VOL. I. 2 I
498 RECONCILIATION WITH GOD [SeR. VIII.
might not foster in lis hopes of impunity, which are very natural to us, Gen. iii. 5. The devil seeks to weaken the truth of God's threatenings, Deut. xxix. 19, 20. We are apt to look upon the threatenings of the law as a vain scarecrow ; therefore, for the terror and warning of sin- ners for the future, God would not release us from the punishment till our surety undertook our reconciliation with God by bearing the chastisement of our peace.
[4.] Christ's death was necessary to make sin odious, and obedience more acceptable to us.
(1.) Sin more odious or hateful — no other remedy would serve the turn to procure the pardon and destruction of it than the bloody death of the cross, Kom. viii. 3. Surely it is no small thing for which the Son of God must die. When you read or hear of Christ's sufferings, you should never think an extenuating and favourable thought of it more.
(2.) To commend obedience : for Christ's suffering death at the command of his Father was the noblest piece of service, and highest act of obedience that ever could or can be performed unto God. It is be3^ond anything that can be done by men or angels. There was in it so much love to man, so much self-denial, humility, and patience, so much resignation of himself to God, who had appointed him to be our Redeemer, that it cannot be paralleled. The great and most re- markable thing in Christ's death was obedience : Rom. v. 18 ; Phil. ii. 7, 8. God delighteth not in mere blood, but blood offered in obe- dience as the best way to impress upon man a sense of his duty, and to teach him to serve and please God at the dearest rate.
[5.] This death commendeth the love of God to us, for it is the great demonstration of it. Many draw a quite contrary conclusion, as if he were with much ado brought to have mercy on us ; but they forget that he is first and chief in the design: 2 Cor. v. 19, 'God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself.' Christ came from heaven to declare to us the greatness of God's love. God thought nothing too dear for us — not the Son of his love, nor his death, ignominy, and shame.: Rom. v. 8, God commendeth his love in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. When we had alienated our hearts from God, refused his service, and could expect nothing but the rigour of his law and vindictive justice, then he spared not his own Son to bring about this reconciliation for us.
[6.] As God is pacified, so it gives us hopes our business lieth not with a God offended, but with a God reconciled. If we had not to do with a pacified God, who could lift up his face to him, or think a comfortable thought of him ? But this gives us hope : Rom. v. 10, ' For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.' We were enemies by sin in us, which God hateth, and declareth his wrath against it in the law. Then by the satisfaction wrought by Christ we were restored to his favour, so far that free and easy con- ditions were procured in the gospel, and his Spirit is offered to pre- pare and fit us for a life of glory. We have heard what Christ hath done.
Thirdly, What assurance have we that this peace is obtained?
Col. I. 20.] by the blood of christ. 499
Consciences are not easily settled, therefore some visible evidences are necessary that God is pacified. I shall name three or four: —
1. Christ's resurrection and ascension into glory. This shows that God was propitiated, and hath accepted the ransom that was given for souls. We read, Kom. iv. 25, that he died for our offences, and rose again for our justification. His dying noteth his satisfaction, his rising again the acceptance of it. God by raising him up from the dead showed that he had received the death of his Son as a sufficient ran- som for our sins — for he died in the quality of a surety, and in that quality was raised up again. By his death he made the payment ; by his resurrection the satisfaction of it was witnessed to the world — for then our surety was let out of prison: Isa. liii. 8, 'He shall be taken from prison and from judgment.' In his death he was in effect a prisoner, under the arrest of divine vengeance ; but when he rose again he was discharged. Therefore there is great weight laid upon it as to om* acquittance: Rom. viii. 34, ' Yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God.' There is some special thing in his resurrection comparatively above his death which hath influence on our justification — that is, it was a visible evidence given to the world that enough was done for the expiation of sins, and to assure us of our deliverance if we be capable ; and his ascension into glory doth further witness it. He being exalted to the greatest dignity, is able to defend and protect his people, and hath the advantage of interceding with his Father for the supply of all our wants.