The Plain Doctrine of the Justification of a Sinner in the Sight of God, Sermon 11
Chriſt a Propitiation.
THE ELEVENTH SERMON
ON
Romans 3.24, 25.
Whom God hath ſet forth a propitiation.
Doct. THat through the Sacrifice and bloud-ſhed of Chriſt, God the Father is throughly pacified, with all thoſe that have intereſt in Chriſt. From whence now followeth.
Vſe 4. It may put us upon ſerious enquiry, how the Lord ſtands affected towards each of our perſons: whether his wrath be appeaſed towards us, or no? It is a queſtion requiring the moſt ſerious conſultation, and full reſolution, Luk. 14.31. ſeeing that God cometh with ſuch force and ſtrength againſt us; It is time to enquire whether it be peace, or no? And wee ſhould not reſt until wee could ſay, as Pſal. 85.2, 3. And of your ſelves in particular, as 1 Theſſ. 5.9. God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain ſalvation. Loc a ſtate of Wrath, is oppoſed to a ſtate of Salvation: and ſome there are that are appointed to it. Ah, (ſhould every one ſay) am not I one of thoſe? This is the firſt Queſtion that muſt be reſolved for our Salvation, Mat. 3.7. This made the Phariſees and Sadduces to make ſome ſhew and ſemblance of Repentance, and flock to the Baptiſm of John. And it is the firſt work of the Law of God upon a Sinner, Rom. 4.13. The Law worketh wrath; that is, it diſcovers the Wrath of God againſt the ſinner. And it is certain, that till this Work of God be done, and this Queſtion cleared to thy ſoul, thou haſt not taken one ſtep from Wrath and Hell.
2 This concerns not one or a few actions of ſin, but our ſtate in and under wrath, and all depends on this; if the Lord doth hate our perſons, what hope of peace with him can wee have? Rom. 8.8. They that are in the fleſh, (whatſoever they doe) they cannot pleaſe God. If a man know not his eſtate, he knows not what to avoyd, or what to doe, but hee muſt needs goe on in the dark, and worſhip hee knows not what, nor how.
3 Satan ſtrives to hide this from every ſoul ſo long as hee can. Hee blindes mens eyes, 2 Cor. 4.4, 5. 1 By godleſſe cogitations, Pſal. 14.1. 2 By preſumption, Revel. 3.17. Matth. 7.21. 3 By over-charging our hearts with ſenſual luſts, and the cares of this life, Luk. 21.34. 4 By an evil Conſcience, Joh. 3.20. 5 By Idols ſet up in our hearts, Iſa. 44.20. 6 By the practice, example, and company of evil men of the world, Joh. 7.48. Have any of the Rulers beleeved on him?
4 If a man is a ſtranger to this inquiſition, and unwilling to this ſearch, he is evidently the ſubject of Gods anger, Pſal. 10.4, 5, 6. and alſo verſ. 11. &. 13. and it is a manifeſt token of the Atheiſm of his heart.
5 There will come times when every ſinner ſhall be forced to enquire into this, and that when it is near paſt hope of remedy. As when death approaches, and the anger of God beginneth to ſeize us. Then ſhall wee ſay, is not this evil come upon us, becauſe the Lord is not among us? Deut. 31.17.29.24, 25. Then will you goe to your rules of conſtructions, and expound the dealings of God with you. Yea, it is well if a ſpirit of utter deſpair, and horror, and aſtoniſhment do not then ſeize upon thee. As it is ſaid of Nabal, 1 Sam. 25.37, 38. Deut. 28.28.
6 When that we doe make inquiry at the hearing of the Word, God will take it well at our hands: and when troubleſome times doe come, we ſhall have the leſſe to doe, and not find them troubleſome. So Hab. 2.16. When I heard, my belly trembled, rottenneſſe entred into my bones, that I might reſt in the day of trouble. Thus Joſiah, 2 Chron. 34.21, 22. with the following verſes.
7 It is a condition extreamly dangerous for a man to continue in ſin with a ſenſleſſe ſpirit, as Iſa. 42.24, 25. Jer. 23.18, 19, 20. There is no ſuch fire as the fire of Gods anger kindled againſt a Nation, or perſon, Joel 2.3. A fire devoureth before, and behind a flame burneth, the Land is as the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a deſolate Wilderneſſe, and nothing ſhall eſcape. So Deut. 32.22, 23.
