The Practical Sabbatarian, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. God is moſt gracious in the tranſcendent work of mans Redemption.
LEt us meditate likewiſe upon the great work of our Redemption: This glorious work is the Maſter-piece of divine Chriſtus eſt dei ſapientia, tum foreign, quia eſt foreign aeterm patris; tum revelata, quia in Chriſti cognitione ſalutaris ſapientia ſita eſt. Par.wiſdom; The Angels deſire to look into it, 1 Pet. 1. 12. but though they excell in wiſdom, yet they cannot ſee to the bottom of it; there are ſo many ſmall threads of curious contrivance in it, that no eye of the creature can poſſibly diſcern them. It is worth our notice, that Chriſt who carties on this work, is not onelyonly called the power of God, but the wiſdom of God, 1 Cor. 1. 24. to evidence the traces of infinite contrivance which are in this bleſſed undertaking: And therefore how ſhould we on the morning of a Sabbath contemplate on this rare deſign of mans redemption by our dear Jeſus, the holy Son of God? How ſhould we ponder 1 Pet. 1. 19, 20. Gen. 3. 15.it deeply, get lively and ſtrong apprehenſions of it, that it might leave deep and laſting impreſſions upon our ſouls? Let Eph. 1. 4.us view over the ſeveral paſſages and tranſactions of this Non-ſuch of Gods works.
Firſt, Let us view it in the plat-form, how gloriouſly was this laid in the eternal purpoſes of Gods love, Eph. 1. 4. Yea, in the eternal promiſe paſt between the Father and the Son, Eph. 3. 8. Chriſtus eſt agnus macta…us ab origine mundi. 1. Aeternâ dei praeordinatione 2. Promiſſione de ſemine mulicris contrituro caput ſerpentis. 3. Fide Patrum quae ſui foreign rerum ſperandarum 4. In vict…m… patrum quae erant ipſe agnus ſacramentaliter. 5. In membris ſuis quibus patientibus ipſe patiebatur. Par.Tit. 1. 2. O the everlaſtingneſs, infiniteneſs and unſearchableneſs of this love of God! That the everlaſting God, the Majeſty of Heaven and Earth ſhould take care of us, before the world was, that he ſhould buiſie himſelf, and his Son about poor, worthleſs and wretched worms; O let us adore this firſt love, admire this free love of God and Chriſt.
Secondly, Let us ſee in the next place the early diſcovery, and ſhining forth of this miſtery in the very morning of the world; No ſooner man was fallen, but a promiſe of Chriſt our Redeemer is reached forth unto him, Gen. 3. 15. And after many ages God ſends his bleſſed Son out of his boſome to fulfill this promiſe, Gal. 4. 4. We could not come up to Heaven to Chriſt, and therefore he comes down upon Earth to us: O let us ſee the King of glory ſtooping, bowing the Heavens to come down, and dwell in a dungeon, and lodge among priſoners, and pitch his tent in the Rebels camp. Let us think how the holy Angels wondered to ſee the King of Heaven ſtepping down from his throne to ſit on his footſtool, Occiſio Abelis innocentis ſuit figura occiſionis agni. Lyra.yea, putting off the robes of a Prince, to put on the livery of a Servant, Phil. 2. 7, 8. and that after treaſon had been ſtampt upon it; nay, taking our nature after it had been in armes againſt God: not that Chriſt took the ſin of our nature upon him, Heb. 4. 15. but he took the ſhame of it, after it had been under a cloud, under a blot before God and Angels; nay, God did ſo love the very nature of his Elect, that though for the preſent, he had them not all with him in heaven, yet he muſt have their picture in his Son to ſee them in, and to love them in. O let us meditate much on this admirable ſtrain of love, till it melt our hearts, Luk. 24. 32. Zach. 12. 10. Iſa. 53. 2, 3.and make them burn within us.
