[6.] Sixthly, Observe with me, that the original cause of this com- pact or covenant between the Father and the Son, hy vii^tue of which God the Father demands a price, and Je&iis Christ pays the price ac- cording to God's demands, is only from the free grace and favour of God: rer. 10, * It pleased the Lord to bruise him, he hath put him to grief God the Father looks upon Jesus Christ as sustaining our person and cause ; he looks upon all our sins as laid u])on him, and to be punished in him. Sin could not be abolished, the justice of God could not be satisfied, the wrath of God could not be appeased, the terrible curse could not be removed, but by the death of Christ ; and therefore God the Father took a pleasure to bruiftc him, and to
VERY CLEARLY AND LARGELY OPENED. 341
put him to grief, according to the agreement between him and his Son. It must be readily granted that God did not incite or instigate the wicked Jews to those vile and cruel courses and carriages of theirs to Jesus Christ. But yet that his sufferings were by God pre- determined for the salvation of mankind is most evident by the scrip- tures in the margin ; i and, accordingly, it pleased the Lord to bruise him, and to put him to grief The singular pleasure that God the Father takes in the work of our redemption is a wonderful demonstra- tion of his love and affection to us.
[7.] Seventhly, Observe with me, that it is agreed between the Father and the Son that our sins should he imputed unto him, and that his righteousness should be imputed unto us, and that all the re- deemed should believe in him, and so be justified: ver. 11, ' He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied : by his knowledge . (or faith in him) shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities ;' or, as some render it, ' He shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied' — that is, Jesus Christ shall receive and enjoy that, as the effect and issue of all the great pains that he hath taken, and of all the grievous things that he hath suffered, as shall give him full content and satisfaction. When Christ hath accomplished the work of redemption, he shall receive a full reward for all his sufferings. Christ takes a singular pleasure in the work of our redemption, and doth herein, as it were, refresh him- self, as with the fruits, "of his own labours. God the Father engages to Jesus Christ that he should not travail in vain, but that he should survive to see with great joy a numerous issue of faithful souls be- gotten unto God. You know when women, after sore, sharp, hard labour, are delivered, they are so greatly refreshed, delighted, gladded, and satisfied, that they forget their former pains and sorrow, ' for joy that a man-child is born into the world,' John xvi. 21. God the Father undertakes that Jesus Christ should have such a holy seed, such a blessed issue, as the main fruit and effect of his passion, as should joy him, please liim, and as he should rest satisfied in. Certainly there could be no such joy and satisfaction to Christ as for him to see poor souls reconciled, justified, and saved by liis sufferings and satisfaction ; as it is the highest joy of a faithful minister to see souls won over to Chi'ist, and to see souls built up in Christ, 1 Thes. ii. 19, 20 ; Gal. iv 19. Chi'ist did bear the guilt of his people's sins, and thereby he made full satisfaction ; and therefore he is said here ' to justify many ;' not all promiscuously, but those only whose sins he under- took to discharge, and for whom he laid down his life.^ Christ's justi- fying of many is his discharging of many from the guilt of sin, by making satisfaction to God for the same. But,
[8.] Eighthly, Observe with me, that it is agreed betiveen the Father and the Son, that for those persons for lohom Jesus Christ shoidd lay down his life, he should stand intercessor for them also, that so they may be brought to the possessioti of all those noble favours and blessings that he has purchased ivith his dearest blood: ver. 12, ' He bare the sins of many, and made intercession for the trans-
1 Acts ii. 23, and iv. 28.
* Besides the elect, he intercedes for none, John xvii. 9, 10.
342 THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION
gressors,' saying, ' Father, forgive them ; for they know not what they do,' Luke xxui. 34. For those very transgressors, by whom he suffered, he does intercede ; for the article here is emphatical, and seems to poiat unto that special act, and those particular persons. Not but that these words have relation also to Christ's intercession for all those sinners that belong to him, and that have an interest in him ; which intercession continues still, and shall do to the end of the world, Heb. vii. 25. But,