A sermon concerning the sacrifice and satisfaction of Christ. preached before the Queen at Whitehall, April 9., 1693. Tillotson, John, 1630-1694. 1693 Approx. 60 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 32 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A94360 Wing T1221B ESTC R203830 43077683 ocm 43077683 151794 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A94360) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 151794) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English Books, 1641-1700 ; 2277:6) A sermon concerning the sacrifice and satisfaction of Christ. preached before the Queen at Whitehall, April 9., 1693. Tillotson, John, 1630-1694. [2], 3-36 p. s.n., [London : 1693] Title page lacking on film; title from half t.p. Attributed to John Tillotson by Wing. Publication information suggested by Wing. Reproduction of original in: Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois. Includes bibliographical references in marginal notes. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Jesus Christ -- Sermons. Church of England -- Sermons. Bible. -- N.T. -- Hebrews IX, 26 -- Sermons. Sermons, English -- 17th century. Suffering of God. 2007-05 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-05 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-06 Jonathan Blaney Sampled and proofread 2007-06 Jonathan Blaney Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A SERMON Concerning the Sacrifice and Satisfaction of Christ. Preached before the QUEEN At WHITEHALL , April 9. 1693. A SERMON Concerning the Sacrifice and Satisfaction of Christ , &c. HEB. IX . 26. But now once hath he appeared in the end of the world , to take away sin by the sacrifice of himself . AMong many other great ends and reasons for which God was pleased to send his Son into the World to dwell amongst us , this was one of the chief , that by a long course of the greatest innocency and the greatest sufferings in our Nature he might be capable to make a perfect Expiation of Sin : But now once in the end of the world , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in the conclusion of the Ages , that is in the last Age of the World , which is the Gospel Age , hath he appeared to take away sin by the sacrifice of himself . The general design of God in sending his Son into the World was to save mankind from eternal death and misery , and to purchase for us eternal life and happiness . So the Author of our Salvation himself tells us , That God so loved the World , that he gave his only begotten Son , that whosoever believeth in him should not perish , but have everlasting life . Now in order to the procuring of this Salvation for us , the impediments and hindrances of it were to be removed : these were the guilt , and the dominion of Sin : By the guilt of Sin we were become obnoxious to the wrath of God and to eternal condemnation , and by the defilement and dominion of it we were incapable of the happiness of Heaven and the reward of eternal Life . To remove these two great hindrances two things were necessary : the Forgiveness of sins past , in order to our deliverance from the wrath of God and the eternal torments of the next Life ; and the Reformation of our hearts and lives to make us capable of eternal Life and happiness in another World. And both these , if God had so pleased , might for any thing we certainly know to the contrary , have been effected by the abundant mercy and powerful grace of God , without this wonderful method and dispensation of sending his Son in our Nature to take away sin by the sacrifice of himself : But it seems the wisdom of God thought fit to pitch upon this way and method of our Salvation , and no doubt for very good Reasons ; amongst which these three seem to be very obvious and very considerable . First , to vindicate the honour of his Laws , which if Sin had gone altogether unpunish'd would have been in great danger of falling into contempt . For if God had proclaimed a general Pardon of Sin to all mankind , without any testimony of his wrath and displeasure against it , who would have had any great veneration for his Laws , or have believed in good earnest that the violation of them had been either so extremely offensive to Him , or so very dangerous to the Sinner ? Therefore to maintain the honour of his Laws , rather than Sin should pass unpunish'd God would lay the punishment of it upon his only begotten Son , the dearest Person to him in the World : Which is a greater testimony of his high displeasure against Sin , and of his tender regard and concernment for the honour of his Laws , than if the Sinner had suffered the punishment due to it in his own person . Secondly , another Reason of this Dispensation , and that likewise very considerable , was , that God might forgive Sin in such a way as yet effectually to discountenance and discourage it , and to create in us the greatest horror and hatred of it : Which could not have been by an absolute Pardon , without any punishment inflicted , or satisfaction made to the honour of his Justice . For had Sin been so easily forgiven , who would have been sensible of the great evil of it , or afraid to offend for the future ? But when God makes his own Son a Sacrifice , and lays upon him the punishment due for the iniquities of us all , this is a demonstration that God hates Sin as much , if it be possible , as he loved his own Son. For this plainly shews what Sin deserves , and what the Sinner may justly expect , if after this severity of God against it he will venture to commit it . And if this Sacrifice for Sin , and the Pardon purchased by it , be not effectual to reclaim us from Sin , and to beget in us an eternal dread and detestation of it : If we sin wilfully after so clear a revelation of the wrath of God from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men , there remains no more sacrifice for sin , but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation to consume the adversaries . For what could God do more to testify his displeasure against sin , and to discountenance the practice of it , than to make his only Son an offering for Sin , and to give him up to be wounded for our transgressions , and bruised for our iniquities ? In what clearer Glass can we at once behold the great evil and demerit of Sin , and the infinite goodness and mercy of God to Sinners , than in the sorrows and sufferings of the Son of God for our Sins and for our sakes ? Thirdly , another Reason of this Dispensation seems to have been