A85428:162
Christ Set Forth
Christ set forth in his [brace] death, resurrection, ascension, sitting at Gods right hand, intercession, [brace] as the [brace] cause of justification. Object of justifying faith. Upon Rom. 8. ver. 34. Together with a treatise discovering the affectionate tenderness of Christs heart now in heaven, unto sinners on earth. / By Tho: Goodwin, B.D.Christ set forth in his [brace] death, resurrection, ascension, sitting at Gods right hand, intercession, [brace] as the [brace] cause of justification. Object of justifying faith. Upon Rom. 8. ver. 34. Together with a treatise discovering the affectionate tendernesse of Christs heart now in heaven, unto sinners on earth. / By Tho: Goodwin, B.D.
London: printed by W.E. and J.G. for Robert Dawlman, 1642
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.
Thus in his death he was considered as a Common person,1 and God reckoned us dying then, and would have us reckon so also. So Rom. 6. 10. the Apostle speaking of Christ, saith, In that he dyed, he dyed unto sin once, but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Then ver. 11. speaking of us, he says, [Likewise reckon] you your selves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus ⟨p. 62⟩Christ our Lord. The meaning whereof is plainly this, that whereas regenerate men are for the present in the reality but imperfectly mortified and dead to sin, as considered in themselves, and in respect of the work of it, as wrought in them; yet that being considered in Christ as their Head, and a Common person representing them, they may [Greek or Hebrew], they may truly by a way of faith reason or reckon themselves wholly dead, in and through Jesus Christ our Lord; in that he once dyed perfectly unto sin, as a Common person representing them. So as what yet is wanting in the work of Mortification, in their sense and experience of it, they may supply by faith, from the consideration of Christ their Head, even themselves to have dyed, when he dyed. The Apostle, I say, would have them by reason conclude or infer (for so the word [Greek or Hebrew] signifies, as Chap. 3. 28. therefore we conclude, &c. it is the same word) from Christs death, that they are dead: which Conclusion cannot be made, unless this be one of the Propositions in this Argument, That we dyed in Christ, when he dyed; and so though in our selves we are not yet wholly dead to sin, nor perfectly alive to God; yet through Jesus Christ your Lord and Head (says he) reckon your selves so; in that (as ver. 10.) he dyed, and now lives; and you were included in him. And indeed, this Consideration the Apostle suggests unto our faith, both as the greatest encouragement against imperfect mortification begun; that yet we may comfort our selves by faith, as reckoning our ⟨p. 63⟩selves wholly dead in Christs death, and so may assure our selves, we shall one day be perfectly dead in our selves by virtue of it; and withal, as the strongest argument also & motive unto Mortification, to endeavour to attain to the highest degree of it: which therefore he carries along in his Discourse throughout that whole Chapter.