' And here we may, as it were, 1. Lose ourselves in a holy admi- ration of this infinite love of Christ. Our apostle prays for the Ephesians, that they “might be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,” Eph. ii. 18, 19. This, it seems, is the work, the design, the endeavour of “all saints,’”— namely, to come to an acquaintance with, or to live in the contem- plation of the love of Christ. The dimensions here assigned unto it are only to let us know, that, which way soever we exercise our. thoughts about it, there is still a suitable object forthem. It wants nothing that may be a proper object for that prospect which a soul may take of it in the way of believing; and he so prays for the knowledge of it, as that he lets us know that absolutely it is incom- prehensible, it “passeth knowledge.” Then do we in our measure. know the love of Christ, when we know that it passeth knowledge,— when we comprehend so much of it, as to find we cannot compre- hend it ; and thereby we have the benefit and consolation of what
528 AN EXPOSITION OF THE > [cHap. v.
we do not conceive, as well as of what we do. For as contemplation is an act of faith with respect unto our measure of comprehension, so is admiration with respect unto what exceeds it. And what way soever faith acts itself on Christ, it will bring in advantage and re- freshment to the soul. And we are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at his unspeakable love. And, indeed, his love herein, that “although he were a Son,” the eternal Son of God, yet he would condescend unto the condition before described for our deliverance and salvation, is that which fills the souls of believers with admiration, not only in this world, but unto eternity. And, 2. Here we may, as it were, find ourselves. The due consideration of this love of Christ is that alone which will satisfy our souls and consciences with the grounds of the acceptance of such poor unworthy sinners as we are in the presence of the holy God. For what will not this love and the effects of it prevail for? what can stand in the way of it? or what can hinder it from accomplishing whatever it is designed unto ?
Obs. II. In his sufferings, and notwithstanding them all, the Lord Christ was the “Son ” still, the Son of God.
He was so both as to real relation and as to suitable affection. He had in them all the state of a Son and the love of a Son. It is true, during the time of his suffering, a common eye, an eye of sense and reason, could see no appearance of this sonship of Christ. His outward circumstances were all of them such as rather eclipsed than manifested his glory, Isa. li. 2, 3. This was that which the world being offended at, stumbled and fell; for he was unto them “a stone of stumbling, and rock of offence,” Rom. ix. 833. The mean- ness of his condition, the poverty of his life, and shame of his death, proved an offence both to Jews and Gentiles.) How could such a one be thought to be the Son of God? Besides, God himself so dealt with him, as flesh and blood would not conceive him to deal with his only Son. For he laid his curse upon him, as it is written, “Cursed is he that is hanged on a tree.” And in all this state of things, he speaks of himself as one made so much beneath the con- dition of glory which was due to the Son of God, as that he was lower than any sort of men; whence he complains, “I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people,” Ps. Xxil. 6. Yet, during all this, he was still the Son of God, and suf- fered as the Son of God. Hence it is said, that “God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all ur is, to suffering and death, Rom. viii. 32. He “sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,” and “condemned sin in the flesh,” verse 3. It is true, he suffered only in his human nature, which alone was capable thereof ; but HE suffered who was the Son of God, and as he was the Son of God, or God could not have “redeemed the church with his own
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blood,” Acts xx. 28. In all that he underwent neither was the union of his natures dissolved, nor the love of the Father unto him as his own Son in the least impeached.
Obs. III. A practical experience of obedience to God in some cases will cost us dear.
We cannot learn it but through the suffering of those things which will assuredly befall us on the account thereof. So was it with the Lord Christ. I intend not here the difficulties we meet withal in mortifying the internal lusts and corruptions of nature ; for these had no place in the example here proposed unto us. Those only are respected which do, or will, or may, come upon us from without. And it is an especial kind of obedience also, namely, that which holds some conformity to the obedience of Christ, that is intended. Wherefore, 1. it must be singular ; it must have some- what in it that may, in a special manner, turn the eyes of others towards it. A common course of obedience, clothed with a common passant profession, may escape at an easy rate in the world. There seems to be somewhat singular denoted in that expression, “ He that will live godly in Christ Jesus,” 2 Tim. iii. 12. To live in Christ Jesus, is to live and walk in the profession of the gospel, to be a pro- fessing branch in Christ, John xv. 2. But of these there are two sorts; some that “live godly in him,” some branches that bring forth fruit,—that is, in an eminent and singular manner. Every branch in the true vine hath that whereby he is distinguished from brambles and thorns; and every one that lives in the profession of the gospel hath somewhat that differenceth him from the world, and the ways of it; but there is a peculiar, a singular fruit-bearing in Christ, an especial “living godly in him,” which will turn an observation upon itself. So our apostle says, that they “were made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men,” by the especial ministry which was committed unto them, 1 Cor. iv. 9. 2. It is re- quired that this obedience be wniversal. If there be an allowance in any one instance where there is a compliance with the world, or other enemies of our obedience, the trouble of it will be much abated. For men, by indulging any crooked steps to themselves, do compound for outward peace, and ofttimes thus obtain their aims, though greatly to their spiritual disadvantage. But the gospel obedience which we inquire into, is such as universally agrees in conformity with Christ in all things. And this will cost us dear. Sufferings will attend it. “They that live godly im Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” For this kind of obedience will be observed in the world. It cannot escape observation, because it is singular ; and it provokes the world, because it is wniversal, and will admit of no compliance with it. And where the world is first awaked, and then enraged, trouble and suffering of one kind or another will ensue. If