A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 113 (Question 29)
SERMON CXIII.
QUESTION XXIX.
HOW are we made partakers of the Redemption purchaſed by Chriſt?
ANSWER.
We are made partakers of the Redemption purchaſed by Chriſt, by the effectual Application of it to …s by His Holy Spirit.
We formerly obſerved, that in the Anaſ…ſy or Reſſi…ſion of fallen man, there are two parts, viz Redemption and Application. The former of theſe hath been confidered of, as being undertaken and compleatly accomol ſhed by the Son of God in our Nature. We are now to take an Account of the latter, which is aſcribed to the Holy Spirit; an Introduction to which is made by the Queſtion & Anſwer before us. And there are three things plainly expreſſ, which may at preſent be a little laid open, viz.
1. That we muſt be made Partakers of this Redemption, in order to our Salvation.
2. That this muſt be by a particular Application of it to us.
3. That the Holy Spirit of God is the Author of this Application.
I. THAT we muſt be made Partakers of this Redemption, in order to our Salvation. Here obſerve.
1. THAT the great deſign of Chriſts Redemption, is ſhe Salvation of his Redeemed. He muſt have ſome end in this great Work. No wiſe Agent doth any thing, but with an aim at ſomething which be would bring about by if. Now they are in a great miſtake, who think that this was only to render mankind ſalvable, as if it ended there, and were left to the liberty of men, whether they will be ſaved by it or no. Were it ſo, there would not be one ſaved, and ſo it would loſe its Glory. For no man will of his own accord, left to himſelf, accept of Salvation by it. Chriſt wrought out this Redemption for thoſe that wh… … him of his Father to redeem, and th… … not any of them be loft. Joh. 6.39. … is the Father's will which hath ſent … all which be hub given me, I ſhould …ſe … but ſhould raiſe it up again at the l…ft …
THE … …p…i…n itſelf, as is … Prieſtly. Office, doth not actually pa… … ſlate of Salvation. There is indeed a … tion by Power, which doth give … and ſo brings them into this ſtate; … which is by Price doth not: but only … way for it. This Price is laid down … accepted by God on the account of … Elect, and they ſhall in due t… … full benefit of it. But this not…ith … They are born Children of …ath as … 2.3. There is a time wherein they … God and hope, &c. ver. 12. And … with every natural man, whiles be … to be in a ſtate of unregeneracy. … we our ſelves alſo were ſometimes … bedient, deceived, ſerving divers luſ… … ſures, living in malice and enry, … bating one another.
3. HENCE, That we may be ſaved by … Redemption muſt be made ours, we … ſhare in it, and title to it. It is cer… … all men do not obrain Salvation by it … withſtanding Chriſt hath paid an inf… … ſufficient to anſwer for all the W… … there are thoſe whom Chriſt doth … but after all that he hath done, they … for ever: and the reaſon of it muſt … becauſe they have no part or portion … Redemption; they can lay no cla… … It is not therefore enough to ſatisfy … that Chriſt hath done this work, … can appropriate it to himſelf, and … as Paul doth, Gal. 2.20. I am crue… … Chriſt. Nevertheleſs I live …yet not … liveth in me: and the life which I … the fleſh, I live by the ſaith of Son … who loved me, and gave himſelf for ….
II. THAT his muſt be by a particular Application of it to us. And here we are to confider, the Neceſſity of Application. In order to which it is requiſite that we obſerve the Na… of it, from which the Neceſſity is to be …. The particulars of this will be aſ…s confidered. Here only in general … and beneſefits of Chriſts Redemption to us … the … of the New Government. … benefits were purchaſed and laid in by …ption, but they became ours by a Con… that is made of them; and there … in and by which this Conveyance is … when theſe two are laid open, … will undeniably appear.
