Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 2 · Verse 24
Verse 24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sin, should live unto righteonsness, by whose stripes ye were healed.
OUr Apostle having had occasion to speak of the passion of our Savior Christ,Christs passion set out by the ends thereof. thought it too bare to have spoken of it, as an example to move us to suffer, and that patiently, but continues his speech of it, and sets it out by the ends thereof, and the many benefits that come to us thereby: 1. That we be thereby delivered from our sin, and the punishment thereof. 2. Enabled to dye unto sin, that we might live unto righteousness: Having fallen into this argument, he sticks in it, and cannot easily get out, but is like a friend that holds his friend long by the hand, being loath to part with him.
Who] Even Christ himself,Heb. 1. 2, 3. the Son of God, Lord of Angels and of the whole world.
His own self] In his own person, not by a Deputy, without any help in the business.
Bare] That is, suffered the intollerable and infinite wait of Gods wrath due to our sins, bare our sins, and all that was due to them, which would have swallowed up men and Angels.
Our sins] Even the sins of the Elect, all of them, and the punishment of the same.
In his own body] Not but that he suffered in soul, and therein his chiefest sufferings were, but because he speaks of his putting to death, the cruel usage of his body was evident.
On the tree,] Namely, the Cross, which death he dyed by the especial providence of God being that kinde of death,Deut. 21. 23. which God had pronounced accursed; and so fittest for our Savior Christ to endure, that he might bear what we had deserved, which was to become accursed, that we might escape the curse which we had deserved, by the breach of the Law:Gal. 3. 10. For, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law, to do them: The foregoing words set forth the passion of Christ. The following,
That we being dead unto sin, &c.] The fruits that come to us thereby.
As a childe that hath a piece of Sugar in his mouth, is loath to let it go down, but would keep the sweetness still; so doth our Apostle by the Doctrine of Christs passion, so sweet, comfortable, useful, & admirable, he cannot get out of it, but doth as it were dwell on it, which teacheth us not to be weary in meditating hereon,We must not be weary in meditating on Christs passion, and hearing thereof. or hearing hereof: it should be stil fresh and new to us, as the song of the Saints and Angels, though the same, yet is ever new: The Angels themselves desire to see further into this mystery of Gods love to his Church in giving his Son; They saw somewhat by the Prophets,1 Pet. 1. 12. some more when he was come, especially when crucified, and risen again from the dead, but most of all, when they saw the Gentiles called, and the Gospel Preached so plainly by the Apostles; yet its said, They be not satisfied, but stooping down as it were, they pray and desire to see more, yet is the benefit more to us then unto them, and therefore how much more unwearied should we be? Herewith our Apostle was so taken, as that he desired to know nothing else but Christ crucified, Phil. 8. 9.and esteemed all priviledges and advantages that he had of being a Pharisee, an Hebrew, &c. as dung in comparison of Christ: The Israelites were often told by the Prophets of their deliverance out of Egypt, how much more should we be content to hear of our deliverance through Christ, whereof that was but a small resemblance and type? But alas, how quickly are we weary of this argument? Because we have heard often of it, its now stale, and people have no more minde to hear it, then the Israelites could be contented with the Manna which God allowed them, but lusted after other Food: As they that go to Sea, think it strange, and for a day or two admire the wonderful works of God, but afterward cease therefrom; so do we in this matter, though most sweet, comfortable, admirable, and of daily use to make us grow in hatred of sin, and love of God, and would also be a spur to our dulness.
