Christ Crucified, Sermon 63
SERMON LXIII.
ISAIAH LIII.XII.
Verſe 12. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong: becauſe he hath poured out his ſoul unto death: and he was numbred with the tranſgreſſ…urs, and he b…re the ſin of many, and made interceſſion for the tranſgreſsours.
THere hath been a compendious Sum of the Covenant of Redemption delivered by the Prophet, in this C…apter, wherein, what is required as the Price for Elect Sinners from the Mediator, is ho d n forth on the one ſide, in a l ge deſc…iption of H…s Suff…rings; and …at is p…opoſed as the Fruit that ſhould follow, and as the Satisfaction that the Mediator ſhould have for His Sufferings, is on the other ſide alſo laid down; as, that He ſhould ſee his ſeed, and prolong his dayes, and that the pleaſure of the Lord ſhould proſper in his hand: That he ſhould ſee of the travel of his ſoul and be ſatisfied, and that by his knowledge many ſhould be juſtifi…d. In this verſe, we have a ſummary re-capitulation, and repetit…on of this mutual bargain; only it is propoſed in a dif…erent method; For before what was req…ired, and undertaken by the Mediator, was firſt ſet down; and then the Promiſes made to Him were next ſet down; Here the method is altered, and the Promiſes made to the Mediator are firſt ſet down, and the conditions required of Him laſt ſet down; it's like to ſhew the oneneſſe of the Covenant, and the mutualneſſe of the Terms of it; and that though, as to our conceiving, and up-taking of it, there be ſomething firſt, and ſomething laſt, yet with God there is no ſuch thing, but it is one preſent Act. Th… promiſes made to the Mediator are in two expr…ſſi…s, with an inference in the Word, Ther…fore, knitting this to what went before; I will divide him a portion with the great; and he ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong; In ſhort the ſimilitudes here uſed, are taken from Conquerours, and Victors, who having been in a War and fight, and having defeat, and routted all their Enemies, and put them off the Field, have a notable Out-gate, Victory, and Triumph, and a great Spoil, as the F…i… of the War; And ſo the meaning is, That the M…diator by His undertaking to S…t… fie for the Elect, ſhould have a great F…ght, and Combat with many Enemies▪ but He ſhould loſſe nothing by it, He ſhou d have a notable Our gate, an excellent Victory, and glorious Triumph, great glory and ſpoil; So that as there was never War like H…s, nor Enemies like theſe that He had to encounter with, ſo there ſhould never be ſuch Victory, Triumph, and Spoil, as our Lord Jeſus ſhould have. The word Portion is not in the Original, bu… well ſupplied, It is only, I will divide him many, as the Word is often uſed, and He ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong, That is, He ſhall i… dividing the Spoil, be above the ſtrongeſt.
The Words infer, and take in theſe Three, 1. A great defeat of, and Victory over all the Mediators Enemies, the Devil, Death, and the Curſe; He gets a great victory over them, and gives them a great defeat, ſo that they are quite beat off the Field, as dividing the ſpoil imports, Pſal. 68.12. She that remained at home divided the ſpoil; and, Iſa. 9.3. As men rejoyce, when they divide the ſpoil. 2. The great number of Captives that our Lord in His Victory, and Triumph takes, and brings off; that is, He gets a great bootie; which is that ſpoken of in the words before, By his knowledge ſhall many be justified; and it's that which is expreſt in that Pſal. 68.18. Thou haſt aſcended on high, thou haſt led captivity captive, that is, theſe that were formerly captives thou haſt redeemed from their capivity, and led them captive that carried others captive; as the people of God pray, Pſal. 126.4. Turn again our captivity. 3. It takes in the excellent Victory, the great Triumph and Glory, that the Mediator ſhould have by this means; He is exalted above every name that is named, that at the name of Jeſus every knee ſhould bow, of thinge in heaven, of things in earth, and of things under the earth: For further clearing of it, we ſhall recommend to you Two or Three places, in which it's like there is an alluſion to this; as that, Col. 2.14, 15. Blotting out the hand writing of ordinances that was againſt us, and contrary to us, taking it out of the way, and nailling it to his croſs; tearing as it were the Obligation that the Law had over the Elect, by His paying of their Debt; And having ſpoiled principalities and powers, he made a ſhew of them openly, triumphing over them in it: There is His Victory, and Triumph; He combats with, ſubdues, and trods under foot, all His, and His peoples Enemies, by ſatisfying the Juſtice of God for the Elects Debt, and ſpoils them of many Souls that were led captive by them; and triumphed openly over them, declaring Himſelf to have gotten the Victory in a moſt Majeſtick manner; A 2d. place is, Phil. 2.8, 9. Being found in faſh…on as a man, he humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto the death, even to the death of the croſs, wherefore God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name, which is above eve…y name, that at the name of J…ſus, every knee ſhould bow, of things in heaven, in earth and under the earth▪ and that every tongue ſhould confeſs that Jeſus Chriſt is Lord, to the glory of God the Father; This is His Victory, Triumph, and Glory, ſuch as none in Heaven or Earth ever had, or ſhall have the like: A 3d. Place is that, Epheſ. 2.21. H… …al… ed him from the dead, and ſet him at his own right hand, in the heavenly places, far above all principalities, and powers, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come, and hath put all things under his feet, and given him to be head over all things to the church; Whether they be Devils, or good Angels, or Men, S…ints militant, or triumphant, He is above them all, all are made ſubject to Him, and He is the head of His Church.
