Of the Agent or Chief Author of the Work of Our Redemption, and of the First Thing Distinctly Ascribed to the Person of the Father

Of the agent, or chief author of the work of our redemption; and of the first thing seals Ne ascribed io the person of the Father.

The agent in, and chief author this great work of our redemption, is the whole blessed Trinity; for all the works which outwardly are of the Deity, are undivided, and belong equally to each person; their distinct manner of subsistence and order, being Specie. It is true, there were other sundry instrumental causes in the oblation, or rather passion of Christ; but the work cannot in any sense be ascribed unto them: for in respect of God the Father, the issue of their endeavour was exceeding contrary to their own intentions; and in the close they did nothing, but what the hand and counsel of God had before determined should be done, cts iv. 28. And in respect of Christ, they were no way able to accomplish what they aimed at; for he himself Jaid down his life, and none was able to take it from him, John x. 17, 18, so that they are

to be excluded from this consideration. In the several persons of the holy Trinity, the joint author of the whole work, the Scripture pr oposeth distinct and sundry acts or operations, peculiarly assigned unto them; which, accord-

ing to our weak manner of apprehension, we are to consider severally and apart: which also we shall do, beginning with them that are ascribed to the Father.

Two peculiar acts there are, in this work of our redemption by the blood of Jesus, which may be and are properly assigned to the person of the Father: First, the — sending of his Son into the world for this employment; Secondly, a laying the punishment-due to our sin upon him. to Oe

I. The Father loves the world, and sends his Son to die. We sent his Son into the world, that the world through him might be saved, John iti. 17. He sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, Hom. viii. 3. He set him forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, Rom. iii. 25.’ When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law; to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons, Gal. iv. 4,5. So more than twenty times in the Gospel of John, there is mention of this sending; and our Saviour describes himself by this periphrasis, him whom the father hath sent, John x. 36. and the Father, by this, he which hath sent me, John v. 37. ‘So that this action of sending, is appropriate to the Father, according to his promise, that he would send usa Saviour, a great one, to - deliver us, Zsa. xix. 20. and to the profession .of our Saviour, I have not spoken in secret from the beginning, from the time that it was, there am I, and now the Lord God and his Spirit hath sent me, /sa. xlvii. 16. Hence the Father himself is sometimes called our Saviour, 1 Lim. i. 1: By the commandment -@c% cwzpos quar, of God our Saviour: some copies indeed read it, @e# % cwrjpo¢ iucrv, of God and our Saviour; but the interposition of that particle », arose doubtless from a misprision, that Christ alone is called Saviour. But directly this is the same with that parallel place of Vitus 1. 3. xar’ Enitoyay TS OwIFZ0S apav®@es, according to the commandment of God our Saviour, where no interposition of that conjunctive particle can have place: the same title being also in other places

Chap. TI. As eternally intended. 29

ascribed to him; as Luke i. 47. my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. As also, t Tim. iv. 10. we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of them that believe: though in this last place it be not as-. cribed unto him, with reference to his.redeeming us by Christ, but .his saving and ‘ioe eg) all by his providence. So also 7ttus ii. 10. and ii. 4. Deut. xxxil. 15, 1 Sam. x. 19. Psalm xxiv. 5. and xxv. 5. Isaiah xii. 2. and ix. 11. and xlv. 15. Jer. xiv. 8. Mich. vii. 7. most of which places have reference to his sending of Christ: which is also distinguished into three several acts, which. in order we must lay down.

ist. An authorative imposition cf the office of Media: tor; which Christ closed»withal, by his voluntary susception of it, willingly undergoing the office: wherein, by dispensation, the Father had and exercised a kind of superiority, which the Son, oe in the form of God, humbled himself unto. Phil. ii. 6, 7. And of this, there Hey be conceived two parts.

