The Morning Exercise Methodized, Sermon 14
OF CHRISTS Humiliation.
PHILIP. 2.8.
He humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Croſſe.
THis Chapter begins with one of the moſt pathetical and powerfully preſſed Exhortations that we meet with in the whole Scripture: The Apoſtle is in one of his high ſtreins and raptures of Rhetorick, conjuring the Philipians (as it were) by all that they accounted dear and precious, unto brotherly unity and amity,Nullus jacentem ſuſcitat niſi inflexione ſui. Nierem. and to this end, to humility of minde, and a mutual condeſcenſion. He that will lift up, and embrace another that is fallen, muſt himſelf ſtoop down; and becauſe men are rather drawn by example, than driven by precept, he propounds to them a pattern beyond all parallel: Let this minde be in you which was alſo in Chriſt Jeſus; who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himſelf of no reputation, &c. As if he had ſaid, Jeſus Chriſt was as high as the higheſt, coequal with God, it was his right to ſtand upon even ground with his Father, and without any wrong to him might have pleaded his Peerage, and yet he ſtrangely humbled, and abaſed himſelf; here is your Copy. How lowly ſhould Chriſtians be? ſeeing humanity, the form of a ſervant, nay, death it ſelf were not accounted too low for their Lord; Chriſt himſelf hath juſt ſuch another Argument; John 13.14. If I your Lord and Maſter have waſhed your feet, ye ought alſo to waſh one anothers feet. Let no Chriſtian ſtand upon his pantofles, ſeeing Chriſt humbled himſelf, and became obedient to death, the death of the Croſſe.
In which words we have,
1. The depth of Chriſts humiliation:
1. Specified, death.
2. Aggravated, even the death of the Croſs.
2. The Manner of his humiliation, where we may note theſe two remarkable circumſtances.
1. His voluntarineſſe, he humbled himſelf.
2. His obedience, he became obedient unto death.
The Scripture hath obſerved to us theſe three ſpecial ſteps of Chriſts humiliation.
1. He ſtoop't down to become a man.
2. He condeſcended to put his neck under the yoke of the Law.
3. He appeared in the likeneſſe of ſinful fleſh.
1. He ſtoop't down to become a man; he left the warme boſome of his Father, and took himſelf lodgings in the womb of a Virgin; he ſtrip't himſelf of his Robes of glory, to put on the courſe home-ſpun, and thread-bare tatters of a fraile humanity; and he that thought it no robbery to be equal with God, ſubmitted to an eſtate lower than ſome of his own creatures; this is the firſt Riddle in the Apoſtles great myſtery of godlineſſe: God was manifeſt in the fleſh. And ſure,1 Tim. 3.16. that the moſt magnificent Monarch in the world ſhould become a Toad, that the whole Hoſt of Angels ſhould be degraded into worms; that this goodly frame of the Creation ſhould be unpinned and annihilated, or crowded into the narrow compaſſe of one ſingle a…ome, is infinitely a leſſe wonder, than for God to become a man; had Chriſt been made an Angel, it had been infinitely below himſelf, and yet then he had remain'd a ſpirit, and ſtayed ſomething nearer home; but he cloathed his Divinity with a body; the Word was made fleſh; he made himſelf of no reputation, foreign.and was made in the likeneſs of men, Ver. 6. He emptied himſelf of his credit; to become a man was ſo much beneath him, that upon the matter it undid him in point of reputation. The greateſt ſtep of Chriſts humiliation, was his Incarnation; for that being man he ſhould dye, is nothing ſo aſtoniſhing a wonder, and inconceivable, as that being God he ſhould be made a man.
2. He condeſcended to put his neck under the yoke of the Law. God (ſaith the Apoſtle) ſent forth his ſon made of a woman; Gal. 4.4.and though that be very much, yet there is more added, made under the Law. Though every man that is born of a woman, every mothers childe among us, be neceſſarily ſubject to a Law, and it is no condeſcention, its no whit below the greateſt Prince on earth that gives Laws to many thouſands; yet this was a very great ſubmiſſion in Chriſt. Adam while he continued in a ſtate of integrity and perfection, was then under a Law, and did not yield or abate any thing of his right by it; the bleſſed and glorious Angels continue under an obligation to obedience, and they do not by this loſe any of their birth-right for a creature; as a creature, is indiſpenſably ſubjected to the Law of its Maker, by vertue of its creatureſhip and dependance; and ſhould any one of them attempt a diſobligation, it were an eſſay toward a prodigious and praeternatural Antinomianiſme. But the Son of God, the Eternal and Independent Law-maker did admirably abaſe himſelf, to come under the obediential obſervance, and poyſonous malediction of that Law, upon which there was only the print of his own authoririty; for though the humane nature abſtractly conſidered, is as a creature bound to the obſervance of a Law, yet being in conjunction with the ſecond perſon in the Trinity, and aſſumed into the perſonality of the Son of God, it was exempted from obedience, and indemnified as to curſe and penalty. Chriſt ſubmitted to the Ceremonial Law in his circumciſion, put his neck under the yoke of the moral Law, to fulfill the preceptive part by his Perfect obedience, and ſatisfie the maledictive part by his compleat ſufferings; all which ſubjection was not a debt that God could have challenged of him, but a pure voluntary ſubſcription; The Law is not made in ſome ſenſe for a righteous man, 1. Tim. 1.9.but it is not made in any ſenſe for the glorious God.
3. And which is a ſtep beneath both theſe; he appeared as a ſinful man, or in the likeneſs of ſinful fleſh; Rom. 8.3.ſubjection to the Law made him very low, but the ſimilitude of ſin, which is the violation of the Law was a far greater abaſement. Chriſts appearing in the likeneſſe of ſinful fleſh, muſt not be underſtood as though his fleſh were only a likeneſſe and appearance,Non in ſimilitudine carnis quaſi caro non eſſet caro, ſed in ſimilitudine carnis peccati, quia caro erat, ſed peccati caro non erat. Aug. Heb. 9. ult. or he had only an aerial, and phantaſtical body; as ſome of old abſurdly fancied and affirmed; he had true real fleſh, though but the ſimilitude and reſemblance of ſinful fleſh; the word likeneſſe relates not to fleſh, but ſin; not fleſh in likeneſs, but ſin in likeneſs; a being under a Law implies nothing of ſin; it was the caſe of Adam, and the Angels, and both without ſin, or any thing that look't like ſin; but our bleſſed Lord condeſcended not only to ſubjection, but to the print and appearances of tranſgreſſion. He ſhall appear (ſaith the Apoſtle) the ſecond time without ſin unto ſalvation. Intimating, that the firſt time he appeared with ſin upon him; when he returns in glory, he ſhall have no dints of ſin upon him; the ſmell or fingeing of it ſhall not be upon his garments; but his firſt entrance was with many of thoſe prints and marks that ſin (where ever it is) uſes to leave behinde it. Sin was neither inherent in him, nor committed by him; but imputed to him. Sin never defiled him, but it defaced him; he had nothing of its impurity, but much of its penalty; he was not tainted with that plague, but he was pleaſed to take upon him the tokens. In the ſame Chapter the Prophet tells us, He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth, and he was numbred with Tranſgreſſors. Iſa. 53.9, 12.He trode not one ſtep awry in ſin, but many of the footſteps of ſin appeared upon him; to inſtance in a few.
1. Poverty: he came in a low and mean condition, and thats the very likeneſſe of ſin, the great bankrupt that brought all to beggery. Though he was rich, yet for our ſakes he b came poor. 2 Cor. 8.9.When he rode to Jeruſalem, it was not in ſtate, in a gilded Coach with ſix horſes; or mounted like a Lord Mayor with emboſſed trappings; but as one might rather ſay, like a Beggar that is ſent with a Paſſe from one Town to another;Matth. 21.5. Sitting upon an Aſſe, Matth. 8.20.and a Colt, the foole of an Aſſe. The Foxes have holes, and the Birds of the Aire have neſts, but the Son of man had not where to lay his head. He was at ſuch a very low ebb as to worldly riches,Matth. 17. ult. foreign valet, 2 s. 6 d. that once he, and one of his Apoſtles, could not both of them make a purſe for half a crown to pay their tax without the working of a Miracle.
