The Plain Doctrine of the Justification of a Sinner in the Sight of God, Sermon 6
The Exactneſs of Chriſts ſufferings.
THE SIXTH SERMON
ON
Rom. 3.24, 25.
A propitiation through Faith in his blood.
WEE have ſpoken in General of Redemption; Come we now more particularly to conſider, firſt the manner, and ſecondly the efficacy of this ſatisfaction.
The Manner of our redemption is by the blood of Christ: and therefore, 'tis phraſed here, by Faith in his blood; of which let us inquire.
Queſt. What is meant by blood here?
Anſw. The manner of Chriſts ſatisfaction is by blood.Blood is put (by a Synecdoche of the part) for All the ſufferings of Chriſt, which hee underwent for the ſins of the Elect: eſpecially his bloody death, with all its concomitants. So called; Firſt becauſe death, eſpecially when it is violent, it joyned with effuſion of blood, as Matth. 23.30. If wee had lived in the daies of our fathers, wee would not have been partakers with them, in the blood of the Prophets; and Matth. 27.24. Pilate ſaid, I am innocent of the blood of this juſt perſon, that is, of his Death. Secondly, Herein reſpect is had, to all the ſacrifices of the Law; whoſe blood was poured out when they were offered up. Heb. 9.22. Almoſt all things are by the Law purged with blood and without ſhedding of blood there is no remiſſion. So that the blood of Chriſt is the Antitype, aimed at in the blood of thoſe Sacrifices, that were ſlain for ſins.
Doct. That Chriſt by way of Satisfaction for ſinners, ſuffered the full, and utmoſt puniſhment, due to the ſins of the Elect. Col. 1.20. To clear which,
1 Conſider that hee endured bodily infirmities and weakneſſes, as hunger, Matth. 4.2. thirſt, wearineſs, Joh. 4.6. poverty, 2 Cor. 8.9. wanting the ordinary proviſions and comforts of this life, Mat. 8.20. The Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Iſa. 53.3. Hee was an ab…ect among men, a man of grief, and acquainted with infirmity.
2 Hee alſo underwent ignominy, and extream diſgrace, by unjuſt accuſations, and vile reproaches; hee is charged with blaſphemy, and of Leagues with Devils, yea, with Beelzebub the Prince of Devils, Matth. 12.24. accuſed of ſedition, Rebellion, Drunkenneſs, Gluttony, and that hee was a friend of Publicans and Sinners, Matth. 11.19.
3 Hee received many other injuries before his death; as binding, buffeting, Luk. 22.63. ſcourging, ſpitting, blind-folding, and evil intreating, as if hee had been ſome fool or mad-man, Iſa. 50.6. Hee gave his back to the ſmiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair, hee hid not his face from ſhame and ſpitting.
4 Hee ſuffered Death it ſelf, Ne…at eſt vincire civem Romanam, ſcelus verberare: quid dicam in crucem tollere? Cic.cloathed with all the circumſtances of horror and terror; both a ſhameful and a painful death, which none but Slaves and bond-men could bee put to. Roman free-men never felt it. It was a lingring and tedious death: his hands and feet ſtabbed with nailes, his bones put out of joynt. Pſal. 22.14. A death accurſed of God, Gal. 3.13. and therefore Paul ſpeaks it out with an Emphaſis, Phil. 2.6, Chriſt ſuffered onelyonly foreign.7. Hee was obedient to the death, even the death of the Croſs. Tis true, ſome kind of ſufferings called by Divines, diſhonourable ſufferings, not ſuitable to his perſon, nor conſiſtent with the Prophecies of him, as noyſome diſeaſes, tearing of his body in pieces, breaking his bones, or the corruption, or rotting of any one part, Act. 2.27. could not bee ſuffered by him. Thus much the body of Chriſt ſuffered. Now for his ſoul-ſuffering.
Chriſt not only ſuffered bodily death, but alſo the pains of the ſecond death, Iſa. 53.12. Hee poured out his ſoul unto death, yea, unto deaths, (for the Original word is in the plural number) to ſhew that it ſtands in two things.
1 In the abſence, and withdrawing of God from the ſoul, and the hiding the light of Gods countenance from it, leaving it to blackneſs of darkneſs. It was Sauls ſad complaint, That God was departed from him, 1 Sam. 28.15. So was it Chriſts miſery, when hee cryed out, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken mee, Matth. 27.46. which departure of God, anſwers the pain of loſs, that the Elect ſhould have ſuffered; yet know, that Chriſt was left but for a time, and that in regard of ſenſe, and feeling of comfort only; and no farther.
