Sermons (pages 268–314) – Part 2 (pages 288–307)
— The Wiflom of God d'lfplay d
StR. XL
would confider the wonderful ncfs of ihc Such is
things done by which rcdcmprjon is procured.
the choice of the person chofcn to be our redeemer,
the fubftitutingof him in our room his life I ft
his death
place.
And in the
We will confider [he choice of the person When Qo S. designed the redemp-
to be our redeemer.
of mankind,
tion
his incarnaiion
exaltation.
his great wisdom appears
in that
pitched upon his own, and only begotten Son,to be the
f?e was a redeemer of person to perform the work. God's own choosing, and therefore he is called in scripture.God's (f/ ?, (Ifai. 42 i.) The wisdom of choo(ing this person to be the redeemer. appears in his being
and in his being the only fit every way a fie person person and in that, it fhcws a divine wisdom, x oknow that he was a fit and fuitablc person. He was every way a fit person for this undertaking. It was ncceffary, that the person that is the redeemer, should be a divine person. None but a divine ptrfon ;
The work is infi-
was fufhcient for this great work.
was rcquifire, that
nitely unequal to any creature.
the redeemer of sinners,
be himfeif infinitely
holy.
fliould
None could take away the infinite evil of sin,
but only one that was infinitely far from sin hiiufelf.
Christ
& contrary to
person upon this account.
It was rcquifire, that the perf n, in order to be (uffi-
cient for this undertaking, fliould be one of infinite dig-
nity and wonhinefs,that he might be ca'pable of merit-
ing infinite blcfilngs. this
The Sun of Gcd is a fit person on
account.
It was ncccfiary, that he should be a person of infinite
power and wijdom
requires such an one.
for this work is so difficult, that it
Christ
a fit
person also upon
this account.
was requifitc, that he fliould be a person infinitely
dear to God the father, in order to the giving an infinite; value to his tranfadlions in the father's cftecm, and that the
S R.XL
Way of Sdlvaticn.
the father's love to him rnight balance the offence and Chrifl is a fit person upon this provocation by our sins.
Therefore called the beloved, (Eph.
account.
He hath made us accepted in the b/Aoved. It was requisite, that the person
lliould
be one tliac
could 3ft in this as of his own ablofute ri ht : one th t, bccaufe if he is in hims ls, is not a fervanr or fukje<fl one that cannot a<n: of his own right, he cannot merit anything. He that is a fervanr, and that can do no more ;
And then he that
than he is bound to do, cannot merit.
has nothing that is absolute'y
own, cannot pay any
Upon this account Christ is
price to redeem another, a
and none but a divine person can be fit. he must be a person also of infinite mercy and
person
for no other person but such an one would under-
love ;
take a work so difficult, for a creature so unworthy as
Upon this account also Chrifl is a fit person.
man.
It was requisite
that he should be a person of unfaithful ness otherwise he changeable pereffl rw /? would not be fit to be depended on by us in so great an Christ is also a fit person upon thi account. affair.
The wisdom of God in chufing his eternal Son, ap' pears, no: only in that he is a fit person ;
either
only
created
person
or uncreated.
but in that he persons
that
No created per-
was fit for this undernow shewn, that he dignity must be a person of in nite holiness power of infinite love and wisdom infinitely dear to God mercy and one t'lat may act of his own abfoliite right. But no creature, how excellent soever, has any one of son,
neither man,
taking
we have
angel, jull
these qualifications.
There are three increatcd Persons, the Father, Son and Holy Gholt
and Chriil alone of these was a (hiIt was not meet, that the Redeemer should be God the Father bccaufe he, in ;
table person for a Redeemer.
the divine ccconomy of the pci fbns of the trinity,
was the
The W'ijctom of God dijphyd
Ser.XI.
the perfoti that holds the rights of the Godhead, and so was the pcrfon offended, whose julticc required fatisfa<5lion —and was to be appeased by a mediator. It wa« not meet it fliould be the Holy Ghofl, for in being mediator between the Father and the faints, he is in some sense so between the Father and the Spirit. ,
The faints, in all their spiritual tranfa<f>ions with God, aft by the Spirit
or rather, it is the Spirit of God, that they are the temples of the holy Ghost. The holy Spirit dwelling in them, is their principle of afts in
them
aftion, in all their tranfaftings with God.
