The Plain Doctrine of the Justification of a Sinner in the Sight of God, Sermon 9
The Extremity of Chriſts Sufferings.
THE NINTH SERMON
ON
Romans 3.24, 25.
Through the redemption that is in Jeſus Chriſt.
Vſe 2. Of exhortation to the Saints.TO proſecute this point yet further, take a ſecond uſe of Exhortation, for the Members of Chriſt, that have an intereſt in this ſatisfaction, to conſider the ſeveral Duties, this truth calls them to.
1 It calls to bitter mourning for ſin all our dayes: Chriſts members ſhould mourn for ſin.It ſhould maintain a conſtant ſpring of godly ſorrow in our hearts, to conſider what the Lord Jeſus hath undergone for us, and what wrong and injury wee have done him. For the clearing which, minde that famous place, Zech. 12.10. The Lord ſaith, I will pour out upon the houſe of David, and the inhabitants of Jeruſalem, the Spirit of grace, and ſupplication; and they ſhall look upon him whom they have peirced, and they ſhall mourn for him, &c. This place concerns properly the Jewes, but typically, the whole Church of Chriſt. And it imports, that they ſhall have ſuch a work of God upon their hearts; that they ſhall look upon Chriſt crucified, by faith, and mourn, that themſelves have peirced him; and that hee was wounded for their iniquities, and bruiſed for their tranſgreſſions: and not only for them, but by them, yea by every ſin that hath been committed by them. Thus ſhould every Chriſtian doe, that hath any intereſt in Chriſts ſufferings; even to be in bitterneſſe for every ſin, as a man is in bitterneſſe for his only Son. Which expreſſion hints to us the manner, meaſure, and degree of their mourning. You know, Parents mourning for a Son, and an only Son, and a Son whom themſelves have murthered with their own hands, is very bitter: tongues cannot expreſſe it, but tender Parents may imagine it: and Davids mourning for Abſolon repreſents it, with Rachels grief, that would not be comforted. It is again compared, to the mourning of the valley of Hadadrimmon, &c. that is, as the mourning of Judah, Jeruſalem, and Jeremiah, for the death of Joſiah, ſlain by Pharaoh Necho, 2 Chro. 35.24, 25. which was exceeding bitter, as appears, in that the Singing-men, and Singing-women ſpeak of Joſiah in their Lamentations to this day: yea they compoſed ſolemn Lamentations for Joſiah, and made it an Ordinance in Iſrael, that they ſhould lament for him in after times. Such a mourning ſhould that bee, of the members of Chriſt, for him whom their ſins have peirced, upon theſe enſuing grounds.
1 That thou mayeſt not ſay, Grounds of Saints mourning.the Jewes only ſlew the Lord Jeſus, and that thou hadſt no hand in it. Bee aſſured that Chriſt was wounded for, and by the ſins of all thoſe that ſhall be ſaved, Iſa. 53.4, 5. yea, there is never a ſin, that any of the Elect ever did, doe, or ſhall commit, but peirced Chriſt. If he ſuffered not for it, it cannot be forgiven. All the Jews and Gentiles, Devil and all, could not have deſtroyed Chriſt, had not the ſins of the elect met on him.
2 The killing Chriſt is a farre fouler bloud-guiltineſſe, than ever David incurred: than to kill an only Son: or to murther a Joſiah, a King, a godly King: for this is the crucifying the Lord of glory, 1 Cor. 2.8. and may therefore well be lamented.
3 The love we owe, and bear to Chriſt, for his unparallel'd condeſcentions, to make us heirs of glory, ſhould engage our hearts, to weep for his death, as he did for Lazarus's death, Joh. 11.35, 56. which the Jewes took notice of, to be the probate of his love: Behold how he loved him. Thus Chriſt imputes the repenting tears, of that ſinful woman, Luke 7.47. to love. Chriſts great graciouſneſſe makes the moſt ſtony heart to lament its provocations.
4 The ſenſe of our dreadful, and undone eſtate, that needed the death of Chriſt, to eſtabliſh a Covenant of Grace with us, ſhould provoke us to bee in bitterneſſe: as God expects. Ezeck. 16.62, 63. And I will eſtabliſh my Covenant with thee, and thou ſhalt know that I am the Lord. That thou mayeſt remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, becauſe of thy ſhame, when I am pacified toward thee; for all that thou haſt done, ſaith the Lord.
5 The Spirit of grace and ſupplication is now poured forth, into the ſoul; and that Spirit is a ſpirit of Lamentation, and works and continues, a broken and contrite ſpirit, in all that receive it; as it did in thoſe Converts, Acts 2.37. Pricking them to the heart, for all their wrongs and injuries put upon Chriſt, for embruing their hands in his precious bloud.
