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lievers, which is a work of the Spirit, the Holy Ghoft himfelf is faid to be given: By the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

VERSE 6. For when we were yet without ftrength, in due time Chrift died for the ungodly.

FOR

OR the understanding the last reafon brought by the apoftle, viz. That tribulations cannot mar believers rejoicing in the hope of glory, becaufe even then they have clear teftimonies of God's love toward them, his love fhed abroad in their hearts; he first proves the antecedent of the reafen, by fhewing one main fruit and effect of God's love. viz. Chrift's death, and amplifieth the fame, as God's love manifefted therein might fhine forth more confpicuously, verfes 5. 7. 8. Next he proves the confequence, or how, from this love, which eminently appeared in the death of Chrift, fhed abroad in their hearts, their hope of heaven is keeped up, notwithstanding of all calamities, verfes

9. 10.

In this fixth verfe he points out a main fruit and effect of God's love, viz. Chrift's death, which he amplifieth from fome confiderable circumstances; as, I. in that it was for fuch as were without ftrength; that is, fuch as were lying in a lott condition, under the fentence of death, and unable to relieve themselves, by making any fatisfaction for their offences; yea, or to embrace and welcome any courfe offered for their release. 2. Not only fo, but it was for fuch as were ungodly, and fo no way worthy of any refpect, or teftimony of love at his hand. And, 3. he died in due time, at the very nick of time fore-appointed; he would not defer a moment longer.

OBSERVATIONS.

help himself out of that miferable gulf; he cannot now contribute the leaft for his own relief, and hence he is faid to be dead in fins and trefpaffes, Eph. ii. 1. having their understandings darkned, Eph. iv. 18. fo as they know not God, I Cor. i. 21. nor the things of God, 1 Cor. ii. 14. and their wills perverted, fo as they cannot pleafe God, Rom. viii. 8.; they are now weak whatever men may dream of the power of free-will; while we were yet weak.

II. Not only are we by nature weak and impotent, and fo unable to help ourselves, or take help when it is offered to us; but alfo we are perverfe, wicked and ungodly, and fo have nothing to commend us to God, but rather every thing which may provoke God to wrath against us; he died for the ungodly.

III. It doth much tend to the commendation of the unparallelable love of God, towards finners, that notwithstanding we were impotent, and fo unable to help ourselves, or to require him for his kindnefs toward us, yea, and wicked, unworthy of any fuch favour at his hand; yet it feemed good in his eyes. whofe love is unfpeakable, to fend his Son to die for us that were fuch: While we were yet weak, in due time Chrift died for us.

IV. The covenant being broken, whereby poor man was liable to death, and be ing unable to fatisfy juftice, there was a neceflity, by reafon of the commination and eftablished law, that, feeing they could not by their death fatisfy juftice, and win free, that Chrift coming in their room, as cautioner, and full undertaker, Heb. vii. 22. Pfalm lxix. 4. fhould die, and fo bear the punishment due for our fins, Matth. x. 45.. 2 Tim. ii. 6. Heb. ix. 13. 14. He died.

V. Chrift's death being not for himself, Dan. ix. 26. he having done nothing worthy of death, Ifa. liii. y. John viii. 46. I. Man by finning againft Cod, as he Heb. vii. 26. but for us, Ifa. liii. 5. 8. fell from that happy condition wherein he 1 Pet. ii. 23. 24. 25. and he being furety, 'once was, fo he became every way mifer-Heb. vii. 22. and of purpofe taking on our able, and fo loft all firength and ability to nature, Heb. ii. 16. and being made under

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the law, that he might pay the debt due by us; was not only for our good, (as in fome measure it was for the good of angels, who never finned, viz. that he might become their head, Col. ii. 10: Phil. ii. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Rom. x. 9. 11. yea, and for the good of the whole creation, Rom. viii. 20. 21. 22. 23:) but alfo it was in our stead; and Christ is to be looked on as standing in our place; he is faid to die for the ungodly; where p (for) must be fo taken as importing this; in that, 1. His death is made the most eminent and rare fruit of God's love here, and John iii. 16. 1 John iv. 9. 10. 21.; but if thereby he did no more but confirm his doctrine, it would not point forth the love of God in a more eminent manner than his life and miracles, or yet the death of other martyrs, where by his doctrine was abundantly confirmed; but it is clearly made an evidence beyond all queftioning, and an evidence of a love beyond all comparison. 2. In that if his death had been only for our good to confirm his doctrine, it could not be more for one than for another: but here his death is held forth to be for fome only, among whom Paul reckoneth himself; and to be such as none can draw comfort from, but thofe who are juftified by faith, it is those who have this love of God (whereby Chrift was fent to die for them in particular) fhed abroad in their hearts.

