02.01.02. Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2. Contains a Second Argument in Favour of the Limited Extent of CHRIST’s Death THE End of CHRIST’S Death hath always been acknowledged a principal Point in the present Controversy. According to the Apprehensions Men have of the Design of his Sufferings, are their Sentiments of the Extent of his Death: That he died for All, without Exception, as the Arminians conceive, or that his Death is limited to Some, as the Calvinists think; and therefore, our most serious, diligent, and impartial Enquiry, is here absolutely necessary, if we would discover, embrace, and adhere to Truth in this important Article of Faith. The End of CHRIST’S Death may be considered, as it bears Respect to GOD the Father, to himself, and to Men.
I. GOD had in View his own Glory, as the ultimate End in delivering up his Son to Death. 1st., The Praise of his glorious Grace: he took this most surprising Step, that his free, Sovereign, and immutable Love, might be display’d in the fullest Manner. 2dly, In this extraordinary Transaction, he had a Regard to the Honour of his Law, which we have dreadfully violated, and are subject to the Condemnation of, on that Account. 3dly, The Glory and Vindication of his Justice was one End proposed in this Affair, or that he might appear to be just and righteous in saving Sinners.
II. The End with Respect to CHRIST himself, was twofold, I. That he might have the Satisfaction and Pleasure of seeing those for whom he died, completely happy for ever. 2. That he might receive Glory and Praise from them, on Account of that Salvation he effected by his Sufferings and Death for them,
III. The End respecting those for whom he suffered, is now to be attended to. This was either to put Men into a salvable State, that is to say, to procure a Possibility of their Salvation on certain Conditions; thus the Remonstrants think. Or the Intention of his Death was to actually save and bring Men to Heaven, which seems to me to be the Truth of the Case. In Order to clear up, and confirm this weighty Point, I shall give the Reader a general View of the Design of GOD, and CHRIST, in this singular Transaction; and also a more particular one.
1st, Let it be observed, That the Father, and Son, unite in the End and Design of his Sufferings. The Intention was the same in both: In the Father who delivered up our SAVIOUR to Suffering, and in CHRIST who voluntarily suffered for us, his Pleasure consisted in a Compliance with, and Performance of, the Father’s Will.
2dly, This in general was the Salvation of Sinners. The End proposed in the Incarnation and Sufferings of the Redeemer, was the Welfare and Happiness of offending Creatures; and the Gospel which brings us this welcome Report, is highly deferring of the most grateful Reception: It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all Acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the World to save Sinners (1 Timothy 1:15.). The Design of our LORD’S Appearance was this, That his People might have Life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10.), i.e. That they might be the happy Subjects of a divine Life now, and possess eternal Life hereafter. It therefore was not a bare Possibility of Salvation, or a conditional Grant and Promise of Life, that CHRIST came to obtain; but the End of his Coming, was to effect Eternal Redemption; and this he actually and really obtained before his Ascension to Glory (Hebrews 9:12.). I apprehend that it will contribute much Light and Evidence in this Matter, to consider well the Covenant of Grace.
(1.) CHRIST the Mediator of this Covenant was a Head, either to all Men, or to some only, that is, an influential Head, from whom Grace, Holiness, and Life, are derived; for here I do not speak of him as a Head of mere Dominion and Rule, such he is to Angels, to the apostate Spirits, and to Men universally, but as a Head of Life, and Influence, which he only is to his Body, the Church, who are the Elect of GOD alone.
(2.) These Persons only can be interested in the Covenant of Grace; the Reason of which is, CHRIST in that Covenant is constituted a Head to all those who are included in it, in order to communicate to them, the Blessings therein promised; and therefore, none but such to whom he is a Head of Life, and Influence, are within the Compass of that Covenant.
(3.) It is clearly deducible from the Promises of the new Covenant, that GOD and CHRIST, really and fully intended the Salvation of all the Persons to whom those Promises are made. For this Covenant comprises all spiritual and eternal Blessings; or they are all granted and promised therein. Hence David speaks of this Covenant as including the Whole of his Salvation, This is all my Salvation, and all my Desire (2 Samuel 23:5.). Herein the Affair of the Sufferings and Death of CHRIST, was settled as a Condition required of him, and agreed to by him, in order to viewing his Seed, enjoy the great and glorious Benefits therein given to them. But of these Things more will be spoken hereafter. I proceed to give the Reader a more particular View of the End of our SAVIOUR’S Death.