a gracious condescension and compliance of Almighty God with a certain apprehension and persuasion , which had very early and universally obtained among Mankind , concerning the expiation of Sin and appeasing the offended Deity by Sacrifices : by the Sacrifices of living Creatures , of Birds and Beasts ; and afterwards by Human Sacrifices and the blood of their sons and daughters : by offering to God , as the expression is in the Prophet , their first-born for their transgression , and the fruit of their body for the sin of their souls . And this Notion of the expiation of sin by Sacrifice , whether it had its first Rise from Divine Revelation , and was afterwards propagated from Age to Age by Tradition : I say , from whence soever this Notion came , it hath of all other Notions concerning Religion , excepting those of the Being of God , and his Providence , and of the Recompences of another Life , found the most universal reception , and the thing hath been the most generally practised in all Ages and Nations , not only in the old , but in the new discovered parts of the World. And indeed a very great part of the Jewish Religion , which was instituted by God himself , seems to have been a plain condescension to the general Apprehension of Mankind , concerning this way of appeasing the offended Deity by Sacrifices : As it was also a Figure of that great and efficacious Sacrifice which should in due time be offer'd to God to make atonement once for all for the Sins of all Mankind . And the Apostle to the Hebrews doth very particularly insist upon this condescension of God to them , in the Dispensation of the Gospel : and whereas they apprehended so great a necessity of an High-Priest and of Sacrifices to make expiation for the sins of the People , that it was an established Principle among them , that without shedding of blood there was no remission of Sins ; God was pleased to comply so far with these Notions and Apprehensions of theirs , as to make his own Son both a Priest and a Sacrifice , to do that once for all which their own High-Priest pretended to do year by year . And from hence the same Apostle takes occasion to recommend to them the new Covenant and Dispensation of the Gospel , as having a greater and more perfect High-Priest and a more excellent Sacrifice , than were the High-Priests and the Sacrifices under the Law ; the Son of God having by one Sacrifice of himself obtained eternal Redemption for us , and perfected for ever them that are sanctified . And this Apprehension prevailed no less in the Heathen World , and proceeded to the Sacrifices of Men , even of their first born . And with this Apprehension , not to countenance but to abolish it , God was pleased to comply so far as to make a general Atonement for the Sins of Mankind by the Death of his Son , appearing in our Nature to become a voluntary Sacrifice for us : God permitting him to be unjustly put to death and his blood to be shed by the malice of men , in appearance as a Malefactor , but in truth as a Martyr ; and accepting of his Death as a meritorious Sacrifice and propitiation for the Sins of the whole World : That by this wise counsel and permission of his Providence he might for ever put an end to that barbarous and inhuman way of serving God which had been so long in use and practice among them : The Son of God by the voluntary Sacrifice of himself having effected all that at once , and for ever , which Mankind from the beginning of the World had in vain been endeavouring to accomplish by innumerable and continual Sacrifices ; namely , the pardon of their Sins , and perfect peace and reconciliation with God. For these Ends and Reasons , and perhaps for many more as great and considerable as these which our shallow understandings are not able to fathom , the Wisdom of God hath pitched upon this way and method of delivering Mankind from the guilt and dominion of Sin by the Sacrifice of his Son. And to this end it was requisite that he should appear in our Nature and dwell amongst us for some considerable time , that by a long course of the greatest Innocency and of the greatest Sufferings in our Nature he might be capable of making a perfect expiation of Sin. So that two things were requisite to qualify him for this purpose ; perfect Innocency and Obedience , and great Sufferings in our Nature , even to the suffering of Death . Both these the Scripture declares to be necessary qualifications of a Person capable to make expiation of Sin ; and both these were found in the Person of our B. Saviour . First , unspotted Innocency and perfect Obedience . This the Scripture testifies concerning Him , and the whole course of his Life and actions . He was in all points tempted like as we are , yet without Sin , saith the Apostle to the Hebrews . He always did the things which pleased God , as He testifies concerning himself , and we are sure that his witness is true . He did no sin , neither was guile found in his mouth , as St. Peter tells us of Him. And this was necessary to qualify him for the perfect expiation of Sin , whether we consider Him as a Priest , or as a Sacrifice . As a Priest , he could not have been fit to make expiation for the Sins of others , had he not been without sin himself . And this the Apostle tells us is one great Advantage of our High-Priest under the Gospel , above the High-Priest under the Law , who being a Sinner himself , as well as those for whom he offer'd , had need to offer for himself before he could make so much as a Legal expiation for the Sins of others : But a perfect and effectual expiation of Sin , so as to purge the conscience from the guilt of it , cannot be made but by an High Priest who is holy and innocent himself ; For such an High-Priest , saith the Apostle , became us , that is , now under the Dispensation of the Gospel , when a perfect expiation of Sins is to be made , such an High-Priest is necessary , as is holy , harmless , undefiled , separate from Sinners , who needs not as those High-Priests , that is as the High-Priests under the Law , to offer up sacrifice first for his own Sins , and then for the People : The plain force of which Argument is this , that he who will be qualified to make atonement for the Sins of others must be without sin himself . And then if we consider Christ as a Sacrifice for Sin ; perfect holiness is necessary to make a Sacrifice acceptable and available for the expiation of Sin. The necessity of this was typified by the quality of the expiatory Sacrifices under the Law : the Beasts