Iſa. 55.3. 2 Theſſ. 2.3.2. Another likeneſſe of ſin was ſorrow: He was a man of ſorrows, and acquainted with griefs; as Antichriſt is called a man of ſin, his very make and conſtitution is ſin, ſo was Chriſt a man of ſorrows, and as it were made up of them, they were in a manner his complexion. We read oft of his weeping, but it is not obſerved that ever there was a ſmile upon his face. Now ſin and ſorrow are ſo near of kin, that the Hebrew language compriſeth both in one word;foreign they are as like as mother and daughter, and both called by the ſame name.
3. A third likeneſſe of ſin was ſhame and reproach: Sin was the inlet of ſhame; when our firſt Parents had ſinned, their eyes were opened, Gen. 3.7. Chap. 2. ult.and they knew that they were naked, and ſewed fig-leaves toge her. Why they were naked before, and were not ignorant of it, but then it was no ſhame to them; ſin gave them a ſight of their nakedneſſe, ſo as they never ſaw it before: This ſimilitude of ſin was upon Chriſt, when he was called Glutton, Wine-bibber, Conjurer, Blaſphemer, Divel, and what not, that might cauſe and increaſe contempt? We hid (as it were) our faces from him, (ſaith the Prophet) he was despiſed, and we esteemed him not; Iſa. 55.3.how vile and contemptible is that perſon, upon whom we turn the back in ſcorn? to whom we will not vouchſafe ſo much as a look, or the glance of an eye! I am a reproach of men, (ſaith the Pſalmiſt in the perſon of Chriſt) and desp ſed of the people.Pſal. 22.6.
4. Another ſimilitude of ſin, was the withdrawment of his Father, and clouding the li…h… of his counte…ance. His fathers forſaking him, whereof he makes that heavy heart-breaking complaint,Matth 27.46. My God, my God, why hast thou for…aken me? The frown of his Father, and brow-beating of his diſpleaſure, was the very likeneſſe of ſin; for from that noyſome vapour o…ly ariſes a cloud to over-caſt the light of his countena ce. Nothing but that builds up a partition wall betwixt him and us. Your iniquities have ſeparated betwixt you and your God, and your ſins have hid his face from you. We hid our face from Chriſt,Iſa. 59 2. and in that there was reproach; but alas, this was nothing in compariſon; a Prince need not trouble himſelf that he hath not the ſmile of his Groom: What if all creatures in heaven and earth had hid their faces from Chriſt, he could well have born up under it; but the hiding of his Fathers face even broke his heart, as a burden intolerable.
5. And laſtly, Chriſt ſubmitted to death, and that's ano…her likeneſſe of ſin. Sin entred into the world, and death by ſin; Rom. 5.12.they came together as it were, hand in hand; this was …he penalty inflicted upon ſin, In the day thou e…teſt, thou ſhalt ſu…ely dye. Gen. 2.17.Now in this reſpect Chriſt abaſed himſelf to look like a ſinner; Humbled himſelf, and became obedient to death, the death of the Croſſe.
In the further Amplification of this, I ſhall endeavour to ſhew three things.
1. What kinde of death Chriſt humbled himſelfe unto.
2. In what manner Chriſt underwent that death.
3. Upon what grounds Chriſt thus humbled himſelf to death.
1. What kinde of death Chriſt humbled himſelf unto; and this I cannot omit, the Apoſtle having added ſuch a remarkable Emphaſis by way of reduplication; Death, even the death of the Croſs. It was not only a violent death, and there's much in that, that he dyed not a natural, but a violent death: Nor indeed could he, both becauſe there was no ſin in him to be the in-let of a natural death, nor would that have been ſatisfactory for the ſin of others. It was not only (I ſay) a violent death; but ſuch a violent death, as had in it a more than ordinary violence, a death by crucifying, which hath theſe three imbittering Circumſtances.
1. Pain.
2. Shame.
3. Curſe.
1. Pain: The eaſieſt death is painful; a death-bed, though a down-bed, is for the moſt part a little eaſe. Oh my gowty feet, ſaith Aſa! O my cold benum'd body, ſaith David! O my leprous skin, ſaith Uzziah! O my pained a king head cryes the ſon of the Shunamite! but in the death of Chriſt there was the pain of many deaths put together; in the very dawning of the Goſpel, the very firſt time we finde the death of Chriſt mentioned, it is ſet out by bruiſing;Gen. 3.15. It ſhall bruiſe the head, and thou ſhalt bruiſe his heel, Iſa. 53.10. foreign Matth. 26.39.viz. his humane nature, that which could be bruiſed: It pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him, he hath put him to grief; bruiſed him as with a Peſtel in a Mortar; hence was it he prayed ſo earneſtly that the Cup might paſſe; it was ſo full of worme-wood and gall, and the pain ſo violent which he was to encounter, that he ſcrewed up his requeſt to the higheſt pin, if it be poſſible; wiſe and reſolute men do not uſe to complain of a little; they will not cry oh at a flea-bite, or the burning of a finger; and ſome of the Martyrs have born up with ſuch Chriſtian courage, and gallantry in death, that being on the Rack they would not be looſed; they were tortured, Heb. 11.35.not accepting deliverance, (ſaith the Apoſtle) the incomes and ſupports of Divine Grace, made an abatement of their pains; oh but what ſhall we ſay of the bitterneſſe of that death, where the Author of all their ſtrength, God and man bewrayes paſſions? how much dregs was there in that Cup which Chriſt was ſo loth to drink of?
Three things made Chriſts death ſo exceeding painful.
Optime complexionatus. Aquin.1. The piercing his hands and feet, thoſe ſinnews and ſenſitive parts. Chriſts body was all over excellently well tempered, and ſo his ſenſe admirably acute; but to be pierced and digg'd through hands and feet, parts ſo full of nerves and ſinnews, muſt needs aggravate and augment the ſmart; They have pierced my hands and my feet, Pſal. 22.16.was the Prophetical complaint of the Pſalmiſt, fulfilled in Chriſt.
2. Another thing that addeth much to the pain of Chriſts death, was the extenſion and diſtortion of his body; the Croſſe was a rack to him, and he was ſtretch't as upon the Tenters; for when any perſons were to be crucified, the Croſſe you muſt underſtand, l…y all along upon the ground till the party was nailed to it, and ſtretch't out at his full length, and afterward erected; and to this the Pſalmiſt had reſpect in that ſad complaint of his, I may tell all my bones; Pſal. 22 17.he was ſo rack't, that his bones were almoſt ready to ſtart out of the skin.
3. The death of Chriſt was more painful, by reaſon of its ſlowneſſe, and gradual approach. Chriſt was from the third,Compare Mar. 15.25. with 34. to the ninth houre in dying; from nine in the morning, till three in the afternoon, ſix compleat houres—When bloody Tyrants would make any mans death more than ordinarily painful, they have deviſed wayes to cauſe a lingring death; and when news was once brought to one of them, that ſuch a one was dead ſuddenly, he cryed out, Evaſit, he hath made an eſcape. When death comes, the ſlower its pace, the heavier its tread; the longer the Seige, the fiercer the ſtorme; but this is true of Chriſt, more than others; for when they are long in dying, they uſually faint, and their ſpirits abate, they are brought ſtep by ſtep to deaths doore, and dead before death; but with Chriſt it was otherwiſe, he ſtood all that while in perfect ſtrength; the vigour and acuteneſſe of his ſenſes was no whit blunted, or made leſſe ſenſible of paine. That is a notable Scripture, Mark 15.37, 39. Jeſus cryed with a loud voice, and gave up the Ghost; and when the Centurion, which stood ov…r againſt him, ſaw that he ſo cryed out, and gave up the Ghoſt, he ſaid, Truly this man was the Son of God; a very ſtrange inference, this man dyes, and gives up the Ghoſt, and therefore he is the Son of God. The Argument one would think, were ſtrong to the contrary; but here lies the ſtrength of his reaſon, When he ſaw he ſo cryed out, and died, he ſaid he was the Son of God. He very well knew, that in other men ſtrength abated leiſurely, their ſpeech grew low, and they uſed to fumble and falter, and rattle in the throat; but as for this man, he gave ſuch a cry at the laſt gaſp as he never heard, and thereupon infers, Truly he was the Son of God.
