Christ Crucified, Sermon 22
SERMON XXII.
ISAIAH LIII.V.
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.
IT's hard to tell whether the Subject of this Verſe, and almoſt of this whole Chapter, be more ſad or more ſweet; It's indeed a ſad Subject to read and hear of the great Sufferings of our bleſſed Lord Jeſus, & of the deſpiteful uſage that he met with, and to ſee ſuch a ſpeat of Malice ſpued and ſpitted out on that glorious face; ſo that when he is bearing our Griefs & carrying our Sorrows, we do even then account him plagued, ſmitten of God, and afflicted, and in a manner look upon it as well beſtowed: Yet it's a moſt ſweet Subject if we either conſider the love it comes from, or the comfortable effects that follow it; that hath been the riſe, the cauſe, and the occaſion of much ſinging to many here below, and is the cauſe and occaſion of ſo much ſinging among the redeemed that are this day before the Throne of God; and as the Grace of God hath overcome the malice of Men, ſo we are perſwaded this cauſe of rejoycing hath a ſweetneſs in it beyond the ſadneſs, though often we mar our own Spiritual Mirth, and know not how to dance when he pipes unto us.
Theſe words are an explication of the 4th. Verſe, where it is aſſerted that Chriſts Sufferings were not for himſelf but for us; from, and by which the Prophet having aggreged Mens malice, who, notwithſtanding thereof eſteemed him not, yea judged ſmitten of God, he comes again for furthering and carrying on of this Scope, to ſhew more particularly the ground, end, and effects of Chriſts Sufferings; where ye would remember what we hinted before in general, that Folks will never think nor conceive of Chriſts Sufferings rightly, till they conceive and take him up as ſuffering for them; and when we conſider this, we think it no wonder that the moſt part eſteem but little of the Sufferings of Chriſt, becauſe there are ſo few that can take him up under this notion, as ſtanding in their room, and paying their debt, and as being put in Priſon for them when they are let go free.
In this 5th. Verſe, We have theſe three, 1. A further expreſſion of Chriſts Sufferings. 2. The cauſe of them, or the end that he had before him in them. 3. The benefites and fruits or effects of them.
There are in the words four expreſſions which I ſhall clear, 1. He was wounded, to ſhew the reality that was in his Sufferings, he was actually pierced, or as the word is rendered in the Margin, tormented, and the cauſe is, our tranſgreſſions; and while it is ſaid, He was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, he means, 1. That our Tranſgreſſions procured his wounding, And 2. That his wounding was to remove them, and to procure pardon to us. 2. He was bruiſed, that is, preſſed as Grapes in a Wine-preſs, he under-went ſuch a wounding as bruiſed him; to ſhew the great deſert of Sin, and the heavineſs of wrath that would have come on us for it, had not he interpoſed; and the cauſe is our iniquities; And theſe two words tranſgreſſions and iniquities, ſhew the exceeding abominableneſs of Sin; Tranſgreſſions or Errings pointing at our common Sins, Iniquities or Rebellions pointing at greater guilt. 3. The chaſtiſement, or as the words bear, the diſcipline of our peace was upon him; It ſuppoſes firſt, That we by nature were at feud with, and enemies to God. Secondly, That before our peace could be procured, there behoved to be a ſatisfaction given to Juſtice, the Mediator behoved to come under diſcipline and chaſtiſement. 4. And by his ſtripes we are healed; he was ſo whipped, that to ſay ſo, the marks of the rod remained behind; the firſt benefite looks to pardon of Sin and Peace with God in the firſt three expreſſions; the ſecond in this laſt expreſſion, looks to our Sanctification and purging from the dominion and pollution of Sin; By Chriſts becoming Sin for us, there is a way made to waſh us from all the guilt of Sin, and from all the foul ſpots and ſtains that were on us by Sin, and he hath thus procured Holineſs to us; we come eaſily by it, but it coſt Chriſt dear, yea very dear.