that were to be offered were to be without spot and blemish : To which the Apostle alludes , speaking of the quality and efficacy of the Sacrifice of Christ : How much more , says he , shall the blood of Christ , who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God , purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God ? And to the same purpose St. Peter , For asmuch as ye know ye were not redeemed with corruptible things , as silver and gold , but with the precious blood of Christ , as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot , hereby intimating , that nothing less than the perfect innocency and holiness of him who was to be a Sacrifice for us could have expiated the guilt of our sins and purchased eternal Redemption for us . Secondly , great Sufferings likewise in our Nature , even to the suffering of Death , were requisite to the perfect expiation of Sin : I say , even to the suffering of Death . For the Sacrifices which were to make expiation were to be slain . And it was a constant Maxime and Principle among the Jews , and the Apostle more than once in this Epistle seems to allow and confirm it , that without shedding of blood there was no remission of Sins . Not that God could not have pardoned Sin without satisfaction made to his Justice , either by the suffering of the Sinner himself , or of a Sacrifice in his stead : But , according to the method and Dispensation which the Wisdom of God had pitched upon , he was resolved not to dispense Forgiveness in any other way . For which reason he seems either to have possess'd Mankind with this Principle , or to have permitted them to be so perswaded , that Sin was not to be expiated but by Blood , that is , either by the Death of the Sinner , or of the Sacrifice . Now the Life of our B. Saviour , as well as his Death , was made up of Sufferings of one kind or other : Continual Sufferings from his Cradle to his Cross , from the time he drew his first breath to his giving up of the ghost : And not only continual Sufferings , but the greatest that ever were , considering the Dignity of the Person that suffered , and the nature of the Sufferings : Considering likewise that these Sufferings were not only wholly undeserved on his part , but unmerited also on ours , for whose sake he submitted himself to them : Nay , on the contrary , he had obliged to the utmost those for whom and by whom he suffered , and continued still to oblige them by the greatest Blessings and Benefits purchased and procured for them by those very Sufferings which with so much Malice and Cruelty they inflicted on him . Had our B. Saviour been a mere Man , the perfect Innocency and unspotted Purity of his whole Life ; his Zeal to do the Will of God , and his delight in doing it ; his infinite pains and unwearied diligence in going about doing good : His constant Obedience to God in the most difficult Instances , and his perseverance in well doing , notwithstanding the ill usage and hard measure , the bitter Reproaches and Persecutions he met withal for it , from a wicked and ill natured World : His perfect submission to the Will of God , his invincible Patience under the greatest and bitterest Sufferings , and his infinite Charity to his Enemies and Persecutors : These must needs be highly acceptable to God , and if Man could merit of God , likely enough to be available for the Sins of others . But our Saviour and our Sacrifice being the Son of God in our Nature ; and He voluntarily assuming it , and submitting to the condition of Humanity in its lowest and most miserable state , Sin only excepted ; and his being contented to live a Life of doing good and suffering evil , and at last to be put to Death and slain a Sacrifice for us : The Dignity of the Person who did and suffered all this for us , and his dearness to God , must needs add a mighty value to so perfect an Obedience and such patient Sufferings ; so as to render them a full , perfect and sufficient Sacrifice , oblation and satisfaction for the Sins of the whole World. And all this being willingly performed in our Nature , and accepted by God as done upon our account , may reasonably be presumed to redound to our benefit and advantage , as much as if we our selves had performed it in our own persons : Nothing being so proper , and so available to make an honourable amends and satisfaction to the Justice of God for the Sins of all Mankind , as the voluntary Obedience and Sufferings of Human Nature in a Person of so great Dignity and dearness to God as his eternal and entirely beloved Son. Now that Expiation of Sin was made by the Sufferings of Christ in our stead , I shall endeavour to make good these three ways . First , from plain Testimonies of H. Scripture , declaring this matter to us as clearly and fully as it is possible for words to do it . Secondly , from the nature and intention of Expiatory Sacrifices , both among the Jews and Heathen ; to which the Death of Christ is in the New Testament so frequently compared , and in point of vertue and efficacy to take away Sin infinitely preferred to it . Thirdly , by vindicating this Method and Dispensation of the Divine Wisdom from the Objections which are brought against it ; and by shewing that there is nothing in it that is unreasonable , or any wise unworthy of God. I. I shall produce some plain Testimonies of H. Scripture which decIare this matter as clearly and fully as it is possible for words to do it ; namely , that the Son of God , in order to the effectual Expiation of Sin , suffered in our stead , and bore the wrath of God for us , and made a perfect Atonement for Sin , and obtained eternal Redemption for us . This the Scripture declares to us in great variety of expressions ; as , that Christ dyed for us , and for our Sins ; that he was a Sacrifice for us , and a propitiation for the Sins of the whole World , that is , of all Mankind ; that he bare our Sins in his own body on the Tree , and appeared to take away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself ; that we are justified in his blood , and redeemed by the price of it ; and in very many other expressions to the same purpose . And this is so evidently the scope and meaning of these Expressions , that it cannot be denied without offering the greatest violence imaginable to the H. Scriptures . For can any man think that God would have used so many expressions in Scripture , the plain and most obvious sense of all which is that the Son of God suffered for our Sins and in our stead , if this had not