1. … i… a Conveyance… of theſe fruits … to us, be which they become ours, … the very eſſence of Application. Now … there moſt be ſuch a Conveyance, will be … if … confider,
(1.) THAT it is from the Vertne of theſe …its & benefits that our Salvation must ſlow …betain that the ground and ſt…gth of … Salvation is laid in Chriſt's Redemption. The … net gone through that Work, no fleſh … have been ſaved. There was all that …qui…i…e to make us everlaſtingly happy …. What thoſe fruits and benefits … be afterwards conſidered. But it is … that our felicity cannot exceed the … …f them, becauſe it entirely depends … them. And the reaſon why we hope … pleat Salvation, is becauſe Chriſt is … ſave is to the uttermoſt, Heb. 7.25. … he is able alſo to ſ… them to the …, that come unto God by him ſ…ing be …ith to make interceſſion for them. It … not died, we could not have lived. … not ſatisfyed, we could not have been … if he had not purchaſed we could …work… …ve poſſeſſed. It is therefore the … of theſe, that we have alone to reſt ….
(2.) THAT is it not …ough that they have … in them, except it be derived unto …. Th…re muſt be a communication of them … uſe we ſhall not be advantaged by …. There is a glorious proviſion made in … Redemption of Chriſt for poor Sinners; … moſt receive it, and live upon it, if … they be any thing the better for it. An … S…ve, though it have never ſo much … to it, will not heal a wound, unleſs … it. The wholſomeſt Food will not … the body, except it be eaten; nor will … the Soul unleſs applied. Hence we … ſo expreſſing himſelf, Joh. 6.53. … ſaid unto them, Verily, Verily I ſay … Except ye cat the fleſh of the Son of … drink his blood, ye have no life in you. … ſufficiency will not do for us, without …acy of it working upon us. His Righ…neſs can anſwer the Law in all its de… for us, but it will not juſtify us except … …pured to us. He hath Grace enough in him to ſanctify us, but it will not make us holy till it be infuſed into us. He hath paid for the eternal Kingdom, but in order to our enjoying it we muſt be put in poſſeſion.
(3.) HENCE, it is by this Conveyance that we are put … ſtate of Salvation. There was indeed an appointment to Salvation antecedent to it, but that made no change in out ſtave; not yet did the purchaſe of it which was made by Chriſt in fulneſs of time. There is after all this … a… paſſing from death to life; and that is do…e by applying of Chiriſt to at as a Redeemer. When his active and poſſive Obedience are made over to be, by the j…ti…ying act of Grace, then is the death of the worſe re…o…ed, and we are adjudged to Uſe: and when the ſanctifying Grace of Chriſt is derived to us by the renewing act, then … have a ſpiritual life put into us. Hence that; Eph. 2.1. And you …ath be q…cknod who were … in treſ…ſſes and …. And …rill this be …e, the curſe li… on us, we lie open to the wrath of God, and are under the doubled of ſpiritual Death.
(4.) HENCE alſo, All … Claim & Titles to theſe fruit: and … from this Conveyance. It is true, all … commit and hope, flows originally from the Redemption itſelf, and we muſt refer it altim…tely to that. According to Ro…. 8.24. … be that's condemneth? It is Chriſt that d…d, you rather … is riſen again, who is even at the right h… of God who alſo … for us. But ſtill, that we may or can ſafely derive this comfort and hope to our Souls; and have an undeceiving aſſurance that it is our own, the moſt be able, … or by to ſay that Chriſt hath done and died, and riſes; and … poſſeſſion of all for his People; for … …y every one that hath heard the report of the Goſpel, and given a literal credit … ſay, and yet be never the better for is … but alſo, that al this be made ours, that which are received it. It hath been offered to … but theſe only have the good of it. Hence that, John. 1.12, 13. But as many as … him, to the… give be power to become the ſons … God, even to them that believe on his N…e … which were born, not of blood, not of the will of the fleſh, … of the will of man, that of God. Accordingly we have ſuch an expreſſions in Col. 1. …. To whom God would make … w…at is the riches of the glory af…bis myſtery among the Gentiles, which is Chriſt in young the hop… of glory.
2. THAT this Conveyance is according to the tenor of the New Covenant. And the conſideration of this will further evince the Neceſſity of this Application.—And here obſerve
(1.) THAT the ruſtering of fallen man from miſery to felicity, is brought about in the …ay of a Covenant. On this account it is that we ſo often read of God's making a New Covenant. When he ſpeaks of beſtowing ſaving good upon his Choſen, this is the way in which infinite Wiſdom hath ſeen meet to tranſact with man. And as there was a Covenant, by the violation of which man was left, ſo God hath appointed another, according to which he ſhall again be recovered. And ſo neceſſary is this Covenant, in order to man's well being. that to be without Covenant, and without Hope, are made parallel, Eph. 2.12.
