of sin, and salvation, are spoken of from time to time, as being for
forth in the issue of his travail. This implies that Christ has his delight, most truly and properly, in obtaining the salvation of his church, not merely as a means conducing to the thing which terminates his delight and joy; but as what he rejoices and is satisfied in, most directly and properly: as do those scriptures which represent him as rejoicing in his obtaining this fruit of his labor and purchase, as the bridegroom when he obtains his bride. Is. 62:5, "As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." And how emphatical and strong to the purpose are the expressions in Zeph. 3:17, "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy: he will rest in his love, he will rejoice over thee with singing." The same thing may be argued from Prov. 8:30–31, "Then was I by him as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him: rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the sons of men." And from those places that speak of the saints as God's portion, his jewels and peculiar treasure. These things are abundantly confirmed by what is related, John 12:23–32. But the particular consideration of what may be observed to the present purpose in that passage of Scripture may be referred to the next section.
3. The communications of divine goodness, particularly forgiveness of sin, and salvation, are spoken of from time to time, as being for God's goodness' sake, and for his mercies' sake, just in the same manner as they are spoken of as being for God's name's sake, in places observed before. Ps. 25:7, "Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me, for thy goodness' sake, O Lord." In the 11th verse the Psalmist says, "For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity." Neh. 9:31, "Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake, thou hast not utterly consumed them, nor forsaken them; for thou art a gracious