been his design and meaning ? Would not this be in effect to say , that God hath written a great Book to puzzle and confound , but not to instruct and teach Mankind ? I will at present single out some few of those many Texts of Scripture which might be produced to this purpose : He hath made him to be sin for us , who knew no sin , that is , he hath made him who had no sin himself a Sacrifice for our sins . Again ; and walk in love , as Christ also hath loved us and given himself for us , an offering and a sacrifice to God. St. Peter to the same purpose tells us , that Christ also hath once suffered for Sins , the just for the unjust , that he might bring us to God , being put to death in the flesh : Here Christ is said to have suffered for Sin ; and to declare that the Apostle did not only mean that Christ suffered upon the occasion of our Sins , but that he suffered in the place and stead of the Sinner , he adds , the just for the unjust , that is , the Son of God , who was innocent and had no Sin , suffered for us who were Sinners ; or as it is elsewhere express'd , he bare our sins in his own body on the Tree . It is true indeed , that Christ suffered for our benefit and advantage ; which the Socinians would have to be all that is meant in the Texts which I have cited : But then it ought to be considered , that Christ's suffering for our benefit and advantage does by no means exclude , nor is any wise inconsistent with his suffering in our stead . For whoever suffers in another man's stead , and to save him from suffering , does undoubtedly suffer for his benefit and advantage , and gives the best demonstration of it that can be : But the manner of the expression , if compared with other parellel Texts of Scripture , and especially with what is so often said of our Saviour's being a Sacrifice , which I shall have occasion further to urge by and by : I say the manner of the expression , if well considered , will appear to any man that is not contentious to signify our Saviour's suffering instead of the Sinner . But not to argue from words and phrases , I will produce two Texts which declare this matter so plainly , that the force of them is not to be avoided without the most shameful wresting and perverting of them . This is my Commmandment , says our Saviour , that you love one another , as I have loved you . How is that ? he declares in the next words , Greater love than this hath no man , that a man lay down his life for his friend , that is , that he be contented to die in his stead . And to the same purpose St. Paul , For when ye were yet Sinners in due time Christ died for the ungodly : Now the question is , whether by this expression of Christ's dying for the ungodly be meant only his dying for the benefit and advantage of Sinners , but not his dying in their stead ? This , let the words which immediately follow determine : For scarcely for a righteous man will one dye , yet peradventure for a good man one would even dare to dye : But God commendeth his love to us , in that whilst we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us . And now I appeal to any man of good sense , whether it be not plain that the Apostle here speaks of Christ's dying for sinners in the same sense as one man is said to dye for another , that is , to save another from death ; which what is it else but to dye in his stead ? He that can deny this , is perverse to the highest degree , and I fear almost beyond the possibility of being convinced . And the Argument from these two Texts is so much the stronger , because we do not here reason merely from the phrase and expression , but from the main Scope of our Saviour's discourse in the one , and of St. Paul's in the other . For the design of both is to recommend the Superlative love of Christ to us above the greatest love that ever any man express'd to another . The highest pitch that human affection did ever rise to , was for a man to lay down his life for his Friend ; but the Son of God laid down his life for his Enemies . Scarcely , says St. Paul , would one lay down his life for a righteous man , that is , for one who is but strictly just and honest , and does no body wrong ; but for a good man , that is , for one that is kind and beneficial to all , and hath obliged Mankind by great Benefits , some one may be found that would lay down his life to save the life of such a Person : But the love of Christ hath gone far beyond this : He dyed for Sinners , for those who were neither good men nor righteous : But God commendeth his love to us , in that whilst we were yet Sinners Christ dyed for us . Now where doth the force of this Argument lye , if not in this ? that Christ hath done that for us , who were Enemies and Sinners , which some very few persons in the World have done for their Friend , or for some very eminently good man : And what is that ? Why they have laid down their lives in their stead : And so Christ hath done for us . This seems to be so very plain , that I do not see how the force of this Argument is possible to be avoided . It is evident then from Scripture , that Christ dyed not only for our advantage but in our stead ; as truly and really as any man ever did or can dye for another who lays down his own life to save another from death . For if Christ had not dyed , we had perished everlastingly ; and because he dyed , we are saved from eternal Death and misery . And though this be no where in Scripture spoken of by the name or term of Satisfaction , yet it is said to be the price of our Redemption ; which surely is the same thing in effect with Satisfaction . For as we are Sinners we are liable , and , as I may say , indebted to the Justice of God : And the Son of God , by his Death and Sufferings in our Nature , hath discharged this obligation and paid this debt for us : Which discharge since it was obtained for us by the shedding of Christ's blood , and the Scripture tells us that without shedding of blood there is no remission of Sins : And since God is graciously pleased to accept of it for the Debt which we owed to his Justice , and to declare himself fully pleased and contented with it , why it may not properly enough be called payment or satisfaction I confess I am not able to understand . Men may eternally wrangle about any thing , but what a frivolous contention , what a trifling in serious matters , what barretrie in Divinity is this ? Not that God was angry with his Son , when he thus laid on him the iniquities of us all : No he was always well pleased with him ; and