Thirdly, From the incarnation of our Saviour, we may trace him through the ſeveral paſſages of his life to his death, foreignand paſſion, and here with an eye of faith look upon him whom we have pierced, and view that man of ſorrows, ſuffering, 1 Pet. 2. 24.bleeding, dying on that tree of ſhame and ignominy; there we may dwell upon the death of Chriſt, till it put life into our dead hearts, and then let us follow Chriſt in our meditations from the Croſs to the Sepulcher, and by the way, ponder deeply of the ſeverity of Divine Juſtice, of the ſinfulneſs of ſin, of the inexpreſſible love of Chriſt, and the rare worth of ſouls, which are not redeemed with corruptible 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19.things as ſilver and gold, but with the precious blood of Jeſus Chriſt, as a lamb without blemiſh and ſpot, 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19. Acts 20. 7.And why did the primitive Saints ſacramentally ſhew forth the Lords death on the Lords day, Acts 20. 7. but to ſignifie to us, that to contemplate and commemorate the death of Chriſt, is a ſpecial duty of that day? But a little more diſtinctly to ſupply our meditations on this glorious ſubject.
Let us meditate on the Author of our Redemption, he that carried it on from the firſt to the laſt; Let us contemplate Mat. 3. 17. Hag. 2. 7. Iſa. 29. 19. Promiſſiones in Chriſto conſtantes et verac…s ſunt, in eo que impletae ſunt. Alap.on our dear Redeemer: He is the Son of God, the wonder of Angels, the deſire of Nations, the joy of Saints: All the propheſies of old were fulfilled in him, Luk. 24. 27. All the favours of God are conveyed to us by him, Eph. 1. 4, 5, 6, 7. All the types of the Law were the ſhadow of him, Col. 2. 17. Heb. 10. 1. Nay, all the promiſes of the Goſpel are yea and Amen in him, 2 Cor. 1. 20. Let us meditate on his perſon, it is altogether lovely, Cant. 5. 16. Let us meditate on his natures. The Creatour and the Creature never met in any but in him; ſuch a perſon, foreign, God-Man, Joh. 4. 19. Rev. 15. 3. Heb. 9. 28. Heb. 4. 15. 1 Tim. 1. 15.never was, nor never will be in the world beſides him. Let us meditate on his offices; they are neceſſary and glorious. Let us meditate on his behaviours; they are ſpotleſs and fructiferous. Let us meditate on his deſigns; they are affectionate ſtupendous.
Let us meditate on the objects of redemption, (viz.) Gods Elect; a company of poor, helpleſs, ſuccourleſs ſinners, Iſa. 29. 22.whom God out of eternal pity hath deſigned for himſelf to be ranſomed by the blood of his dearly beloved. Theſe redeemed ones are ſometimes called his people, Luk. 1. 68. Peculium hebraicè foreign peculium ſelectum, theſauros pretioſiores, et charos ſignificat. Hieron. Chaldaeus vertit foreign Syrus foreign novum populum. Exod. 28. 29.ſometimes his Iſrael, Luk. 24. 21. ſometimes his peculiar people, Tit. 2. 14. ſometimes his treaſure, as Hierom obſerves, his New people, as the Syriack tranſlation renders it: There are a few ſcattered up and down in the world, in all places, in all times, and in all ages, whom God ſet his heart upon from everlaſting, and Chriſt leaves heaven and is incarnate to purchaſe and redeem theſe ſcattered ones. Aaron was to have the twelve Tribes engraven on his breaſt-plate, and to bear them before God, when he was to go into the holy place, Exod. 28. 29. Our dear Redeemer, whom Aaron was onelyonly to typifie, did bear the names of his Iſrael upon his heart, when he did ſacrifice himſelf to divine juſtice, upon his ſhamefull, but fruitful Croſs.
