The Fountain of Life Opened

Inference 2.

¹From this Oblation Christ made of himself to God for our sins, we infer the inflexible severity of divine Justice, which could be no other way diverted from us, and appeased but by the blood of Christ. If Christ had not presented himself to God for us, Justice would not have spared us. And if he do appear before God as our surety, it will not spare him, Rom. 8.32. He spared not his Son, but delivered him up to death for us all. If forbearance might have been expected from any, surely it might from God, who is very pitiful and full of tender mercy. Jam. 5.11. yet God in this case spared not. If one might have expected sparing mercy and abatement from any, surely Christ might most of all expect it from his own Father; yet you hear God spared not his own Son. Sparing-mercy is the lowest degree of mercy; yet it was denied to Christ. He abated him not a minute of the time appointed for his suffering, nor one degree of wrath he was to bear. Nay, though in the Garden Christ fell upon the ground, and sweet clodders of blood; and in that unparalleled Agony screwed up his spirit to the highest intention, in that pitiful cry, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass: and though he brake out upon the Cross, in that heart rending complaint, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Yet no abatement. Justice will not bend in the least; but having ⟨p. 149⟩to do with him on this account, resolves to fetch its pennyworths out of his blood. If this be so, what is the case of thy soul Reader, if thou be a man or woman, that hast no interest in this Sacrifice? For, if these things be done (in Christ) a green tree, what will be done (to thee) the dry tree?² Luk. 23.31. That is, if God so deal with me, that am not only innocent, but like a green and fruitful tree, full of all delectable fruits of holiness; yet if the fire of his indignation thus seize upon me; what will be your condition, that are both barren, and guilty; void of all good fruit, and full of all unrighteousness, and so like dry sear wood, are fitted as fuel to the fire? Consider with thy self man, how canst thou imagine thou canst support that infinite wrath that Christ grappled with in the room of Gods Elect? He had the strength of a Deity to support him,