Page images
PDF
EPUB

SERM. In subordination to, coincidence or concurrence XXVII. with, the principal designs and effects, our Lord also

died for the reparation of God's honour, which we by contempt of his authority and violation of his law had impaired, but our Saviour by so signal an obedience thereto did repair; for the recovery of God's right, which was infringed by withdrawing so great and noble a part of his creation from its due allegiance and service; the which he recovered and restored to him; for the satisfaction to God's justice, provoked by so heinous impieties and iniquities; the which was abundantly performed by so infinitely valuable a compensation and sacrifice offered there

to.

Also for ratification of the new covenant between Heb. x. 29. God and us; whence his blood is called, the blood of the covenant, the blood of the new testament.

Matt. xxvi.

28.

1 Cor.xi.25.

Col. i. 20.

For the pacifying and reconciling all things in Eph. ii. 25. heaven and earth; removing all causes of dissension and distance; inducing obligations to concord and charity.

1 Cor. xv.

55.

Heb. ii. 14,

15. Καταργή

σας.

Col. ii. 15.

For pulling out the sting, and removing the terrors of death; destroying (or defeating) him that had the power of death, and delivering them who through the fear of death are all their lifetime subject to death.

For the suppressing, vanquishing, and triumphing over the powers of hell and darkness, the which he John xii. did, as St. Paul telleth us, achieve upon his cross: and by his death he telleth us, that the prince of this world was condemned, and cast out.

31. xvi. 11.

For engaging us to the practice of all righteousness and obedience, (especially to the most excellent, high, and hard parts thereof, charity, humility, meek

XXVII.

1, 2.

ness, patience, self-denial, utmost constancy and per- SERM. severance,) both from our obligation in regard to what he suffered for us, and in imitation of his example; for, We should run with patience the race Heb. xii. that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame: and, Christ having suffered for us in the 1 Pet. iv. 1, flesh, we should, saith St. Peter, arm ourselves with the same mind, so as no longer to live the rest of our time in the flesh to the lust of men, but to the will of God.

12.

13.

Lastly, for attestation unto and confirmation of divine truth; sealing by his blood that heavenly doctrine which he taught, and witnessing before 1 Tim. vi. Pontius Pilate a good confession: he was the Prince of martyrs; who, as he for this end, as he John xviii. told Pilate, was born, and for this end came into 37. the world, that he might bear witness to the truth, so he especially did accomplish that glorious design by his death; enduring the contradiction of sinners Heb. xii. against himself, resisting unto blood in combating against sin; by his blood indeed all other witnesses Rev. xii. 11. of truth did, as it is said in the Revelation, accomplish their warfare, and obtain victory: his blood purchased for them their resolution and strength; his promises supported them, his example did animate them, to the profession and maintenance of truth, in the greatest dangers and most violent assaults.

Such ends did the death of our Lord regard, such fruits did grow from it, which the time permitteth us but thus cursorily to touch.

5. Now for the practical influences the considera

SERM. tion of this point should have upon us, they are XXVII. many and great; but we now can only name or

insinuate them.

1. It should beget in us highest degrees of love and gratitude toward God and toward our Saviour, in regard to this highest expression of love and instance of beneficence toward us. Greater love God

could not have shewed, than in thus destinating and offering up his only dearest Son to death (a most John xv.13. painful and shameful death) for our sake; and,

Greater love, he told us himself, than this hath no man, than that one should lay down his life for his friends; no man hath greater, except himself, who even laid his life down for his enemies and persecutors and love so incomparably, so extremely great, doth surely require correspondent degrees of love and thankfulness.

2. It should raise in us great faith and hope in God, excluding all distrust and despair, that God will not bestow upon us whatever is needfully or Rom, v. 10. conveniently good for us; for, He, as St. Paul argueth, who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

3. Particularly, it should comfort us, and satisfy our conscience in regard to the guilt of our sins, however contracted, supposing that we do heartily reRom. viii, pent of them; for that there is no condemnation to

I. V. I.

them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit; and, that being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by virtue of his death we sincerely repenting are freed from all condemnation, we truly believing have a firm and sure peace with

God: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of SERM. God's elect? Who is he that condemneth, seeing it XXVII. is Christ that hath died? We are very blameably Rom. viii. incredulous, if, having such an assurance from God,

and such an engagement upon him, we distrust his mercy.

34

4. It discovereth unto us the heinousness of our sins, and thence should breed in us a vehement detestation, together with a great dread of them; a detestation of them, as having provoked God to such a pitch of displeasure, causing him to deal thus severely with his own beloved Son; as having brought so heavy suffering upon a Person so infinitely high in dignity, excellent in worth, kind and gracious to us; a dread of them, as exposing us, if we do not avoid and forsake them, to the most grievous pains Luke xxiii. and miseries; for, if these things were done to a green tree, (if such punishments were inflicted upon one so innocent, so worthy, so little obnoxious to the fire of divine wrath and vengeance,) what shall be done to the dry? that is, what will become of us, who are so guilty, so combustible by that fire, if we by presumptuous commission of sin, and impenitent continuance therein, do incense God against us?

5. It should work in us a kindly contrition and remorse for our sins, which were indeed the murderers of so good a friend and loving a Saviour: others were but instruments; they were the principal authors of his death; they most truly betrayed him, they accused him, they condemned him, they lifted him up to the accursed tree; they moved God, and enabled men to inflict this horrible punishment on him.

6. It should deter us from them, and engage us most carefully to avoid them, as those which in a

31.

SERM. sort do exact another death from him; crucifying XXVII. him afresh, as the Apostle to the Hebrews telleth Heb. vi. 9. us, vilifying and defiling the precious blood of the covenant, (as he likewise teacheth.)

x. 29.

7. It should engage us to a patient submission and resignation of ourselves to the will and providence of God; forasmuch as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, we should, as St. Peter adviseth, arm ourselves likewise with the same mind: and, Let, exhorteth St. Paul, the same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus; who being in the form of God humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross: we should not disdain, nor upon any account be displeased or unwilling in bearing any cross or affliction, to follow the pattern Heb. xii. 1. of our great Master; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.

ii. 20.

Col. iii. 3,

8. It doth also oblige us to the deepest mortificaPhil.iii. 20. tion in conformity to his death: we should be with Gal. v. 24. him (or after him) crucified to the lusts and affecPet. iv. 2. tions of the flesh, to the fashions, glories, desires, and delights of the world; knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him; that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

5.

Rom. vi. 5,

6.

11. iii. 16.

9. It is also a strong engagement to the fullest 1 John iv. measure of charity toward our brethren; for, If, saith St. John, God so loved us, (as to give his own Son to die for us,) then ought we to love one another, in a degree answerable to such an obligation and pattern: If, addeth the same apostle, he laid down his life for us, then ought we also to lay down our lives for the brethren.

« PreviousContinue »