The Plain Doctrine of the Justification of a Sinner in the Sight of God, Sermon 26
The Glory of Gods Righteouſneſſe is the end of Redemption.
THE SIX AND TWENTIETH SERMON
ON
Rom. 3.25, 26.
To declare I ſay at this time his righteouſneſs.
WEE have heard, how that not only the mercy and truth of God, but alſo his juſtice doth concur and act in the juſtification of a ſinner; but there is yet more in the words, when it is ſaid, that this is done for the declaration of the righteouſneſſe of God; and that with a repetition of it, to ſignify that God would have us to take ſpecial notice of this. And there is implyed an anſwer to a ſecret objection; for it might bee ſaid: why did not the Lord freely forgive the ſins of his Elect, without the redemption wrought by Chriſt? to ſatisfy ſuch a queſtion, the Lord ſaith, becauſe this way of forgiveneſs by Chriſts redemption, makes moſt for the declaration of the juſtice of God, in the pardoning of ſin.
The word (foreign, tranſlated declaration, or to declare) is rendred, Phil. 1.28. a manifeſt token, ſo I conceive the meaning is here, and it ſhould be rendered, for a manifeſt token, or for the demonſtration of the righteouſneſs of God. God would have his people to know, that there was great neceſſity of this way of juſtification, becauſe that God is eſſentially juſt, and cannot otherwiſe forgive ſin, except his juſtice be ſatisfied.
Doctr. The main end of the redemption wrought by Chriſt, The main end of redemption.and that hee was made a Propitiatory ſacrifice for ſin, was the demonſtration of the glory of the juſtice of God, to the world.
This point lies clear in the Text, and it is that which is ſignifyed by that ſpeech, that is ſo often uſed in all the great works of God, eſpecially his Mercies to his people, and his Judgements upon his Enemies, this is ſtill mentioned, as the end that God aims at, in Exodus, and Ezekiel, That yee may know, that I am the Lord; that is, Juſt, Holy, Merciful, and Faithful, &c. and ſuch a one as I have revealed my ſelf to be: it is expreſſed excellently, Jerem. 9.23, 24. Let not the wiſe man glory in his wiſdome, &c. but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that hee underſtandeth and knoweth mee, that I am Jehovah, which exerciſe loving kindneſſe, judgement and righteouſneſſe in the earth, for in theſe things I delight. The true knowledge of God, is a matter of wonderful worth, and it is not onelyonly to know him to bee a God that exerciſes loving kindneſs, but alſo Judgement and Righteouſneſſe, in the earth, and the reaſon is, becauſe in theſe things the Lord delighteth. Theſe things are according to the nature and heart of God. Now mark, that the Lord would have us to know him to bee ſuch a God, and to glory in this: for this is the happineſs of a poor creature. Now that you may know how pertinent this is to the matter in hand, yee may compare with it, 1 Cor. 1.30, 31. where it is ſaid, That Chriſt is made unto us of God, wiſdome, righteouſneſs, ſanctification, and redemption, that according as it is written, Let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord. Whence there is evidently a reference to that place of the Prophet Jeremy. So that to put both places together, there will bee this collection from them; That God the Father hath appointed and ſent the Lord Jeſus Chriſt to bee the Head and Fountain of all spiritual bleſſings, and especially of righteouſneſſe to the faithful, that they may know him to bee Jehovah that exerciſeth loving kindneſs, judgement and righteouſneſs in the earth, to ſtrip all the Children of Men of all glorying in themſelves, and to cauſe them to aſcribe all the glory to the Lord,
For the handling of this, I ſhall open two things.
1 How the ſhedding of Christs blood for a Propitiatory Sacrifice, makes for the glory of Gods justice.
2 Why the demonſtration of this glory, was the end of the ſhedding of Christs blood.How the ſhedding of Chriſts blood glorifieth Gods juſtice.
Queſt. 1. How doth the ſhedding of Chriſts blood to be a Propitiatory ſacrifice, make for the glory of Gods juſtice?
Anſw. Not in an ordinary manner onelyonly, as all other judgements of God do ſhew forth the Juſtice of God; but in a moſt tranſcendent and eminent way, ſuch as never was before, and that in two reſpects eſpecially.
1 In regard of the perſon whoſe blood is ſhed, his relation to the Father, as being his onelyonly begotten Son; his dignity, as having a Name above every Name, and hee that is appointed Heir of all things, by whom he made the World, the brightneſſe of his Fathers glory, and the expreſs Image of his Perſon. Heb. 1.2, 3 There was never Juſtice executed upon ſuch a perſon as Chriſt was. So yee may conſider the love of the Father to him, Matth. 12.18. Hee was the Fathers beloved, in whom his ſoul delighted; and his love to the Father, and his doing alwaies that which was pleaſing to the Father, Joh. 14.31. and yee may adde to theſe the fervent prayers to his Father, with ſtrong cries and tears, Heb. 5.7. together with the extremity of his ſufferings, that is an Hell upon Earth, and the pains of the ſecond death, before the firſt death, and in the daies of his fleſh; So that neither the Cup, nor any drop of the Cup did paſs away from him, Matth. 26. This was a new, an admirable, and tranſcendent juſtice, ſuch as never was beſides, ſince the foundation of the world.
