Christ Crucified, Sermon 24
SERMON XXIV.
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.
IF there were more deep conviction amongſt us of our natural deadneſs in ſin, and of that fearful condition that naturally we ly under by our lyableneſs to the wrath and curſe of God, all Men and Women having by nature Gods curſe, as the ſentence of the Law regiſtrate againſt them; the reading of ſuch a Text wherein a way of remedy is holden forth, would be more welcome to us; and we are perſwaded that ſuch a thorow conviction would not only make the Word more lovely and delightſome to us, but more plain and eaſie to be underſtood by us, and would be ſooner taken up by us; and one Preaching would thus be more profitable and effectual than many are to you while in a ſecure condition; when People are not under the deep and due conviction of their ſin and miſery, they have no ſerious thoughts that the word of the Goſpel concerns them in particular, and that their ſouls ſtand in need of that which is ſpoken to them therein.
Ye may remember we ſpoke ſomewhat from theſe words for clearing the way of making Peace betwixt God and Sinners; and for holding forth the way that God in his infinite wiſdom hath laid down for ſetting of poor ſinners that are lying under his Curſe, free; for this end there was an eternal Tranſaction and Covenant entered into by the Father and the Son, the Father demanding, and the Son accepting, and ſatisfying as Mediator and Sinners-Cautioner what was due to Juſtice for the ſins of the Elect, as was determined in the counſel of God; from which bleſs'd Bargain all our Salvation flows as from the Fountain, and runs down as a river to us.
That which now we are to ſpeak a little to, is ſome profitable Uſes which are the ſcope of all, and tend to lead you in to know the uſe of ſuch Doctrine, and not only to know it, but to engage you to make ſuitable practical improvement of it.
There are ſeveral ſorts of Uſes that flow from this Verſe whence the preceeding Doctrines have been drawen.
The firſt ſort is for Information; which ye who are more ignorant, and have not ſo much light in …ou as to diſcover the way to Heaven, would eſpecially take heed to, though they be uſeful to all. And 1. Ye would know and be informed in this, that all Men and Women without exception are lying under Tranſgreſſions and Iniquities, and lyable to be ſmitten and curſed of God till theſe be taken away; But this having been ſpoke of in the Forenoon, we need nor inſiſt on it now; but the truth is, neither Law nor Goſpel hath gained this much ground on the great part of you as to bring you really to know that naturally ye are dead in ſins and treſpaſſes, and till this be drunk in and digeſted, other Truths cannot to any purpoſe profite you.
2. Ye would know and conſider the neceſſity of a ſatisfaction to the juſtice of God before Sinners can be fred from ſin, and from the curſe and wrath of God that they are under and liable to, by reaſon of their original corruption and actual tranſgreſſions. Do ye think that Jeſus Chriſt did needleſly enter into the Covenant of Redemption, and engage to ſatisfie, and actually and really did ſuffer and ſatisfie Juſtice? If men might come ſo eaſily to He…ven as many ſuppoſe, it had been needleſſe: Wou…d God (think ye) have wounded the Cautioner, his own dear Son, if thoſe who ly under Sin and Wrath might have by another way ſatisfied his Juſtice and reſtored him to his Honour? Nay, E…etheir Peace could be made this b…hoved to be; and yet I muſt doubt if many do think that there is any ſuch diſtance betwixt God and them, which a word of Prayer, or Conf…ſſion, or ſome Pennance cannot remove: This is, alas! the woful Ignorance of many that live under this Goſpel; but ye would know that a Satisfaction behoved to be, and ſuch a Satisfaction as was equivalent to the wrong done, and ſuitable and ſatisfying to him that was wronged by ſin, and that among all the Creatures it could not be found: Yea, ye may read from this the dreadful effects of ſin, and what a horribl… thing it is to have your Tranſgreſſions to count for with God your ſelves: If ſin brought ſuch heavy things on the Cau…ioner, what will it bring on thee a Sinner? who hath continued all his days in tops with God to ſpeak ſo, and would not make p…ce with him when he was earneſtly i…vited to it? Yea we may from this know, what is that moſt horrible, dreadful, and confounding Sentence which is abiding all of you that ſtand it out, and do not make your Peace with God through this Satisfaction of our bleſſed Lord Jeſus, When ye ſhall be made eternally to bear the wrath that Sin deſerves, which yet is intollerable.