The expreſſions run in different Perſons, The firſt is in the Firſt Perſon, I will divide him a portion: It's a Promiſe of God the Father, to the Mediator, for His attaining the Victory, as it's ſaid, Epheſ. 1.20. God raiſed him from the dead; The 2d. Expreſſion is in the 3d. Perſon, He ſhall divide the ſpoil, To ſhew that the Mediator, God man concurred in the attaining the Victory, Therefore, Rom. 1.4. He is ſaid to raiſe himſelf; and in th…t it's ſaid, I will divide, and He ſhall divide: It is to hold out the Mediator His attaining, and poſſeſſing of what was promiſed, and to ſhew that there is nothing promiſed to the Mediator but actually He is, and ſhall be put in the full poſſeſſion of it.
The laſt part of the Words holds out the conditions on the Mediators ſide, in Four Expreſſions, 1. Becauſe he hath poured out his ſoul unto death; That is, becauſe He willingly condeſcended to die, He yetted, or poured out His Soul to death. 2. He was numbred with the tranſgreſſours: He had a reproached and ſhameful Life, and a reproached and curſed Death; He was thought the worſt of the World, ſo that Barrabas a murtherer was preferred unto Him, It alſo points out the reſpect that His Death had to a Satisfaction for the Sins of the Elect, He was legally numbred, and counted amongſt tranſgreſſours, though He was no Tranſgreſſour. 3. He bare the ſins of many, which expones the former; and ſayes this much. That no… only He ſimply died, and died a ſh…meful Death, but that He died for this end, to bear, and by His bearing to remove the Sins of the Elect, for it relates to the many, that in the former Words are ſaid to be juſtified by his knowledge; And it cannot be but theſe many ſhall be Juſtified, becauſe He did bear their Sins, as to the Puniſhment, and Curſe due to them; and whoſoever Sins are born by Chriſt, theſe are, and ſhall be Juſtified; and therefore He muſt be Victorious, and have a glorious triumph and out-gate, becauſe He layes down His Life for His Sheep, as it is, John 10.17. Therefore doth my Father love me, becauſe I lay down my life, and take it up again: And by the way, it is a ſtrange thing, that the only begotten Son of God, ſhould be loved on this account, accepted, and glorified in this Work, even becauſe He poured out his ſoul unto death, out of zeal to His Fathers Glory, in proſecuting the Work of Sinners Redemption: 4. And he made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſours: Which points out His making application of His Death, and the benefit thereof to the many, whoſe Sins He bare, He died to take their Sins away, and interceeds to have His purchaſe made effectual; For though this be applyed uſually to His Prayer on the Croſs, yet that is but one particular of His interceſſion, which is of larger extent; and therefore, it's noted as a condition required of the Mediator, that He muſt not only die, but alſo interc…ed, that the benefits of His death might be made forthcoming for them, for whom He died.
Thus ye ſee we have the ſum of Gods Covenant here, as if the Lord were propoſing to the Mediator; Now Son, if thou wilt pour out thy Soul unto death, and thereby bear the Sins of my Elect People, and make interceſſion for them, thou ſhalt loſſe nothing by it, thou ſhalt have a notable Victory, and Triumph, and a great Spoil; In the Words before, The Mediator having accepted the Terms of the Covenant, and performed them, though not actually at that time, but in the Purpoſe and Decree of God; which now are actually performed, therefore the Promiſes are turned over in a concluded Covenant, and in an abſolute Right to Him.
