Christ Crucified, Sermon 40
SERMON XL.
ISAIAH LIII.X.
Verſe 10. He ſhall ſee his ſeed, he ſhall prolong his dayes, and the pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand.
IT may be thought, and that very juſtly, that there muſt be ſome great and glorious Deſign driven in the contryvance of the Work of Redemption; That was executed by ſuch a Mean, as is the Suffering of the Son of God; And that there muſt be ſome Noble and Notable thing following on it, that moved the Father to ſend his Son, and the Son to come for this Work. This part of the Text anſwers, and tells us, what is the Deſign, He ſhall ſee his ſeed, he ſhall prolong his dayes, &c. He ſhall communicat Life to many that were Dead, and ſhall beget a Generation, that ſhall have Life deryved from Him, as a Seed have from their Parents: And ſo this is a third Anſwer, for removing of that ſtumbling Objection, propoſed in the beginning of the Verſe; to wit, How it came to paſſe, that the Innocent Son of God, who had done no violence, and who had no guile in his mouth, was put to ſuch Sufferings? We ſhew that there were three Grounds laid down, in Anſwer to this. 1. It pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him, It was the Fathers good pleaſure. The 2d. is, from the Nature of His Sufferings, which were to be a Sin-offering, or an Offering for Sin, not for His own, but for the Sins of the Elect. The 3d. Is, That His Sufferings ſhould have notable Fruits, and Effects following them, ſet down in Three Expreſſions; which are partly Propheſies; telling, what ſhould be the Effects of the Sufferings of the Mediator; partly Promiſes made to the Mediator; telling what ſhould be His Reward and Hyre (to ſpeak ſo) for His Sufferings. 1. He ſhall ſee his ſeed; that is, many ſhall get good of His Sufferings; 2. He ſhall prolong his dayes, That is, He ſhall outlive theſe His Troubles and Sufferings, and ſhall have a glorious Out-gate, and Reign. 3. The pleaſure of the Lord ſhal proſper in his hand. That is, The Work that was given Him to do, and to finiſh ſhall thrive well; and no part of it ſhall faill, or miſcarry. In the Firſt Promiſe made to Him, or in the firſt Effect that ſhould follow on His Sufferings, in theſe Words, He ſhall ſee his ſeed; We have theſe Three. 1. A Relation implyed betwixt Chriſt and Believers; They are His ſeed; ſuch as in the next verſe, are ſaid to be juſtifiea by Him; It is in ſhort, many ſhall get Pardon of Sin, and Juſtification by His Death; In this reſpect, it's ſaid, Pſal. 45. penult verſe, In ſtead of thy fathers, ſhall be thy children, whom thou mayeſt make princes in all the earth. 2. A Propheſie, and foretelling of the event, that ſhould follow Chriſt's Sufferings, and ſo it holds out this; That our Lord Jeſus ſhould not only have a Seed, but a numerous Seed, that ſhould be made ſure to Him, And it ſeems to be in alluſion to that which is ſpoken of Abraham, and of others in the Old Teſtament, of whom it's ſaid, that they ſhould have Seed; That is, that many ſhould deſcend of them; But there is more here; For, whereas others, while they are Living, or in their Life-time beget a Seed, which begetting, is interrupted by Death; The Death of our Lord Jeſus begets His Seed, or His Seed are begotten by His Death. 3. Conſidering the Words as a Promiſe, they hold out this, That though our Lord Jeſus Suffer, and Die, yet He ſha l not only have a Seed, but He ſhall ſee His Seed. He ſhall outlive His Sufferings, and Death; And ſhall be delighted In ſeeing of them, who ſhall get the good of His Sufferings; As it's ſaid of Job, that he ſaw his children, or ſ…ed of the third and fourth generation; That is, he lived long, and ſaw m…ny that came of him; even ſo though our Lord came to Death, and to the G ave; yet He ſhould not only have a numerous Seed, many Children, but He ſhould live, and ſee them; and that not only for three, or four, or for ten Generations; But for very many Generations: And His dying, ſhould neither mar His begetting, nor the ſeeing of them: And this ſeeing of his Seed, is oppoſed to ſuch Parents as are Dead; and who, though their Children, and Poſterity be in want, yet they know it not. From the Firſt of theſe, Obſerve, That Believers are our Lord Jeſus His Seed; they are come of Him; whatever their Meanneſſe and Lowneſſe be, in the World; and though they could not clame Kindred to any of externally honeſt Rank and Quality; yet they are His Seed: To this purpoſe, the Apoſtle beſpeaks the believing Corinthians, 1 Cor. 1.27, 28. Ye ſee your calling brethren, how that not many mighty, not many wiſe men, after the fleſh, not many noble are called; but God hath choſen the fooliſh things of this world, to confound the wiſe, &c. that no fleſh ſhould glorie in his preſence: Though ye be not of any high Rank or Quality in the World; yet of him are ye in Chriſt Jeſus▪ who of God is made to us, wiſdom, righteouſneſs, ſanctification and redemption: In this reſpect Chriſt is called the everlaſting father, Iſa: 9.6. For He is the Father of all Believers; that ever had, or ſhall have Life; who are, Pſal. 45. penult verſe caled, His Children.