3. Ye would hence know, and ſtudy to be clear and diſtinct in your knowledge of this precious Truth, how a Sinner that by nature is under Sin and Wrath, and hath ground every day to look for it, may be freed from that Curſe and Wrath? To prevent which, the Lord hath made a Covenant with the Son who is appointed Mediator for making Peace betwixt God and Sinners by ſatisfying his Juſtice for them, and by paying the ſame Debt that was due by them, ſo that this Wrath is prevented, and their Peace is made by vertue of this Covenant of Redemption; wherein theſe two clauſes are agreed and concluded upon betwixt theſe two infinitely reſponſal Parties 1. That Chriſt ſhall become the Sinner, and be handled as a Sinner, though there was no ſin in him. 2. That the Elect Sinner that by nature was a child of wrath even as well as others, ſhall be fred from the Wrath to come by vertue of his Satisf…ction: Theſe are two Pillars that our Salvation is built upon, and that our Peace and Reconciliation with God flow from; By his wounding and bruiſing we are pardoned, The chaſtiſement of our peace was on him, and by his ſtripes we are healed.
To clear this a little; This Covenant would be conſidered, 1. As it looks to the parties and their ſeveral actions. 2. As it lookes to the Execution thereof in all the ſteps of it.
For the firſt, There are three parties that concur in their own place, 1. God is the Party offended, and he is here bruiſing and wounding the Mediator: He is the Judge, and ſtands ready to execute the Sentence that ſtands in his Law againſt Sinners if he get not an equival…nt Satisfaction. 2. Jeſus Chriſt the Mediator is the Party wounded and bruiſed: the Mediator's part is to ſatisfie …uſtice, to pay the Price and perform the Satisfaction reſolved upon in the Counſel of God, of ſuitable and ſufficient value for the Redemption of the Elect, according to his Engagement; and he is actually wounded and bruiſed: God determined what ſhall ſatisfie, Chriſt Jeſus accepts of the Determination, engages to ſatisfie, and does actually ſatisfie for elect Sinners. A 3d. Party is, We poor Sinners, He was wounded for our Tranſgreſſions &c. It's the elect Sinner, or the Sinner, who being made in due time ſenſible of Sin, and affraid of Wrath, and who being kindly touched with the Apprehenſion of it, and cleared anent the firmneſs and freeneſs of the Covenant, and anent the fulneſs of Chriſt's Satisfaction, doth by Faith flee unto Jeſus Chriſt and ſubmit to his Satisfaction, and betakes himſelf allenatly to that for Righteouſneſs; Chriſt layes down the Price, and the beleeving Sinner pleads for Intereſt in it, and for the Benefit of it, and by Faith gets Title and Right to an Abſolvitor from his Debt and Guilt: If it then be asked what is the thing whereby a Sinner is pardoned and juſtified, reconcealed to God, and delivered from Wrath and healed? I anſwer, It is by Believing in Jeſus Chriſt: If it be again asked, What is the ground or reaſon why the believing Sinner obtains that Favour? I anſwer, Becauſe our Lord Jeſus hath ſufficiently ſatisfied for, and fully payed the debt of, ſo many as are brought to believe on him: If it be 3dly asked, How comes it that Chriſts Satisfaction becomes a Ranſom, and is accepted for ſuch and ſuch a Believer? I anſwer, It is by vertue of the Eternal Covenant of Redemption, or Tranſaction made betwixt the Father and the Son; wherein it was agreed that his ſuffering and ſatisfieing of Juſtice, ſhould be accepted for believing Sinners, as if themſelves had ſatisfied; according to that of Job. 6.39, 40. This is the fathers will that ſent me, that of all that he have given me I ſhould loſe nothing; and this is the will of him that ſent me, that whoſoever ſeeth the Son and believeth on him, may have everlaſting life: So our believing is the firſt immediat ſtep whereby we came to obtain pardon of Sin and Peace with God; Chriſt's Righteouſneſs or Satisfaction, is that whereon our believing ſounds it ſelf; yet ſo as it hath a reſp…ct to