What needs further explication, we ſhal endeavour to reach it, as we ſpeak to the Obſervations, and becauſe the Words for the moſt part yeeld the ſame Doctrines that have been ſpoken to before, we ſhall not inſiſt in them.
1. Then from the repitition, Obſerve, in general, That the nature and terms of the Covenant of Redemption betwixt God, and the Mediator, is a profitable Doctrine, and uſeful to be underſtood, and believed by the People of God; Therefore it is ſo clearly propoſed, and again and again repeated, and laid before their eyes; and ſummed and repeated in this verſe, to keep them in mind of it; Theſe that know the Covenant of Redemption, as that which hath in it the ſum of all the Foundations of our Faith, and the ground of our acceſs to God, and of our peace with Him; they will eaſily grant that, that it's very neceſſary to be ſtudied, known, and believed; For Firſt, by it we know what we may expect from God, becauſe what we are to expect, is promiſed to Chriſt in this Covenant, as to our head; This portion with the great, and this dividing of the ſpoil with the ſtrong, He hath it as our head. 2. Becauſe we know by this Covenant, how we come by theſe things promiſed: And that is by pouring out of his ſoul into death, bearing of our ſins, and interceeding for us; Which ſuppoſes, and includes our betaking of our ſelves unto Him by Faith. 3. Becauſe by this Covenant, the rich and free Grace of God hath it's due Glory; For there is nothing conſidered here, as the reaſon of ſetting captives free, but Chriſts paying of the Price; it comes freely to us, as a gift beſtowed.
2dly. And more particularly, Obſerve, That though our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in the Work of Sinners Redemption, had a ſore Combat and Fight, yet He hath a glorious Out-gate, Triumph, and Victory; It was the greateſt, faireſt, and moſt ſerious onſet, and aſſault that ever was heard of, that our Lord Jeſus encountered with; As the remembrance, and conſideration of what hath been ſpoken, of His being in an agony, and ſweating drops of blood, of his praying, that if it were poſſible, that cap might depart from him; Of His crying, my God, my God why haſt thou forſaken me, &c. Will moſt convincingly make out, the Juſtice of God purſuing Him for all the guilt of the Elect, Principalities and Powers being in His tops; The Devil, the Prince of this World, having all His Inſtruments yocked, and at Work, ſome to nod the head, ſome to mock and ſcourge Him, &c▪ Yet He did abide it all out; He gave his back to the ſmiters, and his cheeks to them that pulled of the hair, and hid not his face from ſhame and ſpitting; And had a moſt glorious Victory, and Triumph over all; what we ſaid in exponing of the Words clears it ſomewhat, and that Word, John 12.31. Now is the judgment of this world, now ſhall the prince of this world be caſt out: to point out His Victory over the World, and the Devil; and that Word, Col. 2.14, 15. He ſpoiled principalities and powers, He uncloathed them, and left not, (as we uſe to ſpeak) a whole rag on them; He, by a ſtrong hand pulled all the Elect from them, and left none of them in their poſſeſſion; He brake open the priſon doors, and ſet them all at liberty: This was indeed a great Victory; He hath alſo a great ſpoil of many Captives; and great Glory, being exalted in our nature, At the right hand of majesty on high; having a name above every name, that at the name of Jeſus every knee might bow: and that paſſage, Epheſ. 1.20, 21. Is to the ſame purpoſe, He hath put all things under his feet, &c. If we look to Reaſon, it cannot be otherwayes. 1. If we conſider what our Lord Jeſus was in His Perſon, being the Son of God, He cannot but be glorious, John 17.5. He proves, Father glorifie me with the glory which I had with thee before the world was; Though by being Man, He became of no reputation; and a vail was drawn over the declarative Glory of the God-head in His Perſon for a time; yet He remained ſtill the Son of God, and Glorious in Himſelf, and it cannot be but He that is God muſt be Glorious in His Ex…ltation, when that vail that obſcured His Glory is taken away. 2. His Office, as Mediator, and head of the Elect proves it; He that wa… appointed head ov…r all things to the Church, could not but be great and glorious, and therefore when that of, Pſal. 16.10. Is cited by the Apoſtle, Act. 2.24. and 13.35. It's ſaid, That it was impoſſible that death could keep him. 3. It will be clear, if we conſider the Work it ſelf wherewith He was intruſted; it being a Work that was ſo well liked of, and approven by God, He could not but have a Glorious Victory, and Out-gate; Therefore ſayes He, John 10. My Father loveth me, becauſe I lay down my life for my ſheep, and Philip. 2.8. It's ſaid, Becauſe he humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto death, therefore God hath highly exalted him: It was the contract betwixt God and the Mediator, that He ſhould firſt become low, and then to be ex…lted, and therefore He behoved to be exalted, and made very Glorious.
