Christ Crucified, Sermon 64
SERMON LXIV.
ISAIAH LIII.XII.
Verſe 12. Therefore will I 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 tranſgreſſours, and he bare the ſin of many, and he made interceſſion for the tranſgreſsours.
THis Covenant of Redemption is a great bargain; there was never ſuch parties as the Lord Jehovah, and the Mediator; and we may ſay there was never ſuch Conditions, and Articles in any bargain, as are in this; The verſe now read doth contain the ſum of that which was agreed upon, betwixt theſe Parties; The promiſes upon Jehovahs ſide made to the Mediator, and what He ſhall have on His accepting of the offer, and performing of the Condition required of Him; And what are the terms propoſed to the Mediator, and the Conditions which He is to perform, or rather hath performed.
1. There are two things promiſed to the Mediator, I will divide him a portion with the great, a fair and large Victory, and a good and glorious Out-gate; And He ſhal divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong; As theſe that are Conquerours and Victors uſe to ſhare moſt largely, and deeply in the Spoil, ſo our Lord Jeſus ſhall have a rich Spoil, a large booty, many redeemed Souls, a Bride whom He ſhall preſent blameleſſe to the Father; Theſe are the Spoil, the Jewels that He fights for, and the Prey He choiſeth; when the World is burnt, and the reſt are ſent to hell, He gathers out ſo many for Himſelf. 2. The Conditions on the Mediators ſide are four; He comes to this Victory, and Triumph, becauſe He hath poured out His ſoul unto death; becauſe He was numbred with tranſgreſſours; becauſe He bare the ſins of many; and becauſe He made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſours, Therefore ſhall He be ſure of all this.
Although there be no expreſſe name of a Covenant here; yet ye ſee the thing; becauſe as in Covenants amongſt men there are two parties, and their ingagements are mutual, and the performance of theſe ingagements in the one depends on the performance of them in the other; So is it here. 1. The Parties are Jehovah, and the Mediator. 2. There are two things promiſed to the Mediator, a glorious Victory, and a rich Spoil, the juſtifying of many. 3. The Conditions on the Mediators ſide, on which the performance of the promiſes depends, He condeſcends to die, and to die willingly, to be numbred with tranſgreſſours, to bear their Sins; and to make interceſſion for them; This Jehovah condeſcends to accept of, and upon this many, to wit, all Elect Sinners are juſtified through faith on him, as it is, v. 11.
1. From the promiſe made to Chriſt (where the Perſon is changed) I will divide him a portion with the great, and he ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong, I will grant Him ſuch a thing, and He ſhall obtain it, Take this general Obſervation, as the reaſon of it; That all the Promiſes made by Jehovah to the Mediator are certain, and ſhall actually be performed, I will grant this to Him, and He ſhall get it; The connexion doth alſo confirm it; Becauſe he hath poured out his Soul unto death: So, Pſal. 89.34, 35. Once I ſware by my holineſs, that I will not lie unto David; my covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips; And indeed it cannot but be ſo; If we conſider either the Perſon that makes the Promiſe; He is God unchangeable in Himſelf, abſolutely faithful, and cannot deny Himſelf, Once have I ſworn and I will not lie unto David; Or the party to whom the Promiſe is made, He is the Mediator God-man, in whom the Father is well pleaſed; And the Mediator having performed what He undertook for the Elect, There is no ground to queſtion the performance of the promiſes made to Him.
