Christ Crucified, Sermon 20
SERMON XX.
ISAIAH LIII.IV, V.
Verſ. 4. Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our ſorrows: yet we did eſteem him ſtricken, ſmitten of God, and afflicted.
Verſ. 5. But he was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, he was bruiſed for our iniquities: the chaſtiſement of our peace was upon him, and with his ſtripes we are healed.
IF we had the Faith of that which the Prophet ſpeaks here, and the through conviction who it is of whom he ſpeaks, we would be in a holy tranſport of admiration and aſtoniſhment at the hearing of it; That it's he who is the Prince of life, that was bruiſed and wounded, and that theſe bruiſes, wounds and ſtripes are ours, were for us, and the price and ſatisfaction for our iniquities to Divine Juſtice; And yet that even he in the performing of all this, is vilipended and deſpiſed by theſe whoſe good he is thus purſuing and ſeeking after, O! how ſhould it be wondered at?
Theſe words (as we ſhew) hold forth theſe three, 1. The cauſe or end of Chriſts ſuffering Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our ſorrows; which is to remove and take away the ſcandal that might ariſe from Chriſts Humiliation, deſcribed in the foregoing words; He was low indeed but there was no guilt found in his mouth; It was for no quarrel that God had at himſelf, but he undertook our debt, and therefore carried our ſorrows. 2. The aggravation of mens enmity, and deſperat wickedneſs, that yet notwithſtanding of all this, We esteemed him ſmitten of God, and a flicted. 3. We have the Expoſition of the firſt part more clearly ſet down, But he was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, he was bruiſed for our iniquities, &c. Where more fully he expounds what in the beginning of the 4. verſ. he aſſerted.
We expounded the firſt part of the words, and ſhew that theſe griefs and ſorrows held forth the due deſert of ſin, called ours, becauſe they are the due and particular deſert of our ſins, and that which they procured, and that Chriſt's bearing of them, was not only meant of his taking away, or removing from us of ſorrows and griefs, as he did diſeaſes, but of his real undergoing of that which we ſhould have undergone, even ſuch a bearing as made others think him ſmitten and plagued of God, and ſuch as wounded and bruiſed him, even ſuch as made him become a curſe for us, and ſuch as procured healing to us; All which proves that it was a re…l undergoing of ſorrow and grief.
We ſpoke to two Doctrines from this part, 1. That ſin hath ſorrow neceſſarily knit to it, and never wanteth ſorrow following on it. 2. That Chriſt Jeſus undertook theſe ſame ſorrows, and really bare theſe ſame griefs that ſin procured to the Elect, or that by ſin were due to them.
That we may proceed to obſerve ſomewhat more, and for clearer acceſs to the Doctrine, we ſhall ſpeak a word to a Queſtion that may be moved here.
What is meant by theſe words, our, we, and us? He hath born our griefs, the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all, by his ſtripes we are healed? And the rather I would ſpeak to this, becauſe throughout the Chapter we will find theſe Pronouns very frequent. We know in Scripture our and us are ſometimes extended to all mankind, ſo we are all loſt in Adam, and ſin hath a dominion over us all; And that part of the wor…s, verſ. 6. All we like ſheep have gone aſtray, may well be extended to all mankind: Sometimes it is to be reſtrict…d to God's Elect, and ſo all comprehends only ſuch and all ſuch; And in this reſpect our, us, and we, and all, are contradiſtinguiſhed from many others in the World; and take not in all men, as Gal. 4.26. Jeruſalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all; Which is ſpoken in oppoſition to th… bond woman and her children ſpoken of before; So that this our, us, and we, are not to be extended to all individual men in the W…rld, as if Chriſt had ſatisfied the Juſtice of God for all, but it is to be applied to Gods Elect, ſeparat in his purpoſe from others, and in Gods deſign appointed to be redeemed and ſatisfied for by Chriſt; And the words being thus expounded they lead us to this Doctrine, that Jeſus Chriſt in bearing the puniſhment of ſin, had a particular and diſtinct reſpect to ſome definite ſinners; for confirmation of it, we ſhall not go out of the Chap…er, the ſcope whereof we would clear a little; And if we look thorow the Chapter, we will find five grounds to clear theſe words are to be thus reſtricted.