Look back therefore upon thy pleaſure that thou haſt taken in ſin; and with what greedineſſe thou haſt committed it: and compare them with Chriſts ſufferings, and what hee deſerved at thy hands; that it may break thy heart, as it did Davids, 2 Sam. 12.7, 8. when hee had long lain in a ſlumbering condition, and God told him, how much he had done for him; wondring that after ſo much love, he ſhould deſpiſe his Commandements, and make ſo wretched a requital. How doth he cry out upon his ſins, verſ. 13. and loathes himſelf?
Obj. But a Chriſtian ſhould rejoyce in the Croſſe of Christ, how then comes it to be the object of ſorrow? Sure Paul thought otherwiſe, Gal. 6.14.
Sol. How the Croſſe is a ground of rejoycing as well as of mourning.It is true, Chriſts Croſſe is a ground of rejoycing as well as a ground of ſorrow: Of ſorrow, in reſpect of that hand we had in his death, the wounds which our ſins gave him, the hard dealing, and unkind requital, he hath received for all his love: Of joy, in reſpect of the benefits, and good we receive by his death. Let us therefore maintain a ſpring of godly ſorrow, for our ſins; and ſtreams of joy for the bleſſings we receive by him: which is the true eating the Paſſeover, with bitter Herbs, Exod. 12.8. Alſo making confeſſion of their ſins, Levit. 16.21. The Papiſts have a ſeeming practice of this duty, keeping Good-friday in penance and lamentation, ſetting up a Crucifix before them, and zealouſly hating the Jewes for putting Chriſt to death; but think not of their own ſins, that they had a hand in it. To whom Chriſt might juſtly ſay, as to the Women weeping at his Croſſe, Luk. 23, 28. O yee daughters of Jeruſalem, weep not for me, but weep for your ſelves; for your ſins, whereby you have wounded me: which is the duty of every Chriſtian.
2 Upon the conſideration of Chriſts extream ſufferings for Sin, the Members of Chriſt are preſſed hard, Chriſts members ſhould hate ſin.to hate every evil way, and to ſhun all ſin for ever.
1 Becauſe it was one end of Chriſts crucifying, To hate ſin is the end of Chriſts death.that ſin and the fleſh ſhould be crucified, Gal. 5.24. that, They that are Christs have crucified the fleſh: (underſtanding by the fleſh, the corruption of Nature, with the affections, and luſts of it.) Chriſts members ſhould pluck up the very roots of ſin, the very inward luſts that grow in the heart, Rom. 6.6. Knowing this, that our Old man is crucified with him, that the body of ſin might bee deſtroyed; that is, the whole corruption of Nature, may be killed by the death of Chriſt; yet not ſo farre as to free us from all ſin, but that we might not ſerve ſin, or obey it in the luſts thereof. For this cauſe did Chriſt bear our ſin upon the Croſſe, That we being dead unto ſin, might live unto righteouſneſſe, 1 Pet. 2.24. That is, that we ſhould behave our ſelves like dead men, not to be moved nor inticed to ſin. For firſt, this was the end which God propounded to himſelf, in his Sons death, to deſtroy ſin. Wee muſt be very careful, how we fruſtrate the end of God, in our giving way to ſin. Secondly, Chriſt hath by his death merited the death of ſin, and ſo we are ſaid to dye with Chriſt, and ſo bee freed from ſin, Rom. 6.7. Thirdly, adde to this, the efficacy of Chriſts death, which works the ruine of ſin in all his members. Hence Phil. 3.10. wee read of a power and force in the death of Chriſt, to make us conformable to his death: while his Spirit is killing ſin in us. So that Chriſts death hath no comfort, for them that hate not ſin.
2 Our ſin killed Chriſt; We muſt hate ſin becauſe it killed Chriſt.if then wee have any love to Chriſt, wee muſt needs kill ſin. Pſal. 97.10. Yee that l ve the Lord, hate evil. The Love of Chriſt conſtraineth us to it. 2 Cor. 5.14. The law of Nature makes a man, that hee cannot indure the ſight of one that hath killed his father, or his dear Friend: but his very heart will riſe againſt him; and hee cannot chooſe but follow the Law upon him, to the utmoſt, to hang him, if all the law in the World will do it. And can wee bee ſo unnatural, that ſin ſhould deſtroy our deareſt Saviour, and we not be avenged upon it? How ſhould wee bee tranſported with Indignation at ſin, that brought on our Redeemer the pains both of the firſt and ſecond death? Then let us purſue our ſins with all poſſible deteſtations; if wee let them go, wee are no Friends to Chriſt. Let us ſtab them to the heart, till they bleed their laſt, that drew the blood of Chriſt. Let them never come to any Sanctuary, or City of refuge; but as Avengers of that precious blood, let us leave ſin no ſhift, no way to eſcape. Let us ſay to them as David to the young man, that told him hee had ſlain Saul, 2 Sam. 1.14. How waſt thou not afraid to ſtretch out thy hand, to deſtroy the Lords annointed? and David commanded him ſtrait to bee ſlain; do thou likewiſe. Reaſon thus alſo againſt all temptations: theſe ſins were the death of my Saviour, and why ſhould they bee my delight? They pierced his hands and feet, and wounded his ſoul, and why ſhould they be contentment to mine? God forbid.