But in these their spiritual tranfaftings wichGod.they Mediator. Thcfe spiritual and holy exercises cannot be acceptable, or avail any thing with God, as from a fallen creature, but by a mediator. Therefore Chrifl, in being mediator between the Father and the faints, maybefaidto be mediator between the Father aft by a
And there-
and the holy Spirit, that afts in the faints.
fore it was meet, that the mediator fliould not be either
the Father or the Spirit, but a middle person between
ihem both. It is the Spirit in the faints, that feekstheblcfling of
God, by faith and prayer
and,
with groanings that cannot be
the apoflle
littered,
says,
Jjkevjtfe the Jpirit njfo helpetb cur infirm'ttiei
for zue
know not what we Jhould p/ ay for as we ou( ht ; hut ihefpirit it self maketh intercession for us, with groan-
ings that cannot he uttered.
fpiric in
faints
fecks divine blcffings of God, by and thro' a mediator
and therefore that mediator mult not be the spirit, buc another pcrfon. It flicws a
divine wisdom, so knoiv that he was a fit
No other but one of
divine wisdom could have known it. None but one of infinite wisdom could have thought of him to be a redeemer of finncrs. For he, as he is God, is one of the pcrfons oftbnded by sin Trhom sin is enmity ngainft whom man by his sin had pcrfon.
the Way of Salvation.
had rebelled against, and cast contempt upon. Who but God infinitely wife could ever have thought of him to be a redeemer of sinners Him they had fmned against, were enemies to, and deserved infinitely Who would ever have thought of him as one ill of that should set his heart upon man, and cxercife infinite and infinite wisdom and power love and pity to him, and merit in redeeming him We proceed !
To confider the fubqituting this person in our
room. After the choosing the person to be our redeemer, the next step of divine wisdom, is, in contriving the way how he should perform this work. If God had declared who the person was, that, his wisdom had pitched upon, to do this work, and had gone no further, there is no creature could have thought which way this person could have performed the work. If God had told them, that his own Son mufl be the Redeemer ; and that he alone was a fit person for the work and that he was a person every way fit sufficient for it, but had proposed to them to have coniriv'd a way how this fit and sufficient person should do the work, :
Here we may well suppose that all created underhandings would
have been utterly at a loss.
The first thing nectffary to be done, is that this Son of God should become our representative and surety ; and so be substituted in the sinner's room. But who of created intelligences would have tho't of aity such thing as the eterna' and infinitely beloved Son of God his being fubdiiiued in the room of sinners !
ing in flead of
a sinner,
Hisitand-
a rebel, an obje<n: of the wrach
of God nd should n the sinner's flead place himself in the woful circumflances, that he has brought himself into, by sin Who would have thought of a person, that was the eternal G(id. a person of infinite glory, his I
undertaking to fland before God, as representing sinful that had made themfclves provoking and abominable
worms,
by sin inhniioly
For,
7he Wijihm of God difplayd
Se R .XI
For, if the Son of God be fubflituicd in the finncr's room, then his (ii) nnifl be charged upon him He will thereby take tlie gniltof the (inner upon himself and all that was due to ihc (inner for his (in, becomes now due lo him and he mufl be fubjco lo the (amc law that :
nan was,
both as to the commands,
and threatnings
but w])o would have thought of any (uch thing concerning the Son of God it
Who would have thought, that
was fir to be, or could be 3. To conllder
But we proceed,
incarnation
Jc(us
7 lie next (lep of divine wisdom in contriving howChrid fhoum perform the work of redeeming fmners, was in determining iiis incarnation. If God had revealM his not only he had pitched upon, that he had fubflituied him in
counfcls tluis far to created undcrftandings, that his own Son was the per(bn
for rhis work,
but al sb
the linner's room
and appointed him to represent the and to become his lurety ; and so to take the and had 'refmncr's obligations and guilt on himself: veaTd no more, but had left the reft to them to find could out ir is no way probable, that even then they ever have thought of a way, whereby this person might For actually have performed the work of redemption. if the Son of God be (ubffituted in the (inners (lead, then the Son of God takes the fmner's obligations on ;
sinner,
him(elf he mud take the obligation as for indance the (inrftr is under to perform perfect obedience to the :
But it is not probable,
divine law.
