Christ Crucified, Sermon 37
SERMON XXXVII.
ISAIAH LIII.X.
Verſ. 10. When thou ſhalt make his Soul an offering for ſin, He ſhall ſee his ſeed, He ſhall prolong his dayes, And the pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand.
WHat ever the Men of the World think of it, it is not an eaſie matter to get the Juſtice of God Satisfied for Sin, and to get the Wrath and Curſe that Men, by Sin have drawn on themſelves removed; Offerings of Bullocks, and Goats, thouſands of Rams, and ten thouſand Rivers of Oyl, will not do it; the Redemption of the Soul is ſo precious, that it ceaſeth for ever that way, and by all ſuch Means: Therefore the Lord in His wiſdom hath found out the Means, and in His Grace and Love hath Condeſcended, that His own dear Son, His Fellow, ſhall as a Lamb without Spot, be a Sin-offering, to take away the Sins of His Elect World; and this is the great Conſideration under which we ſhould take up the Death of Chriſt, as making Himſelf therein an Off…ring for Sin; and interpoſing Himſelf to ſatisfie Divine Juſtice, that forgiveneſs might be made forthcoming to us.
The Doctrine which we propoſed to be ſpoken to, the laſt day was this, That Jeſus Chriſt is the only Sin-offering, by which Sin can be taken away, and God ſo Satisfied, as to forbear the Puniſhment of the Sinner, and to admit him to Peace, and Friendſhip with Him; If we would Enumerat all things imaginable, and Invent Wayes and Means without number to remove Sin, or to make a Sinners Peace with God; there is no other Means but this, that will do it, As we have it Heb. 10. Chriſt Jeſus by his once offering up of himſelf, perfects for ever theſe who are ſanctified; and Act. 4. There is no other name given under heaven, whereby ſinners can be ſaved, but the name of Jeſus.
The Uſe is, To Commend, and to Demonſtrat to us all, the neceſſity of the Uſe making of this one Offering of Chriſt; if He be the one Offering to take away Sin, and if no other will be accepted; then there is a neceſſity, that He, in His Offering of Himſelf be made uſe of; If all be under Sin, and if by the Law, Sin and Death, be knit inſeperably together (as it is ſaid, the wages of ſin is death) and if Freedom from Sin and Wrath, and Peace with God, be neceſſary; then there is a neceſſity, that Sinners be ſerious in this matter, to get a Title to, and Intereſt in this one Offering, and Sacrifice of Chriſt.
In the proſecuting of the Uſe, we ſhall ſpeak a little to theſe four things. 1. To ſome Grounds. or Reaſons, to ſhew the Neceſſity of Sinners uſe making, of Chriſt's Sacrifice, or Offering. 2. To this, what it is to make uſe of this Offering. 3. We ſhall give a Word of Advertiſement, as to ſome miſtakes that are about it. 4. We ſhall give ſome Differencing Characters, or Evidences, of a Perſon that is making right Uſe of this Offering, for obtaining of Pardon, and for making of this Peace with God.
