The Plain Doctrine of the Justification of a Sinner in the Sight of God, Sermon 10
Chriſts Propitiation.
THE TENTH SERMON
ON
Rom. 3.24, 25.
Whom God hath ſet forth a Propitiation.
I Have ſpoken of the Redemption and Satisfaction of Chriſt, and the fulneſs of that ſatisfaction.
Now of the efficacy thereof, which is expreſſed in the word [propitiation] together with the efficient cauſe thereof (i.e. God the Father) and his manner of working, in the word [ſet forth]
Propitiation ſignifies the Lords Reconciliation to ſinners, by way of Sacrifice. Heb. 2.17. Propitiation what it means foreign unde foreign.Chriſt is ſaid to bee a merciful High-Prieſt, in things pertaining unto God, to make reconciliation for the ſins of the people. Where the Verb of which the word in the Text comes is uſed. It belonged to the Prieſt when the people had ſinned, to make reconciliation for them to God by way of ſacrifice; as often in Levit. 5. & 6. for which end God appointed certain expiatory ſacrifices in the time of the Law; the beaſt muſt dye inſtead of the ſinner. And this doth ſingularly ſet forth and expreſs, both the Prieſtly Office of Chriſt, that it belongs to him, and him onelyonly, to make an attonement: and that by way of Sacrifice, and oblation to God. So Levit. 23.27, 28.
Propitiation is alſo often uſed for the Mercy Seat. Heb. 9.5. referring to Exod. 25.17, 18, 21, 22. which Mercy Seat covered the Ark of the Teſtimony, wherein were put the two tables of the Law: and there ſaith God, I will meet thee. I will commune with thee from above the mercy ſeat, from between the two Cherubims, for all things that I will give thee in commandement unto the children af Iſrael. Where wee may conſider, 1 That as the Mercy Seat covered the Tables of the Law, from the face of God dwelling between the Cl…ru…ims aboue the Ark: So Chriſt doth cover the tranſgreſſions of both the Tables of the Law, from the face of God, that hee ſhould not behold ſin ſo as to impute it to the faithful. Thus 1 Joh. 2.2. 2 The Mercy Seat was the place where God uſed to meet his people, and to ſhew himſelf reconciled to them. 3 There they might conſult with God in their ſtraights. 4 That over againſt the Mercy Seat, the Prieſt went daily to offer ſacrifice, Heb. 9.6. So that in this word is contained both the means appointed for the attonement, i.e. The Sacrifice of Christ: and alſo the Lords reconcilement unto the perſons of his people. 5 The Mercy Seat contained the Law; ſo doth Chriſt all our righteouſneſſe. 6 It was interpoſed betwixt the Teſtimony, and the Lord; ſo is Chriſt betwixt God and our ſins.
Doct. Through the ſacrifice of Chriſts blood, the Father is pacified.That through the Sacrifice of Chriſt, God is pacified and appeaſed with all thoſe that have fellowſhip with Chriſt. 1 Joh. 2.1, 2. Chriſt is called our propitiation in the abſtract. Signifying, that all which is requiſite to pacify Gods anger againſt us, is laid up in Chriſt, and his Death: there needeth nothing more but onelyonly the pleading of his merit with the Father, which alſo Chriſt himſelf doth as our Advocate. 1 Joh. 4.10. God ſent his Son to bee the propitation for our ſins. 1 Theſſ. 1.10. Rom. 5.9 Being juſtified by his blood, wee ſhall bee ſaved from wrath through him. This was typified by all the Sacrifices, from the beginning of the World. All the vertue in them, was by vertue of Chriſts death. Heb. 10.4. The death of a beaſt could not ſuffice by way of Exchange, for the death of a man. If a ſubject ſhould bee a Traytor to his Sovereign: would the King take his Cattels life for his? much leſs then can the wrath of God bee appeaſed with the blood of beaſts. It is onelyonly by Chriſts death. Rom. 5.1. Matth. 3.17. Eph. 1.6. Luk. 2.14. The Mercy Seat was called the Propitiatory, as here Chriſt is called the Propitiation. No propitiation was by the Mercy Seat without blood, Heb. 9.7. thus ſweetly prefiguring the ſatisfaction of Jeſus Chriſt.
