A47542:1040
A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the mediator to believers, and his direful wrath against impenitent sinners containing the substance of near forty sermons upon several subjects / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by the author, 1694
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.
8. Christ was once offered to bear the Sins of many. Now to bear 1Sin, usually in Scripture-Phrase, is to bear the Punishment of Sin, Levit. 5. 1. & 7. 8. Numb. 14. 33. He hath born our Griefs, and carried our Sorrows. For the Transgression of my People was be stricken. Which clearly shows the Ground and Cause of his Suffering, and 2not the Issue and the Event.
8. Christ was once offered to bear the Sins of many. Now to bear 1Sin, usually in Scripture-Phrase, is to bear the Punishment of Sin, Levit. 5. 1. & 7. 8. Numb. 14. 33. He hath born our Griefs, and carried our Sorrows. For the Transgression of my People was be stricken. Which clearly shews the Ground and Cause of his Suffering, and 2not the Issue and the Event.
9. If all the other pretended Grounds and Causes are frivolous and vain, that Men bring of Christ's dying for us, suffering for us, besides this of dying in our stead or room; then that is the proper and only meaning thereof: but all other pretended Grounds are vain and frivolous. How idle is it for any to say, He died only to remove or take away the rigid Law of Works, and to merit a milder Law of Grace? Which seems to imply, as if God repented he ever gave the Law of perfect Obedience: Or as if God could allow of Sin; or else, as if the Law of perfect Obedience did not result from his Holy Nature, but that he might have given a Law at first, like their new Law of Grace: Or according to others, that he died to fulfil and take away the Ceremonial Law, and to be a Pattern of Abasement, Humility, and Self-denial. Now had that been, could not God have substituted Peter to have been such a Pattern as well as his own Son, and set him up as an Example; or else some other most choice and renowned Saint or Prophet; or have caused and Angel to be incarnate to have done it, that we might have followed his Steps? And how vain is that which some of the Arminians assert, viz. That he died to satisfy for Original Sin, or for the Breach of the first Covenant, and to purchase Salvation upon the Condition of Repentance, Faith and Obedience, or to merit God's Acceptance of the Creature's Faith, Love, Holiness, and sincere Obedience, instead of perfect Obedience to the Law of Works, so that God is become reconcilable through Christ's Death? But that he may be actually reconciled, lies wholly upon the Creature as his part; and thus he died for the Good of all Men, but not in the place or stead of any one. Now by this Notion, Salvation is principally wrought out by the Creature, God having put Man into a Condition or Capacity to work it out for himself: And according to this Notion Man may or may not be saved, God having left the whole of Salvation, in order to the making Christ's Death to become effectual, to the Will of Man. So that Man's Will, as I before intimated, determines the Case, whether Christ's Death shall effect any Eternal Blessing unto Sinners in general, or to any one Sinner in particular, or not. ⟨p. 241⟩God (as one of them once preached) puts Man into a Capacity to work and to do, but works not in any the Will or the Deed of his own good Pleasure.
Now how false and frivolous all these pretended Grounds or Designs of Christ's Death are, I have already showed.
Now how false and frivolous all these pretended Grounds or Designs of Christ's Death are, I have already shewed.
Arg. 1. And from the first Argument taken from the Death of Christ, I argue thus; All those that Jesus Christ died in the room or stead of shall never die or eternally perish. But Christ died in the room or stead of all his Elect, or all such who believe and are his Sheep; therefore not one of them shall die, or eternally perish.
Arg. 2. If Christ died for all the Sins of his Elect, both before Grace, or before they are called; and for those committed after Grace, or after they are called, so that they might not be condemned for any of them; then none of them can eternally perish. But this I have proved; therefore none of them shall ever eternally perish.