The purposed imposition of his counsel; or his eter-. -

ay counsel for the setting apart of his Son, incarnate, to this office, saying unto him, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Psal. ii. 7,8. He said unto him, sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy foot-stool; for the Lord hath sworn and will not repent, thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek. Psal. ex. 1,4. He appointed him heir of-all things, Heb. i. 2. having ordained him to be the judge of quick and dead, Acts x. 42. for unto this he was foreordained, before ‘the foundation of the world, 1 Pet. i. 20. and determined, épcodess to be the Son of God with power, Rom. i. 4. that he might be the firstborn of many brethren. Rom. vili. 29. I know that this is an act externally established in the mind and will of God, and so not to be ranged in order with the other, which are all temporary, and had their beginning in the fulness of time; of all which, this first is the spring and fountain, according to that of James, Acts xv. 18. known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world: but yet, it being no unusual form €2 of speaking, that the purpose should also be comprehended in that which holds out the accomplishment of it; aiming at truth and not exactness, we pass it thus.

2. The actual inauguration, or solemn admission of Christ unto his office; committing all judgment unto the Son, John v. 22. making him to be both Lord and Christ, Acts il. 36. appointing him over his whole house, Hed. ti. 1,2, 3. which is that anointing of the most holy, Dan. ix. 24. God anointing him with the oil of gladness above — his fellows. Psal. xlv. 7. For the actual setting apart of Christ. to his office, is said to. be by unction; because all those holy things which were types of him, as ‘the ark, the altar, &c. were set apart and consecrated by anointing. Exod. XXX. 25, 26, 27, &c. ‘To this also belongs that public testification by innumerable angels from heaven, of his nativity; declared by one of them to the shepherds, behold. (saith he) I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people; for unto you is born this. day in the city of David a Saviour, which is-Christ the Lord, Luée ii, 10, 11. which message was attended by, and closed with that triumphant exultation of the host of - heaven; glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men, ver. 14; with that redoubled voice which afterwards came from the excellent glory, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, A/atth. iii. 17. and chap. xvii. 5. 2 Pet.i. 17. If these things ought to be distinguished, and placed in their own order,. they. may be considered in these three several acts:.1. The glorious proclamation which he made of his nativity, when he prepared him a body, Hed. x. 5. bringing his first begotten into the world, and saying, Let all the angels of God worship him, Heb. i. 6. and sending them to proclaim the message which we before recounted. 2. Sending the spirit visibly i in the form of a dove, to light upon him, at the time of his baptism, Matth. il. 16. when he was en-. dued with a fulness thereof, for the accomplishment of the work, and discharge of the office whereunto he was de-. Signed § attended with that voice whereby he owned him. from heaven.as his only beloved. 3. The crowning of him with glory and honor, in his resurrection, ascension, and

sitting down on the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Chap. II]. 2s eternally intended. 31.

Feb, i. 3. setting him as his King upon his holy hill of Zion, Psal. ii. 6. when all power was given unto him, in heaven and in earth, Matth. xxvii. 18. all things bein put under his feet, Hed. ii. 7, .8. himself highly exalted, and a name given him above every name, &c. PAid/. ii. 9. Of which it pleased him to appoint witnesses of all sorts; angels from heaven, Luke xxiv. 4. Acts 1. 10. the dead - out of the graves, Matth. xxvii. 52. the Apostles among - and unto the living, Acts ii. 32. with those more than five hundred brethren to whom he appeared at once, 1 Cor. xv. 6. Thus gloriously was he inaugurated into his office, in the several acts and degrees thereof; God saying unto him, It.is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayst be my salvation unto the end of the earth, Jsa. xlix. 6.: 3

- Between these two acts, I confess, there intercedes a two fold promise of God: one, of giving.a Saviour to his people, a Mediator, according to his former purpose; as Gen. iii. 15. That the seed of the woman should bruise the serpents head; and the sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Gen. xlix. 10. Which he also foresignified by many sacrifices, and other types, with prophetical predictions: for of this salvation the prophets, have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you; searching what or what manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified before hand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow; unto whom it was-revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they. did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them ‘that have preached the gospel unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into, 1 Pet. i..10,11,12.- The other is, a promise of applying the benefits purchased by this Saviour, so designed, to them that should believe on him, to be given in the fulness of time, according to the former promises; telling Abraham, that in his seed:the nations of the earth should

32 The End of the Death of Christ Book ‘l.

be blessed, Gen. xxii. 18. and justifying himself by the same faith, Gen. xv. 6.. But these things belong rather to the application wholly; which was equal both before and after his.actual mission. — .