2. Another bitter ingredient unto the death of Chriſt was ſhame; and this was much more than the former. There is nothing ſo ſharp and cutting, ſo intolerable to an ingenuous and noble ſpirit as ſhame. The paine of an hundred deaths, is more eaſily undergone by ſuch, than the reproach of one. Now in this reſpect, the thieves fared much better than he did; we read of no irriſion, no inſcription, no taunts, or ſarcaſms caſt upon them; they had only paine to encounter; Chriſt both pain and ſcorne; the ſouldiers, the Jews, the very thieves flouted him. He endured the Croſſe, Heb. 12.2.(ſaith the Apoſtle) and deſpiſed the ſhame. The Croſſe was it ſelf a… ignominious death, the death of a ſlave;Fecinus eſt vincire civem Romanum, ſcelus verbera e, quid dicam in crucem tollere? Cic. Zach 11.13. no Free man, or man of faſhio… was ever put to it; and to this day, we ſay of one that is hang'd, He dyes like a dog; yea, but Chriſt did not only dye ſuch an ignominious and reproachful death as this, but he was ſold to it, and a goodly price that he was prized at; the death it ſelf was ſhameful, the death of a ſlave, and this was an aggravating circumſtance of ignominy, that he was ſold to it as a ſlave; all the while he was dying, he ſtood naked upon the Croſſe. Now nakedneſſe is our ſhame; he was ſcorned and derided on all ſides; they mockt and ſhak't the head at him; all his Offices were derided; his Prieſtly Office; He ſaved others, himſelf he cannot ſave; his Prophetical Office,Mar. 27.42. when they blinded him, and bid him proph… ſie, who it was that ſmote him. His Kingly Office, when they put a robe upon him, and in mockery ſaid, Hay…e King of the Jews. Thieves, and notorious Villains were crucified with him, and he put in the midſt, as though he were worſe than both of them, and all their vill…inies, and miſ-demeanours had concentred in him; they ſpit in his face, and that's a notable mark of infamy, ſuch an one as God allotted for the reproach of him that refuſed to build up his Brothers houſe.Deut. 25.9. And all this was acted without the Gate; they thought him not worthy to ſuffer within the Walls of their City, leſt forſooth, he might have polluted it. This the Apoſtle takes ſpecial notice of; Jeſus, Heb. 13.12.that he might ſanctifie the people with his own Blood, ſuffered without the Gate; which in the next verſe he explaines, and calls his reproach; as under the Law, the Blaſphemer was by Gods appointment to be ſtoned without the Camp; and amongſt us at this day,Levit. 24.14. the moſt baſe and villainous Malefactors are carted away to Tyburne, and not executed upon Tower hill, that is honourable.
3. The ſting of Chriſts death is yet behind, it was invenom'd with a curſe; Deut. 21.23.though pain be bad, and ſhame worſe, yet the curſe is worſt of all. He that is hanged, is accurſed of God. That was (it is true) a Ceremonial Curſe, but it was typical, and had ſpecial relation to Chriſt, who was under a real, moral curſe; and ſo it is applyed by the Apoſtle, Christ hath Redeemed us from the curſe of the Law, Gal. 3.13.being made a curſe for us; for it is written, Curſed is every one that hangeth on a Tree. And here the Apoſtle Peter puts a remarkable accent, ſpeaking of Chriſt to the Jewes, Whom ye ſlew, Acts 5.30.(ſaith he) and hang d on a Tree; intimating that bare ſlaying him, would not have been ſo much as hanging him on a tree; the Jews had many other wayes of putting people to death, as ſtoning, ſtrangling, burning, beheading, but only crucifying had a curſe annexed to it. Chriſt was made ſin for us, that we might meet with, and intercept that wrath and curſe that was due to us, and breaking out upon us. We read in the ſtory of his paſſion, that when Chriſt was going to wreſtle with that dreadful agony in the garden, he paſſed over the brook Cedron. John 18.1.And if we conſult the Hiſtory of the Kings, we ſhall finde that when any godly ones amongſt them, as Hezekiah, Aſa, Joſiah, reformed and purged the City and Temple of Idolatry, they caſt the abominable and curſed things into the brook Kidron. 2 Chron. 15.16.29.16.30.14. Pſal. 110. ult.Chriſt was in his ſufferings, to drink of the brook in the way, to paſſe over, and wade through a River full of curſes.
2. In what manner Chriſt underwent this death. It behooves us to conſider the manner of our performing duties to Chriſt, for their acceptation; and it will be worth the while for us to ponder the manner of Chriſts ſhedding his blood for us; both for our conſolation and imitation.
Now as to the manner of his death, three circumſtances call for our conſideration.
He dyed
Willingly.
Obediently.
Humbly and Meekly.
1. Willingly; he was a Volunteer in death; and his offering up himſelf in ſacrifice, was a free-will offering; his Fathers determination made it neceſſary; and thus, Chriſt ought to ſuffer, and the Son of man muſt be lifted up; but his Fa…hers preordination gave not his death the formality of a Sacrifice. In regard of men it was violent, They ſlew him w…th wick…d hands; this makes it not the ſacrifice neither; they were not the Prieſts, but the butchers of Ch…iſt. In reſpect of himſelf it was voluntary; that made the Sacrifice; Then ſaid I, Lo I come; in the volume of the Book it is written of me, I delight to do thy Will, Pſal. 40.7, 8.oh my God, yea, thy Law is within my heart. As if he had ſaid,John 10.17, 18 foreign. Theoph. in loc. Ibid. My very heart is ready for the ſhedding of my heart-blood. I lay down my life, (ſaith Chriſt) no man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of my ſelf; though the Jews took it away, yet not againſt his Will; it was their murtherous will to have it, and his gracious Will to give it. I have power to lay down my life, and I have power to take it againe. As if he had ſaid, were it not my pleaſure to part with it, with all the power they could make, they were never able to wreſt it out of my hands.
Mat. 26.53.When one of Chriſts followers ſtruck off the High Prieſts ſervants eare, Chriſt gave him a check; Think ſt thou, ſaith he) that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he ſhall preſently give me more than twelve legions of Angels. As if he had ſaid, I need not ſuch weapons, I could commiſſion Twelve Legions of Angels to be of my life-guard: one were ſufficient to do the buſineſſe; as what a rout did one Angel once make in Sennacheribs army?2 King. 19.35. but I could put twelve legions into battel array for my reſcue, were not I as ready to be crucified, as they are to crucifie me. And when the ſouldiers came to break his legs, John 19 33. Suffixus ſpiritum cum verba dimiſit prevento carnificis officio. Tertul. Luke 12.50.they forbore, becauſe he was already dead. Such was his forwardneſſe to die, that he ſaved them a labour. Nay, there was not a bare willingneſſe, but on his part, ſtrong deſires to dye. I have a baptiſme to be baptized with, and how am I straitned till it be accompliſhed? his death was full of paine, but his heart was ſo ſet upon it, that he was in a manner pained, till he came to dye; and not to have dyed, had been a death to him.
Heb 5.7. Mat. 26.39.Object. But it will be objected, Chriſt feared death, he prayed againſt it, and therefore his Will had a repugnancy againſt it:
Anſw. This doth not oppoſe, but rather teſtifie and evidence Chriſts willingneſſe to dye; for he may be conſidered as a private perſon, of the ſame natural affections, deſires, and abhorrencies with other men; and ſo the bitter cup was juſtly feated, and declined; or in a publick relation, as Mediator, a merciful and faithful High Prieſt, and ſo he moſt willingly ſubmitted himſelf to it; and this willingneſſe of Chriſt, ratione officii, was ſo much the greater, becauſe rati…ne naturae, he could not but have ſtrong reluctancies againſt it.