VI. Chrift's death, being a ransom, Mark x. 45. and a ranfom accepted, 2 Cor. V. 14. paid as fatisfaction to juftice in their behalf, for whom it was paid (as we thewed in the former doctrine) fo that they might be faved and delivered from wrath and the curfe of the law; could not be payed for all, feeing all are not delivered and faved thereby, and all cannot be made partakers of that joy which cometh from the love of God being fhed abroad in their hearts, because Chrift has laid down his life for them: now it is only fuch as are, or fhall be juftified, who are, or fhall be made partakers of this lively fenfe and ap

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VII. Such a defire had Chrift to the fulfilling of the work of redemption, Luke ix. 51. and fuch love to the falvation of poor finners, that he would not delay the delivering up of himself one moment beyond the time appointed; and his coming at the fet period fpeaks out much of his love; he died in due time; fee Gal. iv. 4.

VIII. When the Spirit of God convinceth people, and lets them clearly fee their intereit in Christ, and that they were given to Chrift in particular, to be faved, and that accordingly Chrift did, in due time, lay down his life for them, and in their behalf fatisfy juftice; then doth he fhed abroad the love of God in their hearts: for thus he cleareth how this love is' manifefted, by telling them, that when we were without ftrength, Chrift died for the ungodly.

VERSES 7. 8. For fcarcely for a righteous

man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man fome would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet finners, Chrift died for us.

His effect of love is amplified from

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the unparallelablenefs thereof; the like of this never was, nor never will be. For 1. fcarce for a man will one endure much trouble. Nay, 2. Far lefs will he hazard life and all, and be willing to die. 3. Nay, not for a righteous man will he lay down his life. 4. And be it fo, or let us put the cafe, that fome would die for others (as fome have done, as it is reported in history) yet it was for good men, that is, fuch as either were, or that they hoped, would be bountiful to their posterity; it being for their country and friends for whom they laid down their life, at the inftigation of Satan, for vain glory, and a

fame

fame (as they imagined) immortal. But, fays he, it is far otherwite here; for Chrift died for us, even when we were finners, and fo no way deferving any thing at his hand, being rebels against him, and living in rebellion against him: and fo God's love, and Chrift's both, are wonderfully commended or declared hereby, as a fure and undoubted pledge and token.

OBSERVATIONS.

I. The Lord from all eternity, had a purpofe according to the counfel of his own will, Eph. i. 11. a good pleasure which he purpofed in himself, Eph. i. 9. and a purpose according to election, Rom. ix. 11. and a love of benevolence and good-will towards fome of mankind, whom he minded to make veffels of honour for the glory of his free and matchlefs grace: for this is the love here fpoken of, and wonderfully commended; God commended his love to wards us.

II. This love of God being an eternal act of his will, and fo himself, (there being nothing in him, which is not himself, who is a most pure fimple act) cannot be any natural affection or propenfity in him towards the good of the creature, feeing fuch would argue imperfection in him, if he did not effectuate what he fo affected. And further, this love here mentioned is a fpecial love, a moft intenfe love, and unparallelable; yea, the most tranfcendent love that ever was fhewed to the creature, a love from which floweth the greatest gift (viz. Chrift Jefus) that ever was beftowed on any creature; God commended his love, that Chrift died for us.

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III. Notwithstanding of his love of election and good pleasure, which being an immanent act of God, was to produce fome real effect in time about man, even life and falvation, and fo is called a purpofe according to election, Rom. ix. 11.; yet even the elect, no less than the reprobate, by the fall, became liable to wrath and condemnation, and were really in a state of fin

and mifery, and are ftill ay and while they be brought near to Christ by faith: for notwithstanding of this love, yet even thefe for whom Chrift died are finners, even under the power of fin, as the word imports, (i John v. 8. with ii. 9.) God commendeth his love, that while we were yet finners, Chrift died for us: See Rom. iii. 9. 10. 19. Eph. ii. 1. 2. 3.