the eternal Covenant of Redemption, whence both Chriſt's Satisfaction and our Believing do flow, and without which we could have no Warrand to expect Righteouſneſs through a Mediator; for unleſs we know that Chriſt hath ſatisfied Juſtice for Elect ſinners that ſhall believe on him, we cannot reſt on him for righteouſneſs; And unleſs we have an eye to the Covenant of Redemption, we cannot expect that this ſatisfaction will be accepted for us: And therefore if we will trace theſe ſteps back again, the firſt riſe of our Salvation is in the counſel of God; the proſecution of it is in Chriſts ſatisfaction; And the application of his ſatisfaction, is by our fleeing to it, and accepting of it by Faith: And therefore we would learn in our looking and ſtepping up to Heaven, to look to theſe three in this order, we would firſt begin at Faith, and in believing we would conſider Chriſts ſatisfaction, and from that we would aſcend to the riſe of it, to wit, the Covenant of Redemption, and the terms of it; All which put together, give a very clear ground of expecting righteouſneſs through Jeſus Chriſt: I ſhall illuſtrat it by a Scripture-ſimilitude, wherein I ſhall ſhew you how all the three concur, yet ſo as there is a difference in their concurrence; Ye know that under the Law there were Cities of refuge appointed, which were Types of Jeſus Chriſt, in whom we find a ſhelter; In theſe Cities of refuge, conſider theſe three that concurred for ſaving the perſon that had committed man-ſlaughter: 1. God's determination appointing ſuch a thing, and that the Man-ſlayer being within ſuch a City, ſhould be ſafe from the avenger of blood, and this gave the riſe to the other two that follow. 2. The City it ſelf as a ſhelter or refuge to the Man-ſlayer. 3. The perſons fleeing or running to hide themſelves in it: Now the ſafety of the perſon of the Man-ſlayer did flow from all the three. 1. The Law, appointing ſuch a City, was the ground. 2. The City was the ſhelter. 3. The perſons actual running to the City, gave him a claim and title to the priviledge of the City; For though the former two had been, if he had not fled to the City he had not obtained the benefit of ſafety: Even ſo, the Believer that would be ſaved, is to conſider theſe three, 1. Gods determining ſuch a way of Salvation to Elect Sinners by a Mediator. 2. The Mediator priviledged as the City of Refuge for this end. And 3. The ſinners fleeing to him, which is his believing on him, and his ſeeking and pleading for the benefit of Chriſt's ſatisfaction according to the terms of the Covenant: Now ſuppoſe a perſon to flee to the City of Re…uge, he is preſerved in it, Juſtice cannot follow him further then the Gates, yet ſo, as he hath the benefit by Gods determination and appointment of the City for ſuch an end, and yet ſo as he muſt flee into it ere he can plead for the benefit of the City: So, ſuppoſe a ſinner to be fled to Jeſuſt Chriſt by Faith, he may plead for exemption from wrath, by God's determining and appointing a Mediator for ſuch an end; And the Mediator Jeſus Chriſt hath this priviledge conferr'd on him, that he that thus flees unto him ſhall be ſafe; Yet it is alſo ſuppos'd that ſuch a ſinner hath fled to him, elſe he could not expect ſafety through him, notwithſtanding of Gods determining the Mediator for ſafety: Thus we would have theſe three put together; And yet (as we ſaid) they differ; for Gods determination is the efficient cauſe & fountain of all; Chriſts ſatisfaction is the meri…orious cauſe, and our believing is the ground on which we have right to plead for the benefit of his ſatisfaction; Even as the man that fled to the City of Refuge, his ſafety was not by any vertue in his running, but by God's determination, yet his running to the City was requiſite as the mids, and except he run or fled to it, he could not plead for the benefit of the City; So our believing gives us ground to plead a right and title to Chriſt and his ſatisfaction, without which we could not have that right.