Uſe, 1. Learn not to under…lue, nor to vail and obſcure the Glory of … Mediator, from the conſideration of His Sufferings; for though He was low, yet He is now exalted, He had a moſt noble, excellent and glorious Victory, and Triumph over all His Enemies: There are none of us all, but ſhall at the day of Judgement, when He will be ſeen to be Judge of quick and dead, (which is a part of His Triumph) having ſo many Redeemed Slaves, (to ſpeak ſo) at His back, have a confirmation of this Truth in our boſome: And indeed it is no little part of Religion to get this point deeply impreſſed on our hearts; That our Lord Jeſus, who was once low, is now exalted to ſuch Glory; Look to it, and we will find a great part of our deadneſs, and unſoundneſs here, That His greatneſs bulks not ſuitably in our eye; alace! we do very much undervalue Him; but His humiliation being for us, it ſhould not make us think the leſſe of Him, nor make us leſſen the high eſteem we ſhould have of Him, but ſhould in reaſon make us think the more of Him, and put the greater price on Him.
Uſe, 2. It is a moſt comfortable Doctrine, in reference to all ups and downs of the time, and to all the ſtraits that His Church and People can be put to; It cannot be ill with Chriſt, and it ſhall not be ill with them: He may have conteſts, but He ſhall get, yea, He hath gotten the Victory; He once died to die no more; all that He hath now to do, is to make application of His purchaſed Redemption, and to divide the Spoil; to notice, (which He doth moſt narrowly) what of His purchaſe is yet in the Devils poſſeſſion, and to reſcue, and ſet it free; He hath gotten the Poſſeſſion and Government of the Kingdom, and it muſt, and it ſhall go well, let the World rage, and let the Sea roar; and the floods lift up their voice, and the mountains be caſt in the Sea; whatever confuſions and overturnings come, or whatever troubles be, Our Lord Jeſus hath gotten the Victory, and is dividing the Spoil; He will take no other diviſion, then what Jehovah hath made, and carved out to Him; It will not be what Devils, or Men, what great Men, Kings▪ Princes, Parliaments, Potentats, Arm… ▪ &c. Are pleaſed to give, or allow to Him, but He muſt needs have the Portion promiſed Him with the great, and the ſpoil with the strong; He ſhall certainly get that, and none ſhall be able to bereave Him, or take a bit of it from Him; yea, none ſhall poſſeſſe a Foot broad of ground beſtowed on Him, and His followers; He ſhall have a Church, and Ordinances diſpenſed therein, where He intends it; and Souls ſhall be gathered to Him, from all quarters, as they were given to Him; and maugure all the malice, and proud oppoſition of Devils and Men, all that the Father hath given to Him, ſhall come to Him, without all peradventure, or poſſibility of miſgiving; they ſhall not, by all their oppoſition, and perſecution, be able to keep any one of the gifted ones, from coming to Him, in the ſeaſon agreed on, betwixt Jehovah and Him. And 2dly. It's comfortable to Gods People, as to their own particular caſe; corruption is a ſtrong, and formidable enemy, the Devil is a reſtleſſe enemy, and goeth about like a roaring Lyon ſeeking whom He may devour; The World is a deceitful, enſnaring enemy, and doth often, in a manner even overwhelm them; but Our Lord Jeſus hath the Victory, and parting of the ſtaiks, (to ſay ſo) or the dividing of the Spoil; Theſe that remain at home, the feckleſſeſt Boy, or Girle, Lad or Laſs ſhall divide the Spoil; This is it that Job comforts Himſelf with, Chap. 19. I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he ſh…ll ſtand at the latter day upon the earth, to wit, as ſole and abſolute conquerer, the Victory being intirely on His ſide, with theſe eyes ſhall I ſee him, and no other for me, though worms deſtroy this body: Believers, O! Believers there is a good day coming, He hath gotten the Victory, and ſo ſhall ye: The God of peace ſhall tread Satan under your feet ſhortly; And whatever wrongs ye ſuffer, and whatever ſtraits ye be under now, while the wicked are in proſperity, there will be a new deciſion, yea, new a diviſion ere long; all ſhall be ſnatched from wicked men, but your cup ſhall run over; There ſhall be no more fighting, no more parties to give you battel, or to oppoſe you, when He ſhall have beaten all Enemies off the Field; It will be a poor and ſorry portion that many wil get in that day, who did not lippen and truſt to Chriſts Spoil, when ye Believers ſhall be ſharers with Him in it.