But to come to the passion it self;A brief of the sufferings of Christ, set down at large by the Evangelists. Its usually referred to that he suffered on the Cross, as here, because that was a great part, and the most visible to all, and the end of all; but there were also infinite sufferings before and besides his death: His whole life was a continual suffering, from his birth to his death, from the Manger to the Cross, all full of Crosses: His abasement to take our nature was much, and to become subject to all our infirmities, sin only excepted, and to be in a poor condition, persecuted as soon as born, living obscurely with his Parents till about thirty years old, in the exercise (as is supposed) of a mean Trade, strange abasement for the Son of God; as soon as he entred into his Office and was baptized, the Devil set sore on him: After this as a recompence to his continual toil and travel for mens Souls and Bodies, he was not only content to live in a mean condition without any House of his own, &c. but he was so vilely railed on and slandered (as is set down in the foregoing Verse) as none have been more, or so much, yea, as sometimes in policy they sought to entrap him, so at other times they laid wait, and used means to kill him; At last, they plotted by one of his own Disciples to take away his life, as burning with an irreconcileable hatred against him:See Luke 12. 50. But ere he was betrayed,Iohn 13. 27. he entred upon his sufferings in a most grievous maner, yea no doubt even before he thought thereof at sundry times, which did not a little trouble and perplex him; as a woman thinking sometimes of the pains of her travel before they come, is set on a sweat, and quakes for fear thereof: But after he had finisht the Passover, and instituted the Supper, he knowing that the time of his death approached, went into the Mount of Olives, and there entred into his most bitter Passion, taking with him Peter, James and John, the beholders of his transfiguration and glory, and therefore the fitter to behold his abasement; but alas, pitying them, he left them, onelyonly giving them a charge to watch and pray, and went from them a stones cast, for they were not able to behold his agony, nor hear the grievous dolour that he could not but make, and then began his pains as of a woman in travel, save that they were a thousand times greater, he fell on his face grovelling, and cryed out, His soul was heavy unto the death, and was in such an agony that he shed drops of blood (a thing never heard of) and that through the extream force of his pain: O it was the intollerable weight of his Fathers wrath due for all our vile sins, which was so grievous, as it made him pray to his Father for help, and to remove that cup, if it might be; which was but the frailty of his humane Nature, without sin, desiring help, feeling it self almost swallowed up, and having that which would not onelyonly have taken away the bodily life of all men, if it had been on them, but even have sunk them for ever. Thus he went too and fro to his Disciples three times (they being in the mean time asleep) and here in the Mount drunk three draughts (as we may say) of this most bitter cup of his Fathers wrath, which was infinitely beyond all torment his body was or could be put to: Then comes his betraying, treacherously betrayed of one of his own Family, whom he had used kindely; thence carried away with clubs and staves, as a Malefactor, unto Annas and Caiphas, where he was in the high Priests Hall all night misused in most shameful maner, some smiting him, others spitting on him; and because he said he was a King, they pull'd off his cloaths, and arrayed him in purple, and crowned him with thorns; and because he was counted a Prophet, having blindfolded him, and smitten him, they bid him prophesie who had hit him: But because they have not the power of death in their own hands, they make use of the secular power, laying many things to his charge, and arraigning him at the Bar as a guilty person, a mover of Sedition, one that denyed to pay tribute to Caesar, and who said he was a King: But Pilat seeking to rid his hands of him, because he saw it was nothing but the malice of the Priests, sends him to Herod, who, as if he had been some Jugler to play feats, was glad to see him; whereof failing, he and his followers misused him notably at their pleasures, and sent him to Pilat again.
