5. The scripture layeth down powerful arguments to quicken us to repentance, which have a marvellous tendency and influence that way. I shall single out three — The death of Christ, the day of judgment, and the torments of hell.
First, The death of Christ. A serious consideration of the death of Christ will further humiliation and reformation.
[1.] Humiliation.
(1.) Here is the highest instance of the love of God, and the purest fountain of tears is God's love. Mary wept much, because much was forgiven her. Nothing thaweth the heart more than the warm beams of mercy. Wrath causeth sorrow to flow like water out of a still by the force of fire ; but love gently melteth the heart, and causeth it to run out at the eyes in a flood and stream of tears. Here is the highest instance of God's love. Christ is the greatest gift that ever he gave the world. When he gave us life, and breath, and all things, though he gave them to us, yet he gave us nothing from himself ; but now out of his bosom he gave us Christ, that is love : John iii. 16, ' God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son.' It cannot be told, it can only be wondered at : Kom. v. 8, ' But God commended his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' So great a person for such vile creatures ! How can an ingenuous heart think of this ! I have sinned against God that gave his Christ : I have grieved his Spirit, that loved me, and died for me. Saul had a hard heart, and yet he wept when David told him how he had spared him when it was in his power to kill him, 1 Sam. xxiv. 16. Had God done no more for us but spared us, that should melt us ; but he com- mended his love that Christ died for us.
(2.) Here is the truest spectacle of sin ; for all that was done to Christ, sin did it. What could men or devils do ? Men could do nothing : John xviii. 6, ' As soon as he said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.' Poor dust and ashes swooned
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at the breath of his mouth. Not devils ; he could cast them out with a word. Not God's justice ; that hath no place against innocencv. No ; it was we, not Judas, nor Pilate, nor the Komans, nor the Jews, but we that have pierced him : Zech. xii. 10, ' Thej shall look upon me whom they have pierced.' This will give us the truest spectacle of sin. The old world was a sad spectacle, but that is no wonder ; a filthy world to be washed with a deluge. Sodom was another sad spectacle ; hell was rained out of heaven ; but it is no wonder to see combustible matter burn. But Christ was a gi-een tree, the Son of God, holy and undefiled, who was made sin only by a voluntary susception ; but when he was made sin, God spared him not. Now the heinousness of sin appeareth — (1.) In the value of the sacrifice: (2.) The extremity of his sufferings.
(1st.) In the value of the sacrifice. Nothing could expiate sin but the blood, and shame, and agonies of the Son of God. A man would have thought that a word of Christ's mouth would have pacified Gt)d ; but so great was the offence, that though he cried with strong cries, God would not hear him till he had endured hLs wrath. Christ prayed, Mat. xxvi. 39, ' 0 my Father ! if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.' But God would not bate him a farthing. If you would know sin, go to Golgotha.
(2d.) The extremity of his sufferings. His outward sufferings were much. If you consider the majesty of his person, he was the great God, that filled heaven and earth with his glory, and yet was sold for thirty pence, the price of a slave. His back was mangled with whips, his body nailed to the cross, he was scorned in all his offices, a variety of sorrow was poured in by the conduit of every sense — seeing, smell- ing, tasting, hearing, and feeling. If you consider the excellency of his constitution, his body, being framed by the Holy Ghost, was of a more exact temper, his senses more lively ; they that enjoy life in a higher measure than others, the more dehcate the sense, the higher the pain ; the back of a slave is not so sensible of strokes as of one that is nicely and tenderly bred. His senses were kept lively and in their full vigour ; he refused the stupefying cup that was given to him. He kept his strength to the last ; this appeared by his strong cry when he gave up the ghost ; Luke xxiii -16, ' And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spiirit ; and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.' But what is this to what is inward, the agonies of his soul under the curse and wrath of God due for sin, his desertion of the Father. It is more to see the sun eclipsed than to see a candle put out. He complained that '' his soul was exceed- ing sorrowful, even unto death," Mat. xxvi. 38. His soul dwelt with God in a personal union. * Christ knew how to value his Father's wrath : he had an excellent judgment and tender affections. AYhen he sweat drops of curdled blood, he needed support from an angeL Now put all these circumstances together, and see if sin be a light thing.