2. Chriſt humbled himſelf to death obediently. It was his will to dye, and yet he dyed not of his own will, but in obedience to his Fathers. We have them both conjoyned, Heb. 10.7. Lo I come to do thy Will, O God. And Joh. 10.18. I lay down my life of my ſelf; this Commandment have I received of my Father; he became obedient unto death, (ſaith the Text) In reſpect of God, Chriſts death was juſtice and mercy; in reſpect of man, it was murther and cruelty; in reſpect of himſelf, it was obedience and humility. To obey, is be…er than ſacrifice. Chriſts obedience was the beſt of his ſacrifice; when he prayed to his Father, that the cup might paſſe, it was with this Clauſe of exception, Not as I w…ll, but as thou wilt.
3. Chriſt ſubmitted himſelf to death humbly, and meekly; he was oppreſſed, and afflicted, y…t opened he not his mouth; not that he ſpake nothing at all, but he was ſilent as to murmurings and revilings; that was the work of his perſecutors; not a word paſſed from him that might argue paſſion, or impatience, as from one of the Thieves that were crucified with him; he was brought as a Lamb to the ſlaughter; he was not enraged, or exaſperated, with all the injuſtice, cruelty, and oppreſſion of his enemies; not one word in heat of blood, to them whoſe errand was to ſhed his blood. Friend (ſaith he) to Judas, betrayeſt thou the Son of man with a kiſſe? foreign. Chryſ.What meekneſſe was here? though I confeſſe there was a tart rebuke in that kinde compellation, and Chriſt calling him friend, ſmartly checkt him for his unfriendly carriage. When one of his Diſciples cut off Malchus his eare, Put up thy ſword, (ſaith he) Wee'le have none of that club law; he touches his eare, and heales it. When he was reviled, he reviled not again; 1 Pet. 2.23. Pſal. 64.3.when he ſuffered, he threatened not; his enemies ſhot their arrows, even bitter words; but they recoyled not upon them. Nay, he returned not only no ill words, but gave prayers in exchange for their taunts and revilings; Father forgive them, Luke 23.34.for they know not what they do. It had been meekneſſe to have gone through his ſufferings without murmuring; but it was an high and heroical act of meekneſſe indeed, to poure out prayers for them, that were ſuch buſie inſtruments in pouring out his blood; he was ſo far from biting the ſtone, that he kiſſed it, and the hand that threw it.
3. Upon what grounds Chriſt thus humbled himſelf to death: What cogent neceſſity was upon him; for we may not conceive that Chriſt thus humbled himſelf to death upon trivial and impertinent conſiderations; as David ſaid once of Abner, Died Chriſt as a fool dieth? 2 Sam. 3.33.No ſure, it was upon theſe ſix weighty grounds.
1. That Scripture propheſies and Predictions might be accompliſhed; all which repreſent him as coming in died garments from Bozrah. Gen. 3.15.The firſt Scripture that ever mentions Chriſt, ſhews him a bleeding and crucified Saviour. Now Chriſt was to make good to a tittle every thing that had been before written of him. In Saint Matthews Goſpel this is very remarkable, who above all the reſt hath moſt punctually obſerved the fulfilling of Propheſies, with whom the burden and under-ſong of almoſt every event is, ut impleretur, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the mouth of the Prophets. Chriſt himſelf renders this account of his ſufferings in that Diſcourſe of his with his Diſciples upon the Road; Oh fools, Luk. 24.25, 26.and ſlow of heart, to believe all that the Prophets have ſpoken! Ought not Christ to have ſuffered theſe things? The Prophets have all ſpoken this with one mounth, and is it poſſible I ſhould make them all liars?
2. That Scripture types might be fulfilled; many whereof were to decipher and prefigure the death of Chriſt, as Iſaac's being offered, the ſlaying of the Sacrifices, the lifting up of the Serpent; Now had not Chriſts blood been ſhed, and he lift up upon the Croſs, there had been no correſpondency in the Antitype; as Moſes lift up the Serpent in the Wilderneſſe, ſo muſt the Son of man be lifted up. Joh. 3.14.Had not Chriſt been made a Sacrifice, moſt of the Legal Ceremonies, and precedent prefigurations had either ſpoken lies, or at leaſt nothing to the purpoſe.
3. That his Will and Teſtament might be firme and effectua…; in his life he had given many precious Legacies, and they had been all voide, and to no more purpoſe than a Deed without a Seal at it, unleſſe ratified and confirmed; had not Chriſt given himſelf to death, all his other gifts that he had bequeathed in his Will, had been gif…leſſe; this is the Apoſtles Argument, Where a Teſtament is, there muſt alſo of neceſſity be the death of the Testator; for a Teſtament is of force after men are dead, Heb. 9.16, 17.otherwiſe it is of no force at all while the Testator liveth. A man that makes a Will, doth not intend that any body ſhould be the better by it, but upon his death: Suppoſe a man have a Legacy of a thouſand pounds given him, he is not one whit the richer ſo long as his friend liveth, the Will holds not good in Law, nor can he ſue for one penny of it. This Cup (ſaith Chriſt) is the New Teſtament in my blood; Luke 22.20.that New Teſtament which is ratified by my blood: Chriſts death gives life not only to his people, but to his promiſes. It is expedient for you that I go away, John 16.17.(ſaith he) for If I go not away, the Comforter will not come: The ſending of the Comforter was one principal clauſe of his laſt Teſtament; but till the death of the Teſtator, the Will could not be put in ſuit, it ſignified nothing, and was not pleadable. The Holy Ghoſt was not yet given, becauſe that Jeſus was not yet glorified; what? had they received nothing of the Spirit? yes;John 7.39. but not according to that plentiful proportion, which he intended and promiſed in his Will. The Legacy was paid but in part, becauſe the Teſtator was yet alive; he was no ſooner dead, and got to heaven, but he makes all good to a tittle, as you may read, Acts 2.2, 3, 4.
4. That juſtice may be ſatisfied; the ſentence upon ſin was paſſed from the mouth of a righteous Judge; now though juſtice might admit of a change of perſons, there was no room for a change of penalties; death was threatned, and death muſt be inflicted. If Chriſt will ſave ſinners from death, juſtice will not let him ſave himſelf from death;Heb. 9.22. without ſhedding of blood there is no remiſſion: Chriſt undertaking to croſſe out, and cover the black lines of ſin, muſt draw over them the red lines of blood: What the chief Prieſts ſaid concerning Chriſt, is true in ſome ſenſe, though falſe in theirs, He ſaved others, Matth. 27.42.himſelf he cannot ſave: Juſtice was to have its penni-worths out of our Surety, and nothing could be abated of blood. God hath ſet forth Chriſt to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteouſneſſe for the remiſſion of ſins, that he might be juſt.Rom. 3.25, 26.
