now, that is done by this, his once suffering for sin; they that are in him shall hear no more of that as condemning them, binding them over to suffer that wrath that is due to sin. Now, this puts an invincible strength into the soul for enduring all other things, how hard soever.

Put to death.] This the utmost point, and that which men are most startled at, to die, and a violent death, put to death; and yet he hath led in this way who is the Captain of our salvation. In the flesh.] Under this second, his human nature, and divine nature and power, are differenced. Put to death in the flesh is a very fit expression, not only (as is usual) taking the flesh for the whole manhood, but because death is most properly spoken of that very person, or his flesh: the whole man suffers death, a dissolution, or taking to pieces, and the soul suffers a separation or dislodging; but death, or the privation of life and sense, belongs particularly to the flesh or body: But the Spirit, here opposed to the flesh or body, is certainly of a higher, nature and power than is the human soul, which cannot of itself return to re-inhabit and quicken the body.

Put to death.] His death was both voluntary and violent; that same power that restored his life could have kept it exempted from death; but the design was for death. He therefore took our flesh, to put it off thus, and offered it up as a sacrifice; which, to be acceptable, must of necessity be free and voluntary; and, in that sense, he is said to have died even by that same Spirit, that here, in opposition to death, is said to quicken him, Through the eternal Spirit, he offered himself without spot unto God. They accounted it an ill boding sign when the sacrifices came constrainedly to the altar, and drew back; and, ou the contrary, were glad in the hopes of success, when they came cheerfully forward; but never sacrifice came so willingly all the way, and from the first step knew whither he was going. Yet, because

1 Heb. ix. 14.

ανε

no other sacrifice would serve, he was most content: Sacrifices and burnt offerings thou didst not desire: Then said I, Lo I come, &c. He was not only a willing sacrifice, as Isaac, bound peaceably, and laid on the altar, but his own sacrificer: The beasts, if they came willingly, yet offered not themselves; but he offered up himself; and thus, not only by a willingness far above all those sacrifices of bullocks and goats, but by the eternal Spirit, he offered up himself. Therefore he says, in this regard, I lay down my life for my sheep; it is not pulled from me, but I lay it down; and so it is often expressed, by [bar] he died; and yet this suits with it, [avarus] put to death: yea, it was also expedient to be thus, that his death should be violent, and so the more penal, so as to carry the more clear expression of a punishment, and such a violent death as had both ignominy and a curse tied to it; and this inflicted in a judicial way, (though as from the hands of men most unjustly), that he should stand, and be judged, and condemned to death as a guilty person, carrying in that the persons of so many that should otherwise have fallen under condemnation, as indeed guilty: He was numbered with transgressors (as the Prophet hath it), bearing the sins of many.

Thus, then, there was in his death external violence joined with internal willingness: But what is there to be found but complications of wonders in our Lord Jesus? Oh! high inconceivable mystery of godliness! God manifested in the flesh! Nothing in this world so strange, and sweet, as that conjuncture, God man, humanitas Dei! What a strong foundation of friendship and union betwixt the person of man and God, that their natures met in so close embraces in one person! And then, look on, and see so poor and despised an outward condition through his life; yet, having hid under it the majesty of God, all the brightness of the Father's glory; and this the top of all, that he was

put to death in the flesh; the Lord of life dying, the Lord of glory clothed with shame. But it quickly appeared what kind of person it was that died; by this, he was put to death indeed in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.