Let us meditate on the price of our Redemption; And here (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks) we muſt conceive, We are not Redeemed 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19.with corruptible things, as ſilver and gold, but with 1 Cor. 6 20.the precious blood of Jeſus Chriſt; Tears, not treaſure; Col. 1. 14.not ſilver, but ſighs; not full coffers, but emptied veins were Agnoſce ô homo quam gravia ſunt vulnera, pro quibus neceſſe eſt filium dei vulnerari. Bern.the price of our redemption, Eph. 1. 7. All the mines in the world could not have purchaſed the life of one ſoul; for as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh, Pſ. 49. 8. The redemption of the ſoul is precious: Nothing but precious blood could redeem the precious ſoul; our ſinfull wounds are onelyonly healed by Chriſt's ſacred wound, we are cured by ſtripes. Chriſts chaſtiſements are our peace. Our Olive leaf is dipt in blood. Chriſt trod Iſa. 53. 5.the wine-preſs alone, and his garments were ſprinkled with blood, Iſa. 63. 3. There are four wayes by which the Iſa. 63. 9. Iſa. 63. 3. Rev. 5. 9.redeemed perſon attains his freedom:
1. When the Captive is freely manumitted, and let go without price or ranſom: But this is not our caſe; for neither would Satan have ever diſmiſſed us from his thraldome of his own accord, and freely, nor yet our ſin would leave us freely and ſpontaneouſly, it ſtuck ſo cloſe to us.
When the Captive is freed by way of exchange: Nor is this our condition; what bartery could we make with God to Quorundum permutatione fieri poteſt omnium electorum redemptio? Gravius eſt peccatum quàm ut ullâ permutatione puraealicujus creaturae tolli, et ita captivum redimi poteſt. Zanch.purchaſe our freedom? Could the Elect be redeemed by their own ſweat or ſervices, or by the ſacrificing of the pureſt Creatures? This is no way proportionable to divine juſtice which we have provoked; theſe means are too weak to file off our chains: Will the Lord be pleaſed with thouſands of Rams, ſaith the Prophet, or with ten thouſand rivers of Oyl, (which yet is impoſſible) or ſhall I give my firſt-born for my tranſgreſſion, or the fruit of my body, for the ſin of my ſoul? Mic. 6. 7. Obſerve in this Text of Scripture, here is offered all varieties of creature-contributions for mans redemption; Here are inanimate creatures offered, ten thouſand rivers of oyl; here are irrational creatures made proffer of, thouſands Mic. 6. 7.of Rams; nay, here rational creatures are tender'd, the fruit of our bodys; nay further, here are the moſt beloved creatures frankly and pathetically preſented for an oblation, our firſt-born, the heirs both of our love and revenue, and yet all this to no purpoſe: All theſe great offers can contribute nothing to our releaſe or redemption. Sin is not expiated but by blood, and not by the blood of a Ram, a Bullock, or a Goat, but by the blood of him who was God as well as Man; Acts 20. 28.and therefore our Saviour expoſtulates the caſe: What ſhall a man give in exchange for his ſoul? Suppoſe he ſhould pick Mat. 16. 26.up the excellencies of the whole Univerſe, and ſacrifice them for the ſouls redemption, will they be accepted? Surely no.
When the Captive is reſcued by force from his thraldom, as Iſrael was from their Aegyptian Task-maſters, as by a Pro…e verè Chriſtus vocatur redemptor noſter, quia ut frater noſter primogenitus dato pretio redemit fratres ſuos. Zanch.mighty hand, and a ſtretched-out arm, as Lot was by the proweſs and valour of Abraham and his company, Gen. 14. 16. But this is not the way of our Redemption; we are reſcued not by killing, but by dying, not by giving wounds, but by receiving them.
When the Captive is bought with a price: And this is our caſe, Empti, redempti ſumus, We are bought, we are rebought, or redeemed, as the primitive Chriſtians ſung it out 1 Cor. 6. 20. Quanto ſibi pretio deus nos ſibi comparavit, ſcil. ſanguine ſuo Alap.uſually and triumphantly; but by what price are we bought? Not by furniſht mines, which are the rich linings of the earth, but by the large effuſions of ſpotleſs and chryſtalline blood.
