(2.) In respect of us. It is not so finished but that something is to be done by the creature. Though the satisfaction be never so perfect, yet there is a necessity of application. The sacrifice and atonement is isufflcient, but it must be applied in the wny appointed by God. The means of applying are partly internal, which qualify the subject, and make us capable of the benefit of this atonement and satisfaction, which are faith and repentance, and also new obedience as the consequent of both ; for repentance is a returning to our duty to God, and faith a thankful owning of our Redeemer, by whom we return ; and if we are serious and real, all will end in new obedience and holiness, or else we are liable to wrath still. Faith is necessary ; Rom. iii. 25, ' V/hom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood.' Repentance is necessary : Acts iii. 19, ' Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.' New obedience is necessary : Heb. v. 9, ' He is become the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him.' And partly external, by the word and sacraments. The word : John xvii. 19, ' And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth.' The word calleth upon us to accept of Christ, and that life and mercy which is offered to us in him ; the sacraments, which are baptism and the Lord's supper . By baptism we profess and are obliged to put on Christ : Gal. iii. 27, ' For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on
36 SERMON UPON JOHN XIX. 30.
Christ ;' or to apply him to ourselves as a garment to the body, that he may communicate to us his righteousness, life, and Spirit ; and by tiie Lord's supper we come more abundantly to take part in this consola- tion: 1 Cor. X. 16, 'The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the com- munion of the blood of Christ ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ? ' that is. hereby we are solemnly made partakers of the body and blood of Christ, and the benefits purchased thereby,
[2.] Positively ; that the work of our redemption, so far as related to sufferings, was now about to be consuuj mated. Christ's sacrifice, which he was about to offer for us, was no imperfect sacrifice. This appeareth by his message to Herod : Luke xiii. 32, ' I do cures to-day and to- morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected ; ' that is, the work of his office was then fully to be accomplished : Heb. ii. 10, * The captain of our salvation was made perfect through sufferings.' Christ as mediator seemed to lack something till the full number of his sorrows was accomplished; then he was perfectly fitted to do us good. So Heb. X. 14, ' By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.' As to an ottering, there needeth no more. A patched salvation, of half of Christ and of half of the creature, will not do good ; as if Christ must do a part and we must merit the rest ; this is in- consistent with God's design. We must not part stakes with God ; this is neither for our comfort, God's glory, nor our Kedeemer's welcome to heaven. No ; Christ is a workman that needeth not to be ashamed ; he could avouch his work before the tribunal of God ; all is finished. Now he can plead his right at the bar of justice : Ps. ii. 8, ' Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utter- most parts of the earth for thy possession.'
II. The evidences and reasons of this complete satisfaction. 1, From the dignity of the person satisfying. Two things are re- quired in our mediator that he might be a sufficient undertaker for us. One is, that he should be perfectly holy and righteous ; for how could he redeem us from sin, who, being defiled with sin, had needed to be redeemed himself ? The second was, that he should be a divine and infinite person ; for sin being committed against an infinite majesty, therefore the suffering by which it must be expiated must be of an infinite value. Now both these do perfectly concur in Christ ; for as man, ' He was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners/ Heb. vii. 26 ; and died, ' The just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,' 1 Peter iii. 18. He was perfectly holy, even holiness itself: Luke i. 35, ' That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.' As he was God over all, blessed for ever, he was capable to give a value to his sufferings ; to which purpose God is said to purchase the church with his own blood : Acts xx. 28, ' Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.' In short, God was resolved to lose no glory by the fall ; and therefore, whosoever was the redeemer, he was to restore what Adam took away by the fall. God's authority was violated by the creatures' transgres- sion, whose command was just, and our obedience reasonable. Now it was meet that God should keep up the authority of his law. ^ His majesty also was despised in slighting the threatening, and his holiness