Before him he was again arraigned, and Barabbas prefer'd unto him, the Jews in the mean time crying out against him, that he might be crucified: Then was he condemned to be scourged, to be carryed away and crucified, was made bear his own Cross, till he could bear it no longer; then were his hands and his feet nailed thereto, himself hanging between to Thieves, many in the mean time mocking him (as did one of the Thieves also) and wagging their heads at him, he being as a But for all to shoot at, and a common Mark for every mans wicked tongue to aym at; On the Cross he was about three hours: All this while besides bodily pains which could not but be grievous, he had again a most bitter cup given him to drink, and he had it poured in so fast, and such load laid on him, as that he cryed out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Though God did secretly sustain him, yet his Humane frailty felt himself almost overcome and gone: Oh! it must needs be so, for it was that wrath we should have suffered in Hell, though not with the same quality that the wicked feel Hell pains, namely, with being utterly forsaken of God, and despairing and blaspheming on their parts: Oh, this was most grievous, that the Son should have the Fathers wrath poured out upon him! Oh, it was more then all the pains that were ever upon all men together in this world: And from the sixth to the ninth hour the Sun was darkned, and our Savior all that while abode in a most grievous perplexity, during which time he uttered but seven Sentences, and in this while he drunk up this bitter Cup to the very bottom, dregs and all: Then he gave up the ghost, and dyed, was buried, and held under death for a space. Behold a little poor draught of the lamentable Sufferings of our Savior Christ; to express it as it was fully, no tongue of man or Angel is able: And all these things he endured for our sakes, and for our sins, for he had none of his own. They were our sins that brought all this upon him, and had it not been for this, we had all been damned for ever, as the evil Angels that fell, of whom none shall be saved: He was arraigned before the Bar of an earthly Judge, that we might not be arraigned before Gods Tribunal Seat; He was condemned, that we might be absolved; He was mockt and spitted on, that we might escape shame here, and confusion of faces hereafter; He was scourged, that we might escape the stripes of Gods vengeance; He dyed, that we might live; dyed a cursed death, that we might scape the curse and be blessed: and thus he had the smart, and we the benefit; our sins the cause of all his sorrow, and his sorrow the mean of all our welfare; for by this means we are discharged, our Surety hath paid every farthing: Neither could there be any other course taken with our sins, but that a death must be suffered; for Gods Justice had pronounced Death the punishment of it, and so required it: He could not remit our sin, but upon a satisfaction; therefore they that look for Salvation any other way, or by their good meaning, good Prayers, good serving God, &c. shall miss thereof, for none but by a payment paid, and death and infinite wrath suffered, can enter into Heaven: No other person or persons could have undergone this; all men were in our case, none able to help himself, much less others; all unable to suffer, and to overcome the least part of this wrath. And for Angels, alas, it was far beyond their power, for it was an infinite wrath that we had deserved, by sinning against an infinite God, but their power is finite. This also was a sufficient satisfaction, being performed by the Son of God; it was more that he should suffer one moment, then all men and Angels for ever and ever: He like a rich Creditor paid that in a few hours, that we poor Creatures could never have overcome; and though the time of his Passion was but short, and that in respect of the dignity of his person, and for that he was enabled through his Godhead to perform this great work in so short a space, yet he suffered so much in that short time, as would have held us work, and kept us under for ever and ever.
1. This sets out the ugliness of sin,Use 1. and that most woful case wherein we had plunged our selves by our sins, that if God had not put forth all his wisdom, as we may so say, we must all have perished.
2. This setteth forth the most unspeakable love of God and of Jesus Christ towards us vile wretches:Use 2. That Christ should abase himself so low,Ioh. 3. 16. to all that he suffered in body, in soul, from men, from his Father especially, and for us Rebels his enemies, who had no need of us, nay, might have been glorified in our destruction, O the infinite depth of his love! And doth not this call for wonderful and unspeakable love and affection from us to God again, to do and suffer whatsoever he shall at any time require of us, to serve him night and day, on hands and knees, with the whole might both of body and soul (not a thought being out of his Service) yea, if it were to dye every day for him?Psal. 116. 12. Should we not say with David, What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits? this above all others? Oh! it rebukes our cold serving him, which will scarce lay down our lusts at his request, who yet laid down his life for us, our proud lusts, revenging lusts, covetous and worldly lusts, unclean lusts, &c. O fearful unthankfulness! And how hardly are we brought to do duties? No forwardness therein, negligence every way; and when we do them, how cold and careless are we? O lamentable! Is a cold drowsie service suitable to such a love as this? we may be even ashamed herein: And for suffering, alas, we have no will, no not to endure a mock, a frown of a great person; we will make friendship with the world, rather then to endure the least disgrace; we will forbear many duties, nay, to keep company with Gods servants, onelyonly lest we should be counted Puritans; How shall we then be able to go to Prison and death for the cause of Christ?
