, and ſalvation of men: in like manner on the contrary, ignorance of His perſon, of His offices, and of His benefits, is the ſource of thoſe errors, and abuſes, which have corrupted religion, and conſequently, of that unhappineſs, into which the unbelieving, the profane, the ſuperſtitious, and the heretical, do fall. We may ſay to all theſe people; Joh. 4.10.John 4:10as our LORD ſometime did to the woman of Samaria, If you knew, who He is, that ſpeaks to you, in our Goſpel, you would ask of Him, the refreſhment, and conſolation of your ſouls; and He would give you living water, 1 Cor. 2.8.1 Cor 2:8ſpringing up to everlaſting life. And as St. Paul ſaid of the ancient Jews; that if they had known the wiſdom of GOD, they would never have crucified the LORD of glory. So may we ſay, to all the enemies of Godlineſs in general; that if they knew JESUS, the Wiſdom, and Word of the Father, they would not wrong, either His truth, or thoſe that make profeſſion of it. JESUS, rightly, and throughly known, believed, and apprehended, is enough to expell errour, doubt, ſuperſtition, vice, and death, from our hearts; and to eſtabliſh truth, peace, joy, holineſs, and ſalvation, in them. Accordingly you ſee, that Paul, the maſter of the whole world, the Miniſter of truth, the teacher of life, and happineſs, for the executing of this high commiſſion, and opening the eyes of His gentiles, and bringing them from the power of Satan unto GOD, proteſteth, he determined to know nothing among them, but JESUS CHRIST Crucified. He findeth, in this rich, and inexhauſtible ſubject, all that was neceſſary for him, to convert Infidels, to confirm believers, to comfort the afflicted, to reduce the ſtrayed, and recover ſuch as had erred. He finds in it, wherewith to confute the Philoſophy of the Pagans, wherewith to abaſe the preſumption of the Jews, wherewith to inſtruct the ignorant, and to convince the intelligent. It's with the ſole ſcience of this JESUS, that He plucketh men off from idolatry, and ſets them free from the ſlavery of vice. It's with the ſame again, that he reformeth the abuſes, and cureth the wounds which errour hath cauſed in the Church. It is his weapon, againſt enemies without, and againſt the ſeditious within. It's with this Science he buildeth the Houſe of GOD; it is with the ſame alſo, that he cleanſeth, and keepeth it pure. Whatever the enemy be, that appears, he ſets againſt him nothing at all, but his Crucified JESUS. For even as in nature, no ſooner doth the Sun appear in our horizon, opening its beautiful, and brightſome viſage to the world, but the ſhade, and cloudineſs, that filled the air, doth immediately vaniſh away; ſo in the Church, when the LORD JESUS ariſeth in the hearts of men, there ſhedding abroad the riches of His ſaving light, and ſhewing His fairneſs to open view; at the ſame inſtant, errour and abuſe do diſappear, being p. 47unable to ſuſtain the force of this divine brightneſs: and as the Pſalmiſt ſings on another occaſion; If He ariſe His enemies are diſperſed, and they that are againſt Him, flee before Him. He driveth them away, as wind doth the ſmoke. This then is the only aſſured means, either to preſerve, or recover truth, and the purity of heavenly doctrine, even to propoſe JESUS CHRIST inceſſantly to the faithful, and diligently ſhew them, all His riches, all His Vertue, and His Grace. This is the Apoſtle's method. Thus he doth on all occaſions, ſtill reducing his Schollars to JESUS CHRIST. So you ſee in the Epiſtle to the Hebrews, that he might put-by the ſhadows of the Jewiſh Law, wherewith ſome of that Nation endeavoured to darken the Goſpel; he ſheweth them, at the beginning, the majeſty, and divinity of the LORD JESUS, ſetting Him up above men, and Angels, on the Throne of a ſuper-eminent glory. Thus he doth in this Epiſtle, and indeed, he combateth here a like errour. For after he had ſaluted the Coloſſians, and given them ſome tokens of the affection he bore them, as you heard afore, he now beginneth to ſpeak to them of JESUS CHRIST, diſcovering His Divine glory, and the fulneſs of His goodneſs, to them; that being content with ſo rich a treaſure, they might not go beg, either the ſuccour of Moſes, or the aſſiſtance of Philoſophy, for the ſaving of their ſouls. It is preciſely at the Text we have read, that he beginneth this excellent diſcourſe. For having before thanked GOD for the grace, He had ſhewed the Coloſſians, in tranſlating them into the Kingdom of His well-beloved Son, he takes occaſion from