(2.) THAT in this Covenant there are Terms according to which the benefits thereof are offered. God in treating with man in it, propoſeth great benefits to them to be enjoyed by them, even all thoſe benefits which Jeſus Chriſt hath purchaſed by his Redemption, in which are Grace and Glory, and every good thing contained. Pſal. 84.11. For the Lord God it a ſun and ſhield: the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will be withhold from them that walk uprightly. They are called great and precious promiſes, 2 Pet. 1.4. But theſe are not abſolutely given, but hypothetically offered in this Treaty. So that the Covenant not only exhibits the things, but alſo ſhews us the way in which we may be partakers in them. We therefore read of a way of Peace, and a may of Salvation: In which is ſhown to us, what muſt be done in and by us, if ever we inherit the Promiſes.
(3.) THAT theſe Terms are by the Covenant made neceſſary. They are not only propoſed as things convenient, but they are things that do, and muſt accompany Salvation. As, Heb. 6.9. And though God hath put it into the promiſe of the Covenant of Redemption, that he will work theſe things in all thoſe whom he hath given to Chriſt, yet in the offers of the Covenant of Grace he requires them of us, Mich. 6.8. He hath ſhewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, bud to do juſtly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. And the demand is ſo poſitively made in the Goſpel, that the coming ſhort of thoſe terms, is threatned with a loſs of the good promiſed. Not only is the promiſe upon a ſuppoſition, if you repent and believe; but the loſs of all this good is denounced on failure of this, Mar. 16.16. Joh. 3.36. Rom. 8.13. Heb. 12.14. And frequently elſewhere.
(4.) THAT in the plighting of this Covenant, theſe terms are wrought in the man. God never ratifies the Covenant to any but in this way, and therefore until this be done in man, it is a ſure evidence that they are ſtrangers to the Covenant. When therefore God ſpeaks of making a new Covenant with his People, he tells them what he will do in them upon this account, Jer. 31, 33. But this ſhall be the Covenant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael, After thoſe days, ſaith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they ſhall to my people. And elſewhere he tells them that he will bring them under the bond of the Covenant, Ezek. 20.33. i. e. they ſhall be made to comply with all that is therein required of them.
(5.) THAT in, and upon the working of theſe terms in us, Chriſt, with all his benefits becomes ours; who was not ſo before. We muſt be entituled to Chriſt himſelf, if we would be able to challenge his benefits. It is obtain that we are ſtrangers to him, and … intereſt in him, in our natural eſtate. … is in and by the new Covenant, that he becomes ours, it being a Covenant of Eſ…. And hence it is ſo expreſſed, Hoſ. 2. … And in that day will I make a cou… … them with the beaſts of the field, and … the fowls of beaven, and with the creepi… … of the ground: and I will break the … ſword, and the battel out of the earth, and … make them to lie down ſafely. And I will … thee unto me for ever, yea, I will be… … unto me in righteouſneſs, and in … in mercies. I will even betroth thee … faithfulneſs, and thou ſhalt know the Lord. … here he tells us what he expects, if we … and he ours; and upon our actual con… thereto the Covenant is ratifyed. Now … things amount to the Application … conſidering of, and ſo ſtand to ratify the … ceſſity of it.
