3. It implieth the incarnation of Christ : ' Sent into the world,' John X. 36. So Gal. iv. 4, ' God sent forth his own Son, made of a woman.' Christ's sending doth not imply change of place, but assump- tion of another nature. Now this was necessary, otherwise Christ neither ought to nor could suffer. Justice required that the same nature that sinned should be punished. If he had not been made of a woman he could not be under the law, the duty, or the penalty of it : Gal. iv. 4, ' He was made of a woman, made under the law.' Our sin was not to be punished in angels, or in any other creature that had not sinned, nor in man made out of nothing, or out of a piece of earth, or out of the dust, as Adam. God might have made Christ true man out of that matter, but he was made of a woman, one that was of our blood, of the same nature and essence with them that sinned. Our Saviour was not to be a sinner, but partaker of the same nature with them that sinned.
4. It implieth the quality of Christ's office ; he is the messenger of heaven, and therefore called ' the angel of the covenant,' Mai. iii. 1. He is sent by God after lost sinners. He is called ' the apostle and high priest of our profession,' Heb. iii. 1. God sendeth out a messenger to bring sinners to himself, as wisdom sent out her maids ; but Christ is the chief messenger and apostle. And mark, he is called there not only the apostle but high priest ; partly to show that in all ages of the church Christ is the chief officer, therefore the highest calling, both in the Jewish and christian church is ascribed to him ; but chiefly to show that Christ, as he is the ambassador to treat with us from God, so the high priest to treat with God and appease his wrath for us. Christ is the messenger that goeth from party to party ; if he had not been sent to us we should neither know God nor enjoy him ; he came from God to men that he might bring men to God. There was no knowing of the Father without him : Mat. xi. 27, ' No man knoweth
164 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII, [SeK. IV.
the Son but tlie Father ; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son shall reveal him.' There is no coming to the Father without him : John xiv. 6, ' I am the way, the truth, and the life ; no man cometh to the Father but by me.' He came from heaven on purpose to show us the way and to remove all obstacles. This is Christ's office.
5. It implieth the authority of his office. Jesus Christ had a law- ful call. He was designed in the council of the Trinity ; his holiness, miracles, and divine power are his commission : ' Him hath God the Father sealed,' John vi. 27 ; as every ambassador hath letters of credence under the hand and seal of him from whom he is sent. Christ is the plenipotentiary of heaven ; he hath his commission under the seal of heaven ; all is valid that he doth in the Father's name ; he hath authorised the Kedeemer. Which is not only for the comfort of our faith ; Christ entered upon his calling by authority, which I shall improve by and by ; but for moral instruction, to look to our mission : Christ came not till he was sent. It is not good to cast ourselves upon offices and places without a lawful call and designation of God. In *" ordinary functions, education and abilities are call enough, and there we must keep. It is a tempting of providence to think God will bless us out of our way. A desire of change usually proceedeth from dis- dain, or distrust, or a thirst of gain, all which are sinful. But now, in higher callings, there must be a solemn mission : Eom. x. 15, ' How shall they preach except they be sent ? ' They must be authorised by God, the rules he hath left in the church. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not glorify himself by intrusion ; he had a patent from the council of the Trinity, indited by the Father, accepted by himself, and sealed by the Holy Ghost.
Use. It showeth three things : —
1. The love of God. Here are many circumstances to heighten it in your thoughts ; that he would not trust an angel with your salva- tion, but send his Son ; he is to come in person : 1 John iv. 10, ' Herein is love ; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.' He thought nothing too near and too dear for us. Usually man's love descendeth, and all his happiness is laid up in his children. Again, God had no reasons ; he was moved by his own goodness ; he had reasons to the contrary. We were enemies, but he sent his Son for enemies : Eom. v. 10, ' If wdien wo were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,' &c. What was his Son sent for ? Not to treat with us in majesty, but to take our nature, to be substituted into our room and place. Oh ! praise the Father : Eph. i. 3, ' Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiri- tual blessings in heavenly places in Christ ;' 2 Cor. i. 3, ' Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.'