A Word to Sinners and a Word to Saints, Part 1 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Of the all-sufficiency of Christs Sacrifice.
III. THat there is hope of mercy for the worst of sinners, appeareth fro… the all-sufficiency of Christs Sacrifice offered upon the Cross, and the fulness of satisfaction that was ther…by made to the justice of God for the sins of the whole World. So much the Apostle expresseth, where he saith, He is able to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him. The word translated, able, doth imp…y power to do a thing. And the word translated,foreign. uttermost, is of a very large extent, it extends so far that we cannot look beyond it, no not in our …houghts: for let a m…n imagine his case to be never so desperate, his sins to be never so many and hainous, yet Christ by his death is able to save him from them all.
And therefore this we must lay as a foundation-truth, that Christs Sacrifice was a full sa…isfaction to the justice of his Father for the sins of the World; it being the Sacrifice of the Son of God, even of him who was God as well as man. For this is that which added an infinite value to what Christ did and suffered for our redemption, that it was the obedience and the sufferings of the Son of God, of him who was God equal with the Father: whereupon the blood of Christ, 1 Pet. 1.19.whereby we are redeemed is called precious blood: being of infinite price and merit, able to countervail and answer for all our sins, and to free us from the punishment due unto us for the same.
B…sides, Christs resurrection from the dea… is an evi…nt demonstration that his death was an all-sufficient Sacrifice and full satisfaction to Gods justice for our sins. For God having seized on Christ, as our Surety, and cast him into the prison of the grave, for the debt of our sins, he could not have come forth till he had payed the uttermost farthing. But by his rising out of the prison of the grave, we are assured that Gods justice is abundantly satisfied by the death of Jesus Christ.
Labour therefore to get thine heart truly satisfied in the all-sufficiency of Christs Sacrifice, that his death was a full satisfaction to Gods justice for thy sins; for otherwise when either thy conscience or the Devil begin to aggravate thy sins, and to set before thee the number and the hainousness of them, thou wilt be at a loss, and even ready to sit down in despair: whereas if thou didst cleerly apprehend what a full satisfaction the death of Christ was to Gods justice for all thy sins, thou wouldst not fear what either thy conscience or the Devil could object against thee. In Rom. 8.33. We read how the Apostle from the consideration of Christs all-sufficient Sacrifice and full satisfaction to Gods justice by his death, did triumph over sin, and Satan. For having treated thereof in the former part of the Chapter; In the latter part thereof, ver. 33, 34. he speaks as one ravished with abundance of comfort: yea, challengeth the Devil and all the World to object what they could against the pardon of his sins; Who, saith he, shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that justifieth; Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that dyed. As if he had said, let Conscience and carnal Reason, let Law and Sin, let Hell and Devil object what they can; let them object the number and hainousness of my sins, what is that? seeing Christ hath dyed, even Christ the Son of God, hath offered up his own life, as an all-sufficient Sacrifice, and thereby abundantly satisfied Gods justice for my sins. Beloved, the case between God and us and our Saviour Jesus Christ, is not much unlike the case of a Creditor, a Debtor, and a Surety. Though the debtor be altogether unable to satisfie his debt, or to contribute any thing thereunto; yet if his surety have fully discharged the debt, and cancelled the bond, the debtor is safe enough from imprisonment, or danger of arrest. In l…ke manner though we were much indebted unto God, and were no way able to make the least satisfaction for our sins; yet seeing our surety Jesus Christ hath taken upon him the debt of our sins, and fully satisfied Gods justice for the same, by offering up his own life as an all-sufficient Sacrifice upon the Cross, we shall not need to fear the accusations of Conscience, or of carnal reason, or of all the Devils in Hell, if we do apply the merits of Christs death unto our own souls comfort.
IV. That there is hope of mercy for the worst of sinners, appeareth from Christs Willingness to receive and embrace all poor sinners who will but come unto him, and receive him upon the terms of the Gospel.
1. Christs Willingness appeareth from his frequent personal invitations of all sorts of sinners, even the worst to come unto him for life and salvation, as Matth. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. In which we find no exception either of persons or sins: but whosoever thou art, rich or poor, male or female; how many and hainous soever thy sins are, if thou art but sensible of them, thou art invited to go unto Jesus Christ, and to cast thy self, and the burden of thy sins upon him. And Rev. 22.17. Let him that is a thirst come. And whoever will, let him take the Water of life freely; That is, in whomsoever there is but an earnest will, and longing desire to partake of Christ, and of the benefits of his death and passion, they are invited to come unto him. Now these gracious invitations of Jesus Christ unto poor thirsty sinners to come unto him, that their souls might live, must needs argue his incomparable willingness to have them saved.
2. Christ knowing our backwardness to come unto him, to the forementioned invitations adds his awakening excitation, or proclamation, crying out, Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters, Isa. 55.1.&c. And because many poor souls are apt to say, Alas there is nothing in me to commend me unto Christ, I have no goodness, no righteousness of mine own, therefore Christ adds, He that hath no money, that is, he who hath no goodness, no righteousness of his own, which is there meant by money, let him come. And indeed they are the fittest to go unto Jesus Christ, for it is the empty soul that is most capable of Christ, the soul emptied of all self-righteousness, and self-goodness. Whereas that soul which with the Church of Laodicea, is rich and full with a conceit of its own righteousness, hath no room for Christ.