Theſe very ſad, but moſt ſweet, and Soul-ſolacing words, hold out a ſhort ſum of the ſubſtance and marrow of the Goſpel; and becauſe they do ſo, we ſhall ſpeak of them ſummarily together; and ye would the more ſeriouſly attend, eſpecially ſuch as are more ignorant, that by the reading and opening up of this Verſe ye may be brought and kept in mind of the ſum of the heads of the Goſpel; and to make the matter the more clear, I ſhall endeavour to make the Doctrines drawen from it, as ſo many anſwers to ſix or ſeven queſtions, As 1. What is Mans condition naturally, and what is the condition of all them that get not benefite by Chriſts death? 2. How is Man redeemed and fred from that condition? 3. By whom is he fred, or who makes the Satisfaction? 4. How doth he perform that Satisfaction? 5. What are the benefites that flow from, and come to us by the Satisfaction performed? 6. Who are the Perſons for whom Chriſt hath performed the Satisfaction, and to whom he hath procured theſe Benefites? 7. What is the way how theſe Benefites are transferred or derived to theſe Perſons? And putting theſe ſeven together, we may have a ſhort Catechiſm in one Verſe.
1. Then, What is Mans condition by Nature. 1. He is under Tranſgreſſions. 2. Under Iniquities. 3. At feud with God. And 4ly. Under wounds and moſt loathſome Diſeaſes of a ſinful Nature: In a word, Man by Nature is a Sinner, guilty, greatly guilty, under Gods Wrath and Curſe, and at Feud with God, of a moſt ſinful and abominable nature, even ſick of, and loathſome, becauſe of Sin; The firſt is implyed in this word, He was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, that is, our common Sins; The ſecond is holden out in the next word, He was bruiſed for our iniquities, or Rebellions, which holds out great guilt; The third in that word, The chaſtiſement of our peace was on him, which ſuppons that we were once without Peace with God; The laſt word, By his ſtripes we are healed, ſuppoſeth, that we continue in that condition filthy and polluted, and polluting our ſelves more and more, greedy to drink in Sin, and wounding and ſickning our ſelves by Sin; Now, lay theſe four words together, they clear this truth to our Judgment, and ſerve to point out to us the neceſſity of a Mediator. Again, Conſider them in a ſecond notion, and they tell us, that even the Elect themſelves, are by Nature in the ſame ſinful and rebellious condition wi…h others, at feud with, and under the Curſe of God, and abominably polluted before they be waſhed and healed, as the Apoſtle aſſerts Epheſ. 2. We are by nature children of wrath even as others; and here it is plainly declared, He was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, he was bruiſed for our iniquities, &c. Some are ready to think (as was hinted before) that the Elect by nature were better than others, or that God foreſaw they would be better, and therefore he elected them; This piece of Arminianiſm is in all n…turally; but this Text in down-right contradiction to ſuch a groundleſs conceit, anſwers and aſſerts, that by nature they are even like others, as the Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 11.32. God hath concluded them all under unbelief, that he might have mercy on all; All the Elect, as well as others, are concluded under Sin and Wrath, that the way of obtaining any Spiritual Good, might be by Mercy and Free-Grace alone.
2. How are Folks fred from this ſinful and miſerable condition? Anſwer 1. In general, Before the quarrel can be taken away, and their peace can be made, there muſt be a Satisfaction, which is implyed in theſe words, the chaſtiſement of our peace was on him; which ſuppons the neceſſity of a Satisfaction made or to be made, in reſpect of Gods decree and commination, who ſaid, the day thou ſins, thou ſhalt die, and curſed is every one that continues not in all things written in the law to do them. 2. And more particularly, There muſt be a Satisfaction, becauſe there is 1. The Juſtice of God that hath a claim by a ſtanding law. 2. The Holineſs of God that muſt be vindicate. And 3 The Faithfulneſs of God that muſt cauſe be performed and come to paſs what it hath impledged it ſelf for, as well in reference to the Threatning as to the Promiſe; for theſe words, Hath he ſaid and will he not do it? relate to the one as well as to the other; there is a great miſtake in many while they leap immediatly to Mercy, without minding the neceſſity of a Satisfaction to provoked Juſtice, and on this ground that God is merciful, which if it were an argument good enough, it would ſay, that all, even the Reprobate may get Mercy; but we would conſider the way that God hath laid down for Sinners coming to Mercy, and how that before peace can be made, he will needs have ſatisfaction to his Juſtice.