But 2dly, Becauſe one will take up this under one notion, and another under another; To clear it therefore a little further, we ſhall again conſider in this Covenant theſe three ſteps, 1. The determination of it, as it is enacted in the Council of the God-head, which in ſum is this, that ſuch and ſuch perſons ſhall be ſatisfied for by the Mediator, and his ſatisfaction accepted for them. 2. The execution of this Covenant, where we take in all our Lords ſufferings; all the ſtroaks and wounds that Juſtice purſued him with, as Cautioner for the Elect; and God's accepting and juſtifying of him, and declaring his accepting of him, and being well ſatisfied with what he did and ſuffered by his raiſing him from dead. 3. The application of his purchaſe by his accepted ſatisfaction; which conſiſts in theſe, 1. That theſe that were given to Chriſt on this condition that his ſatisfaction ſhould ſtand good for them, ſhould be juſtified and ſaved, that is, that in due time application of his ſatisfaction ſhould be made to the perſons given him to to be ſaved by him; Which takes in Chriſt's making interceſſion, that Renewing-grace, Faith, &c. may be given to ſuch perſons. 2. That the work of the Spirit, who, as the Sanctifier, begets Faith, and perſwads to imbrace Jeſus Chriſt, ſhall be given them- Then 3. follows the Believers actual coming to Chriſt, being ſweetly and powerfully drawn to reſt on him and his ſatisfaction; Whereupon follows the application of the ſentence of Juſtification and Abſolution that reſults from the former; So that whereas it was before, Curſed is he that continues not in all things written in the Law; Now it is, He that believeth on Jeſus Chriſt hath eternal life, and ſhall never come into condemnation; All theſe go and agree well together, the Covenant as the ground, Chriſt's ſatisfaction as the meritorious cauſe, and the application of his ſatisfaction by Faith, which entitles and gives the Believer a right to it.
The reaſon why we have ſo much inſiſted on this, is, that we may teach you to joyn reſpect to the Covenant of Redemption, Chriſt's ſuffering, and your believing together; It will not be Faith that will juſtifie, that is without reſpect to the Covenant; Neither will the Covenant and Chriſt's ſatisfaction juſtifie without Faith; yet ye would ſo put them together, as the glory of Salvation through Grace may not lye on Faith, but on God's everlaſting Love, and on Chriſt's ſatisfaction: And indeed it is no little practick for a Soul ſenſible of ſin, in the exerciſe of Faith, ſo to lay the weight of its Salvation on Chriſt and the Covenant, as it neglects not running to Chriſt by Fait…; and ſo to lay hold on Chriſt by Faith, as it lay not the weight on Faith, but on Chriſt and the Covenant: As in the compariſon before uſed, ſuppoſe a man that had killed another unawares, had been taken before he wan to the City of Refuge, God's determination was not the cauſe of that, but his not running, or his not coming at the City; So it may be that ſome are apprehended by the Juſtice of God, that are leſs ſinful than others; yet the reaſon or c…u…e is not in God's Covenant, nor in C…riſts want of worth, but in the perſons not running, or not fleeing to Chriſt, as to the City of Refuge; and therefore they are not heard to plead for immunity by vertue of that ſatisfaction before the Bar of God.
A 2d. ſort of Uſes are for exhorting and encouraging Sinners to come to Chriſt; There is here then 1. A clear ground to our our Faith, and a plain way opened to Heaven, and a mighty encouragement to perſwade Sinners to lay hold on Chriſt, and to take this way for obtaining of life; This Text opens as it were the gates of the City of Refuge, and points out the way how to eſhew the wrath which is to come: There is a way here laid down in the Wiſdom, Juſtice, Go dneſs and Grace of God, which is made offer of in the Goſpel; and ſince it is ſo, we beſeech you that ye would not receive this Grace in vain, but ſeing there is a Covenant well ordered and ſure, a Mediator and a Ranſom provided, and a way laid down how to come to Chriſt by Faith, let all of you who come under the conviction of Sin and apprehenſion of Wrath, ſtep to and cloſe with him, and plead for Pardon by vertue of his Wounds, and for healing through his Stripes with reſpect to the Covenant.