thence to ſpeak of Him, adding, In whom we have deliverance by His blood, to wit, the remiſſion of ſins. This is the great benefit, we have received from GOD, by means of JESUS CHRIST. Then he deſcribeth, in connexion herewith, the excellency, and divinity of His perſon, Who is, ſaith he, the image of the inviſible GOD, the firſt-born of every creature. But, for this time, we will content our ſelves with the firſt point, the meditating whereof, as you ſee, My Brethren, is very ſuitable to the action of the Holy Supper, to which we are invited; wherein, the remiſſion of ſins, which we have in JESUS CHRIST, is ſealed to us by His Sacrament; wherein the blood, by which He hath purchaſed it, is repreſented, and communicated to us; wherein JESUS, the Author of this benefit, is pourtrayed before our eyes, as broken, and dead for us, and as feeding us to everlaſting life. Lift we up then our hearts, with religious attention, that having rightly comprehended, both the greatneſs of the grace of GOD, and the excellency of His CHRIST, we may preſent Him, ſouls lively affected, with ſenſe of His goodneſs; and may receive, in conſequence of it, that joy, and bleſſed life, which He promiſeth to all thoſe, that ſhall approach Him, with ſuch a diſpoſition. To aid you in ſo neceſſary a meditation, I will examine, if the LORD pleaſe, what the Apoſtle teacheth us, concerning the benefit, which we receive of God, in His Son, ſaying, that we have in Him deliverance by His blood, to wit, the remiſſion of Sins.

In theſe words, he briefly pointeth out, who is the Author of deliverance even JESUS CHRIST; what is the deliverance it ſelf, namely, the remiſſion of ſins; what the means is, by which JESUS CHRIST hath obtained it for us, even by His blood; and laſtly who they are, that receive it from GOD, namely, we: that is to ſay, the Faithful. He had ſaid afore, that GOD hath delivered us from the power of darkneſs, and tranſlated us into His Kingdom. Now he ſheweth us, by whom, He effected that great work, adding, that we have deliverance in JESUS CHRIST. He is the Author of our redemption, our only deliverer, the Prince of our ſalvation. But whereas the Apoſtle ſaith, that it is, in Him, we have deliverance, this may be taken two wayes, both of them good, and commodious: Firſt, as ſignifying, that it is by Him, we have been delivered. For it is an Hebrew manner of ſpeech, frequent in Scripture, to ſay, in, inſtead of, by. And, after this ſenſe, the Apoſtle declareth, how it is, by JESUS CHRIST His Son, that GOD hath accompliſhed the work of His good pleaſure towards us, having conſtituted Him the Mediator of mankind; who according to the will of Him that ſent him, perfectly executed all thoſe things, that were neceſſary to put us in poſſeſſion of ſalvation. But this word, in, may alſo p. 48be taken in the ſenſe it hath in our vulgar language, as ſignifying our ſpiritual communion with the LORD, by reaſon whereof we are ſaid to be in Him, and He in us. 1 Jo. 2.2.1 John 2:2For though He be the Propitiation for the ſins of the whole world, and the worth of His ſacrifice ſo great, as that it abundantly ſufficeth to expiate all the crimes of the univerſe; and although the ſalvation obtained by Him, be offered in effect, and by His will, unto all men: yet none actually enjoy it, but thoſe, that enter into His communion, by Faith, and are in him by that means; as that clauſe of His covenant expreſly importeth, Joh. 3.16.John 3:16GOD hath ſo loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoſoever believeth in Him ſhould not periſh but have everlaſting life. 1 Jo. 5.12.1 John 5:12When it is, that St. John proteſteth aloud, He that hath the Son, hath life; He that hath not the Son of GOD, hath not life; which is as much, as if He had ſaid, He that is in JESUS CHRIST, hath life; and he that is not in Him hath not life; according to what our LORD Himſelf ſaid to His Apoſtles. Joh. 15.3.John 15:3Out of me, ye can do nothing. So you ſee, this ſence is good, and clear, and containeth an excellent doctrine; That to enjoy ſalvation by JESUS CHRIST we muſt be in Him. Nevertheleſs, becauſe the Apoſtle, in this place, deſigneth to ſhew us, what the LORD hath done for our ſalvation, rather, than what He requireth of us, for our participating thereof: I would more readily take the words, the firſt way, in whom, that is, by whom, we have deliverance. And this indeed is the commoneſt expoſition, which the moſt and beſt Interpreters, both ancient, and modern do follow.