3. Who maketh the Satisfaction? The Text ſays, it's He and Him; He was wounded for our trangreſſions, the chaſtiſement of our peace was on Him; and who is this He and Him? it's in general the Meſſiah, who was then to come, he who was conceived by the Holy Ghoſt, born of the Virgin Mary, who ſuffered and was crucified, who died and was buried and roſe the third day; even he, who having the nature of God and our nature united in one Perſon. He his own ſelf bare our ſins in his body on the tree, as is ſaid 1 Pet. 2.24. and He who knew no ſin, was made ſin for us, that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him, as it is 2 Cor. 5 ult. even he of whom the Apoſtle hath been ſpeaking here, while he ſays, We as ambaſſadours for Christ, as though God did beſeech you by us, we pray you in Chriſts ſtead be ye reconcealed unto God: And when we ſay it's Chriſt that is mean'd of, we are to underſtand it as well negatively and excluſively, excluding all others, as poſitively including him; when we make him to be the only Saviour, we exclude all that Men can do with their Penance, Prayers, Good-Works, and all that Angels can do, neither Man nor Angel could ſatisfie divine Juſtice, and make our Peace with God, and therefore it's ſaid, Acts 4.12. Neither is there ſalvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we muſt be ſaved, but the name of Jeſus, where it's clear that all others are excluded, as it is Pſal. 40.6. Sacrifice and offering thou wouldeſt not, &c. neither Penance, Performances, nor any other thing will do it, but it's Lo I come in the volum of thy book, its written of me I delight to do thy will O my God. Take this then as another ground of Saving Knowledge, that it is our bleſſed Lord Jeſus that ſatisfies Juſtice, even he who being God, was content to become Man, and is God and Man in one Perſon, He, and he only undertaking the Debt, ſatisfies Juſtice.
4. How does he ſatisfie Juſtice? Anſ. He was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, he was bruiſed for our iniquities, the chaſtiſement of our peace was on him, and by his ſtripes we are healed: In which words, obſerve theſe three things, 1. In Chriſts ſatisfaction for us there is an actual undertaking, he becomes Cautioner and enters himſelf in our room; when all other things are caſten, Angels, Men with their Sacrifices, thouſands of Rams, ten thouſand rivers of Oil, and the fruit of the Body, then our Lord Jeſus comes in and undertakes, Pſal. 40.7. Lo, I come, he ſatisfies for our Tranſgreſſions; which ſuppoſes that Juſtice could not have ſought our Debt of him if he had not undertaken it; therefore Heb. 7.24. He is called the ſurety of a better teſtament, for he comes in our room and place, and undertakes to pay our Debt; even as if a man under Debt were a carrying to Priſon, and another able rich man ſhould undertake to pay the Debt; although the Debt ſhould ly over for a while unpayed, yet the Creditor will get a Decreet on the Cautioner for payment of the Debt when he pleaſes to put at him; ſo Jeſus Chriſt enters Cautioner for our Debt, and becomes lyable to the payment of it. 2. Chriſts performance and payment of the Debt according to his undertaking, implys a Covenant and Tranſaction on which the application is founded, which we ſhew was alſo implyed in the foregoing words, ver. 4. He hath born our griefs and carried our ſorrows: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are the Party wronged by Sin; Jeſus Chriſt conſidered perſonally and as Mediator, is the Party undertaking: The terms are, that he ſhall ſuffer and ſatisfie Juſtice for us, and that we ſhall go free; that his paying ſhall be our freedom, that the Debt which he pays for us ſhall not be exacted off us our ſelves, 2 Cor. 5. ult. He who knew no ſin, was made ſin for us, that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in Him; and here, the chaſtiſement of our peace was on him; it was transferred from us to him, that by his ſtripes we might be healed; by his ſtripes and blanes health was procured and brought to us. 3. Our Lord Jeſus in fulfilling the Bargain and ſatisfying Juſtice, payed a dear price; it was at a very dear rate that he bought our freedom; He was wounded, bruiſed, ſuffered ſtripes and puniſhment: So that ye may take the anſwer to the queſtion in ſum to be this, our Lord Jeſus performed and ſatisfied for all that was due by us, by undertaking our Debt and paying a dear price for Sinners according to the Covenant of Redemption; He came under the Law, and the Law ſtruck at him as Cautioner, and he anſwered the Laws demands, and fully and condiguly ſatisfied the Juſtice of God for us.