1

Quickened.] He was indeed too great a morsel for the grave to digest. For all its vast craving mouth, and devouring appetite, crying, Sheol, Give, give; yet was it forced to give him up again, as the fish which swallowed up the Prophet Jonah, when the Lord spake, was obliged to vomit him out, who in that was the figure of Christ". The chains of that prison are strong; but he was too strong a prisoner to be held by them; as our apostle hath it in his sermon", that it was not possible that he should be kept by them. They thought all was sure when they had rolled to the stone, and sealed it; that then the grave had indeed shut her mouth upon him; it appeared a done business to them, and looked as if it were very complete in his enemies eyes, and very desperate to his friends, his poor disciples and followers. Were they not near the point of giving over, when they said, This is the third day, &c. And we thought this had been he that should have delivered Israel. And yet he was then with them, who was indeed the deliverer and salvation of Israel. That rolling of the stone to the grave, was, as if they had rolled it towards the east in the night, to stop the rising of the sun the next morning; much further above all their watches and power was this Sun of Righteousness in his rising again. That body that was entombed, was united to the spring of life, the divine Spirit of the Godhead that quickened it.

Reflexion 1. Thus the church, which is likewise his body, when it seems undone, when it is brought to the lowest posture and state, yet by virtue of that mystical union with Jesus Christ, (as his natural body, by personal union with his Deity), shall be preserved from destruction, and shall be delivered

Jonah i. 17. ii. 10.. " Acts ii. 24. • Lukexxiv. 21.

and raised in due time: yea, as he was nearest his exaltation in the lowest step of his humiliation, so is it with his church: when things are brought to the most hopeless appearance, then shall light arise out of darkness: Cum duplicantur lateres venit Moses.

Therefore, as we ought to seek a more humble sense of Sion's distress, so we should also be solicitous not to let go this hope, that her mighty Lord will, in the end, be glorious in her deliverance, and that all her sufferings and low estate shall be as a dark ground to set off the lustre of her restoration, when the Lord shall visit her with salvation. As in the rising of Jesus Christ, his almighty power and deity was more manifested than if he had not died: and therefore we may say confidently, with the Psalmist to his Lord', Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up from the depths of the earth: thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. Yea, the church comes more beautiful out of the deepest distress; let it be overwhelmed with waves, yet it sinks not, but rises up as only washed. And in this confidence we ought to rejoice, even in the midst of our sorrows; and, though we live not to see them, yet, even in beholding afar off, to be gladded with the great: things the Lord will do for his church in the latter times. He will certainly make bare his holy arm in the eyes of the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God; his king that he hath set on his holy hill, shall grow in his conquests and glory; and all that rise against him shalt he break with a rod of iron. He was humbled once, but his glory shall be for ever; as many were astonished at him, his visage being marred more than any man, they shall be as much astonished at his beauty and glory. So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at

P Psal. lxxi. 20, 21.

4 Isa. lii. 10.

Psal. ii.

him. According as here, we find that remarkable evidence of his divine power in rising from the dead, put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.

2. Thus may a believing soul at the lowest, when, to its own sense, it is given over unto death, and swallowed up of it, as it were in the belly of hell, yet look up to this divine power; he whose soul was not left there, will not leave thine there. Yea, when thou art most sunk in thy sad apprehensions, and far off to thy thinking, then is he nearest to raise and comfort thee; as sometimes it grows darkest immediately before day. Rest on his power and goodness, which never failed any that did so: It is he (as David says) that lifts up the soul from the gates of death.

3. Would any of you be cured of that common disease, the fear of death, look this way, and you shall find more than you seek; you shall be taught, not only not to fear, but to love it. Consider, 1, his death he died. By that, thou that receivest him as thy life, mayest be sure of this, that thou art by that his death, freed from the second death, and that is the great point. Let that have the name which was given to the other, the most terrible of all terrible things; and as the second death is removed, this death that thou art to pass through, is, I may say, beautified and sweetened; the ugly visage of it becomes amiable, when ye look on it in Christ, and in his death, that puts such a pleasing comeliness upon it, that whereas others fly from it with affrightment, the believer cannot choose but embrace it. He longs to lie down in that bed of rest, since his Lord lay in it, and hath warmed that cold bed, and purified it with his fragrant body. 2. But especially look forward to his return thence, quickened by the Spirit; this being to those that

s Isa. lii. 14, 15. t Isa. ix. 13. "Descendit huc vita nostra, et tulit mortem nostram, et occidit eam de abundantia vitæ suæ, &c. AUG.