Obj. But I feel no ſuch thing as this ſcorching heat, and wee hope that though Miniſters preach, and Scriptures threaten, yet I hope God will be better than his word?
Anſ. Yea, then ſee, Iſa. 31.2. Hee is wiſe, and will bring evil, and not call back his word, but will ariſe againſt the houſe of evil doers, and againſt the help of them that work iniquity. The Lord hath forſaken the generation of his wrath, Jer. 7.29. What though thou doſt not yet feel it; yet conſider what Elihu ſaith to Job, Becauſe there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his ſtroak, then a great ranſome cannot deliver thee; will he eſteem thy riches, or all the forces of ſtrength? The greateſt calmes doe uſually goe before the greateſt ſtormes, 1 Theſſ. 5.3, 4. doe not thou therefore reſt ſecure upon vain hopes and thoughts, without full inquiry what thy eſtate is, whether this wrath doth not burn againſt thee. The World is at peace with me, and my Neighbours are at peace with me: but is the living God at peace with me? Prov. 16.14. The wrath of a King is a meſſenger of death, but a wiſe man will pacifie it. When but Ahaſneroſh was angry againſt Haman, what became of him? Heſt. 7.7. What then would the wrath of the King of Kings be? Who can caſt body and ſoul into hell? Mat. 12.28.How we may know that wee are delivered from the wrath of God?
Queſt. How ſhall we come to attain to this knowledge of our ſtate?
Anſ. 1. Beware of judging love or hatred by all theſe outward things, Eccleſ. 9.1, 2. The richneſſe of the lading doth not ſhew the goodneſſe of the Veſſel; the more weighty the lading is, the more danger, if it bee put into a rotten, leakie ſhip. So are this worlds goods, when it is put into a rotten heart. Proſperity is not a certain argument of Gods love; neither on the other ſide, is adverſity a ſure note thereof.
Thou mayeſt underſtand much by the dictate and verdict of thine own Conſcience, eſpecially being inlightned and awakned, 1 Joh. 3.20, 21. If our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God. The Lord hath appointed the Conſcience, as his Vicegerent in every mans heart, that keeps a regiſter, yea a diary of all that paſſes. The Gentiles had this, Rom. 2.14, 15. now the conſcience witneſſeth not alone, but together with God, Rom. 9.1. Thus Shimei was privie to his own wickedneſſe, 1 King. 2.44. And Balſhazzar, Dan. 5.5, 6. though that hee underſtood not the writing, yet horror ſeized upon him, his Conſcience telling him that he was naught, and God was angry with him. You ſhall not need to climbe unto Heaven to know this, but deſcend into your own hearts. The Conſcience of man is that candle of the Lord, Prov. 20.27. This diſcovers the works of darkneſſe, as Lying, Swearing, Adultery, Couſenage, Drunkenneſſe, &c. Jer. 17.1. and to deſpiſe this is to deſpiſe God, and his wrath kindled againſt the ſoul: and if thou doſt ſhuffle over matters now, there is a day coming when thy Conſcience will not be ſhuffled off. This notary hath taken notice of thy moſt ſecret faults, 1 Cor. 2.11. thus the Church confeſſes, Iſa. 59.12. Our tranſgreſſions are with us, and as for our iniquities we know them. When Conſcience doth therefore admoniſh of any ſin, doe not ſay to it as David to Joab, 2 Sam. 11.25. Let not this trouble thee, it is as the common chance of men. This ſin troubled David with a witneſſe afterwards. Now hee ſlighted it, but afterwards he did ſink under it, and was troubled, as Pſal. 38.4. to verſ. 9. ſo if thou doeſt not obſerve its admonitions now, it will upbraid thee afterwards, as Reuben, Gen. 42.21. Did not I ſay unto you, ſin not?
3 Come to the cleareſt light of the Word of God, Joh. 3.21. He that doth the truth, comes to the light, &c. Bee yee not as Batts and Owls that decline the light, this will bee a lamp to thy feet, and a lauthorn to thy paths, Pſal. 119.105. that will keep thee from falling, and diſcover thy filthineſſe to thee, and ſhew thee the way to purge it, whatever thy eſtate bee, it will doe thee good.