As for that Queſtion, Whether Chriſt might not by one drop of his blood have ſatisfied? and ſuch like, we think them very needleſs, too curious, and little or not at all edifying: But if it be aſked, why Chriſt payed ſo much? we anſwer, 1. It behoved Chriſt to pay a condign price, to give a condign ſatisfaction to Juſtice. 2. It was meet that he ſhould pay all that he payed. Firſt, We ſay, it behoved to be a condign ſatisfaction, For, 1. It behoved to be a price equivalent to all that the Elect ſhould have ſuffered, had not he interpoſed. 2. It behoved to be proportionable to the Juſtice of God, for God having laid down ſuch a way of ſhewing Mercy, that his Juſtice ſhould be ſalved, there behoved to be condign ſatisfaction for the vindication of Juſtice; which was done by Chriſts ſuffering to the full undoubtedly; if we conſider, 1. The excellency of the Perſon that ſuffered, God and Man in one Perſon. 2. If we conſider the nature of his Sufferings, that they were exceeding great, heavy, and preſſing. And 3. If withall we conſider the manner of his Sufferings, that it was with much readineſs and chearfulneſs of obedience to the Fathers will: That ſuch and ſo excellent a Perſon ſhould ſuffer, and ſuffer ſo much, and ſuffer in ſuch a way, this ſure makes a condign Satiſfaction, and ſo Juſtice is fully thereby ſatisfied, and made as glorious as if all the Elect had ſuffered eternally; therefore we ſay, that his ſufferings were a condign and proportionable ſatisfaction to Juſtice for them whoſe Debt he payed, by this Juſtice is compleatly and gloriouſly ſatisfied. Secondly, We ſaid that it was meet that he ſhould pay all that he payed, and ſo it is, if we conſider, 1. The excellency of immortal Souls, a little price (as all that Men or Angels could have payed would have been, the fineſt Gold, Silver, and precious Stones) could not have done it, the redemption of the ſoul is precious, and ceaſeth for ever, to wit, amongſt all the Creatures, Pſal. 49.8. 2. The ſeverity of Juſtice on the juſt account of Sin, called for ſuch a price. 3. Gods end, which was to make both his Grace and Juſtice glorious, required, and made it meet that our Lord ſhould ſuffer condignly, and in his Sufferings ſuffer much, even all that he did ſuffer: And in this ye have an anſwer to this queſtion, why Chriſt ſuffered ſo much, as the loſs (to ſpeak ſo) of his declarative glory for a time, outward ſufferings and inward ſufferings even the b…iſi…g and ſqueezing that hi… Soul was under, which made him to ſay, that it was heavy unto death, and exceeding ſorrowful: Let not ſinners then think it a little or a light thing to get a Soul ſaved, the redemption whereof ceaſeth for ever as to us or any Creature: Behold, herein the glory of Grace eminently ſhineth forth, when there is ſuch a price payed for that which in ſome reſpect is of ſo little worth; and alſo the glory of Juſtice, when ſo great a price is demanded and payed down for its ſatiſfaction, by ſo worthy and excellent a Perſon; and let none think little of Sin, the guilt whereof could not be otherwiſe expia…d, the chaſtiſement of our peace behoved to be on him.
