A39663:1715
The Fountain of Life Opened
The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carried on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...
London: printed for Rob. White, 1673
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Fourthly, The love of God was not so withdrawn from Christ, as that the Father had now no love for him, nor delight in him. That's impossible, he can no more cease to love Christ, than to love himself. His love was not turned into wrath. Though his wrath only was now manifested to him as our surety; and his love hid from him, as his beloved Son.
Fifthly, Nor was Christ forsaken by his Father finally, upon what account soever it was that he was forsaken. No, it was but for a few hours that the dark cloud dwelt over his soul. It soon past away. And the bright and glorious face of God shone forth again, as bright as ever, Psal. 22.1.24. compared.
Sixthly, And lastly, It was not a mutual desertion, or a desertion on both parts; the Father forsook him, but he forsook not his Father. When God withdrew, he followed him, crying my God, my God.
Yet to speak positively of it; though it did not dissolve the personal union, nor cutting off divine supports, nor remove his inherent grace, nor turn his Fathers love into hatred, nor continue for ever, nor yet was it on both parts, Christs forsaking God, as well as God forsaking Christ; yet I say it was First, A very sad desertion, the like unto which in all respects never was experienced by any, nor can be to the end of the world. All his other troubles were but small things to this; they bare upon his body, these upon his soul. They came from the hands of vile men, this from the hand of a dear Father. He suffered both in body and soul; but the sufferings of his soul, were the very soul of his sufferings. Under all his other sufferings he opened not his mouth, but this touched the quick, that he could not but cry out, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me. Secondly, As it was a sad, so it was a penal desertion, inflicted on him for satisfaction for those sins of ours, which deserved that God should forsake us for ever, as the damned are forsaken by him. So that this cry (as one observes) was like the perpetual shriek of them that are cast away for ever. This was that Hell, and the torments of it which Christ our surety suffered for us. For look as there lies a twofold misery upon the damned in Hell, viz. pain of sense, and pain of loss. So upon Christ answerably there was not only an impression of wrath, but also a Subtraction, or withdrawment of all sensible favour, and love. Hence it's said by himself,