the truth of God. How often, alas ! do they grieve his Spirit by their evil deeds ! How often do they even " crucify him afresh, and put him to an open shame," by acting unworthily of the relation they bear to him! If even earthly parents are sometimes so distressed by the follies and indiscretions, or by the troubles and miseries of their dear children, that all the pangs of child-birth were as nothing in comparison of the sor- rows they afterwards conflict with, much more may we consider the sympathy of Christ in our afflictions, and his grief at our misconduct, as a renewal of the troubles he sustained on Calvary. Nor are his la- bours destitute of their desired effect : " he heals that which was sick, and binds up that which was broken, and brings back that which was driven awaym," and, by his almighty power, " keeps them unto his heavenly kingdom." Thus, in whatever light we view believers, whether as purchased by his blood, or as preserved by his grace, we see how just is the representation given of them, as the fruit of the Redeemer's travail.
While we stand amazed at this endearing descrip- tion of the Lord's people, let us consider,
II. The satisfaction which Christ takes in them in this particular view — Our blessed Lord himself, advertising his disciples of the troubles which they were to sustain by means of his removal from them, and the permanent joys that they should afterwards experience, as soon as he should renew his visits to them, illustrates his dis- course by the very simile before us : "A woman," says he, " when she is in travail, hath sorrow, because her hour is come : but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world : and ye now therefore have sorrow : but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you11." Such is the satisfaction also which Christ himself is here represented as feeling, in the sight of those who are born to God through him.
m Ezek. xxxiv. 15, 16. n John xvi. 21, 22.
974.] Christ's satisfaction in his people. 411
He is satisfied, first, when lie beholds any penitent shiner returning unto God. Were there but one in the whole universe, and he the meanest and the vilest of the human race, that should " bethink himself, saying, What have I done?" and should tremble at the de- nunciations of God's wrath, and turn to the Lord with sorrow and contrition, our compassionate Lord would instantly fix his eyes on him ; according to that pro- mise, " To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word0." When his people of old began to repent of their transgressions, he was attentive to the first mo- tions of their hearts, and declares to us with what pleasure he noticed the smallest risings of good in them ; " Ephraim said, What have I to do any more with idols?" upon which the Lord immediately adds with exultation, " I have heard him, and observed himp." So, on another occasion, as though he had been listening unobserved to the lamentations of his servant, he says, " Surely I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus ; Thou hast chastised me, and I was as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke ; Turn thou me, and I shall be turned." Upon which his whole soul is moved with pity ; and he exclaims, " Is not this my dear son ? is he not a pleasant child ? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still ; yea my bowels are troubled for him, I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lordq." To illustrate the pleasure which he takes in the return of one sinner unto God, he expatiated upon it in three different parables. He sets forth a shepherd rejoicing over a lost sheep, and calling upon all his friends and neighbours to sympathize with him on so joyful an occasion. Then, changing the illustration to that of a woman finding a piece of silver after a long and careful search ; and afterwards, to that of a father receiving his prodigal child, and making merry with him on account of the happy alteration of his state, and the blessed change wrought upon his soul, he declares, in terms as strong as language can afford,