never better , than when he became obedient to the Death , even the Death of the Cross , and bore our Sins in his own body on the Tree . Nor yet that our Saviour suffered the very same that the Sinner should have suffered , namely ▪ the proper Pains and Torment of the Damned : But that his Obedience and Sufferings were of that value and esteem with God , and his voluntary Sacrifice of himself so well-pleasing to him , that he thereupon entred into a Covenant of Grace and Mercy with Mankind , wherein he hath engaged himself to forgive the Sins of those who believe and repent , and to make them partakers of eternal life . And hence the Blood of Christ which was shed for us upon the Cross is called the Blood of the Covenant , as being the Sanction of that New Covenant , into which God is entred with Mankind : and not only the Sanction and confir mation of that Covenant , but the very Foundation of it : For which reason the Cup in the Lord's Supper is called the New Testament , or , as the word should rather be rendred , the New Covenant in his Blood , which was shed for many for the remission of Sins . I proceed now to the II d. Thing propounded , which was to shew that the Expiation of our Sins was made by the Sufferings of Christ , from the nature and intention of Expiatory Sacrifices , both among the Jews and Heathen ; to which the Death of Christ is in the New Testament so frequently compared , and in point of vertue and efficacy to take away Sin infinitely preferr'd to it . Now the nature and design of Expiatory Sacrifices was plainly this : To substitute one Living Creature to suffer and die instead of another ; so that what the Sinner deserved to have suffered was supposed to be done to the Sacrifice , that is , it was slain to make an atonement for the Sinner . And though there was no reason to hope for any such effect from the Blood of Bulls , or Goats , or of any other Living Creatures that were wont to be offered up in Sacrifice ; yet that both Jews and Heathen did expect and hope for it , is so very evident , that it cannot without extreme Ignorance or Obstinacy be deny'd . But this expectation , how unreasonable soever , plainly shews it to have been the common Apprehension of Mankind , in all Ages , that God would not be appeased , nor should Sin be pardoned without Suffering : But yet so that men generally conceived good hopes that upon the Repentance of Sinners God would accept of a vicarious punishment , that is , of the Suffering of some other in their stead . And very probably , as I said before , in compliance with this Apprehension of Mankind , and in condescention to it , as well as for other weighty Reasons best known to the Divine Wisdom , God was pleased to find out such a Sacrifice as should really and effectually procure for them that great Blessing of the Forgiveness of Sins , which they had so long hoped for from the multitude of their own Sacrifices . And the Apostle to the Hebrews doth in a large Discourse shew the great vertue and efficacy of the Sacrifice of Christ , to the purpose of Remission of Sins , above that of the Sacrifices under the Law : And that the Death of Christ is really and effectually to our advantage all that which the Sacrifices under the Law were supposed to be to the Sinner : But now once , saith the Apostle here in the Text , in the end of the World , hath he appeared to take away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself . This is the great vertue and efficacy of the Sacrifice of Christ , that what ever was expected from any other Sacrifices , either by Jews or Heathens , was really effected by this . This was plainly signified by the Jewish Passover , wherein the Lamb was slain , and the Sinner did escape and was pass'd by . In allusion whereto St. Paul makes no scruple to call Christ our Passover or Paschal Lamb , who was slain that we might escape : Christ our Passover , says he , is slain or offer'd for us ; that is , He by the gracious appointment of God was substituted to suffer all that in our stead which the Paschal Lamb was supposed to suffer for the Sinner . And this was likewise signified by the Sinners laying his hand upon the Sacrifice that was to be slain , thereby as it were transferring the punishment which was due to himself upon the Sacrifice that was to be slain and offered up . For so God tells Moses , that the Sinner , who came to offer an Expiatory Sacrifice , should do : He shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering , and it shall be accepted for him , to make an Atonement for him . And the Apostle tells us , that it was an established Principle in the Jewish Religion , that without shedding of blood there was no Remission of Sins : Which plainly shews that they expected this Benefit of the Remission of Sins , from the Blood of their Sacrifices . And then he tells us , that we are really made partakers of this Benefit by the Blood of Christ , and by the vertue of his Sacrifice : And again , Christ , says he , was once offered to bear the Sins of many ; plainly alluding to the Sacrifices under the Law , which did , as it were , bear the faults of the Sinner . And that this expression , of Christ's being offered to bear our Sins , cannot be meant of his taking away our Sins by his holy Doctrine which was confirmed by his Death , but of his bearing our Sins by way of imputation , and by his suffering for them in our stead , as the Sacrifice was supposed to do for the Sinner ; This , I say , is evident beyond all denial from the opposition which follows , after the Text , between his first Appearance and his second ; Christ , says our Apostle , was once offered to bear our Sins , but unto them that look for him he shall appear a second time without Sin unto Salvation . Why ? Did he not appear the first time without Sin ? Yes certainly , as to any inherent guilt ; for the Scripture tells us he had no Sin. What then is the meaning of the opposition , That at his first Coming he bore our Sins , but at his second Coming he shall appear without Sin unto Salvation ? These words can have no other imaginable sense but this , that at his first Coming he sustain'd the Person of a Sinner and suffered instead of us ; but his second Coming shall be upon another account , and he shall appear without Sin unto Salvation , that is , not as a Sacrifice , but as a Judge to confer the Reward of Eternal Life upon those who are partakers of the benefit of that Sacrifice which he offered to God for us in the days of his Flesh . I proceed to the III