For the Firſt, That is, the Reaſons to evince the neceſſity of it, The 1. of them is, that which we hinted at juſt now, If Men were not lying under Sin, and obnoxious to Wrath, and if there were any other Sin-offering, or any other Way, or Mean, to eſcape the Curſe and Wrath of God due for Sin; there were no ſuch neceſſity: But ſeing that all Men are under. Sin and under the Curſe of God and His Wrath, becauſe of it, and ſeing there is no other thing that can take away Sin; then there is an abſolute neceſſity, ſeriouſly to make uſe of, and to have an Intereſt in this Sin-offering. 2. Conſider, that the great part of Men in the World, and even of them that hears this Goſpel, do not indeed make uſe of this Offering, though they be ſome way under the Conviction that they are Sinners, and that this is the only Sin offering to take away Sin, and we ſuppoſe, if ye were all put to it, ye could not deny, but ye are Sinners, and that nothing can take away Sin, but Chriſt's Offering up of Himſelf as a Sacrifice to ſatisfie Juſtice; Though ſome be that groſly ignorant, that they will ſpeak of ſome other thing; yet generally theſe that own and maintain the Truth of the Goſpel, are under a Conviction, that no other thing can take away Sin; and yet even amongſt theſe, there are many that never make uſe of Chriſt, and of His Sacrifice to take away their Sins, to remove Wrath, and make their Peace with God: There were many Jews, who by the dayly Sacrifices, which Typed forth this one Offering of Chriſt, were taught, that there was no other way to come by Pardon, and Peace with God, but there uſe making of it; and yet the moſt part of them, in going about theſe Sacrifices, were ſlighters of this one Sacrifice; Therefore the Apoſtle ſayes of them, Rom. …0….…3. That being ignorant of Gods righteouſneſs, they went about to eſtabliſh their own righteouſneſs and did not ſubmit themſelves unto the righteouſneſs of God; It is as certain, that many that hear this Goſpel, and profeſſe Chriſt to be the only Sin-offering; will be diſowned of Him on this account; Therefore, many are brought in, ſaylng, Luk. 13. did we not hear thee preach in our ſtreets, have we not eaten and drunken in thy preſence, to whom He will ſay, depart from me, I never knew you, ye workers of iniquity; Becauſe (as if He had ſaid) what ever ye profeſied ye never made Peace with God, through and by me; and what is the Reaſon, I pray, that ſo many periſh un…er the Goſpel who in Word acknowledge this one Offering, and that it is it only, which takes away Sin, but becauſe that notwithſtanding of that Conviction, and Acknowledgement, they are never brought actua…ly to make uſe of Chriſt, and of this His Sacrifice and Offering; and if ye think, and acknowledge, that there are many that go to Hell. tha have the Knowledge and Conviction of this Truth, ye muſt alſo grant, that it is, becauſe they make not Conſcience to make uſe of it, 3. Conſider, that though there be many of the hearers of the Goſpel, who do not reſt on Chriſt, yet it is very hard to convince any of them that they are ready to ſlight Chriſt's Sacrifice: I am ſure that both the former will be granted. 1. That nothing but Chriſts Sacrifice can Satisfie Juſtice; 2. That many do not reſt on it, and ſo periſh, but if we come to the 3. Sarcely ſhall we find one that will grant (except it be a tender Bodie,) that they make not uſe of Him; they will eaſily be convinced, that Adultery is a Sin, and that they are guilty of it, if they be ſo indeed, that Drunkenneſs, and Sabbathbreaking are Sins; yea, poſſibly, (which is more) that vaging of the Mind in Duties of Worſhip is a Sin, and that they are guilty of it; but it is not ſo eaſie to convince them that they are guilty of the Sin of not making uſe of Chriſt, and of His Sacrifice; nay they are ſo puft up with a good opinion of themſelves, that they will laugh at ſuch a Challenge; And hence it is, that ſo few make uſe of Chriſt's Sacrifice, and of His Righteouſneſſe, becauſe ſo few are convinced, th…t they believe not on Him; Therefore, when the Spirit comes, John 16. It's ſaid, that he ſhall convince the world of ſin; not becauſe they did Whor… Drink S…ar, &c. … Convictio…s for theſe Sins will not be wanting; but becauſe they believe not in Chriſt; And hence it is, Luke 13.25. That theſe will not take Chriſt's firſt anſwer, I know you not; what (as if they ſaid) knows thou not us? we have eaten and drunken in thy preſence, we have profeſſed Faith in thee, and our hope to get Heaven by thy Righteouſneſs; and yet He ſhall anſwer them again peremptorly, depart from me, I know you not, Not that there will be much to do, or any great difficulty to convince folk in that day, or any room left to debate the buſineſſe; but He would tell us by this, that many die in this Deluſion; And if it be a thing that Folks are ſo hardly convinced of, had they not need to be ſeriouſly ſollicitous, that they be not deceived, and diſappointed? 4. Conſider how ſad the diſappointment wil be to Sinners, on day, when they ſhall be brought to acknowledge, that they knew that there was no other Name given whereby Sinners could be ſaved, but the Name of Jeſus, and yet that they ſlighted and rejected Him; ye that never ſeriouſly minded compting and reckoning with God, do ye think on this; and that the paſſing of the Sentence will be upon this ground; to wit, whether ye have fled to Jeſus Chriſt, and made uſe of His Sacrifice, or not? will it not be a ſad diſappointment, to meet with a dolefull depart from me, on this ground; becauſe though there was ſome Conviction, that this was the only Sacrifice, and Sin-offering, that takes away Sin; that yet it was not made uſe of, nor made the ground of your Peace with God?