5. What are the benefits that come by theſe Sufferings? Anſwer 1. The benefits are ſuch, that if he had not ſuffered for us, we ſhould have ſuffered all that he ſuffered our ſelves. 2. More particularly, we have 1. Peace and Pardon of Sin. 2. Healing by his Sufferings, ſo that if it be aſked, what procured pardon of Sin and peace with God? We anſwer, it's Chriſts Sufferings; Or if it be aſked, what is the cauſe of Gods juſtifying Sinners? We anſwer, it's Chriſts ſatisfaction or ſuffering; and it is (by the way) much to be regrated, that ſuch is the ignorance of ſome, that if a queſtion be proponed in divers words or expreſſions, as if it ſhould be aſked, wherefore are we pardoned? wherefore are we juſtified? which is one and the ſame they know not how to anſwer; but here ye are called to remember, that Chriſts being wounded, and his bearing the chaſtiſement due to you, is the cauſe of your Pardon and Juſtification. 2. Healing looks to Sanctification, as we hinted in the expoſition, ſo that if it be aſked, How comes it to paſs that a Sinner is made holy? we have it here anſwered, that though efficiently it comes by the Spirit; and be his work, yet meritoriouſly it comes by Chriſts ſuff…rings, he bought it, by his ſtripes we are healed? And under theſe two Words peace and healing, we take in all things needful or pertai…ing to Life and Godlin…s; for by pea…e▪ the feud and enmi…y is taken …way, … …e reconciled to God, a Eph. 2.14. … …d to be our peace, and he who ca… … ſpeak peace to all that are afar off and ne… …and; and alſo by peace we under ſtand all … effects of peace, 1. Pardon of Sin, Juſtification, Adoption, Communion with God here and hereafter; Peace with our own Conſcience, and with the Creatures, eter… Peace and Glory, and all theſe good things purchaſed by Chriſts death: For the Hebrews under peace comprehended all good things: And under healing we take in Sanctification (as diſtinguiſhed, though not divided from thoſe other things mentioned) dying to ſin, and living to righteouſneſs, with the ſeveral degrees of their advance and progreſs, and the making of us to be without ſpot and wrinkle, or any ſuch thing; So that folk have much advantage by Chriſts purchaſe, and much prejudice thorow the want of it, By his death we are kept out of Hell, and admitted to peace with God and every thing that is good; We have liberty to pray for all that is good, and are brought in his own way and time to the poſſeſſion of it; It's by the blood of ſprinkling that we have a new and living way made patent to us unto the moſt holy, and holineſs in the way whereof we enter in thither.
6. To whom hath Chriſt procured all theſe good things? The Text ſaith, it's our and we, the chaſtiſement of our peace was on him, and by his ſtripes we are healed, to wit, we Elect. Whence Obſerve, 1. That the benefits of Chriſts purchaſe redounds only to the Elect, there is a certain ſelect number to whom they are applyed, and not to all indifferently; It's only of as many as are healed, whoſe chaſtiſements he hath born; It's only they whom the Father hath given him, to them he gives eternal life, and they ſhall never periſh, John 6.45. They are Effectually Called, Juſtifi…d, and Sanctified. 2. Obſerve That what Chriſt Jeſus hath purchaſed, and the benefits of his purchaſe, redound, and are extended to them that are guilty of hainous ſins; to them that are under tranſgreſſions and iniquities, that are at feud with God, and under many po…tion…, and moſt loathſome ſpiritual Diſeaſes; to them who contemned and deſpiſed Chriſt, and judged him ſmitten, and plagued of God, as is clear from the foregoing words, and to them which have gone ſtraying like loſt ſheep, as is clear from the words following.