2 The fierce Indignation, and wrath of God, ſeized upon him, ſetting open the flood-gates of his anger, to overwhelm him with an unſufferable torture, of which when Heman had but a ſmall drop, to that full Cup which Chriſt drunk, hee complains, Pſal. 88.16. Thy fierce wrath goeth over mee, and thy terrours have cut mee off. At the taſte of which Job, Job 6.4. cries, The Arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poyſon whereof drinketh up my spirits: the terrors of God ſet themſelves in array againſt mee. And this ſuffering of Chriſt anſwereth to that puniſhment of ſenſe the Elect ſhould indure.
The ſecond death is expreſſed, Iſa. 30. ult. By Tophet, a… a pile of fire, and much wood. The breath of the Lord, like a river of brimſtone, doth kindle it. The breath of Gods diſpleaſure is the very bellows of Hell, that blows up that infernal fire; as truely eaſleſs, as endleſs, to theſe Reprobates that bear the puniſhment of their own ſins alone; but oh! how heavy, when upon Chriſt is laid the iniquity of Ʋs all, Iſa. 53.6. ſo that hee is well ſaid, Rev. 19.15. To tread the wine-Preſs of the fierceneſs, and wrath of Almighty God.
Chriſts ſuffering of the ſecond death, was either in the Garden, or on the Croſs.
1 His Agony in the Garden is deſcribed, Mark. 14.33. Matth. 26.28. Luke 22.44. Mark ſaith, foreign.Hee began to bee amazed, and to bee very heavy: or wee may more fully expreſs it thus, Hee begun to be gaſtred with wonderful aſtoniſhment, and to bee ſatiated, filled brimfull with heavineſs. A very ſad condition, Matth. 26.38. hee ſaid, my ſoul is exceeding ſorrowful, even unto death. It is beleagured, or compaſſed round with ſorrow; for ſo ſounds foreign. All the ſins of the Elect, like a huge Army, meeting upon him, made a dreadful on-ſet on his ſoul. Luke 22.43, 44. 'Tis ſaid, Hee was in an Agony. That's a conflict, in which a poor Creature wraſtles, with deadly pangs, with all his might; muſtring up all his faculties, and force, to grapple with them, and withſtand them: Thus did Chriſt ſtruggle with the indignation of the Lord; praying once and again, with more intenſe fervency, Oh that the Cup may paſs away, if it bee poſſible! while yet an Angel, ſtrengthened his outward man, from utter ſinking in the conflict. Now if this weight that Chriſt bare, had been laid on the ſhoulders of all the Angels in heaven, it would have ſunk them down to the loweſt hell. It would have crackt the Axel-tree of Heaven and Earth. It made his blood ſtartle out of his body, in congealed cloddered heaps. The heat of Gods fiery indignation, made his blood to boil up, till it ran over; yea, affrightened it out of its wonted chanel. The Creation coſt him but a words ſpeaking, and it was done; but it coſts bloody ſweats, ſoul-diſtraction, to go through the work of redemption.
2 His Agony on the Croſs, where hee drinks down the very Gall, and dregs of the Cup, that hee but ſipped of before. You hear him groaning out, Matth. 27.46. with a loud voice, Eli, Eli, Lamaſabachthani. Which is not (as Papiſts ſay) a leaving of Chriſt in the hand of the Jews; for the miſery of death of the Saints, of the meaneſt rank, doth not argue, that God hath forſaken them, 2 Cor. 4.9. Wee are perſecuted, but not forſaken. Nor may we think, the God-head ever had left the man-hood, or that our Saviour had forſook his Father, for hee called him ſtill, My God, my God: but the forſaking was, the Fathers with-drawing the light of his countenance, and then what could follow but darkneſs and extream horror. The words are taken from Pſal. 22.1. where the bleſſed God is ſpoken to, as quite and clean gone out of the hearing of his crying, and roaring. Now that muſt needs bee much more than forſaking, that made the Son of God to roar, even the fierce wrath of the Almighty. So that, as the Greek Church prayed (foreign) It was unknown torment that our Saviour underwent. Hee encountred both the fathers wrath, kindled by the ſins of all the Elect; and entered the liſts with Satan, and all the powers of darkneſs. Luke 22.23. This is your hour, and the power of darkneſs. All the Devils in Hell were up in Armes, and iſſued out of their gates, Principalities and Powers are all let looſe againſt the Redeemer of the World. This is ſome part of the ſecond death of Chriſt; but to clear it further, wee will anſwer a few objections.