There are theſe four things here that will ſerve to give ground for this Application, if we conſider 1. The great ground of Faith that is here. 2. The great reaſon we have to make uſe of this ground. 3. The great encouragement we have ſo to do. And 4ly. The great neceſſity we have to make this Application; A little to each of theſe; But we ſhall premit one word to all, and it's this, That conſidering you are all in tryfting terms with God, whether ye live at a diſtance from him, the U…e will by way of Exhortation reach you; or whether ye be brought to greater nearneſs under the ſenſe of Sin, and have ſome ſeriouſneſs in ſeeking after God, it will reach you for Conſolation; In a word, we would exhort all and it may convince ſome, & comfort others: But to the firſt thing we propoſed, We declare and proclaim this as a true and faithful ſaying, that there is here an Everlaſting Covenant, wherein the ſalvation of the Elect is concluded through Chriſts ſatisfaction to Juſtice for them, and a way laid down for making Peace betwixt God and all them that will thorowly renounce their own righteouſn…ſs and lay hold on this Satisfaction, even ſuch a way as procures Juſtificat…on and Healing to them: And for your confirmation conſider in general, if it be poſſible that this Covenant of Redemption, the Sufferings of the Mediator, and the Promiſes made to Believing, can be for nought; did the Father purſue the Cautioner ſo hotly for nothing? or did the Cautioner pay ſuch a Ranſom for nothing? no certainly, if it had not been to communicate Pardon and Peace, with Healing by his Wounds an… Stripes to them who were ly…le to Condemnation, and under the dominion of Sin, neither of theſe would have been: And ther…fore for grounds of your Faith more particularly, ſee here 1. A full Satisfaction, God hath made way to Sinners Peace with himſelf, by ſatisfying himſelf fully in Chriſt the Mediator for the ſins of elect Believers, ſo that a ſinner that in the ſenſe of ſin betakes himſelf to him, needs not to fear any back-accompts, becauſe what ever might make for our Peace, was fully ſaid on him, ſo that we may with holy and humble boldneſs ſay, that we are not come to the mount that might not be touched nor to blackneſs and darkneſs & tempeſt, and the ſound of a trumpet; but we are come unto mount Sion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jeruſalem, and to Jeſus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and to the blood of ſprinkling: Our invitation therefore to you, is not to bid you come and compt for your own Debt your ſelves, but to come and accept of Chriſts payment of it, and of his Satisfaction, whereby Juſtice is compleatly ſatisfied. 2. See here as another ground of Faith, the Juſtice of God, not with reſpect to us, but to the Bargain betwixt the Father and the Son who are the principal Parties, and we (to ſpeak ſo) but Parties accidentally in this Covenant; the Covenant being primarly and mainly betwixt God and the Mediator; the Juſtice of it appears in this, that it hath reſpect to a Covenant which is fulfilled on all ſides, and therefore the Elects believing and taking hold of the Mediators Satisfaction, cannot but be accepted as if he had payed the the Debt himſelf; the Father (to ſpeak ſo) had the carving of the Bargain and what ſatisfaction his Juſtice was to receive, to his own mind; and as it was Juſtice on the Sons ſide to ſatisfie according to his undertaking, ſo it's Juſtice on the Fathers ſide to pardon and be at peace with the Sinner that by Faith flies unto Jeſus Chriſt. 3. See in this Bargain not only Juſtice, but Mercy; as its juſt, ſo its a graciouſly free Bargain; which is wonderful and may ſeem ſomewhat ſtrange if not paradoxal, yet its nothing inconſiſtent with the way of Grace; it's juſt that the Cautioner ſhould pay the Debt; and yet that Debt is moſt freely and frankly pardoned as to us; it's Juſtice in the height as to the Mediator, but free Grace as to us in the height; we come to it freely and without price though it coſt him dear: And that is one of the Mediators Undertakings that it ſhould be free to his Seed, Joh. 6.40. This is the will of him that ſent me, that he who ſeeth the Son and believeth on him ſhould have eternal life. 4. Conſider the reality and ſureneſs of the Bargain, it is ſuch as it cannot fail, having ſuch Pillars to lean on, the Faithfulneſs of God engaged on juſt and equal terms and the glory of God as the end; and having a moſt neceſſary and c…rtain effect, to wit, Healing to all to whom this ſoveraign Medicine is applyed: This ſtability and ſureneſs of the Covenant flows from Gods engaging to the Mediator, and the Mediators engaging to God; from the Mediators ſatisfying and the Fathers accepting of his Satisfaction, which being confirmed by the Blood of the Teſtator, it becomes a Teſtament which cannot be annulled nor altered or changed. And if all this be ſo, let me put the queſtion, is there not good ground here to exhort the Hearers of the Goſpel to believe in Chriſt, and on Believing, to look for Life through him? and a moſt ſolid ground laid down whereupon to build the hopes of Eternal Life? and therefore ſeing this is the up-ſhot of all, that Life is to be gotten freely by Faith in Jeſus Chriſt, improve this way of Salvation for making your Peace under no leſs certification than this, even as ye would eſhew reckoning with Divine Juſtice in your own Perſons for the leaſt Farthing of your Debt.