Let us next conſider, what the benefit of GOD is, which we have by JESUS CHRIST. It is Deliverance, ſaith the Apoſtle. The word he uſeth in the Original, foreign.particularly ſignifieth a deliverance, effected by ſome ranſom, given for bringing the delivered, out of the baſt eſtate, he was in; and it is properly that, which we call Redemption. For a man may be delivered divers wayes, either by being ſimply put out of the affliction, he was in; as when a maſter enfranchiſeth his ſlave, ſetting him at liberty, of His good will: or when a Creditor lets his Debtor out of priſon, forgiving him the debt: or by exchange, as when one priſoner of War goes for another: or by forcible recovery, as when Abraham delivered Lot, by defeating his enemies, and David his people, that had been taken by the Amalekites. The deliverance, we have by JESUS CHRIST, is not of this ſort. He hath procured it, by the ranſome, He gave for us; and it's this, that the word Redemption, here uſed by the Apoſtle, doth ſignifie. But the ſame term informeth us alſo, that the benefit, which we have received of Him, is not ſimply the gift of life. It is a deliverance; which brings us out of ſome miſery. GOD gave life, and immortality to the Angels; but He gave them no deliverance, ſince they never were in ſin, or miſery; and before Adam's fall, He promiſed Him life, it's true; but not ſalvation, and redemption; becauſe man was then in his integrity, without ſin, and miſery, likewiſe. The benefit, we receive of Him by JESUS CHRIST, is not ſimply life, and immortality; it is a deliverance, a ſalvation, a redemption, that not only conferreth ſome good on us; but taketh us out from ſin, and freeth us from miſery. The Apoſtle explains it us more particularly, when he adds, That this redemption, which we have in JESƲS CHRIST, is the remiſſion of ſins. True it is, the word, Redemption, is general, compriſing under it deliverance, from any evil whatſoever; certain it is alſo, that the number of our evils is great, and that JESUS CHRIST hath delivered us, not from one, or two evils only; but from all. He hath delivered us from the ignorance, into which we were naturally plunged. He hath delivered us, from the bondage of the Fleſh, the luſts whereof did exerciſe an horrible tyranny in our members. He hath delivered us from that death, which we were made ſubject unto, and from the curſe of the Eternal Father, which we had deſerved. For which cauſe, the Apoſtle elſewhere ſaith, that JESUS CHRIST is made unto us, not ſimply righteouſneſs: but alſo wiſdom, ſanctification, and redemption; and in a multitude of places, that He hath brought us out of darkneſs, and delivered us, from the (tyrannous) power of ſin and death. But p. 49though all this be very ſure; yet, in this place, he reſtraineth, the Redemption, we have in JESUS CHRIST, to the remiſſion of ſins; and that, in my opinion, for two reaſons. Firſt, becauſe remiſſion of ſin is the firſt, and the principal of His benefits; the baſis, and foundation of all the reſt; which neceſſarily leads them on, and without which, it is not poſſible to reach any of them. For ſin, as you know, is expreſly that, which makes ſeparation between GOD, and us. The cauſe, why this moſt merciful, and all-powerful Ruler of the world, taketh from us, the light of His knowledge, and the communication of His goodneſs, leaving us in the darkneſs of errour, and in miſery, is neither hatred, nor contempt, nor diſdain of His creatures. It's nothing, but our Sin, His juſtice, and ſoveraign equity permitting Him not to crown, with His bleſſings, people that are criminal. JESUS CHRIST therefore intervening, and procuring for us the remiſſion of our ſins, thereby bringeth us out of the ill caſe we were in; and openeth the fountain of celeſtial good, which was before ſhut up by Juſtice. This obſtacle being removed, this ſluice (if I may ſo ſay) opened, Divine goodneſs, recovering its natural courſe, floweth forth upon us, and poureth into us light, peace, holineſs, and life. It is not then, to exclude theſe other benefits of the Redemption, which is by JESUS CHRIST, that the Apoſtle defineth it hereby, the remiſſion of ſins; (For it compriſeth them all; none having this remiſſion, but they have