that
any creature
could have conceived how that could be polhble. fliould a person that
a ft rvnni, be under law,
Jaw of man
the eternal j eh ov ah, become
and perform obedience to the
And I'zain. if the Son of God be fubflituied
fmncr's lloud. then he comes under the (Inncr's obi gallon to (uflcr ihc punilhmcnt, which man's (in had de-
And who could hive thought that tohave been
fervrd. po(riblc
For how should a divine person, who is c(rentially,
SeR. XL
in the-
Way of Salvation.
tially,unchangeably,and infinitely happy/uffer pain and tormenl And how fliould he rhat is the objedt ofgo I's !
infinitely dear love, It
suffer the
not to be fuppos'd,
wrath of
his father
wisdom ever
created
that
would have found out a way how to have got over these But divine wisdom hath found out a way, That the viz. by the incarnation of the Son of God. word should be made flefli, that he might be both God what created underflanding and man, in one person
difficulties.
could have thought or conceived of such a thing as that or could have conceiv'd that such a thing was poftible 1 And if God had reveal'd to them. that it was possible, snd that \i fuould he, but left them to find out how it fliould
— how may wc
rhat they
well fuppofc
would all have been puzzled and confounded, to conceive of a way for so uniting a of God,
man to tlie cternAl Son
that they fliould be one person
that one that
as truly and properly 2 is truly a man in all refpe ts, man as any man, should indeed and in truth, be the
very same Son of God, that is God, and was with God from all eternity. This is a great myflery to us. Hereby, a person that is infinite, omnipotent and unchangeable, is become a finite,
feeble man
a man
fiibjeft to our finlcfs infirmities. passions and calamities!
The great God, the sovereign of heaven and earth, is become a worm of the dud. ( Pfal. 22. 6 ) " 1 am a worm, and no man." He that is eternal and self exigent, is born of a woman as the refl of us are is the great original spirit is clothed with flefli
one of us
He that
& blood like
He that is .ndependent & self Sufficient and
all-sufficient,that supplies all creatures out
— he now
of his boun-
come to (land in need of food and cloathing to keep him alive He becomes poor, tiful
hand
" has not where ro lay his head ;"
the charity of men
stands in need of
and is maintained by it
is far
above us, to conceive how it is done. It is a great wonder and myflery to us but it was no myflery to divifl j wisdom. 4. Tnc :
— The Wi/dom of God difplayd
The next thing
Chrill in this world.
(he life
The wisdom of God appears in
the circuniltanccs of his
(inefsof his life.
be confidercd,
Ser.
life
— and in the work and bu-
Particularly,
The circumfianccs of his life.
God had re-
veal d that his own Son,(ht uld be incarnate, and (hould live in this world, in the human nature left to
to determine
wh it
and it had been
circumliancts of
life
would have been mo(t fuitablc for the Son of God to appear in here, liumanwilcom would have dtlt rmii.'d,
world in a mo(t magnivery exiraoidinary outward ens]gns of honor, authority and power far above any of the kings of the earth that here he should reign in great vidblcpomp and splendor over all nations. And thus it was thai men's wisdom did determine, before that he (liould appear in the ficent
manner
wiih
Chrifl Cjme.
The wife, great men among
the jews,
" princes of this world ;" did e pe that the meftiah would thus appear. But the wisdom of God chose quite otherwise It chose that when the Son of God was incarnate and became man, he fliould begin his life in a fiable that fcribcs and pharisees, who are called
he fliould for many years dwell obscurely in a family of low degree in the world and afterwards should be in low outward circumfianccs that he should be poor, and n< t have where to lay his head that he should be niaintained by the charity of fbme of his disciples That he Hiciuld grow up as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground," (//fl.53.2.) "That hefhould nor cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to he heard in the lircers," (// /. 42 2.) That he fliould come to Zion in a lowly manner, "riding on an ass, and a colt the sole of an ass." "That he should be despised and rejected of men, a manor' sorrows, andactjualntcd with ;
grief."
And now the divine determination in this matter is made known, we may fafcly conclude ihac it is far the mpft
/« the Way of Salvation.