2 In reſpect of the ſeverity and univerſality of the execution of juſtice, Sea Joſeph. de bello Jud.upon all ſin and ſinners, that receive not, but reject Chriſt crucified. There was never ſuch juſtice executed upon any people, as there was upon the Jews for this ſin, Mark. 13.19. So I may ſay in regard of others, that now ſet at nought the grace of God in Chriſt, their judgement ſleeps not. Mat. 11.20, &c.It ſhall bee more tollerable for Sodome and Gomorrah at the day of judgement, than for ſuch, and dreadful is that, Mal. 4.1, 2. Behold, the day comes that ſhall burn as an oven, and all the Proud, and all that do wickedly ſhall bee ſtubble, and the day comes that ſhall burn them up, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, and leave them neither root nor branch: but to you that fear my name, ſhall the Sun of righteouſneſſe appear which healing in his wings: theſe daies of Chriſt, to them that fear God, are refreſhing, Sunſhining daies, but for the reſt, the oven, the fiery furnace, is heating for them, yea, ſeven times hotter than ordinarily it uſes; what ſhall now become of proud, ruffian-like Profeſſors, and carnal Goſpellers? there will bee bundles of ſuch ſtubble thrown into the Oven, now in the daies of the Goſpel.
Queſt. 2. Why was the demonſtration of the glory of Gods juſtice, the main end of the ſhedding of Chriſts blood? Rom. 9.22, 23. Wee have indeed in the general, that the glory of Gods mercy is aimed at in the decree of Election of the veſsels of mercy, and the glory of Gods juſtice in the veſſels of wrath: but how can this concern our Saviour Chriſt?
Anſw. All the light of the knowledge of the glory of God ſhines in the face of Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Cor. 4.6. but the glory of God is divided in ſome ſort in reſpect of men and women, Elect and Reprobate: but all the glory of God is united together in Chriſt: ſo to give you the reaſons of the point.
Reaſ. 1. foreign. Ariſt. Ethic.It is taken from the exceeding glorious excellency of the juſtice of God, that as it is ſaid of true juſtice, though but humane, that neither the morning nor the evening ſtar is ſo admirable as juſtice is. It may bee much more ſaid of the juſtice of God, which is infinitely brighter than the Sun in the firmament; that dazles the eies of the brighteſt Angels in Heaven, that they are fain to cover their faces, from the beholding of it. When the Spirit of God deſcribes the Lord in his glorious Majeſty. it ſets him forth with the clothing of righteouſneſſe. See Iſa. 59.17. Hee put on righteouſneſſe as a breaſt-plate, and the helmet of ſalvation upon his head, hee put on the garments of vengeance for cloathing, and was clad with zeal as a Cloak, &c. Pſal. 94.1, 2. O Lord God to whom vengeance belongeth, ſhew thy ſelf. Lift up thy ſelf, thou judge of the earth, render a reward to the proud.
Gods lifts up himſelf exceedingly, when hee ſits on his judgement Seat, and exerciſes juſtice in exactneſſe; in thoſe famous Viſions of Dan. 7.9, 10. Rev. 4.2.3. the Lord is deſcribed as ſitting upon his Throne of Majeſty and Juſtice, in a glorious manner, and in his Royalty.
Yea moreover, for the neceſſity and uſefulneſſe of Gods juſtice, the World cannot bee without it; hence the Lord is deſcribed with his plumb-line in his hand. Amos 7.7, 8. So Iſa. 28.17. the plumb-line is the embleme of Divine Juſtice; look how neceſſary the plumb-line is to the rearing of a building, and the repairing of it: ſuch is the uſe and neceſſity of Divine Juſtice: hee takes away the unevenneſſe and inequality of perſons and things by reaſon of ſin, hee tries them by this level: were it not for this, the whole frame of the world would totter and tumble down: ſo that the demonſtration of the glory of Gods Juſtice is a glorious end.