Queſt. Wherein stands this pacifying of Gods anger?
Anſw. There be three things implyed in it, 1 The wrath of God before to bee kindled againſt ſinners. Rom. 3.5. 2 That the effects of his anger in puniſhment and judgements, are hanging over the ſinners head. 3 It doth mainly import the turning away of thoſe judgements, and the quenching of that wrath, with the exemption and delivery of the ſinner there-from. All which wee finde, Col. 1.21. And you that were ſometimes alienated, &c. So Iſa. 59.2. compared with Eph. 2.13.
Queſt. How God is pacified toward them whom he loved eternally.How can God bee ſaid to bee pacified towards them that have fellowſhip with Chriſt, ſeeing that undoubtedly God loved them, from all eternity?
Anſw. 1 Eph. 2.3. whatever wee are by grace; yet by Nature wee are children of wrath. Or as the Apoſtle, Rom. 11.8. Concerning the Gospel they are enemies, but as touching Election, they are beloved, for the Fathers-ſake. So indeed Gods choſen being yet in a natural eſtate, they are enemies to God, and God is an enemy to them, in regard of their ſin: But the ſame are beloved as touching Election, even before their Calling. As Abſolon was beloved of David as a Son, but hated as a Rebel and Traytor. 2 Two things muſt bee conſidered in the love of God: his benevolence, and his beneficence. Or his affection to the Elect, and his manifeſtation thereof: That is eternall, in Election; This is not until they are brought home to Chriſt. 1 Joh. 4, 9. Before the Elect do beleeve the wrath of God, and all the effects of that wrath are removed from their perſons, by the ſatisfaction of Chriſt: and they have intereſt in the ſpecial love of God. But not in knowledge, ſenſe, and injoyment thereof, until faith bee wrought, 1 Joh 4.16.
1 Reaſ. From the Office of Chriſt: as being made Mediatour betwixt God and man. Now the Mediatours work is to bring both the parties at oddes unto peace and attonement. Thus Chriſt, Iſa. 9.7. Col. 1.20. Hee makes peace by the blood of his Croſs, i.e. the bloody death upon the Croſs. And all thoſe that are in Chriſt do partake in their meaſure, and as they are capable, of all the benefits of Chriſt; and are free from the wrath of God.
2 Reaſ. From their union with Chriſt. Rom. 8.1. There is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt.
3 Reaſ. Becauſe this is all that God requires, that there ſhould bee a full ſatisfaction made to him, for the injuries done to him, by ſinful creatures: whether the ſatisfaction be made by themſelves, or by their ſurety, Heb. 7.22. Now the ſurety being of Gods own appointment, & the ſatisfaction ſuch every way as cannot be excepted againſt; it muſt needs follow, that God can have no further controverſy with them that are in Chriſt.
4 Reaſ. This was one end of Chriſts ſending into the world; to pacify his Fathers wrath. 1 Joh. 4.10. Now then if this ſhould not bee accompliſhed fully, his incarnation, his grievous ſufferings, and his fathers love to the Elect ſhould all be in vain.
Uſe 1. The dreadful condition of thoſe that are not in Chriſt.This ſhews their miſery, that are not in Chriſt, in that they are objects of the diſpleaſure, and wrath of God. What comfort can any poor creature have when God is angry with him? Rom. 1.18. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven againſt all, &c. God hath power enough to puniſh ſin, and juſtice that hee will do it; and this hee hath revealed from heaven, in thoſe unknown, and unknowable ſufferings of his Son Jeſus Chriſt.