Ser. XI.
mod suitable
and that it would not have been at all God, when he was manifest in flefii, to appear with earthly pomp, wealth and grandeur, as tho' :
fuiiable for
No these things are he affeislcd f'uch things as ihefe. mean, and despicable. For the Son of God to flicw as if he afte6>ed or cfteemed them. Men, if they had had this way propofcd to them of the eternal Son of God, appearing on earth, viz. infuch mean, low circvimflances, would have been ready to condemn it, as foolifli and very unsuitable for the Son " But the fooliftincfs of God is wiser than of God. *'And God hath brought to men," (i Cor. i. 25.) nought the wisdom of this wprld, and the princes of this world," (i Cor, 2. 6.) Christ, by thus appearing in mean and low outward circumstances in the world, has poured contempr. upon all worldly wealth and glory ; and has taught ut? It is becoming of christians to be above !to despise it. And if it becomes these things and to despise ihem. mean men to despise them, how much more did it become iheSon ofgod And thenchrift hereby hathtaughc us to be lowly in heart. We see hereby how lowly that Person was, that was infinitely high & great. Hov/ lowly then fliould we be, who are indeed so low vile. Again, 2. The wisdom of God appears ip the work and That he fliould perfecl:!/ bufinefsof the life of Chrifl. obey the law of God, under such great temptations : That he fliould have conflifted with and overcome,- for us, in a way of obedience, the powers of earth & hell That he fliould be fuhjeft to, not only the rnoral law, but \\\Q, ceremonial di\{o, that heavy yoke of bondage. Chuist went thro' ihe time of his public miniilry, in delivering to us divine inflruiflions and do rincs. The wisdom of God appears in giving us such an one so be our prophet and teacher, who is a divlue person : !
infiniiely too
Se r. XL
Ths W'tfdom of God ilfplayi
who is himfclf the very wisdom and word of God u-ns from
cicrnity in
bosom
A nd
the Father
he fliouid find such an one to teach us His word will tend to be of greater authority and weight than if delivered by ihc mouth of an ordinary prophet. And then it is wifely ordered that the same (hould be our teacher, that is pur redeemer that his relations and olTices. as redeemer, might the more (weeten and endear his inrtruiTlions to us. We arc ready to give heed to things that are said by one that is dear to is. Our love that
make us
to their persons It is
to delight
their difcourie.
therefore wifely ordered, that he that has done so
much to endear himielf to us, should be appointed our great prophet to deliver to us divine do61rines.
The next thing to be onlidercd is the death of The only begotten Son of God his dying, is <
Christ.
n mqans of salvation for
divine
poor (inners, that no other but
wisdom would have pitched upon.
And when
was revealed, v;:is doubtlcfs greatly to the surprize of all the hods of heaven. This is what they admired nith great adm'.iation when they saw it and never will *cafe to wonder at. And how aflonifliing is it, that a
person that is bicilcd for ever, and is infinitely and cffen-
happy, fnould endure the greatell fuflcrings that ever was endured on earth That a person that is the
li:iliy
supreme lord and judge of the world, fliould be arraign d, and Ihould lland at the judgment seat of mortal worniN, and then be condemned. That a person that is
the living
God, and
put to death.
the fountain of
That a person
life,
Hiould be
that created the world,
und gives .life to all his creatures, should be put to death by his own creatures. That a person that is one of infinire majefly and glory, and so the objc£l of the love, praifcs and adorations of angels, Hiould be mocked and spit upon by ihc vilelt of men. Thar i
perlon that
infinitely good,
and that is love it o. 't, ihouia
Ser. XL
Way of Sahatkn,
That a person that (honld fufter the greaieQ cruelty. the should be put to infather, is Infiniiely beloved of own faihcr s wrath. That exprefllble anguish under his he that is king of heaven, haih heaven for his throne, and the earth for his fpotflool, Ihould be buried in the prison of the grave.
How wonderful a thing is this
and who would have thought of any such thing coming to pass. But yet this is the way that God's wifdoni hath pitchecj ypon, as the way of sinners salvation and this not iin/uitable, or any difhpnoyr tocbrift. !
lever
The iaft thing done to procure falvatjon for Cm-
ners, that we fliall here confider,
ChrilVs exaltation.
Divine wisdom favv it needful or inoft expedient, thac the same person ihat was incarnate, and that died upon the cross, should fit on his own right hand, on his owii and should Jthrone as supreme Governor of the world have particularly the abfbjute disposal of all things reJaiing to man's salvation, and fliould be the judge of the world. This was needful, because it was refluifite that the same person that purchas'd salvation, for it is not fit, that {hould have the beflowing of it ;
God should at all iranfa£l mih the fallen creature in a way of mercy, but by a mediator. And this is exceed-
& comfort of the he that hath indured so much to purchase salvation for them, has all things in heaven, in e rth delivered unto him j that he might bestow eternal life to them that he purchased it for. And that the same ingly for the flrengihning of the faith faints, that
person that loved them so greatly,
as to shed his prcr
cious blood for them, was to be their judge, whose fen«
tence there could be no reversing.