III. THAT the Holy Spirit of god in the Author of this Application. It is he, … only that doth produce it, as the e…cie… of it. The Word indeed is uſed by him … Inſtrument, which he makes improvement as he ſees meer, in the production of it, … that can do nothing without him, … he can do without that; and all the … that is wronght by it derives from him. … when this is attributed to the Holy … is not to be underſtood excluſive of th… … two Glorious Perſons of the Trinity; … the divine Works that are done by God … of himſelf, are common to the Trining … hence this is aſcribed both to the Fa… … 6.44. No man can come to me, except the … which both ſent me, draw him. And to … Joh. 12.32. And I, if I be liſted … earth, will draw all men unto me. But … hath a more peculiar aſſignation in … to the Holy Ghoſt, and for that reaſon … uſeth that as an argument to convi… … Diſciples of the need of his going from … as to his bodily preſence, that ſo he … make way for the Spirit's coming to … work. Joh. 16.7. Nevertheleſs, I tell … truth, it is expedient for you that I go …: for if I go no: away, the Comforter will … unto you: but if I depart, I will ſend him … you. And he tells them what the work … that he ſhould do when he came, ver. 13. … beit, when he the Spirit of truth is come, … guide you into all truth: for he ſhall … of himſelf; but whatſoever he ſhall …, the ſhall be ſpeak, & he will ſh…w you things to …. The regenerate are therefore ſaid to be … of the Spirit, Joh. 3.6. Here then we may … ſee that it is a divine Work, and them the reaſon why it is aſcribed to the Holy ….
1. THAT the work of Application is a … Work, will be evident if we conſider … things,
(1.) THAT the things that are done in only this Application, are works of Omnip…. There is nothing leſs than Almighty Power created in every part of Application. The Work of Converſion, which comprehends under it the Change itſelf that is wrought in to, whereby Chriſt and we are brought together, of Unbelievers we are made Believers, of Sinners, Saints, is compared to thoſe things which are above all the vertue of any created power, viz. a Creation, 2 Cor. 5.17. Therefore away man be in Chriſt, he is a new creature; … things are paſt away, behold, all things are … new. A Reſurrection or Quickning, …. 2.1. And you hath he quickned who were … in treſpaſſes and ſins. And in this reſpect it is aſcribed to the ſame power which was at work in raiſing Chriſt from the dead, Eph. 1.19, 20. And what is the exceeding greatneſs of his power to us ward who believe, according to the … of his mighty power: Which he wrought it Chriſt when he raiſed him from the dead, & ſet him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.
(2.) IT muſt needs therefore exceed the power of men or of means to do it. That God makes are of men and means in the doing of it, is not becauſe they have the vertue in them. They muſt all ſay here, as they did in another caſe. Act. 3.12. And when Peter ſaw it, he anſwered unto the people, Ye men of Iſrael, why navel ye at this? or why look ye ſo earneſtly is …, as though by our own power or holineſs, are had made this man to walk? But it is that his power may be ſeen and acknowledged, by the weakneſs of the Inſtruments. Hence … obſervable Speech of Paul, 2. Cor. 4.7. … have this treaſure in earthen veſſels, … the excellency of the power may be of God, … of us. He therefore refers the whole … of all, endeavours of Man to God, … 3.6. And we are given to underſtand … the new birth, which is the product of …, is to be attributed to no ſecond … but only to the firſt, Joh. 1.13.
(3.) HENCE, The Inſtrumental efficacy of the means is meerly moral. It is true, the … contained in the Word of God is the … that is applied; but in point of efficiency, Man can only apply it to us by way of …aſion according to which it is ſuited a… … Man by, as a reaſonable Creature, and … agent. But the power to diſcern the excellency of the Truth, and ſo to approve and embrace it, and to chuſe and cloſe … Chriſt, who is offered in it, muſt come … a ſuperior agent; becauſe in the doing … blind mind muſt be illuminated, and the rebellious heart ſubdued, Acts 26.18. and this they cannot do of themſelves.
(4.) HENCE, till God applies His Vertue … them, there is no ſaving efficacy at all by them upon Men. Men may ſit all their lives under the moſt clear and lively diſpenſation of the Goſpel, and yet remain in their unbelief and impenitence. Yea, woful experience … that there are a great many that do ſo; and ſo they will, till the Arm of God is … to them, Iſai. 53.1. What made … to hearken to Paul? Acts 16.14. What makes any of God's Servants ſucceſsful in the Converſion of ſinners, but the influence of that promiſe? Mat. 28.20. And …, I am with you alway even unto the end of the World, Amen.
