Use 2d. Is Christ our priest sacrificed? See God's mercy and justice displayed. I may say as the apostle, Rom. xi. 22., " Be- hold the goodness and severity of God." 1. The goodness of God in providing a sa- crifice: had not Christ suffered upon the cross, we must have lain in hell for ever, satisfying God's justice. — 2. The severity of God : though it were his own Son, the Son of liis love, and our sins wei*e but im- puted to him, yet God did not spare him, Rom. viii. 32., but his wrath did flame
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against him. And if God were thus severe to his own Son, how dreadful will he he one day to liis enemies ? Such as die in wilful impenitency, must feel the same wrath as Christ did ; and because they can- not bear it at once, therefore they must be enduring it for ever.
Use 3d. Is Christ our priest, who was sa- crificed for us ? Then see the endeared affection of Christ to us sinners. " Tlie cross," saith Austin, " was a pulpit, in wliich Christ preached bis love to tlie world." That Christ should die, was more tban if all the angels had been turned to dust ; and that Christ should die as a malefactor, hav- ing the weight of all men's sins laid upon him, that he should die for his enemies, Rom. V. 10. The balm-tree weeps out its precious balm, to heal tbose that cut and mangle it : Christ shed his blood, to heal those that crucified him. And that lie should die freely : it is called ' tlic offering of the body of Jesus,' Heb. x. 10. And tbough his sufferings were so great that they made him sigh, and weep, and bleed ; yet they could not make him repent, Isa. liii. II., " He shall see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied." Christ had hard travail upon the cross, yet he doth not repent of it, but thinks his sweat and blood well- bestowed, because he sees redemption brought forth to the world. O infinite, amazing love of Christ ! A love that pass- eth knowledge, Eph. iii. 19., that neither man nor angel can parallel ! How should we be affected with this love ! If Saul was so affected with David's kindness in sparing his life, how should we be affected with Christ's kindness in parting witli his life for us ? At Christ's death and passion, the very stones did cleave asunder. Mat. xx^di. 51., " Tlie rocks rent." Not to be affected with Christ's love in dying, is to have hearts har- der than rocks.
Use 4^th. Is Christ our sacrifice ? then see the excellency of his sacrifice. It is per- fect, Heb. X. 14., " By one offering, he hath perfected them that are sanctified." There- fore, how impious are the Papists, in join- ing their merits and the prayers of saints with Christ's sacrifice ? They offer him uj) daily in the mass, as if Christ's sacrifice on the cross were imperfect; this is a blas-
phemy against Christ's priestly office. — 2. Christ's sacrifice is meritorious ; he not only died for our example, but to merit salva- tion ; the person who suffered being God as well as man, did put virtue into his suffer- ings; and now our sins are expiated, and God appeased. No sooner did the messen- gers say, " Uriah is dead," but David's anger was pacified, 2 Sam. xi. 21. No sooner did Christ die, but God's anger was pacified. — 3. This sacrifice is beneficial. Out of the dead lion Samson had honey ; it procures justification of our persons, ac- ceptance of our service, — access to God with boldness, — entrance into the holy ])lace of heaven, Heb. x. 19. Per latus Clinsti patescit nobis iii ccelum, Israel \)assed through the Red sea to Canaan ; so through the red sea of Christ's blood, we enter into the hea- venly Canaan.
Use 5th. Of exhortation. 1. Let us fidu- cially apply this blood of Christ; all the virtue of a medicine is in the applying; though the medicine be made of the blood of God, it will not heal, unless by faitli applied. As fire is to the chymist, so is faith to the Christian ; the chymist can do nothing without fire, so there is nothing done without faith. Faith makes Christ's sacrifice ours, Phil. iii. 8., *' Christ Jesus my Lord." It is not gold in the mine that enrichetli, but gold in the hand ; faith is the hand that receives Christ's golden merits. It i^iot a cordial in the glass rc- freshcth the s])irit, but a cordial drunk domi. Per /idem Ckristi sanguincm sugi- inns, CvPR. Faith opens the orifice of Christ's wounds, and drinks the precious cordial of his blood. Without faith Christ himself wall not avail us.
2. Let us love a bleeding Saviour, and let us show our love to Christ, by being ready to suffer for him. • Many rejoice at Christ's suffering for them, but dream not of their suffering for him ; Joseph dreamed of his preferment, but not of his imprison- ment. Was Christ a sacrifice? — Did he bear God's wrath for us? — We sliould bear man's wrath for him. Christ's death was voluntary, Ps. xl. 7., " Lo, I come to do thy will,' O God ;" Luke xii. 50., '• I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished !" Christ