For 1. We are to expound this univerſal with reſpect to Gods purpoſe and Covenant, the contrivance of the Elects Redemption, and to the death of Chriſt, the execution of it, and ſo theſe words our, us, we, all are, and muſt be reſtricted to theſe, and in them we are to find out who they are: Now, who theſe are, we find clear, John 6.37, 39. In the 37. v. where he ſaith, All that the Father hath given me ſhall come unto me, And v. 39. This is the Fathers will which hath ſent me, that of all which he hath given me I ſhould loſe nothing; It's in a word theſe whom the Father hath given to Chriſt, and as many as are given will believe: And certainly theſe that are given to Chriſt to be redeemed by him, are the ſame whoſe iniquities the Father makes to meet on him; And theſe are diſtinguiſhed from theſe not given, John 17.6, 11. And are called his ſheep. Joh. 10.15, and 17. Therefore doth my Father love me, becauſe I lay down my life, to wit, for my ſheep: And all the ſtrain of this Chapter being to ſhew Gods way of contriving and proſecuting the work of Redemption, and Chriſts executing thereof according to the Covenant of Redemption; All this ſpoken of Chriſts ſuffering muſt be expounded according to that ingagement. 2. Whereas it is ſaid, v. 8. For the tranſgreſſions of my people was he stricken; It is certain, this our and us and we for whom Chriſt was ſtricken, muſt be reſtricted to Gods people; That is his peculiar people who are his by electing love, as Chriſt ſaith, Joh. 17.6. Thine they were, and thou gaveſt them to me; They are not his as all the World are his, but are contradiſtinguiſhed from the world as his own peculiar, purpoſed, deſigned people; Sure all the World are not God's People in this ſenſe, therefore they are called his ſheep, and contradiſtinguiſhed from theſe who are not his ſheep, Joh. 10.17. And therefore we are to look on theſe words, our, us, and we, as of equivalent extent with the peculiar people of God; He carried the puniſhment of the ſins of all Gods people that are his peculiar election. 3. So v. 10. When thou ſhalt make his ſoul an offering for ſin, he ſhall ſee his ſeed; Hence we gather this, that theſe whoſe iniquities Ch…iſt bare, are Chriſts Seed, and for theſe he purpoſely laid down his life, as theſe whom he expected ſhould be ſaved for ſatisfying of him for the travel of his ſoul, and for no moe, and theſe cannot certainly be all the World, there being ſuch contradiſtinction betwixt Chriſt Myſtical, or his Seed comprehending the Elect, And the Seed of the Serpent comprehending the Reprobat and Wicked, who are ſaid to be of their father the Devil; Theſe are Chriſts Seed who are ſpiritually begotten of him, and theſe doubtleſs are not all the World, and for theſe only he ſuffered; So that our ſins here, are the ſins of all the Seed. 4. Look to v. 11. where it is ſaid, By his knowledge ſhall my righteous ſervant juſtifie many, for he ſhall bear their iniquities: Where it is clear whoſe ſins they are that Chriſt bears; it's theirs who are juſtified by his knowledge, or by faith in his blood, and juſtification by faith in his blood, and redemption by his blood, are commenſutable, and of equal extent: Now, it being certain as to the event, that not all the World, nor all in the viſible Church, are juſtified by the Faith of Chriſt, it muſt alſo be certain that the ſins of others who are not, nor ſhall not be juſtified, were never purpoſly born by Chriſt: And this ground as all the reſt, will be the more clear, if we conſider that it is given as an Argument why they muſt be juſtified, becauſe he hath born their iniquities. A 5. ground may be gathered from the laſt words of the Chapter, He made interceſſion for the tranſgreſsours; Whence we may reaſon, that Chriſt's interceſſion and his ſatisfaction, are of equal extent, he ſatisfies for no moe then he interceeds for; Now, it was not for all the World, nor indefinitely and by gueſs for all in the viſible Church that Chriſt did interceed, but for them that the Father had given him out of the world, John 17. v. 9. and v. 6. Thine they were, and thou gaveſt them me: And v. 10. All mine are thine, and thine are mine; Chriſts death being the ground of his interceſſion, and it being by vertue of his death that he interceeded, his death and interceſſion muſt be of the ſame extent; He interceeds for ſuch and ſuch ſinners, becauſe he hath payed a price for them, that there may be a good account made of them at the laſt day.