alſo, upon it, all the LORD's other graces:) but to ſhew us the due order of all the parts of this deliverance; of which, remiſſion of ſin is the firſt, and principal. Secondly, the Apoſtle doth this, becauſe the ranſome which the word, Redemption, doth imply, was not properly neceſſary, ſave for obtaining the remiſſion of ſins. Except for this, there was no need, that JESUS CHRIST ſhould lay down His life for us. For ſuppoſing, that a pure, and ſinleſs creature ſhould have lain in ignorance and miſery, and, if you will, even in death it ſelf. There would have been no neceſſity, that the Son of God ſhould have ſhed His blood, or ſuffered death, to bring it up thence. It would have ſufficed, He had loved it. His good will would have immediately moved His power, to diſplay it ſelf, in its behalf, and fetch it out of its diſtreſs; there being nothing to hinder this natural operation of His goodneſs; and ſo the happineſs of ſuch a creature would have been ſimply a deliverance, and not a redemption. But foraſmuch as we were ſinners, it was neceſſary for our recovery, that JESUS CHRIST ſhould make His ſoul an offering for ſin, and pay the ranſome of our liberty. Whence it follows, that to ſpeak properly, and exactly, there is nothing but the remiſſion of ſins, that ſhould be called redemption, as the Apoſtle defineth it in this place; the other deliverances, which we obtain by our LORD, being only fruits, and conſequents of the remiſſion of ſin. This then is the grand atchievement of the Son of GOD, the miracle of His goodneſs, and love, that He hath procured, and obtained for us, the remiſſion of our ſins. This is our true redemption. Without this redemption we ſhould ſtill be enemies of GOD. We ſhould not have any part, either in His grace, or in His glory. Be even what you can deſire, in other reſpects; Have all the goods of the earth, all perfections of body, and mind; Be Monark of the whole world; Have (if it were poſſible) the lights of Angels, and the riches of their knowledge: If you have not the remiſſion of your ſins you are a bondman, and a wretch; a ſlave to Devils, and vanity, and death; ſince true redemption is the remiſſion of ſins. But as without it, it is impoſſible to be otherwiſe, than infinitly wretched; ſo with it, it is not poſſible, to be otherwiſe, than infinitely happy. The repoſe of the conſcience, the illumination of the underſtanding, the jewel of ſanctification, the Graces of the celeſtial ſpirit, life, and immortality, do inſeparably follow it. Go in peace (ſaid the LORD JESUS to thoſe whoſe ſins He pardoned) as if He had ſaid, thou haſt nothing more to fear, ſince thy ſin is forgiven thee. There is no longer, either evil, that can hurt thee, or good, that can be denyed thee, if it be profitable for thy ſalvation. Away with that cruel, and extravagant doctrine, which will have p. 50it, that GOD remitteth the fault, without remitting the puniſhment. This is to oppoſe even natural ſenſe, and common reaſon: For what is it to remit a ſin, ſave to puniſh it not, and treat him, that committed it, as if He had not been culpable? This is to give the Apoſtle the lye, who proclaimeth, both elſewhere, That there is no condemnation to them, Rom. 8.1.Rom 8:1that are in JESƲS CHRIST; and here, that the remiſſion of our ſins is a redemption. For if GOD puniſhed the faithful, as is pretended, He would do it, after having condemned them to ſuffer: ſince being moſt juſt, He neither puniſheth, nor abſolveth any, without judgement. And if notwithſtanding our remiſſion, we eſcape not burning in the pretended Purgatory fire, how is our remiſſion a redemption? Is this to ranſome a criminal perſon; to make Him be burned? I grant, the faithful after this remiſſion obtained, are not freed from divers afflictions during their temporal abode here below. But I affirm that their ſufferings are exerciſes or chaſtiſements, and not properly puniſhments of their ſin. The LORD ſends 'em them, not in His wrath, but in His grace; not to puniſh them, but either to amend them, or to prove them, and render them conform to the image of His Son, who was conſecrated by afflictions, in the dayes of His fleſh. Such is this remiſſion of ſins, the redemption we have in JESUS CHRIST.

