But how could he be forsaken, who was God-man in the same person ?
A71S. As the personal union gave way to the death of the body, so it gave way to the troubles of the soul. Christ, by virtue of the eternal covenant, was to yield up the whole human nature, both body and soul, to suffer according to the will of God. Now, he declined no part of the service; as he offered his body to the pains of death, so his soul to the trouble of desertion.
But what was this desertion?
[1.] The personal union was not dissolved — the two natures united, axoopicTTco'i, — his inherent holiness not lessened, for then he should have been less fit to be either priest or sacrifice. God's love to him was not abated ; he was now doing his work, and in the height of obedience : John x. 17, ' Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life.' This was a new argument and reason of love.
[2.] Assisting and sustaining grace was not wholly withdrawn : lsa. xlii. 1, ' Behold my servant, whom I uphold ; ' and John xvi. 32, ' I am not alone, because the Father is ever with me.' What was that, then, which Christ lost ? It was the sense and actual comfort of his Father's love, the want of a sensible consolation, those effects of joy and solace which he used to have. Now, this was a very grievous loss to Christ. He coraplaineth of it. The disciples were fled, his fi'iend and lover was afar off, but he doth not complain of that : Disciples, why have ye forsaken me ? Peter, why hast thou denied me ? — but, ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?' It was a greater loss to Christ, because it w^as more natural to him to enjoy this com- fort and solace than it can be to any creature. To have a candle put out, is no great matter ; but to have the sun eclipsed, who is the fountain of light, that sets the world a- wondering. Christ, as God- man, had more to lose. We lose drops ; he an ocean. The greater the enjoyment, the loss or want of it is the greater.
[3.] He knew how to value the comfort of the union, having a pure understanding, heavenly affections, excellent contemplations. God's children, that have tasted of his love, if anything of it be shed abroad in their hearts, they would not part with it to gain the world. They know how to value it, and so none are so sensible of the loss of it as they. Now, Christ was best able to apprehend the worth of com- munion with God, having such a clear understanding, and such tender affections.
[4.] So near an interest and relation to God : Prov. viii. 30, ' I was
404 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [ISA. LIII. 11.
by him as one bronj^lit up with him ; I was daily his delifj^ht, rejoicing always before him ; ' Col. i. 13, lie is called ' his dear Son.' Creatures that have any interest in God, how mournfully do they brook his absence ! As Mary Magdalene : ' Woman, why weepest thou ? ' ' They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.' She soui2:ht for Christ, and found a grave.
[5.] Christ's trouble was more than a believer's, because it was to be satisfactory. Our desertions are for trial or correction ; his from vindictive justice, and the revenging hand of God for our sins, that met on him : Isa. liii. 6, ' The Lord laid on him the iniquities of us all.' He was forsaken for a time, that we might be received for ever.
2. There is something positive, or the apprehension of his Father's wrath, which he was to undergo for man's sins. There is the trouble of a guilty conscience, that is proper to the sinner himself ; and there is a penal disturbance, which was found in our surety. He was to stand in the sinner's stead, and the great burden of sin he was to undergo was an amazement to him that had such a delicate and tender spirit as Christ had : Mat. xxvi. 38, ' My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even imto death.' He was ' sore amazed,' Mark xiv. 33. He had his 'fears,' Heb. v. 7. The effects were sensible in his bloody sweat. These were a part of that fire in which our sacrifice was to be roasted. It was not the fear of temporal death that caused these agonies. Christ had not a childish, womanish spirit ; not to say anything of the forti- tude of the martyrs, many of whom kissed the stake, and thanked the executioner. And we see in malefactors what a courage and stubborn- ness men of a stout heart will put on. No ; it was the apprehension of his Father's wrath, which he was to luidergo for man's sin, when 'made a curse for us,' Gal. iii. 13. We have slight thoughts of sin, and the wrath of God deserved thereby ; but Christ had other thoughts of it. When God cometh to deal with him in our stead, we, that know not the power of God's anger, are not affected with it. But when the Fatlier shall fall upon him with all his weiglit, this was properly the travail of his soul : Isa. liii. 10, ' It pleased the Father to bruise him : he hath put him to grief.'