593 birth-right, he might have claimed an exemption from the ordinary service whereunto all other men are tied: and by being the King's Son, have freed himself from the payment of that tribute which was to be exacted at the hands of strangers. When the Father brought this his first begotten into the world, he said, "Let all the angels of God worship him :" and at the very instant wherein the Son advanced our nature into the highest pitch of dignity, by admitting it into the unity of his sacred person, that nature so assumed was worthy to be crowned with all glory and honour: and he in that nature might then have set himself down at the right hand of the throne of God, tied to no other subjection than now he is, or hereafter shall be, when after the end of this world he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God the Father. For then also, in regard of his assumed nature, he "shall be subject unto him that put all other things under him." Thus the Son of God, if he had minded only his own things, might at the very first have attained unto the joy that was set before him: but looking "on the things of others," he chose rather to come by a tedious way and wearisome journey unto it, not challenging the privilege of a son, but taking upon him the form of a mean servant. Whereupon in the days of his flesh, he did not serve as an honourable commander in the Lord's host, but as an ordinary soldier, he "made himself of no reputation," for the time as it were emptying' himself of his high state and dignity," he humbled himself, and became obedient" until his death; being content all his life long to be "madem under the law :" yea, so far, that as he was sent "in" the likeness of sinful flesh," so he disdained not to be subject himself unto the law, which properly did concern sinful flesh. And therefore howsoever circumcision f Matt. chap. 17. ver. 25, 26. h Heb. chap. 12. ver. 2. Philipp. chap. 2. ver. 4, 5, 7, 8. Heb. chap. 1. ver. 6. 1 Cor. chap. 15. ver. 27. 1 EȧUTòv ¿Kirwoε. Philipp. chap. 2. ver. 7. m Gal. chap. 4. ver. 4. Rom. chap. S. ver. was by right appliable only unto such as were "dead" in their sins, and the circumcision of their flesh;" yet he, in whom there was no body of the sins of the flesh to be put off, submitted himself notwithstanding thereunto: not only to testify his communion with the fathers of the old Testament; but also by this means to tender unto his Father a bond, signed with his own blood, whereby he made himself in our behalf a debtor unto the law. "For I testify," saith the apostle, "top every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor unto the whole law." In like manner baptism appertained properly unto such as were defiled, and had need to have their sins washed away: and therefore when all the land of Judea and they of Jerusalem went out unto John, "they" were all baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins." Among the rest came our Saviour also: but the Baptist considering that he had need to be baptized by Christ, and Christ no need at all to be baptized by him, refused to give way unto that action, as altogether unbefitting the state of that immaculate Lamb of God, who was to take away the sin of the world. Yet did our Mediator submit himself to that ordinance of God also: not only to testify of his communion with the Christians of the new Testament; but especially (which is the reason yielded by himself) because its became him thus to fulfil all righteousness." And so having fulfilled all righteousness, whereunto the meanest man was tied, in the days of his pilgrimage, which was more than he needed to have undergone, if he had respected only himself: the works which he performed were truly works of supererogation, which might be put upon the account of them whose debt he undertook to discharge; and being performed by the person of the Son of God, must in that respect not only be equivalent, but infinitely over-value the obedience of Adam and Col. chap. 2. ver. 11, 13. Acts, chap. 22. ver. 16. P Gal. chap. 5. ver. 3. Matt. chap. 3. ver. 6. Mark. chap. 1. ver. 5. all his posterity, although they had remained in their integrity, and continued until this hour, instantly serving God day and night. And thus for our main and principal debt of obedience, hath our Mediator given satisfaction unto the justice of his Father; with "good' measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over." But beside this, we were liable unto another debt, which we have incurred by our default, and drawn upon ourselves by way of forfeiture and nomine pœnæ. For as "Obedience"" is a due "debt," and God's servants in regard thereof are truly debtors: so likewise is sin a "debt"," and sinners" debtors"," in regard of the penalty due for the default. And as the payment of the debt which cometh nomine pœnæ, dischargeth not the tenant afterwards from paying his yearly rent, which of