3 Minde the deſert of ſin, We muſt fear ſin becauſe it cruſhed Chriſtand the ſevere proceedings of God againſt it, in Chriſt our ſurety. Luke 23.31. If this be done in the green tree, what will bee done in the dry? Chriſt was the Green tree full of ſap, exceeding fruitful, the true vine, Joh. 15.1. the very embleme of fruitfulneſs; yea, the tree of life, Rev. 2.7. yet this could not exempt him from his ſharpeſt ſufferings. Chriſt was free from all ſin in his nature, the Devil himſelf could find nothing in him, Joh. 8.46. but we have a World of wickedneſs in us. Chriſt was full of righteouſneſs, Rom. 5.17. and wee full of wickedneſs, yet God ſpared not his Son: where ſhall wee ungodly and ſinners appear? Chriſt was the onelyonly begotten, and wee are in compariſon ſtrangers: if hee had no tenderneſs to his Son, what can his Slaves hope for? Chriſt was both God and Man in perſonal Union, ſtrengthened by Angels, yet what Agony? what tears? what conflicts did hee undergo? wee are but ſtubble, but a rotten ſtick, fit fuel for everlaſting burnings; how ſhall wee ſtand in the day of tryal? O it is a fearful thing, to fall into the hands of the living God, Heb. 10.31. Oh that wee had hearts to apprehend the evil of ſin, before wee come to feel it! Bleſſed are they that beleeve, and fear, and tremble, and never experimentally know, the vileneſs of ſin. God ſeeing the hardneſs of our hearts, hath manifeſted the evil of ſin, by the ſufferings of Chriſt; a better argument, then all the curſes, racks, and torments of Hell it ſelf, could produce, to demonſtrate the dreadful nature of it. This may convince the hardeſt hearts in the world; and let the very godly themſelves ſee, that ſin is more vile, than ever they imagined it to bee.
4 Know that ſin will kill us, as well as it killed Chriſt, if wee prevent not the malignity of it. Death is the proper wages of ſin, both the firſt and ſecond death.
Object. But a Childe of God is in no danger of ſinning, nor of eternal puniſhment?
Sol. Surely 'tis true Doctrin, that 1 Pet. 4.17, 18. The time is come that judgement muſt begin at the houſe of God. Wee know how Churches have ſmarted for ſin, for little ſins in the Worlds account. The Jews caſt off for unbeleef: Saints corrected, though not damned, for ſin.the Church of Epheſus for forſaking her firſt love: Laodicea for lukewarmneſs, threatned to bee diſ-Churched: Add that, Ezek. 9.6. the deſtroying Angel had a charge, to begin at Gods ſanctuary. Yea, many godly men ſmart for their boldneſs in ſin, here in this World. Paul writes to Saints, Rom. 8.13. and yet tells them, If you live in the fleſh? yee ſhall dye, and ſpeaks not onelyonly of a temporal, but eternal death. You will ſay 'tis not poſſible for Saints to dye eternally. I anſwer, 'tis as poſſible for Saints to dye eternally, as to ſin eternally. Let all men look to it, for ſin continued in, will certainly deſtroy all its practitioners.
Having therefore theſe conſiderations. Let us dread to have any thing to do with ſin. This conſideration is propoſed to this very end, Heb. 12.2, 3. that the ſight of what Chriſt endured by ſin, might make us conſtant and couragious, in withſtanding all the fiery darts of the Devil, and declining every evil way, ſtriving againſt it unto blood, verſ. 4. as Chriſt did to the very death; not refuſing the worſt of ſorrows, The worſt ſorrow is better than the beſt ſin.to eſchew the beſt of ſins; to part with your heart blood, as well as your good names, eaſe, and profit, if God call you to it. Thus doth Peter argue, 1 Pet. 4.1, 2. Forasmuch then as Chriſt hath ſuffered in the fleſh for us, let us arm our ſelves likewiſe with the ſame minde: for hee that hath ſuffered in the fleſh, hath ceaſed from ſin, that hee no longer ſhould live, the rest of his life in the fleſh, to the luſts of men, &c. The iſſue of the words is this, The Faithful have Union and Communion with Chriſt, and therefore they muſt bee conformable to Chriſt in Holineſſe: but muſt ceafe from ſinne, arguing thus.