Uſe, And it is a very comfortable one; look, whatever is promiſed to the Mediator in reference to Particular, Privat, or Publick Mercies, all ſhall be moſt certainly and infruſtrably performed: Chriſt is the Party, to whom the Promiſes are made, and Jehovah cannot fail to perform what is Promiſed to the Mediator, more then the Mediator hath failed in performing what He undertook: Now it's promiſed to the Mediator, Pſal. 110.3. Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holineſſe, from the womb of the morning, tbou haſt the dew of thy youth: Where there are theſe things promiſed to Chriſt. 1, That His People ſhall be made willing, in the day of His power; which is exponed in that, John 6.44. No man can come to me; except the Father who hath ſent me draw him, God takes away the ſtubborneſſe, and frowardneſs that is in the Elect, and makes them plyable to embrace, and receive, and give up themſelves to Chriſt. 2. That His People ſhall be numerous, the youth of His womb ſhall be numerous, as the dew in the morning. 3. They ſhall be holy, and ſhining in holineſs, In the beauty of holineſs; Again, it's promiſed to the Mediator, that all Believers in Him ſhall be Juſtified, as it's verſe 11. By his knowledge ſhall my righteous ſervant juſtifie many, and this is according to that, John 6.39, 40. This is the will of him that ſent me, that of all that he hath given me, I ſhould loſse none, and this is the will of him that ſent me, that every one that ſeeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlaſting life: The poor Sinner that by Faith betakes himſelf to Gods Promiſe the Promiſe cannot fail him, becauſe the Mediator is conſidered as the party, to whom the Promiſe is made; and the abſolute Salvation and Redemption of Believers is in the ſame place Promiſed; Though they be in hazard through many Sins, indwelling Luſts, Tentations and Snares, to be drawn away, yet they ſhall have eternal life, they ſhall never periſh, none ſhall pluck his ſheep out of his band; He ſhall ſee his ſeed, of all that are given him, he ſhall loſs none: This would commend believing to us, as a ſure and ſicker bargain; becauſe the ground of our Faith is Articled betwixt God and the Mediator, and it's as Impoſſible that it can fail, as it's impoſſible that God can be unfaithful, and that the Mediator can fail, in that He is ingaged. Again, if ye look to promiſes of publick mercies, as that He ſhall have a Church in the World, and that ſhe ſhall be continued and preſerved, &c. Theſe Promiſes ſhall certainly be performed, as that, Pſal. 2.6. I have ſet my king upon my holy hill of zion, ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thy inhe…itance, and the uttermoſt ends of the ea…th for thy p…ſſeſſion: A fruit of which promiſe, is our Preaching, and your Hearing the Goſpel here this day; and the Promiſes, Pſal. 89. from verſe 20. and forward, With him my hand ſhall be eſtabliſhed, and my arme ſhall strengthen him, the enemy ſhall not exact upon him, nor the ſon of wickedneſs afflict him; I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him, I will ſet his hand on the ſea, and his right hand on the rivers; I will make him my firſt-born higher then all the kings of the earth, my mercy will I keep for him, his ſeed ſhall endure for ever, if his children forſake my law, then I will viſit their tranſgreſſion with the rod; nevertheleſs my loving kindneſs I will not utterly take from them, nor ſuffer my faithfulneſſe to fail. There is, Hoſ. 3. A promiſe of the ingathering of the Jews: And, Iſa. 9.6. It's ſaid, that The government ſhall be upon his ſhoulders, and of the increaſe of his government there ſhall be no end: And, Revel. 11.15. It is proclaimed, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Chriſt: All theſe, and many the like Promiſes, ſhall be accompliſhed; though the World ſhould be turned upſide down every monethmonth once, let be every year; The ground of the Churches continuance, and preſervation is not, becauſe ſuch and ſuch perſons govern: otherwayes, what would have become of the Church when Antichriſt prevailled, but the promiſes made to the Mediator: Here lyeth the Chriſtians peace, when he hath to do with challenges, it's impoſſible that the Believer in Chriſt can periſh: And here is inſured the Churches preſervation, even by Gods promiſe to the Mediator, that He ſhall have a Seed, and that many ſhall be Juſtified, that He ſhall divide the Spoil: And though we ſee but very little appearance of the ſpreading of the Goſpel amongſt the Jews, and Pagans, or where Antichriſt reigns; the viſible Church being now for many years rather incroached upon then extended; yet there is not one Word here promiſed, but it ſhall be accompliſhed; And this is both a ground of our peace, and of our confidence in prayer, as it is, Pſal. 7.2. Prayer alſo ſhall be made for him continually, and dayly ſhall he be praiſed: Two ſweet exerciſes, dayly to be praying for that which is in the pattern of prayer, Let thy kingdom come, and dayly to be praiſing Him for the coming of His Kingdom.