5. That he that hath the power of death might be deſtroyed; Hebr. 2.14.through death he deſtroyed him that hath the power of death, that is the Divel. Satan hath the power of death, not as a Judge, but as an Executioner; and Chriſts death hath deſtroyed him; not taken away his being, or undivel'd him; but ſhatter'd his Forces, broken, and ſubdued him. The crucifying of Chriſt was the Divels plot; he put Judas upon betraying him, the Jews upon accuſing him, Pilate upon condemning him, the Souldiers upon executing him; but our Lord out-ſhot him in his own Bowe, and cut off Goliah's head with Goliah's Sword: It fared with Satan, as it is ſtoried of a certain Souldier, who being cu iouſly inquiſitive after the time of his death, went to an Aſtrologer, who of a long time would make him no anſwer, till at the length overcome by his importunity, he told him that he ſhould dye within three dayes; whereat the Souldier being angry, draws his Sword, and kills the Aſtrologer; for which murder within three dayes compaſſe he was executed: And thus Satan plotting the death of Chriſt, to put by his own ruine, promoted, and procured it: Our Saviours death gave him ſuch a deaths wound, as he will never claw off. The Lyon is terrible, (ſaith Chryſoſtom) not only awake, but ſleeping: And ſo Chriſt, not only living, but dying, came off a Conqueror;Judg. 16.30. as Sampſon at his death pulled down the pillars of the houſe, and made a greater rout among the Philiſtines, than in all his life; and therefore it is very obſervable when the death of Chriſt approached, and being in view, Satan perceived how great diſadvantage was like thereby to accrue to him and his Kingdome; how he laid about, and beſtirred himſelf by all means poſſible to hinder it; he put Pet…r upon diſſwading him, Master, favour thy ſelf, and let not this be unto thee; and Chriſt preſently ſmelt him out in that advice, as appears by his rebuke, Get thee behinde me Satan; Matth. 16.23. Matth. 27 19.he buzz'd dreams into the head of Pila es wife, and thereby endeavoured to take him off, and divert him from pronouncing the ſentence upon him.
6. To take away the meritorious cauſe of death; viz. ſinne: And verily had all the Divels in hell been routed, and ſin, that Divel in the boſome remain'd undiſturbed, it had been an inconſiderable victory; God ſending his own Son in the ſimilitude of ſinful fleſh for ſin; Rom. 8.3.tha… is, by a ſacrifice for ſin, (we have ſuch another Ellipſis, Hebr. 10.6.) condemned ſin in the fleſh. Chriſt by his blood wrote a… ill of Inditement and Condemnation againſt ſin, he ſued it to an out-lary, and undermi…ed it as to its dominion and damnation;Rom. 6.10. in that he dyed, he dyed unto ſin once: The Saints dye unto ſin, namely, by Mortification;Verſe 11. Reckon ye your ſelves alſo to be dead indeed unto ſin; but thus there was never any alive in Chriſt, but he dyed unto ſin, namely, the utter ruine and undoing of ſin: The Meſſiah ſhall be cut off, to finiſh tranſgreſſion, and make an …nd of ſins. Dan. 9.24.There is a double finiſhing of ſin, by conſummation, and by conſumption; the meaning is not as though Chriſt compleated that which ſinners had left imperfect, or varniſht over thoſe ſins which came out of their hands rude and unpoliſhed; no, he could neither put an hand, nor ſet a tool to ſuch work as this; but to make an end of ſin, to eat into the heart, and tear out the bowels of it; ſuch is Chriſts hatred of ſin, that rather than it ſhall live, himſelf will dye.
APPLICATION.
Three Uſes may be made of this Doctrine; for
1. Information.
2. Exhortation.
3. Comfort.
Uſe 1 1. For Information in foure particulars.
1. This lets us ſee the tranſcendent and inexpreſſible love of Christ to poor ſinners. Let ſuch as can entertain hard thoughts of Chriſt, look upon him as nailed to the Croſſe, and ſhedding his blood, and then tell me if they do not think him in good earneſt in the buſineſſe of ſaving ſouls: Oh how was his heart ſet upon ſinners, that would thus ſhed his heart-blood for ſinners! The Rabbins have a ſaying, that upon every apex or tittle of the Law, there hangs a Mountain of ſenſe and doctrine: In every drop of Chriſts blood there is an Ocean of love; Who loved me, Gal. 2.20.and gave himſe…f for m: The death of Chriſt was ſuch a demonſtration of love, as the world never ſaw. When God made the wordl, he intended the evidence of his power; he ordained hell, digg'd Tophet, and fill'd it with fire and brimſtone, and thereby manifeſted the ſeverity of his j…ſtice; he humbled himſelf to death, and therein his purpoſe was to demonſtrate the tranſcendency of his love; this made the love of Chriſt of ſuch efficacy, and conſtraining influence upon the Apoſtle Paul, Be auſe we thus judge, that if one dyed for all, than were all dead. 2. Cor. 5.14.When Chriſt once wept at Lazarus his grave, by-ſtanders made this inference upon it, Behold how he loved him; John 11.36.but if weeping at the grave for his death argued ſuch love, what love was it then to dye, and go down into the grave for Lazarus? It were an eaſie thing to loſe our ſelves in this delightful Maze and Labyrinth of love; the righteous Judge of all the world unrighteouſly accuſed and condemned; the Lord of life was dying, the eternal and ver bleſſed Son of God ſtrugling with his Fathers wrath; he that had ſaid I and my Father are one, crying out in his bitter agony, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? He that hath the keys of hell and death, lay ſealed up in anothers grave. Bleſſed and dear Saviour, whither hath thy love to ſinners carried thee? Well might the Apoſtle in an holy rapture and extaſie expreſſe himſelf in an elegant contradiction, when he deſired the Epheſians might know the love of Chriſt, which paſses knowledge.Epheſ. 3.19.
2. Hence learn the horrible and curſed evil of ſin; there is ſure an abominable filthineſſe in that, which nothing but the blood of God could purge and expiate. We may gueſſe at the depth and breadth of the ſore by the plaiſter that is prepared and applied. Its a deſperate diſeaſe that requires ſuch a deſperate cure; ſin is an infinitely miſchievous evil, which nothing could remove, but infinitely precious blood. You that view ſin in its right features and proportions, take a proſpect from Mount Calvary, look through the perſpective of Chriſts blood, and ſeriouſly ponder the bitter and dreadful agonies of the Son of God, when he ſweat, and bled, and groaned, and dyed under the burden of it. You have not y…t reſiſted unto blood, Heb. 12.4.(ſaith the Apoſtle) ſtriving againſt ſin; as if he had ſaid, you are not yet come to the hotteſt of the battel; it may be you have gone through ſome light skirmiſhes, a few ill words, or outward loſſes; but when Chriſt was challenged by this Goliah, and none durſt take up the Gantlet, he reſiſted unto blood; and verily the evil of ſin is not ſo much ſeen, in that thouſands are damn'd for it, as that Chriſt dyed for it. If you ſhould ſee a black vapour ariſe out of the earth, and aſcend by degrees, till it covered the face of the heavens, and obſcure the Sun in brighteſt Noon-day luſtre, you would doubtleſſe conclude there muſt needs be a ſtrange and preternatural malignity in that vapour. What ſhall we then think of ſin, that brought down the Son of God from heaven, darkned his glory, took away his life, laid him in the duſt? After whom is the King of Iſrael come out? (ſaith David to Saul) after whom doſt thou purſue, after a dead dog, after a flea? As if he had ſaid,1 Sam. 24.14. methinks the King of Iſrael ſhould never trouble himſelf about ſuch a ſorry and inconſiderable thing as I am; a dead dog cannot bite; when alive, indeed he is a fierce creature, he may flie in a mans face, and tear out his throat, but death tames him: A dead dog needs no chain, and a flea cannot bite very much, the mark it makes is but a fleabite; you that have ſlight thoughts of ſin, do as good as ſay, that the God of Iſrael entred into the liſts, and armed himſelf for the Battel againſt a dead dog; nay, that he loſt the Field, and was worſted by a flea; the evil of ſin is not ſo much ſeen, that it is a knife that cuts our fingers, as that its a knife redded over with the blood of our dear Redeemer.
3. Hence note the exact and impartial juſtice of God, and his moſt righteous ſeverity againſt ſin; that rather than that ſhall paſſe unpuniſhed, his only begotten, and everlaſtingly beloved Son ſhall ſhed his blood, and become lyable, and obnoxious to a curſe. In the blood of Chriſt as a mirrour, is repreſented the moſt condeſcending mercy, and inflexible ſeverity that ever the world ſaw. Son (ſaith God) if thou wilt undertake for ſinners, and undergo that penalty that is due to ſin, thy blood muſt go for it, and nothing can be abated; he prays the Cup may paſſe if poſſible; but juſtice was inexorable, he was upon ſuch terms that it was not poſſible: God hath ſet forth Chriſt to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, Rom. 3.25.to declare his righteouſneſſe that he may be juſt. One would have thought he would have ſaid to declare his love and mercy, that he may ſhew himſelf gracious; nay, but (though there be a truth in that) the Apoſtle pitches upon another Attribute, To declare his righteouſneſſe that he may be juſt. If there were any reſpect of perſons with God, or if exact juſtice could have warp't, and been drawn away with any acceſſory and circumſtantial conſiderations, doubtleſſe Chriſt ſhould have gone free, and an indemnity from ſuffering ſhould have been the Sons priviledge.
