§. 21 2. Their Relation to the Mediator, the Lord Christ. Here I shall mention only a double relation between Christ and Saints, that engageth them to mourn for the Sins of others. The first is his Relation to us as a suffering Surety, in respect whereof he sustained and paid the debt of Penalty which we owed to Gods Justice; for 'twas Sin in man that made Christ a man of Sorrows: Saints have but one Friend, and He but one Enemy; how then is it possible that that Enemy when seen should not be the Object of Sorrow? Sin drew not from our dear Lord Jesus's eyes only tears of Water, but from his sacred face great drops of Blood: 'Twas Sin that pierced not his feet, hands, and side only, but his Soul. Who can look upon the bloody Knife that stabbed Christ, without some Sorrow? 2. There's a second Relation between Christ and Saints, that should make them mourn for the Sins of the Wicked; and that is the Relation of Teacher and Instructor. We are his Disciples and Scholars, and 'tis our. Duty as much to make him our Example, as to expect he should obtain our Pardon. Christ never had a Pollution, but oft a Commotion of Affection: Christ never wept but for Sin, or its effects. How full of Zeal was he for his Father, when he saw his Glory blemished,1 his House defiled! did it not after a sort eat him up, and consume him? The Reproaches of them that reproached God fell upon Christ. Rom. 15.3. 'Tis observable, though Christ in his own cause gave Pilate no answer, but stood silent; yet when he heard Pilate arrogate to himself the Power of Life and Death over Christ, he could not forbear to show Pilate his Sin, by telling him of an higher Power than his, from whence his was derived. How full of grief was Christ,2 seeing the hardness of the Jews hearts to their own destruction! In his approach to Jerusalem, filled with Enemies to God and him, he wept over it for their Blindness, and Impieties, and approaching Destruction: He bewailed the Sins of those that rejoiced in them; and shed his tears for those that thirsted to shed his blood. Either resemble Christ or lay off the name of Christian.
§. 21 2. Their Relation to the Mediator, the Lord Christ. Here I shall mention only a double relation between Christ and Saints, that engageth them to mourn for the Sins of others. The first is his Relation to us as a suffering Surety, in respect whereof he sustain'd and pay'd the debt of Penalty which we owed to Gods Justice; for 'twas Sin in man that made Christ a man of Sorrows: Saints have but one Friend, and He but one Enemy; how then is it possible that that Enemy when seen should not be the Object of Sorrow? Sin drew not from our dear Lord Jesus's eyes only tears of Water, but from his sacred face great drops of Blood: 'Twas Sin that pierced not his feet, hands, and side only, but his Soul. Who can look upon the bloody Knife that stabb'd Christ, without some Sorrow? 2. There's a second Relation between Christ and Saints, that should make them mourn for the Sins of the Wicked; and that is the Relation of Teacher and Instructer. We are his Disciples and Scholars, and 'tis our. Duty as much to make him our Example, as to expect he should obtain our Pardon. Christ never had a Pollution, but oft a Commotion of Affection: Christ never wept but for Sin, or its effects. How full of Zeal was he for his Father, when he saw his Glory blemished,1 his House defiled! did it not after a sort eat him up, and consume him? The Reproaches of them that reproached God fell upon Christ. Rom. 15.3. 'Tis observable, thô Christ in his own cause gave Pilate no answer, but stood silent; yet when he heard Pilate arrogate to himself the Power of Life and Death over Christ, he could not forbear to shew Pilate his Sin, by telling him of an higher Power than his, from whence his was derived. How full of grief was Christ,2 seeing the hardness of the Jews hearts to their own destruction! In his approach to Jerusalem, filled with Enemies to God and him, he wept over it for their Blindness, and Impieties, and approaching Destruction: He bewail'd the Sins of those that rejoyced in them; and shed his tears for those that thirsted to shed his blood. Either resemble Christ or lay off the name of Christian.
- 1Joh. 2.17. Joh. 19.9, 10, 11. Mar. 3.5.
- 2Luk. 19.41.