Let mee ſay to you, as Paul to Agrippa, Do yee beleeve the Prophets, or Apoſtles either? Oh why ſhould I propound ſuch a queſtion in this place; and in theſe profeſſing daies? Alas, if wee did all beleeve them, why are there ſo many half Chriſtians amongſt us? Do they know the power of thine anger O Lord? as Moſes, Pſal. 90.11. Thou that diddeſt not spare the Angels that ſinned, but caſtedſt them down to Hell, and deliveredſt them unto chains of darkneſs to bee reſerved to the judgement of the great day, 2 Pet. 2.4. what will thy juſtice and wrath bee to other ſinners? Conſider the Angels, what glorious creatures they were? what an innumerable company there was of them? and what chains of darkneſſe are caſt upon them already? and what further terror of eternal judgement is expected by them, and reſerved for them? and that for one ſin? How comes this to paſs? why, becauſe they have no Chriſt, no propitiation, no Mediatour to ſuffer and ſatisfy for them. Deut. 29.24. What then meaneth the heat of this great anger? Even to ſhew thee, that whilſt thou art without Chriſt, thou art in the ſtate of the very Devils: thy glory or excellency ſhall not deliver thee from wrath: any one of thy ſins may make thee eternally miſerable. O remember this, and ſhew your ſelves men: bring it again to mind, O ye Tranſgreſſors, Iſa. 46.8. ſhew your ſelves to have the underſtanding of reaſonable creatures, and that in the knowledge of this. Not ſo much the motions of the Heavens, or any ſuch curious Arts, had need to bee known by you, but the motions of Hell? what rivers of brimſtone are running there, kindled by the wrath of this angry God.
Queſt. Who are thoſe that know not the power of Gods anger?Who they are that know not Gods anger.
Anſw. 1 They that fear it not, but are bold in committing of ſin, Jer. 8.6. that do ruſh into ſin, as the horſe in the battel, Jerem. 8.6. Like the horſe of war, Job 39.22, 29. he knows not what hurt the ſword or the ſpear may do him, therefore he fears them not. So it is with them that are bold to commit any (though the ſmalleſt) ſin, that they know to be a ſin.
2 They that are hardened in ſin, Eph 5.6. thoſe unperſwadable perſons. As Covetous perſons gather gold: ſo theſe do adde ſin to ſin, and fuel to fire, and wrath to wrath againſt the revelation of the righteous judgement of God, Rom. 2.3. hence Rom. 9.22. they are called veſſels of wrath: and they ſhall bee filled brimful with it. Zach. 7.11, 12. They refuſed to hearken, and pulled away the ſhoulder, and ſtopped their ears, that they ſhould not hear; This is the very deſcription of a hard heart. Oh yee generation of vipers, can yee eſcape the damation of hell? ſaid our Saviour, Mat. 23.33.
3 There bee Lingerers, that as Lot, do delay to depart out of Sodome; after they are warned of eminent judgements. Theſe know not the dread of Gods anger. The children of God are ſometimes too ſlack, in preventing particular judgements. But the caſe is far worſe with them, who lye in a ſtate of ſin untepented of; and are every moment expoſed to eternal vengeance. And the beſt that they will bee brought unto, is but promiſes and purpoſes of amendment hereafter. Ah how quickly is Gods anger kindled. Joſh. 22.18. yee have ſinned to day, and to morrow hee will bee wroth. How immediately and dreadfully did hee deſtroy Corah, Nadab, and Sapphira, &c. And though hee bee patient, yet hee hath not limitted any ſet time, for his patience to bee protracted to. Sometimes hee cuts off men in the very act of ſin, and then all their good purpoſe sdo periſh.
4 Thoſe who when Gods anger hath ſeized on them in part, they take a wrong courſe, and fall to ſhifting off the hand of God, e.gr. They are ſick, and they run to the Phyſitian; they are poor, and they fall to filching and over-reaching, &c. and ſo in like caſes. But Chriſt is forgotten all this while, yea, and ſin too: and thus they regard not the removal of that. Theſe are they whom Elihu ſpeaks of, Job 36.21. that chooſe ſin rather than affliction: and hope to eſcape affliction by ſin: forgetting the true cauſe, that is, Gods displeaſure, and the certain remedy, that is, the grace of Chriſt.
5 Stiff unbeleevers, the wrath of God abideth on them, that ſhall never be removed. John 3. laſt verſe.
Object. But wee ſee wicked men proſper?
