even

yet they were not? I answer, it was the counsel of peace towards them before-mentioned, in the pursuit whereof he was to be sent to converse amongst them on the earth. He rejoiced in the fore-thoughts of his being sent to them, and the work he had to do for them. Then, with his own consent and delight was he fore-ordained unto his work, 'before the foundation of the world,' 1 Pet. i. 20. and received of the Father the promise of eternal life, even before the world began ;' Tit. i. 2. that is, to be given unto sinners, by way of forgiveness through his blood. So is this whole counsel expressed, Psal. xl. 7, 8. Whence it is made use of by the apostle, Heb. x. 5-7. Then said I, lo I come, in the volume of thy book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O God. Thy law is in the midst of my heart.' There is the will of the Father in this matter, and the law of its performance. And there is the will of the Son in answer thereunto; and his delight in fulfilling that law which was prescribed unto him.

Let us now consider to what purpose was this eternal counsel of peace, this agreement of the Father and Son from eternity, about the state and condition of mankind? If God would have left them all to perish under the guilt of their sins, there had been no need at all of any such thoughts, design, or counsel. God had given unto them a law, righteous and holy, which if they transgressed, he had threatened them with eternal destruction. Under the rule, disposal, and power of this law, he might have righteously left them to stand or fall according to the verdict and sentence thereof. But now he assures us, he reveals unto us that he had other thoughts in this matter; that there were other counsels between the Father and the Son concerning us. And these such as the Son was delighted in the prospect of his accomplishment of them. What can these thoughts and counsels be, but about a way for their deliverance, which could no otherwise be, but by the forgiveness of sins? For whatever else be done, yet if God mark iniquities there is none can stand. Hearken therefore poor sinner, and have hope. God is consulting about thy deliverance and freedom. And what cannot the wisdom and grace of the Father and Son effect and accomplish? And to this end was the Son sent into the world, which is the second thing proposed to consideration.

Secondly, Whom did God send about this business? The Scripture lays great weight and emphasis on this consideration, faith must do so also. John iii. 16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son: so 1 John iv. 9. "In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his 'only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.' And again, ver. 10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us; and sent his Son to be the propitiation of our sins.' And who is this that is thus sent and called the only-begotten Son of God? Take a double description of him, one out of the Old Testament, and another from the New. The first from Isa. ix. 6. To us a child is born, to us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace:' the other from Heb. i. 2, 3. 'God hath spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.' This is he who was sent; in nature he was glorious; even over all God blessed for ever. In answerableness unto the Father; the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person:' possessed of all the same essential properties with him. So that what we find in him, we may be assured of in the Father also; for he that hath seen him, hath seen the Father, who is in him. In power omnipotent, for he made all things, and upholding all things,' with an unspeakable facility, by the word of his power.' In office exalted over all, sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high.' In name, 'the mighty God, the everlasting Father;' so that whatever he came about, he will assuredly accomplish and fulfil; for what should hinder or let this mighty One from perfecting his design?

Now this consideration raiseth our evidence to that height, as to give an unquestionable assurance in this matter. Here is a near and a particular object for faith to be exercised about, and to rest in. Wherefore did this glorious Son of God come and tabernacle amongst poor sinners? We beheld the glory of the eternal Word,' the glory of the only-be

gotten of the Father, and he was made flesh, kaì kokévwoɛ, and pitched his tabernacle amongst us ;' John i. 14. To what end? It was no other but to work out and accomplish the eternal counsel of peace towards sinners before-mentioned, to procure for them, and to declare unto them, the forgiveness of sin. And what greater evidence, what greater assurance can we have, that there is forgiveness with God for us? he himself hath given it as a rule, that what is done by giving an only-begotten, or an only-beloved Son, gives assured testimony of reality and sincerity in the thing that is confirmed by it. So he says unto Abraham, Gen. xxii. 12. Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son, from me.' This way it may be known, or no way. And they are blessed conclusions that faith may make from this consideration; Now I know that there is forgiveness with God, seeing he hath not withheld his Son, his only Son, that he might accomplish it. To this purpose the apostle teacheth us to reason, Rom. viii. 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?' What farther can any soul desire? What ground remains for unbelief to stand upon in this matter? Is there any thing more to be done herein? It was to manifest that there is forgiveness with him, and to make way for the exercise of it, that God sent his Son; that the Son of God came into the world, as will afterward more fully appear.