The 1. Uſe of it ſerves to clear a great and precious truth concerning Gods Covenant and diſcriminating love whereby he hath put difference betwixt ſome and others. 2. It ſerves to ſtir them up who are thus differenced, to admire at, and to commend his love, who hath been graciouſly mindful of them when others are paſt by. 3. It ſerves alſo to clear other Scriptures, and this ſame Chapter, and to teach us, not to make common to all, the priviledges beſtowed on ſome peculiar ones; and to guard us againſt the vilifying and prophaning of our Lords ſufferings, as if he had no ſpecial and peculiar deſign in them, or as if they might be fruſtrated in the deſign of them contrary to the promiſes made to him of the Father.
And therefore here to obviat an Objection which is made from the 6 verſ. All we like ſheep have gone aſtray; Whence ſome would infer, that it's all who like ſheep have ſtrayed, whoſe iniquities Chriſt hath born; We ſay, that, that all is not meant to comprehend them whoſe iniquities Chriſt hath born only, but to hold out the extent of ſtraying; or, the meaning is not to ſhew that his ſuffering and ſatisfying of Juſtice, extended to all that ſtrayed; but to ſhew that the Elect for whom he ſuffered had all of them ſtrayed, as well as others; And this is like the reaſoning which the Apoſtle hath, 2 Cor. 5.14. If one died for all, then were all dead; The meaning whereof is not, that Chriſt died for all that were dead, but this is the meaning, that all for whom Chriſt died were once dead: ſo here while it's ſaid, All we like ſheep have gone aſtray; It is to ſhew that the Elect ſtrayed and eſteemed him not as well as others, and had Go…s curſe lying on them as their due, all Chriſt interpoſed and took it off them as well as others. The Point might have alſo Uſe for Confirmation, but we do not follow theſe.
2. Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our ſorrows, that is our griefs and ſorrows who are his Elect, his People, his Seed, who flee to him for refuge, and are juſtified by his knowledge, or by Faith in him, and for whom he maketh interceſſion; H…nce Obſerve, that Believers would endeavour the ſtrengthening of themſelves in the Faith of this, that J…ſus Chriſt hath born their griefs and ſorrows, and hath ſatisfied Juſtice for t…en in particular; they would ſtudy to be in caſe on good ground with the Prophet, to ſay. Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our ſorrows; To make it ſure that they are in the Roll of Elect Believers, and Juſtified Perſons; To ſay with the Apoſtle Paul, Gal. 3.13. He was made a curſe for us; And with the ſame Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 5. ult. to ſay, He was made ſin for us, that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him; And to ſay with the Apoſtle Peter, 1 Pet. 2.24. Who his own ſelf bare our ſins in his own body on the tree; they ſpeak alwayes by way of application; So in theſe places whereby we confirmed the Doctrine, that Chriſt really bare that puniſhment of the ſins of the Elect, are expreſt in an applicatory way; And that no…able place, Gal. 2.20. Where, as if it were not enough to ſay, he loved us, and gave himſelf for us, he draws it nearer and more home, and ſaith, Who loved me, and gave himſelf for me. But that ye may not miſtake the point, my meaning is not, that every body off hand ſhould make application of Chriſts death; O! the preſumption and deſperat ſecurity that deſtroyes thouſands of ſouls here; as if there were no ſuch diſtinction as we held forth in the firſt Doctrine, nor any Barr to be put in the way of that fancied univerſal application of Chriſts dying for all ſinners; whereas we ſhew that it was for his ſheep, and theſe given to him of the Father only, that he died, and