Reaſ. 2. It was neceſſary that the Juſtice of Gods proceedings ſhould bee cleared above all things, in the death of Chriſt. It was liable in the judgement of fleſh and blood to grievous exceptions and cavils, as appears both by Scripture and experience. Iſa. 53.3, 4, The Jews ſay, Wee thought him ſmitten of God and afflicted. So 1 Cor. 1.23. Chriſt crucified was to the Jews a ſtumbling block, and to the (Learned) Greeks fooliſhneſſe: the Jews thought it enough excuſe for them to reject Chriſt, becauſe hee was hanged on a tree, and the Greeks thought it folly to look for ſalvation from him, that could not ſave himſelf from ſuch an ignominious death; yea, it was a cunning plot of the Devil to ſuggeſt this to the Heathen of old.
Stultitia eſt morte alterius ſperare ſalutem.
It is rank folly to hope for ſalvation by anothers death.
And it is the helliſh reaſoning of blaſphemers in theſe times, how can it ſtand with the Juſtice of God, that the juſt ſhould ſuffer for the unjuſt? ſhould not the righteous rather be delivered, and the unrighteous be puniſhed. Therfore the Lord here would ſtop every mouth, and cut off all objections, when hee ſaith, that the death of Chriſt was to that end, to demonſtrate to all the World the glory of his Juſtice; there cannot any thing in the World bee mentioned like unto this, to clear up the Juſtice of God, when as the Lord would not ſpare his onelyonly Son, having no more, but ſin imputed. Thus of the ſecond Reaſon.
Reaſ. 3. Is taken from the glory of other attributes, God hath the glory of other Attributes with the Glory of his Juſtice.that redounds to God, together with the glory of his juſtice, as eſpecially of his Wiſdome, Grace, Holineſſe, and providential Government.
Firſt, The Glory of the Wiſdome of God appears herein, that hee hath deviſed a way, in that deſperate extremity, that ſin hath caſt all mankinde into, that a remnant might be ſaved. I will not ſay, as ſome do weakly, if not dangerouſly, to reconcile Juſtice and Mercy together (for they are not to bee oppoſed, or diſ-agree in God, but are one and the ſame, pure, and ſimple being in him) but to glorify his infinite excellencies *The Scripture ſpeaks foreign in the language of men.in the reconciliation of his choſen ones, that ſinne might bee puniſhed and condemned, and the ſinner eſcape, the Law might bee made up and accompliſhed, Juſtice might have its courſe, and the Supream Majeſty offended might be reconciled; Hence it is ſaid, Col. 2.3. That in Chriſt Jeſus all the treaſures of Wiſdome and Knowledge are hidden; The meaning whereof is, not only, that Jeſus Chriſt hath all Wiſdome and Knowledge in him, but that alſo the Wiſdome of the Father, in all the abundance thereof, ſhines moſt clearly in the ſending, and whole myſtery of Chriſt. And more plainly, Eph. 1.7. In Chriſt wee have redemption through his blood, the forgiveneſſe of our ſins, according to the riches of his grace, wherein hee hath abounded towards us in all wiſdome and prudence. It was ſuch abundance of wiſdome, that no creature could reach unto, or comprehend, that this ſtrange way ſhould bee found out for a ſinners attonement.
2 The Glory and Riches of Gods grace are ſingularly manifeſted hereby; it had been glorious grace, if that God ſhould, or could of his good will alone towards men have pardoned their iniquities, as Saul ſaid to David, 1 Sam. 24.19.If a man find his enemy will hee let him go well away? but ſinful men and women (which of themſelves are Gods enemies, and cannot hide themſelves any where, but God will finde them) hee not only lets them go well away, and freely pardons them, but freely forgives them in ſuch a way that coſt him ſo exceeding dear, as the blood of his onelyonly Son. When there was no other ſufficient remedy for the miſery of man, but this; when as the pardon and redemption of ſouls is ſo exceeding coſtly and pretious; this above meaſure exalts the riches of Gods grace; as David ſaid, 2 Sam. 24.24. I will not offer of that that coſt mee nothing; This was Davids royal ſpirit. So this is Gods royal love, that hee ſaved not his people in a way that coſt him nothing. 1 Joh. 4.9, 10. Herein is the love of God manifeſt to us, that hee ſent his Son into the World (to dye) that wee might live by him. And again, Herein is love,— that hee ſent his Son to bee a Propitition for our ſins: they that do not underſtand this, have too low and mean conceits of the love and grace of God.
3 Here is a demonſtration of the glory of the Holineſſe of the Lord, in his ſo hating and puniſhing of ſin, even to the uttermoſt, though but imputed, and that to ſuch a Son; he that breaks a pitcher becauſe deadly poyſon was in it, or burieth a beggars coat becauſe infected with the plague, ſhews his hatred to them; but hee that throws away a veſſel of gold becauſe poyſoned, or burneth or burieth ſome royal and rich robes for the leproſy cleaving to them, hee is carried with greateſt indignation againſt the corruptions of them: now this is the caſe of Gods hatred of the ſins of the Elect, imputed to the Son of God, here is the pearl of great price, even the richeſt treaſure, ſo and ſo dealt withall, this is mighty holineſs and hatred of ſin.