Object. How could Chriſt ſuffer the pains of the ſecond death, without diſ-union of the God-head from the man-hood? for the God-head could not dye?
Sol. 1 Joh. 3.16. God laid down his life for us. The perſon dying was God, elſe his perſon could have done us no good. The perſon ſuffering muſt bee God as well as man, but the God-head ſuffered not: As if you ſhoot off a Cannon in the bright Ayr, the air ſuffers, but the light of it ſuffers not. Actions and Paſſions belong to Perſons. Nothing leſs than that Perſon who is God man, could bear the brunt of the day, and overcome for our juſtification.
Object. How could Chriſt indure Hell fire without grievous ſins, as blaſphemy and despair?
Sol. The perturbations of Chriſt, were like the ſhakings of pure water, in a clean glaſs; the water remains pure ſtill. When Chriſt was ſhaken, there was no mudd in the bottome, which riſes in us, when wee ſuffer extremity. And again, as the body of Chriſt dyed without dividing the God-head from it; So his ſoul dyed the ſecond death, without parting of the God-head from it. Beſides, Blaſphemy and Deſpair, are no parts of the pains of the damned, but the conſequents, and follow the ſenſe of Gods wrath, in a ſinful creature, that is overcome by it, Rev. 16.9. But Chriſt had no ſin of his own, nor was overcome of wrath, and therefore held faſt his integrity.
Object. But when did Chriſt ſuffer hell torments? they are inflicted after death, not before it uſually: but Chriſts ſoul went ſtrait after death into Paradiſe, how elſe could hee ſay? This day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe?
Sol. 1 'Tis not impoſſible that the pains of the ſecond death, ſhould bee ſuffered in this life. Time and place are but circumſtances; the main ſubſtance of the ſecond death, is the bearing Gods fierce wrath. The favour of God in Hell to a man, would make Hell a Heaven. The place is not a part of the debt neither, and therefore ought to bee no part of the payment. The laying down of the Price makes the ſatisfaction. This is all that is ſpoken and threatned to Adam, Gen. 2.17. Thou ſhalt dye the death, and this may bee ſuffered here. Wicked go to Hell as their Priſon, becauſe they can never pay their debts; otherwiſe the debt may as well bee paid in the market, as the Gaol. This Chriſt did in the dayes of his fleſh, when hee offered up ſtrong crys, and tears, Heb. 5.7. not after death.
Object. But the pains due to mans ſins are to bee everlasting? how can Chriſts ſhort ſufferings countervail them?
Sol. If the meaſure of a mans puniſhment were Infinite, the duration needs not be infinite. Sinful mans meaſure of puniſhment is finite, and therefore the duration of his puniſhment muſt bee infinite, becauſe the puniſhment muſt bee anſwerable to the infinite evil of ſin, committed againſt an infinite God. But Chriſt God-man, ſuffered puniſhment in meaſure infinite, and therefore there is no ground why hee ſhould indure it eternally. Add moreover, that the dignity of Chriſts perſons, did excuſe him from puniſhment infinite for duration, for Act. 2.24. It was impoſſible that hee ſhould bee holden of death, becauſe hee was both the Father of Life, and the Lords Holy One.
Beſides, continual impriſonment in Hell, ariſes from mans not being able to pay the price; for could hee pay the debt in one year, hee needs not lye two years in Priſon. Now the debt is the firſt and ſecond death; becauſe therefore ſinful man cannot pay it in any time, he muſt endure it eternally. But Chriſt is ready pay, hee laies it down upon the nail, to the full, for all Chriſts Elect: therefore it is not required of him, that hee ſhould ſuffer for ever. Neither can it ſtand with Gods Juſtice to hold him under the ſecond death, having paid the debt.