d. Thing I proposed , and which yet remains to be spoken to ; namely , to vindicate this Method and Dispensation of the Divine Wisdom from the Objections which are brought against it ; and to shew that there is nothing in it that is unreasonable , or any wise unworthy of God. I shall mention four Objections which are commonly urged in this matter , and I think they are all that are considerable . Obj. 1 st . First , That this Method , of the Expiation of Sin by the Sufferings of Christ , seems to argue some defect and want of Goodness in God , as if he needed some external Motive and were not of himself disposed to forgive Sinners . To which I think the Answer is not difficult , namely , that God did not want Goodness to have forgiven Sin freely and without any Satisfaction , but his Wisdom did not think it meet to give encouragement to Sin by too easy a forgiveness , and without some remarkable testimony of his severe displeasure against it : And therefore his greater Goodness and Compassion to Mankind devised this way to save the Sinner , without giving the least countenance and encouragement to Sin. For God to think of saving us any way , was excessive Goodness and Mercy ; but to think of doing it in this way , by substituting his dearly beloved Son to suffer in our stead , is a Condescention so very amazing , that if God had not been pleased of his own Goodness to stoop to it , it had almost been Blasphemy in Man to have thought of it , or desired it . Obj. 2 d. Secondly , How can our Sins be said to have been forgiven freely , if the Pardon of them was purchased at so dear a rate and so mighty a Price was paid for it ? In Answer to this I desire these two things may be considered . 1 st . That it is a wonderful grace and favour of God to admit of this translation of the Punishment which was due to us , and to accept of the Sufferings of another in our stead , and for our benefit ; when he might justly have exacted it of us in our own Persons : So that , even in this respect , we are , as St. Paul says , justified freely by his grace , through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ : And freely too in respect of any necessity that lay upon God to forgive us in this or any other way . It was a free act of his Goodness to save us , even by the Satisfaction and Sufferings of his own Son. 2 ly . It was in effect freely too , notwithstanding the mighty Price which was paid for our Redemption . Because this Price was not of our own procuring , but of God's providing ; He found out this Ransome for us . And will any man say , that a Prince who prevails with his Son to intercede for the Pardon of a Rebel , yea and to suffer some punishment or to pay a Fine for the obtaining of it , does not in effect and in all equitable and grateful construction forgive him freely ? Obj. 3 d. Thirdly , It is yet further objected , That this seems to be more unreasonable than the sacrificing of Beasts among the Jews , nay than the sacrificing of Men among the Heathen , and even of their own Sons and Daughters : Because this is the offering up of the Son of God , the most innocent and the most excellent Person that ever was . To which I answer , that if we consider the manner , and the design of it , the thing will appear to be quite otherwise . As to the manner of it , God did not command his Son to be sacrificed , but his Providence permitted the wickedness and violence of men to put him to death : And then his Goodness and Wisdom did over-rule this worst of Actions to the best of Ends. And if we consider the matter aright , how is this any more a reflection upon the Holy Providence of God , than any Enormities and Cuelties which by his permission are daily committed in the World ? And then if we consider the End and Design of this permission of Christ's Death , and the application of it to the purpose of a general Expiation ; we cannot but acknowledge , and even adore the gracious and mercifull Design of it . For by this means God did at once put an end to that unreasonable and bloody way of Worship , which had been so long practiced in the World : And after this one Sacrifice , which was so infinitely dear to God , the benefit of Expiation was not to be expected in any other way ; all other Sacrifices being worthless and vain in comparison of this : And it hath ever since obtained this effect , of making all other Sacrifices to cease , in all Parts of the World where Christianity hath prevailed . Obj. 4 th . Fourthly , The last Objection is , the Injustice and Cruelty of an innocent Person 's suffering instead of the Offender . To this I answer , That they who make so great a noise with this Objection do seem to me to give a full and clear Answer to it themselves , by acknowledging , as they constantly and expresly do , that our Saviour suffered all this for our benefit and advantage , though not in our place and stead . For this , to my apprehension , is plainly to give up the Cause , unless they can shew a good reason why there is not as much Injustice and Cruelty in an innocent Person 's suffering for the benefit and advantage of a Malefactor , as in his suffering in his stead : So little do Men , in the heat of dispute and opposition , who are resolved to hold fast an Opinion in despite of Reason and good sense , consider , that they do many times in effect , and by necessary consequence , grant the very thing which in express terms they do so stifly and pertinaciously deny . The truth of the matter is this ; there is nothing of Injustice or Cruelty in either Case ; neither in an Innocent Person 's suffering for the benefit of an Offender , nor in his stead ; supposing the Suffering to be voluntary : But they have equally the same appearance of Injustice and Cruelty : Nor can I possibly discern any reason why Injustice and Cruelty should be objected in the one Case more than in the other , there being every whit as little reason why an Innocent Person should suffer for the benefit of a Criminal , as why he should suffer in his stead . So that I hope this Objection , which above all the rest hath been so loudly and so invidiously urged , hath received a just Answer . And I believe , if the matter were searched to the bottom , all this perverse contention , about our Saviour's suffering for our benefit but not in our stead , will signify just nothing . For if Christ dyed for our benefit so as some way or other , by vertue of his Death and Sufferings , to save us from the wrath of God and to procure our escape from eternal Death , this , for