This points at theſe two or three things very uſeful, 1. That the Elect are by nature, and before Chriſt do them good, no better than others. 2. It ſhews the freedom of the Grace of God that comes over that, and freely gives pardon, peace, and healing to them: And 3ly. It ſerves to ſtrengthen a Sinners Faith, who is ſenſible of his enmity and ſinfulneſs, and to be a ground of encouragement to him, to ſtep to, and lay hold on Chriſts purchaſe, becauſe it was for ſuch that he died; he may humbly, yet confidently ſay, Chriſt died even for ſuch as me, for them that wounded and pierced him by their tranſgreſſions and iniquities, for them that were at enmity with God, &c. and alace I am ſuch, and will therefore on the call of the Goſpel come to him, and on his own terms endeavour to caſt my ſelf on him.
7. How are theſe benefites, this Juſtification, Pardon of Sin, Peace and Healing, and all that is comprehended under them, derived from Chriſt to the Sinner that by Faith fleeth unto him for refuge? Anſwer, Theſe two generals will clear it. 1. They are derived to us juſtly and in a legal way; Chriſt ſteps in in our room, that we may come in his room. 2. They are derived to us freely, he was wounded and bruiſed that we might go free; he endured ſtripes that we might be healed; he got the buffets and bare the burden, and we get the benefites, there is not a grain weight of it laid on us as it is ſatisfactory to divine Juſtice.
To clear this a little more anent the deriving the benefits of Chriſts purchaſe to us, there muſt be a reſpect had, 1. To the Covenant of Redemption, the ground of his ſuffering for us. 2. To the Covenant of Grace and Reconciliation wherein the offer of theſe Sufferings, and the benefits purchaſed by them to us, and the terms of both is made.
1. I ſay, That reſpect moſt be had to the Covenant of Redemption, wherein it … acted in the Council of the God-head, that the Son of God ſhould become Man, and ſuffer, and condignly ſatisfie divine Juſtice by paying the price due by the Elect; and that that price being laid down, it ſhould be made forthcoming for them for whom he payed it, and be reckoned theirs, and they ſet actually at liberty when having recourſe thereto by Faith; and here there is a legal ground for transferring Chriſts purchaſe to and upon us; the Cautioner ſatiſfying, we the Debtors are on that account abſolved in his own order and method, and have a right to ſeek the application of the price, and the benefits purchaſed by that price; Chriſts ſtands in our room at the bar, and ſentence paſſed on him to pay our Debt; he ſatisfied according to his undertaking for us: And upon the other hand, we are brought in, and the ſentence of Juſtification paſſed on us on that account; He, ſaith the Apoſtle, who knew no ſin, is made ſin for us, that in him we may be accounted righteous, and may be declared free (as we are) by vertue of his ſatisfaction.
But it may be objected here, What, are we then abſolved from the very time of Chriſts death and forward? For anſwer, We would diſtinguiſh betwixt a right to the thing, and a right in the thing (as we uſe to ſpeak;) betwixt jus ad rem and jus in re; the Elect from Chriſts death forward, and before too, have a right to the thing, but not in the thing as to the application of it to themſelves; an elect Perſon by vertue of Chriſts Satisfaction hath a legal right to his purchaſe before Believing, but when he comes to believe, the obſtruction is taken away that hindered his application, and then he hath a new right not only to, but in Chriſts purchaſe; even as a Perſon that is Minor or mad, may have a right to a great poſſeſſion, but by the law he is ſecluded from the uſe of it till he come to majority, and have the uſe of reaſon; and this diſtinction we have as one of the clauſes of the Covenant, John 6.39, 40. where 1. in the 39. Verſe, Chriſt ſays, This is the Fathers will that ſent me, that of all that he hath given me I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up again at the laſt day; It's the Fathers will that Eternal Life be given to as many as are given to Chriſt on his Satisfaction, and Chriſt hath purchaſed it to them by his Satisfaction abſolute as to the event, and therefore they have an acceſſibleneſs to it, a right to it, and cannot but partake of it, yet not ſimply, but in the way that he hath laid down: And therefore 2ly. In the 40. Verſe, he ſaith, This is the will of him that ſent me, that every one that ſeeth the Son and believeth on him, may have eternal life; by believing they come to the application of that to themſelves which they had a legal right to before by Chriſts death.