To clear this a little, ye ſhall take it in theſe Four or Five reſpects, or Conſiderations, in which believers are ſaid to be Chriſts Seed, or be deſcended of Him. 1. In this reſpect, that as Believers they have their being of Him, as Children deſcended from off their Parents, as to their Natural being; So Believers, as they have a Spirituall Being, deſcend from Him; and hold their Being of Him; without whom they had never been Believers: And in this reſpect they are His Seed. 1. Becauſe He Meritoriouſly Purchaſed Life to them; which is the thing here mainly underſtood; as following immediatly an the back of His Sufferings. 2. Becauſe they have Life from Him efficiently, as He works it in them, and by the Goſpel begets them; Therefore He is ſaid 1. Tim. 1.10. To have brought life and immortality to light, through the goſpel, which was not known in many parts of the World, till Chriſt brought it forth; In this reſpect, Believers are Chriſt's Seed; we are not born Believers of our Parents, nor have the Faith which we have, of the Ordinances, nor of Miniſters, as efficient Cauſes thereof; But it is from our Lord Jeſus, who is Believers Father, Thus Believers have an Affinity, and near Relation to Chriſt, even to be His Children: And any that would lay claim to Faith, or Spiritual Life, would ſee well, that it be this way kindly, and (as we uſe to ſay) leill come, from Jeſus Chriſt, and that they be in His Debt, and Common for it. 2ly, They are His Seed, in reſpect of the likeneſs that is betwixt Him and them, or in reſpect of the Qualifications that are in them; as they are ſaid, 2 Pet. 1.4. By the exceeding great and precious promiſes, to be made partakers of the divine nature; They have of the ſame Spirit, for the kind that He, as Mediator, hath in Him; And it's in this reſpect, that Cant. 7.1. The Believer is called the Princeſs daughter, which eſpecially looks to the Spiritual Generous, and Noble Qualifications, that are deryved from Chriſt, to the Believer; Hence, Believers are ſaid to have the Spirit of Sons, when all others, though they be the greateſt in the World; have but the Spirit of Servants, and their Generoſity, is nothing to that of Believers; who are made partakers of the divine nature; We have not, ſayes the Apoſtle, received the ſpirit of fear, but of faith and love, and of a ſound mind; Ah! there are many that claime Kindred and Relation to Chriſt, that are very unlike Him. 3ly. They are called Chriſt's Seed, in reſpect of the care that He hath of them. Never Mother was more tender of the Sucking Child, then He is of His Believing Children; Therefore, ſayeth the Lord, Iſa. 49.15. A mother may forget her ſucking child; but I will not forget thee: Hence, is that Phraſe, even as to viſible Profeſſors in the Church, who refuſe to liſten to the call of the Goſpel; which is much more eminently verified in Believers; Matth. 23. How often would I have gathered thee as a hen doth her chickens under her wings? So tender and reſpective is He to His Children; as the Mother is, tender to the Sucking Child, or as the Hen is of her newly hatched, and young Chickens; for they are, in ſome reſpect, come out of His own Bowels; His Blood was ſhed to Purchaſe them; So it is ſaid, Iſa. 40.11. He gathered the lambs with his arm, he carries them in his boſome, And gently leads thoſe that are with young. And, O! what Maſſie Conſolation have ſuch Words as theſe, in them; And what confidence may Believing Sinners have to come to this Mediator; That is a Mother, a Father, a Brother, and a Parent, that hath begotten us out of His own Bowels; and in ſome reſpect, (as we are Believers) hath as a Mother conceived us in His own Womb. 4ly. They are called His Seed, in reſpect of the Portion which they get from Him; The Apoſtle ſayes, that Parents provide for their Children; It's indeed eminently ſo here, Believers come under His Care, overſight, and Tutory; And as a Man provides for His Houſhold, His Children, and Servants Meat in due ſeaſon (And the Apoſtle