IV. Seeing even the elect by nature, are in a ftate of fin and mifery, lying under the curfe of the law, Gal. iii. 1 3. and obnoxious to the judgment of God, Rom. iii. 9. notwithstanding of this love of elec tion; there was a neceffity that fatisfaction. fhould be made to juftice, and that there fhould be a formal redemption; yea this. love of benevolence and good pleasure is fo far from annulling or cafting down the merits and fatisfaction of Christ as useless, that it is the very womb in which it doth breed, and the one doth neceffarily prefuppofe the other, as the fountain, caufe and original: for in that Chrift died, God's love is manifested.

V. Chrift did not die, only that believers might have a free manifeftation of God's everlafting love, and might be delivered from that darkness and fear which was upon their confciences by reafon of fin; but that a real and full fatisfaction might be made to juftice for their iniquities, that thereby they might be delivered from the effects of God's wrath, under which they lay no lefs than others, John iii. 36. For 1. they were finners really, and not in their own apprehenfion only; 2. Chrift's death then would not feem fo neceffary as indeed it is; and fo, 3. Thereby the love of God would not be fo commended as indeed it is: mended as indeed it is: 4. At least not from this confideration, that while we were yet finners, he died for us: 5. Befides, the apoftle's difpute would be confounded; for he diftinguisheth juftification by faith and reconciliation, verfe 1. from the difcovery of the love of God, verfe 5. and makes one the ground of the other.

Vl. That

VI. That Chrift Jefus did properly die for us, as in our ftead, and not for our good only, is clear from the comparison which he here makes; for when men die for others, (let us with the apostle fuppofe the cafe) or wifheth to die for others, as Paul did, Rom ix. 3.; it is not that they may be faved or not faved, but that really they might be faved: thus z will fignify, ę 2 Cor. v. 15. John vi. 51. x. 11. 15, and xi. 50. Christ died for us, when fcarcely for a righteous man one would adventure to die.

VII. The death of Chrift, who was the only Son of God, doth abundanly demonftrate and manifeft the unspeakable love of God towards his own: Gid commendeth his love, in that Chrift died for us: See John iii. 16. 1 John iv. 9. 10.

VIII. We ought not to look upon the Father, in the bulinefs of our redemption, only as a righteous exactor and fevere judge, and take up all the love which kytheth in our redemption, as boiling in the breaft of Chrift alone: for as there

did much love kyth in Christ's dying, yea

wonderful and incomparable love; fo did there much love kyth hereby to be in God the Father; for God commendeth his love, in that Christ died.

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IX. Tho' by nature we were finful rebels, deferving to be cut off by justice, having nothing in us commend-worthy; yet that did not fcar Chrift to manifeft toward us the greateft refpect imaginable; and the confideration of our unworthinefs and finfulness should ferve exceedingly to commend his love towards us; God commended his love, that while we were yet finners, Chrift died for us.

X. As this love is in itself unparallelable, fo it is never rightly taken up, but when it is looked upon as matchlefs and incomparable; and all who are made fenfible of its rays, with, with the apoftle, bave tranfcending thoughts thereof; for fcarcely for a righteous man will one die ;--but God commendeth his love towards us,

in that while we were finners, Chrift died for us.

XI. The very confideration of that natural felf-love which is imprinted in the hearts of all, fo that they cannot be induced to quite with their life for the fafety of another, but with very great difficulty, if at all; nay fcarcely when there may be fome feen advantage to them or theirs; fhould highly commend the love of Chrift unto us, who without any feen. advantage to be had of us, was content to lay down his life for us moft willingly; for fcarcely for a righteous man will one die--but God commendeth his love, &c.

VERSES 9. 10. Much more then being. · juftified by his blood, we shall be faved from wrath through him.

For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son : much more being reconciled, we fhail be faved by his life.