Let us now ſee, by what means He hath obtained it for us. The Apoſtle teacheth it us, in ſaying, That we have it by His blood. We have already ſaid, how the word, Redemption, here uſed, doth ſignifie, that our deliverance was effected, by the payment of a ranſome. This he expreſly noteth elſewere, ſaying, 1 Cor. 6.20.1 Cor 6:20that we have been bought with a price. Now therefore he declareth what this price is, what this ranſome of our deliverance; even the Blood of JESUS CHRIST. 1 Pet. 118, 19.St. Peter inſiſteth likewiſe on the ſame conſideration. We have been redeemed (ſaith he) not with corruptible things, as ſilver, or gold: but with the precious blood of CHRIST, as of a Lamb without blemiſh, and without ſpot. And the LORD JESUS informs us plainly of the ſame thing, when ſpeaking of the end and deſign of His miſſion, Mat. 20.28.Matt 20:28He ſaith, that He came, not to be ſerved, but to ſerve, and to lay down His ſoul, a ranſome for many. Semblably St. Paul, 1 Tim. 1.6.1 Tim 1:6that JESƲS CHRIST gave Himſelf a ranſome for all. And in this ſame ſenſe it is, that we muſt underſtand, what the Spirits of the Bleſſed, do ſay, Rev. 5.9. Act. 20.28.Rev 5:9Acts 20:28when they gloriſie the Lamb, for that He hath redeemed them to GOD by His blood; and St. Paul in the Acts, that GOD hath purchaſed the Church by His own blood. By theſe paſſages, and a multitude of others of like import, it is evident, that the Apoſtle, both in this place, and in the firſt Chapter to the Epheſians, where He repeats the ſame words, by the blood of CHRIST, underſtands the violent death, He ſuffered on the Croſs with effuſion of His blood; which He did ſhed forth in great abundance, through the wounds of His feet, of His hands, and of His ſide. And it's a thing common in all languages to ſignifie life, by blood, and the loſs of life by effuſion of blood. But the Holy Ghoſt particularly uſeth this manner of ſpeaking, when there is reference to a Sacrifice. For in ſuch caſes, the blood of the Victime is almoſt alwayes put for the life it loſeth, when offered: ſo as it need not be thought ſtrange, that theſe divine authors ſay, the blood of CHRIST, (who is the only Lamb, and moſt perfect oblation, which all the old Sacrifices did typifie) when they mean, the life, He ſpent for us on the Croſs; offering it to the Father, as the propitiation for our ſins. This now, is the great myſterie of the Goſpel; which was not known to men, or Angels; nor could have been ever thought on, or conceived by any, but the ſupream, and infinite wiſdom of GOD: that JESUS CHRIST the wel-beloved of the Father, the moſt Holy one, ſhould lay down His life for us, be ſet in our ſtead, and bear our ſins in His own body on the tree, and ſuffer in His ſacred fleſh, and in His moſt holy ſoul, the pains, and ſorrows we had merited, to exempt us from them.

It's this preciſely, that we mean, when we affirm; that He ſatisfied the Juſtice of GOD for us. And the Apoſtle, in theſe words, furniſheth us, to preſerve p. 50this glory to our LORD, againſt two ſorts of adverſaries: one, of them that impudently deny His having ſatisfied for us at all: another, of thoſe, who grant His ſatisfaction, but do extend this honour unto others alſo, and will have it appertain likewiſe to Saints, and even to our ſelves. As for the firſt, they deſerve not to be accounted Chriſtians; ſince they reject a truth, ſo cleerly, and ſo frequently aſſerted in the Goſpel, confeſſed by all the Church; and which beſides, is the ſource of our comfort, both in life and death: and the only foundation of all our hopes. For if JESUS CHRIST ſatisfied not for us, what mean the Prophets, and Apoſtles, who proclaim at the beginning, in the midſt, and at the end of all their Preaching, that He dyed for our ſins, 1 Cor. 15.3. Iſa. 53.5, 10. Rom. 3.24. Joh. 1.29. Heb. 9.27, 28. & 10.10. & 1.3.1 Cor 15:3Isa 53:5Isa 53:10Rom 3:24John 1:29Heb 9:27Heb 9:28Heb 10:10Heb 1:3was wounded for our treſpaſſes, and bruiſed for our iniquities? That the chaſtiſement of our peace was upon Him, and by His ſtripes we are healed? that His ſoul was made an offering for ſin? That He is our propittaion, through faith in His blood? That He is the Lamb of GOD, which taketh away the ſins of the world? That He offered up Himſelf a ſacrifice for ſin, and ſanctified us by this oblation, and purged away our ſins by Himſelf? I omit, at preſent, other places, the number whereof is infinite, Theſe are ſufficient to ſettle the truth. For firſt, ſince our deliverance is called a Redemption, it muſt needs be, that JESUS CHRIST hath purchaſed