But this was another thing full of wonders, that he hat was
mm as well asGod
he that was a fcrvxint, and
The Jfi/ikm of G od dllplayW
malefa( or
dice] like a
thst
this pcrfon not
S e R . XI cxclufive
of the human nature, flidultl be txalrcd to be made the fovcrcign lord of heaven and earth, angels and men the futhe abfolutc difpofcr of eternal life and death ;
premcjud!j,e of all created intelligent beings. for eternity and fliould have committed to him, all the governing power of God the Father and that, not only as God but as God- man, not exclulive of the human nature. As it is wonderful, that aperfon that is /'y/r? should bv humbled, so as to become a (ervant, and to fultcr as so it is in like manner wonderful, the a malcfaflor other way, tha he thai is God- man, not excluHve of the man hdod, flioukl be exalted to the power & honor But luch won* of the great God of heaven and earth. ders as ihefe has infinite wisdom contrived, and accom-
pliflicd in
order to our lalvation.
TO. E P H E S I A N S To the Intent that noiif vuto the 'Frincipa'it'ies and iii.
"Powers in heavenly " P laces might be ky.oi.vn by the Church the manijold WiJJoin of God,
proceed
now in
second
wisdom of God
place,
will appear
to flicw,
by the
confidcration of the good that is obtained by thofe tore-
mentioned things. The wisdom of the contrivance of rcdcmpiion will appear by Considering, Ftrjh How great and manifold the good ends arc
4jur
that
are obtained.
Secondly,
The wonderful circumftanccs of the ai-
taln'mcni thereof.
P fit
Ser. XL
In the
Way of Salvation,
The good endi that are atraincd by thofe
Firp,
things done in the work of redemption,
arc exceeding
great and manifold. 1.
T\\ good
exceeding manifold.
Particularly,
AH manner of glory redounds to God hereby.
glorified in all his actributes :
and each pcrfon ok
the trinity is, in this work exceedingly glorified.
GOD has greatly glorified himfeif in the work oc
many of his other works of proviall, is he glorified in ibis work of redemption. AllGod s works do praise.him. His glory creation
dence
but above
from them all but as some stars differ from others in glory, so the glory of God shines brighter in some of his works than in others. And amongfl: all these, the work of rcdempLion is like the sun in his rtrength. The glory of the author is abundantly fiiines brightly
the mofl refpendent in ibis work. I. Each attribute of God is glorified in the work of redemption. (i.) In this work, God has exceedingly glorified his zvifdom as may more fully appear before wc have done with this fubjccfl. ;
God hath exceeditigly glorified \\\s power in this
work.
shews the great and inconceivable pov/er of
God to unite natures
lb infinitely diiferenr, as the di
vine and human nature,
one person.
If God can
make one that is truly God, and one that is truly man, one and ihe self same person, what is it that he cannoc ? This is a greater and more marvellous cllbrt, by far, than creation or producing fomcihing out of
nothini .
The power of God mofl gloriously appears in man's being actually saved and redeemed in tl\is way. In his being brought out of a slate of sin and misery. into a conformity to God ; and at lait to ihc ful! and perfccl
enjoyment
The W'ffdom of God difplayd
Ser.
enjoyment ofgod. This \% a more glorious demonflration of divine powcr,than creating things out of nothing,
One is, the effed is greater and
upon two accounts. in jre excellent.
To produce the new creature is a more The
glorious effc V.shan mecrly to produce a creature.
making a holy creature, a creature in the spiritual image of God
the image of the divine excellencies, and a
partaker of the divine nature
cffc is greater,
it is
mcerly to give being to a thing.
greater cffcfl than
And therefore as the
more glorious manifestation of
power.