I. Both the Father and CHRIST intended the Expiation of the Guilt of those for whom he suffered.
1. This was the Intention of the Father. It was his Will not to impute Sin to Those whom be reconciled to himself by the Death of his Son. He charged their Guilt on CHRIST their Surety, and they stand clear of all Sin in his Sight; and if he is not disappointed of his End, they are constituted, or made righteous. For he hath made him to be Sin for us who know no Sin, that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
2. This also was the Design of CHRIST: The Lamb of God had not bore the Iniquities of many, but that he intended to remove them into an everlasting Oblivion, as the Antitype of the Scape Goat; Once in the end of the World, hath he appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself (Hebrews 9:26.). The Father’s Will to impute Sin to CHRIST, and his Compliance therewith, evidently prove, that both designed the Discharge of Sinners from Guilt, which is a considerable Branch of Salvation.
II. A farther End in View was, to secure Life to miserable and dead Sinners.
1. The Father proposed this gracious End in the Mission of his Son: In this, was manifested the Love of God towards us, because that God lent his only begotten son into the World, that we might live through him (John 4:9.). The evident Import and plain Sense of these Words is, that GOD intended the Life of sinful Men in fending of CHRIST.
2. Our Saviour had the same thing in View, in coming into the World; of this he clearly informed his Disciples; I am come, that they might have Life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10.). The Life of Sinners who are naturally dead in Sin, was one eminent Part of the Joy that was let before CHRIST, which caused him to endure the Cross, and despise the Shame (Hebrews 12:2.) attending it.
III. Our Holiness or Sanctification was one End of his Death. In ourselves we are morally impure and unmeet, for the Fruition of GOD, CHRIST sanctified himself, or set himself apart to Death, that those for whom he died, might be made holy; for their Sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified, through the Truth; sanctify them, through thy Truth; thy Word is Truth (John 17:1-26; John 19:17.) His Design in the Gift of himself for the Church was, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word (Ephesians 5:26.).
IV. The Redeemer desired that all those might be eternally happy for whom he laid down his Life. Such was that love he bore to Sinners, that he was not less intent on their Welfare and Happiness, than on his own Glory; he could not be content to dwell in Heaven alone, or without them, to see his Glory, and participate of Bliss, in the presence of his Father with him; except a Corn of Wheat fall into the Ground and die, it abideth; alone (John 12:24.). In which Words it is the Design of our Lord to acquaint his Disciples with the Necessity of his Death, in order to the Felicity of his People, and of his proposing their Happiness, as the End of his dying for them. From there Things it appears very evidently, that it was not a mere Possibility of Salvation which God and Christ proposed in his Death, but the actual, real, and certain Salvation of all such for whom he suffered.
V. The Means used to this Purpose are most: proper and effectual, to question which, is highly blasphemous. It would be an impious Impeachment of divine Wisdom to imagine, that God in any of his Works, uses Means not suited to attain his End. The Death of Christ, as it was a most gracious Method of saving Sinners, so it is an effectual one: This cannot be denied without imputing Folly to him, who is the Fountain of Wisdom.
1. By the Imputation of Sin to Christ, and the Infliction of Punishment on him, the infinite Displeasure of God against it, is fully discovered, and from hence arises the real and certain Remission of it, in whom we have Redemption through his Blood the Forgiveness of Sins (Ephesians 2:7.). From this Definition of Redemption it is clear, that it consists in the Pardon of Sin; those therefore, whose Sins are not remitted, are not the Subjects of Redemption.
2. Christ’s Subjection to, and sustaining of the Law’s Curse, is a full Vindication of its Honour, and is the gracious and effectual Method which was appointed by infinite Wisdom to secure our Deliverance from the dreadful Menaces thereof, Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law, being made a Curse for us (Galatians 3:10.).
3. The Death of the blessed Jesus was designed to bring about our Reconciliation with God: His Substitution in our Room, bearing our Guilt, and undergoing the Penalty due to us, are undeniable Proofs thereof. And since his Death was penal, it must be satisfactory to the Law and Justice of God. Hence we read, That the Chastisement of our Peace was upon him, and that with his Stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5.). As the End designed in cutting off the Messiah, was to make Reconciliation for Iniquity (Daniel 9:24-26.), that gracious End is accomplished; for Peace is made by the Blood of his Cross (Colossians 1:20.); so that when we were Enemies, we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son (Romans 5:10.). Upon the Whole, it is very evident, that it was the kind Intention of God and Christ by his Death, to effectually secure the certain Salvation of all those for whom he died; unless therefore they are disappointed of the End they intended, unless their Design is rendered abortive, and unless the Redeemer died in vain: All such for whom he suffered, will certainly be saved; and therefore, since all Men are not saved, all Men are not interested in the atoning Sacrifice of Christ; nor was his Death intended as a Means of the Salvation of every Man without Exception, which was the important Point to be proved.