Let us meditate on the ſlaveries from which we are redeemed: There are four Cardinal Miſeries from which our bleſſed Redeemer hath reſcued us;
From the ſlavery of Satan. Chriſt in managing the work of our Redemption hath trod Satan, not onelyonly under his own D…o in cruce affixi intelliguntur, Chriſtus viſibilitèr ſponte ſuâ ad tempus, Di…bolus inviſibilitèr, invitus, in perpetuum; Fidei ergooculus conſpicit Chriſtum in ſummitate crucis, quaſi in curru triumphali ſedentem, Diabolum in imâ parte cruci allig…tum et Chriſti pedibus conculc…tum. Orig.feet, but under our feet, Rev. 16. 20. By death he hath conquered him who had the power of death, which is the Devil, Heb. 2. 14. It is true, even ſtill Satan tempts, but not triumphs over the Saints; his conflicts are for the tryal of our grace, but not for the trampling upon our ſouls; he may raiſe a duſt, but not give a mortal wound to the poor believer, Luk. 22. 32. he may ſift us, but not ſink us, he may winnow us, but not win us; Chriſt hath redeemed us from his deſtructive power: It is a rare ſpeech of Origen; There were two faſtned to Chriſts Croſs, Chriſt viſibly, of his own accord, for a time; the Devil inviſibly, unwilling, and for ever; therefore the eye of faith may behold Chriſt at the top of the Croſs, as ſitting in a triumphant Chariot; the Devil at the bottom of it, bound, and trampled upon by the feet of Chriſt. Look upon Satan as a Serpent, Gen. 3. 1. Chriſts death took away his ſting, (as far as concerns believers.) Look upon Satan as a Dragon, Rev. 20. 2. Chriſts death cut off his tail; Gen. 3. 1.and look upon Satan as a roaring Lion, Chriſts death daſhed Rev. 20. 2.out his teeth, and made his paw unſerviceable.1 Pet. 5. 8.
Chriſt hath redeemed us from the curſe of the Law; ſo the Apoſtle fully and elegantly, Col. 2. 14. Blotting out the Subnectit Apoſtolus ipſum ch…ographum eſſe delet…m, ſed fort…ſſe non tam deletum, quin p…ſſ…t…lis nova ſuboriri; Addit igitur Apoſſolus in ſuper ſublatum eſſe; ſed fort…ſſe aliquid l…tet abſconditum, et in poſterum proferri poſſit; immo, inquit Apoſtolus, eſt cruci affixum, dilaceratum, et in fruſta abſ…ſſum. Daven. Gal. 3. 13. Gal. 4. 5 Chriſtus emendo nos exemit dato pretio, et in chriſtianam vindicavit libertatem. Eraſ.hand-writing of Ordinances that was againſt us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his Croſs. And Biſhop Davenant deſcants moſt ſweetly upon that Text: The Apoſtle (ſaith he) proceeds here in a moſt pleaſing gradation, and conſults the caſe of trembling conſciences; for ſaith the Apoſtle, the hand-writing was blotted out; but, anſwers the doubting Chriſtian, but new controverſies may ariſe; the Apoſtle adds, but it is taken away; but, replyes the doubting Chriſtian, but ſome other may lie hid, and be brought to light hereafter; therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, The hand-writing is nailed to Chriſts Croſs, it is rent and torn to pieces by the ſame nails by which Chriſt was pierced and faſtned to the Croſs. Indeed the Law is now Directory, but not Damnatory to the believer; his rule, but not his ruine; his glaſs to ſee himſelf in, but not his rock to daſh himſelf upon. The Apoſtle avers, Gal. 3. 13. that we are redeemed from the curſe of it. The Law is our Copy, but it cannot be our curſe; we may ſteer by its purity, but believers cannot fall by its power, Gal. 4. 5. The Law is our Teacher, but not our Task-maſter; we are delivered from the tyrannical domination, though not from the guidance and ſacred inſtruction of it; we may be adviſed, but we, (viz.) believers, ſhall never be endangered by it.