Pſal. 99.8, 9 It is ſaid, Thou art a God that forgaveſt them, though thou tookeſt vengeance of their inventions. Whence hee inferres, Exalt the Lord our God, for hee is holy: hee ſpeaks of the Lords manner of forgiving of the ſins of his people; it was with vengeance for their inventions: ſurely, this is an holy God: but this is incomparably more, to pardon the ſins of his Elect in ſuch a way, by laying the chaſtiſement of their peace on his only Son. Oh what an holy God is this!
4 Adde to the reſt, the glory of Gods Kingdome, Providence, and Government: This is that which the Saints do bleſſe the Lord for, Pſal. 145.10, 11. They speak of the glory of thy kingdome, and talk of thy power: now the glory of Gods kingdome appears in this, that hee rectifies all the diſorders that are in the world by ſin, there is no confuſion in the World, but that which is in ſin, or brought in by it, which hath made the world like that woful land, Job 10.21, 22. A land of darkneſſe, and of the ſhaddow of death, without order: now to bring all into order again, was a buſy work, and this is a glorious work of the government and providence of the Lord. There are ſtrange examples of Gods glory in holy Writ concerning this, in the ſin of Joſephs brethren ſelling Joſeph into Egypt, to bee a bond-ſervant, accuſed, impriſoned, and in great abaſement many years, what ſtrange diſorder was: here? how ſtrangely did the Lord rectify and amend this, by ſetting him at liberty, making him Ruler over all the land of Egypt, and making his brethren to ſtoop to him, and be beholding to him for their ſuſtenance afterwards? Another Example I might tell you of, of the great confuſion among the Jews by Hamans ſin in the daies of Ahaſuerus: yet how gloriouſly did the Lord work for his Church in the confuſion of Haman, and the deliverance of the Church, and the deſtruction of their enemies: Here was a great deal of diſorder by ſin, but Gods providence ſet all in right order again, yea, and brought great good out of all this diſorder: that wee may ſay, according to Sampſons riddle, out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the ſtrong, ſweetneſſe; but the matter in hand is a greater and deeper riddle. Adams ſin had brought a woful Ataxy, and confuſion into all the world, and grievous diſhonour to God: then Providence findes out a way by the death and blood ſhed of the ſecond Adam, to bring all into a better order, than ever they were before in, the Lord makes a better, and a ſurer covenant, and ordered in all things, 2 Sam. 23.5. and Chriſt is ſet up in his Kingdome, to order and to eſtabliſh it with juſtice and judgement for ever. Iſay 9.7. Ye may ſee by all this, what abundance of glory redounds unto God by the death of Chriſt, and the ſinners juſtification thereby.
Vſe 1. Refutation of Socinians.Refutation of that damnable blaſphemy of the Socinians, in making the death of Chriſt onelyonly exemplary, and no wiſe ſatisfactory, whereby they do rob God of his glory, and would diſappoint him of his principal end of the incarnation of his onelyonly begotten Son, yea, and rob him of his glory, which hee hath ſworn that hee would not give unto another. The Devil hath formerly done great miſchief to Chriſtian Religion by Hereſies of Monſtrous ſhapes, but this is a blaſphemy of a more bloody dye, whereby hee induces down-right Paganiſm, or as bad as Turciſm again. Oh, that ſuch a Godleſſe, Christleſſe-villany, ſhould bee ever tollerated to harbour amongſt Chriſtians! This is a lamentation, and ſhall ſurely bee the ſaddeſt lamentation of theſe laſt perilous times.
Uſe 2. The Doctrin of Gods juſtice is ſutable to the Goſpel.It may ſerve to diſcover and confute the general miſtake and error about the Doctrin of the Goſpel: Truely, the Lord hath dealt graciouſly with us in the times of the New Teſtament, and eſpecially with his people in theſe latter times, wherein the Grace of God, and the Riches therof, are more abundantly ſounded forth; and magnified above former ages: and moſt bleſſed is the eſtate of thoſe veſſels of Grace, the perſons that receive it in truth, and are made partakers thereof; but beloved, I do very much fear, leſt that Satan get advantage by this means to make innumerable perſons to miſs their mark, and Gods mark too, cauſing them utterly to pervert the doctrine of the Goſpel, and the grace of God, and his principal plot and purpoſe therein, ſo as to cauſe many to forget and diſanul in their thoughts and apprehenſions, the Juſtice of God, as though it were altogether Heterogeneal, Heterodox, and impertinent to the myſtery of the Goſpel.