3. To all that mourn in Sion,Use 3. to all that are heavy laden, hungring after Christ Jesus, and willing to take up his yoke, and to all other Believers, this is matter of most unspeakable consolation: Their sins be gone, and all the punishment due to them; no punishment shall befal them here (as on the ungodly) no wrath or condemnation hereafter: Their afflictions are merciful corrections to further their Salvation; To them death is no death, but a passage to life, that whereupon their Souls are received into Heaven, their bodies committed to the earth, both which at the Resurrection shall be joyfully reunited; O how should we walk worthy of this in all holiness and honesty! But to all that shall not have part in Christ, there remains unspeakable misery, it had been good for them they had never been born; they must bear their own burthen, and sink to Hell, there to be for ever and ever: This will be the portion of most, because so few receive Christ, so few are humbled, so many through pride and profaneness refuse to be guided by him; O how few will cast away their lusts, and yield up themselves to be ruled by him and his Word! It will be most woful to the Turks, Jews and Pagans, that shall perish without Christ; but yet of all others, their judgement will be most fearful, which have had him preached daily, and by the Ministers of God have been so often besought to embrace him, and yet have despised him, would none of him; Oh, it will encrease their torment, to consider that they had offer of Christ, and many believed in him, and were converted by the same Sermons, whereat they themselves were no whit moved: O this will fret hearts! O lets consider this, we that live in this happy time! One would think every man should receive and imbrace Christ Jesus, but alas, how few do this? for them that do not, it will be their undoing: O give no rest unto your selves, till you can get a discharge in and by Christ, confess, bewail, crave pardon, cry to God, and resolve to turn to him: The water is now stirring, step into this Pool of Bethesda.Iohn 5.
4. This condemneth all false ways for Salvation,Use 4. for other then Christ never was any, neither is or shall be; therefore all that reject him, as Jews and Turks, or embrace him onelyonly to halves, as the Papists, are in a fearful case, as all among our selves that trust to any thing else besides him.
That we being dead to sin, &c.] Another main end of Christs death, and another great benefit redounding unto us thereby, namely, That he dyed for us, not onelyonly to free us from sins, and wrath, and damnation deserved thereby, but also to kill sins in us, to deliver us from the power thereof, and to dissolve the works of the Devil in us, that being dead unto sin, we might live unto righteousness: Of the words, first in general, then in particular.
In general note we thus much, that
For whomsoever Christ dyed,For whomsoever Christ dyed, he dyed to kill sin in them. he dyed to kill sin in them, for he dyed not to free us of half our misery, and leave us in the other half; nor to be at a great deal of cost with us and for us, and yet leave us in a case fit to do him no service (as if one should ransom a man out of the Turks galleys, and leave him in the midway) but hath done all this, that we might be fit to do him service, thereupon giving us his Word and Spirit to humble us, and so to change us, that sin may be mortified in us,1 Cor. 1. 30. and we made live: He is not onelyonly made of God unto us Redemption, but also our Sanctification; as he hath redeemed us,Tit. 2. 14. so hath he purged us to be a peculiar people unto himself: Christ affords both,See 1 Cor. 6. 20. and from him we may as well look for the one as the other;2 Cor. 5. 15. yea, whosoever hath indeed his part in the one, cannot be without the other,Luke 1. 74. and in token of our thankfulness, we ought to labor by all means to shew forth this latter.Eph. 5. 25.
1. This confutes that wicked slander of the Church of Rome: Use 1.We talk (say they) that we must be saved by Christs death, and by Faith in him onelyonly, and not by any thing we can do, and therefore that we set men at liberty to do what they list, and open a gap to all licentiousness; but as the Gospel is not a Doctrine of liberty, so neither do we by preaching give way unto licentiousness:See Rom. 3. 31. The Gospel requires as strict obedience as the Law doth, to every of Gods Commandments (though not in extremity) neither freeth it us from any duty to God or men, yea teacheth us, That denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, Tit. 2. 12.righteously and godly in this present world, and that none have nor can have part in Christ,Eph. 2. 10. which give not themselves to good works.