4. This is ſad and dreadful news to all impenitent and unbelieving ſinners; What will be their doom that have no ſhare in this blood of Chriſt, and not only ſo, but trample it under foot as an unholy thing? Let them look to it, it will one day riſe up againſt them as a witneſſe for their certain damnation; for ſuch there's a much ſorer puniſhment; Heb. 10.29.woe to thoſe that have not the blood of Chriſt to plead for them; but ten thouſand woes to them that have the blood of Chriſt pleading againſt them: And where it cries not for pardon, it cries out for vengeance with a witneſſe. They are the enemies of the Croſſe of Chriſt, (ſaith the Apoſtle) whoſe end is deſtruction: Phil. 3.18, 19.And what better end could it rationally be hoped they ſhould come to, that have an enmity againſt the Croſſe of Chriſt? If that which is light in th e be darkneſs, Matth. 6.23.how great is that darkneſſe? If the healing, ſaving blood of Chriſt be deſtruction, how dreadful is that deſtruction? the death of Chriſt is to a wicked man one of the ſaddeſt ſtories, and moſt dreadful tragedies that he can read or hear of; becauſe having no intereſt in it, he underſtands what muſt certainly be acted upon himſelf; and if God would not hearken to the prayers of his Son, how is it likely he ſhould be moved with the cry of Rebels and Enemies? When God ſent the Prophet Jeremiah upon his Errand to the Nations with the Cup of his fury, that they ſhould drink, and be drunken, and ſpue, and fall, and riſe no more; upon caſe of their refuſal to drink, tell them (ſaith he) that loe I begin to bring evil on the City which is called by my Name, Jer. 25.29.and ſh uld ye be utterly unpuniſhed? ye ſhall not be unpuniſhed. As if God had ſaid, Carry a Cup, and if they refuſe, tell them Jeruſalem hath been before them, and I am reſolved it ſhall go round. My own people ſhall not drink unpledged, and they ſhall not be unpuniſhed. God hath prepared a Cup for all Chriſt-rejecting ſinners, warmed with fire, and ſpiced with brimſtone, and if they wince, and make a ſowre face, let them know Chriſt hath had it, Gods only begotten and beloved Son hath drunk deep on't, and how, or with what face can they expect to eſcape? What! will God ſay to ſuch a one, Behold, he whoſe judgment was not to drink of the Cup, Jer. 49.12.hath aſſuredly drunken, and art thou he that ſhalt altogether go unpuniſhed? thou ſhalt not go unpuniſhed, but thou ſhalt ſurely drink of it.
Uſe 2 2. For Exhortation, and that in ſix particulars.
1. Hath Chriſt ſhed his blood for ſin? let us then ſhed the blood of ſin; let ſin never live one quiet quarter of an houre in our ſouls, that would not let Chriſt live in the world. Chriſt dyed unto ſin for Satisfaction; let us dye unto ſin by Mortification: He died unto ſinne once, likewiſe reckon ye alſo your ſelves to be dead indeed unto ſin. Rom. 6.10, 11.Every Saint ſhould be foreign, as the Apoſtles phraſe is, Rom. 6.5. planted together in the likeneſse of his death; And he further explaines his meaning, Ver. 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of ſin might be deſtroyed, that henceforth we ſhould not ſerve ſin.
And verily, unleſſe by the death of ſin in you, you can have no comfortable evidence, that the death of Chriſt was for you. Chriſt was crucified, and they that are Chriſts, Gal. 6.24. Gal. 5.2.have crucified the fleſh with its affections and luſts. If ye be circumciſed, Chriſt ſhall profit you nothing (ſaith the Apoſtle) I Paul ſay unto you; he affixeth his name, and ſets to his hand, q. d. I ſay it, and I will ſtand to it; and ſo, if your heart be uncircumciſed, by not putting off the body of the ſins of the fleſh; if you live in any one known, approved ſin, Chriſt and the death of Chriſt ſhall profit you nothing. Ah! revenge the blood of your deareſt Lord, upon your deareſt luſts; and when Satan preſents to you a ſugred, ſpiced cup, tempting you to the commiſſion of any ſin, ſay as David of the waters of Bethlehem, Farre be it from me, oh Lord, 2 Sam. 23.1….that I ſhould do this; is not this the blood of my Saviour, that not only hazarded, but laid down his life for ſin?
2. Did Chriſt let out his blood for us? let our lives then run out for Chriſt in a vigorous activity, and unwearied exerciſe of grace. It is the Apoſtles argument, and it's very forcible. We judge that he dyed for all, that they that live, ſhould not henceforth live unto themſelves, but unto him that dyed for them. 2 Cor. 5.15.Chriſt did not ſhed two or three drops of his blood only, or breath a veine; and ſhall two or three duties, a few ſhreds, and odde parcels of holineſſe ſerve to return back to Chriſt? What can we think too much for him,Tit. 2.14. that thought not much of his blood for us? the blood of Chriſt is as well for the purity, as the purchaſe of his people.
3. Did Chriſt thus humble himſelf to death for us? let us then prize him exceedingly, and raiſe him in our eſteem above riches, honour, pleaſure, father, mother, husband, wife, friend, yea life it ſelf,Quanto pro me vilior, tanto mihi charior. Ber. or any other thing that we are apt to account precious; how ought he to be prized and preferred above all things, that prized ſuch in conſiderable nothings as we are, at ſo high rates as his own blood? if you put Chriſt into one end of the ſcale, be ſure he out-ballances every thing that can be laid in the other. To you that believe he is precious. Other things may be rated according to that particular excellency that he hath put into them;1 Pet. 2.7. but you will be careful to keep the higheſt Room for the beſt friend, and ſay, Come down this, and t' other vanity, this friend muſt take place; whatever other things may make twelve, Chriſt ſhall be thirteen; to a carnal heart, nothing ſo low prized and undervalued as Chriſt; but with believers that have an intereſt in him, and know the worth of him, he is in higheſt eſteem.Cant. 5.9. What is thy beloved more than another beloved? (ſay the daughters of Jeruſalem) they have ſleight, low thoughts of him, and another, (be it who it will) is to them as good as he; but what anſwer makes the Spouſe? My Beloved is white and ruddy, Ver. 10.the chifeſt among ten thouſand. If there were a general Muſter, and all the ſons of men ſtood together, Chriſt would be above, and beyond them all; and Paul is of the ſame mind, who deſired to know nothing but Chriſt, and him crucified; 1 Cor. 2.2.as if he had ſaid, Let me but be acquainted with Chriſt and his Croſſe, (ſuch a ſuperlative eſteem he had of him) that I care not this, if I burn all my Books. Whatever he had heretofore accounted excellent, when his judgement was byaſſed with wrong apprehenſions, he now accounts droſſe, dung, dogs meat, Phil. 3.8.for the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus his Lord; all not worthy to be named the ſame day with Chriſt. Nay, Chriſt himſelf hath told us, they are not worthy of him, that do not think him moſt worthy.Mat. 10.37.