2dly.. The second act of the Father’s sending the Son, is the furnishing of him in his sending, with a fulness of all gifts and graces, that might any way be requisite for the office he was to under take, the: work he was to undergo, and the charge he had over the house of God. There was indeed in Christ, a two-fold fulness and perfection of all spiritual excellencies.

1. The natural all-sufficient perfection of his deity, as one with his Father in respect of his divine nature: for his glory was the glory of the only begotten of the Father. John i. 14. He was in the form of God, and counted it no robbery to be equal with God, Phil. 1. 6. being the fellow of the: Lord of Hosts, Faohs xiii. 7. whence that glorious appearance, Jsa. vi. 3. when the cherubim cried one unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy; the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory; and the posts of the doors moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke; and the prophet cried, mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of hosts, ver. 4. Even concerning this vision; the Apostle saith, Isaiah saw his glory and spake of him. JoAn xii. 41. Of which glory, éxgvace, he as it were emptied himself for a season; when He was found in the form, or condition, of a servant,. humbling himself unto death, Phzt ii. 7, 8. laying aside that glory which attended his deity; outwardly appearing: to have neither form, nor beauty, nor comeliness, that he should be desired. Jsa. lili. 2. But this fulness we do not treat of; it being not communicated to him, but essentially belonging to his person, which is eternally begotten of the person of his Father.

2. The second fulness that was in Christ, was a communicated fulness, which was in him by dispensation from his Father, bestowed upon him to. fit him for his work and office, and he was and is the Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Tzm. ii. 5. not as he is the Lord of hosts, but as he is Immanuel God with us; as he was a Son given to us, called Wonderful, Counsellor, the

Chap. IIT. “ls eternally intended. a 33

mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace, upon whose shoulders the government was to be, Jsa. ix. 6. It is.a fulness of grace; not that essential, which is of the nature of the deity, but that which is’ habitual and te fused into the humanity, as personally united to the other:

which though it be not absolutely infinite, as the other 1s, yet it extends itself to all perfections of grace, both in respect of parts and degrees. There is no grace that is not in Christ, and every grace 1s in him in the highest degree; so that Mover the perfection of grace, either for the several kinds, or respective advancements thereof, requireth, is in him habitually by the collation of his Father, for this very purpose, and for the accomplishment of the work designed: which though (as before) it cannot pro — perly be said to he infinite, y et it is boundless and endless; it is in him as the light in the beams of the sun, and as water in a living fountain, which can never fail; he is the candlestick from whence the golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves, Darohs iv. 12. into all that are his; for he is the beginning, the first born from the dead,

that in all things he might have the pre-eminence, for it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell,

Gol. i. 18, 19. in him. he caused to be hid all the treasures

ét Widder and knowledge, Col. ii. 3: and in dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead cwpayixés, substantially or personally, ver. 9. thatyof his fulness we might all receive, grace for grace, John i. 16. in a continual supply. So that setting upon the work of redemption, he looks upon this, in the first place: The spirit of the Lord God (saith he) is upon me; necause the Lord hath anointed me, to preach — good tidings unto the meek, he hath sent me to bind up the

‘broken hear ted, to pr oclairn liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all that mourn. Jsai. lxi. 1. 2. And this was the anointing with the oil of dick estar which he had above his fellows. Psalm xlv..7. It was upon his head, and ran down upon the beard, yea down to the skirts of his clothing, Psalm.-exxxiii. 2. that every one covered with the garment of his righteousness, might be made partaker of it. The Spirit of the Lord did rest iii him, ge ee Lind of the Death of Christ Book I.

the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, /saiah xi. 2. and that not in parcels and beginnings, as in us,*proportioned to our measure and degrees of sanctification; but in a fulness, for he received not the spirit by measure, John iii. 34. that is, it was not so with him, when he came to the full measure of the stature of his age, as Ephes. iv. 13. for otherways it was manifested in him, and collated on him by degrees; for he increased in wisdom and stature and favour with God and man, Luke ii, 52. Hereunto was added all power in heaven and in.earth, which was given unto him, Matth. xxviii. 18. power over all flesh, to give eternal life to as many as the Father had given him. John xvii. 2. Which we might branch into many particulars: but so much shall suffice to set forth the second act of God, in sending his Son.

