ISA. LIII. 5.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 277
numbered among transgressors, to be counted heretics, factious, schis- matics ; this is what the people of God hath suffered from the proud men of the worhl Papists would make Protestantism a bundle of old errors, as Baily says in the Jesuit's Catechism. Thus the enemies, like the cruel watchmen, would fain take away the garment from the spouse, expose her to shame and contempt in the world. But remem- ber, in all these cases Jesus Christ has gone before you.
Use 2. Did Jesus endure such cruel and bitter sufferings ? It in- formeth you how unlike Christ they are who live in a way of pleasure and ease, as if the way to heaven were over a bed of roses. If Christ were a Man of Sorrows, certainly they are men of pleasures, such as mind nothing but present contentments and satisfactions. Thus I have given you the history of Christ's sufferings.
I now come to the cause. We must not only look upon the suffer- ings of Christ, but must look upon the cause of it. The point is : —
Doct. That Jesus Christ endured all these bitter sufferings at his death for our sins. Take a place or two of scripture to prove this : Eom. iv. 25, ' Who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification.'' You have need of places to confirm you when the most substantial truths are questioned. Delivered, that is delivered to death for our transgressions : 1 Cor. xv. 3, ' For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.' This was the doctrine St Paul would preach among them, and the doctrine that contained the drift of the scriptures. He suffered for our sins, that he might become a sacrifice to appease God for us. That was it that all the world thirsted after, an expiation ; and it is fully performed by Christ. God for a while trained up his people in sacrifices, that he might type out the Lamb of God that was to be slain for the satisfying of wronged justice. But I shall say no more to that here, but proceed to application.
Use 1. It confuteth divers errors and mistakes in doctrine, viz. : —
1. That evil blasphemy of the Socinians, that say that Christ only died by occasion of sin, not for sin. The scriptures speak plainly, and yet vain men list to blaspheme, that they may take away the merit of Christ's passion, and establish only his example. Christ did not only leave us an example, but satisfied for our sins. Adam left us more than an example of sin, and Christ left us more than an example of suffering.
2. The derogatory doctrine of the papists, who extend this full satisfaction of Christ to sins only committed before baptism ; but as for mortal sins, and sins committed after baptism, they say we receive forgiveness only of the eternal, but not of the temporal punishment of them, which remaineth to be suffered by us to the satisfaction of divine justice. But when the scriptures speak so fully of all sins, transgres- sions, and iniquities satisfied for, why should men fancy a restraint? In human matters we account those things that are in our favour may be construed in the largest sense that they can bear with probability. Christians, stand for your liberty against those encroachments of Antichrist.
3. That fond dream of some that think Christ's sufferings were any way for himself They urge for it Luke xxiv. 26, ' Ought not Christ
278 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [ISA. LIII. 5.
to have suflfered these things, and tlien to enter into his glory ?' That proveth it an antecedent, not a cause or merit of glory. There is a difference between consequents and effects : Phil. ii. 8, 9, ' He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God hath highly exalted him : ' 8i6 signifieth a/ler ivhich. In Dan. ix. 26, it is said, ' The Messiah shall be cutoff, but not for himself.' And so here, ' He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities,'
Use 2. Is exhortation to look upon the cause of Christ's sufferings. Mr Perkins well observeth it to be a superstitious looking upon Christ, when we reflect upon his passion without looking upon the cause. So to look upon liim in a crucifix is superstition to the eye ; and to look upon his sufferings as a dolorous and sad story, is superstition to the ear. Look, then, upon them as they refer to the cause, to wit, our sins. This is the consideration that maketh them profitable and useful to us. The cause yiekleth this profit.
1. Here is matter for our faith to work upon. Christ died for those things that trouble a gracious heart, viz., sins. One saith. Send drooping Christians to the 53d of Isaiah, send them to this place, ' He was wounded' for that forwhich your consciences were wounded. When the soul groaneth under the sad apprehensions of God's wrath and hell's horror, why here is thy comfort, 'He was wounded for our transgression.s.' Pray as those for the distressed : Job xxxiii. 24, ' Deliver me from going down to the pit ; I have found a ransom.' 0 Lord, here I have found a ransom ; show him Christ's wounds : O Lord, wilt not thou forgive in a servant what thou didst punish in a Son? What is there in sin that there is not in Christ's sufferings? Are they manifold ? Tell God here are wounds, bruises, stripes, chas- tisements. Are they great ? Here is infinite wrath suffered, divine justice fully satisfied. Art thou a base, vile, filthy person ? Christ is a glorious and all-sufficient Saviour. Every way here is triumph for faith.