[2.] From that clause, ' Because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.' Your surety was a pure person — he had no guilt of his own to satisfy for, and so it yieldeth not only an encouragement to faith, but an endearment of love to Christ. All these sufferings were for you, there is nothing that can argue a need for himself to do it. The scriptures everywhere urge and testify this : 1 John iii. 5, ' And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.' All his sufferings were for some cause : there was nothing to occasion them in liimself, it must therefore be for our sins: 1 Peter iii. 18, 'For Christ hath also once suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.' It was for sins he suffered, and therefore certainly for ours, for he had none of liis own. Urge it then upon your hearts, both as an encouragement to faith and an endearment to love. It was a pure Christ that suffered, and therefore certainly for such an impure wretch as I am — the just for the unjust. Eeason thus: Surely God is just; Christ undergoing so great sufferings, and yet possessed of great purity, certainly died for great sinners.
2. As a pattern of providence. God meant to copy out all dispen- sations in the life of Christ. Learn then : —
[1.] That we must not always look upon the face of providence and eye present appearances. ' He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death.' A man would have thought that
366 A TRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [ISA. LIII. 9.
Christ should hnve had an ignominious burial, and that none would have contributed to his glory ; but the rich man begged his body fi-om the cross, and God turns his grave into his glory. Oh, do not look to present appearance ; you know not what a mercy may be couched under the frowns of providence. John ii. 7, Christ calleth for water- pots wlien he meant to give them wine ; and John xi. 6, when he meant to restore liazarus from the dead by a miracle, he would not vouchsafe to go and see him ; he abode still two days in the same place. When God designed to honour Christ with a funeral, he meant to order it so that the Jews looked for nothing else but the burial of an ass. Thus God many times seems to hide him.self, and when we seek for him, he is not to be found : Eccles. xi. 4, ' He that observeth the wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.' If you look always upon the face of outward things, the heart will be discouraged with the louring of Providence.
[2.] Learn what reason you have to wait upon God when things are at the worst. There was no appearance for Christ till things came to the worst. Joseph begged his body when dead upon the cross : ' He was with the rich in his death ; ' Job xiii. 15, ' Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.' God can of a sudden turn things, and dis- appoint the devices and counsels of wicked men, even when they think all is sure. Therefore wait upon God, and see what event he will give to things. When the Jews thought every one would be ashamed of Christ, up start Joseph and Nicodemus, and boldly begged his body. There was death first before God would do him honour.
3. Look upon him as the great example ; so there is benefit in the last clause : ' For he had done no violence, neither was there deceit in his mouth.' This is your pattern : 1 Peter ii. 21, 22, ' Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should fol- low his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.' Oh that we could write after this fair copy that Christ hath set us, that we might be ' holy as he was holy in all manner of conversation,' 1 Peter i. 15, in every turning of our lives. I would not that you should lose the benefit of this instruction for want of making it par- ticular, I shall set home this pattern by the two words of the text, violence and deceit. None of this was found in Christ.
[1.] Violence. Take heed of that. There is violence in the spirit, manifested by wrath, revenge, boisterousness of passion, affection. Oh, what an unbecoming thing is it for men to deliver tliemselves over to the sway of their own passions ! James i. 20, ' The wrath of man worketh not the rigliteousness of God.' The meaning is, such a heart is not fit to serve God ; it will not reach rigliteousness. God must have always service proportionate. God, that is a spirit, must be served in spirit and in trutii ; the God of peace with peace, with a peaceable, calm spirit : 1 Tim. ii. 8, ' Lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting.' I'hen there is violence in the tongue, showed in bitterness, reviling, reproaches. This was far from Clirist; he did no violence. This becometh the sons of the world rather than the sons of God. Surely such wolfish dispositions do ill become them that are related to the Lamb, the Lamb slain for the sins of the world. Where is your warrant for this in the life of Christ ? Gal. v. 15, ' If ye bite and de-