3dly. The third act of this sending, is, his entering into covenant and compact with his Son, concerning the work to be undertaken, and the issue or event thereof: of which there be two parts. See

I. His promise to protect and assist him, in the accomplishment and perfect fulfilling of the whole business and dispensation about which. he was employed, or which he was to undertake.. The Father engaged himself, that for his part, upon his Son’s undertaking this great work of redemption, he would not be wanting in any assistance in trials, strength against oppositions, encouragement against temptations, and strong consolation in the midst of terrors, which might be any way necessary or requisite, to carry him on through all difficulties, to the end of so great an employment. Upon which he undertakes this heavy burthen, so full of misery and trouble: for the Father, before this engagement, requires no less of him, than that he should become a Saviour, and be afilicted in the afflictions of his people, Zsazah |xiti. 8. 9. yea that although he were the fellow of the Lord of Hosts, yet he should endure the sword that was drawn against him, as the shepherd of the sheep, Zech. xiii. 7. treading the wine-press alone, until he became red in his apparel, /saiah lxii.2, 3. yea to be stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted; wounded for our transgressions, dnd bruised for our iniquities: to be

Chap. Ill. As eternally intended. 35

bruised and put to grief, to have his soul made an offering for sin, and to bear the sin of many, /saiah lil. 4, 5, 10, 12. to be destitute of comfort so far as to ery, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me. Psalm xxii.1. No wonder, then, if upon this undertaking, the Lord promised to make his mouth like a sharp sword, to hide him in the shadow of his hand, to make him a polished shaft, and to hide him in his quiver, to make him his servant in whom he would be glorified. /sazah xlix. 2. 3. That though the kings of the earth should set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against him; yet he would laugh them to scorn, and set him-as king ‘upon his hol

hill of Zion. Psalm-ii. 2,4, 5. Though the builders did reject him, yet he should become the head of the corner, to the amazement and astonishment of all the world, Psalm exviil. 22, 23. (Matth. xxi. 42. Mark xii, 10, 11. Luke xx, 17. Acts iv. 11, 12. 1 Pet. i. 7.) yea, he would lay him for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation, Isaiah xxviii. 16. that whosoever should fall upon him, should be broken, — but upon whomsoever he should fall, he should grind them to powder. Luke xx. 18. Hence arose that confidence of our. Saviour, in his greatest and utmost trials; being assured, by virtue of his Father’s engagement in this covenant, upon:a treaty with him about the redemption of man, that he would never leave him nor forsake him: I gave (saith he) my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair, I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Lsazah 1.6. But with what confidence (blessed Saviour) didst thou undergo all this shame and sorrow? why, The Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded; therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not’ be ashamed; he is near that justifieth me, who will contend with me? let us stand ‘together; who is mine adversary? let him come near to me, behold! the Lord God will help me, who is he that shall condemn me? lo! they all shall wax old as a garment, the moth shall consume them, v. 7, 8, 9. With this assurance, he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth,

Isaialy liii. 7. for when he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but commit- te

ted himself to him that ‘judgeth righteously, 1 Peter ii.

23. So that the ground of our Saviour’s confidence and assurance in this great undertaking, and a strong motive to exercise his graces received, in the utmost endurings, was this engagement of his Father, upon this compact of assistance and protection.

2. His promise of success, or a good issue out of all his sufferings, and a happy accomplishment and attainment of the end of his great. undertaking. Now of all the rest this chiefly is to be considered,’ as directly conducing to

the business proposed; which yet would not have been

so clear, without the former considerations: for whatsoever it was that God promised his Son should be fulfilled and attained by him, that certainly was it at which the Son aimed in the whole undertaking, and designed it as the end of the work that was committed to him; and which alone he could and did claim, upon the accomplish-

“ment of his Father’s will. What this was, and the pro- -

mises whereby it is at large set forth, ye have, sa. xlix. Thou shalt be my servant (saith the Lord) to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel:

I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou

mayst be my salvation unto the end of the earth: Kings

shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful. And he will certainly accomplish this engagement: I will preserve thee and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; that thou mayest say to the prisoners, go forth, to them that are in darkness, shew yourselves; they tal feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places; they shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor sun smite them; for. he that hath mercy on them, shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them; and I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted; behold, these shall come from far, and lo these from the north, and from the west, and these from the land of