Chriſt hath redeemed us from the power and deſtructiveneſs of ſin: A believer may mourn over the ſpot, but he ſhall not Rom. 6. 2. 12. Chriſtus meritò fuit percuſſus, non ſuo, ſed alieno pe…cato, nos illum attrivimus, nos illum …ulneravimus, qui illi noſtra peccata, tanti dol…ris cauſam, & tanti cruciatus materiam attulimus. Riv.fall under the weight of ſin. Sin may abide in, but not reign over a Saint, it may be his grief, but not his condemnation, Rom. 8. 1. Chriſt hath redeemed us from the deſtroying, though not from the diſturbing power of ſin. He hath redeemed us from all iniquity, Tit. 2. 14. He hath purchaſed our forgiveneſs, Eph. 1. 7. ſo in the Col. 1. 14. In whom we have redemption through his bloud, even the forgiveneſs of ſins. And it is obſervable, there are two Texts of Scripture, viz. Eph. 1. 7. and Col. 1. 14. which ſpeak the ſame thing, in the ſame words, which is unuſual; that by the mouth of two witneſſes this great truth may be confirmed. Our pardons are written in Chriſts bloud, 1 Joh. 1. 7. And ſo moſt 1 Joh. 1. 7.excellently the Apoſtle Peter ſpeaking of Chriſt, ſaith, Who 1 Pet. 2. 24. Chriſtus ſpirituales n…ſtros mo…bos ſ…n… vit, …t in… recepit, … …llerit, et a…leret, ne…pe per imputationem, et paenae perſolutionem. Riv.his own ſelf bare our ſins in his own body on the tree. Now, if Chriſt hath born our ſins, then they are taken from us, our ſouls muſt not die for them, they are his charge, and not our condemnation: So then, the In…itement of ſin cannot reach the believer, the guilt of ſin cannot caſt him, the power of ſin cannot over-rule; the ſpot of ſin cannot ſo unbeautifie him, as to render him repudiate in the ſight of his beloved; ſin may bring the Saint to the bar of conſcience to be arraigned their, but never to the bar of God to be condemned 1 Joh. 29. Jer. 31. 34. Heb. 9. 14. Iſa. 43. 25. Iſa. 44. 22. 1 Joh. 1. 9.there: Chriſt hath ſatisfied for the ſins of his people, and divine juſtice will not require a double ſatisfaction. The Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Joh. 1. 9. If we confeſs our ſins, much more if Chriſt die for them, God is juſt to forgive our ſins.