2. This setteth forth the wonderful goodness of Christ Jesus,Use 2. that hath not onelyonly freed us from Gods wrath, and the punishment of our sins (which is unspeakable goodness) but hath appointed to give us his Spirit to free us from sin (for if we should all our life here have lived after our own lusts, or under the power of Satan, what a base and woful life had this been?) that we might both in heart and body serve him in the works of holiness, and a godly life.
3. This condemneth all those that lay claim to the death of Christ,Use 3. and yet live in their sins, and old lusts: Numbers in these days have got this by the end, They hope to be saved by Jesus Christ; They be no Papists, that look to be saved by their works, but they believe in Jesus Christ with all their hearts, and yet they are not washed from their old filthiness, but abide still in security in all or some of their lusts: But let such know, they speak impossible things, God hath joyned these two ends of Christs death, and they divide them, yea blasphemous things, that Christ dyed to set men at liberty to live as they list: O woful wretches, that can say, They hope to be saved by Christ, and that he dyed for them, and yet can follow every vain pleasure and wicked lust, to redeem them from which, it cost even the blood of Christ (more worth then a thousand worlds) what is this, but to set light by Christs death, which none can do, who hath his part therein? yea, what is it but to crucifie him again, and to make a mock of his death? what beastly unthankfulness is it, for any to say Christ dyed for me,Acts 15. 9. and yet to live in sin? nay, whosoever have faith to believe their pardon in Christ,1 Iohn 3. 3. it purifieth their hearts, and the assurance of such a love to us, must needs work love again in us, and that love will constrain us, yet who useth not this shift? who flyeth not hereunto, as Joab unto the horns of the Altar?1 Kings 2. 28, 34. but as there he found no shelter from the Sword of Benaiah, so they that flie to Christ as their refuge, having nothing to do with him, they shall be cut off, and cast down into Hell for ever: O that the death of Christ, which ought to be the greatest corrasive to eat out sin out of our hearts (as which cost such a wonderful price) should be made a bo…ster for sin! As beggers go with their licences boldly from place to place, so do worldlings sin boldly, because they can say, O they believe in Jesus Christ, and he hath dyed for them, &c. but as most of their licences being found counterfeit, and made under a Bush, are taken from them, and they themselves cast into Prison; So when God shall come to examine those, this shall not free them or serve their turn, but they shall be cast into utter darkness. If you live in your lusts, or have the love of any one …in in you, as yet ye have no part in Christs death.
4. This may be a great comfort to those that can finde and feel sin dying in them,Use 4. and themselves dead to all sin, and the love of any one, and that they are renewed to live the life of God, and yield obedience to all his Commandments: Though this be not as they would, yet if their hearts can bear witness with them that this in truth, let them be assured they have their part in Christs death. Having their part in the latter benefit thereof, its an argument of the former; For how come they to be now so changed into an hatred of all the sins, which before they loved, and such a true and earnest care to please God?Rom. 8. 1. Flesh and blood hath not so taught them, but Gods Spirit, and that's an argument we are his, even his Spirit that he hath given us.
But many that would not willingly offend God for any thing, and having failed in the least thing, are more troubled then most be at great matters, yea, and study and strive for nothing so much as to please God, yet cannot be perswaded that Christ dyed for them.
Oh!Obj. I fear that Christ dyed not for me, will such a one say, because I feel such a corrupt and rebellious nature within me, and I am often overcome of sin and Satan.
Its not the mark of such as Christ dyed for,R. that they are freed from sin altogether, but that they hate all sin, that they resist it, and often prevail against the same; whereof if at any time they be overcome, yet they rise again by unfained repentance, and stand up upon their watch; for in the best of Gods Servants, there will some of the Canaanilist brood remain, as pricks in our sides, but so long as we keep them Tributaries, we must not be discouraged; though our corruptions salley out upon us sometimes, yet if we make war upon them, and chase them home, and so weaken them, they shall not prevail over us: The Church is not in this world without spot, except it be by imputation of Christs righteousness,Phil. 5. 25. for in respect of Sanctification, its but begun to be cleansed, and shall be perfected in the world to come. Thus in general.