If it be objected here by any, 1. We are at enmity with God and cannot ſatisfie, I anſwer, This Text tells you that ſatisfaction is not ſought from you, but from the Mediator who hath already given it, and the Father hath accepted it for all ſuch as ſhall by Faith plead the benefit of it. 2. If ye ſhall ſay, we know not how to win at God, we are ſuch as cannot ſtep on foot forward, and ſo very ſinful and miſerable that we know no ſuch Tranſgreſſors and Wretches. I anſwer, Was it not for ſuch that the Mediator tranſacted, even for ſuch as we Tranſgreſſors, Rebels, Deſpiſers of him, and ſuch as judged him to be ſmitten and plagued of God? If he had been Caution only for righteous Folks, there had been ſome reaſon for ſuch an objection, but it is for Sinners, for moſt hainous Sinners: Nay, this way of reaſoning and pleading ſays on the matter, that Chriſt needed not have laid down his life. 3. If it be ſaid, We are ſo ſinful and backſliding, ſo filthy and pollu…ed that we think we are not within the reach of healing: I anſwer, This reaſoning would if it held, turn in effect to this, that ye are not within the reach of Gods Grace and for Chriſts Satisfaction; which is not only injurious but even blaſphemous to the Grace of God and to the Satisfaction of the Mediator; if your ſin be ugly and horrible, he ſuffered horrible Wra…h; he was wounded, bruiſed, chaſtiſed, &c. 4. If it be ſaid further, We can do nothing for our ſelves, we cannot come to Chriſt, we know not what it is to B…lieve, or if we win to do any thing, alace all our Goodneſs is as the morning Cloud and early Dew that ſoon paſſeth away; I anſwer, The Covenant is not tranſacted betwixt God and you, but betwixt God and the Mediator, and the ground of your Peace, as to the procuring cauſe, depends on the Mediators performing his part of the Covenant in your name: And further, as for your Believing, it is a piece of the Fathers engagement to the Mediator, and muſt certainly be made as effectual as the Father muſt keep his word to the Son, according to theſe Promiſes of the Covenant, I will put my law in their hearts, and write it in their minds, they ſhall all know me; and they ſhall be all taught of God; And thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power, and the like; All theſe Promiſes were in the Covenant betwixt the Father and the Son; and the application of them is but their execution as to us; and therefore ſeing ſuch a City of Refuge is caſt open to Man-ſlayers and Tranſgreſſors▪ ſtep humbly and boldly forward and run into it. There is yet a 5th. Objection which will poſſibly be ſticking with ſome, and it is this, we know not whether we ſhall believe or not, for we know not if we be in the Covenant or not: I anſwer, Would ye have thought that he who had committed Man-ſlaughter would have reaſoned well if he had reaſoned thus, I know not if th…t City of Refuge was appointed or built for me, and when the Gates of it were caſt open ſhould ſkar to enter in it on this account? when it was told him that it was appointed for ſuch: Juſt ſo is it here: And ſuppoſe one ſhould ſay, I cannot believe, it is as if ſuch a man ſhould ſay, I cannot, I dow not run to the City; nay rather though he had been feeble, yet he would have creeped, clinſhed and cripled to it as he might: Even ſo here, in a word, a man ſhould not diſpute whoſe name is in the Covenant, but ſhould ſtep forward to the Shelter and Refuge; as it is Heb. 6.18.19. where the Apoſtle borroweth the ſame ſimilitude, and ſays, God hath confirmed his promiſe by an oath, that by two immutable things in which it was impoſſible for God to lie, that we might have ſtrong conſolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope ſet before us: Men in their Natural condition are compared to the Man-ſlayer, lying under the ſtroak of the Law, or under the hazard of being purſued by the Avenger of Blood; Chriſt is compared to the City of Refuge; and the heir of Promiſe being purſued, what ſhall he do? will his election ſimply ſave him? no, but he muſt flee unto Jeſus Chriſt as to his City of Refuge: And therefore, by all means run and flee to him, as having this fear, leaſt the Avenger of Blood purſue and overtake you; and if ye cannot run ſo faſt as ye would, yet run as ye may; and ye have this advantage that the City of Refuge is not far off, it's near you even at your Door, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks Rom: 10. The word is near thee, in thy mouth and in thine heart; the cripleſt Body among you all has Chriſt at your door that ye may enter into him as into a City of Refuge, and that he may come in and ſup with you; ſo that though ye cannot lift your feet ſo quickly in running to him, if ye can but in good earneſt roll your ſelves over upon him, ye ſhall be ſafe: Seing then that this way of Salvation is ſo full, ſo free, ſo equal and effectual, take heed leaſt ye prejudge your ſelves of it.