But 2ly. What is ſpoken of Chriſt the Mediators part, we take it for granted, that there is nothing ſpoken of, but it is, or ſhall be performed; The Father ingages to perform to Him, whatever Promiſes are made to Him, becauſe He hath performed whatever He undertook; and although Iſaiah, long ere the Meſſiah came in the Fleſh, ſpake of it as a thing done in the preterit, or by-paſt time, when as yet it was not actually done; yet He doth ſo, becauſe it was as certain as if it had been already done: Obſerve, hence, That there is no part of Chriſts undertaking, as Mediator in the Covenant of Redemption, but it is, and ſhall be actually performed; O! but there are two reſponſal and faithful Par ies in this Covenant; it is not God and Adam who brake the Covenant, and played the Traitor; but it's God upon the one ſide, and the Mediator Immanuel God with us, on the other ſide: Therefore there is faithfulneſſe in the Mediators performing according to His undertaking, as well as there is faithfulneſſe in Gods performing whatever He hath ſpoken of Him, or promiſed to Him: Ye ſhall only take two or three teſtimonies for this; The, 1. is Matth. 3.14. and 17.5. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleaſed; He undertook to ſatisfie for the Elects Debt, and hath accordingly performed it, ſo that the Father is well pleaſed, A 2d. is, John 17.4. Where He appeareth before the Father, and uſeth it for an argument for His Glorifying him with the ſame glory he had with the father before the world was: I have glorified thee on earth, I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do; I have gotten a taſk, and piece of Work committed to me, and now it's performed; And that other Word which He hath on the Croſs, is remarkable to this purpoſe; It's finiſhed: Now the taſk and work is ended, and I have no more to do, but preſently to paſſe to the Victory, and to the dividing of the Spoil: And a 3d. Teſtimony is our Lord Jeſus His aſcenſion to Heaven, and the glory that He will appear in, at the day of Judgement, when His Kingdom ſhall be conſummat; That ſhall be a proof and teſtimony, that He left nothing undone, that was given Him to do, that He bare the Sins of many, that He gave His back to the ſmiters, and His cheeks to them that pulled of the hair, and that He ſatisfied juſtice freely, and aſcended to Heaven, as it is, 1 Tim. 3.16. Great is the myſtery of Godlineſs, ſaith the Apoſtle, God was manifeſted in the fleſh, justified in the ſpirit, fully abſolved, as having performed all whatſoever He undertook, Seen of Angels and raiſed up unto glory.
Uſe, This is alſo, though a general, yet a very comfortable Doctrine, to the People of God; in as far, as from it, they may know that there is no more to be payed to the Juſtice of God for the Sins of the Elect; It hath gotten full Satisfaction, The Cautioner hath payed all their Debt, and is now exercing His Offices, for applying to them His purchaſe; making interceſſion for them, overſeeing them, proving a Tutor to them, guiding them, and all that concerns them, and His Church; even doing all things well, managing the affairs of His Fathers houſe, as a Son, and He cannot but guide all well, Other ſheep, ſaith He, I have, which are not of this fold, them I must bring in, and they ſhall hear my voice, and I give them eternal life, and they ſhall never periſh; A moſt pregnant ground of comfort to the Believer, that his eternal well-being cannot but be ſure, and ſicker, becauſe it hath the Father and the Mediator their faithfulneſſe ingaged for it; If Jehovah perform the Promiſes made to the Mediator, and if the Mediator perform His ingagement, to Jehovah, and raiſe up Believers at the laſt day, then it muſt follow, that their Salvation is ſure: This is the main ground on which Believers peace is founded; and here we may allude to that, Heb. 6. He hath ſworn by two immutable things, wherein it is impoſſible for God to lie, that the heirs of promiſe, who are fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope ſet before them, may have strong conſolation: even ſo here, There are two immutable things, to wit, Gods promiſe to the Mediator, and God will, and muſt keep His Word to Him, and the Mediators ingagement to God, and He will and muſt keep His Word to Him; And indeed we have good proof of both already: For it was this ingagement that made the Father ſend the Son of His Love, out of His boſome, to be incarnat, and to undergo the work of Elect Sinners Redemption; and it was this ingagement that made the Mediator die; of whom the Father exacted the Price, till He declared Himſelf Satisfied, and well pleaſed: Now when theſe things that ſeemed moſt difficult are accompliſhed, what can fail?