4. Chriſt humbling himſelf thus low, ſhould teach us highly to prize our ſouls; by the price that was paid for them, we may conceive at what a ra…e God values them. If God ſhould have ſaid concerning any ſoul, I ſo eſteem it, that rather than it ſhall periſh, I'le diſſolve, and unpin the whole Fabrick of heaven and earth, that (you'le ſay) had evidently demonſtrated an high valuation of ſouls; but the courſe God hath taken, ſhews a much higher eſteem of them. Now let this deare bought ware be precious; ah let none of us adventure a ſoul, for the ſatisfying of a baſe luſt; let not any ſin ſteale that away upon eaſie termes, which put the Lord of glory to ſuch expences. Chriſt that beſt knows the worth of ſouls, for he paid for them, ſo values them, that he tells us the gaine of the world were no ſufficient or ſatisfactory compenſa…ion for he loſſe but of one of them;Mark 8 36. and a man that ſhould make that bargaine (as too many do) might put all his gaines in his eye,Ingen…i hominis nulla si aeſtimatio. and ſee never the worſe after it. What the Civilian ſaith of a Free-man, is much more true of an immortal ſoul, No…hing can be valued with it. Tradesmen know, that buying deare, and ſelling cheap, will undo them; but it will much more undo you, to ſell ch…ap that which Chriſt hath bought ſo deare. Do not pawn your ſoules to Satan, that is, do not adventure upon the commiſſion of any ſin, with this reſerve, I will repent before I dye, and then all is well; that is as if thou ſhouldſt ſay, Here Satan, I give thee my ſoule to pawn, in lieu of the pleaſure or profit of this or that ſin, and make it in my bargaine, that if I repent I will have it again, till then I deliver it into thy cuſtody, and if I never repent, take it, it is thine own for ever. Nay, but ask Satan when he comes thus higgling for thy ſoul, and bids thee pleaſure, profit, preferment, or any ſuch toyes and trifles, but canſt thou ſubtile Tempter, give any thing aequivalent to the blood of God, the price that hath been already paid for it? our ſouls were not Redeemed with ſilve… and gold; 1 Pet. 1.18.and let us never ſell them for that with which Chriſt could not purchaſe them.
5. Did Chriſt humble himſelf to the ſhedding of his blood? let us then be willing (if need be) to ſhed our blood for Christ. We needed Chriſts death, and poſſibly Chriſt may need ours, though not for merit and ſatisfaction; No, that was our need, for which his death was abundantly ſufficient, and needs not ours to make any additions, or heapt overplus meaſure; but Chriſt may need our death to ſeale his truth, and credit his Goſpel;Act. 20.24. the Apoſtle Paul counted not his life deare, that he might finiſh his courſe with joy, to teſtifie the Goſpel of the grace of God. And the Holy Ghoſt gives an honourable character of ſome Heroical, noble-ſpirited Chriſtians, that they loved not their lives unto the death; Rev. 12.11.and the blood of the Lamb animated them to ſuch valour, that they overcame and conquered by the loſſe of their lives. Ye have not yet reſiſted unto blood, (ſaith the Apoſtle) but how ſoon it may come to that ye know not.Heb. 12.4. It's your duty, and will be your wiſdome to prepare for ſuch a black bloody day as that; there are two things in the death of Chriſt, that may animate and embolden us into a willingneſſe to dye for him. 1. A motive, one good turne requires another. 2. A pattern, Chriſt ſuffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye ſhould follow his ſteps. 1 Pet. 2.21. Verbi verba ſunt nobis Documenta; verbi facta ſunt nobis exempla. Auguſt.A place very much abuſed by the Socinians, as though there were no more in the death of Chriſt, then an example; but one end of Chriſts death muſt not exclude another; in the blood of Chriſt there's both a price and a pattern; he hath ſet us a Copy, and upon his call, we ſhould be ready to write after him with our blood.
6. By Faith, and an hearty acceptance of Chriſt, let us put in for a ſhare, and get an intereſt in the blood of Chriſt. He hath (it's true) dyed for ſinners; but without faith, what is all this to you though ye be ſinners? Without blood Chriſt could not ſave you; and without faith, the blood of Chriſt cannot ſave you.Rom. 3.25. Heb. 9.14. Acts 15.9. God hath ſet forth Chriſt to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood; the conſcience is purged by his blood, and the heart pur…fied by faith. This precious blood of Chriſt, doth no other way purifie, than as applyed and ſprinkled by faith. Every man was under the Law to lay his hand on his burnt-offering of atonement;Lev. 1.4. he muſt own it for his Sacrifice; thou muſt ſtretch out an hand of faith, and put it on the head of thy ſin-offering, owning Chriſt as thy Lord and Saviour; for it is not Chriſts blood as barely ſhed upon the Croſſe, but as received into the heart, that juſtifies and ſaves. The Son of man is lifted up, John 3.15.that whoſoever believes on him, ſhould not periſh; Univerſal cauſes act not, but by a particular application; as Adams ſin pollutes no child, till applyed by the generation of the Parent. The Sun though it enlightens the whole world, helps no man to ſee, till its light be received into the eye. Suppoſe the blood of Chriſt were as extenſive, and univerſal a cauſe of ſalvation, as any men pretend to, and contend for, it could produce no ſuch effect, till faith hath wrought a particular application; a great gift enriches not the beggar, in the rich mans hand, but in his own, having received it.
Uſe. 3. Here's abundant comfort to all them that have by faith, applyed and intereſted themſelves in Chriſt crucified; here's blood that will interpoſe between you and harmes; Chriſts treading the Wine preſſe, leads you into the Wine Celler; though to him it was very painful, to you it is very comfortable; that which he felt as blood, believers may taſte as wine. Never was there ſuch a Cordial for drooping and diſconſolate ſoules, as that which came from Chriſts heart, when his ſide was broacht, and ſet running upon the Croſſe. Comfort in five particulars.
1. Your enemies are foyled. A Believer hath many enemies; this blood of Chriſt hath either reconciled, or diſarmed them; either made them friends, or left them impotent enemies. To give a ſhort liſt of a few of them.
1. The juſtice of God, that's ſatisfied; out of Chriſt it hath a dreadful quarrel, and implacable controverſie; and poor believers are many times afraid under their miſapprehenſions that exact and inexorable juſtice will either non-ſuit, or give a verdict againſt them; but they are more afraid than hurt; this blood hath made juſtice their friend. Being justified by faith, Rom. 5.1. Rev. 4.3.we have peace with God; and in Chriſt he now ſits with a rain-bow about his Throne. God once drowned the world in wrath, but ſmelling a ſweet ſavour of reſt from Noahs ſacrifice, he purpoſed and promiſed never to do ſo any more; and as a badge and token of his favour, and the firmneſſe of that Covenant of Peace, he put his Rain-bow in the clouds. If you can upon good grounds ſay that Chriſt is yours, there's a Rain-bow about Gods Throne, his Bench of Judicature, and condemnation is turned into a mercy-ſeat; juſtice will ſet hand and Seale to your acquittance, and be ſo farre from pleading againſt you, that it turnes your Advocate;Rom. 3.25, 26. and Chriſt having ſhed his blood, becauſe God is just, the believer muſt be juſtified.
2. The Law is fulfilled. To be under the Law, is a ſtate full of danger and terrour; and Saints are many times afraid that it will be put in as a black bill of inditement againſt them, but the blood of Chriſt hath ſcracht the curſes out of the Rolle; He hath Redeemed them from the Curſe of the Law, Gal. 3.13. Rom. 6.14.being made a Curſ… for them; they are not under the Law, but under grace. Not unde… the Law, as to its invenomed curſes, inexorable ſeverity, and intolerable penalties. The Law it ſelf to every believer,1 Tim. 1.9. is as it were non-ſuited by the death of the Law-maker. It is not made for a righteous man; it was given to Adam when he was righteous, and yet ſtrongly obliges ſuch as are righteous; but it lies not againſt a righteous man (ſo the word ſignifies) as to his condemnation;foreign. it is not laid as an Axe to the root of the tree.