ſayes, he is worſe then an infidel that provides not for them of his own houſe) even ſo our Lord Jeſus, as He gives Believers their Spiritual Life, ſo He entertains that Life; provides for them, and trains them up, and on, till he enter them in to the Poſſeſſion of Eternal Life; they are made by Him Princes, Pſal. 45.16. Intituled to a Kingdom; yea, all His Children are Kings, and ſit with him on his throne, Rev. 2. laſt Verſe, and are made partakers of His Glory; and (to ſpeak ſo) they Fair as He Fairs, they Dwell as He Dwells, and behold His Glory; O! is not this much; That the poor Dyvour, that hath nor a Penny left him, nor to leave to another, ſhould be thus Dignified, as to have a claim to Chriſt's Kingdom, to be an Heir, and a joynt Heir with Him, who is the Heir of all things? For ſo we come to be Retoured, (to ſpeak ſo) and ſo be ſerved Heirs to all things; As it is, Rev. 21.7. He that overcometh ſhall inherit all things; And it goes on this ground, Heb. 1.2. That the Mediator, is appointed heir of all things; with whom, being joint heirs; we are Heirs too, and are made to Inherit all things. 5ly. They are called His Seed, becauſe of the manner of their coming to the Poſſeſſion of that, which through Him they have a Claim to; For they have Claim to nothing, but by being Heirs to, and with Him; And by believing in Him; They are Heirs of the promiſe, in ſome reſpect, as Iſaac was: So then briefly to recapitulat all theſe, would ye know the way that Believers are Chriſt's Seed. 1. He begets them, and they have their Spiritual Life of Him. 2. He is tender of them, as of His own Children. 3. They are furniſhed with Qualifications, and Diſpoſitions ſuitable to Him. 4. They have a rich Portion from Him, and are well provided for. 5. What good they get, is for His ſake, who is their Father; Here we may allude to that Word, Rom. 11. They are beloved for the Fathers ſake, by a Right and Title to Him; they come to have a Good and Goodly Portion; They claim not their Portion; becauſe of this or that thing in themſelves; but by their being ſerved Heirs to Chriſt, being come of Him, they come to get a Right to what is His.
Uſe, As all Relations betwixt Chriſt and Bellevers, ſpeak out much Conſolation; So doth this, if we were in Caſe to apply it; This one Word hath in it, and holds forth a good Condition, and is a very broad Chartour.
See here then. 1. What we are in Chriſt's Common and Debt, who are Believers; It's much to be made a Friend, to be fred from the Curſe of God, and to have all our Debt payed; But this is more to be His Seed, to be His own Children; to have our Life of Him, to have our Proviſion and Portion from Him; It's really a wonder, that we wonder not more at this, and other Relations, that are betwixt Him and Believers; as namely, he is the Believers Father, and takes them to be His Sons and Daughters; He is the Believers Brother, and is not aſhamed to call them brethren; He is the Believers Husband, and they are His Spouſe; He is their Bridegrome, and they are His Bride; Such Relations as theſe are pitched upon, and made choiſe of, to fill (If I may ſpeak ſo) the Faith of the Believer, and that the Believer may feed ſweetly and delicately on them, till the time come that the Vail of Similitudes betaken away; and they be brought to ſee Him as He is, even Face to Face; and that thereby they may be helped to win to read their advantages and priviledges, which they have in Him: What can be the reaſon then that ſo few think, and eſteem ſuitably of the Excellent, and Deſirable Condition of Believers, and that words of this kind reliſh not? Here is the Reaſon, He of whom they hold all theſe Priviledges, and by whom they are put into this Notable, and Non-ſuch Condition, is not ſuitably Eſteemed of, and accounted Precious; Therefore, Believers in Him, are thought the leſs of. Our hearts ſhould melt in love to Him, and in ſorrow for offending Him, at the Reading and Hearing of ſuch expresſions, wherewith the Scriptures of God are ſtuffed full.