Chriſt hath redeemed us from the killing power of death; The Saints death is his alteration, not his execution; his Job 14. 14. Phil. 1. 23. Mors non eſt interitus, ſed introitus.change, but not his curſe: His priviledge, and not his penalty. Our death by the death of Chriſt, is become a deſireable thing, the bitterneſs of Chriſts death hath put a ſweetneſs and lovelineſs upon ours. When the Saints die, they only go to their Fathers houſe; Death ſees them ſafe home, it Joh. 14 2▪unites the body to the Earth their Mother, and the ſoul to Tempus diverſionis eſt te… reverſionis et regreſſionis ad Deu…. Tertul.the Lord their Father; who in the Reſurrection will conjoyn theſe diſſever'd pieces of Man, and glorify them both for ever. Tertullian calls the time of dying, the time of return to God, after the years of abſence here below. Cyprian calls death the time of a Saints aſſumption and conveyance to his Auguſtinus in 1 Tim. 4 7. Exultantis magis ſunt verba ad mort… praeſentiam, et ad cor…m … helantis, quàm timentis, et ſeipſum cruciantis. Aug.Kingdom. And it is recorded, when the ſame holy Martyr heard of a ſentence of death paſſed upon him by the Emperour Valerian, he anſwered, I thank God who is pleaſed to looſen the chains of my body, that at laſt I may truly be at liberty. Chriſts death indeed hath ſweetned and perfumed ours; the ſpices which were thrown into Chriſts grave, are now taken up and thrown into ours. Life to a believer is but an unkind Wall, which parteth the Saint from his Beloved; death throwes down this Wall, and brings him into Luc. 24. 1. Joh. 19. 40.the ſame Heaven with Jeſus Chriſt. Death convey'd Lazarus from the comfortleſs gate of the rich man, to the refreſhing Luc. 16. 23. Heb. 9. 27.boſom of bleſſed, becauſe believing Abraham: Chriſt hath redeemed us from the ſting, though not from the ſtroak of death; from its hurt, though not from its hold. A Saint Rev. 14 13. 1 Theſ. 4. 14, 16.now dies in Chriſt; and though he die in his bed, yet he ſleeps in Jeſus; Death is only his ceaſing to be any longer in a valley of tears, and a wilderneſs of ſnares.
But a little farther to dilate on this point.The Attributes reſplendent in the work of Redemption.
In the great work of our Redemption, all the Divine Attributes manifeſt themſelves in their greateſt luſtre and ſplendor; in this beautiful Orb they ſhine the brighteſt.
The Juſtice of God; that if the ſinner did not die, the Son muſt: One muſt die: if the ſinner be not caſt into hell, the Saviour muſt go out of his Fathers boſom. Here was infinite foreign delectatus eſt. Deus voluit et ejus beneplacito profectus eſt, quòd infirmitatibus ſubjecerit filium ſu…m eum que afflictionibus contuderit; Alioquin nihil actum eſſet, ſi exiſtimaremus illud accidiſſe, vel nolente deo, vel otioſè ſpectante. Riv.juſtice, here juſtice had a Selah put upon it. That Text of Scripture is moſt remarkable, in Iſa. 53. 10. It pleaſed the Father to bruiſe him, he hath put him to grief, &c. God took a delight in bruiſing his own Son, becauſe in thoſe bruiſes juſtice rid triumphant. Innocency muſt bleed, that the ſinner may eſcape, and that juſtice may be diſplayed. Lycurgus once made a Law, that Adultery ſhould be puniſhed with the loſs of both the eyes; his own Son being found guilty, that juſtice might not be waved, he puts out one of his Sons eyes, and one of his own; So the wages of ſin is death, Rom. 6. 23. That Law is unalterable; now ſin is committed, there is an accurſed thing in the Camp, Ioſh. 7. 11. Either the ſinner or the Saviour muſt die, If the Principal cannot pay the Debt, the ſurety muſt. Divine Juſtice is ſo inexorable, that the ſinner eſcaping, the Cup of Divine Rom. 6. 23. Heb. 7. 22.wrath muſt be put into the hand of an only Son. Thus juſtice is eminent in the work of Mans Redemption.
The faithfulneſs of God. God from eternity made a compact with his Son, the Copy of which is laid up in that Ad ſucceſſum mortis de quod attinet; Rectè exprimitur, videndi, et ſaturandi verbis, quibus omni moda fruitio rei conquiſitae laboribus ſignificatur, et accipitur pro foelici et ubere ſanctarum animarum meſſe, Chriſtus ad mortis ſuae tempus eſuriebat, grandi charitatis aeſtu, &c. Joh. 17. 4, 5, 6.Text, Iſa. 53. 10, 11. And one iota of this agreement muſt not paſs away. The ſubſtance of this compact is compriſed in this main Article, If Chriſt will make his ſoul an offering for ſin, he ſhall ſee the travel of his ſoul, and be ſatisfied: If Chriſt will die, his Spouſe, his Church ſhall live, his Croſs ſhall make way for their Crown. Now in the fulneſs of time, Gal. 4. 4. Chriſt attempts and accompliſheth this ſtupendous undertaking, he becomes incarnate, and dies for his people, and ſo his people live by his death; the Father altogether comporting with this glorious agreement, and not only gives his Son to redeem ſinners, Ioh. 3. 16. but likewiſes gives redeemed ſinners to his Son, Ioh. 17. 4, 5, 6. And thus Divine faithfulneſs gloriouſly breaks forth in the bleſſed work of our Redemption. Every Article is made good, and Chriſt meets with no diſappointment; not a ſoul miſcarries, for which he laid down a price and a ranſom.