But to the 2. What is it then to make uſe of this Offering? I know no better way then to explain it from the Typical Sacrifices, that were under the Law; and we may take it up in theſe three. 1. It implyes a through Conviction of Folks lyableleneſſe to the Juſtice of God for Sin, and in an utter inability in our ſelves, and an utter emptineſs, and impotencie in all other Means to ſatisfie for Sin; thus they that brought the Sacrifice to the Prieſt, laid their hands on the head of the Beaſt, by which they acknowledged, that Death was due unto them. So then to have the lively ſenſe of the due deſert of Sin; that is, to have the Sentence of Death carried about in our Boſom, to have the through Conviction of the emptineſſe of all other Means of relief, is requiſit to the right uſe making of Chriſt's Offering. 2. It implyeth this, that there be a look had to the Inſtitution, and Ordinance of God, appointing this Sacrifice to be the Mean of the Redemption of Sinners; Therefore in theſe Sacrifices that were Offered for Sin, there was a reſpect had to Gods Covenant; wherein were not only Promiſes relating to External Cleanſing, and to Admiſſion to Church-priviledges; but Promiſes alſo, relating to inward Cleanſing, and to the Pardon of Sin, which was the great End of theſe Sacrifices; and the looking to the Inſtitution of this Sacrifice, is the Ground that leads us in to take up the end of Chriſts Sufferings, and is a warrand for our Faith, in the uſe making thereof; being the only Sacrifice that expiats Sin, and holds off Wrath; and if theſe two things be not carried along in the uſe making of this Sacrifice, to wit, the Conviction of Sin, and of the lyableneſs to Wrath; and Gods Inſtitution and Appointment of this Sacrifice, to take away Sin, and to avert Wrath, our Uſe making of it is, but Will-worſhip. 3. It implyes this, that when the Sinner is walking under the ſenſe of his Sin, and of the Emptineſſe, and Ineffectualneſſe of all other things, to remove Sin and Wrath, (as David hath it, Pſal. 51.16. Thou deſireſt not ſacrifice, thou delighteſt not in burnt offerings;) There muſt be a looking to the Worth of Chriſt, and of His Sacrifice, that is appointed to take away Sin, and hold off Worth; and the Soul's actuall applying of it ſelf to His Offering, and the applying of His Offering to it Self; as we may ſee, in the 4, 5, 6. and 16. Chapters of Leviticus, where there are ſeveral Sacrifices appointed to be Offered, for ſeveral Sins, and particularly that of the Scape goat; on the head whereof, the Prieſt for the People was to lay his hands: in which was implyed, not only their acknowledgement of Sin; and of their deſerving of Death; and of Gods appointment of that to be a Typical Offering for the Typical taking away of Sin; but theſe two things …urder were implyed. 1. That they did take the Burden of their Sins, which neither they themſelves, nor any other could bear, an… laid it on Chriſt; when Juſtice did put at them for their Debt, (to ſpeak ſo) they drew a Bill on Chriſt, as their Cautioner, to anſwer it; and as they did put the Debt in His hand, to be payed by Him; ſo they Lippened and Truſted the weight of their Souls to Him, and to no other: So that when God was purſuing them for their Debt; ſaying, as it were, I will have Payment of you, or elſe ye muſt Die; they brought the Sacrifice to the Prieſt, to pleaſe God Typically with an Eye to Chriſt Typifyed thereby; Even ſo for Sinners, to make uſe of Chriſt's