Secondly, The Death of Christ doth deliver every true Believer 1from Eternal Wrath and Condemnation, I prove thus; Because the Sufferings of Christ, or the Sacrifice of Christ, is imputed to them, or is accounted to them that do believe: This follows from what I said last, He took our Sins upon himself, and satisfied for them, as if he had actually sinned, and freely of his own Grace gives us the Benefit of his Suffering, as if we had actually suffered; our Sin was imputed to him, that his Righteousness and Obedience might be imputed to us, even both that which is called his Active and Passive Obedience. Sin was imputed to Christ, yea, every Sin we have, or ever shall commit; so that in Christ we have born already all that Vindictive Wrath and Vengeance of God that was due to them, according to his Holy Law and Threatening denounced against us. Christ and his Elect are as one Person, or as one entire Corporation; and what he did, was as if every one that he represents had done it. The Sufferings of our Saviour was in lieu of the Life of the Sinner; the Just for the Unjust. By his 2Stripes we were healed: And that by God's charging our Sin judicially upon him, he as our Surety standing in our room. He was (as the Apostle says) made Sin for us that knew no Sin, that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him.
Secondly, The Death of Christ doth deliver every true Believer 1from Eternal Wrath and Condemnation, I prove thus; Because the Sufferings of Christ, or the Sacrifice of Christ, is imputed to them, or is accounted to them that do believe: This follows from what I said last, He took our Sins upon himself, and satisfied for them, as if he had actually sinned, and freely of his own Grace gives us the Benefit of his Suffering, as if we had actually suffered; our Sin was imputed to him, that his Righteousness and Obedience might be imputed to us, even both that which is called his Active and Passive Obedience. Sin was imputed to Christ, yea, every Sin we have, or ever shall commit; so that in Christ we have born already all that Vindictive Wrath and Vengeance of God that was due to them, according to his Holy Law and Threatning denounced against us. Christ and his Elect are as one Person, or as one entire Corporation; and what he did, was as if every one that he represents had done it. The Sufferings of our Saviour was in lieu of the Life of the Sinner; the Just for the Vnjust. By his
Arg. 3. If Christ hath born all that Vindictive Wrath that was due to his Elect for their Sins, then not one of them can eternally perish. But Christ hath born all that Vindictive Wrath that was due to his Elect for their Sins; therefore not one of them can eternally perish.
The Justice of God hath nothing to lay to the Charge of God's Elect, because it is Christ that died; he whose Death hath an infinite Worth and Satisfaction in it: this is the Apostle's very Argument; If God's Justice is satisfied, and his Wrath appeased in Christ's Death; if our blessed Jonah's being thrown into the Sea of Divine Wrath, hath made so sweet a Calm, that God declares in him, i. e. in his Son, he is well-pleased, and that Fury is not in him now no more for ever towards Believers; who can or shall 1then condemn them? Jesus Christ hath turned away God's Anger, by impairing of his Right and Sovereignty, without derogation from his Perfections: So that now he can and doth receive us who believe, into his Eternal Love and Favour, through the Death of his own Son; it being the Judgment of God, that they who sin are 2worthy of Death. But that Death which Sin incurred, and the Sinner deserved, Christ hath endured for his Elect, and delivered them for ever from the Pain and Punishment thereof, and stand acquitted of and justified from for ever.
The Justice of God hath nothing to lay to the Charge of God's Elect, because it is Christ that died; he whose Death hath an infinite Worth and Satisfaction in it: this is the Apostle's very Argument; If God's Justice is satisfied, and his Wrath appeased in Christ's Death; if our blessed Jonah's being thrown into the Sea of Divine Wrath, hath made so sweet a Calm, that God declares in him, i. e. in his Son, he is well-pleased, and that Fury is not in him now no more for ever towards Believers; who can or shall 1then condemn them? Jesus Christ hath turned away God's Anger, by impairing of his Right and Soveraignty, without derogation from his Perfections: So that now he can and doth receive us who believe, into his Eternal Love and Favour, through the Death of his own Son; it being the Judgment of God, that they who sin are 2worthy of Death. But that Death which Sin incurred, and the Sinner deserved, Christ hath endured for his Elect, and delivered them for ever from the Pain and Punishment thereof, and stand acquitted of and justified from for ever.