1. Then there is here ground to fix our Faith upon, and indeed there is need to fix it rightly; The ground that our Salvation, and Perſeverance in the Faith is founded on, is not our continuing to Pray, to Believe, and to Love God, but this ingagement betwixt the Father and the Son; and it is the cauſe procuring the other, as an neceſſary and infallibly certain effect; It's mainly on this, that believers ſhuld reſt quiet and confident. 2. It ſhould make Believers humble and cheerful, ſeeing, though they be weak in themſelves, yet here they have a grip, and hold for every hand, as it were; Jehovah's Word, and the Mediators Word for their through bearing. 3. It ſhould much commend believing, and the ſtate of a Believer, who have ſuch ground of aſſurance; The greateſt Monarch on earth hath not ſuch ground of aſſurance for his Dinner or Supper, as the poor Believer hath for eternal Life; For the Word ſpoken by Jehovah to the Mediator, and the undertaking of the Mediator to Jehovah, cannot fail; and the Believer hath that to reſt upon, as the ground of his aſſurance.
More particularly, The Articles on the Mediators ſide are (as I ſaid) in theſe Four expr…ſſions, He hath poured out his ſoul unto death; He was numbred with the tranſgreſsours, he bare the ſins of many; and made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſours: 1. He muſt die, expreſſed in theſe Words, He poured out his ſoul unto death; Which implyes Three things. 1. That it is an Article of the Covenant of Redemption, and of the Mediators undertaking that he ſhould die for Sinners; And ſo it is a needleſſe, curious, and unwarrantable diſpute, whether fallen man might have been redeemed any other way, or whether a drop of His blood was not enough to redeem man? becauſe we ſee here it is Determined, and Articled in the Covenant of Redemption, that He ſhould die, Jehovah will have the Mediator dying; And be poſſible what may to Gods Soveraignity (which we would not make to claſh with His Juſtice, nor His Juſt ce with His Soveraignity) this may bound and limit us, that it's concluded in this Covenant of Redemption, that the Mediator ſhall lay down His Life, and it being concluded; It's certain. 1. That God hath given man a Law, threatning him, that if he ſhould break that Law, he ſhould die. 2. That all Mankind, and ſo the Elect have broken that Law, and ſo are lyable to the Threatning and Curſe. 3. That the Mediator became Cautioner, and undertook to ſatisfie for the Elects Debt; it was neceſſary that He ſhould die becauſe He undertook to pay their Debt, and to ſatisfie for their Sin, which was death by the Law to them; and ſo the Juſtice of God is vindicat, He cannot be called unjuſt, nor partial, nor unholy, though He do not actually puniſh every Sinner, that hath Sinned in his own Perſon, becauſe Gods holineſſe and Juſtice appears conſpicuouſly, that He would rather execute what was due to the Elect on His own Son, then that their Sins ſhould go unpuniſhed: And conſidering the nature of the Mediators death, that it was a violent and curſed death, that which had extream anguiſh and ſorrow going before, and alongſt with it; It ſhews that the Lord hath purpoſly taken that way, to make it known how bitter a thing Sin is, how terrible a thing His Wrath is, and how holily ſevere His Law is; and to let all know that it is a dreadful thing to come in topes with Him, who did ſo put His own Son to it.