Uſe, 3. This ſayes that it is both hard, and ſad to top with Chriſt, and to be found in oppoſition to Him; I ſpeak not ſo much of publick conteſts, ſuch as Pilate, Herod, the Scribes and Phariſees had with Him, and which many great Ones of the Earth ſtill keep up againſt Him, who will find the ſmart of their oppoſition ere long; but of all that contend with Him in His Ordinances, and who ſay by their practice at leaſt, Let us break his bands aſunder, and cast away his cords from us, as it is Pſal. 2. And we will not have this man to reign over us, as it is, Luke 19. He will ſay, Bring out theſe mine enemies and ſlay them before me: Beloved hearers, this day is coming, when all of us will ſtand before Him, and ſhall ſee Him divide the Spoil; and wo wo will be to that Perſon that day, that would not ſubmit to His Government; O! what a dreadful thing will it be to be ſlain before the Mediator, to have the Prince of Life taking holy pleaſure in thy death, becauſe thou ſided with the Devil, and the luſts of thine own heart, becauſe thou reſiſted and quenched His Spirit, and barracaded the way of His acceſs to thee, and would not let Him in to reign in thy heart, nor yeeld thy ſelf as a Subject to Him? But it ſhall be well, unſpeakably well with Chriſt, and all that are His in that day, He, and they ſhall triumph moſt gloriouſly: The ſplendor, ſpiritual ſtate, and majeſty of that Triumph, ſhall infinitely tranſcend all that hath been looked at, with wonder in the moſt glorious Triumphs of the greateſt Emperours, Kings, or Captain-generals in the World.
3dly. Conſider what this Spoil is, even to ſee his ſeed▪ and to juſtifie many, and to get them brought in to Him, and made partakers of His Grace and Glory: Obſerve, That it is a part of Chriſts Victory, Triumph, and Glory, to get the Devil defeat in, and dung out of Souls, and to get them Converted, Juſtified, and Saved through His Blood; when He is Triumphing over Enemies, as it is, Col. 2.14, 15. What is He doing? He is even tearing the Bond that was above the Elects head, and blotting out their Debt, in that He triumphs moſt gloriouſly; So, Pſal. 68. Thou hast aſcended on high, thou haſt led captivity captive; There is His Triumph and Spoil, even a company of poor Slaves, Redeemed by Him: The weapons, ſayes the Apoſtle, of our warefare are not carnal, but ſpiritual, and mighty through God, to the bringing down of holds, and leading every thought and imagination lifted up againſt God captive unto the obedience of Chriſt: There is Chriſts Victory and Triumph; What are the ſtrong holds that He batters, ſtorms, and takes in? He makes ſome proud hearts to ſtoop, and yeeld to Him, and carries ſome that were Rebells to Him, captive to His obedience: O! happy Captivity! It is not meant in reſpect of Thraldom and Bondage, but in reſpect of Voluntary Subjection to Him: This is a moſt noble, notable, and lovely Victory, and Triumph, and a Glorious Day indeed, which is ours, as well as His; it being the redeeming of poor Captive-ſinners, and bringing in of many followers to the Lamb; and therefore, v. 11. It's called Satisfaction for the travel of his ſoul, and the juſtifying of many: That's the Spoil and the Prey; verſe 10. It's called the pleaſure of the Lord; and in this v. His portion and ſpoil: What doth our bleſſed Lord Jeſus take to Himſelf, what doth this David claim, or take to Him, as His Spoil, who is alone the the Monarch of this great Univerſe? It's a number of poor Sinners; Come to me ſays he, ye bleſsed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, He hath no more, He ſeeks no more, but ſo many Souls as He minded to do good to; When the Lord divided the Nations, as it is, Pſal. He choiſe Jacob for his portion: If we conſider a little more particularly, we will find the Juſtification, and Salvation of Sinners to be our Lord Jeſus His Victory, Triumph and Spoil; becauſe herein He is Victorious, and Triumphs, and gets the glory of His Obedience, Faithfulneſſe, Grace, Power, and Love; The Glory of the Mediator ſhines manifeſtly, and conſpicuouſly in all theſe here. 