2ly. To preſs this yet a little further, Conſider what good reaſon ye have to run; Take but this one word, Ye are Sinners lying under the Curſe and Wrath of God, and have ye any other way of obtaining Pardon or of making your Peace? and if ye believe that ye are Sinners and under the Curſe, is there not need that ye ſhould run to a Shelter from it? If we were preaching to Angels that had never ſinned, there might be ſome reaſon for their ſlighting or laying little weight upon ſuch a word of exhortation, but ſeing ye are Sinners, and lyable to Gods Curſe, why do ye ſlight a Saviour, having ſo much need of him?
3dly, Conſider yet further, that ye have encouragement to run, and nothing to diſcourage you; What prejudice is in believing? There is no prejudice at all in this way, but many advantages; Doubtleſs Salvation will not fail them that believe: Yea, we may add from the words of the Text, for encouraging to this that the man or woman that is ſenſible of ſin, and afraid of wrath, hath the Covenant to look to, for begetting and throughing the work of Faith in them with power; for if it be true that all the midſes are in the Covenant, as well as the end; and if we may lay weight on the Covenant for the effect, to wit, the pardon of ſin, and healing, then we may alſo lay hold on the Covenant for furthering us to that effect: I ſpeak not this as if folk could of themſelves act Faith on the Covenant, before Faith be given them; But I ſpeak it to encourage young beginners that think they have no Faith at all, that they may act what they have, and may look more and more to the Covenant, to be inlightened, quickened, and ſtrengthened, and that they may ſay with the poor man in the Goſpel, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief; And with the Spouſe, Cant. 1 Draw me; and We will run after thee.
4. And finally, for preſſing of this, conſider the abſolute neceſſity that ye are under of making uſe of this way of Salvation, of getting your peace made by Chriſts ſatisfaction, and your wounds healed by his ſtripes; There is no mids, but either ye muſt hazard on a reckoning with God on your own ſcore, or accept of his ſatisfaction: There was never a Covenant made by God with Man but two, a Covenant of Works for perfectly righteous folks, by which Covenant no ſinner was ever able to come to life; And a Covenant of Grace wherein Chriſt is made ſin for us, and as many as flee by Faith unto him, are made the righteouſneſs of God through him; and therefore either betake your ſelves to his way, or reſolve on compting with God your ſelves without a Mediator and Surety; or if ye think it a fearful thing to compt thus with God, and if it be certain that many have been condemned for taking the way of Works; Let me earneſtly intreat you to welcome and make more uſe of Chriſts righteouſneſs for obtaining pardon of ſin, and peace with God: This way will do your turn when the other will quite fail you; But as for them who take this way, I will adventure to ſay in his Name, that as certainly as Chriſt was ſmitten, as certainly ſhall pardon and healing come to them; Even to as many as creep in to him, and by believing lay hold on him: And on the other ſide, I ſay in the ſame name to all of you who take not this way of Salvation, that ye ſhall moſt certainly be brought to reckon with God yuur ſelves without a Mediator, and to undergo his curſe according to the tenor of the Covenant of Works: Thus this Text ſets before you life and death; God's bleſſing and God's curſe; Life, and God's bleſſing, if ye betake your ſelves to Chriſt, as to your alone City of Refuge; And death, and God's fearful curſe if ye do it not; God himſelf make you wiſe to make the right choiſe.