Uſe, 1. This Doctrine, though it hath been ſpoken to before, is a ſoveraign Doctrine, yea, the Soveraign Doctrine, and the corner ſtone of all Religion; That Chriſt hath died for the Sins of His People; It gives us acceſſe to preach the Goſpel, which is therefore called, the preaching of Chriſt crucified; know therefore, and believe that the Mediator died; and that it behoved Him to die: For it was required as a condition of the Covenant of Redemption, to be performed by Him, to which He yeelded, and conſented; O! what love is here to article ſuch a thi…g before Sinners had any Being; It was more then to be hungry and thirſty, and weary, He behoved to die, and to be made a curſe; when Sacrifices and burnt Offerings will not do; He ſayes, Lo I come in the volumne of the book, it's written of me, I delight to do will, O! my God, I hearitily accept of the bargain.
Uſe, 2. It ſpeaks an ſadly alarming Word to all you who are ſecure Athieſts, and care not for the Wrath of God; O! what will become of you, when the Wrath of God and you ſhall meet; If Sin brought the Cautioner to death, O! what Wrath ſhal ye come under, when ye ſhall be put to reckon for your own Sins? The ſmitting of the Sheperd was more then if all the Sheep had been ſmitten; and though now ye think little of Sin, yet the day comes wherein ye ſhall know to your coſt, that it is an evil and bitter thing to depart from God, and that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Uſe, 3. See here the neceſſity of making uſe of Chriſts Death, either ye muſt do it, or die, and come under the Curſe of God your ſelves; there is not a midſe; If ye have Sin, how will it be gotten put by and ſatisfied for? not by your Prayers; let be by a laughter or ſmile; nor by your living of an honeſt life, as ye call it, Chriſt had infinitly more of this then any of you, and yet He got not Sin ſo put by; we may here allude to that, Eccleſ. 8.8. There is no diſcharge in tbat war, neither ſhall wickedneſs deliver theſe that are given to it; Death when it hath a commiſſion, and Gods Terrour backing it, O! how will it handle the ſecure ſtubborn Sinner, when the hand of God ſhall purſue him eternally? Alace, what are many doing that never fear the Wrath of God, that ſuſpend, put of, and delay the cloſing of their accompts, and all endeavours to die to Sin, and to live to Righteouſneſſe; and either paſſe over their dayes as Athieſts, or as formal Hypocrites; and ſuch are ſome of you, that hear me this day, who never ſeek to be found in Chriſt, nor to improve His death to the mortifying of Sin; What will ye do in the day when ye ſhall be called to a reckoning? ye will curſe the day that ever ye heard the Goſpel, and that this was concluded that Chriſt ſhould die, it will be the ſavour of death to you, through all eternity; and will be the moſt Soul-ſearching, and tormenting Word that ever ye heard; and ye will wiſh that the Work of Redemption had never been heard of, nor reſolved upon.
Uſe, 4. It's a comfortable, and encourraging Word to ſenſible Sinners; ſuch betaking themſelves to Chriſt, may be ſure to get good of Him; for He hath payed the Price already, and hath given His Word for it, That ſuch as believe in him ſhall never periſh, but that he will raiſe them up at the laſt day: Ye would not think that it will be diſpleaſing, or diſſatisfying to the Father, or to the Son, that ye come to Him, and take hold of Him; for it was for that end that God ſent Him, and that He laid down His Life, and died, (but He dies no more) It will be no trouble to Him, but ſatisfaction to His Soul, for all the travel of it, to make application of His purchaſe to you; And ſeing it will not diſpleaſe, but be moſt acceptable to Him, that ye believe on Him, and be ſaved by Him, and ſince not believing rubes ſhame, in a manner upon Him, why do ye not betake your ſelves unto Him by Faith, for His ſatisfaction, and your own Salvation?
2dly. He not only died, but it's ſaid, He poured out his ſoul unto death, which implyes two things. 1. The intenſneſs of it, it was an uncouth and ſtrange Death, not only was His Body afflicted, but His Soul was poured out. 2. It looks to His good will, readineſs, and cheerfulneſſe in dying; Father, (as if He had ſaid) muſt I die? and wilt thou have my Soul ſorrowful, and heavy? I am content to be ſo, thou ſhalt have my Life, He comes not prigging to die, (to ſpeak ſo) but caſts down His bleſſed Life at His Fathers feet, and plentifully gives it out to the uttermoſt, ſo that He will not, as it were, leave one drop of His Blood, but will needs pour and yett it out in aboundance, even all of it.