ought I know , is all that any body means by his dying in our stead . For he that dies with an intention to do that benefit to another as to save him from Death , doth certainly to all intents and purposes dye in his placea nd stead . And if they will grant this to be their meaning , the Controversie is at an end ; and both sides are agreed in they will give up that which by their own confession is an undoubted Article of the Christian Faith and not controverted on either Side ; except only by the Socinians , who yet are hearty Enemies to Transubstantiation , and have exposed the absurdity of it with great advantage . But I shall endeavour to return a more particular Answer to this Objection ; and such a one as I hope will satisfy every considerate and unprejudiced mind , that after all this confidence and swaggering of theirs there is by no means equal reason either for the receiving or for the rejecting of these two Doctrines of the Trinity and Transubstantiation . First , There is not equal reason for the belief of these Two Doctrines . This Objection , if it be of any force , must suppose that there is equal evidence and proof from Scripture for these two Doctrines : But this we utterly deny , and with great reason ; because it is no more evident from the words of Scripture that the Sacramental Bread is substantially changed into Christ's natural Body by virtue of those words , This is my Body , than it is that Christ is substantially changed into a natural Vine by virtue of those words , I am the true Vine ; or than that the Rock in the Wilderness , of which the Israelites drank , was substantially changed into the Person of Christ , because it is expresly said , That Rock was Christ ; or than that the Christian Church is substantially changed into the natural Body of Christ , because it is in express terms said of the Church , That it is his Body . But besides this , several of their own most learned Writers have freely acknowledged , that Transubstantiation can neither be directly proved , nor necessarily concluded from Scripture : But this the Writers of the Christian Church did never acknowledge concerning the Trinity , and the Divinity of Christ ; but have always appealed to the clear and undeniable Testimonies of Scripture for the Proof of these Doctrines . And then the whole force of the Objection amounts to this , that if I am bound to believe what I am sure God says , tho I cannot comprehend it ; then I am bound by the same reason to believe the greatest Absurdity in the World , though I have no manner of assurance of any Divine Revelation concerning it . And if this be their meaning , though we understand not Transubstantiation , yet we very well understand what they would have , but cannot grant it ; because there is not equal reason to believe two things , for one of which there is good proof , and for the other no proof at all . Secondly , neither is there equal reason for the rejecting of these two Doctrines . This the Objection supposes , which yet cannot be supposed but upon one or both of these two grounds : Either because these two Doctrines are equally incomprehensible , or because they are equally loaded with Absurdities and Contradictions . The First is no good ground of rejecting any Doctrine , merely because it is incomprehensible ; as I have abundantly shew'd already . But besides this , there is a wide difference between plain matters of Sense , and Mysteries concerning God ; and it does by no means follow that , if a man do once admit any thing concerning God which he cannot comprehend , he hath no reason afterwards to believe what he himself sees . This is a most unreasonable and destructive way of arguing , because it strikes at the foundation of all Certainty , and sets every man at liberty to deny the most plain and evident Truths of Christianity , if he may not be humor'd in having the absurdest things in the World admitted for true . The next step will be to persuade us that we may as well deny the Being of God because his Nature is incomprehensible by our Reason , as deny Transubstantiation because it evidently contradicts our Senses . 2 dly . Nor are these two Doctrines loaded with the like Absurdities and Contradictions : So far from this , that the Doctrine of the Trinity , as it is delivered in the Scriptures , and hath already been explained , hath no Absurdity or Contradiction either involved in it , or necessarily consequent upon it : But the Doctrine of Transubstantiation is big with all imaginable Absurdity and Contradiction . And their own Schoolmen have sufficiently exposed it ; especially Scotus , and he designed to do so , as any man that attentively reads him may plainly discover : For in his Disputation about it he treats this Doctrine with the greatest contempt , as a new Invention of the Council of Lateran under Pope Innocent III. To the Decree of which Council concerning it he seems to pay a formal submission , but really derides it as contrary to the common Sense and Reason of Mankind , and not at all supported by Scripture ; as any one may easily discern that will carefully consider his manner of handling it and the result of his whole Disputation about it . And now Suppose there were some appearance of Absurdity and Contradiction in the Doctrine of the Trinity as it is delivered in Scripture , must we therefore believe a Doctrine which is not at all revealed in Scripture , and which hath certainly in it all the absurdities in the World , and all the Contradictions to Sense and Reason ; and which once admitted , doth at once destroy all Certainty , Yes , say they , why not ? since we of the Church of Rome are satisfied that this Doctrine is revealed in Scripture ; or , if it be not , is defined by the Church , which is every whit as good . But is this equal , to demand of us the belief of a thing which hath always been controverted , not only between us and them , but even among themselves , at least till the Council of Trent ? And this upon such unreasonable terms , that we must either yield this Point to them or else renounce a Doctrine agreed on both Sides to be revealed in Scripture . To shew the unreasonableness of this proceeding , Let us suppose a Priest of the Church of Rome pressing a Jew or Turk to the belief of Transubstantiation , and because one kindness deserves another , the Jew or Turk should demand of him the belief of all the Fables in the Talmud , or in the Alchoran ; since none of these , nor indeed all of them together , are near so absurd as Transubstantiation : Would not this be much more reasonable and equal than what they demand of us ? Since no Absurdity , how monstrous and big soever , can be thought of , which may not enter into an Understanding in which a Breach hath been already made wide enough to admit Transubstantiation . The Priests of Baal did not half so much deserve to be exposed by the Prophet for their Superstition and folly , as the Priests of the Church of Rome do for this sensless and stupid Doctrine of theirs with a hard Name . I shall only add this one thing more , That if this Doctrine were possible to be true , and clearly prov'd to be so ; yet it would be evidently useless and to no purpose . For it pretends to change the substance of one thing into the substance of another thing that is already and before this change is pretended to be made . But to what purpose ? Not to make the Body of Christ , for that was already in Being ; and the Substance of the Bread is lost , nothing of it remaineth but the Accidents which are good for nothing , and indeed are nothing when the Substance is destroy'd and gone . All that now remains is to make some practical Inferences from this Doctrine of the Unity of the Divine Nature . And they shall be the same which God himself makes by Moses , which Text also is cited by our Saviour , Hear , O Israel , the Lord thy God is one Lord ; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart , and with all thy soul , and with all thy mind , and with all thy strength : And thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self . So that according to our Saviour the whole Duty of Man , the love of God and of our neighbour is founded in the Unity of the Divine Nature . I. The love of God ; The Lord thy God is One Lord , therefore thou shalt love Him with all thy heart , &c. this is the first and great Commandment : And it comprehends in it all the Duties of the first Table as naturally flowing from it . As that we should serve him only , and pay no Religious Worship to any but to Him. For to pay Religious Worship to any thing is to make it a God and to acknowledge it for such : And therefore God being but One we can give Religious Worship to none but to Him only . And among all the parts of Religious Worship none is more peculiarly appropriated to the Deity than solemn Invocation and Prayer . For he to whom men address their Requests , at all times , and in all places , must be supposed to be always every where present , to understand all our desires and wants , and to be able to supply them ; and this God only is , and can do . So likewise from the Unity of the Divine Nature may be inferr'd , that we should not worship God by any sensible Image or Representation : Because God being a singular Being there is nothing like Him , or that can without injuring and debasing his most spiritual and perfect and immense Being be compared to Him : As He himself speaks in the Prophet , To whom will ye liken me , saith the Lord , and make me equal ? And therefore with no Distinction whatsoever can it be lawful to give Religious Worship , or any part of it , to any but God : We can pray to none but to Him , because He only is every where present , and only knows the Hearts of all the children of men ; which Solomon gives as the reason why we should address our Supplications to God only , who dwelleth in the Heavens . So that the Reason of these two Precepts is founded in the Unity and Singularity of the Divine Nature , and unless there be more Gods than One , we must worship Him only , and pray to none but Him : Because we can give Invocation to none but to Him only whom we believe to be God ; as St. Paul reasons , How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed ? II. The love likewise of our Neighbour is founded in the Unity of the Divine Nature , and may be inferr'd from it : Hear , O Israel , the Lord thy God is One Lord , therefore thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self . And the Apostle gives this reason why Christians should be at unity among themselves ; There is One God and Father of all , and therefore we should keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace , that is , live in mutual love and peace . The Prophet likewise assigns this reason why all Mankind should be upon good terms with one another , and not be injurious one to another , Have we not all One Father ? hath not One God created us ? Why do we then deal treacherously every man against his brother . And therefore when we see such hatred and enmity among Men , such divisions and animosities among Christians , we may not only ask St. Paul's question , Is Christ divided ? that we cannot agree about serving him ; either all to serve him in one way , or to bear with one another in our differences : I say we may not only ask St. Paul's question , Is Christ divided ? but may ask further , Is God divided ? Is there not One God , and are we not all his Offspring ? Are we not all the Sons of Adam , who was the Son of God ? So that if we trace our selves to our Original , we shall find a great nearness and equality among men : And this equality that we are all God's creatures and Image , and that the One only God is the Father of us all , is a more real ground of mutual love , and peace , and equity in our dealings one with another , than any of those petty differences and distinctions of strong and weak , of rich and poor , of wise and foolish , of base and honourable , can be to encourage men to any thing of insolence , injustice , and inequality of dealing one towards another . Because that wherein we all agree , that we are the Creatures and Children of God and have all One common Father , is essential and constant ; but those things wherein we differ are accidental and mutable , and happen to one another by turns . Thus much may suffice to have spoken concerning the first Proposition in the Text , There is one God : To Him , Father , Son , and H. Ghost be all Honour and Glory , Dominion and Power , now and for ever . Amen . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A94360-e50 John 3. 16. Heb. 4. 15. Joh. 8. 29. 1 Pet. 2. 22. Heb. 7. 26 , 27. Heb. 9. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 18 , 19. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Eph. 5. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 18. Joh. 15. 12. V. 13. Rom. 6. 6 , 7 , 8. 1 Cor. 5. 7. Lev. 1. 4. Heb. 9. 28. v. 28. Joh. 15. 1. Eph. 1. 23. Deut. 6. 4. Mark. 12. 29. 30 , 31. Isa . 46. 5. 1 Kings 8. 39. Rom. 10. 14. Eph. 4. 6. Mal. 2. 10.