1. The Glory of His Obedience, when He hath it to ſay, as it is, John 18.9. Of all that thou haſt given me, I have loſt none; He gets ſo many Souls committed to Him of the Father to redeem, and when He hath done, and performed the Work, and brought them in, He hath the Glory of His Obedience to His Father, who ſaith to Him: Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed. 2. The glory of His Faithfulneſſe, according as He did ingage, and undertake to Jehovah, He hath keeped His Word, and there is a neceſſity lying on Him, that it ſhould be ſo, that of all committed to Him, He ſhould loſſe none, but preſent them without ſpot or wrinkle, or any ſuch thing; Therefore He is called the Faithful ſhepherd, becauſe He loſſes none of the Sheep that are given Him. 3. The glory of Grace, and infinit love, the moe that are ſaved, the more Grace and Love ſhins forth in paying their Debt, and Ranſome, and in bringing them in to be partakers of His Love; Therefore, John 17. He ſayes, That the love wherewith thou haſt loved me, may be in them, and I in them; He would have the love communicated by the Father to Him, to be in them, that it may be known that He hath loved them, as the Father hath loved Him; There cannot be ſuch a proof, and demonſtration of Love as this; It is evidenced in His exaltation, as their head; and in their being brought where He is.
4. The Glory of Power ſhines forth here, that trampled upon, and triumphs over all difficulties, that are in the way of ſaving Elect Sinners; And, O! what difficulties there are in the way of ſaving Sinners? He having the Devil and the World without, and a deceitful heart, and a tickle humour within themſelves to encounter with: So many Sins to mortifie, and Snares to lead through; yet none plucks His Sheep out of His hand, Therefore, 1 Pet. 1. They are ſaid to be keeped by the power of God, through Faith unto Salvation; In a Word, as it was the manner of old for Conquerors to ride in Triumph, and all their Priſoners led after or before them, at their back: So our Lord, for manifeſting the Glory of His Grace, Faithfulneſſe and Power brings ſo manny Sinners through, to Glory, and hath ſo a greater train, then ever any Conqueror had; and He counts it His Glory, and Triumph to get many loſt Souls ſaved, John 17. Thine they were, and thou gaveſt them me, and I am glorified in them; How is that? I have given them thy word, and they have received it; He counts himſelf glorified in Sinners ſubmitting to Him, in their believing on Him, and in their taking pardon from Him: Now let me ſay, that if we were wailling and making choiſe of a Doctrine, to warn the heart of a ſenſible Sinner, to ſhame unbelief out of the World, and to give impregnable ground to hazard on Chriſt; here it is, That our Lord Jeſus placeth His Victory, Glory, and Triumph and Spoil in this, even in doing good to Sinners, and in having Sinners getting good of Him; It's His Portion when (to ſay ſo) the World is dealt, that He gets a number of loſt Sinners to ſave as His ſhare; And though He be the Heir of all things, and the firſt born, yet He loves that better then a thouſand Kingdoms; When He hath His Spoil, and Prey at the taking, this is it, and He choiſeth no other; O! Sinners do ye think this little? Or do ye think little of this? Had He placed His Glory, in cruſhing under foot all the priſoners of the Earth, or in bringing the World to nothing, who could have ſaid, what doeſt thou? But when He placeth His Glory and Triumph in this, to overcome the Devil, to caſt him out of Souls, to relieve poor Sinners, and to bring them in to acknowledge Him, as the Author of eternal ſalvation, and as the author and finiſher of their faith; If ye would have ſomething to wonder at, is it not here? He will burn the World into aſhes, and leave it, and will caſt many Kings and great Men into Hell, and yet He gathers poor Elect Sinners out of that burnt heap, as it were, as the thing He hath deſigned for His Spoil; He hath no more, and He ſeeks no more, (as I ſaid) and yet He gets no ga…n of theſe poor Sinners for all this.