Thirdly, To this sending of the Son of God to this purpose, there is evidence and security added from the manner wherein he was sent. How was this? Not in glory, not in power, not in an open discovery of his eternal power and Godhead. Had it been so, we might have thought, that he had come merely to manifest and glorify himself in the world. And this he might have done without thoughts of mercy or pardon towards us. But he came quite in another manner: he was seen in the 'likeness of sinful flesh;' Rom. viii. 3. ' In the form of a servant;' Phil. ii. 10. Being made of a woman, made under the law;' Gal. iv. 4. What he endured, suffered, underwent in that state and condition, is in some measure known unto us all. All this could not be merely and firstly for himself. All that he expected at the close of it, was to be glorified with that glory which he had with the

Father before the world was;' John xvii. 5. It must then be for our sakes; and for what? to save and deliver us from that condition of wrath at present, and future expectation of vengeance, which we had cast ourselves into by sin; that is, to procure for us the forgiveness of sin. Had not God designed pardon for sin, he would never have sent his Son in this manner, to testify it: and he did it, because it could no other way be brought about, as hath been declared. Do we doubt whether there be forgiveness with God or no? or whether we shall obtain it, if we address ourselves unto him for to be made partakers of it? Consider the condition of his Son in the world; review his afflictions, poverty, temptation, sorrows, sufferings; then ask our souls, to what end was all this? And if we can find any other design in it, any other reason, cause, or necessity of it, but only and merely to testify and declare, that there is forgiveness with God, and to purchase and procure the communication of it unto us, let us abide in, and perish under, our fears. But if this be so, we have sufficient warranty to assure our souls in the expectation of it.

1

Fourthly, Besides all this, there ensues upon what went before, that great and wonderful issue, in the death of the Son of God. This thing was great and marvellous, and we may a little inquire into what it was that was designed therein. And hereof the Scripture gives us a full account. As,

6

1. That he died to make atonement for sin, or reconciliation for iniquity;' Dan. ix. 24. He gave his life a ransom for the sins of many;' Matt. xx. 28. 1 Tim. ii. 6. He was in it made sin, that others might become the righteousness of God in him;' 2 Cor. v. 20. Rom. viii. 3. Therein he bare our sins in his body on the tree;' 1 Peter ii. 24. This was the state of this matter. Notwithstanding all the love, grace, and condescension before-mentioned, yet our sins were of that nature, and so directly opposite unto the justice and holiness of God, that unless atonement were made, and a price of redemption paid, there could be no pardon, no forgiveness obtained. This therefore he undertook to do, and that by the sacrifice of himself; answering all that was prefigured by, and represented in, the sacrifices of old; as the apostle largely declares, Heb. x. 5-9. And herein is the forgiveness that is in God, copied out and exempli

fied so clearly and evidently, that he that cannot read it, will be cursed unto eternity. Yea, and let him be accursed; for what can be more required to justify God in his eternal destruction? He that will not believe his grace as testified and exemplified in the blood of his Son, let him perish with out remedy. Yea, but

2. The curse and sentence of the law lies on record against sinners. It puts in its demands against our acquittance, and lays an obligation upon us unto punishment. And God will not reject nor destroy his law, unless it be answered there is no acceptance for sinners. This therefore, in the next place, his death was designed unto. As he satisfied and made atonement by it unto justice (that was the fountain, spring, and cause of the law), so he fulfilled and answered the demands of the law, as it was an effect of the justice of God: so Rom. viii. 13. He suffered in the likeness of sinful flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled,' and answered. He answered the curse of the law,' when he was 'made a curse for us;' Gal. iii, 13. and so became, as to the obedience of the law, the end of the law for righteousness unto them that do believe ;' Rom. x. 3, 4. And as to the penalty that it threatened, he bore it, removed it, and took it out of the way. So hath he made way for forgiveness through the very heart of the law; it hath not one word to speak against the pardon of them that do believe. But,

3. Sinners are under the power of Satan; he lays a claim unto them, and by what means shall they be rescued from his interest and dominion? This also his death was designed to accomplish. For as he was manifest to destroy the works of the Devil,' 1 John iii. 8. so by death he destroyed him that had the power of death;' Heb. ii. 14. That is, to despoil him of his power, to destroy his dominion, to take away his plea unto sinners that believe; as we have at large elsewhere declared,

And by all these things, with many other concernments of his death that might be instanced in, we are abundantly secured of the forgiveness that is with God, and of his willingness that we should be made partakers thereof.

5. Is this all? Did his work cease in his death? Did he no more for the securing of the forgiveness of sins unto us, but