4 Conſider it is moſt certain, that all that are children of men, are children of wrath, Epheſ. 2.3. This was thy condition from the Wombe: and doe not ſtand to plead that thou art born in faederal holineſſe: for this doth not exempt any ſoul from being a childe of wrath, Phil. 3.5. Paul had faederal holineſſe, he was circumſized the eighth day, an Hebrew of the Hebrews, yet born a childe of wrath. Neither was it his ſtate alone, but every ones that hath the nature of man. And if I be born ſo, I ſtill am ſo; unleſſe I can ſhew that I am delivered from it; yea I have brought more wrath upon my ſoul, by every ſin I have committed, Numb. 32.14. Rom. 2.5. when it was told that there was but one Traytor among the Diſciples: they all enquired, Lord, is it I? Matth. 26.22. But we are all under wrath. Thoſe that are diſaffected to the word, Rom. 8.7. Jer. 6.10. They that pray not, nor regard God, Jer. 10. ult. Eph. 5.6. Scorners, Prov. 3.24.19.29. therefore let not Satan put it away from us, neither ſuffer wee our hearts to return and goe off this conſideration; until they have brought in a deliberate anſwer unto this.
5 See whether you have ever had this propitiation or no. You ſee there is but one means to appeaſe wrath, it is the Wrath of God, and therefore infinite: and none but a ſacrifice of infinite value can appeaſe it. And this being grounded in our very nature, it is impoſſible that any meer creature can turn it away. It is Chriſts peculiar.
Queſt. How may we know that Chriſt hath done it?
Anſ. See whether Chriſts propitiation hath changed thy nature yea or not, and thou art a partaker of the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1.4. and that by the exceeding great and precious promiſes; ſo that thy luſts are deſtroyed, and thou art no longer an enemy, or a ſtranger unto God, but acquainted and reconciled, Col. 1.21. Laſtly, ſee this by the peace that the bloud of Chriſt hath wrought in thy ſoul, Heb. 9.14.
Obj. But hath every one peace of Conſcience, that hath interest in the bloud of Chriſt?
Anſ. Every one hath peace with God, Rom. 5.1. and though it doth not always quiet the conſcience, yet it ſtayes the heart with ſome waiting upon God, and purges the conſcience every day more and more. See whether thou findeſt this in thee.
Vſe 5. Exhortation to get this propitiation.Exhortation to betake our ſelves to the Sacrifice and bloud-ſhed of Chriſt, Heb. 9.26. He is the only Mercyſeat. We ſhall ſpeak, 1 To thoſe that apprehend, or have cauſe to apprehend Gods Wrath kindled againſt them. 2 To the members of Chriſt.
1 To thoſe that lye ſtill in a ſtate of enmity, to ſeek for the appeaſing Gods anger, and to take the right courſe for this; Conſider, 1 The excellency of this condition. Peace and reconciliation with God is the main buſineſſe, in the Kingdom of God, that is firſt to be ſought, Matth. 6.33. the prayer of the Saints, Dan. 9.16, 17. O Lord, according to all thy righteouſneſſe, let all thine anger and fury be turned away.
2 Conſider that the Lord deals with you, as he commanded his people to doe, Deut. 20.10. he ſends forth his ſervants with ineſſages of peace, and hangs forth his white flag of truce before hee ſends forth his armies of Judgements to deſtroy it: or as Matth. 10.11, 13. Luk. 10.6. Enquire in the houſe or city who is worthy, and if the ſon of peace bee there, let your peace come upon it, elſe ſhake off the duſt, &c. Thus are the offers of peace in the word of reconciliation ſent to you. Is there any child of peace here that will hear it, and give it entertainment? And know, that though you ſhould not regard it, yet the Kingdom of God is come nigh to you, and Conſcience will one day find it upon the file for a teſtimony againſt you. And hereafter will wiſdom ſay, Becauſe I have called, &c. Prov. 1.24, 28. Luk. 19.42. Verily I perſwade my ſelf, that there are many thouſands in theſe days of the Goſpel, that are wounded deep, and lye bleeding to deſtruction, under that word of wiſdoms mouth, for refuſing ſtiffely ſo fair an offer, as we are making this day unto you.
Queſt. What courſe ſhould a poor ſoul take to have the benefit of this propitiation?