for no moe; But this is my meaning, that (as it is, 2 Pet. 1.10.) ye would give diligence to make your calling and election ſure, and …t in an orderly way ye would ſ…cure and ſicker your intereſt in Chriſts death; Not to make this the firſt thing that ye apprehend for the foundation of your Faith, that he died for you in particular, for that were to come to the top of the Stairs, before ye begin to ſet foot on the firſt ſtep; But the orderly way is to make ſure your fleeing to Chriſt in the ſenſe of ſin, and your cloſing with him on his own terms, and your having the characters of his people ingraven on you; And then from ſuch premiſſes ye may draw this concluſion as the reſult thereof, Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our ſorrows: Then ye may be ſatisfiedly confirmed in this, that when Chriſt tranſacted and bargained with the Father about the Elect, when he prayed, and took the Cup of his Fathers wrath and drank it out for them, he minded your names, and was made a curſe in your room: The reaſon is drawn from the advantage of ſuch a Doctrine, as having hanging on it the conſolation of all the promiſes of God; for we can never comforta…ly apply, nor be delighted in the promiſes, till we co…e to make particular application of Chriſts purpoſe and purchaſe in the work of Redemption: This is it that rids Marches, and draws a Line betwixt us and re…robat ungodly men, a…d that keeps from the fear of eternal death that purſues them; And it gives ſome ground of hope to lay hold on, and grip to, as to our enjoying of Chriſts purchaſe: I kn…w there is noth…ng that f…k had more need to be ſober and warry in the ſearch of, and in the ſecuring themſelves in, then this; yet by the ſame command that injoyneth us, to make our Covenant-ſtate, our Calling and El…ction ſure, we are bound to make our Redemption ſure; And having at ſome length ſpoken of the way of making ſure our believing, on the 1. verſ. We may inſiſt the leſs on this, of making ſure our Redemption …y Chriſt.
The 1. Uſe ſerves for Information; To let you know, 1. That there are many proſeſſing Chriſtians, that account this a curious, nice, and conceity thing, to ſtudy to be ſure, and to make it ſure, that Chriſt in his death and ſufferings minded them in particular; Others may be think it impoſſible; And all may think it a right hard and difficult thing, and indeed ſo it is; But yet we would have you to conſider, 1. That ſimply it is not impoſſible, …lſe we ſhould ſay, that the comfort of the people o… God were impoſſible. 2. That it is no curious thing, for the Lord doth not lay the obligation to curioſity on any, though we would wiſh that many had a holy curioſity to know God's mind towards them, that they might not live in the dark about ſuch a concerning buſineſs. 3. That the ſecret of the Lord is with them that fear him, Pſal. 25.14. And even this ſame ſecret concerning Redemption is with them, and he will ſhew them his Covenant: And indeed it were no ſmall matter to have this manifeſted.
And therefore as a 2. Uſe of the point, we would commend to you the ſtudy of making this ſure; for it hath many notable advantages attending it; it would provoke to humility, and to thankfulneſs to him that loved us, and waſhed us from ou… ſins in his own blood; It would make a c…mfortable and chearful Chriſtian li…e; It would warm the heart with love to God, and to Jeſus Chriſt who hath thus loved us as to give himſelf for us: When we commend this to you, it's no uncouth, nice, needleſl… curious, or unattainable thing, nor would we have you when ye cannot attain it, to fit down diſcouraged; neither would we have you take any extraordinary way to come by it; nor waiting for any new light but that which is in the Bible; nor would we have you