And then, upon another account nlfo is
more
glorious manifedation of divine power, and that is, that in this cftcft of the afliial redemption of sinners, the term from zuhich,is rr.ore dt flam from the term /? ivh'ich, than in the work of creation. The term from which, in the WO: k of creation h nothing, and the term to which, is beiri(r. But the term from which, in the work of redemption, is a slate infinitely worse than nothing and <he term to which, a holy and a happy being,a (late infinitely better than mere being. The terms in the produdlion of the h{\, arc much more remote from one ;
another, than in the
firfh
And then the production of this lad cffe , is a more manifcqation of power,
glorious creation iilant .
than
becaiife, tho' in creation
ncx'hing is very remote from being
no oppoflrion.
work of
the terms are very ;
yet there
The power of God in producing that
Nothing, makes nnoppnfition to Hut in redemption, the power of Ciod. power of G )d meets with and overcomes great oppofi"lc£i is not opposed. >.c crcatir.pj
Mon.
There \j great
opposition
in a
fate of
sin to a
:!atc of grace.
iMen's luHs and corruptions arc exceeding opji >(i(o r > grace nnd h linefs and do greatly ;
relid the p odiiiflii n vi the
flla.
This opposition is
overcome in nv. i:j! r!;dcmpiion.
SeR. XL
And besides,
the Way of Salvation,
there
great opposition
satan.
The power of God is very glorious in this work,
because it therein conquers the (Irongeft and mod powerful enemies, making the most violent opposition they arc
capable of.
Power never appears more iikiftrious than
Jesus Chrifl: in this work, conquers and triumphs over thousands of devils, llrong and mighty fplrits. uniting all their flrengrh againR him. Luk. xl in conquering.
When a strong man armed
his goods are in
peace
but when
keepeth a
palace,
(tronger than he
fiiall overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trufled, and divideth his spoil. Col. ii. i j. ** And having spoiled principalities & powers, he made a shew of them openjy, triumphing over them in the cross. (3 ) The justice of God is exceedingly glorified m this work. God is so ftriftly anJ immutably just, that he would not spare his Son when he took upon him the guilt of men's sins, and was fubflituted in the room of tinners He would not abate he spared him not at all. him the leafl mite of that debt which juflice demanded, ;
JuiVice should take place, tho' it coll: his infinitely dear
Son his precious blood ;. and his enduring such extraordinary reproach
& pain & death in it's most dreadful
Such was God's justice, that his love to his own Son would not influence him to abate the lead of what
form.
justice required.
The hounefs of God is also exceeding glorious work.
Never did God so manifest his hatred of
sin as in the death
& fufterings of his only begottenSon.
Hereby he fhcw'd himself unappeasable to (In. that
was impossible for him to be at peace with if.
God hath also exceedingly glorified his truth in
this way, both in his threatnings and promifcs. is
fulfilled the threaienings
said, **inthe day
Herein of the law, wherein God
thou eateft thereof thou
flialt
surely
"And cursed is every one that continueth not in
The Wifhm of GoJ r/ifplayj
all things
written in the book of the law to do them
God fliew'd hereby, that not only heaven & earth should
but, which is a great deal more, that the pass away, blood of him, who is the eternal Jehovah, should be should spilt, rather than one jot, or little of his word fail, till all
be fulfilled
And lastly, Especially has God exceedingly glo-
The mercy rified his mercy and love, in this work. of God Was an attribute never fecn before, in the exer-» cifes of it, till it was fcen in this woik of redemptioii, or the fruits of it. The good ness of God appeared towards the angels in giving them being and blehcdnefs. ]t appeared glorious towards man in his primitive slate, a fiatc of holincfs and happincfs. But now God haih fiiewn that he can find in his licatt, to
love sinners, thofe that deserve his infinite ba-
him by rebellion againfl him and that are enemies to him. And not only hath he ihewn that he can love them, but love them so as to give them more and do greater things for them than ever he did for the holy angels, that never finned or rred
that have provoked
offended their creator.
He loved sinful men so as to
give them a greater gift than ever he gave the angels
so as to give his own Son, an i not only to give him to
bo their poficlfion and enjoyment but lo give him to be their facrlfice. And herein he has done more for them, than \f he had given them all the viiiblc world \C3L HiOre, than if he had given them all the angels, and ail heaven bcfidcs. hath loved ihcm so, that hereby he purchafcd for then), deliverance from eiernal mifcry, and the pos;
icdion of immortal glv>ry.
Each pcrfon of [he tili.ify is exceedingly glo'I'his is a iliing wherein the work c.f redcmpii')n is diftiui uinjcd from all the other works ol God. llie at(ribiiies of God are glorious in other works of God but the three perluus of cl;C triniiy arc idly.
rified in this work
diflinaiy
Ser XI,
Way of Salvation.
di{lin6lly glorified in no work as in this work of redemp'
In this work every diftin£l person has his diftincfl
lion.