Anſ. 1. It will be very needful for a Sinner adviſedly toſet down with himſelf, what he hath in all the world to ſupport his heart, when the evil day ſhall come upon him, Iſa. 10.3. What will you doe in the day of viſitation? Job 31.14. What ſhall I doe when he riſes up; when he viſits, what ſhall I anſwer? Then your thoughts will be ſo ſnarled and perplexed, that you will not know whether to goe, nor how to bear, nor avoyd, nor remove the evil that is coming upon you. As Luther ſpeaks of the Papiſts, That at the approaches of death they were ſo perplexed in ſpirit, that they were like Birds taken in a Lime-buſh; which the more they flutter, the more they are hampered: ſo fearfully (ſaith he) that I have ſeen many Murtherers and Malefectors condemned to death, goe to their execution more couragiouſly than they. So it falls out with poor obdurate ſinners in the evil day: though you out brave it now outwardly, yet what a black boſome, and Scorpions ſtings of guilt haſt thou within thy ſoul, rankling and gathering againſt the evil day: whither will yee then fly? to the Creatures? they are all Gods Armies, and Subjects, and will fight againſt you, as the Stars againſt Siſera, Judg. 5.20. will you goe to your wits and ſhifts? but then you ſhall bee at your wits ends, Pſal. 107.27. will yee goe to an angry God, the Judge of all the World? But he ſaith, Hoſ. 13.7, 8. I will be to them as a Lion, and as a Leopard by the way to obſerve them, &c. yea the Lord will be more terrible than all theſe. Wilt thou goe to thy Conſcience, alas that's that Hell-worm, the tormentor, and the rack. Ah, it is better to be a Dogge, or a Toad, or any thing, than to bee without Chriſts propitiation; yet at ſuch a time doth a poor member of Chriſt know what to doe. See Job 13.15. Hab. 3.17. Pſal. 94.19.49.5. Heb. 13.6.
2 Strive to apprehend as much as poſſible thou mayeſt, the infinite power of that God, whoſe anger is kindled againſt thee, 1 Cor. 10.21. Doe you provoke the Lord? Are you ſtronger than he? Iſa. 27.4. Who will ſet the bryars and thorns againſt him, &c? Remember what the very Philiſtims ſaid, 1. Sam. 6.6. Wherefore doe you harden your hearts, as the Aegyptians and Pharaoh hardned their hearts? &c. Ezek. 22.14. How can thy heart endure, or thy hands bee ſtrong? &c. Iſa. 45.9. Pſal. 76.7.
3 Conſider, that it is poſſible to appeaſe Gods anger. See Jonah 3.9. though it bee not certain, yet if it bee poſſible, it is enough to ſet us a ſeeking after it.
4 See the large extent of the bleſſed propitiation of Chriſt Jeſus 1 Joh. 2.1, 2. Hee is a propitiation not for our ſins only, &c. that is, the elect and beleevers he wrote to; but to all others over all the world. Not that all or the greater part ſhall bee ſaved by the death of Chriſt, but that by this large extent of the efficacy of Chriſts death, the elect themſelves might be the better encouraged to embrace the ſacrifice of Chriſts death by faith. He gave his life a ranſome for all, 1 Tim. 2.6. that is, ſome of all ſorts of perſons or people, no kind excluded. He keeps a free and open houſe unto all comers, Iſa. 45.20, 22.
5 God though he be the perſon injured, yet he is content to lay down the quarrel, and hath eminently ſhewed his willingneſſe thereto, in that he ſent his Son to make reconciliation for ſinners, 1 Joh. 4.10. Dan. 9.24. and hath committed to his Miniſters the word of reconciliation, that as in Chriſts ſtead they might pray men to accept of this peace.
Queſt. How doth the Lord entreat us to bee reconciled unto him? Doth not the Lord know, that it is not in our power to bee reconciled to him, our nature being enmity againſt God?
Anſ. Chriſts propitiation or expiatory ſacrifice hath purchaſed all thoſe things to bee wrought in ſinners, that may make them partakers of, and comforted in this ſacrifice of his. As Faith, Phil. 1.29. Repentance, Acts 5.31. change of nature, Iſa. 11.6, 7. Heb. 13.21, 22. ſo that all a poor ſinner hath to doe, is to fall down at the feet of Chriſt in the uſe of his Ordinances, to wait upon him, and to follow his directions both willingly and pliably, and plead all this word and work of propitiation before the Lord continually, Ezek. 16. ult. 2 Cor. 5.19. Job 22.21, 22. Iſa. 12.1, 2.
