Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification,…

They wondered that he was dead so soon, it was because himself laid down his life. His soul then was not dragged or forced out of his body. It was not only passive, but active obedience. No man taketh it from me; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up. This had I from my Father. They are grossly deceived then, that say Christs active obedience was not free and voluntary, because he was commanded: for as well may they say, his passive is not voluntary, and so not meritorious, because it likewise was commanded, which none can deny. Thus Christs offering was a free-will offering, though it was a most bitter one; ⟨p. 374⟩yet this being a part of his Fathers Will, he went as voluntarily to the pains of the Cross, as thou dost to thy dinner when thou art throughly hungry. For his meat and his drink was to do his Fathers Will, Jo. 4.34. And this makes it of such worth and efficacy, that he did it willingly: See it in the type that went before him, in Isaac; Isaac was grown up, he was no Babe, he was able to carry wood enough to burn himself when he went to be sacrificed, and therefore sure he had strength; if Isaac had pleased, he might have ran away from the old man his Father; yet he suffers himself to be bound, and to be laid upon the wood; a true type of our Saviour, his also was a free-will offering, and so a sweet smelling sacrifice unto God. It being the highest active obedience, it presently pacifieth the wrath of his Father. He humbled himself, and became obedient. This obedience of our Saviour is the matter and ground of our Justification. Rom. 5.18. As by the offence of one, Judgement came on all unto condemnation; so by the righteousness of one, the free-gift came on all to Justification of life. ¹By the obedience of this blessed Saviour many are made righteous; so that now our Saviours obedience followeth next.

They wondred that he was dead so soon, it was because himself laid down his life. His soul then was not drag'd or forced out of his body. It was not only passive, but active obedience. No man taketh it from me; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up. This had I from my Father. They are grosly deceived then, that say Christs active obedience was not free and voluntary, because he was commanded: for as well may they say, his passive is not voluntary, and so not meritorious, because it likewise was commanded, which none can deny. Thus Christs offering was a free-will offering, though it was a most bitter one;