Thirdly, It is because Jesus Christ who was the Antitype of the 1Scape-Goat, hath carried away all our Sins who do believe: The killed Goat made the Atonement for the Sins of all God's Israel; and because one Goat could not prefigure the whole of Christ's Undertaking, therefore there were two Goats appointed: And Aaron shall lay both his Hands upon the Head of the live Goat, and confess over him all the Iniquities of the Children of Israel, and all their Transgressions in all their Sins, putting them upon the Head of the Goat, and shall send him away by the Hand of a fit Person into the Wilderness. And the Goat shall bear upon him all their Iniquities unto a Land not inhabited, &c.
Thirdly, It is because Jesus Christ who was the Antitype of the 1Scape-Goat, hath carried away all our Sins who do believe: The kill'd Goat made the Atonement for the Sins of all God's Israel; and because one Goat could not prefigure the whole of Christ's Undertaking, therefore there were two Goats appointed: And Aaron shall lay both his Hands upon the Head of the live Goat, and confess over him all the Iniquities of the Children of Israel, and all their Transgressions in all their Sins, putting them upon the Head of the Goat, and shall send him away by the Hand of a fit Person into the Wilderness. And the Goat shall bear upon him all their Iniquities unto a Land not inhabited, &c.
Brethren, pray observe, here is mention four times of all the Sins of the Children of Israel, all their Iniquities, all their Transgressions, all their Sins. And again, the Goat shall bear upon him all their Iniquities. The Goat was a Type of Christ, to show that not one Sin of a Child of God shall ever be laid upon him, charged upon him, because Christ had them all laid upon him: and he hath carried them all away, all their Sins, great Sins as well as smaller Sins; Sins before Grace and after Grace were all laid ⟨p. 243⟩upon Jesus Christ; yea, Sins of all sorts, Sins of Commission and Sins of Omission; no Sin could be expiated without the Death and Blood of Christ: Also a full and free Confession was to be made upon the Head of the Scape-Goat of all Sins. Brethren, as the smallest Sins needed such a Sacrifice, such an Atonement, namely, the Death of Christ, so the greatest Sins were not excluded from that Atonement and blessed Benefit of his Death.
Brethren, pray observe, here is mention four times of all the Sins of the Children of Israel, all their Iniquities, all their Transgressions, all their Sins. And again, the Goat shall bear upon him all their Iniquities. The Goat was a Type of Christ, to shew that not one Sin of a Child of God shall ever be laid upon him, charged upon him, because Christ had them all laid upon him: and he hath carried them all away, all their Sins, great Sins as well as smaller Sins; Sins before Grace and after Grace were all laid ⟨p. 243⟩upon Jesus Christ; yea, Sins of all sorts, Sins of Commission and Sins of Omission; no Sin could be expiated without the Death and Blood of Christ: Also a full and free Confession was to be made upon the Head of the Scape-Goat of all Sins. Brethren, as the smallest Sins needed such a Sacrifice, such an Atonement, namely, the Death of Christ, so the greatest Sins were not excluded from that Atonement and blessed Benefit of his Death.
Moreover, the Scape-Goat carried all their Sins away into the Wilderness, or into an unknown Land, or into a Land of Forgetfulness, never to be remembered any more; this hath our Lord Jesus done: Christ hath put away Sin, and put it away for ever, and that by the Sacrifice of himself once for all: He hath laid on him the 1Iniquities of us all; and also all our Iniquities. He could not be supposed to have suffered for our Sins, if our Sins, respecting the Guilt of them, were not laid upon him, or charged upon him, and imputed to him: his Sufferings otherwise would have been Arbitrary and Unjust, had he not been substituted by the Father, and called forth as our Surety, (nor could his Death been accepted) the Law no where condemning or punishing any one who in a Law sense is an innocent Person.
Moreover, the Scape-Goat carried all their Sins away into the Wilderness, or into an unknown Land, or into a Land of Forgetfulness, never to be remembred any more; this hath our Lord Jesus done: Christ hath put away Sin, and put it away for ever, and that by the Sacrifice of himself once for all: He hath laid on him the 1Iniquities of us all; and also all our Iniquities. He could not be supposed to have suffered for our Sins, if our Sins, respecting the Guilt of them, were not laid upon him, or charged upon him, and imputed to him: his Sufferings otherwise would have been Arbitrary and Unjust, had he not been substituted by the Father, and called forth as our Surety, (nor could his Death been accepted) the Law no where condemning or punishing any one who in a Lawsense is an innocent Person.