Sufferings, is in the thorow Conviction of Sin, and of deſerved Wrath; to flie unto Jeſus Chriſt, and to put Him in their Room; being Content and Deſirous, that He be their Cautioner, and undertake for them, and Satisfie for their Debt; yea, puting Him Actually to it, to pay their Debt, So that they have no other Anſwer to any Challenge for Sin, but this the Cautioner that I have betaken my ſelf to, and put in my Room, will pay this Debt, and anſwer for it: The 2. Act of Faith, is, this, when they have betaken themſelves to Him, and to His Sacrifice, they Acqui…ſce in, and Reſt upon it alone, for obtaining of the Sentence of Abſolution; which was alſo implyed in the People, their laying their Hands by the Prieſt, on the Head of the Sacrifice; For as it implyed, their acknowledging that they could not Pleaſe, nor Satisfie Go… of themſelves▪ nor by any other Way or Mean; ſo it Implyed, that according to God's Covenant, they expected His Abſolving of them, becauſe of that Sacrifice; and that, though they were Deſperat by themſelves to Satisfie, yet that they had Faith in God's Covenant, that the Sacrifice they Offered, would Typically Satisfie Him; Even ſo the Believer draws the Concluſion from Chriſt's Sacrifice, according to the Terms of the Covenant, that He hath Abſolution; and reſts on, and acquieſces in it; and this is called Truſting, or Confiding in Chriſt; when not only he caſteth himſelf on Him; but hath Confidence, that the Bill which He hath drawn on him will be Anſwered by Him, which is founded on the Covenant; In which it's ſaid, of all that come unto me, I will put none away; As it is, John 6.37. Him that cometh to me, I will in no wayes caſt out; and Zach. 13. There is a fountain opened in the houſe of David, for ſin, and for uncleanneſs; On which ground, Believers expect the benefit of Waſhing, on their performing of the Condition of the Covenant: And when David, Pſal. 51.7. Prayes, purge me, waſh me, It holds out the Act of Faith, drawing the Bill on Chriſt; And when he ſayes, I ſhall be clean, and white as ſnow: It holds out his Confident Reſting on, and acquieſcing in Chriſt for Cleanſing; And this is the reaſon, why ſome expreſſe …aith, by cleaving to Chriſt; others, by confident resting on him, or by aſſurance; and there may be a Truth in both; becauſe the one looks on Faith, according to the firſt Act of cleaving to Him; And the other takes up Faith according to the other Act, of aſſured reſting on him, or confiding in him, and on, or in His Sacrifice offered up once for all: In a Word, to make Uſe of this once Offering for Sin; is ſo to make Uſe of Him, as to put Him in our Room, and our ſelves ſome way in His Room; N…t to dare to Compt, and Reckon with Juſtice, nay, not to dare as it were, to Compt with Chriſt; but leaving Chriſt in the ſtour (to ſpeak ſo,) and running away from Reckoning with Juſtice; to hide our ſelves under Him, who can count to the utmoſt Farthing; Even as when God commanded Abraham to offer up his Son Iſaac, and and when he was lifting his hand to ſlay him, there came a Voice from Heaven, Abraham hold thy hand, and a Ram is provided, …nd Iſaac is looſed, and taken down from off the Altar, and the Ram is put in his ſtead and place; So there is here a changing of Rooms with Chriſt, according to that ſweeteſt Word, 2 Cor. 5. ult. He was made ſin for us, who knew no ſin, that we who had no Righteouſneſſe, might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him.