The Love of God did moſt tranſcendently appear in the work of M…ns Redemp…ion. There was rich love on the Fathers part, Ioh. 3. 16. Unſpeakable bowels did the Father expreſs to part with a Son, a holy Son, the Son of the boſom, the Son from Eternity, the very Character of his Father, Heb. 1. 3. An only Son, a begotten Son, Pſal. 2. 7. to die Gen. 22. 12.for ſinners. Though Iſaac was on the Altar, yet he was reſcued, but our dear Jeſus was on the Croſs, and he muſt die; Chriſt begs his life of the Father, Mat. 26. 39. But Non ſolum confi…mat Chriſtus, ſe diſcipulos ſuos dilexiſſe, ſed dilectionis ſuae magnitudinem exaggerat quod ſummo amorisgradu eos dilexerit. Ger.the Father will not hear. Great love was manifeſted in the Son too: He takes upon him the rags of our fleſh, and they are farther torn by ſorrows and afflictions, and at laſt dipt in bloud. How Chriſt gloſſes upon his own love, Joh. 15. 13. and ſheweth us that death was the moſt ſincere teſtimony, and the moſt ſuperlative Character of entire love; his wounds dropt more love than bloud, his arms ſpread upon the Croſs were ſtretched out for amicable and Cùm inimici eſſemus, reconcil…ati ſumus deo per ſanguinem filii ſui, et Chriſtus mortuus eſ… pro … cis, et ſi nondum q…i…m amantibu…, ſed tam…n jam amatis. Bern.amiable embraces: There was a threefold Inſcription upon the Croſs of Chriſt, I will only a little invert it, let it be this; The wiſdom of the Father, the love of the Son, and the Salvation of ſinners. Chriſts heart was full of love, Joh. 10. 15. He lays down his life, it is not forced from him, Ioh. 10. 18. he depoſits it, as the pawn of his affection: Chriſt dies for his friends, ſaith Bernard, happily not yet loving him, yet already beloved by him.
The mercy of God did moſt illuſtriouſly ſhine in the glorious work of Mans Redemption. The Apoſtle Rom. 5. 10. Rom. 5. 8.aſſures us that Chriſt died to reconcile enemies to his Father; and what would have been the iſſue of enemies? how bitter Coriſtus ex charitate ſuâ, et Patris, pro …ohn injuſtis, et malefactoribus peccatoribuſque mori voluit; Chriſtus ergo longe omnem omnium hominum charitatem ſuperat et tranſcendit. Alap. in Rom. Ezek. 16. 6.their portion? how full of wrath their Cup? how ſure their ſlaughter? Luke 19. 27. But Chriſt comes to die for us in this low and loſt condition, Ezek. 16. 6. when we were ready to receive the reward of enemies, when we were falling by the hand of Juſtice as ſo many enemies: How ſweet and ſeaſonable was this pity and compaſſion? we had all the Characters of miſery upon us, which are faſtned upon the Church of Laodicea, Rev. 3. 17. we were blind, miſerable, poor and naked, both helpleſs and hopeleſs; then Chriſt redeemed this dying Captive crew by the ranſom of his bloud, and as the price of his death. Our Meſſiah muſt die for us, when nothing elſe can help us; and his wounds muſt bleed to ſtanch ours; his bloud muſt be our balſam, his Corroſives our Cordials, his freſh wounds muſt cure our feſtred ones. Heart-breaking pity and mercy brings our beloved to the ſlaughter, when mankind was ready to drop into the flames. Alapide obſerves, There was more charity Gen. 42. 25. …en. 44. 1.and pity in one Chriſt dying for ſinners, then there can be bowels in all mankind. Joſeph in pity preſerves his Family from famine, Chriſt in ſofter bowels preſerves his people from raine.