reſolving to do no other thing till ye attain to this: But this we would have you to do, even to make Faith in Chriſt ſure, by fleeing to him, and caſting your burden on him, by cordial receiving of him, and acquieſcing in him; and then ye make all ſure; The committing of your ſelves to him to be ſaved by his price payed to Divine Juſtice, and reſting on him as he is holden ou… in the Goſpel, is the way to read your intereſt in his R…demption: And this is it that we have Gal. 3. and 2.19. Where it is diſputed at length, that we are Heirs of Abraham by believing, and by the Law (ſaith the Apoſtle) I am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God: I am crucifi…d with Chriſt, nevertheleſs I live, yet not I, but Chriſt lives in me, and the life which I live in the fl ſh is by the Faith of the Son of God: Hence he concludes, Who loved me, and gave himſelf for me; And this he proves in the laſt words, I do not frustrate the grace of God, I do not diſappoint it. I marr it not in its end and deſign; It is (as if he had ſaid) ſeeking a loſt ſinner to ſave, and I give it a loſt ſinner to be ſaved; For though God's Decree be the firſt ſtep to Salvation, and the work of Redemption follows on it, and then believing on both; yet to come to the knowledge of Gods Decree of Election, and of our concern in the Covenant of Redemption, we look downward, and ſeek firſt to know if we have right to make application of that which was thought upon long ſince concerning us, and this we do by reflecting on the way we have come to believing: If we have been convinced and made ſenſible of ſin, and of our loſt condition by nature, if we have not ſmothered that conviction but cheriſhed it; If we have not run to this or that duty for ſatisfying of Divine Juſtice, and for making of our peace ther…by, but were neceſſitate to betake our ſelves to Jeſus Chriſt made offer of in the Goſpel for the ſalvation of ſinners, and if we have cloſed with him as he was offered: And if we have done ſo, we may th…nce conclude that he hath loved us, and given himſelf to ſave us; Becauſe he hath humbled me for ſin (may the ſerious ſoul ſay) and giv…n me this fai…h to believe in him, and this is his promiſe which I reſt upon, that I ſhall be ſaved. Or thou mayeſt try thy intereſt in his Redemption thus; Whether am I one of Gods people or not? Whether do I walk like them? and ſo go thorow the marks and ſigns of holineſs, asking …hy ſelf, What ſinceri…y is there in me? What Mortification? What Humility, Meekneſs, Love to God and his Children? A…d wha… fruits of Faith in new-obedience? Theſe two F ith and Holineſs are the Pillars that bear up the Houſe of Aſſurance; Working and not reſting on it, believ…ng and yet not growing vain and light becauſe of it, but ſo much the rather ſtudying Holineſs; And to go on betwixt and with theſe two, till we come to read God's mind about our Election and Red…mption: For neither Believing nor Holineſs can make any alteration in the bargain of Redemption, yet it will warrand our application of the bargain, …nd clear our intereſt in i…; as the Apoſt e Peter plainly inſinuats when he thus exhorts, Give diligence to make your calling and election ſure; How is that? Will diligence mak… God alter his decree of Election, or make it any ſurer in it ſelf? No, by no means, bu… it will aſſure us of it; For by ſo doing an entrance ſhall be miniſtred unto us abundantly into his everlaſting Kingdom; by giving all diligence to add one grace to another, and one degree of grace to another, there ſhall be a wide door opened to us to go in to Heaven by; And there is no haz…rd in commending this Doct…ine to you all, even the ſtudy of Faith and Holineſs, thereby to come to the knowledge of Gods Secret Council concerning you.