He was made Sin, without knowing Sin: He knew the Guilt by Imputation, but he knew not Sin any otherwise, neither Original nor Actual; He was born without Sin, and lived without Sin, in his Mouth was found no Guile: yet he had our Sins upon him, and carried them away; he being the Antitype of the slain Goat, satisfied for all our Sins; and as he is the Antitype of the live Goat, he hath born them away for ever.
Arg. 4. If any one Sin of the Children of God shall ever be charged upon them as to that Vindictive Wrath that is due to Sin, so that they may come under Eternal Condemnation of it; then hath not Christ born all their Sins, nor carried them away into the Land of Forgetfulness. But Christ hath born all their Sins, and carried away all their Iniquities, as he is the Antitype of the slain and living Goat; therefore their Sins shall never be charged upon them, as to the Vindictive Wrath that is due to them; so that they can never come under Eternal Condemnation.1
Fourthly, None of Christ's Sheep, or no Believer, can fall so as eternally to perish, upon the Consideration of the Death of Christ.
1. Because Christ hath by his Death delivered them from the Curse of the Law, as well as from the Guilt of Sin; the Law is the Strength of Sin, it is by that Sin condemneth the Sinner: The Law lays every Man under the Wrath and Curse of God; and unless it be answered, God might be said to change his Will should he justify any Man; nay, it would seem to reflect upon his Holiness: the Precepts must perfectly be kept by Man, or his Surety; the Breach we had made of it by Sin must be satisfied, for, both these Jesus Christ hath done, not for himself; he needed not to have come to keep the Law to justify himself, for as God he is infinite Holy; but as Mediator he did this for us, he obtained a perfect Robe or Righteousness to give away and put on us; He hath brought in everlasting Righteousness, and made an end of Sin. How made an 1end of Sin? Not that there shall be no Sin any more in the World; No, but he has made an end of the condemning Power of it; the strength it had to kill and damn the Soul is took away for ever from all that believe, from all that he hath put his Righteousness upon. God's justice being satisfied, we are furnished with an exact and complete Righteousness, that shall last for ever; 'tis an Everlasting Righteousness that every Believer hath in Christ. Who therefore shall condemn? Christ hath delivered us from the Curse of the 2Law, being made a Curse for us. Sin is our Sickness, Sin is that by which we stand charged, and the Law condemns us, pronounces a Curse against us; but Christ hath cured us of this Sickness, and delivered us from this Curse: As it is written, Cursed is every one 3that continueth not in all things that are written in the Book of the Law, to do them. Till we believed, we lay under that fearful Curse; but from this we are discharged, and Christ hath undergone that great Curse for us, and there is no other Curse can come on Believers; all separation from God and Wrath is by the Curse of Law: but this is ended and gone for ever to every one that believeth. Nothing therefore now can separate them from God, the Curse is taken away, and the Blessing is put on us.
1. Because Christ hath by his Death delivered them from the Curse of the Law, as well as from the Guilt of Sin; the Law is the Strength of Sin, it is by that Sin condemneth the Sinner: The Law lays every Man under the Wrath and Curse of God; and unless it be answered, God might be said to change his Will should he justify any Man; nay, it would seem to reflect upon his Holiness: the Precepts must perfectly be kept by Man, or his Surety; the Breach we had made of it by Sin must be satisfied, for, both these Jesus Christ hath done, not for himself; he needed not to have come to keep the Law to justify himself, for as God he is infinite Holy; but as Mediator he did this for us, he obtained a perfect Robe or Righteousness to give away and put on us; He hath brought in everlasting Righteousness, and made an end of Sin. How made an
2. From hence it appears that the Veracity of God is engaged to acquit all them that believe in Christ, as his Justice is obliged to leave Sinners under the Curse of the Law that believe not, because nothing but a perfect Righteousness can deliver from the Curse thereof.
2. From hence it appears that the Veracity of God is ingaged to acquit all them that believe in Christ, as his Justice is obliged to leave Sinners under the Curse of the Law that believe not, because nothing but a perfect Righteousness can deliver from the Curse thereof.