3. Christs Willingness appeareth by the many sweet and gracious promises which he hath made in his Word unto all those who by faith come unto him. As that known promise,Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, that is, I will ease you and refresh you, I will comfort you with the assurance of the pardon of your sins, I will give you peace of Conscience here, and eternal peace and rest with me for ever in my Kingdom. And questionless, one special reason why many find so little peace and comfort in their souls, is because they go not unto Jesus Christ, they cast not themselves and the burden of their sins upon him, who is the fountain of peace and comfort, and from whom alone it is to be had.
And Mark 16.15, 16. saith our Saviour, He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned; that is, He who goeth out of himself unto Christ for life, shall be saved, from the wrath of God, from the curse of the Law, from the guilt and power of sin, yea from eternal death and condemnation, and shall inherit eternal life and salvation. But he that believeth not shall be damned, that is, He who refuseth to go unto Jesus Christ, preferring his lusts and corruptions before him, shall be cast into that burning lake, where is nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Oh how earnestly doth Christ press sinners to come unto him that they might have life, promising Heaven, and salvation upon their coming: and threatning hell and damnation upon their refusing. And what more prevailing argument could he use, to perswade sinners to come unto him? Which must needs evidence his exceeding great willingness to embrace them with the arms of his mercy upon their coming.
4. Christs Willingness appeareth from his e…d of coming into the World, which was to save poor l…st sinners. He left his Crown, and Throne, his Royal Court, and glorious Robes, and cloathed himself with the rags of our humanity, for no other end but to seek and to save that which was lost;1 Tim. 1.15. as the Apostle expresseth, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Iesus Christ came into the World to save sinners. So that the Salvation of poor lost sinners was his great design in coming into the World. He came from Heaven to Earth for this very end, that he might send us from Earth to Heaven. The Son of God became the Son of man, that we the sons of men might become the Sons of God. Certainly that Christ should come out of Heaven, to keep us out of hell, that he should uncrown himself to Crown us, must needs argue a wonderful willingness in him to have poor sinners saved.
5. Christs Willingness appeareth by his rejecting of none who sincerely go unto him, though never so weak and worthless in themselves. Never did any sinner go to him, but he accepted of him,Joh. 6.37. as himself expresseth, All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me, and him that …ometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out; but receive him to mercy. Hath Christ promised this, and will he not be as good as his Word? Did he ever break his word with any poor soul, though never so unworthy? Did he ever cast away any who came unto him?Heb. 13.8. And is he not the same yesterday, to day, and for ever?
Go sinner, fear not, go upon the credit of this word, which he hath spoken, I will in no wise cast them out. Though the Devil say, go not, though thy misgiving heart say, go not, he will not regard thee, he will never look on such a vile wretch, he will cast thee out; yet since he hath said, He will not, go and thou shalt find mercy.
Thus have I by several demonstrations proved, as God the Fathers willingness to save the worst of sinners; So Christs readiness to embrace all poor sinners who will but come unto him for life and salvation; Wherein I have the longer insisted, because I know no better argument to prevail with sinners, to turn from their sins unto God by true and unfeigned repentance, and to close with Jesus Christ by a true and lively faith, than a serious consideration as of Gods readiness to save the worst of sinners upon their turning unto him; so of Christs Willingness to embrace all poor sinners, who will come unto him, and receive him as their Lord and Saviour.
I have read a story of a Gentle-woman who was condemned to dye for killing her own child; whereupon divers Ministers came to visit her, and perceiving her little affected with her sin, and sad condition, they laboured to set before her the hainousness of her sin, and the dreadfulness of her condition, without hearty and deep repentance. All which little moved her, seeming rather the more hardened in her sin. But at last another Reverend Divine hearing of her obdurate hardness, notwithstanding all that was said unto her; went and preached to her the abundant riches of Gods mercy in Christ, how ready he was to embrace with the arms of his free-grace, every penitent sinner; and how willing Christ was to receive all poor sinners, who would go unto him, and cast themselves into his arms, how many and hainous soever their sins were, and thereupon told her, there was hope of mercy for her, if she were heartily sorry for her sins, and would adventure her soul upon Christ, notwithstanding the greatness and hainousness of her sin, What! mercy for me? said she, that is impossible, &c. Whereupon the Minister proceeded further to set forth the freeness of Gods grace, and riches of his mercy to all penitent and believing sinners, declaring unto her, how God delighted in mercy, and that where sin had abounded, there his grace and mercy would much more abound, or to that purpose. And thereupon she presently fell a weeping, wringing her hands, and cryi…g for mercy, and dyed very comfortably, as it is related, having had the mercy of God abundantly revealed to her before her death.
And truly, sinner, as it was my design, so my hearts desire, in s…tting forth Gods willingness to save the very worst of sinners upon their repentance; and Christs readiness to embrace them with the arms of his mercy, that it might have the same effect in thee, as it had in the forementioned Gentle-woman. And oh that the consideration thereof would melt thine heart into tears of unfeigned sorrow for thy sins past, and stir thee up to turn from them unto God by hearty repentance, and to close with Jesus Christ upon the terms of the Gospel. Oh that I could prevail with thee, as to give a bill of divorce to thy lusts and corruptions, so to give up thy self unto Christ, and to adventure thy soul upon him, resting upon his perfect righteousness, and all-sufficient Sacrifice for the pardon of thy sins here, and for eternal life and salvation hereafter! If Christ be so willing to receive thee, why shouldst not thou be willing to go unto him, and that with confidence of acceptance? Salvation is this day offered unto thee, the golden Scepter is held out unto thee, Oh stretch forth the hand of faith to lay hold and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ; so shalt thou be happy to all Eternity, For whosoever believeth in Iesus Christ shall not perish, Joh. 3.16.but have everlasting life. Thus much of the truths to be embraced in order to your Regeneration.