168 THE DEATH OF DEATH. [BOOK I.
dead, in all things having the pre-eminence; for it pleased the Fatlier that in him should all fulness dwell/' Col. i. 18, 19. In him he caused to be " hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge/' chap. ii. 3 ; and "in him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead ffw/xar/xcTg/' substantially or personally, verse 9 ; that " of his fulness we might all receive grace for grace," John i. 16, in a continual supply. So that, setting upon tlie work of redemption, he looks upon this in the first place. " The Spirit of the Lord GoD," saith he, " is upon me ; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prism to them that are bound ; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn," Isa. Ixi. 1, 2. And this was the "anointing with the oil of gladness" which he had " above his fellows," Ps. xlv. 7 ; "it was upon his head, and ran down to his beard, yea, down to the skirts of his garments,'' Ps. cxxxiii. 2, that every one covered with the garment of his righteousness might be made partaker of it. " The Spirit of the Lord did rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord," Isa. xi. 2 ; and that not in parcels and beginnings as in VIS, proportioned to our measure and degi'ees of sanctification, but in a fulness, for " he received not the Spirit by measure," John iii. 34; — that is, it was not so with him when he came to the full measure of the stature of his age, as Eph. iv. 13; for otherwise it was mani- fested in him and collated on him by degrees, for he " increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man," Luke ii. 52. Hereunto was added " all power in heaven and earth, Avhich was given unto him," Matt, xxviii. 18; "power over all flesh, to give eternal life to as many as he would," John xvii. 2. Which we might branch into many particulars, but so much shall suffice to set forth the second act of God in sending his Son.
(3.) The third act of this sending is his entering into covenant and compact with his Son concerning the work to be undertaken, and the issue or event thereof; of which there be two parts: —
First, His promise to protect and assist him in the accomplishment and perfect fulfilling of the \\hole business and dispensation about which he was employed, or which he was to undeitake. The Father engaged himself, that for his part, upon his Son's undertaking this great work of redcmjition, he wovdd not be wanting in any assistance in trials, strength agamst opjiosi Lions, encouragement against tempta- tions, and strong consolation in the midst of terrors, which might be any way necessary or re(|uisite to carry him on tlirough all difficulties to the end of so great an employment; — upon which he undertakes this heavy burden, so full of misery and trouble : for the Father
END OF Christ's death as eternally intended. lb"9
before tliis engagement requires no less of him tlian that he should " become a Saviour, and be afEicted in all the affliction of his people," Isa. Ixiii. 8, 9 : yea, that although he were " the fellow of the Lord of hosts," yet he should endure the " sword" that was drawn against him as the "shepherd" of the sheep, Zech. xiii. 7; " treading the wine- press alone, until he became red in his apparel," Isa. Ixiii. 2, 8: yea, to be " stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted ; wounded for our trans- gressions, and bruised for our iniquities; to be bruised and put to grief; to make his soul an offering for sin, and to bear the iniquity of many," Isa. liii. ; to be destitute of comfort so far as to cry, " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Ps. xxii. 1. No wonder, then, if upon this undertaking the Lord promised to make " his mouth like a sharp sword, to hide him in the shadow of his hand, to make him a polished shaft, and to hide him in his quiver, to make him his servant in whom he would be glorified," Isa. xlix. 2, 3 ; that though " the kings of the earth should set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against him, yet he would laugh them to scorn, and set him as king upon his holy hill of Zion," Ps. ii. 2, 4, 6 ; though the " builders did reject him," yet he should " be- come the head of the corner," to the amazement and astonishment of all the world, Ps. cxviii. 22, 23, Matt, xxi, 42, Mark xii. 10, Luke XX. 17, Acts iv. 11, 12, 1 Pet. ii. 4; yea, he would "lay him for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foun- dation," Isa. xxviii. 16, that " whosoever should fall upon him should be brolien, but upon whomsoever he should fall he should grind him to powder," Matt. xxi. 44. Hence arose that confidence of our Saviour in his greatest and utmost trials, being assured, by virtue of his Father's engagement in this covenant, upon a treaty with him about the redemption of man, that he would never leave him nor forsake him. " I gave," saith he, " my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and S23itting," Isa. L 6. But with what confidence, blessed Saviour, didst thou undergo all this shame and sorrow ! Why, " The Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. He is near that justifieth me; Avho will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God will help me ; who is he that shall condemn me? lo ! they shall all wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up," verses 7-9. With this assurance he was brought as a " lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth," Isa. liii 7: for "Avhen he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously," 1 Pet. ii. 23. So that the ground of our Saviour's confidence and assurance in this