1. The wonderful mysteries of our redemption by Christ. Thereby, [1.] A way is found out for our reconciliation with God, and how that dreadful controversy may be taken up, and heaven and earth may kiss each other, 2 Cor. v. 19. Surely this is glad tidings of great joy to self-condemned sinners, who stood always in fear of the wrath of God and the flames of hell. What joy is it to a condemned man,
32 A DESCRIPTION OF [PlIIL. III. 3.
that is ready every day to be taken away to execution, to liear that his peace is made, that pardon may be had, if he will seek it and sue it out !
[2.] A distinct relation of a defeat of the great enemies of our salva- tion—death, hell, the devil, and the world. He hath not only made our ])eace with the Father, by the blood of his cross, but vanquished our si)iritual enemies, and triumphed over them, Col. ii. 14, 15. Lon<^ enough might we have lain in pri.son before the utmost farthing had been paid, or done anything to procure our deliverance, if our com- passionate Redeemer had not taken the work in hand : had he turned us to any creature, we had been helpless. It was he purchased grace to overcome the devil, the world, and the flesh ; that quickened you when you were dead in sin ; that put Satan out of office, and ' delivered us from the present evil world,' Gal. i. 4. And is not this matter of rejoicing to us?
[3.] That hereby he hath not only abolished death, but brought life and resurrection to light, 2 Tim. i. 10. By entering into that other world, after his sufferings, he hath given us a visible demonstration of the reality of the world to come, and in his gospel discovered a blessedness to us, which satiateth the heart of man and salveth the great sore of the whole creation. If God had made nothing richer than the world, the heart of man would have been as leviathan in a little pool.
2. In the promises of Christ there is matter of joy. In the general, God is your God, and that is more than to have all the world to be yours : compare Gen. xvii. 7, ' I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee in their generations, for an ever- lasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and thy seed after thee,' with Ps. cxliv. 15, ' Ha})py is that people whose God is the Lord.' We have an eternal and all-sufficient God to live upon, and from whom to derive our joy and comfort ; a God infinite in power, wisdom, and goodness to be our portion. And where is matter of joy and comfort, if not in God ? Behold the difference between carnal men and the children of God ; the world is their portion, and God is ours ; and who is better provided for ? More especially we are told, 1 Tim. iv. 8, that ' Godliness hath tlie promises of this life, and that which is to come.' Heaven and earth are laid at the feet of godliness ; what would you more ? Surely we have full consolation offered to us in the promises of the gospel ; he can want nothing to his comfort who hath an interest in them. To instance, in the lowest blessings, those which concern this life: God is our God, that can cure all diseases, overcome all enemies, supply all wants, deliver in all dangers, and will do it so far as is for our good ; and desires of anything beyond this are not to be satisfied, but mortified, Ps. Ixxxiv. ll. But then for the more excel- lent promises of the new covenant, which concern another world, such as the pardoning of our sin.^^, the healing oin- natures, and the glorifying of our persons : 2 Pet. i. 4, ' Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corrn))tion that is in the world through lust.' The pardon of all our sins, which are the great trouble and burden of the creatures. Who will rejoice like the pardoned sinner,
Phil. III. 3.] the true circumcision. 33
who is discharged of his de})t, eased of his burthen, and hath his filth covered ? Ps. xxxii. 1, ' Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.' Oh, the blessedness of the man ! He is like one fetched back from execution. Then the taking away of the stony heart, and the giving of an holy and heavenly heart. Oh, what matter of joy is this, to have all things necessary to life and godliness,! What is the trouble of a gracious heart, but the relics of corruption ? Kom. vii. 24. Paul groaneth sorely, but yet blesseth God for his hopes by Christ, ver. 2.5. Renewing grace is clearly bought, and plentifully bestowed, Titus iii. 5, 6 ; and graciously offered to those that will seek after it : Prov. i. 23, ' Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you.' And this promise to be fulfilled by a divine I^ower, 2 Peter i. 3. Oh, what a comfort is the Redeemer's grace to a soul that hath been long exercised in subduing sin ! It is true it groans while it is a-doing, yet the very groans of the sick show that life and health is sweet. Healing, renewing grace maketh other things sweet ; as your whole duty to God, it maketh it become your delight. But the great promise is eternal life : 1 John ii. 25, ' And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.' That is a matter of joy indeed. What ! to live for ever with God ! the forethought of it reviveth us ; the foretaste of it is a kind of heaven upon earth, 1 Peter i. 8. The. certain hope of it will swallow up all grief and sorrow, Rom. V. 2, 3. So that there is no question but that in the promises of Christ there is matter of great joy.