In particular,The two parts of Repentance the two clauses here mentioned, contain the two parts of Repentance, or Sanctification, namely, Mortification and Vivification, or dying unto sin, and living unto righteousness.
Dead unto sin▪] Its the duty of every Christian in token of his thankfulness to God that hath delivered him from this most woful state,Christians must endeavor to mortifie their lusts. to set himself to mortifie his lusts, and all maner of evil, and that every day more and more: Though we cannot be dead to sin at once (it being a work of our whole life) yet must we be dead to the love of all sin, open or secret, outward or inward, and so dye daily; as Christ dyed, so should we labor, and be more and more dead to our lusts; as he was crucified, so should we crucifie them, &c. And can we live in sin, that cost the price of the blood of Christ? Who would not abhor and cast from him the knife that killed his dearest friend? Thus did sin to our Savior Christ, it was that which brought him to his death.
1. The thing then that best beseems a Christian,Use 1. is to mortifie his vile lusts, to finde them out, to hate and pursue them to the death, to apply all means to the weakning and killing thereof, ever hacking at the roots thereof, by continual Prayer and Meditation, applying the Word, Mercies, Corrections, all to the throat of our Corruptions; for as nothing is more unbeseeming a Christian, then to be carried away of any lust, so this should be our continual exercise, to be continually weakning our Corruptions. This is true Religion, it stands not in hearing Sermons, but in mortifying our lusts, and bringing our rebellious hearts in subjection to the will of God. And as we are to labor for the subduing of all, so are we especially of our strongest corruptions, that have most foiled us, most broke our peace, most dishonored God, and have been of worst example.
2. This rebuketh a wonderful fault in most Christians,Use 2. that howsoever they have general purposes to resist sin and to do well, yet think that they are not continually to labor for the mortifying thereof; wherein failing, they do sometimes yield and give way to their lusts to break out into open evils, vain speeches, slight oathes, worldly talking on the Lords day, gaming, and the like: So for their inward lusts of pride, covetousness, frowardness, security, dulness to duties, unbelief, coldness and customariness in the service of God; Alas, these they look not after, but almost lay the reign on the neck of them, so that if they reign not in them, yet they break out at every turn, and are very rank in them, and shew forth themselves grosly to Gods dishonor, their own discomfort, and the continual breach of their peace, with much evil example to others.Gal. 5. 24. As we would prove our selves Christs, let us labor to crucifie the flesh, with the affections and lusts thereof; let us deal with our sins, as the Jews dealt with Christ, kill them, bury them, lay a great stone upon them, set a watch over them.
Should live unto righteousness.] As we must be dead unto sin, so must we be alive unto God.Its not enough to be dead to sin, but we must be alive to God, and to his Commandments in doing all good. By righteousness is meant, the whole duty of man in all godliness, throughout his whole conversation to God and Men: When its joyned with holiness,See Luk. 1. 75. then it stands for the duties of the second Table,Tit. 2. 12. but alone, it stands for all, as in that of the Apostle, Being then made free from sin, Rom. 6. 18.ye became the servants of righteousness; and to this end hath Christ dyed for us, even that we should not live after the lusts of the flesh, but after the will of God, serving him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life: And what should we else do? how else express our thankfulness? we ought to be exceeding thankful, even for earthly benefits, how much more for this, Christ dying for us? O happy change! We that were sometimes the slaves of sin, and drudges of Satan, doing base work for woful wages, are now become the Servants of God, employed in holy works, whereof here the fruits are, peace of Conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and the end everlasting life.
We ought therefore to give our selves to an holy life in all things,Use. shewing hereby whose we are, and to whom we belong, as its said of the Merindolians, That they were known by their godly behavior, wheresoever they became. It was a custom among the Romans, that every one should carry some note of his Trade or Profession as he went in the streets, a Carpenter his Rule, a Taylor his Yard or Measure, &c. So ought we to carry a badge of our Profession every where about us, whether we go to Church, be at home in our Families, go to Market, to our Shops, or Workfolks, &c. even holiness throughout our whole conversation. In prosperity we must shew forth sobriety; in adversity, patience; at all times the fruits of love, faithfulness, uprightness, &c. Are we in company? our speeches must be gracious and godly;Luke 1. 75. if alone, holy and heavenly minded: And this we ought not to do a little by fits in a good mood, and when we list, but we must walk in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life; we must be continually ready to every good work, we must be a peculiar people,Tit. 2. 14. zealous of good works: If these things be in us, and abound, great profit will redound unto us, and hereunto must we employ all our endeavors.