That if wee have loſt our head for ſin, it is not poſſible we ſhould live in ſin any longer; but we have loſt our head for ſin. Or thus, All they dyed in Chriſt for ſin, for whoſe ſin Chriſt dyed: and they that dyed once for ſin, cannot ſin any more. If therefore thou continueſt to ſin, how beleeveſt thou that Chriſt dyed for thee? Let thy conſcience bee the judge.
3 Hath Chriſt loved us ſo dearly, Chriſts death merits our love that merited heaven for us.as to ſuffer ſuch dreadful torments for us, then what ſhall wee do for Chriſt? O man, return this day an Anſwer to the Lord, what courſe thou wilt take to walk ſuitable to his kindneſs. When David received a deliverance from God, hee ſaies, Pſal. 18.1. I will love thee dearly, O Lord my ſtrength. God ſhewed him much love, and hee intends to make a retaliation. And indeed love is the Load-ſtone of love. Never was ſuch love ſhown, as that of Chriſt. Rev. 1.5. Who loved us, and waſhed us from our ſins in his own blood. Eph. 5.2. Who gave himſelf for us, his life and blood, and all. Yea, hee parted with his fathers love, which was a thouſand times better than life, for us: Hee became accurſed that might have been bleſſed. Let us not bee ſcanty in our love to him, but give him our heart, both freely and liberally to the death: his death well merits our love that merits heaven for us. Where Chriſt hath laid ſuch deep ingagements, ſleepy, faint, good wiſhes, will not ſerve the turn. Love in Chriſt was ſtronger than death, 'tis pitty that any cold velleities of love and ſervice, ſhould bee our ſacrifice. All bleſſings of the World ſhould endear us, more and more to the Lord; but oh what an Obligation ſhould it bee, that Chriſt became a Curſe for us? The very Maſter-piece of all mercies and bleſſings to the Elect: yea, it gives a ſweet ſeaſoning to all our bleſſings, which have a Curſe cleaving to them, for all that are out of Chriſt, turning all their ſweet morſels into the poyſon of Aſps, or into gravel, Prov. 1.32. yea, their proſperity is deſtructive. Alas! what are Riches? and Accommodations? and good fare? when the Lord once charges Sin upon the conſcience? what is it to bee rich and reprobate? to bee deliciouſly fed with the rich Glutton, and a damned creature? The World is a Priſon, and Riches are ſhakels, Creatures are enemies, all wee have is vanity and vexation of ſpirit; all bleſſings turned into curſings, Mercies are curſes without Chriſts death.yea, and all Ordinances, gifts, parts, duties, &c. without Chriſts blood, are but carnal things. You ſay, how doth that appear? why, Eph. 1.3. thoſe are alone ſpiritual bleſſings, that are given us in Chriſt. Yea, they are dead, and deadly things without Chriſt; for the letter killeth. 'Tis his Divine power that ſets all a work, 2 Pet. 1.3.
Let us then fix our thoughts therefore on Chriſts ſufferings: not onelyonly now and then, giving them a ſlight glance or two, as they come in our way. Let us dwell on the Meditation of his infinite love, till our hearts are warmed, and inlarged by it; till it kindles heavenly affections in us, till his love conſtrains us to every good duty. 2 Cor. 5.14. 'Tis that the greateſt part of the World never knew: God hath not ſhewed his love to all people. Let Chriſts love therefore work love in thee, out-biding all other loves. Matth. 10.37. to hate the very beſt things in nature, in compariſon of Chriſt: yea, our love to Chriſt ſhould make us bold to attempt anything commanded by him. So it wrought in Paul, Act. 21.13. I am ready to dye for the name of the Lord Jeſus. And if any man love him not. ſaith Paul, 1 Cor. 16.22. Let him bee accurſed, till the Lord come.
4 Let this Argument inforce brotherly love. 'Tis the Holy Ghoſts own inference, We cannot beſtow our love better than on them whom Chriſt loves.1 Joh. 4.11. If Christ ſo loved us, wee ought to love one another. For wee ought to love them beſt that Chriſt loved beſt. Wee cannot beſtow our affections better, than where Chriſt hath beſtowed his: Now Chriſt hath beſtowed his deareſt bowels on the Saints: ſo alſo ought we to bee tender of each other. Far be it from any Chriſtian, to bee of the mind of Joſephs brethren, to hate him the more, becauſe their Father Jacob loved him; or becauſe: the Saints have more grace, or more infirmities than our ſelves. They muſt bee loved for their Fathers ſake, though they ſhould give us ſome cauſe to ſlight them.