Hence, Obſerve, That our bleſſed Lord Jeſus was moſt hearty in laying down His Life for Sinners, was moſt cheerful in undertaking, and moſt willing and cheerful in executing what He did undertake; He makes not two Words of the bargain, (to ſpeak ſo) but when Sacrifice and Offering will not do it, as it is, Pſal. 40. Then ſayes He, Lo, I come in the volumne of the book, it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: There is no ſtanding nor diſputing here on the Mediators ſide, but a preſent willing and heartſome undertaking, Therefore, Prov. 8. He ſayes, Though he was continually with the father, even from everlaſting; yet his delights were with the ſons of men, rejoycing in the habitable parts of the earth: Ere ever the World was made, ere there was a Sinner in beeing to be redeemed, He rejoyced before hand, thinking there would be ſuch an opportunity to manifeſt His good will, grace and mercy; And if we look through the Goſpel, how often will we find this made good? No man taketh my life from me, but (ſaith He) I lay it down of my ſelf, and I take it up again: and when they came to take Him and Peter drew his ſword, he ſaid, Could not I command twelve legions of Angels; but all that is written of me muſt be fulfilled: I have bargained to lay down my Life, and it muſt be; and I have a baptiſme to be baptized with▪ and how am I ſtraitned till it be accompliſhed? and when it came to be accompliſhed, though He gave evidences of His power, in making them fall backward, who came to apprehend Him, yet He raiſes them again, and goes with them; And when they mock Him, and buffet Him, and nod the head at Him, and bring Him to the Bar, and queſtion Him, and when they ſaid, If thou be the king of Iſrael come down from the croſs, and we will believe on thee; which we may think He could have done, though they were but tempting Him; yet in all theſe He is ſilent, and never opens His mouth, till He come to that, It is finiſhed: He never ſpake a repyning word: It was wonderfully much to ſuffer, and to die ſo cheerfully, but to pour out His Soul unto Death, to take His Life in His own hand, and to be ſo holily prodigal of it, as to pour it out, there having never been ſuch a precious Life, and ſo precious Blood poured out; this was much more.
Uſe, It ſhews what eſteem ye ſhould have of Souls, and every one of you, of your own Souls: Our Lord Jeſus poured out His Soul unto Death for Souls; He values Souls ſo much, that He gave His precious Life for them: Therefore it's ſaid, 1 Pet. 1.19. We are not redeemed with corruptible things, as ſilver and gold, but with the precious blood of Chriſt▪ If He eſteemed ſo much of Soul…, what will it be thought of when ye waſte your Souls, and ye know not whereon? He bought Soul… dear, and ye ſel them cheap, for a little Silver or Gold, or for that which is worſe, and far leſſe worth: what an unſuitableneſs is here betwixt Chriſts eſtimation of Souls, and yours, betwixt His buying them at ſo dear a rate, and your caſting them away, for that which is very vanity? What do the moſt part of you get for your Souls? Some a bit Land, ſome a Houſe, ſome a feckleſſe Pleaſure, ſome a Sport, ſome the ſatisfaction of their Luſt, or a moments ſinful mirth; O! pitifully poor bargain; what will become of that mirth, or luſt, or pleaſure, of this houſe, or of that land, when Kings, and great Men will lye crawling, like ſo many wormes before the Lamb? ye will not get your Houſe or Land with you, ye will not get leave to wear your brave cloathes, ye will have no Silver nor Gold in your Purſe, in that day; And ſuppoſe ye had it, the Redemption of the Soul is precious, and ceaſeth for ever by any ſuch Price: It's a wonderful thing, that when Chriſt eſteems ſo much of Souls, that Sinners ſhould eſteem ſo little of them; Is it not juſt that ſuch Souls ſhould go to hell, when they eſteemed them ſo little worth?