By whose stripes ye were healed.] Now he returns again to Servants, applying the benefit of Christ to them. By stripes, or wales of the stripes, he means not onelyonly the stripes he had of men, but all his sufferings; he useth the word stripes, in respect of Servants, because they suffered stripes of their Masters, and that for their especial comfort, as who did not suffer alone, and whose stripes were healed through the stripes which Christ suffered.
All that Christ suffered for us,All that Christ suffered was for our profit. was wholesome and saving, his shame, our glory; his condemnation, our absolution; his curse, our blessing; his strokes, our peace; his death, our life. The most grievous stripes that he suffered, have healed the most ugly and deadly sores of our sins, which otherwise had been incurable: We ought therefore to be content to suffer some stripes for him and for his sake, and for the profession of his Name; he was mockt and reviled for us, may not we then be content to suffer the like for him? What are we to him? He became poor, to make us rich; if we be cut short for his sake, shall we not endure it? Dost thou suffer any thing for Christ? bear the same patiently; and great reason, Christ suffered much for thee.Christ dyed even for poor servants.
Note further, that Christ dyed even for poor Servants, and that therefore the meanest are to labor after their part in Christ (and yet who are more negligent then the poor are for the most part?) and those poor that have their part in him, are to be highly thankful, and bear their outward wants patiently, and think that God hath dealt wonderfully for them, having passed by so many great, wise and learned ones.
In the words also these particulars are implied,
1. That sin is a wound or disease;Sin is a disease. as a disease weakens the body, so doth sin every faculty of the soul: As the former also brings deformity on the body, causeth pain, and thereupon followeth death, so doth the latter on the soul.
2. That our bodies are subject to many sicknesses,Our bodies are subject to many sicknesses. and the diseases thereof are oftentimes very grievous; and if those be such, what are the diseases and pains of the soul? the one may put us in minde of the other.
3. That Christ is our Physician,Christ is our Physician. both for body and soul; He hath both skill, will, compassion, healeth us freely, and is ever near us; he hath by his Passion purchased all good for us; he wrought many cures and miracles in the days of his flesh, now he worketh by means, and his blessing thereon.
4. That sin is hateful to God,Sin hateful to God. as for which Christ suffered stripes.
Seek we therefore help in Christ,Use. we are sick of many diseases, we cannot help our selves by any Medicine we can devise, Christ onelyonly can cure us: This Faith apprehends, for that the wounding of one should heal another, is above Nature. Oh! how will men being sick in body bestir themselves, that they may be cured; but being inwardly diseased through sin, how slack are they? how do they defer it to the last, when its too late? There be but certain seasons to be cured in, as the man at the Pool of Bethesda observed; miss we not our opportunity,How we may speed in our suits to Christ. lest we perish altogether. And that we may speed at the hands of this our Physician, 1. We must feel our disease, and be humbled, confess also and bewail the same to him. 2. Earnestly beg of him to heal us. 3. Hurt our selves no more as near as we can. 4. Believe he will heal us. 5. Suffer the words of Exhortation, the preaching of the Word being the means to cure our sinful Nature. 6. Take heed of dawbers, that cry Peace, peace. 7. Take heed of all false cures, as by our selves, Masses, Pilgrimages, Indulgencies, &c. 8. Abide the Lords leisure in the use of the means, though we should be cured by threatnings of the Word, or by afflictions; yea, being once cured, do we acknowledge the same to his glory, and be we thankful;Psal. 103. 3. for its he alone that hath satisfied for our sins, he alone through whom our sinful Nature is cured.