Exhor. 2To the members of Chriſt.2. Seeing Gods anger is pacified towards you, ſee that yee walk anſwerable to ſo great a priviledge.
1 Bleſſe God for this propitiation, Luk. 1.64. what had our condition been without this? Pſal. 44.3.
2 Take heed of kindling it again by relapſes into your former courſes, Pſal. 85.8. He will ſpeak peace unto his people, but let them not return again to folly. It is the firſt uſe the Spirit makes of this grace of Chriſt, 1 Joh. 2.1. Theſe things I write that you ſin not. So 2 Cor. 7.1.5.11. But if you ſhall bee bold to ſin, know, that though God doth love your perſons, yet hee will bee diſpleaſed with your actions, as 2 Sam. 11. ult. and take vengeance on your inventions.
3 Learn to make uſe of this propitation of Chriſt continually, as 1 Joh. 2.1, 2. Not onelyonly before converſion, but after the ſame; its ever to bee uſed, more neceſſary than fire and water, meat and drink.
Queſt. When ſhould wee more especially make uſe of Christs Propitiation?
Anſw. 1 In our daily relapſes into ſin, which make new defilements, and therefore wee muſt have freſh recourſe to the fountain. Heb. 13.8. thus the daily Sacrifice, prefigured the daily uſe of Chriſts ſacrifice for attonement. That 22 Pſalm ſetting forth his paſſion, was daily ſung each morning, with the offering up of the Sacrifice, as is judged from its title.
2 In all our duties and ſervices, whereof the moſt holy have iniquity in them, and therefore ſtand in need of Chriſt, that they may finde acceptance: as was typified, Exod. 28.38. and their ſacrifices were given into the hand of the Prieſt, and offered by him, ſo our ſpiritual ſervices by Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2.5.
3 In daies of humiliation and attonement, as Levit. 16:29. Heb. 10.22. It is not faſting or weeping God looks to, but a ſacrifice, &c.
4 At each Sacrament there ſhould bee a ſolemn remembrance of this propitiatory ſacrifice. Rom. 6.3. Wee are baptized into his death. 1 Cor. 11.26. Its done in remembrance of Chriſt.
5 In our ordinary Callings, and the diſcharge of them. Whatſoever ye do, do it to the glory of God, Col. 3.17.
6 In afflictions, deſertions, and temptations. In deſertions Chriſts blood brings us near, in temptations hee gives us victory, Col. 2.15. Dan. 9.17. Iſa. 53.5, 6. 1 Sam 26.19.How ſhall wee make uſe of it.
Queſt. How ſhall wee make uſe of Chriſts Sacrifice in theſe times and caſes?
Anſw. 1 Wee are to remember our daily back-ſlidings, with humble acknowledgement and brokenneſſe of heart: and to ſee the neceſſity of Chriſts propitiation, Jer. 3.12, 13. Return thou back-ſliding Iſrael, (ſaith the Lord) I will not cauſe mine anger to paſs upon thee, nor keep it for ever, onelyonly acknowledge thine iniquity, &c.
2 Wee are to obſerve (as wee are able) the imperfections and defaults in our duties, that wee may bee humbled thereat, and ſee what great need wee have of Chriſts propitiation, as Nehemiah, chap. 13.22. when hee had done his beſt, then hee praies, Remember me O God concerning this, and spare mee according to the greatneſs of thy Mercy.
3 In regard of the remainder of corruptions that are too ſtrong in us: Wee are to look upon the Lord of glory crucified, and meditate upon the Sacrifice of Chriſt, Heb. 9.14. How much more ſhall the blood of Chriſt purge our Conſciences, &c.
4 Wee are to apprehend and plead by faith and prayer, the Promiſes of God as confirmed to us by the blood of Chriſt. They are all made and performed by him. They are branches of the Covenant of Grace: and the blood of Chriſt, is called the blood of the everlaſting Covenant. Heb. 13.20. As the Prieſt ſprinkled the people, the book, &c. Heb. 9.19, 20, 23. So now ought Chriſtians ſet faith on work to ſprinkle all Ordinances, and the word it ſelf, and our ſelves, and all our works.
5 When as Gods anger doth lye heavy upon the ſoul by deſertion or temptation, &c. then wee are to caſt our burden upon Chriſt in the free Covenant of grace and peace. Pſal. 55.22. Iſa. 54.8 9. This ſhall bee to me as the waters of Noah, &c.