Anſw. They do ſometimes proſper outwardly, but then God ſendeth leanneſſe into their ſouls, as, Pſal. 106.15. and ſpiritual judgements, Pſal. 81.10. Hoſ. 4.14. To bee under wrath and not to feel it, is the worſt of conditions. When God doth reſerve his wrath for men, and lay it up in ſtore unto the day of the righteous and dreadful revelation thereof.
Ʋſe 2. Comfort to men in Chriſt.Here is great conſolation to men in Chriſt. The great thing that wee have to fear is the wrath of God, and that which mainly doth trouble the ſoul, is his anger. Now wee being in Chriſt, this is done away, Hoſ. 4.14. Rom. 8.1. All ſins are covered. All good ſhall be beſtowed. Every affliction ſhall be ſanctified and advantagious. We may boldly meet with God, and conſult with him before his Mercy Seat.
Object. But doth not Gods anger ſometimes ſmoak against the ſheep of his paſture? Pſal. 74.1. David complains there was no ſoundneſs in his fleſh, becauſe of Gods anger, &c.
Anſw. It cannot bee denyed but that his anger may bee ſo far kindled againſt ſuch a one that hee may hide his face from him, and lay ſad afflictions upon him. But then it is not the vindicative, or deſtructive wrath of a Cruel Enemy; or as to ſinners unreconciled: But his wrath is medicinal, Jerem. 9.7. Roman. 5.11. the Corrections of a Father: who though he loves, yet will not cocker his childe, but teach him duty, as Pſal. 99.8. Hoſ. 2.6, 7. Num. 12.14.
Object. Yea, but my affliction is in my ſoul, and conſcience too? therefore it is his anger and vengeance?
Anſw. Why, is hee not a God that hideth his face ſometimes from his own Iſrael? Iſa. 45.15. therefore do not too raſhly conclude by this.
Queſt. What ſhall I then do?
Anſw. 1 Enquire into the ground of thy intereſt in Chriſt, and that throughly.
2 Ranſack thy conſcience, and ſee what relapſes thou haſt had, and labour to recover thy ſelf, and riſe again, Rev. 2.4, 5.
3 Betake thy ſelf to Chriſts ſacrifice, and propitiation afreſh, Iſa. 8.17.
4 Humble thy ſoul before the Lord, and be aſhamed of thy offence, Numb. 12.14.
Uſe 3. Of Admonition, Take heed of raſh judging of the children of God.to teach us to take heed of raſh judgement concerning the children of God. However, for the preſent they are, or may bee afflicted by the hand of God. The faſhion of the World in this caſe is to conclude, that either they are very Hypocrites, or elſe greater ſinners than other men: and that now the vengeance of God hath found them out. Thus did Jobs friends judge him: and God was offended with them for it, Job 42.7. So did Shimei curſe David, 2 Sam. 16.7, 8. And the Barbarians Paul, Act. 28.4. That vengeance would not ſuffer him to live. This Chriſt forbiddeth, Luke 13.2, 3: And Pſalm. 41.1, 3. ſets forth diverſe bleſſings of a man that judges wiſely of the poor, in the time of his affliction. Its a ſingular grace of God, and ſhall never go unrewarded. As the Moon is neareſt to the Sun, when the leaſt light doth outwardly appear: So is God neareſt to the Godly, when they have the leaſt outward Light of Comfort. Pſalm 91.15. Above all, beware that the Afflictions of the people of God, bee not a ſtumbling block to thee: as it often falls out by the juſt judgement of God upon uncharitable perſons. Thus the death of the young Prophet that ſpake againſt the Altar, hardened Jeroboam in his Idolatry, and his other ſins.
God doth afflict many times becauſe hee loves: And he will not bee traced in his waies, as ordinarily men may be. Eccleſ. 7.14. God hath ſet Adverſity and Prosperity the one againſt the other, to the end that man ſhould finde nothing after him, that is, that none may find out that end which God hath in afflicting of his ſervants, Rom. 11.33. How unſearchable are his judgements? &c.