And therefore as a third Uſe of th s point, know that all of you that prejudge y…urſelves of this comfort of your intereſt in Chriſts purchaſe, do bring the blame of it on your ſelves: If any ſhall prophanely object, if God hath purpoſed ſo many ſh…ll get goo… of Chriſts ſufferings, and no moe, what will my Faith and Holineſs do if I be …ot elected? And what can my unbelief and negligence prejudge me if I be elected? We ſhew in the former Uſe, what Faith and Holineſs will do; and we t…ll you here, what your unbelief and negligence will do, and it's this, it will ſeclude you from all the bleſſings of the Covenant, and bring you under the ſentence of condemnation; for as the conditional promiſe looks to the believer and unbeliever; and ſo it is not Chriſt's purchaſe, nor the difference God hath made in his purpoſe of election, that is the cauſe why ye are damned and not juſtified; But ye are damned becauſe ye tranſgreſſed Gods Law and when ſalvation was offered to you through Chriſt, ye would not cloſe with the offer; And ye are not juſtified, bec…uſe ye b…took not your ſelves to him for righteou n…ſs but continued in your ſin, and in ſeeki…g righteouſneſs by the Law: For although this univerſal be not true, That Chriſt died for all men, yet this univerſal is true that they are all juſtified that by faith flee unto Jeſus Chriſt for refuge; Hence theſe two are put together, Joh. 6.37. All that the Father hath given me ſha l come unto me, and him that cometh I will in no wiſe caſt out; For I came down from Heaven not to do my own will, but the Fathers will that ſent me; If it ſhould be asked, what is the Fa…hers will? He anſwers, This is the Fathers will that ſent me, that of all that he hath given me I ſhould loſe nothing; There are (as if he had ſaid) ſome committed to me to be redeemed by me, and I will loſe none of them: And leſt it ſhould yet be objected, but I wot not if I be given to Chriſt to be redeemed by him; He adds, And this is the will of him that ſent me, that every one that ſeeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlaſting life: In which words, we have two wills, to ſay ſo, both having the ſame promiſe and effect, the firſt he relates to the ſecret paction of Redemption, verſ. 39. And the ſecond is his revealed will p…inting at out duty, verſ. 40. And ſo if any ſhould ſay, I know not it I be given to Chriſt, I know not if I be elected; This anſwer is here given, What is that to thee? It's not to be ſearched into at the firſt hand, and broken in upon per ſal…um, and at the broad ſide: That is God's ſecret will, and that which is his revealed will belongs to thee, and that is, to ſee that thou believe, and if thou believeſt, the ſame promiſe that is annexed to believing is annexed to election, and they ſweetly tryſt together, and are of equal extent, to wit, believing and to be given to Chriſt: And therefore let me commend it to you, to hold you content with Gods revealed will; For it is not the ground of your Faith, I mean as to its firſt cloſing with Chriſt, That of all given to Chriſt he ſhall loſe none; But this is the ground of it, That every one that ſeeth the Son, and believeth on him, ſhall have everlaſting life: And we may add this word as one motive amongſt others to Faith and Holineſs, that by your ſtudying of theſe ye may turn over the words of the Prophet here to your ſelves, and ſay, Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our ſorrows; And that of the Apoſtle, Gal. 2. Who loved me, and gave himſelf for me; Alſo, that word of Peter cited before, His own ſelf bare our ſins in his own body on the tree; And O! what conſolation is there?
The 4. Uſe of it is, to commend the practice of this to the Believer that hath indeed fled to Jeſus Chriſt; And to ſhew the great priviledge that they have who are ſuch: The practice of it is, that Believers ſhould ſeek to be eſtabliſhed and confirmed in the particular application of Chriſts death to themſelves; not only to know that he ſuffered for the Elect and for Believers, but for them in particular, that as it is …eb 4.16 They may come with boldneſs to the Throne of God, and confidently aſſert their int…reſt; And as it is, Heb. 6. They may grow up to the full aſſurance of hope unto the end: We ſuppoſe there are many believers that dar not diſclaim the Covenant and their intereſt in Chriſt, who yet are fearful to make this particular application, Jeſus Chriſt hath loved me, and given himſelf for me; But if they could knit the effects with the cauſe from whence they came, they might attain to it; for the man that can ſay I am fled to Chriſt for refuge, he may alſo ſay, t…at he purpoſely laid down his life to pay my debt; And he is warranded of Chriſt to make this application of his particular intention towards him: Upon the other ſide, the more conſolation be in this to Believers, it ſpeaks the greater ground of terrour to unbelievers, becauſe of the prejudice they ſuſtain by the want of this; And as many of you as make not Faith and Holineſs your ſtudy, ye ly out of the reach of this conſolation that flows from Chriſts bearing the griefs and ſorrows of his own; And therefore let the prophane ſen…eſs multitude that know not what it is to die to the Law, or to live to Holineſs, as ye would not commit Sacriledge, ſtand a-back, and not dar to meddle with this redemption, till ye ſtoop and come in at this door of Faith and Holineſs; And let as many as are in this way admit of the conſolation, for it's the Lords allowance upon you; But for others if ye preſume to take hold of it, the Lord will wring it from you, and let you know to your coſt that ye had nothing to do with it.