it for us, by ſome ranſome, He gave in our behalf. But He gave none at all, except in dying, He laid out His life, and His blood for us, and in our ſtead. Again, if it be not thus, why ſaith the Apoſtle, it is by the blood of CHRIST, that we have the remiſſion of our ſins? If it be not a ſatisfaction for our ſins, 'tis evident, it's of no uſe at all, to obtain us the remiſſion of them. In this caſe, we ſhould have it, not by the blood, or death of CHRIST, which, after this account, would have contributed nothing thereunto, but by the ſole goodneſs, either of GOD, or of His Son. For to ſay, that the remiſſion of ſins is attributed to the blood, and death of our LORD, becauſe He, by dying, ſealed the truth, of what He preached, in His life; this is evidently, to mock the world. His miracles alſo confirmed His doctrine, and yet neither Scripture, nor any wiſe man, ever ſaid, that we have remiſſion of ſins by His miracles, as St. Paul ſaith here, and elſewhere often, that we have it by His blood, and by His death. Beſides, if this reaſon muſt take place, ſince the Martyrs ſuffered to ſeal the ſame doctrine, it may be alſo ſaid, that we have redemption, and remiſſion of ſins, by their blood, which is not read at all. On the contrary, the Apoſtle vehemently denies, that either himſelf, or any other, was crucified for us, but CHRIST alone. Theſe reaſons do deſtroy another ſhift theſe people uſe; to wit, that we have ſalvation by the death of JESUS CHRIST, becauſe in dying, He gave us example of patience, and perfect obedience. For by this account, the Martyrs, whoſe ſufferings had in them the like patterns, ſhould have ſaved us as well as CHRIST. We add, that patience, and obedience do conſtitute part of our ſanctification; whereas the Apoſtle ſaith, we have in JESUS CHRIST, by His blood, the remiſſion of ſins, and not ſimply ſanctification. What they ſay, for a third evaſion, is no better: that CHRIST hath acquired by His death the right of pardoning ſins. For either their meaning is, that the LORD hath rendred ſin remittable, by the ſatisfaction He hath made for it; or they ſimply intend, that CHRIST obtained, by His death, the power of pardoning ſins, which He had not before. If they anſwer, the firſt, they grant us the very thing that we demand. If the ſecond, they do thwart the Goſpel, which teſtifies, that our LORD often remitted ſins unto men, while He lived; and ſaid expreſly, that He had authority on earth to forgive them. In fine, that, which deſpair of ſo bad a cauſe ſuggeſteth to them, in the laſt place; is of no more validity; namely, that the remiſſion of our ſins is attributed to the death of CHRIST, becauſe it preceded His reſurrection, the glory whereof lighteth up faith, and repentance in us, the true cauſes of that remiſſion. But they cannot produce any one example of ſo ſtrange a manner of ſpeaking: and to ſay, that the blood of CHRIST waſheth away our ſins, becauſe the effuſion thereof preceded His reſurrection, the cauſe of that faith, by which we obtain the pardon of p. 52them; this is as much, or more abſurd, than if you ſhould ſay, that it's by the darkneſs of the night, we are enlightned, by day; becauſe the light of the Sun, which then ſhineth on us, had the darkneſs of the night preceding it. After this account, the remiſſion of our ſins ſhould be everywhere attributed to the reſurrection of CHRIST JESUS, to His aſcenſion up to Heaven, and to the miracles of His Apoſtles, and not to His Death; whereas quite contrary, it is ever conſtantly referred to the death, to the blood, and to the Croſs of the LORD, as to its true cauſe, and not ever to His reſurrection. For as to that, which the Apoſtle ſomewhere ſaith, viz. that CHRIST roſe again for our juſtification, his meaning is, not that our ſins obliged Him to riſe, as they had obliged Him to dye, Rom. 4.25.Rom 4:25according to what he had affirmed, that He was delivered for our offences: but that He might apply to men the fruit of His death, in juſtifying them by the Vertue of His blood; therefore was He raiſed from the grave, and crowned with higheſt glory: this being neceſſary, for the production of thoſe divine effects in the world. Say we then, that the LORD, by pouring out His blood, and His life on the Croſs, did truly ſatisfie the avenging Juſtice of the Father, undergoing for us, and in our room, that death, which we deſerved: and without this laid down, there can be no rational aſſerting, what the Apoſtle ſaith here, and in divers other places, to wit, that we have remiſſion of ſins, in JESUS CHRIST, by His blood.