3. If it be ſo very difficult, and yet ſo abſolutly neceſſary to make Uſe of Chriſt; and eſpecially in His Offering up of Himſelf, for the Sin of His People; there is ground here for Warning, and Advertiſement, to walk tenderly in this Matter, that this Sacrifice be not flighted, that this One Offering be not Neglected, as we would not have Sin lying at our Door. And here we ſhall point at three ſorts of Perſons, who may be counted ſlighters and neglecters of this Offering. The 1. Sort are theſe, who think to make their Peace with God, without minding the neceſſity of the interveening of any thing betwixt Him and them; and theſe go on ſeverall Grounds, or are of ſeveral Sorts. 1. Some are utterly careleſſe how their Peace be made, or whether it be made or not, they hope for it, and think to come at it, but cannot give an account whether they will come at it or not; and they are careleſs to know the way. 2. Others go upon their preſumption; They think God loves them, becauſe they love themſelves; and though they know they have Sin, yet they think God will not be ſo ill as to Reckon with them; They think they are ſure that God loves them, but they cannot give a ground for it. 3. Others think, God is mercifull, and therefore they conclude, that they will be Pardoned; They cannot conceive God to be like Man in His Mercy; but to be far beyond Him (as indeed He is infinitely, in ſome reſpect) and therefore, becauſe, when Man is mercifull, he ſometime ſeeks no Satisfaction; So neither will God think they; Not conſidering, that though God be merciful, That yet He will not ſhew merciemercy to the prejudice of His Juſtice; but will needs have it Satisfied; Such think on the Matter at leaſt, that they would have gotten mercy, though Chriſt had never died; It is true, if God had not been mercifull, never a Sinner had gotten mercy; yet that is not the ground of His ſhewing mercy; Otherwayes all the World might expect mercy; For He is, and ever was Gracious and mercifull in Himſelf; and therefore there muſt be ſome other Ground and Way for obtaining of Pardon; elſe it cannot be expected, becauſe of the alone Simple, and Abſtract conſideration of His Mercy; And yet many will needs expect it on this Ground, without reſpect to the Mediators Purchaſe. A 2. Sort, are they that take a Legall way for making of their Peace with God; Not, as if they thought to appear before God without Sin, and Holy, as the Covenant of Works requireth; but if they Sin, they will make a mends; and it's either ſomething Negative, that they have not done, or ſomething Poſitive, that they have done; or ſome Internal Qualification, that they reſt upon. 1. Something Negative, they have not been ſo ill as other Folks, and if they go to Hell, they think few will go to Heaven; They have done wrong to none; and if they were about to Die, they think, and it may be ſay, that they will leave a good Name behind them, on the account of their harmleſs Walk; like that Phariſee they can ſay, Lord I thank thee, I am not like other men, nor like this Publican: They are no Drunkards, no Oppreſſors, they neither Curſe nor Swear; and when they ſee any prophane Perſons, they are puft up, with a good Opinion of themſelves, becauſe they are not as prophane as they. Or 2. They will come a furder Length, and poſitively do many Duties upon which they reſt, and whereof they are ready to boaſt, with that ſame Phariſee who vaunted, I faſt twice a week, I give tithes of all I poſſeſſe; If any Dutie be performed, or any good be done by them; their Fingers are ready (to ſay ſo) to ſtick to it: But 3. and eſpecially, if there be any inward Work, as if there be any Liberty, or Motion of the affections in Prayer, if there be at hearing the Word, ſome Convictions ſharper at one time then at another, if there be any ſort of Repentance, Ruing, and Sadneſſe for Sin, &c. Theſe they think will do their turn: It is moſt certain, and might be cleared, both from the Word of God, and from Experience, that many hundreds of Profeſſors Daſh, and Periſh on this Stumbling Block, Iſaiah 48.1.2. Where the Lord is ſpeaking of a People, that made mention of his name, and ſware by him, but not in truth, nor in righteouſneſs; of whom He ſayes, that they call and count themſelves of the holy citie, and ſtay themſelves upon the God of Iſrael; and the Ground of it is, their reſting on external Duties of Faſting and Prayer, and the like: expectations of Happineſs, grounded on ſome feckleſs performances, cut the Throats of many Civil and Diſcreet Men, that are not groſly prophane. A 3d. Sort, do not altogether ſlight and neglect Chriſt Himſelf, but they ſlight and neglect His Offering; as if they would in a manner make uſe of Himſelf, but not of His Sacrifice, as Matth. 19. and Mark 10. There is a Man ſpoken of, that comes to Chriſt, would fain be at Heaven; and aſkes good maſter, what ſhall I do, that I may inherit eternal life; and yet he was going on the Grounds of his own Righteouſneſſe; this is exceeding ſubtile and deceitfull; And therefore ye would take the better Notice of it; and how it is fallen into: A man may come to Chriſt, as God for Pardon of Sin; (and ſome think though moſt Ignorantly, and Erroniouſly, that Chriſt the Son is more compaſſionat, and ready to Pardon then the Father) and may ſeek Pardon from Him; but not for His ſake, or on His account; for there is a difference betwixt making Chriſt the object of our Worſhip; and making uſe of Him as Mediator; There are many that have prayed to Chriſt as God, and ſought Pardon of Sin from Him; who never prayed to obtain Pardon, by vertue of His Offering; Folk may alſo deſire help from Chriſt, to inable them to do Duties, that they may thereby work out the work of their own Salvation; and be helped this way to make their peace with God; who do not ground the making of their Peace with God on His Offering alone; Theſe things are exceeding frequent in Peoples Practice; who will pray to Chriſt for ſuch and ſuch things, and yet not found their expectation of them upon His Offering, or His Righteouſneſs; If we would make uſe Chriſt's Offering, Singly and Rightly we would eſchew theſe, and all other wrong wayes.
