I begin with the first thing, Christ's act, ' He gave himself for us ; ' that is, to be an expiatory sacrifice. He gave himself to die for us : John xvii. 19, ' I sanctify myself for their sakes ; ' that is, set apart myself as a sacrifice ; ' 1 Tim. ii. 6, ' Who gave himself a ransom for all.'
VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14, 241
The point is, Christ's willingness to suffer for the fallen and lost creature.
1. I shall demonstrate it by some expressions by which it is dis- covered.
2. Give the grounds why Christ gave himself by such a willing resignation to be our propitiatory sacrifice, to be a ransom to God.
1. For the expressions of his willingness; and there I shall begin with his eternal longings to be with the sons of men before ever there was hill or mountain in the world: Prov. viii. 31, 'Kejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth, and my delights were with the sons of men.' Mark, long before ever the world was, Jesus Christ was feast- ing himself with the thoughts of his own grace, and what he would do for men. He desired the making of the world, and fixing the bounds of our habitation, that he might be with us ; there was his end. Angels were the workmanship of his hands as well as men ; nay, in their frame and constitution they were more noble creatures than man ; yet Christ doth not say, My delight was to be with angels, but with the sons of men. I was thinking of the day I should come into the world, and die for men, and purchase exceeding grace for them. The next expression is Ps. xl. 7, 8, when God's decree came to be expressed and made known to the church, see what Christ saith, * Lo, I come ; in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, 0 my God ; yea, thy law is within my heart.' For the understanding of this place, you must know the divine justice is there introduced as proposing its demands ; God in his justice, as it were, speaking thus to Christ, Son, I am weary of sacrifice and burnt-offerings : hitherto I have showed myself gracious to the world, whilst burnt-offerings stood ; now I resolve to show myself just; as the apostle explains this, Eom. iii. 26, 'To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness, that he might be just.' As long as God accepted of burnt-offerings, he was a God of patience and forbearance, and not willing to execute his wrath upon creatures ; burnt-offerings served the turn. But, saith God, the world shall know, though I pardon, yet I will be just; therefore now you must take a body, man's blood is tainted, and you must be formed in fashion like one of them, and stand in the sinner's stead. I shall expect from you satisfaction for every elect person ; you must give your cheeks to the nippers, and your back to the smiters ; you must be tempted by the devil, hunted and baited by men, to be responsible to my just wrath. The decree is passed, a body is prepared, you must take it, and go down to the sons of men ; you are the sinner in the law if you take this body. These were the demands of God to Christ. Now, saith Christ, ' Lo I come to do thy will.' Father, I am willing to stand in their stead, to accept of all, to be responsible to thy justice. So when Christ was come in the flesh : John iv. 34, ' My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.' What was the work for which God sent Christ ? Sad work, to make reconciliation for sinners, to die in their stead ; and yet, saith Christ, ' This is my meat.' Look, as a hungry man prizeth his food, so doth the Lord Christ value and prize his work, nay, infinitely more. Christ himself was then hungry, and had sent to the market to buy provision, but he had now met with other meat to eat, he was dealing with a poor lost soul. Nay, we have not yet the
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242 SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. [SeR. XIX.