2ly, Are there any that would have a Good and Happy Condition ſummed up, and compended; Here it is; even to have our Lord Jeſus to be a Father; and to be His Seed; to come in as Sons and Daughters to Him: I appeal to you all, if any Condition can be put in the Ballance with this; Is there any Honour and Dignity like it, or comparable with it? Who can claim to be come of ſuch a Parent as is He, who is King of kings, and Lord of lords, the Prince of the kings of the earth; The Father of Glory, His eldeſt and only begotten Son, by an Eternal and unſpeakable Generation, who, in all things hath the preheminency; What is your Pedegrie, who will ſay, and boaſt, that ye are of ſuch a Laird's or Lord's Houſe, and of ſuch an Ancient Family and Stock; yea, though ye were of Blood Royal, what is it to this? what will become of Mens Gentility or Nobility of Birth, yea, of Royalty of Birth, in that Day, when Chriſt ſhall ſet His Throne in the Clouds? To have this Relation to Chriſt, will be more Valuable, and Honourable in that Day, then to have been great Commanders, Lairds, Lords, Marqueſſes Dukes, Princes, and King's; who will all in that Day ſtand upon the ſame Level, with the Pooreſt Peaſants, and when all Honours and Dignities, which are now ſo much thought of, and thirſted after, will be laid in the Duſt. Therefore learn to think of this, as the Nobleſt Birth and Deſcent, which is through Faith in Chriſt Jeſus; And Covet, and be holily Abitious, to have the Qualifications of His Children: Look to the Qualifications, Parts, Induements, and A…compliſhments that uſe to accompany, or …ol…ow any Houſes of the Braven of Natural Men; Are there any of them comparab…e to the Qualifications of B…lievers? Is there a Stock or Race of People in all the World, ſo truely Generous and Noble as Believers are, who are come of Chriſt, and are made valiant, through the exerciſe of Faith in Him, againſt all occurring difficulties; Regardleſſe of worldly things; And taken up with, a…d buſſied about high and noble Projects and Deſigns; even to have Heaven, and Glory, and God Himſelf; who undervalue, and holily diſdain the things of the World, which earthworms ſo much ſeek after; Their Qualifications kyth eſpecially in this, that their deſigns are Heavenly, their minds elevated to, and ſet on the beſt things, and that they have a truly magnanimous and a valerous way of proſecuting them; by ſtudying the mortification of Sin, and conformity to God, when others cannot endure to caſt out with, and abandon a luſt; They holily ſcorn, and account it below them to have their Peace ſtanding, or falling with the ebbing and flowing of Creature Comforts, which the Men of the World place their happineſſe n; Their ſtudy is to be Pure, as Chriſt is Pure; O! is there any Por…ion like theirs? many or you think but little of it now, but ye will think more of it in that Day, when the Earth, and all things in it ſhall be burnt up with Fire; What will the Earth-portion ſignifie then? Ye that now have your variety of Fine and Delicat Meats with your Ale and Wine at every Meal, who ſhall be found out of Chriſt, ſhall not get a Drop of cold Water to cool your Tongue, under …our exquiſit and Hel iſh Torments; when the Poor Body that believed, and had a hard Life of it here, ſhall be in Abrahams Boſome, and with Chriſt at His Table, yea, and on His Throne with Him; And it is upon the account of their having a Title to Chriſt, that they come to all that Glorie, and Happineſs: O! is there any Right and Title like the Believers; which is founded on Chriſt's Right and Title, which is, or may be called the Original Right of the Believer, who is keeped by the power of God, through faith unto ſalvation. If theſe be the true and faithfull ſayings of God, what is the reaſon that Men think ſo little of them? Why is an Intereſt in Chriſt to undervalued? Believe ye, that ſuch and ſo much good is to be gotten, by being Chriſt's Seed and Children? If ye ſay that ye believe it, how comes it to paſs that ſo few have it for their Deſign, and that your Deſignes are ſo much for this and that in a preſent World; and that this is ſo much ſlighted, and that there is ſo much boaſting, and glorying in other things, and ſo little holy Boaſting, and Glorying in this?