4. It may be aſked then, what are the Evidences, that may give a Perſon ſome clearneſs, that he is making uſe of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs aright, and that it is not his own Righteouſneſſe; nor the making uſe of Chriſt only as He is God; that ſuſtains him, I anſwer, that this is indeed a Miſtery; and will require ſearching, and watching to obſerve our own Condition; And moe things concurre then one or two, to make a full diſcovery of it; In ſpeaking to this, as we deſire to ſtrengthen the preſumption of none; So we ſhall labour to ſhun the weakning of the Faith of any Sound Believer. There are then theſe Six or Seven Differencing Evidences, or Characters of a Perſon, that is rightly making uſe of Chriſt's Offering; which Difference Him from others; And 1. one that truely makes uſe of Chriſt's Offering hath not only been brought to ſee his need of It; but his Natural Propenſion, and Readineſſe to miſken it, and reſt upon other things beſide it, for the making of his Peace; Whereas another Man, who does not rightly make uſe of it, though he may ſee his Sin, and ſo his need of it; yet he ſees not, neither will take with the Tendencie, Propenſneſs and Inclination of his Heart, to reſt upon ſome other thing beſide it; See this difference in Paul, before and after Converſion, Phil. 3. Before he was Converted, he ſtudied, as he thought all the Righteouſneſſe of the Law; and no doubt offered Sacrifices which implyed the acknowledgement of Sin; and he thought that all was well with him; Therefore he ſayes, touching the righteouſneſſe of the Law, he was blameleſſe; and verſe 6. Theſe things that were gain to me; Or theſe things that I placed my Righteouſneſſe in; I thought the moe Sacrifices that I offered, I had the more to buy my Peace by; He ſees, that in his ſtudying of Holineſſe, he was ſeeking to make a Stock in himſelf: But after his Converſion, he caſts all theſe, as to leaning to them, or making them any ground of his Peace with God, or of his Juſtification before Him; he betakes himſelf only to Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, and counts them to be but loſs; I would think it a good evidence for folks, not only to ſee the looſneſſe of th…ir Hearts in Dutie, and that to be a Sin; but to ſee when ought went well with them, the inclination of their hearts ready to account that to be Gain, and to reſt upon it: There is ſuch an Humour and Natural Inclination in all; and it is a good Token, when it is diſcovered, and becomes a Binder, and the ground of a Challenge; not only that they have ſinned, in this and that, and the other Duty; but that they have gone a whoring after their feckleſſe performances, to the prejudice of their eſteem of Chriſt, and of His Righteouſneſs; Before the law came, (ſaith Paul) Rom. 7. I was alive, I thought, I had a Stock to do my own turn; but when the commandment came, ſin revived, and I died. There are many that will be convinced of Sin in their performances; that will not be convinced of this ſinfull Inclination, to put theſe in Chriſt's Room; A 2d, Difference, or Evidence is this; One that aims to make uſe of Chriſt's Offering and Righteouſneſs; not only their Sins will be an exerciſe to them; how to win over them to Chriſt, but it will be their exerciſe alſo, how to win over their Graces, and Duties to Him; It will be an exerciſe to them, not only to have ſuch a Sin in their Dutie taken away; but how to win over the Dutie it ſelf, that they ſtumble not on it, to the prejudice of their truſting to Chriſt; whereas another Man, when his Duties go well with him, it is eaſie to him to win over them as he thinks, becauſe he reſts ſatisfied with them. Paul, Phil. 3. Sees not only while he was in Nature, that he counted ſomething Gai… beſide Chriſt, but after Converſion, he finds an Inclination to it; and therefore in oppoſition to this Inclination, he doth with a doubtleſs cry down all things, and counts them but Dung and Loſs, for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Chriſt; Taking in his Gracious Actions as well as others; For the Words in