Each one has his parand didinfi concern in it, agreeable to their di-
parts and offices aftigncd him. ticular
ninf .personal properties
& relations & oecomical offices.
The pcrfonsol' the trinity are each of them,di[!ii)<ftly The redeemed have nd equally glorified in this work. an equal concern with and dependance upon each person, in this affair,
and owe equal
honor and praise to
each of them.
The Father appoints and provides the Redeemer,and The Son is the Re-
accepts the price of redemption.
deemer and the price. He redeems by offering up himThe Holy Ghofl immediately communicates td us the thing purchaled yea, snd he is the good purThe fum of what Chrifl purchased for us is chafed. holiness & happiness. But the Holy Ghost is the great The Holy principle both of all holiness & happiness. Ghost is the fum of all that Christ purchased for men. iJ-aL iii. 13.14. " He was made a curfc for us, that we might receive the promifeof the spirit, thro' faith. The blcffednefs of the redeemed confiqs in partaking of Chrid's fulness, which confifls in partaking of that Spirit, which is given not by measure unto him. This is the oil that was poured upon the head of the Church, which ran down to the members of his body ; self.
to the flviits of his garment.
Thus we have an equal concern with, and dependance upon each of the persons of the trinity, di(lin6>ly up;>n the Father, as he that provides the Redeenier, and the Son the Person of whom (he purchase is made ; as the purchafcr, and the price the Holy Gholt as the good purchased. [Thus we have considered how Go is glorified in which is part of the good obtained in ihe this work work of Redemption.] ;
We proceed now
The Wi/dom of God display'd
SeR. Xt.
II. To confider the wisdom of God appearing in he variety, and exceeding grcatncfs of the good that is hereby procure J for men.
Here we may diflindlly confider
— The variety — and
the greatness of the good procured for men.
Here ate all sorts of good procured for fallen man, he does or can Hand in need of, or is capable of. The wisdom of God appears in the way of salvation in I.
.that
that it is so fufficicnt a way. Herein it is moll worthy of an infinitely wifegod, as it is everyway perfeifi and fufficicnt, and anfwcrs all our needs.
We in our fallen (late are mofl neceftitous creatures, our wanes but they are all answered in this way of salvation. Every sort of good is here procured. Every thing that would really contribute to our happijiefs that \ve can think of, and a great many things we
rfull of
could not have thought of, had
not Christ purchased
them for us, and revealed them to us.
of our
Every demand
circumflances, and craving of our natures, is here
exa£ Iy answered. First,
God.
As for inflance, we fland in need o? peace with
We had provoked God to anger, and the wrath
of God abode upon us, and we needed to have it apThis is done for us in this way of salvation. peafed.
by shedding his blood, has fully fatisficd and appeased God's wrath, for all that fliall bcWe were by the sentence of the law coniicve in him. demned to hell. We needed to have our (ins pardoned In this work, that we might be delivered froni hell. pardon of sin, & deliverance from hell, is purchased for us. Secondly, We needed not only to have God's wrath appeased, and our sins pardoned but we needed to have ihc/fli' wr of God. To have God, not only not our enemy, but our friend. God's favour is also purchased Chrid,
jufticc,
for us by the rightcoufncfs of Jcfus Christ.
Thirdly,
Seh.
in the
Way of Salvation.
Thirdly, We needed not only to be delivered from hell, but to have {'omc Jat isfying happiness bestowed. Man is of such a nature, that he has a natural craving and third And will thirst and crave, 'till his caafter happiness.
And his capacity is of vafl extent
pacity is fiu'd.
nothing
his desires.
infinite
good
But notwithfianding,
fill
provision is
satisfy
made ia
of salvation to answer thofe needs of our souls. And there is a satisfying happiness purchased for us : that which is fully answerable to the capacity and cravthis way
ings of our souls.
Here is food procured in hi> way of salvation to anfgod wer all our appetites and faculties of our louls. and has made the soul of man of a spiritual nature ;
therefore he needs a spiritual happiness
some spiritual
of which he may be happy. there is good procured, that is suitable to this spiritual nature of man, a fpiiit. Chrifl has purchased the enjoyment of <Jod. as the portion of our souls, —who is rhe great and original Spirit. And he hath purchased the Spirit of God to cone and dwell in us to be an internal principle of happiness.
objefi,
the enjoyment
And in this way of
salvation.
