2dli/. In the penalty inflicted on Christ for sin, this justice is far more gloriously manifested than otherwise. To see, indeed, a world,
'H /x,iv iXuv pi^pa Is TcipTictcv iiieoi»ra, TjXt fiuX't nx' /3a('/«'r«v vTO ^^cvis ton fiioiPoov, "Ev^a irihr,^iiai ri TuXxi ko.) ^dXxii; ciSii;,
Tos-ffcv I'nj^' 'Ai'Sii), i'rov tuoavc! iitt' iri ya'ins. — IloiVier, II. i. 13-16. ' Vid. Diatrib. di' .Just. Diviii. [A treatise liy Owen, which will be found in vol. X. of thi8 edition of liis works.]
» Rom. viii. 32; Isa. liii. 10; Ileb. x. 7-9; Rom. i. 32; 2 Thess. i. 6, 6; Ps, V. 5, 6; Ilab. i. 13; Ps. cxix. 137.
OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHEIST. 85
raade^ good and l^eautiful, wrapped up in wrath and curses, clothed with thorns and briers; to see the whole beautiful creation made subject to vanity, given up to the bondage of corruption ; to hear it groan in pain under that burden ; to consider legions of angels, most glorious and immortal creatures, cast down into hell, bound with chains of darkness, and reserved for a more dreadful judgment for one sin ; to view the ocean of the blood of souls spilt to eternity on this account, — will give some insight into this thing. But what is all this to that view of it which may be had by a spiritual eye in the Lord Christ? All these things are worms, and of no value in com- parison of him. To see him who is the^ wisdom of God, and the power of God, always* beloved of the Father; to see him, I say, fear,^ and tremble, and bow, and sweat, and pray, and die ; to see him lifted up upon the cross, the earth trembling under him, as if unable to bear his weight; and the heavens darkened over him, as if shut against his cry ; and himself hanging between both, as if refused by both ; and all this because our sins did meet upon him ; — this of all things doth most abundantly manifest the severity of God's vindictive justice. Here, or nowhere, is it to be learned.
[2.] His patience, forbearance, and long-suffering towards sinners. There are many glimpses of the patience of God shining out in the works of his providence ; but all exceedingly beneath that discovery of it which we have in Christ, especially in these three things: —
\st. The manner of its discovery. This, indeed, is evident to all, that God doth not ordinarily immediately punish men upon their offences. It may be learned from his constant way in governing the world : notwithstanding all provocations, yet he doth ^good to men ; causing his sun to shine upon them, sending them rain and fruitful seasons, filling their hearts with food and gladness. Whence it was easy for them to conclude that there was in him abundance of goodness and forbearance. But all this is yet in much darkness, being the exurgency of men's reasonings from their observations; yea, the management of it [God's patience] hath been such as that it hath proved a snare almost universally unto them towards whom it hath been exercised, Eccles. viii. 11, as well as a temptation to them who have looked on. Job xxi. 7; Ps. Ixxiii. 2-4, etc.; Jer. xii. 1; Hab. i. 13. The discovery of it in Christ is utterly of another nature. In him the very nature of God is discovered to be love and kindness ; and that he will exercise the same to sinners, he hath promised, sworn, and solemnly engaged liimself by covenant. And that we may not hesitate about the aim
' Gen. iii. 17-19, viii. 21; Rom. viii. 21, 22; 2 Pet. ii. 4-6, iii. 6; Jude 6, 7. ' 1 Cor. i. 30. 3 Matt. iii. 17. * Matt. xxvi. 37, 38; Mark xiv. 33;
Luke xxii. 43, 44; Heb. v. 7; Matt, xxvii. 51; Mark xv. 33, 34; Isa. liii. 6.
^ Matt. V. 43; Acts xiv. 17, IS.
86 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
which he hath herein, there is a stable bottom and foundation of act- ing suitably to those gracious properties of his nature held forth, — namely, the reconcihation and atonement that is made in the blood of Christ. Whatever discovery were made of the patience and lenity of God unto us, yet if it were not withal revealed that the other pro- perties of God, as his justice and revenge for sin, had their actings also assigned to them to the full, there could be little consolation gathered from the former. And therefore, though God may teach men his goodness and forbearance, by sending them rain and fruitful seasons, yet withal at the same time, upon all occasions, " revealing his wrath from heaven against the ungodliness of men," Rom. i. 18, it is impossible that they should do any thing but miserably fluctuate and tremble at the event of these dispensations; and yet this is the best that men can have out of Christ, the utmost they can attain unto. With the present possession of good things administered in this patience, men might, and did for a season, take up their thoughts and satiate themselves ; but yet they were not in the least delivered from the^ bondage they were in by reason of death, and the darkness attending it. The law reveals no patience or forbearance in God ; it speaks, as to the issue of transgressions, nothmg but sword and fire, had not God interposed by an act of sovereignty. But now, as was said, with that revelation of forbearance which we have in Christ, there is also a discovery of the satisfaction of his justice and wrath against sin ; so that we need not fear any actings from them to inter- fere with the works of his patience, which are so sweet unto us. Hence God is said to be " in Christ, reconciling the world to him- self," 2 Cor. V. 19; manifesting himself in him as one that hath now no more to do for the manifestation of all his attributes, — that is, for the glorifying of himself, — but only to forbear, reconcile, and pai^don sin in him.