2. More particularly, there is comfort against sad thoughts about sin. The great aggravation upon which the soul doth so bitterly reflect is the willingness of it; and, indeed, here lieth much of the evil of sin. It was that which heightened Ephraim's guilt, that he willingly walked after the commandment, lio.sea v. 11 ; that is, so readily complied with Jeroboam's calves; and, indeed, the foulness of the fact is not so much to be gathered from the grossness of the acts of it, as from the propension, and inclination, and dispo.sition of the heart towards it, and the fulness of the will to it, a deliberate ready- giving ourselves to it. Wilfulness in sin maketh the heart very sad when it cometh to see it. But, blessed be God, iiere is an answer to it — you have a willing Saviour. Though there be in you much reluctancy against God's will, and much readiness to offend, yet you
ISA. LIII. 7.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 343
could not be so ready to sin as Christ was willing to die for you : * With desire have I desired to eat this passover.' How earnest was he to show his love ! Have you felt the rage of lust in your bosoms ? Christ felt the rage of love. He was straitened till he were bap- tized with blood for your sakes. This is the true reflection upon Christ, when we see enough in him to stop the mouth of conscience : ' Who shall condemn ? it is Christ that justifieth.'
Use 2, Is exhortation to bless and praise God. Tliis was the endearment of his love, the willingness of it. Oh, how much are we indebted to him ! The very argument that fixith useth in the heart is the willingness of Christ to serve us in this business : Gal. ii. 20, ' I live by the faith of the Son of God, who hath loved me, and gave himself for me.'
Use 3. Is instruction. It giveth out divers lessons, for Christ's life is a praxis of divinity, and the rules of religion exemplified.
1. To show us how we should give up ourselves to the service of Christ, how we should come with the sacrifice of ourselves and duties with a ready and cheerful heart. When you feel any reluctancy and regret of spirit, oh, remember Christ offered himself willingly. The Socinians would make Christ's sufferings to serve for some other use, only to be exemplary ; but certainly they were not only to leave us an example: 1 Peter ii. 21, ' Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example tliat we should follow his steps ; ' but he died in our room and stead, and for our sakes. And therefore we should give uj) our- selves to him. The scripture speaketh often of the free-will offering of the saints : Ps. cxix. 108, ' Accept, I beseech thee, the free-will offering of my mouth, 0 Lord ; ' Ps. ex. 3, 'They shall be a willing people in the day of thy power.' Bernard saith. Lord, I will willingly .sacrifice myself to thee, because thou wert willingly sacrificed for me. Christ was sacrificed willingly, not for his own gain but your benefit ; and will you not give up yourselves to God, when it is better you should be given to him than left to yourselves?
2. It showeth us what we should do in all our straits, wants, and calamities that befall us. The saints are as lambs in the midst of wolves, Luke X. 3 : show yourselves lambs in suffering, as well as like lambs in danger, not like swine that whine and yell. You should not open your mouth against God, Do not please your own carnal mind by murmuring, but rather resign up yourselves to God's disposal ; this is somewhat hard to do. The saints have been troubled with carnal rea- sonings, as Job, and David, and Jeremiah, and Habakkuk ; but learn of a higher instance, Jesus Christ, who, though innocent, did not mur- mur under his sufferings, but bore all with a ready and willing patience. Oh, therefore yield up yourselves to God with great patience, both in life and death.
3. It teacheth us not to use reviling and threatenings words to men. You may be wronged, so was Christ ; he was more innocent than you can be, for it is impossible but something of the flesh will discover itself in us ; but what a sad thing is it to see the people of God bring a railing accusation against others ! Consider, Christ opened not his mouth, but went as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb.
344 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [ISA. LIII. 8.
THE EIGHTH VERSE.
He was ta'kcn from prison and from judgment ; and 2o7io sJiall declare, his generation^ for he was cut off out of the land of the living ; for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
We now come to the third defence to take off the scandal of Christ's meanness and sufferings ; and lliat is taken from the <,dorious issue and end of these sufferings. It was an ignominious death, but there fol- lowed a glorious resurrection : he was not detained and hohlen of death, he got clear of it, and then lived for ever. The text saith, ' He was taken from prison, and from judgment,' <fec.