2. IF the Reaſon be asked, Way this is more peculiarly aſcribed to the Holy Spirit? Let theſe things be obſerved,
(1.) THAT the Spirit being equal in Glory to the other two Perſons, muſt have ſome great Work aſcribed to him, that the glorious manner of his ſubſisting & working may appear, and that he may have the declarative glory of it aſcribed to him from us, and that all men may honour him, as they honour the Father, and the Son. Now Creation is peculiarly aſcribe to the Father, and Redemption to the Son, and what other great Work remains to be attributed to the Spirit but this? Hence we read, 1 Cor. 12.13. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be fews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free: and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. Joh. 10.8, 9. And when he, i.e. the Spirit, is come he will reprove the world of ſin, & of righteouſneſs & of judgment. Of ſin, becauſe they believe not on me. Of righteouſneſs, becauſe I go to my Father, and ye ſoe me no more. 1 Cor. 2.10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit ſearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
(2.) THAT all the Divine Perſons are to ſhew their wondrous Love in the recovery of fallen man. And this each doth according to his manner of working. There muſt be that then wherein the Holy Ghoſt diſplays his Love in his manner of working. Believers are ſaid to be the houſe of God, and all muſt ſhew their good will to this houſe. God the Father manifeſts his in chuſing of it, Eph. 1.4. God the Son hath abundantly declared his in purchaſing of, and the price which he laid down for it, Act. 20.28. And now the Holy Ghoſt diſplays his, in taking poſſeſſion of it, 1 Cor. 3.16.
(3.) THE Spirit is the last in order of ſubſiſting, and hence the conſummation or finiſhing of things is aſcribed unto him. In the great Work of man's recovery this Application is the laſt thing that is done for him. The Father had done his part in chuſing & ordaining them to life, and Covenanting with his Son for the bringing it about. The Son had done his by making Satisfaction to Juſtice, and laying down the whole Redemption price. And now there is nothing elſe remains to recover man from miſery to happineſs, but the Applying the vertue of this unto him, which he purſues till it be accompliſhed, and thereby witneſſeth the Love of the Father, and of the Son, as well as his own to us.
(4.) THE Work of Application is a work of Infinite and Almighty Power: As hath been obſerved. And hence we have ſuch an expreſſion, Eph. 3.20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. It is therefore properly aſcribed to him, who is called the power of the muſt high Luk. 1.35. There being a coc…uence of all the micles that ever were done is the weak of Application. Yea, the work of Creation itſelf, was but a ſhadow of it, 2 Cor. 16. Iſai. 51.16.
USE. I. LEARN hence, how vain a thing it is for any to bleſs themſelves in the conſideration of Chriſt's Redemption, who are not able is evidence this work of Application in them. Vain man is rather willing to take any thing on truſt, than to deal throughly with himſelf, though it be in a matter of greateſt moment. How many therefore can give no other account of their hope for eternal Life, but that they believe that Chriſt died to purchaſe it for fallen man. But let all ſuch know, that if this were never made yours by Application, it will never be your ſecurity againſt the wrath of God. What will it avail you, that Chriſt died, if his Death be not made yours? And if ever it were, there have been thoſe impreſſions of the divine Power on your Souls, which have brought you into the New Covenant, and wrought the terms of it in you. You have been made to comply with the offers of Grace, and receive the Lord Jeſus Chriſt as he hath been tender'd to you in the Goſpel. And if you are ſtrangers to any ſuch thing as this is, your pleas are but hold preſumptions, and if you lean your weights … them, you will God them to deceive you….
Use. II. SEE here how dangerous … is it to reſiſt, to tempt, or provoke the … of God. If ever the Purchaſe of Chriſt … benefits of Redemption be made … muſt be conveyed to us by the Holy …. If he do not apply them to us, all the … is the World can never effect it. Th… ſo much of Omnipotency required in … Work, that no other can be the … but he. What then do you mean, that you withſtand him, when he comes and … to do this work for you. Sadly ſit … think with your ſelves, if by thus … provoke him to depart and forſake … are then put beyond all hopes of … though you ſhould enjoy the beſt of …. And let Young Ones beware of this … he ſtrives, and you reſiſt, he … put him off with delays, he may … farewell of you. And if he do, you … miſs of Salvation by Chriſt, and … f…ll up a more fearful meaſure of … he executed upon you.
[SEPTEMBER 28. 1697.]