5. But one main ground is, conformity to Christ. He sufiered for our sins, and God will conform the members in some measure to their head. Thougli Christ drank the cup of God's wrath to the bottom, yet we must sip and taste a little, that we may know how much we are beholden to Christ ; and there are few that come to heaven, few that truly belong to God, but they know what sin is, and what the wrath of God is, first or last. The wrath of God is the best corrosive in the world to eat out sin. A little anger of God felt in the conscience will make a man hate pride and mahce, and all sin whatsoever.
Christ's suPii,-aBiNGS for man's sin. 361
Quest. But for what end doth God leave his children, as he did here our blessed Saviour ?
Am. 1. In regard of himself. ♦
2, In regard of his children.
1. In regard of himself, he leaves them that he may comfort them more afterwards ; that he may bring more love with him ; and that they may love him more than before. There will, after a little forsaking, be a mutual reflection of love between God and a Christian. God delights to shew him- self more abundantly after a little forsaking, and the soul enlargeth itself after it hath wanted the love of God ; for want enlargeth the capacity of the soul, and want makes it stretch itself to receive more comfort when it comes. God doth this for the increase of his love to us, and of our love to him again. He both di-aws nigh to us, and goes away, in regard of feeling for our good.
2. That we may be more watchful over our hearts for the time to come ; that there may be a more perfect divorce and separation wrought in us to the creatures. Our adulterous hearts have ' stolen delights ' that God likes not ; and, therefore, when we have smarted for it in the anger and dis- pleasm-e of God, a divorce wiH be wrought. It is hard to work a separa- tion from sin, sin and the soul being so nearly invested together ; yet God therefore uses this way of spiritual desertion to effect the same.
3. Likewise to make a Christian soul ransack and search the ground of all the comforts that are left him by God. It will make him rifle and search all the Scriptures. Is there any comfort for me, poor wretch, that am troubled with sin ? It wiU make him search the experience of other Chris- tians. Have you any word of comfort for me ? It wiU make him regard a gracious man as 'one of a thousand.' It will make him stretch his heai't in all the degrees of grace. Have I any evidence that I am the child of God, and not a cast-away ? It will make him search his heart in regard of cor- ruption. Is there any sin that I am not willing to part with ? &c. Be- loved, God many times leaves us ; and not only leaves us, but makes our naked conscience smart for sin. Oh ! this is a quickening thing ! A child of God that is of the light stamp will not endure to be under God's wrath long. Oh, it is bitter ! He knows what it is to enjoy communion with God. He wiU not endure it. Therefore, it stirs him up to all manner of diligence whatsoever.
Quest. But is there no difference between Christ's sufi'eringg and smart, for sin and ours ?
Alls. Yes (1), the sufierings of Christ came from the vindictive * and revenging f hand of God, as a just Judge ; but ours proceed fi'om him as a loving Father ; for God, when we are in Christ, is changed. He layeth aside the person of a Judge. Having received full satisfaction in Chi'ist, he is now in the relation of a sweet Father to us.
(2.) Again, there is difference in the measure. We take but a taste of the cup, sweetened with some comfort and moderated ; but Chi-ist drank deep of the same.
(3.) In the end and use. The sufferings and forsaking of Christ were satisfactory to divine justice ; but ours are not so, but only medicinal. The nature of them is quite changed. They are not for satisfaction ; for then we should die eternally ; disable the satisfaction of Chi-ist, They are crosses indeed, but not curses. Whatsoever we sufler in soul or body is a cross, but not a ciu-se unto us ; because the sting is pulled out. They are all medicinal cures to fit us for heaven. Whatsoever we suffer in our in-
* That is, 'vindicative, vindicatory.' — G t That is, ' avenging.' — G.
862 Christ's sufferings tok man s sin.
ward or outward man, prepares us for glory, by mortifying the remainders of corruptions, and fitting us for that blessed estate.
(4.) All other men's deaths are for themselves. As Leo saith, Singula in singulis (a); they are single deaths for single men. But it is otherwise here ; for all the children of God were forsaken in their head, crucified in their head, and died in Christ their head. Christ's death was a public satisfaction. No man dieth for another, let the papists say what they will; only Christ died for all, and suffered for his whole body. And thus much of the first general, that Christ u- as forsaken.