2. To save them. Two ways is Christ a saviour — merito et efftcacia, by merit and by power. We are sometimes said to be saved by his death, and sometimes to be saved by his Hfe : Eom. v. 10, ' If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.' There is the merit of his humiliation, and the efficacy and power of his exaltation. He procureth salvation for us by his meritorious satisfac- tion, and then applieth it to us by his effectual and invincible power.
Here I shall do two things — (1.) I shall show why it is so ; (2.) I shall prove that this was Christ's great end and business.
First, Why it is so.
1. With respect to the parties concerned. In saving lost crea- tures, Christ hath to do with three parties — God, man, and Satan.
[1.] With God. God's wrath was to be pacified by the blood of his cross : Col. i. 20, ' Having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself.' His blood was to be shed on earth, and represented and pleaded in heaven. Now thus he came to save us, that is, to die for us, and give his life a ransom for many here upon earth: Mat. xx, 28, 'The Son of man is come not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.' In heaven it is represented : Heb. ix. 24, ' For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.'
[2.] The next party is man, who is to be saved, who is guilty and unholy. His guilt is removed by Christ's substituting himself in man's stead, and bearing his sins. But man by a foolish obstinacy is apt to turn the back upon his own mercies, so that there needeth the efficacy of the Spirit of Christ to gain his consent, as well as the merit and mediatorial sacrifice of Christ to reconcile him to God. We are so prepossessed with a false happiness, and biassed by sinful inclinations, so indisposed for the waiting for and receiving of the offered mercy in that humble and submissive way wherein God will dispense it, that unless Christ save us by a strong hand we are not likely to be the better for the tender of the gospel to us : John vi. 44, ' No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him ; ' and ver. Q5, 'No man can come to me, except it were given liim of my Father ; ' and John v. 40, ' Ye will not come unto me that you might have life.' So that as we are deservedly cut off by the law, so also we are become morally impotent, and averse to the undeserved, free, and gracious tenders of the gospel ; and having wilfully pulled upon our- selves just misery, we do obstinately reject free mercy tendered to us upon the terms of the gospel. We are lost before, unless Christ satisfy the old covenant, and we are lost again, unless he qualify us for the privileges of the gospel. And as the gospel transcends the law, so our disobedience to the gospel doth so far exceed in evil our disobedience to the law ; so that we are doubly lost, utterly lost, unless Christ help us.
[3.] With Satan, who is a tempter and an accuser ; as an accuser
SERMONS UPON LUKE XIX, 10. 161
not a whisperer, but Karijyopo^;, * accuser ; ' Kev. xii. 10, ' For the accuser of the brethren is cast down, which accused them before God day and night.' And avriSiKo-; an ' adversary ; ' 1 Peter v. 8, ' Because your adversary the devil, Uke a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour/ As a tempter, by the baits of the world lie doth solicit and entice our flesh to a rebellion against God; his assaults are daily and assiduous, and the baits presented are pleasing to our flesh. So that to begin an interest for God, or to keep it alive, and maintain it in ourselves, the divine power is necessary. As to begin it : Col. i. 13, 'Who hath delivered us from the power of dark- ness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son ; ' Luke xi. 21, 22, ' When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace; but whcL a stronger than he shall come upon him, and over- come him, he taketh from him all his armour, wherein he trusted, and divideth the spoil.' So to maintain and keep it still alive : 1 Peter i. 5, ' Who are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation ; 1 John iv. 4, ' Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because gi'eater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.' Nothing else, nothing less, can do it than the power of Christ.