And therefore, as the, 1. Uſe of it, wonder at this, will it not be a glorious day, when Chriſt is Crowned, and hath all redeemed Sinners at His back, with harps in their hands, Singing, Salvation, Glory and Power, to the Lamb? O! wonder, that there is not only a Saviour, and Life and Salvation to be had through Him; but that it's ſuch a Salvation, as is wonderful in this reſpect, that He counts it His Glory, and Triumph to have many Sinners ſaved, when He might have glorified Himſelf in ſending us all to hell; May we not wonder at this? and yet we ought to believe it, and the little Faith of it makes it be ſo little wondered at; Ah! Sinners for moſt part believes not that Chriſt thinks ſo much of the ſaving of ſinners; and therefore they wonder not at it, are not ſuitably affected, and taken up with it.
Uſe, 2. There is here a ſweet and ſolid ground for quieting, and ſetling the Faith of ſenſible Sinners, who would have footing to their Faith; Chriſt counts it His Glory and Triumph to ſave ſuch as ye are, and if ye periſh that would fain be at Chriſt and His Righteouſneſſe for Life; Chriſt ſhall want His Glory and Triumph, and may not that ſerve and ſatisfie you? that your Salvation is His Glory and Triumph, which He will not come ſhort of; The Father hath here promiſed it; and He ſhall not, He cannot want it; Sinners, He muſt have, and ſhall have to be ſaved, becauſe His Victory, Triumph and Spoil depends on it; A wonderful condeſcenſion of Grace (which is not eaſily believed) that all theſe are linked and coupled together, and through other, as it were, Sinners Salvation, Chriſts Victory, Triumph, and Spoil, and Gods Glory in His Grace Love, Faithfulneſſe, and Power; ye reflect, no doubt on Gods Faithfulneſſe, who ſuſpect, and are jealous of your Salvation, if indeed ye do by Faith betake your ſelves to Jeſus Chriſt.
Uſe, 3. Doth Chriſt think ſo much of the Salvation of Sinners, that He counts it His Victory and Triumph, His Portion and Spoil? Then, 1. All that give not Chriſt their Souls to be ſaved, do what they can to leſſen Chriſts Portion, and to fruſtrat Him of His Glory. 2. If ye would do Chriſt ſervice that is moſt acceptable to Him, give Him your Souls to be ſaved by Him; fruſtrat not His Grace, lay your Sins on Him, and look for Salvation through Him in His own way; He came to fight with Principalities and Powers, and to vanquiſh them, and by the ſtrong hand to reſcue Souls from them; and ſtep ye to at His back, for that is His Satisfaction, His Portion and Spoil; We wote well, there is here a ſtrong and effectual motive to perſwade to Faith in Chriſt; and a ſtronger and more effectual cannot be thought upon; It will be Chriſts Triumph, to pull you out of the claws of the Devil, and if He do it not, ye on the matter allow the Devil, ſome way to get the victory over Chriſt, which is yet impoſſible, but the Devil will certainly have Victory over you; to whom ye will be Slaves, and Druges for ever; There is alſo here ground of great terrour, and of dreadful warning to ſuch as yeelds not to Chriſt, becauſe they do what they can to impede His Victory; when He comes by His ordinances to turn them from darkneſſe to light, and from the power of Satan to God, they thwart with Him; The day is coming, when this Doctrine will be comfortable to ſome, and terrible to others, when there ſhall be none of us, but we ſhall ſee it confirmed with our eyes, when He (as a man ſorting and ſharing His Spoil after the Victory, ſhall ſay to theſe on His right hand, Come ye bleſsed of my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you; and to others, Depart from me ye curſed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels; Even as if a Conquerour ſhould take ſome Priſoners, and make them Sons, and Heirs, and ſet them upon Thrones, and ſhould caſt others into perpetual Priſon, who loved not liberty: And indeed it will be a fearful Priſon who loved not liberty; And indeed it will be a fearful Priſon to be in Hell with the Devil, and His Angels; either we will be part of Chriſts Portion, and Spoil in that day, or He will refuſe, diſown, and reject us, leaving us to be an everlaſting prey to the Devil; happy they whom He choiſeth, and woe to them eternally whom He caſts, as refuſe wair God give us wiſdom to lay theſe things to heart.