ISA. LIII. 4.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 263
myself in the chapter. (1.) From that deep assertion with which this truth is proposed, surely, look upon it, it is a sure thing : this is a true proposition, that Christ did bear our sins and carry our griefs; it noteth the truth of the thing, and the unquestionableness of it : this surely chiefly relateth to that our sins ; though it is to the whole sentence, yet to that emphatically. The note then is this : —
Doct. 1. That it is a most unquestionable truth that Jesus Christ suffered for our sins. As the centurion said, Mat. xxvii. 54, ' Truly this was a just man, and the Son of God.' They had some tremulous consent before, but then he puts it out of question : truly it was so, he was some great man. But to prove it, take that place : 1 Tim. i. 15, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' It is a sure thing, an un- questionable truth. So the gospel of salvation is a word of truth, Eph. i. 13. In regard of its effects, it is called there the gospel of salvation ; in regard of its property, the word of truth.
I shall prove it to you a little by parts.
1. It is an unquestionable truth against the Jews that he did not die for his own sins, for to those the prophet chiefly speaketh : and I should not be faithful to the text if I did not hint it. John viii. 46, Christ maketh this challenge, ' Which of you convinceth me of sin?' not, Who can lay anything to my charge ? For they were ready to lay anything to his charge, and to object against him as a traitor, deceiver, glutton, demoniac, what not ; but they could not make it good, nor convince him of it. Nay, it is worth the observation, that God would not suffer him to be condemned till Pilate had solemnly acquitted him thrice by his own mouth. See it in one chapter, Luke xxiii. 4, ' He saith to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man ;' and again, ver. 14, ' Pilate said to the chief priests, and the rulers, and the people altogether, I have examined him before you, and have found no fault in him touching those things whereof ye accuse him ;* and in ver. 22, ' And he said unto them the third time. Why, what evil hath he done ? I have found no cause of death in him.' And there was nothing but popular tumult, and a confused noise of voices, ' Crucify him, crucify him,' but no cause specified. Just as Tertullian saith of the old Christians, Suo jurenos mimicum vulgus invadit lapi- dibus et incendiis — when they were dismissed from the judges, the common people would tear them in pieces, but they could assign no cause. Therefore, ' surely he hath borne our griefs.' As in the place before quoted, the centurion and they that were with him, when they saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, were forced to testify his innocence, Surely this was some hero, some man highly favoured by the gods.
2. It is an unquestionable truth that he died for our sins, in that—
[1.] It is the sum of all truth : 2 Cor. i. 20, ' For all the promises of God are in him yea, and in him Amen.' It is called ' a more sure word of prophecy,' 2 Peter i. 19. That part of the prophets that concerned Christ was more sure than all revelations and voices.
[2.] This truth is confirmed by God's oath, Heb. vi. 14-19, when God made a promise to Abraham, ' because he could swear by no
264 A TRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [ISA. LIII. 4.
greater, he sware by lilmself, sayin;:^, Surely in blessing I will bless Ihee ; ' which, as the apostle reasoneth there. belon<;eth to us, through Christ. So tliat we have two immutable things— (iod's promise, and God's oath. Surely that is God's oath ; if not, let me not be God.
[3.] This a truth confirmed by Christ's own testimony, by the apostles and witnesses chosen to this purpose, whom the world was not able to withstand. And by a multitude of miracles wrought by them, and extraordinary gifts bestowed on them. Therefore it should be entertained as a sure truth, as a sure word of promise.
Use. It serveth to show us how this pro[)osition is to be entertained by us, as a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation and belief. Such truths are so commended to us to show how they should be received. It is to check our unbelief that these asseverations and commendations are annexed to great truths. A physician commendeth some medicines, not that they need it, but that the patient may the better take them. So we say it is true, not as if there were a doubt of it, but that the act of your faith may be the more revived and exer- cised upon these truths. Now then close with this truth both in the general and particularly.