The wiſdom of God was greatly ſeen in the work of mans Redemption; in this work there was apparent foreign, Eph. 3. 9, 10.the manifold wiſdom of God, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks; all the embroydery and artifices of rare contrivance and wiſdom. Omnes illae …ultae variae, e…p…gnantes inter ſ…r…tiones, quibus uſ…s …t deus in redimendis elect…s & Chriſto conjungendis, omnes haerationes ab aeterno definitae fuerunt in divino conſilio, & admirabilem, & vere foreign fuiſſe aeternam Dei ſapientiam. Zanch. in Eph.Zanchy obſerves, that many ſeeming contrarieti…s and contradictions were reconciled in the Redemption of mankind: Jew and Gentile diſſevered in Name, Nature, and Priviledge are copulated in the ſame Goſpel, with the joyful news of our Redemption by Chriſt, God and Man at an infinite diſtance united in the ſame perſon of Chriſt, who is our bleſſed Redeemer; Juſtice and Mercy in a mutual antipathy one to the other, meet and kiſs each other in the ſame work of our Redemption. What an efflux of wiſdom was this, that the Son of God ſhould die to free the Sons of men, that ſo the Sons of men ſhould become the Sons of God; what rare contrivance of divine wiſdom! That juſtice ſhould be executed, and yet mercy no way impaired, that juſtice ſhould over-take the ſurety, but mercy ſhould be diſplayed to the ſinner; that our pardons ſhould be written in anothers bloud, our favours ſhould lie in anothers ſmiles, our perſons clothed with anothers robe of ſpotleſs righteouſneſs, Rom 13. 14. 2 Cor. 5. 19, 20 Heb. 7. 25. Rev. 1. 5. Chriſtus jam vivit non ſibi, ſed nobis noſtram cauſam agens in conſpectu dei.that our Prayers ſhould be heard upon the account of anothers interceſſion, Heb. 7. 25. That our ſouls ſhould be cleanſed in the bath of anothers bleeding, Rev. 1. 5. All theſe methods of interwoven wiſdom may be both our wonder and meditation. Chriſt is the wiſdom of his Father, 1 Cor. 1. 24. not only as he was his Son and his Character, but as he was our All-ſufficient Redeemer.
The power of God did eminently appear in the work of our Redemption. Love brought Chriſt to the grave, but power Heb 9. 14.brought him out of the grave, Juſtice laid the weight of ſin upon Chriſt, but power ſuſtained him under that burden, Simplicius eſt, & res poſtulat, de ipſâ Chriſti divinitate intelligere hunc phraſm, (aeternum ſcil. ſpiritum) quae niſi aeternam fragantiam humanae Chriſti victimae oſpiraſſet, uti que ſatisfactoria pro mundi peccatis, aeternae que juſtitiae meritoria eſſe non po…iſſet. Par.which would have cruſhed men and Angels into nothing. It was nothing but Almighty power which ſupported Chriſt, and carryed him effectually and gloriouſly through the work of mans Redemption, which muſt neceſſarily be exerted to ſuſtain Chriſt under thoſe effuſions and chataracts of divine wrath which were poured out upon him, and to raiſe him from that grave where he lay breathleſs for an appointed time. What but omnipotency could break the bonds of death, and petarre the Sepulchre to make way for the Reſurrection of a glorious Redeemer?