Sinim, verses 6 — 12.. By all which expressions, the Lord:

evidently and clearly engageth himself to hisSon, that he should gather to himself a glorious church of believers,

ee ee,

Chap. ITT. ls eternally intended. 37

-from among Jews and Gentiles, through all the world; that should be brought unto him, and certainly fed in full pasture, and refreshed by the springs of water, all the spiritual springs of living water, which flow from God in Christ for their everlasting salvation. This then our Saviour certainly aimed at, as being the promise upon which he undertook the work; the gathering of the sons of God together, their bringing unto God, and passing to eternal salvation. Which being well considered, it will utterly overthrow the general ransom, or universal redemption, as afterward will appear.. In the 53d. chapter of the same prophesy, the Lord is more express and punctual in these promises to his Son; assuring him, that when he made his soul an offering for sin, he should see his seed, and prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand; that he should see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge he should justify many; that he should divide a portion with the great, and the spoil with the strong. ver. 10, 11, 12. He was to see his seed by covenant, and to raise up a spiritual seed unto God; a faithful people, to be prolonged and preserved throughout all generations: which how well it. consists with their persuasion, who in terms have affirmed, that the death of Christ might have ‘had its full and utmost effect, and yet none be saved, I cannot see; though some have boldly affirmed it, and all the assertors of universal redemption do tacitly grant, when they come to the assigning of the proper ends and effects of the death of Christ. The pleasure also of the Lord was to prosper in his hand; which what it was he declares, Heb. ii. 10. even the bringing of many sons unto glory: for God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him, 1 John iv. 9. as we shall afterward more abundantly declare. But the promises of God made unto him in their agreement, and so consequently his own aim and intention, may be seen in nothing more manifestly, than in the ‘request that: our Saviour makes upon the accomplishment of the work about which he was sent; which certainly was neither for more nor less, than God had engaged himself to him for. TI have (saith he) glorified thee on earth, I have finished the work which thou gayest me to do, John

38 Lhe End of the Death of Christ Book a

xvii. 4. And now what doth he require, after the manifestation of his eternal glory, of which for a season he had emptied himself? ver. 5. clearly, a full confluence of the love of God, and fruits of that love, upon all his elect, in faith, sanctification and glory. God gave them unto him, and he sanctified himself to. be‘a sacrifice for their sake,

praying for their sanctification, ver. 17. 19. their preser- —

vation in times of peace, or communion one with another, and union with God, ver. 20, 21. I pray not for these alone, (that is his apostles) but: for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and “% in thee, that they also may be one in us: and lastly their glory, ver. 24, Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me, .be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me. All which several demands are no doubt grounded upon the forecited promises, which by his Father’ were made unto him: and-in this, not one word concerning all and every one, but expressly the contrary. John xvii. 9. Let this then be diligently observed, that the promise of God unto his Son, and the request. of the Son unto his Father, are directed to this peculiar end of bringing sons unto God. And this is the first act, consisting of these three particulars. II. The second i is, of laying upon him the punishment

of sins, every where ascribed unto the Father: Awake O

sword against my shepherd, against the man that is my fellow, (saith the Lord of hosts) smite the shepherd, and ‘the sheep shall be scattered. Zach. xiii. 7. What here is set down imperatively by way of command, is in the gospel indicatively expounded: I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the‘ flock shall be scattered abroad. Matth. xxvi. 31. He was stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted, yea the’ Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all;

yea it pleased the Lord to bruise him, he hath put him to grief, Zsaiah lili. 4. 6. 10. He made him to be a sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. v.21. The adjunet in both places is put for the subject, as the opposition between his being made sin, and our being made righteousness declareth: him who knew no sin, that is, who dene? b Fe ee aa ee, ee

Chap. III. ds eternally intended. 39

served no punishment; him hath he made to be sin, or laid the punishment due to sin upon him: or perhaps in -the latter place, sim may be taken for an offering or sacrifice for the expiation of sin; auapria answering in 1 this place to the word ANION in the Old Testament, mich signifieth both sin and the sacrifice for it. And this the Lord did;