Now I beſeech you, that yee would bee convinced of this, whatſoever yee forget, that there is more of the juſtice of God declared and demonſtrated in the Goſpel, and Goſpel myſteries thereof, than there is in the Law. I might tell you of thoſe dreadful Threatnings againſt them that ſin againſt the Goſpel. See Heb. 2.2, 3. Heb. 10.26, 27. Heb. 12.25. where there is a far heavier puniſhment denounced againſt the Goſpel ſins and ſinners, than there ever was againſt the tranſgreſſions or tranſgreſſors of the Law; and if wee look into Examples, it is true, that there were heavy puniſhments inflicted in the times of the Old Teſtament, as the drowning of the whole World, the deſtruction of Sodome, and Jeruſalem, yea, take in the rejection of the evil Angels, yet none of all theſe were comparative to the example in the text, and Heb. 1. Chriſt is ſet above the Angels, and hath a name above every name, yet even upon him Divine Juſtice hath paſſed, never any Juſtice was like this, yet this muſt go for Goſpel-juſtice, yea, this is the end of all that grace, that the Lord hath ſhewed in the Goſpel, and in the death of Chriſt; it is for the demonſtration of the Juſtice of God, yea, the indiſpenſable Juſtice of God: The Lord would convince all the World in the Tenor of the Goſpel, how terrible his Juſtice and his Wrath is. That is very remarkable. Rom. 1.17, 18. That in the Gospel the Righteouſneſs of God is revealed from Faith to Faith. Even ſince that, in the ſame Goſpel, The wrath of God is revealed from heaven againſt all unrighteouſneſſe and ungodlineſs of men, &c. why, but was not Gods Wrath revealed in the Old Teſtament? Truely, the Text ſhews that it was never ſo cleared and demonſtrated before. Now let mee adde this, that the Text holds forth in thoſe words [at this time] what time was that time, but the time of the Goſpel? whereby the Spirit of God intimates, that there would bee mighty need (and more than ever) in the ſecure times of the Goſpel, that the Juſtice of God ſhould bee manifeſted: now many will think, that ſince the death of Chriſt nothing but the Grace of God ſhould bee heard of, and that it would be accounted Legal Preaching, to tell the people of the Juſtice of God, but even at this time, behold, I ſay in theſe wanton times of the Goſpel, behold, that God would have his juſtice declared, more than ever in former times, and ſay not, that in the Goſpel times, this juſtice, as executed onelyonly upon Chriſt, is declared: for though that bee true in regard of the members of Chriſt; yet doubtleſſe as for others; no doubt but the ſtate of Chorazin and Bethſaida, Tyre and Sidon is far worſe than the ſtate of unbeleevers and impenitent perſons in the times of the Old Teſtament; I do willingly receive and imbrace the difference betwixt the Law and Goſpel, held forth by the Proteſtant divines; that free grace and remiſſion of ſins is promiſed and beſtowed in the Goſpel upon all beleevers, Joh 3.16. which the Law ſtrictly taken, mentions not, yet the contempt or neglect of this grace, being a greater ſin than any other, muſt needs bring an heavier weight of juſtice upon them that are guilty thereof. Let all this ſerve to rectify our judgement, concerning the main Scope of the Goſpel, which is not onelyonly to ſet forth Gods infinite grace in Chriſt, but alſo to demonſtrate his juſtice againſt ſin.
Vſe 3. The grounded ſecurity of the faithful.Inſtruction. It may ſhew us the impregnable and grounded ſecurity of the faithful, and the ſtrongeſt foundation of aſſurance that I know of in the whole book of God: that is, in ſhort, the infinite love of God in Chriſt, that follows neceſſarily upon this demonſtration of his juſtice in the death of Chriſt. If that the Lord had forgiven ſinners, without any more adoe, of his meer will and Grace, without any price or ranſome, this eaſy way of forgiveneſs (prated of by the Socinians and Carnal Goſpellers) would in no ſort have ſo declared or demonſtrated the infinite love of God to the Elect, as this doth, that when as God the Father without violence and wrong, to his juſt and holy nature (I may ſpeak it with reverence) could not pardon one ſin by his grace, yet in his admirable wiſdome and grace, hee hath been at that coſt to give his Sons blood to bee a ranſome for ſin, that juſtice may have its due courſe. This is the meaning of that, verſ. 24. wee are juſtified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jeſus Chriſt: this is admirable grace, and free grace indeed; All the Angels in Heaven, and men on earth may bee aſtoniſhed at this. Oh! how exceeding pretious were our ſinful ſouls to the Lord our God, that they ſhould bee valued at ſuch a price by the Lord himſelf, when as the Son of God himſelf was valued but at thirty peeces of ſilver by ſinful men! there was never ſuch a price as this given for any creature beſides: and never ſuch a love as this, that either would or could be at this coſt.
