1. From the end of Christ's death, which was to sanctify us : Eph. V. 25-27, ' Christ loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water through the word ; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish ; ' and Titus ii. 14, ' Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people ; ' not only redeem us from wrath, but redeem us from sin, to restore the image of God which we had lost, as well as his favour. Now unless we would have Christ to be frustrate of his end and die in vain, we should endeavour to be holy. Did he die for sin that we might take liberty to practise it ? come to unloose our cords, that we might tie them the faster ? pay our debt, that we might run on upon a new score ? make us whole, that presently we might fall sick ? or give us an antidote, that we might the more freely venture to poison ourselves ? No ; this is to play the wanton with his grace.
2. The right which accrueth to our Kedeemer by virtue of the price paid for us. When a slave was bought with silver and gold, his strength and life and all belonged to the buyer : Exod. xxi. 21, 'He is his money.' So we are purchased by Christ, redeemed to God, Eev. v. 9, and we are bound to him that bought us, to serve him in righteousness and holiness all our days, Luke i. 74 ; to glorify him in our bodies and souls, which are his, 1 Cor. vi. 20.
3. The pardon ensuing and depending on his death. It is that God may be more loved, reverenced, feared, and obeyed : Ps. cxxx. 4, * But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared ; ' Luke vii. 47, ' She loved much, because much was forgiven to her.' They are bound to love most to whom most is forgiven: Ps. Ixxxv. 8, ' For he will speak peace to his people, but let them not return to folly.' The remission of sins past is not for a permission of sin to come, but a great bridle and restraint to it. His mercy in remitting should not make us more licentious in committing, otherwise we build again the things we have destroyed. When we sought for pardon, sin was the greatest burden which lay upon our consciences, the wound that pained us at heart, the disease our souls were sick of ; and shall that which we complained of as a burden become our delight ? shall we tear open our wounds, which are in a fair way of healing, and run into bonds and chains again, after we are freed of them ?
4. The greatness of Christ's sufferings showeth the heinousness and filthiness of sin. It was God's design to make sin hateful to us by Christ's agonies, blood, shame, and death : Kom. viii. 3, ' By sin he condemned sin in the flesh,' that is, by a sin-ofltering. God showed a great example of his wrath by that punishment which lighted upon our surety, or the flesh of Christ ; his design was for ever to leave a brand
186 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XXVII.
upon it by his sin-offering or ransom for souls. Now shall we make light of that which cost Christ so dear, and cherish those sins which put our Eedeemer to grief and shame ? If the stain and filthiness of sin could not be washed out but by the blood of Christ, shall we think it no great matter to pollute and defile ourselves therewith ? This were to crucify Christ afresh, Heb. vi. and to trample the blood of the covenant under foot, Heb. x. 24.
5. The terribleness of God's wrath, which can be appeased by no other sacrifice. And shall not we reverence this wrath, so as not to dare to kindle it again by our sins ? For ' it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,' Heb. x. 31 ; Christ's instance showeth that ; for ' if this be done in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry ? '
6. But the great argument of all is a grateful sense of our obligation to God and Christ ; for God so loved the world, that when nothing else was fit for our turn, he sent his Son, and his Son loved us, and gave himself to die for us ; where we see the love of God putting forth itself for our help in the most astonishing way that can be imagined ; this is such an engaging instance, so much surpassing our thoughts, that we cannot sufficiently admire it, a mystery without controversy great. We may find out words to paint out anything that man can do to us or for us. The garment may be wider than the body, but things truly great strike us dumb. God, being the chiefest good, would act in a way suitable to the greatness of his love ; there- fore, let us love him and delight in him, who hath called together all the depths of his wisdom and counsel to save a company of forlorn sinners, in such a way whereby his wTath may be appeased, his law satisfied, and full contentment given to his justice ; that his mercy may have the freer scope, the sinner saved, and the sin branded and condemned. Oh, what shall we render to the Lord for so great a benefit ? Let us unboundedly give up ourselves to be governed and ordered by him at his will and pleasure, not loving our lives to the death, Rev. xii. 11 ; life must not be excepted out of this resignation, Luke. xiv. 26.