‘for as for Herod, Pontius Pilate, with the gentiles and the people of Israel, when they were gathered together, they did nothing but ‘what his hand and council determined before to be done. cts iv. 27,’28. Whence, the great shakings of our Saviour were in his close conflict with his Father’s wrath, and that. burthen which by himself he immediately imposed on him; when there was no hand or instrument outwardly appearing, to put him to any suffering or cruciating torment. Then began he to he sorrow-~ ful even unto death, Auth. xxvi. 37, 38. to: wit, when he was in the garden with his three choice apostles, before the traitor or any of his accomplices appeared; then was he sore amazed and very heavy. Mark xiv. 33. That was the time, in the days of his flesh, when he offered up prayers and supplications, with strong erying and tears, unto him that was able to save him from death, Hed. v. 7. which how he performed, the Apostle describeth, Luke xxil. 43, 44. there appeared an angel unto him, from heaven, strengthening him; and being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Surely it was a close and strong trial, and that immediately from his Father, he now underwent: for how meekly and cheerfully doth he submit, without any regret or trouble of :spirit, to all the cruelty of men, and violence offered to his body; until this conflict being renewed again, he cries, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And this, by the way, will ‘be’worth our observation, that we may know with whom our Saviour chiefly had to do, and what was that which he underwent for sinners; which also will give some light to the grand Query, concerning the persons of them for whom he undertook all this. His sufferings were far from consisting in mere corporal perpessions and afflic- ‘tions, with such impressions upon his soul and spirit, as were the effects and issues only of them: it was no more

40 - The End of the Death of Christ Book If.

nor less than the curse of the law of God, which he underwent for us; for he hath redeemed us from the curse, being made a curse, Gail, iii. 13. which contained all the punishment that was due to sin, either in the severity of God’s justice, or according to the exigence of that law which required obedience. That the execration of the law should be only temporal death, as the law was considered to be the instrument of the Jewish polity, and serving that économy or dispensation, is true; but, that it should be no more, as it is the universal rule of obedience and the bond of the covenant between God and man, isa foolish dream. Nay, but in dying for us, Christ did not only aim at our good, but also directly died in our stead; the punishment due to our sin, and the chastisement of our peace, was upon him: which that it was the pains of hell in their nature and being, in their weight and pressure, though not in tendence and continuance, (it being impossible that he should be detained by death;) who can deny, and not be injurious to the justice of God, which will inevitably inflict those pains to eternity upon sinners? It is true, indeed, there is a relaxation of the law, in respect of the persons suffering, God admitting of commutation; as in the old law, when in their sacrifices the life of tie beast was accepted (in respect to the carnal part of the ordinances ) for the life of the man: this is fully revealed, and we believe it; but for any change of the punishment, in respect of the nature of it, where is the least intimation of any alteration? We conclude then this second act of God, in laying the punishment on him for us, with that of the prophet: All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah liii. 6. And add thereunto this observation, that it seems strange to me, that Christ should ‘undergo the pains.of hell in their stead, who lay in the pains of hell before he underwent those pains, and shall continue in them to eternity: for their worm dieth not, neither is their fire quenched. To which I may add this dilemma to our Universalists: God imposed his wrath due unto, and Christ underwent the pains of hell for, either all the sins of all men, or all the sins of some men, or some sins for all men, If the last, some sins of all men, then

Chap. lV. 4s eternally intended. ‘Al

have all men some sins to answer for, and so shall no man be saved; for if God should enter into judgment with us, though it were with all mankind for one sin, no man living should be justified in his sight, Psadm exlii. 2. If the Lord should mark iniquities, who shall stand? Psalm exxx. 3. We might all go to cast all that we have, to the moles and to the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his Majesty, Jsa. ii. 20, 21. If the second, that is it which we affirm; that Christ, in their stead, and-room, suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the world. If the first, why then are not all freed from the punishment of all their sins? You will say, because of their unbelief, they will not believe; but this unbelief, is ita sin or not? If not, why should they be punished for it? If it be, then Christ underwent the punishment due to it, or not: if so, then why must that hinder them, more than their other sins for which he died, from partaking of the fruit of his death? If he did not, then did he not die for all their sins. Let them choose which part they will. ere