the Text, and Context tell us, that he is ſpeaking of Duties performed by him even after Converſion, and that he found, a neceſſity to caſt away the Good as well as the Bad; in the point of Juſtification; as a Man that is in a ſtorm at Sea, hath a greater reluctancy to caſt over Board Silks, Satines, Velvets, and other ſuch fine things then that which is more baſe, and of leſs worth; So he found it more difficult, and was put to ſome harder exerciſe, to be quite of his Duties, that they ſhould not ſtick to him, then to be rid of his Sins; is there any ſuch exerciſe as this amongſt Folks? to be put to wreſtling with their Duties; not as being angry at them as ſuch; but how to get them as it were caſt over Board; to be Jealous of any good in them, or done by them; That it prejudge not their eſteem of Chriſt; To be buſſie in well doing all the Day, and in the evening to count all their doing but Loſs; And to renunce it utterly, as to any puffing up by it, or as to the making of their peace with God thereby; A 3d Evidence is this, One that is Single in making uſe of Chriſt's Sacrifice, will be exerciſed and diſquieted, when his Duty is done, till there be for acceptance, a Staying and Reſting on Chriſts Righteouſneſſe: There are two ſorts that utterly fail, and fall ſhort here. 1. Some that are content with Sin, and make lies their refuge. 2. Others that are ſatisfied with Dutie, if it go well with them, and promiſe themſelves acceptance on that alone Account neglecting Chriſt; but the Believer hath (as I juſt now ſaid) on exerciſe of Faith, how to be quite of Sin; and another new exerciſe of it, how to be fred from reſting on Duty; and how to be ſingly ingadged unto, and to reſt upon Chriſt: is mind is not quiet in all his Duties, till he come hither, even to be found in Chriſt, not having his own R…ghteouſneſſe, but His; It's a good token, when Folks are not only exerciſed to have Sin Mortified, and Duties going with them, but alſo to have their Peace with God grounded on Chriſt, and not on Dutie; Hence it is, that a Chriſtian will ſometimes be taken up a whole day in Dutie, and yet have but little, or no Peace, becauſe he would be over, and through all Duties to reſting on Chriſt, which he wins not at to his Satisfaction. 4ly. One that is ſingle in uſe making of Chriſt, and of His Offering, hath a fear of miſtaking this Offering of Chriſt; and that ſome other thing be put in His Room, and He miſkent, or neglected: There will not be only a fear, leaſt he Sin, and come ſhort in the ſuitable performance of ſuch a Duty; and leaſt he fall under Wrath but alſo Fear and Jealouſie, leaſt in his Unbelief, and Selfyneſs, he going wrong in the uſe making of Chriſt, and of His Sacrifice; as is implyed in the Word, Heb. 4.1. Where the Apoſtle having ſpoken of many of the Iſraelites their Unbelief in the former Chapter, ſayes, in the beginning of this; Let us therefore fear, leaſt a promiſe being left us of entring into his reſt, any of us ſhould ſeem to come ſhort of it, to wit, through Unbelief; Be Holily Jealous (as if he had ſaid) least, as it is Chap. 3.12, 13. There be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God; In a word, he will be ſuſpecting the exerciſe of his Faith, as much as any thing; a Naturall Man will ſometimes it may be, ſuſpect his Duties, but hardly will he be brought to ſuſpect his Faith, otherwayes he could not have the peace that he hath, ſuch as it is: This may alſo be Confirmed, from that poor mans prayer to Chriſt, Mark 9. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. He dare not well truſt his own Faith. 5ly. They that are ſingle in their uſe making of Chriſt's Offering, not only ſee themſelves Sinners, but they carrie along with them the diſcovery of the naughtineſſe of every thing that is beſt in them; when they ſee that to which others lippen to ſo much, ſo very unſuitable, and that they are far ſhort of that which they ſhould be at; they dare not own, nor look on it to boaſt of it; but it's a burden to them, to ſee ſo much Sin in it; It's nothing to ſee Sin in ſome outward Actions, and in that which is directly contrary to Gods Law; but it's much to ſee Sin in our beſt things, as in our Faith in God; in our Love to Him; and in our ends in Holy Duties; A Legal Man will confeſs it may be readily, that he Sins in every thing; but he covers all with this, that he hath a good heart to God, or a good end: The Believer on the contrary, ſees all his good ſo naughty, that it is taſteleſs to him; He never gets any thing to reſt on, or that can bear his weight to confide in, till he come to Chriſt's Sacrifie:
6ly. Such as are aiming rightly to make uſe of Chriſt's Offering and Sacrifice, eſteem, and think exceeding much of it; Therefore they adventure Heaven, and their Eternal Salvation on it; It's that which cheers and delights them moſt, that Chriſt hath ſtepped in and ingadged to do that for them, which neither themſelves nor any other Perſon or thing could do; The life (ſaith the Apoſtle, Gal. 2.) that I now live in the fleſh, is by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himſelf for me. And 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came to the world to ſave ſinners, of whom I am the chief. And John heartſomlie, Rev. 1.7. To him that loved us, and waſhed us from our ſins in his own blood, &c. But they that endeavour not, neither aim rightly to make uſe of Chriſts Sacrifice, think little or nothing of it; They are not made glad, nor are their hearts lifted up with Spiritual Joy, becauſe of it: The good and glad news of a ſlain Saviour, are not the chief ground of their Conſolation, as they are to the Believer: This evidence is ſomewhat general, yet ſure as well as the former. O! but it's matter of much wonder, to the Believer, when he thinks how that when the Stroak of Juſtice was ready to come on him; Chriſt ſhould have interpoſed betwixt him and that Fatal, and Deadly Blow; But others eſteem not of it, and therefore cannot make uſe of it. 7ly. They that are rightly making uſe of Chriſt's Sacrifice, find it to be a difficult thing, and that which will coſt them wraſtling to get it made uſe of aright: they breath after it, and yet win not to that which they would be at in it; O! as David cryes, Pſal. 51. purge me with hyſop, and I ſhall be clean, waſh me, and I ſhall be white as ſnow. They know not well what way to make uſe of it to their Satisfaction, they would make ſo much uſe of it; or how to vent and exerciſe their Faith on it; and when it comes to Actual Believing, and to the Acting of their Faith, they find it to be like a ſmooth and ſlippery Stone, that they cannot eaſily hold their Feet on. So Paul ſayes, Phil. 3. I count all things but dung, that I may win Christ and that I may be found in him: He cared not what he caſt over board, that he might win to that Land, even to Chriſt and His Righteouſneſs: Like Sea men in great hazard, who caſt all over board, to win the Shoar; It's even ſo with the Believer, He ſees that there is ſuch hazard to go wrong, and that It's ſo difficult to be right, even to make the heart ſubmit to the way of Faith, and to abide by it Singly, that he is content to ſuffer the loſs of all things, if he may be right here: But on the contrary, a Man that reſts on his own Righteouſneſſe, be a difficultie what will to him, Faith is no difficulty to him: He may have fear to come ſhort of Heaven ſometimes; but he thinks that he is alwayes exerciſing his Faith: In a word, the Believer ordinarly believes beſt, when he hath the deepeſt, and moſt kindly impreſſion of his Sin, as for the Legall Man, he can believe well, as he thinks, when he hath no challenge for Sin; but when he is challenged for Sin, his Faith faills him. Now from all that hath been ſaid, ye may ſee the neceſſity of making uſe of this Sacrifice: And how warrily, and cautiouſly it ſhould be done; that ye may ſteer a ſtraight Courſe between groſs Prophanity, and Preſumption, either of which will ruine and deſtroy the Soul: The Lord Jeſus Himſelf be your Steers-man, and Pilot, that ye by His Skilfull Conduct may Stemme the Port, and hold off theſe Rocks, on which thouſands of Souls Split, and make Ship-wrack.