But from the ſame Apoſtolical aſſertion, it is alſo very evident, that none other, but our LORD alone, is capable of ſatisfying for us. For ſince the remiſſion of ſins, is our Redemption, who ſeeth not, but that if any one procure it for us, he muſt be our Redeemer? a title, which, by the unanimous conſent of all Chriſtians, appertaineth ſingly to JESUS CHRIST. Moreover, it's by the blood of our LORD, that this remiſſion hath been purchaſed: ſo as, neither Paul, nor Cephas, nor any other, having been Crucified for us, it likewiſe followeth, that no one of them hath, either ſatisfied GOD for us, or merited the remiſſion of ſins. …eo Mag. Serm. 12. de Paſſion.Though their death be precious in the ſight of GOD (ſaid an Ancient long ſince) yet there was none of them, how innocent ſoever he might be, whoſe ſuffering could be the propitiation of the world. The juſt have received crowns, not given them: and from their conſtancy, and ſtedfaſtneſs in the faith, have grown up examples of patience, not gifts of righteouſneſs. This glory is due to nothing, but the blood of CHRIST. And as He is the only victime, that was offered up for our ſins; ſo is it ſufficient to expiate them all. Never man found favour, but through this ſacrifice. Never did the ſword of GOD ſpare any, but for the ſake of this blood. St. Paul teacheth it us in this Text, and it's the laſt particular we have to obſerve upon it. For when he ſaith, We have redemption in JESƲS CHRIST, by His blood, he intends not to ſpeak ſingly of himſelf, and the Coloſſians: but of all the faithful, that were on earth, and even of thoſe, that had lived, from the beginning of the world, unto that time. There neither was, nor ever had been ſalvation in any other, but in Him. And as ſin, and death deſcended from Adam upon all men; ſo the righteouſneſs, and life of all the faithful cometh from JESUS CHRIST. Rev. 13.8. Heb. 9.15.Rev 13:8Heb 9:15He is the Lamb, that was ſlain from the foundation of the world; and His death intervened for a ranſome of the tranſgreſſions, that were under the Old Teſtament, as well as of thoſe, that are committed under the New. His blood is the remiſſion of the ſins, both of the one, and the other people. It's being to be ſhed in due time, gave it the ſame efficacy, for the generations, that preceded His Croſs; as it had afterwards, by its actual effuſion, in thoſe that ſucceeded it. GOD the Father, appeaſed by this ſacrifice, ever preſent in His ſight, as well before, as after its oblation, did communicate the fruit, and merit of it, that is to ſay, grace, and remiſſion, to all thoſe, that believed in Him, under the one, and the other Teſtament.

Behold, Beloved Brethren, that which we had to ſay to you, concerning the Redemption, we have in JESUS CHRIST. The Text of the Apoſtle teacheth it us, and the table of the LORD repreſenteth it to us. This is the myſterie of the bread, we there break, and of the cup, we there bleſs, in remembrance, p. 53and for the communicating, of that ſacred body, which was broken for us, and of that divine blood, which was ſhed, for the remiſſion of our ſins. Let us carefully improve a doctrine ſo neceſſary, and which is ſo diligently inculcated on us, in the word, and in the Sacraments of our LORD, referring it to our edification, and comfort. Learn we from it, firſt, the horrour of ſin; a ſpot ſo black, as could not be waſhed out, but by the blood of JESUS CHRIST. That remiſſion of it might be given us, it was neceſſary, the Father ſhould deliver up His dear Son to dye, and the Son give His blood, the preciouſeſt jewel of the univerſe, a thouſand times more worth, than heaven, and earth, and all the glory of them. From this meditation, conceive a juſt hatred againſt Sin; ſince it is ſo abominable in the eyes of this Soveraign LORD, on whoſe communion alone depends all your bliſs, ſhun it, and pluck it out of your Conſciences, and your hearts. As for ſins already committed, ſeek the remiſſion of them, in the blood of CHRIST. Give your ſelves no reſt, till you have found it; till you have obtained grace; till it be exemplified in your ſouls, by the hand, and ſeal of the Holy Ghoſt. Lay by the pretended ſatisfactions, and merits of men. Have no recourſe, but to the righteouſneſs of JESUS CHRIST, which alone is able to cover our ſhame, and render us acceptable to GOD. But having once obtained pardon for the time paſſed, return not into it, for the future. When ſin ſhall preſent it ſelf to you, repell it couragiouſly; oppoſing to all its temptations, this holy, and healthſome conſideration. It's my Maſter's the murtherer of the LORD of glory; It's the accurſed Serpent, that ſeparated man from GOD, that put enmity between Heaven, and earth; that ſowed miſery and death in the world; and obliged the Father, to deliver up His Son, to the ſufferings of the Croſs. GOD forbid, I ſhould take into my boſome, ſo cruel, ſo deadly an enemy.