Object. It is prophanely and wickedly objected by Hereticks in this caſe, that if Chriſt dyed for ſinners, then the Sons love to us far exceeded the Fathers love, the Father deals rigorouſly with ſinners, but the Son laies down his life for them: God the fathers love to the faithful in ſcripture expreſſions and divers effects.ſo all the Love is in the Son, and not in the father.
Anſw. In the general, the love of all the Divine perſons is infinite and the ſame; and therefore cannot admit degrees: let us therefore abhor all ſuch odious compariſons. More particularly, to root out all ſuch evil ſurmiſes, ſee what courſe the Scripture takes to diſcover the Fathers love in this whole myſtery, which is by all means to bee acknowledged and adored.
1 There is the Fathers eternal Purpoſe and Decree to ſave a certain number of faln man-kinde, and to redeem them from deſtruction; which is called his ſo loving of them, Joh. 3.16.
2 There is the Fathers love in ſending of his Son to take fleſh upon him, 1 Joh. 4.9, 10. herein is the love of God manifeſted, that he ſent his Son into the World, &c.
3 There is the Fathers commandement given to his Son to dye for his Elect; thus the Son himſelf acknowledgeth, Joh. 10.18. I have power to lay down my life, and power to take it up, This commandement have I received of my father.
4 God the Father therefore loves his Son, becauſe hee laid down his life, Joh. 10.17. Therefore doth my Father love me, becauſe I lay down my life.
5 God the Father is pleaſed to reveal this grace in the Goſpel, and the miniſtry thereof, 2 Cor. 5.18. All things are of God who hath reconciled us to himſelf by Jeſus Chriſt, and hath given us the miniſtry of reconciliation.
6 There is the imputation of Chriſts propitiation to particular ſelected ſinners; this is alſo aſcribed to the Father, Rom. 4.6. Bleſsed is the man to whom the Lord imputes righteouſneſs without works.
7 There is the infuſion and gift of Faith, to apprehend this, and the comfort of it. Eph. 2.8. Yee are ſaved by grace through faith, not of your ſelves, it is the gift of God, &c.
Laſtly, The preſervation of faith and grace unto glory is attributed to the Father, Rom. 8.3. Whom he hath juſtified, them alſo he hath glorified.
Theſe things I mention, not that any ſhould conceit that the other perſons are excluded from ſuch intenſneſs, and wonderful acts of love to ſinners; for as Chriſt ſaith, Joh. 14.11. Beleeve mee, that I am in the Father, and the Father in mee: So that their love is one, and Joh. 5.23. The Father hath committed all judgement to the Son, that all men may honour the Son as they honour the Father: as they honour him, not more nor leſs: but therefore I ſpeak theſe things, to ſhew that a carnal heart hath no juſt cauſe from the Scripture to make or conceit any diſparity in the divine ſubſiſtence.
To ſhut up this uſe, The love of all the Divine perſons equal.Let us conſider the infinite love of all the perſons of the holy and undivided Trinity to poor ſinners, that hath deviſed and provided ſuch an unſpeakable way of Righteouſneſs and Peace to kiſs each other, that poor ſinners might bee juſtified and ſaved. Eph. 2.7. That in ages to come hee might ſhew the exceeding riches of his kindneſſe towards us in Chriſt Jeſus. So here, that at this time he might declare his righteouſneſs.
And can wee imagine that all this coſt and labour of Gods love in Chriſt ſhould bee loſt? can wee poſſibly fear that God ſhould loſe his end in the ſhedding of his Sons blood? as ſure as hee is juſt, hee is the juſtifier of him that beleeveth in Jeſus; this the Text ſhews, and wee cannot without Atheiſm queſtion his juſtice, therefore why ſhould the beleever queſtion the other? ſo that wee may boldly ſay with Paul, who ſhall ſeparate us from the love of God that is in Chriſt Jeſus? Rom. 8.38, 39.
Uſe 4. Carnal and obdurate perſons ſhould conſider this end of God.Exhortation; and it is, 1 To carnal and unregenerate perſons, to remember and ſeriouſly conſider the weight of this point. Let mee propound this Meditation to all ſuch as have benummed and obdurate hearts and conſciences; That the Lord would have his Juſtice declared and proved by ſuch a manifeſt token thereof repreſented, whereſoever the Goſpel or Chriſt is Preached; yea, why is this reſerved for the laſt times of the daies of the Son of man? why? truly the Lord hath a moſt wiſe and holy end therein, ſurely that it may bee an awakening to Chriſtleſſe ſinners in the times of the Goſpel.