2. Reſpect muſt be had to the Covenant of Grace, which is not quite an other thing then the Covenant of Redemption, but the making offer of it and the benefits contained in it in the preached Goſpel, when Chriſt ſends out his Ambaſſadours to woo and invite Sinners to Chriſt, and to bring them to the application of his Purchaſe; and it is by cloſing with, and receiving of Chriſts offer that the actual Cure comes, and that by Chriſts ſtripes our ſores are healed: Even as when a Child that was Minor becomes Major, he comes to have a right to poſſeſs the ſame Lands or Sums of Money by the ſame Law that gave him a legal or ſimple right to them before; or he comes to have a right in that, which before he had a right to: So elect Souls that have a right to Chriſts purchaſe before believing, while they are mad in nature, are under the curſe and wrath threatned in the word of God for not believing; but when they come to believe, they come to get an extract from the ſame word of their right in Chriſts purchaſe, becauſe the Word ſays, He that believes, is paſt from death to life, and ſhall not come into condemnation; and ſo the ſame word that did condemn before believing, doth now abſolve upon a Sinners believing; and we come at this abſolution by receiving of Chriſts offer in the Covenant of Grace: And if it be aſked, how comes it that the receiving of Chriſts free offer in the Covevant of Grace, gives a right to Chriſts purchaſe? we anſwer, It is by vertue of the Covenant of Redemption, wherein it is ſo tranſacted betwixt God and the Mediator; ſo that there is the offer of the Covenant received, and the Covenant it ſelf that concur for making over and deriving a compleat Right to wretched Sinners in Chriſts purchaſe.
Let the 1. Uſe of this be for your inſtruction and information, which is the end wherefore we have choſen in this way by this ſhort view to give you in a very ſhort ſum, the marrow of the Goſpel; And if ye remember theſe few Queſtions, ye may be in a capacity not only to anſwer us, but through grace to exerciſe Faith on Chriſt; And we think ye will all readily grant, that theſe who cannot at all anſwer them, ſhould not go to the Communion: And therefore that ye may take them with you, we ſhall ſhortly reſume them. 1. What condition is man in by nature? Anſwer, Under ſin and miſery, and even under the curſe of God; Or thus, every man is a ſinner, and hath a ſinful nature, or, he is under tranſgreſſions and iniquities, is naturally loathſome, wants peace with God, and hath need of healing; Let this in the firſt place ſink in your hearts. 2. How is man freed from this ſinfulneſs and miſery! Anſwer, He cannot be free from it, till there be a condign ſatisfaction made to Divine Juſtice; wounding and bruiſing muſt be to procure pardon, and ſtripes muſt be to procure healing, and chaſtiſement muſt be to bring about our peace; That word, Exod. 34. Who will by no means acquit the guilty, would alwayes be remembred, and Faith would look to a Saviour for ſatisfaction. 3. Who can ſatisfie? Anſwer, Neither Man nor Angel can do it, no penances, no prayers nor performances of any meer creature will do it, but He only that was wounded and bruiſed, He who by Nature is the Son of God, the expreſs Image of the Fathers Perſon, and who in reſpect of His Humane Nature was born of the Virgin Mary, like to us in all things except ſin; It's he that ſatiſfies Juſtice and it's by no other way that we get pardon, and peace with God, and Holineſs. 