GOD hath made man
a rational, intelligent creature.
And m.an needs some good,
that (hall be
suitable ob-
je£l of his undcrllanding,for him to contemplate;
where-
he may have full and sufficient exercise for his capaor in the cious faculties, in the utmofi: extent of them ucmoft extent they are capable of an obje<5l that is great and noble, and worthy of the exercise of the nobleil faculties of the rational soul. Provision is made for this also, in this way of falvaron. Here it is provided that God himself Ihould be whose theirs, for them forever to behold & contemplate "glorions perfections and works are mofl worthy obje<5ls of thein provement of their faculties And there is room en >ugh for them to improve thcm and flill to exercise
rheir faculties to all eternity.
IV'ffjom of God difplayd
Se r
And what objefl can be more worthy to excrcife the underHanding of a rational soul, than the glories of ihc divine being, with which the heavenly inrelligcncivs and
the infinite underf anding of God him (elf is enicrtain'd
Our souls
need fume good that shall be a suitable objcfl of the will and affe£lions a suitable objcfl for :
the choice, the acquiescence, the love and joy of the ralional soul.
Pro. ifion is made for this also in this way
There is an infinitely excellent Being offered to be chosen, to be relied in, to be loved, to be of salvation.
even God himself, who is infinitely lovely, the fountain of all good; a fountain that can
rejoyccd in. by us
never be exhauftcd, where we can be in no danger of going to excess, in our love and joy and may be alTur:
cd ever to find our joy and delight in the enjoyment anfwetable to our love and desires. Fourthly. There is all poftible enjoyment of this object procured in this way of salvation.
entirely set their love upon another fire to see that
pcrfon
don't faiisfy love.
When pcrfons
they naturally dc-
mcerly to here of the person,
So here is provision made
that
should see God, the obj?6l of our supreme love. Not only that we should hear and read of him in his word,
but that we fliould see him with a spiritual eye here and nor only so, but that we fliould have the (atibfa6iioa of feting Ciod face to face, hereafter. This is promifcd :
{Mat. 5. 8 ) BU'Jpd are the pure in Heart for they It is promifcd, that we shall not see God, as thro' a glass darkly, as we do now, but face to face. I Cor, 13. 12. That we shall see Christ as he is. ijoh. ;
shall feegod.
We naturally dtfire not only to see thofc that we love,
but to converse with them. Provilion is made for this also. that we fliould have spiritual convcrfation
with (jod while here in this world
and that we should be hereafter admitted to converse with Chrill in the molt ;
intimate
Ser. XL
the Way of
Salvation.
intimate manner ppffible.
Provision ismadcinibis way of salvation thac wc should converse withGod much more intimately, than oiherwife it would have been piftible for us for nowchrifl is incarnate, he is in our nature : he is become one of us whereby we are under advantages for an immensely more free and intimate convcrfation with him, than could have been, if he had remain'd only in the divine nature and so in a nature ;
infinitely didant
from us.
We naturally desire not only to converse with thofe that we greatly love, but to
dwell with them. Provi" It is purchased and provided that we fliould dwell with God in his own house in heaven, which is called our father's house. To dwell for ever in God's presence, and at his right sion, thro' Christ,
made for this.
hand.
We naturally desire to have a right to that person that
we greatly love. Provision is made in this way that wc fliould have a right in God a
of salvation,
This is the promise of the covenant of grace, "That he will be our God. God with all his glorious pcrfe£lions and attributes with all his power and wisdom and wiih all his majefly and glory, will be ours so that we may call him our inheritance, and the portion of our souls what we can challenge, having this portion made over to us, by a firm inlf rument by a covenant ordered in all things and sure. right to him.
And we way also hereby challenge a right to Jesus Chrifl.
Love desires that the right fliould be
mutual.
The lover, dcfircs not only to have a right to
the beloved, but
that the beloved should also have a
right to him ; he desires to be his beloved's, as well as bis beloved fliould
Provision be his. of salvation,
this, in this wile method
also
made for
that (jiod fliould
have a special propriety in thofe that are redeemed, thac they fljould be in a diilinguifhing manner /;// ''-
that they ftiould