I beſeech you, to ſay to your own hearts, why would the Lord have this Juſtice declared to mee, and ſuch exact Juſtice as this is? can any reaſonable Creature imagine, that ſuch juſtice ſhould bee executed upon the Son of God, that had no ſin, but by imputation? and yet that a Chriſtleſſe ſinner, ſhould eſcape the juſtice of God and his righteous judgement? Surely, Their judgement ſleeps not, neither doth their damnation ſlumber? If any ſay, that hee looks at Chriſt as anſwering the juſtice of God, let ſuch a one hear what Chriſt ſaies to ſuch, Mat. 7.23. Depart from mee yee workers of Iniquity, I know you not. Ah poor creature, bethink thy ſelf at the laſt, that the Avenger of blood is purſuing of thee at the heeles, yea, ſin lyeth at the door, This was Preached in a ſick time.and thou haſt yet no ſanctuary or place of refuge to hide thy ſelf in: yea, that Juſtice is riding circuit in the Country, and goes from houſe to houſe, yea, from perſon to perſon; yea, this Goſpel juſtice, which is the moſt terrible, which muſt ſtand at the bar to anſwer it in their own perſons: and let not any pleaſe themſelves with their priviledges or profeſſion, call that to minde, Zephan. 3.5. which is ſpoken of Gods people of old, The juſt God is in the midſt of them, every morning he brings his judgements to light; but the unjuſt knows no ſhame. Oh beloved, this the Lord will do even ſtill, that judgement ſhall begin at the houſe of God.
Now take a few Conſiderations,
1 That now in the times of the Goſpel it is in vain for any man to plead ignorance of Gods juſtice, Conſiderations and directions to hard-hearted ſinners.ſeeing that it is ſo ſolemnly publiſhed and declared.
2 No man can now doubt of it, ſeeing that in Chriſts death there is ſuch a manifeſt token and demonſtration of it, yee may bee ſure that Gods threatnings againſt ſin are in good earneſt, when hee makes ſuch execution.
3 There bee very few that do know the juſtice of God even amongſt Profeſſors; what means that heavenly Prayer, Joh. 17.25? Righteous Father the World, hath not known thee, but I have known thee, and theſe have known that thou haſt ſent mee: hee ſpeaks of God as a righteous Father even towards himſelf, which none of the world knows, and hee doth evidently intend or comprehend the Jews in that world, though the people of God.
4 If juſtice bee not ſatisfied, and anger with-drawn, all thy proud Helpers will stoop under him; Job 4.1…. Mat. 3.17.conceive what helps the World can afford thee, or the wit of men invent, they will bee but broken reeds to ſuccour or ſupport thee. God is not well pleaſed, but in his Son.
Queſt. What courſe ſhould a poor ſinner take in this Condition?
Anſ. 1 Let him conclude undoubtedly with his own ſoul, that there is abundance of unrighteouſneſſe in every ſin committed by him, much more in all his ſins together: ſeeing that Gods juſtice proceeds ſo ſeverely againſt imputed ſin. Gods juſtice and judicial proceedings do clearly diſcover, and are directly oppoſed to the unrighteouſneſs of ſin; therefore labour by all means to ſee, by the conſideration of Gods righteouſneſſe, what abundance of unrighteouſneſſe there is in ſin. Ponder that place well, Rom. 5.20. Where ſin abounds, there grace abounds much more, but the Law entred that ſin might abound. The Law ſhews, that there is abundance of wickedneſſe in every ſin, do not think that it belongs onelyonly to ſome kinde of ſins of an hainous nature, for it belongs to all ſins whatſoever, being tranſgreſſions of Gods Law, as the Text is clear: therefore do not ſleight any ſin.
2 Bee ſure that God is exceeding willing that his juſtice ſhould bee ſatisfied in and by the Surety, and hee would not have poor ſinners to indure the brunt, and the intollerable burthen of it: thou maieſt in the ſaddeſt thoughts of thy condition ſtay up thy heart with this: that Chriſts death was as well for remiſſion of ſins, as to declare the juſtice of God: yea, and though ſin abounds, yet Grace abounds much more.
3 Remember alſo, that this juſtice is ſatisfied in the death of Chriſt for ſins of all ſorts and degrees. I might tell you of multitudes, for Davids Murther and Adultery; for Pauls perſecution and blaſphemy; for the Corinthians Theft, Covetouſneſſe, Drunkenneſs, Extortion, reviling, unnatural Luſts, 1 Cor. 6.10, 11. Thence it is ſaid, 2 Cor. 5.21. That Chriſt was made ſin for us, that is, all manner of ſin was imputed unto him; yea, and he was made a ſacrifice for all manner of ſin without exception, on the behalf of all beleevers: this may much incourage a poor ſinner to fly to him.