4. What way doth Chriſt ſatiſfie Juſtice, and make peace betwixt God and ſinners? Anſwer, He entered himſelf in our room, and as Cautioner undertook our debt, ſuffered the condign puniſhmens that was due for our ſins, and payed the price that we ſhould have payed; He in a manner left Heaven and became Man, had a mean life in the World, drank the Cup of his Fathers Wrath, was wounded, bruiſed, chaſtiſed, and died a curſed death, whereof his hanging on the Croſs was but a ſign. 5. What benefites come to us by his ſufferings? Anſwer, Pardon of ſin, Peace with God, and healing; The Conſcience by his blood is ſprinkled from dead works, the perſon abſolved, reconciled to God, made whole, and made at laſt to be without ſpot or wrinkle, or any ſuch thing; And this is not as Papiſts blaſphemouſly ſpeak, a putative effect, but a moſt real one. 6. Who are made partakers of this pardon, peace, and healing? Anſwer, The Elect have right to it, and by believing they make the application, therefore it's ſaid here, our and we; And we may look upon the Prophet ſpeaking in the name of all the Elect, or in name of the believing Elect, who on believing are actually healed; The Elect then are healed, and the way how, is by faith making application of Jeſus Chriſt. 7. How in Juſtice can he be condemned that was free of ſin, and how can we be abſolved that were guilty? Anſwer, He in Juſtice was condemned, becauſe as our Cautioner he came in our room, and undertook to pay our debt; And on the ſame ground we wretched ſinners, may in his way make application of his purchaſe; becauſe it was on theſe terms that he undertook the debt, that we might be ſet free; And it's on theſe terms that it is offered in the Goſpel, that ſeing he hath payed for elect ſinners, they may upon the hearing of the offer, cloſe with it: But how may the ſinner apply it? Anſwer, Not only becauſe it's free, and freely offered, but by gripping to it by Faith, as the Prophet doth here; It's not only to apply it ſimply, but to ſtep in and reſt upon it in the terms it is made offer of, ſo that as on the one part Jeſus Chriſt became really lyable to ſuffering, and ſatisfied for our ſins, when he ſaid, Lo I come, in the volume of thy book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will; So upon the other part, the believing ſinner comes to apply the price payed, by imbracing the price, and acquieſcing in the ſatisfaction, and gripping to it as his own, and by his being brought to ſay in Faith, Let his wounding be my pardon, let his chaſtiſement be my peace, and let his ſtripes be my healing: By this means, as the Law had a right to Chriſt for his paying the Elects debt, ſo they by believing get a right to the promiſe of pardon and healing; For if the bargain was ficker on the one ſide to procure wounding to Chriſt, as if he had been the ſinner himſelf, ſo on the other ſide, the bargain is as ſure; The Believer is ſet free, and may be as really comforted as if he had a righteouſneſs of his own, or had never had ſinned.
Uſe 2. Therefore there is here wonderful matter of conſolation to Believers, that what was Juſtice to Chriſt, is Grace and Mercy to us, that which was pain to him, is pleaſure to us; His ſorrow our comfort, his wounding our pardon, his ſtripes our healing, &c.
Uſe 3. As ye would not prejudge your ſelves of theſe benefites which Chriſt hath purchaſed, make your peace with God through Chriſt; If your pardon and peace be not obtained this way ye will never get it, but ye ſhall be made to pay your own debt, and be lyable to wrath eternally, becauſe of inability to pay your debt to the full: Therefore ſtep to, and make the offer welcome, how ſinful and undone ſoever ye be; The more ſenſible ye be, ye are the more welcome; This is the particular uſe of the Doctrine; O! Let theſe things ſink in your hearts, that ye are ſinners, great ſinners, under wrath, and at feud with God; that Jeſus Chriſt is the Saviour of loſt ſinners, and that there is no way to pardon and peace but by cloſing with him, and ſaying hold on his ſatisfaction; That ye may be drawn to caſt your ſelves over on this everlaſting Covenant for obtaining the benefits that Chriſt hath purchaſed … …d himſelf bleſs what hath been ſp…ken for this end and uſe.