Hable love of God, in fending his onAving thus pointed forth this admir-.

ly Son to die for his own; he now confirmly Son to die for his own; he now confirmeth and cleareth, how hence believers. hope of heaven may be keeped up, notwithstanding of all their outward calami-. ties; and fo he argueth from the lefs to the more, and that in a double comparifon: 1. Comparing the ftate of believers when Chrift died for them, which was a ftate of enmity, and their eftate after they have reaped the fruits of his death, they are now reconciled; and thence thus argueth, If when they were in the eftate of enmity, Chrift fcared not at them, but by the appointment of the Father, died for them, that thereby they might be reconciled unto, and brought into peace and friendship with God, much more being thus reconciled and put into a state of friendship, they fhall be faved from wrath:; it being a far greater work, feeming much more improbable and unfeafible to recon

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cile enemies, than to fave friends and reconciled ones, and fuch as were affoiled and abfolved from guilt. 2. Comparing 2. Comparing the virtue of Chrift's death with the virtue of his life; and fo thus argueth, verfe 10. If there was fo much virtue in Chrift's death, as to bring us, who were before enemies, into a state of friendship and reconciliation, much more fhall there be that virtue in his life and refurrection, which will fave fuch as are reconciled and made friends; and fo there is no tribulation or affliction which can hinder believers rejoicing in the hope of glory and falvation, if they once have the perfuafion of God's love towards them, in fending his Son to die for them while rank enemies to God.

OBSERVATIONS.

been moved to pardon our fins, and pafs a fentence of abfolution upon us, we be ing finner in ourselves, and fo deferving wrath and condemnation rather than any thing elfe; fo the only meritorious caufe of our juftification and reconciliation is the fufferings and death of Jefus Chrift, expreffed here by his blood: we are justified by his blood, and reconciled by his death.

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IV. Chrift's blood which was fhed, and his death which he suffered, was a full and complete fatisfaction to the juftice of God, being that which God who was offended with our fins, was more pleafed and contented with than he would have been with all our deaths, and with our lying in hell for ever; yea, more contented with, than he was difcontented with all our fins: for we being under the debt of fin, liable to juftice, are now justified, or abfolved from what juftice could crave of us because of the debt of fin under which we lay, and. that by the blood of Chrift; being now jujii

I. Tho' juftification maketh no real, perfonal, and physical change upon the perfon juftified, this change being done in fanctification, wherein renovation, and a phyfical, perfonal change is wrought, righ-fied by his blood: fee Ifa. liii. 11. teoufnefs being infufed, and fo fin removed and healed; yet in it there is a real relative change of the man's ftate before God, fo❘ that in a moral and law-fenfe he goeth for another man than he was formerly, and that even in God's account: for here before they were finners and under wrath, and now they are juftified, and reconciled, and fuch as fhall be faved from wrath; and fo God dealeth with them as juft, freeing them from condemnation and wrath, and giving undoubted grounds upon which they may certainly expect life.

V. As Chrift in dying, did fully fatisfy juftice for the fins of his own, fo as juftice could crave no more at their hand; fo he being our high priest, Heb. iv. 14. 15. offered up himself a facrifice, Heb. vii. 27. and thereby made up peace and reconcili ation betwixt God and finners: therefore we are said to be reconciled by his death.

II. The Lord being juft, holy and righteous, who would keep his word, and not fuffer any unrighteous perfon to dwell in glory with him; there is a neceffity that before any of the loft race of man kind be faved, and enjoy life eternal, they be first justified and abfolved from the guilt of their iniquities: therefore, fays he, ---being justified, we shall be faved, &c.

III. As there was nothing in us, upon the confideration whereof God might have

VI. Chrift's blood was not fhed, nor did he die only, that justice being fatisfied, and these obstacles which lay in the way, being removed, God might pardon fin upon what condition he thought fit, fo that now his good mind and will which always he had towards mankind, might have free paffage to break out, it being now at his free difpofal whether he would fave any or not, or upon what terms; but to purpofe actual juftification and reconciliation, in God's due time and manner to be appli ed, unto all fuch for whom he died: fo that as it was God's purpofe he fhould die for his people, for finners, Matth. xviii 11. Luke xix. 10. Matth. i. 21, 1 Tim. i

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