Now that hee hath paid, he witneſſeth, Joh. 19.30. ſaying, when hee had received the Vinegar, It is finiſhed. So verſ. 28. After this Jeſus knowing that all things were accompliſhed. Many Interpretations are given of the place, but this alone will hold water; That the heavy wrath of the Lord, which did purſue Chriſt, and the ſecond death, that filled him with grievous terrors, is now over and paſt. It cannot bee conſtrued, of the fulfilling all Types and figures, for many Types, and Prophecies did pre-figure his death; as that, Dan. 10. that the Meſſiah muſt bee cut off; and all the Sacrifices muſt dye; the Prophecy of his Reſurrection, Pſal. 16.10. the prophecy of his interceſſion, and ſitting at Gods right hand, Pſal. 110.1. Iſa. …3. ult. Therefore the former ſenſe only is true.
Uſe 1. Of Terror to Carnal Perſons; Conceits removed.if any argument can ſhake the heart of a careleſs wretch, that lives in ſin, this may, to conſider Chriſts ſufferings for ſin imputed to him: This will likewiſe remove thoſe vain conceits, men have taken up, to ſecure themſelves in ſinning.
1 That ſin hath no ſuch great evil in it as is imagined; and therefore they make a mock of ſin; blaſpheming them, 1 Pet. 4.3, 4. that run not to the ſame exceſs of riot with them. Let ſuch know, that beſides the judgements recorded in Scripture againſt ſin, and the tumbling of Angels down from heaven, reſerving them in chains under darkneſs: beſides the caſting Adam out of Paradiſe for ſin: and the drowning the old World; the fire and brimſtone of Sodom; the deſtruction of Jeruſalem; the torments of the damned in Hell-fire, where the worm dyeth not, and the fire goeth not out, Mark 9.44, 46, 48. That which is ten thouſand times more terrible, take thou notice of, that Chriſt ſuffers an agony for mans ſin; behold, God dying for the ſins of the Elect. See his miſery, who is but a ſurety, 1 Cor. 2.8. Sins of men, crucify the Lord of Glory: and put him to ſo painful, ſo ſhameful a death as thou haſt heard. God over all, bleſſed for ever, is curſed in but bearing thy ſins. If God ſo puniſhed the ſurety, how will he deal with the principal? Canſt thou hope▪ O impenitent Soul! to ſpeed better in thy own ſins, than Chriſt could, that bare but the ſins of others? 1 Sam. 14.39. As the Lord liveth who ſaveth Iſrael, though it bee in Jonathan my Son, hee ſhall ſurely dye; ſaid Saul. If the Son muſt dye, what will become of the Servant? what will become of the Slave? Laugh on, but know that Chriſt wept for ſin: rejoyce thou, but withall remember that Chriſts ſoul was heavy to the death about it. And it may bee, thou wilt one day, hear God laughing at thy miſery, as thou doſt at thy ſin, Prov. 1.26. 'Tis ſaid of Babylon, Rev. 18.7. So much as ſhee hath glorified her ſelf, ſo much ſorrow and torment give her. Chriſt ſmarted for the ſins of the Elect: and thou muſt one day expect to feel, as much torment for ſin, as thou haſt taken pleaſure in committing of it. The ſport and pleaſure of ſin, is like that play, 2 Sam. 2.14. where they deſtroyed each other. Young men in merriment and jollity, make a mirthful paſtime of Drunkenneſs and riotting: till their ſports prove the bloody murtherers of each other. Man nor Angel durſt not call Chriſt accurſed, if the Holy Ghoſt had not ſaid it, Gal. 3.13. and ſurely then, O vain man, thy condition muſt needs bee exceeding curſed, if Chriſt were accurſed, for ſin imputed only. Oh the gall of bitterneſs! that ſin will bring wretched men into. Knowest thou not that it will bee bitterneſs in the latter end? 2 Sam. 2.26.
2 Conceiveſt thou, 2Conceit.that God is merciful, and therefore thou ſhalt do well enough, though thou doſt continue in ſin. Know, that God spared not his only Son, Rom. 8.32. and why ſhould hee ſpare thee his very enemy? would hee not ſpare a Son? and an onelyonly Son? and will hee ſpare a ſtranger? an enemy? Shall a Son of Belial ſpeed better than the Son of God? Did Chriſts neerneſs of relation abate him nothing? and ſhalt thou bee abated? hopeſt thou to finde more mercy at Gods hands, than Chriſt could? Luke 23.31. If this bee done in the green tree, what will hee do in the dry? Chriſt was not ſuch dry fuel, for his Fathers wrath to burn up, as thou art. Rev. 14.10. They ſhall drink of the wine of Gods wrath, poured out without mixture.