There are two or three Marks, which we may gather from the Words, that may help to ſhew, when this Claim is warrantably made, and which may evidence the groundleſſneſs of the Claim of many. And 1. Chriſt's Seed have another Original, then that which they bring with them into the World; There is in them a change o… the ground of their hope; And that on a new account; Folk comes into the World ſinful, Chi dren of ſinfull Parents; but when they come to be Believers they get a new Life, which Men cannot give; and this new Life hath new Actings and Fruits; Ah! How many dream of a Right to Chriſt; who know no other Birth or Being, but that which is Natural? 2. They who are Chriſt's Seed carry al…g with them the impreſſion of an Obligation, to and an acknowledgement of Him, in whatever good they have gotten; they think themſelves much oblidged to Chriſt, and they acknowledge Him for their Life, As it is, Malachi 1. If I be a father, where is my honour? and if a Maſter, where is my fear? a ſon honours his fathe, &c. A natively and Genuinly diſpoſed Child, acknowledgeth his Father, As his Father, and reverenceth, and loveth his Father as his Father, But there are many that pretend to a Being from Chriſt, who think not themſelves in His Debt, and Common for it, and, who know not what is is to walk under the Conviction of their Obligation to Chriſt, for their ſuppoſed ſpiritual Life and Being. 3. They who are Chriſt's Seed, have in them a likeneſs to Him, as they did once bear the image of the earthly; ſo now they bear the image of the heavenly Adam: Not that they come up in all things to be exactly like to the Pattern, but it is their aim, and other things that diſconform them to Him are deformed, loathſome, and ugly in their ſight; Their old Inclination is burdenſome to them; And is the continual ground of an inward Conteſt and Wreſtling; and in a manner, they are troubled at the very heart, how to keep down what is oppoſit to Chriſt; And when their Corruption Over-maſters them, they are the more diſcompoſed, and diſquieted; They diſcern ſomething in them, that is not like to Chriſt, and they abhor that, though it be never ſo near and dear to them, their very Self; they ſee ſomething alſo like to Chriſt in them; And they Cheriſh, and make much of it; they would fain be at more of it, and to have His Image more deeply impreſſed on their Spirits, which they reckon their greateſt, yea, their only Beauty.
The 3. Uſe, is for Direction to Believers; if ye be Chriſt's Seed, ye muſt be other ſort of Folks in your Deſigns, and in your Deportment and carriage; King's Children ought not to carrie as others; It would be highly unſuitable; yea, even abominable to ſee them walk ſo trivially, and lightly as every Baſe, Ill-bred Beggers Child doth; It's no leſs Incongruous, and Unbecoming, that Believers ſhould be taken with this and that Vanity, that meer Worldlings are taken with, and hunt after.
The 4th Uſe, Speaks a Word of Conſolation to Believers; And holds forth the greatneſs of the Priviledge of being Christ's Seed; It will be much to perſwade a Poor Sinner, duely ſenſible of Sin, to believe this; And that the Lord is in earneſt, when He ſpeaks thus; That ſuch an one, who hath betaken Himſelf to Chriſt for Life, and humbly Claims Right to nothing, but by Verture of Chriſt's Right (the main thing, that our Union with Him is bottomed upon) who is content to be in Chriſt's Common for Life, and goes not about to eſtabliſh his own Righteouſneſſe, but leans to His Righteouſneſſe, for Life, and Salvation, ſhould be His Seed, and have all the Priviledges of Sons derived to Him; And yet it is the Lord's faithful Word; Neither hath Eye ſeen, nor Ear heard, nor hath it entered into the Heart of Man to conceive, what good things are laid up for ſuch a Perſon; and that are ſtuffed up in theſe Expreſſions of our Relation to Chriſt Jeſus.
Uſe 5. It may be alſo a quieting and comforting Word to ſome Believers, who are in Affliction, Poverty, and Straits in the World; That our Lord Jeſus is a Kindly Affectionat Parent; more kindly and tender hearted, then the tendereſt Father or Mother; and indeed it may ſufficiently quiet them, that they have ſuch a kindly Overſeer, and Proviſor, who is alſo a Cordial Sympathizer with them, what ever their Condition be, He will not deny His Off-ſpring, and Seed, whom He laid down His Life to Purchaſe.
The 6th Uſe. May be for Incitement and Provocation to all that would be Happy, to place it here; Intereſt in Chriſt Jeſus, by Believing on Him, brings us to have Intereſt in the enjoying of Him, and all that is His; and can there be any more ſought after, or wiſhed for? Are there any, but would think it a good Life, to be here? And who are they, of whom He ſpeaks ſo? It is not of ſome ſort of ſtrange and uncouth Folk, that were once in the World, but are now all out of it; And of whom there are none now in it; It is not ſuch as want Sin, and derive their Life from their own Works; but it is ſuch as are, 1. As conſidered in themſelves dead in Sins and Treſpaſſes, and without Spirituall Life and Being; And who know that all the pains that they can take, will not acquire it; And who it may be, are quite Dead to their own apprehenſion and ſenſe oftentimes; And who have Judged themſelves, and have the Sentence of Death in themſelves. 2. It's ſuch as look to Him for the obtaining of Life, and who acknowledge Him for any Life, or Livelineſſe they have; And who expect it, and bruike it, by vertue of His Purchaſe; which is that on which all their Plea, for Life is founded.
