A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

II. Give the Grounds why Christ gave himself by such a willing Resignation to be our Propitiatory Sacrifice, to be a Ransom to God.

I. For the Expressions of his Willingness. And there I shall begin with his Eternal Longings to be with the Sons of Men, before ever there was Hill or Mountain ⟨p. 156⟩in the World: Prov. 8.31. Rejoicing in the habitable Parts of the Earth; and my Delights were with the Sons of Men. Mark, long before ever the World was, Jesus Christ was feasting himself with the thoughts of his own Grace, and what he would do for Men. He desired the making the World, and fixing the Bounds of our Habitation that he might be with us; there was his End. Angels were the Workmanship of his Hands as well as Men; nay, in their Frame and Constitution, they were more noble Creatures than Man; yet Christ doth not say, My Delight was to be with Angels, but with the Sons of Men. I was thinking of the Day I should come into the World, and die for Men, and purchase exceeding Grace for them. The next Expression is Psal. 40.7, 8. when God's Decree came to be expressed and made known to the Church; see what Christ saith, Lo, I come; In the Volume of the Book it is written of me. I delight to do thy Will, O my God: yea, thy Law is within my Heart. For the understanding of this place, you must know, the Divine Justice is there introduced as proposing its Demands; God in his Justice, as it were, speaking thus to Christ, Son, I am weary of Sacrifice and Burnt-Offerings: Hitherto I have showed my self gracious to the World, whilst Burnt-Offerings stood; now I resolve to show my self Just, as the Apostle explains this, Rom. 3.26. To declare, I say, at this time his Righteousness, that he might be just. As long as God accepted of Burnt-Offerings, he was a God of Patience and Forbearance, and not willing to execute his Wrath upon Creatures, Burnt-Offerings served the turn: But, saith God, the World shall know, though I pardon, yet I will be just; therefore now you must take a Body, Man's Blood is tainted, and you must be formed in fashion like one of them, and stand in the Sinner's stead; I shall expect from you Satisfaction for every Elect Person; you must give your Cheeks to the Nippers, and your Back to the Smiters; you must be tempted by the Devil, hunted and baited by Men, to be responsible to my just Wrath. The Decree is past, a Body is prepared, you must take it, and go down to the Sons of Men: you are the Sinner in the Law, if you take this Body. These were the Demands of God to Christ.