Uſe, 2. It ſhould teach you to love, and heartily to welcome this Lord Jeſus Chriſt; what argument of Love, and of Truſt, what motive to welcome Him, can there be, if this be not? That He ſpared not His Life, but poured it out unto death for Sinners; How long ſhall we halt betwixt Chriſt and Belial? We dow not endure to mortifie a Luſt, to want our Sport and Laughter, or a bit of our credit or honour, though it ſhould coſt us the want of Chriſt: But, O! ingrate fool, is that a becoming requital to Him, that took His innocent Soul in His hand, and poured it out for Sinners, and when it was ſome way melted, like leid in the fire of Gods Wrath, was content to yett it forth abundantly, out of love to their Salvation? Should it not rather call for love to Him, for truſting and welcoming of Him; and to Suffering for His ſake, if He call you to it? Will ye ſkar to hazard your life for Him, that poured out His Soul for Sinners? It would do a Soul good to think how willingly, and cheerfully He Suffered; But, Alace! how reluctantly, and unwillingly come we under Suffering for Him? However, let me commend theſe three Words to you. 1. Love Him, For even Publicans will love theſe that love them, and give Chriſt love for love. 2. Credit and Truſt Him, do not look for ill at His hand, what ground is there to ſuſpect Him? It is His glory to do good to Sinners, and He counts them His triumph and ſpoil; and to make conqueſt of them, He poured out His Soul unto Death, or as the Word is, Phil. 2. He emptied himſelf; Which ſeems to look to this Word of the Prophet, and is not that warrand ſufficient for you, to truſt and credit Him, and to lay the weight of what concerns you upon Him? And 3. welcome Him, which is a fruit of Faith and Love, He is a ſweet wooer, He is that good ſhepherd that laid down his life for his ſheep, he gave himſelf for his church, as it is, Epheſ. 5. Therefore, I ſay, welcome Him; This is the great thing the Goſpel aims at, ſuch expreſſions are a great deepth, and it would require time to read, to ponder them, and to wonder at them; and we would be much in praying for a right uptaking of them.
3dly. From the connexion, Becauſe, He hath poured out His Soul unto death, Obſerve. That our Lord Jeſus His willing condeſcending to die, is moſt acceptable to the Father; Therefore He ſayes, I will give him a portion with the great, and be ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong, becauſe, He hath done ſo and ſo, and all the Promiſes made to Him confirm this; That is a wonderful Word, John 10.17. Therefore does my father love me, becauſe I lay down my life for the ſhe…p: The only begotten, and beloved Son of the Father, cannot but be loved; Yet He ſayes, Therefore, or on this account, does my father love me; That is, as I am Mediator, the F…t…ers Miniſter, Steward, or Deput, in this Work of the Redemption of Sinners; and becauſe I ſo willingly and cheerfully lay down my ſelf for them, He hath given me this Victory and Glory; So well pleaſing to God is the willing and cheerful death of the Mediator, that it ſhould be admired by us: and ſhould have this weight laid on it by us, that ſeing cheerfulneſs in obedience is ſo acceptable to God, we would ſtudy it, for He loves a cheerful giver, and cheerfulneſſe in any duty: It's much we have this word to ſpeak of to you, many Nations never heard it, and ye would make ſome other Uſe of it, then if ye had never heard it; O! but it will be dreadful to ſuch as have heard it, and do ſlight it, their Souls ſhall be poured out into Hell, even ſquized, and wrung eternally by the Wrath of God; Therefore look not lightly on it; do not think all this tranſaction of Grace to be for nought; If we were ſerious, we would wonder what it means: Alace! we think little or nothing, to make our peace with God; and yet all this buſineſs is ere the matter can be brought about; It's a great evidence of the ſtupidity, ſenſleſſeneſſe, and abſurd unblief of many, that they think nothing of Sin and Wrath, and of the hazard that their Souls are in; and that they look at peace with God as an eaſie buſineſs; But one day it wil be found to be a great matter to be at peace with Him, that Sin is bitter, and Wrath heavy; and that to be in good terms with God, is better then a thouſand Worlds, God Himſelf make you wiſe to think ſeriouſly on it in time.