4 Faith in Chriſts blood (ſo it bee of the right kind) though never ſo weak, is the means to bring home the ſatisfaction of Chriſt. I have ſpoken of it before, and (alſo that wee ought eſpecially to attend unto) that faith of the right kinde ſeems to bee deſcribed by that phraſe [The juſtifier of him, that is, of the Faith of Jeſus] that may imply two things. Firſt, That true faith is a ſeparating and diſtinguiſhing grace, as when the Jews are ſaid to bee of the Circumciſion, Gal. 2.12. Col. 4.11. it is ſpoken to diſtinguiſh them from all others; Alas! That is a poor faith that makes no diſtinction between a beleever and an unbeleever, a ruffian, and a Saint. 2 The phraſe imports a powerful and efficacious faith, that overſwaies the whole man, and the whole Courſe; ſo that hee may bee ſaid to be of the faith. So Gal. 3.9. They which be of the faith are bleſſed with faithful Abraham; that is, as Abraham was of the faith, I mean efficaciouſly for kind, though not for degree; ſee that ye be not miſtaken in this.
Uſe 5. Exhortation to beleevers in three branches. Beleevers ſhould underſtand and claim their priviledge.1 Let it perſwade them, now to underſtand their good eſtate, and boldly to claim their priviledge: their good eſtate is ſuch as is very pretious in theſe times. I may tell them of that, 1 Pet. 5.12. and teſtify (as Peter did) that this is the true grace of God wherein yee ſtand: much is ſpoken in theſe daies of the grace of God, but I fear many will find at the laſt, that the grace they truſt in will not bee found the true grace of God: neither will they ſtand in it: but the beleevers eſtate that builds upon his union with Chriſt, and his communion with him in Gods juſtice ſatisfied, is that which will ſtand, and the beleever ſhall ſtand by it.
Now hereupon humbly and boldly claim a diſcharge from ſatisfied juſtice upon all occaſions, in infirmities, relapſes, temptations, deſertions, and ſinkings of heart; lay claim to the manifeſt demonſtration of the juſtice and mercy of God in Chriſts death, for both are here wrapped together, and our ground is, 1 Joh. 2.1, 2. Little Children, theſe things I write unto you that ye ſin not, if any man ſin, we have an advocate with the Father, and a Propitiation, &c. every Child of God (though but a little one) and ſuch an one as makes conſcience not to ſin, may have daily recourſe to this Propitiation, where mercy and juſtice meet. Theſe bee the wings of God (as it were) that with David wee ſhould make our refuge in the worſt times, Pſal. 57.1.
2 Let us eternally celebrate the name of God in Chriſt, They ſhould praiſe the name of God in Chriſt.his juſtice, mercy holineſs, wiſdom, providence, &c. for his glory in all theſe things, is the laſt end of all theſe diſpenſations towards his people, this therefore ſhould bee adored by us, and by theſe things wee live, wee may take up Davids Song of mercy and judgement in this ſenſe alſo, Pſal. 101.1. and adde that, Pſal. 17.15. My mouth ſhall ſhew forth thy righteouſneſſe and ſalvation all the day, for I know not the numbers thereof. David was a good Arithmetician in counting Gods mercies & judgements, hath his new Songs ſtill for renewed mercies, but he is fain to confeſſe, that his Arithmetick fails him, hee cannot ſum up the numbers thereof: ſo wee may ſay, we cannot number things. God hath and ſhould have all his glory in the Saints. 2 Theſſ. 1.10.
3 Let this bee an ingagement to us, 3They ſhould bee righteous, as God.to be righteous, as our heavenly Father is righteous; that is, to follow the pattern of Gods righteouſneſſe. Oh beloved! if the Lord hath thus declared and glorified himſelf to us in a way of righteouſneſs, and if it coſt him ſo dear to ſhew himſelf both juſt and merciful towards us, what an inviolable bond is this to us to be righteous before him, and to glorify Gods righteouſneſſe in a righteous converſation, in righteous dealing and judging, and walking continually? yea, let us declare and demonſtrate this before God and men, yea, make it our end, as the Lord makes it his.
Laſtly, Let us do it at This time; Now when there is ſo much unrighteouſneſs among Profeſſors, as it is ſaid of Noah, Gen. 6.9. That Noah was a juſt man, and perfect in his generation, that is, the worſt Generation that ever water wet: ſo though the Generation wee live in, be very bad, yet let us labour to be juſt in it, for they muſt be ſuch that would bee ſheltered in this Ark, when the floods of error, and ſin and wrath do overflow all.
Finally, let me conclude with that, Hoſ. 10.12. Sow to your ſelves, in righteouſneſſe, and reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground, for it is time to ſeek the Lord, till hee come and rain down righteouſneſſe upon you; the ſeed of righteouſneſſe ſown by us, ſhall bee watered with the ſhowres of Gods righteouſneſſe from heaven, and you may then conclude aſſuredly, that yee ſhall have a plentious harveſt, and crop of everlaſting mercy from the Lord.
Finis.
Deo Gloria.