1. In the general, look upon it as a faithful saying, that Christ the Son of God came into the world. There is a great deal of difference in men's assent to the gospel in the general. Everyone doth not believe it to be a word of truth. First, In some there is but a conjectural ap- l)rehension ; it may be true, or it may not, for they never made a strict inquiry into it, only received it by tradition. As the men of Samaria, Chri.st telleth them, ' Ye worship ye know not what,' John iv. 22. So they take up the gospel at hap-hazard, not knowing the worth of it, never feeling the power of it, nor experiencing the comfort of it. Secondly, In others there is but opinion, in which the mind is strongly swayed to think it true, but they cannot tell how it may prove. There are fears and doubts of the falsehood, as well as of the truth of it. They cannot contradict it, and yet cannot settle in it, for the establishing of their souls. There may be some ungrounded overly i)ersuasions, which may work in them that which the apostle calleth an enlightening, and a tasting of the })Owers of the world to come, Heb. vi. 5. As some were drawn into baptism in the primitive church out of a probable conceit of the truth of the gospel, tliere may be some flashy momentary lightnings, but in few there are real and thorough persuasions of the truth of this proposition.
2. In particular, we should get the riches of assurance of understand- ing, that we may fetch comfort out of it for ourselves. We sliould all say, For our .sins Christ died ; and if that word be too common, mj/ sins. Take heed of making God a liar: 1 John v. 10, ' He tliat believetli not God, hath made iiim a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.' Here is the oath of the Spirit of God, ' Surely he liath borne our griefs.' There should be the like confidence in our hearts as there is truth in the pntjjosition. Do not doubt of the sure word of promise. JMauy are loth to determine upon comfort ; they are afraid of presumption ; they are afraid to look U])on the pro- mises on the bright side : why then, look upon them in the humbling way. Claim by the apostle's tenure, ' He came to save sinners, of
ISA. LIII. 4.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 265
whom I am chief,' 1 Tim. i. 15. He came to die for sinners ; why not then for me ? I am sure I am as much a sinner as any other man, and more too. The faithful saying is, that Christ came to die for sinners ; surely I am sinner enough for Christ to save, — that you can say by ex- perience. Why, if the word be true, it is as true Christ came to take away our sins.
But how shall I look upon this as a faithful saying, that Christ came to die for my sins ? Is not that to believe a lie, suppose I be a repro- bate ?
Ans. [1.] The word of God excludeth none but those that exclude themselves. AVe are to go to God's revealed will ; that we are bound to believe, though in his secret will it should not be truth. As Abra- ham was bound to believe, after God's command, that I.saac should die under his hand, though God had otherwise purposed ; for you know it is said, 1 Tim. ii. 4, ' Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.' God showeth them that the promul- gation of the gospel is general.
[2.] Though every wicked man is not bound to believe that his sins are pardoned, yet he is bound to come to Christ that he may obtain forgiveness. Therefore I close this proposition with a great deal of joy, that surely Christ came to pardon our sins, and to carry our griefs. So much to this use and point.
2. From the first act of Christ's love, with the object of it : ' He hath borne our griefs ; ' that is, took our sins upon him : the point is: —
J)oct 2. That Jesus Christ bore the guilt of our sins.
All our griefs were really transacted and cast upon him. The scriptures delight much in the expression of Christ's bearing our sins, and it implieth two things : —
1. A sublation, a taking of them away from us.
2. A susception of them upon himself. Look, as the sacrifice is said to bear the iniquities of the people, and the two goats — the slain goat and the scape-goat — tj'ped out Christ's death and resurrection : Lev, xvi. 22, ' And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities imto a land not inhabited ;' so Christ is said to ' bear our sins in his own body u])on the tree,' 1 Peter ii. 24 — the guilt and the punishment of them. So Heb. ix. 28, it is said, ' Christ was once ofi'ered to bear the sins of many ; ' and John i. 29, ' Behold the Lamb of God, wliich taketh away the sins of the world,' — aipu : the word signifieth both to hear and to take away. Now, this bearing, in the language of the scripture, implieth a real susception of guilt ; not only Christ's taking away of sin from us, but a taking of it into his own person ; as Ezek. xviii. 20, ' The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son ; ' that is, his wickedness and his guilt shall not be transacted upon him. Now Christ bore our sins : —