But from this ſame ſource, we may alſo draw unſpeakable conſolation, againſt the gnawing guilt of ſin, and the troubles of Conſcience. For ſince, it's by the blood of the Son of GOD, that we have been redeemed, what cauſe is there to doubt, but that our remiſſion is aſſured? The ſuperſtitious hath reaſon to be in continual affright; ſince man, in whom he puts his confidence, is but vanity. The propitiatory, I preſent you, Faithful ſoul, is not the blood of a man, or of an Angel, creatures finite, and incapable of ſuſtaining the eternal burnings of the wrath of the Almighty: It is the blood of GOD's own Son, who alſo is Himſelf, GOD bleſſed for ever. It's a blood of infinite value, and truly capable of counter-poiſing, and bearing down the infinite demerit of your crimes. Come then, ſinner, whoever you be. Come with aſſurance. How foul ſoever your tranſgeſſions be, this blood will cleanſe them away. How ardent ſoever the diſpleaſure of GOD againſt you be, this blood will quench it. Only, bedew your ſoul with it. Make an aſperſion of it on your hearts, with a lively faith, and you ſhall no more need to fear the word of the executioner of the avenges of GOD.

But, Faithful Brethren, having thus aſſured your Conſcience, by the meditation of this divine blood of our LORD; admire ye alſo His infinite love, which He ſo clearly ſheweth us, and confirmeth to us. This King of Glory hath ſo loved you, that when your ſins could not be pardoned, without the effuſion of His blood, He would dye upon a Croſs, rather than ſee you periſh in Hell. He poured out His blood, to keep in yours; and did undergo the curſe of GOD, that you might partake in His bleſſings. O great, and incomprehenſible love! the ſingular miracle of Heaven; which raviſheſt men, and Angels! What ſhould we fear henceforth, ſince this great GOD hath ſo loved us? Who ſhall condemn us, ſince He is our ſurety? Who ſhall accuſe us, ſince He is our Advocate? He hath given us His own blood; What can He any longer refuſe, to beſtow on us? He hath laid down His ſoul for us, how much more will He grant us all other things, that may be neceſſary for our ſalvation? But as this thought doth comfort us, ſo ought it to ſanctifie us. Of what Hells ſhall not we be worthy, if we love not a LORD, who hath ſo paſſionately loved us? If we obey not His commandments, who hath blotted out our ſins? If for this precious blood, which He hath given us, we do not render to Him ours, p. 54and conſecrate to His glory a life, which He hath redeemed, by the offering up of His own in ſacrifice, for our ſalvation? And after an example of ſo raviſhing goodneſs, how can we be ill affected to any man? Chriſtians, GOD hath forgiven you a thouſand, and a thouſand moſt-enormous ſins; how have you the heart to deny your neighbour the pardon of one ſlight offence? He hath given you His blood, you, that were His enemy; How can you refuſe a ſmall almes, to him that is your Brother, and that upon the account, both of nature, and grace? Let the goodneſs of the LORD JESUS mollifie the hardneſs of your heart; let the vertue of His blood melt your bowels into ſweetneſs, into charity, and into love both toward Him, and towards His members. Diſcharge you, this very day, at His table, of all the bitter paſſions of your fleſh. Put off there pride, hatred, and envy: and clothe you there with His humility, and His gentleneſs. Do him new homage; and give Him oath, to be never any others, but His alone; preſenting your ſelves with deepeſt reſpect, before this Throne of His grace. Remember, both at this time, and ever after, that blood, by which He hath obtained Redemption for you, that is, the remiſſion of your ſins. This blood is the peace of Heaven, and of earth. This blood hath brought us out of Hell, and opened Paradiſe unto us. It hath delivered us from death, and given us life. This blood hath blotted out the ſentence of our curſe, that ſtood regiſtred in the Law of GOD, it hath ſtopped the mouth of our accuſers, and pacified our Judge. This blood hath effected a renovation of the world. It hath quickned the dead, and animated the duſt, and changed our mortal fleſh into a celeſtial, and divine nature. Dear Brethren, GOD forbid, we ſhould tread under foot, a thing ſo holy; or account ſuch precious blood profane or common. Let us reverence it, and receive it into our hearts, with an ardent devotion. And may it diſplay its admirable efficacy in them, cauſing the royal image of GOD, even holineſs, and righteouſneſs, to flouriſh there, to the glory of the LORD, and our own conſolation, and ſalvation. Amen.