Col. 2.15.3. Satan is ſubdued. Chriſts bruiſed heele hath broken his head; He ſpoyled principalities and powers, and made a ſhew of them openly, triumphing over them in his Croſse. The whole Hoſt of Hell, with all their traine of Artillery, was led Captive by him on the Croſſe, and tyed to the Chariot-wheels of this triumphant Conquerour. When the door-poſt was ſprinkled with blood, the deſtroying Angel paſſed away; the blood of Chriſt ſprinkled on the conſcience, is a choice Antidote, and preſervative againſt this devouring Abaddon; not but that he ſtill may be a Tempter and a troubler, but he ſhall never be a conquerour, never a tormentor. Chriſtopher Haaſſe, a Swediſh Senator, being at the point of death, the Devil appeared by his bed ſide, with pen, ink, and paper; Come (quoth he) reckon up thy ſins in order, as thou haſt committed them, that I may carry them in a Catalogue to Gods Tribunal, whether thou art going; Well Satan (ſaith he) if it muſt be ſo, let the Catalogue be under this head and Title, The ſeed of the woman ſhall break the Serpents head, and away flew the Devil in a great rage; ah ſirs, had we but the right art of pleading the blood of Chriſt, it would make this roaring Lion more to tremble, than the Lion doth at the cock-crowing.
4. Sin is aboliſhed; and that is a far worſe enemy than the Devil. Many a Saint is able, and apt to ſay, Were it not for ſin, I would not much care for Satan; I could defie, and bid him do his worſt; it is the Devil within, that makes the Devil without ſo formidable.
Now plead but this blood, and the guilt of ſin is done away,
Either as
1. Imprinted on the perſon to condemnation.
2. Or reflected by the conſcience in accuſation.
1. Sin is done away by this blood as it binds over to wrath and puniſhment: it's a ſpiritual aqua fortis, that eates off the ſouls priſon-ſhakkles.Rom. 8.1. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jeſus. Sin may remain, but it ſhall not condemn; and whence believers have their diſcharges the Apoſtle there ſhews,Ver. 3. Suſcipiendo poenam & non ſuſcipiendo culpam, & culpam delevit & poenam. Aug. God ſent his own Son in the likeneſſe of ſinful fleſh, and for ſin, condemned ſin in the fleſh. If the channel of Chriſts blood runs through thy ſoul, thou haſt ſhot the gulfe as to condemnation; this Scripture brings thee in not guilty, and that's the verdict of a thouſand Juryes.
2. The blood of Chriſt aboliſhes ſin as reflected by the conſcience, in a way of accuſation, as it raiſes tumults, and turmoyls in the ſoul, and Armes a man againſt himſelf. It's a Malignant and miſchievous property of ſin, that it doth not only put the ſoul into hell, but puts hell into the ſoul. Conſcience is to ſin, what the burning-glaſſe is to the ſun-beame, twiſts all together, till it ſcorches, ſmoaks, burns, and flames; but Chriſts blood hath that in it, which is abundantly ſufficient to ſilence and ſtop the mouth of an angry, accuſing conſcience; it's a ſoveraign balſome, to cure that cancer in the breaſt; a mollifying oyntment, and cooling fomentation, for thoſe invenomed, ſin-rankled ulcers that feſter, and bleed inwardly. The blood of ſprinkling speaks better things than that of Abel. Heb. 12.24.Abels blood was very clamorous in Cains conſcience; he carryed an hue and cry within himſelf; conſcience as a blood-hound, hunted him at every turne; and its continual cry and eccho in his ears, was, Vengeance upon the murderer; but the blood of Jeſus hath in it a pleaſant and peaceable voice, and huſhes all unquiet and tumultuary janglings. Applyed by faith, it ſaith to the ſoules rowling billows, that caſt up mire and dirt, what Chriſt once ſaid to the raging Sea, Peace, be ſtill, and there is a great calm.
5. And the laſt enemy, whoſe enmity the blood of Chriſt hath ſlain, is death. Not that death is ſo deſtroyed to believers, that they ſhall not dye; but unſtinged, that it ſhall not wound in the vital parts, or at once kill bodies and ſouls. The Apoſtles triumphant foreign is very remarkable, O death, 1 Cor. 15.55, 57where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. When a Bee hath faſtned its ſting in a mans fleſh, and thereby loſt it, it ever after (they ſay) turnes a drone; death once faſtned its ſting in Chriſt, and hath ever ſince, to them that are in Chriſt, been like a drone, that can humme and affright, but not ſting and hurt them. Death now drives a poor trade amongſt them; it may deſtroy the body, and when it hath play'd that prank, it hath done all its fears; as a fierce Maſtiffe, whoſe teeth are broken out, it can bark, or rend and tear the tatter'd and thred-bare coate, but it cannot bite to the bone. How feeble an enemy is death, ſince it travelled, and took a walk to the top of Mount Calvary?
2. A Believers enemies are not only foyled, but through the blood of Chriſt his perſon is accepted, Eph. 1.6, 7.he hath made us accepted in the beloved; he hath begraced us in Chriſt (that is the proper importance of the phraſe) in whom we have Redemption through his blood. foreign.If thou art ſprinkled with the blood of Chriſt, God will know his own mark upon thee, thy perſon is accepted, and ſervices cannot be unacceptable.
3. If a believer, here is comfort, in that thou mayſt be aſſured that Chriſt is willing to do any thing for thee. He is ready in heaven upon all occaſions to plead this price, and ſollicite thy further affaires; ſhew but Chriſts blood, and I dare warrant the golden Scepter held out. The Apoſtles reaſoning is unanſwerable; He that ſpared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how ſhall he not with him alſo freely give us all things? Rom. 8.32.Saints need never feare putting Chriſt to too much trouble, in any thing they have for him to do; for the ſhedding of his blood (and that he hath already done) hath been more troubleſome and chargeable, than any thing they can ſet him about for the time to come; thou needeſt not fear his denying any thing to thee, who hath thus far denyed himſelf for thee.
4. Here is comfort to a believer, in that his grace ſhall be preſerved; ſuch a ſoul is too coſtly a purchaſe for Chriſt to loſe; he paid ſo dear, that he may be truſted to demand and challenge the making good of his bargain: if true grace could be totally and finally loſt, it might be ſaid, Chriſt payes the price, and the devil gets the prize.Phil. 1.6. He that hath begun a good work in you, will performe it untill the day of Jeſus Christ; And it lies Chriſt in hand ſo to do; otherwiſe he will come off a loſer. Chriſt is the good Shepherd, John 10.11, 28that giveth his life for the Sheep, and gives unto them eternal life, and they ſhall never periſh. Ah how little do they conſult Chriſts honour, or the comfort of ſouls, that tell us, Believers may periſh in ſin, like rotten ſheep in a ditch; if ſo, how then ſhall Chriſt ſave his ſtake, that hath been thus much out of purſe upon them?
5. Here's yet further comfort to a believer, in that by the blood of Chriſt heaven is opened, Heb. 10 19.and we have boldneſſe to enter into the holyest, by the blood of Jeſus. Man had no ſooner ſinned but God ſent an Angel to ſtand Centinel, and keep him from Paradiſe with a flaming ſword; the blood of Chriſt hath opened that paſſage, at once blunting the ſword, and quenching the flame. Chriſt gave up the Ghoſt at the ninth hour, at three in the Afternoon, the time of the evening Sacrifice; and at the very inſtant the Veile of the Temple, that parted the holy place and holy of holyes, was rent aſunder, ſo that the Prieſt who was then Miniſtring in the holy place, had on the ſudden a fair and free proſpect into the holyeſt of all; which excellently typifies, that the death of Chriſt hath removed, and rent away all obſtacles and obſtructions that might interpoſe betwixt believers, and the bleſſedneſſe of glory. The Rivers lead to the Sea, the ſtream of Chriſts blood (if thou beeſt imbarqued by faith) runs directly into the Ocean of endleſſe, boundleſſe, bottomleſſe happineſſe. If thou haſt open'd the door of thine heart to let Chriſt in, the blood of Chriſt hath open'd and unlock'd the door of heaven, and thou canſt not be ſhut out. A crucified Chriſt entertained, will one day make glorified believers; his Humiliation is the ready Roade both to his, and his peoples exaltation.