Now I know, that all this will not readily clear ſome; There are ſo many things that look counterfit like; But I am now ſpeaking to them, who have ſome ſticklings of Spiritual Life, which yet are not ſo Lively, as they, can diſcern them to be the Stirrings and Sticklings of Life; And they have a Body of Death in them, which is ready to extinguiſh that Life; and often they think it is extinguiſhed already; They have Convictions of their own Deadneſs, and that things are wrong in their Condition, and are quite out of all Hopes of Righteouſneſs, from and by themſelves, or from any thing that they have done, or can do; And they have ſome confuſed looks to Chriſt; but they cannot Rid their Feet in the Matter of their Faith; and Duties go not ſo with them as they expected, and would have them. To ſuch I ſhal ſpeak a Word or two and cloſe. 1. I would a…, whence comes that Stickling of Life or Feeling of that Bodie of Death? What is the Original of it? will Nature diſcover the Corruption of Nature, and bring Folks to be out of Love with Corrupt Nature? Certainly, where this is, it's not like Nature, but is the Life of Chriſt; eſpecially, when it puts Folks to diſcern, and take up their own Deadneſſe; to quit their own Righteouſneſs▪ and to be content to lay their Mouth in the Duſt and to betake themſelves to the Righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, if they could win to be diſtinct in it; This looks to be from Chriſt, whoſe Spirit convinces the World of ſin, and of the ſin of unbelief in particular; And of righteouſneſs, as being only to be had in Chriſt; and of judgement, that is, of the reaſonableneſſe, that He ſhould have a Dominion over them, and that they ſhould walk in Holineſſe: Yet, notwithſtanding of all this, they are hanging in a kind of Suſpence and hover; and know not whether to look on themſelves as Believers or not; They wot well that it is not right with them; that they are loſt in themſelves, and that no other way will do their turn, but Faith in the Righteouſneſſe of a Mediator: The thing whereat they Stick and halt, is, that they know not how to through, and maintain the conſent that they have given; and they cannot think, that their Faith is true Faith, becauſe they know not how to follow forth the exerciſe of it; though they have renunced their own Righteouſneſſe, And laid their Reckoning, to be in Chriſt's Debt and Common, for Righte uſneſſe and Life; if ever they come by them; All their difficulty, is, how to through their Believing. Now it is not to the founding of Life, that we are here ſpeaking, but to the exerciſe of Life, and to the finding out of Life; And we ſay, that ſuch an exerciſe ſuppons Life to be, though it be not deſcernable in it's exerciſe, to the Soul it ſelf; There are many Poor Creatures born and brought forth into the World, that can neither Talk nor Walk, but muſt be carried and keeped Tenderly, and that are ſome way, as if they were not brought out of the Womb: So is it with many Believers, and it were good to be in Chriſt's Common, as for Life, ſo for bringing Life to exerciſe, and by diligence and waiting on Him, in the uſe of His own appointed Means, to ſeek to come to ſome Diſtinctneſſe in Neating, and Exerciſing of any Life, that He hath given; And it is no ſmall incouragement to this; That Chriſt ſhall ſee his ſeed, That He muſt have Saints and Believers in Him; which ſhould make Poor Souls, that have no Life in themſelves, with the more confidence to commit themſelves to Him, upon this very ground, that the Father hath ingadged to Chriſt, that He ſhall have many ſuch for His Seed; The which Promiſe is performed to Him, in the gathering in of Poor confuſed, and Mind-perplexed Sinners, to be in His Debt, for Life, and to hold their Life of Him for ever; It will ſure be no ſmall part of the ground of Saints praiſe in Heaven, that He not only bought Life for them, but that He made Application of Life to them; And trained them on, till He got them fitted to ſpeak to His Pr…iſe; Wherein the Body of Death makes many a ſad ſtop, and makes poor Believers to Stammer, as it were, while they are here. But it's good News that Jeſus Chriſt hath bought Life, and brought it to Light; And that by this Goſpel, He is making Application of it, and declaring that He is content to beſtow it freely, on all them that will be in His Common for it.