itself would have been due, although no default had been committed: so the due payment of the yearly rent, after the default hath been made, is no sufficient satisfaction for the penalty already incurred. Therefore our surety, who standeth chargeable with all our debts, as he maketh payment for the one by his active, so he must make amends for the other by his passive obedience: he must first "suffer, and then enter into his glory." "Fory it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect (that is, a perfect accomplisher of the works which he had undertaken) through sufferings." The Godhead is of that infinite perfection, that it cannot possibly be subject to any passion. He therefore that had no other nature but the Godhead, could not pay such a debt as this; the discharge whereof consisted in suffering and dying. It was also fit, that God's justice should have been satisfied in that nature which had transgressed; and that the same nature should suffer the pun Luke, chap. 6. ver. 38. Ibid. chap. 17. ver. 10. Rom. chap. 8. ver. 12. Gal. chap. 5. ver. 3. Matt. chap. 6. ver. 12. compared with Luke, chap. 11. ver. 4. W opeira. Luke, chap. 13. ver. 4. Matt. chap. 13. ver. 16. Luke, chap. 24. ver. 26. Heb. chap. 2. ver. 10. ishment, that had committed the offence. "Forasmuch then as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same: that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage." Such and so great was the love of God the Father towards us, that "he spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all:" and so transcendent was the love of the Son of God towards the sons of men, that he desired not to be spared; but rather than they should lie under the power of death, was of himself most willing to suffer death for them: which seeing in that infinite nature, which by eternal generation he received from his Father, he could not do, he resolved in the appointed time to take unto himself a mother, and out of her substance to have a body framed unto himself, wherein he might "become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross," for our redemption. And therefore when he cometh into the world, he saith unto his Father: "A body hast thou fitted me; Lo, I come to do thy will O God." "By the which will," saith the apostled, "we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Thus we see it was necessary for the satisfaction of this debt, that our Mediator should be man: but he that had no more in him than a man, could never be able to go through with so great a work. For if there should be found a man as righteous as Adam was at his first creation, who would be content to suffer for the offence of others, his suffering possibly might serve for the redemption of one soul; it would not be sufficient ransom for those innumerable multitudes that were to be 66 redeemed to God out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Neither could any man or angel be Heb. chap. 2. ver. 14, 15, b Philipp. chap. 2. ver. 8. d Heb. ver, 9, 10. Rev. chap. 5. ver. 9. a Rom. chap. 8. ver. 12. Heb. chap. 10. ver. 5, 7. e Rev. chap. 7. ver. 9. able to hold out, if a punishment equivalent to the endless sufferings of all the sinners in the world should at once be laid upon him. Yea, the very powers of Christ himself, upon whom "the spirit of might did rest," were so shaken in this sharp encounter, that he, who was the most accomplished pattern of all fortitude, stood "soreh amazed," and with "strong crying and tears" prayed that, "if it were possible, the hour might pass from him." This man therefore being to offer one sacrifice for sins for ever; to the burning of that sacrifice he must not only bring the coals of his love as strong as death, and as ardent as the fire which hath a most vehement flame, but he must add thereunto those everlasting" burnings also, even the flames of his most glorious deity and therefore" through the eternal spirit must he offer himself without spot unto God;" that thereby he might obtain for us an eternal redemption. The blood whereby the Church is purchased, must be "God's own blood:" and to that end must "the Lord' of glory be crucified;" "thes Prince and Author of life be killed; he whose eternal " generation no man can declare, be cut off out of the land of the living;" and the man that is God's own fellow be thus smitten; according to that which God himself foretold by his prophet. "Awake", O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." The people of Israel, we read, did so value the life of David their king, that they counted him to be worth ten thousand of them Esai. chap. 11. ver. 2. Heb. chap. 5. ver. 7. Heb. chap. 10. ver. 12. n Esai. chap. 33. ver. 14. P Heb. chap. 9. ver. 12. 1 Cor. chap. 2. ver. 8. Esai. chap. 53. ver. 8. h Mark, chap. 14. ver. 33. Heb. chap. 9. ver. 14. "Zach. chap. 13. ver. 7. with Matt. chap. 26. ver. 31. ▼ 2 Sam. chap. 18. ver. 3. |