3 But I will pray, 3Conceit.and amend my life, and turn over a new leaf, and God will be gracious.
Canſt thou pray better than Chriſt? hee prayed earneſtly, Luke 22.44. with ſtrong Cries and Tears, Heb. 5.7. hee ſpent whole nights in prayer, Luke 6.12. yet muſt he dye the death. Canſt thou reform and bee more holy than Chriſt? hee fulfilled all righteouſneſs, Matth. 3.17. Hee did alwaies what pleaſed the Father, Joh. 8.29. and yet all would not bee taken for current pay, without his bearing the extremity of Gods fearful indignation. What hope canſt thou then maintain while thou lyeſt in ſin?
4 If I go to Hell, I ſhall have company, 4Conceit.and will ſpeed as well as others, and will bear it as well as I can? wilt thou bear it O heap of duſt? Haſt thou an Arm like God? Job 40.9. knoweſt thou what thou ſayeſt? Chriſt is ſtronger than all Men and Angels, that created the Heavens, and bears up its Pillars, that they ſtagger not, yet blood leaps out of his veins, when hee comes to encounter his Fathers wrath. Hee cries with tears, Father, if it be poſſible, Let this Cup paſs from mee. And again, hee groans it out. Pſal. 90.11. Who knows the power of his Anger? that made his Son thus to cry out? The earth trembled at it. The Sun mourned under an Eclipſe at the ſight of it. The graves opened to ſigh at his ſorrow. The rocks cleft in ſunder. Was the mighty God put to all theſe perplexities, to bear his Fathers wrath? And ſhall ſuch a worm as thou art, bee able to wade through ſuch a bottomleſs Sea of miſeries? All Chriſts ſufferings were voluntary, and choſen by himſelf; and perfectly known before hee ſuffered them, ſo that hee was prepared for them; nor had hee any ſin to weaken his ſtrength, or increaſe his burden: and fully knew, what infinite good his ſufferings would do, to ſave thouſands, to reconcile God and man, to glorify God, but not one of theſe chearing conſiderations can bee found in thy ſufferings. Thine will bee violent and ſuddain, and unknown until thou feeleſt them, and wilt have the burden of thine own ſin, as well as miſery; a pittiful gaulded back, to bear ſo great a burden; no good can come by all thy torments; and canſt thou hope to bear ſo great a burden as this to eternity? Oh ſaies Spira, That I might indure the wrath of God, but twenty thouſand years! but it muſt bee eternally. Thy ſoul muſt ſay, after millions of years, The pit is bottomeleſs, The fire is unquenchable.
5 But Chriſt hath ſuffered, 5Conceit.therefore ſurely I never ſhall ſuffer theſe things.
Chriſts ſufferings cannot prevent, nor eaſe the torments of Chriſtleſſe ſouls; Rev. 6.16, 17. 1 Pet. 2.8. None can have the benefit of his death, that have nor the benefit of his life. His blood juſtifies none, that continue ſtrangers to the will of God.
Cavil, But this is Legal Preaching in Gospel times, speak to us of peace in Chriſt.
Reply, Surely this is Goſpel Preaching, and a principal Doctrin of the Goſpel too. If juſtification by Chriſt be legal Doctrin, what is Evangelical? The Spirit ſaies in the Goſpel (though men love not to hear it) Eph. 5.6. That the Unclean, Malitious, Covetous, Drunkards, ſhall never enter into the Kingdom of God. And in truth, all the threats of the Law, and torments of the damned, cannot ſet out ſin in ſo ugly and diſmal a face, as this point doth. The Law ſhews ſin a ſword to draw our blood; but this ſhews it to be a Spear drawing the heart blood of the Son of God. The Law makes man accurſed, the Goſpel makes the Son of God accurſed. The ſin of all the world on one man, could not bring him ſo low, as the leaſt ſin of the Elect, can bring the Son of God. Adams ſin threw him out of Paradiſe, from earth to earth, and his Sons into hell, that is, but from earth to hell: but Chriſt is by imputed ſin, fallen from the glory of heaven, to the very ſorrows of hell. Whither then will the ſinner fly for ſuccour? Do not think, O impenitent man, that thou canſt better thy ſelf, by flying from the Law to the Goſpel. If Chriſt for ſin ſuffered ſuch things, where ſhall the ungodly and ſinner appear? 1 Pet. 4.17.