all which he precludes him from a refusal, to prevent all supposition of denial.

God the Father, you see, hath done all that lies in him, and yet no more than was necessarily required to this work, as was in part said before, and may be further observed out of the 10th verse of the 10th chapter of the Hebrews, wherein he says, ' We are sanctified through his will, through the offering of the body of Christ;' having reference to that his will of calling. him, before expressed in that 5th chapter, without which Christ's offering had not been satisfactory, or of force to sanctify us.

CHAPTER VIII.

Christ's acceptance of the terms which God the Father propounded to him for man's redemption.-That his willingness in the undertaking proceeded not only from the love he had for us, but from that which he did bear unto his Father, and his desire to obey him, and to perform his will.-That the elect, redeemed by Christ, were first God the Father's, and by him given in trust and charge to Christ to save them.

Now the next thing to be considered is, how this motion takes with Christ's heart, which his Father makes, and what he says to it, how he answers it again, and how willingly. And this is as necessary as the former; for besides that it could not be forced on him; for, John v. 26, the Father hath given him to have life in himself, and so to have power over his life.' John x. 18, I have power over my life, and none can take it from me.' Besides that, if it came not of him freely, it had not been satisfactory; for satisfactio est redditio voluntaria, it must be a voluntary payment; and as our disobedience was free, so must his satisfaction be. Though he had at last yielded, yet if he sticks at it we are undone, if he makes but an objection. And is it not infinite love he should not, being he was the party to undergo so much debasement? How did the eldest son's stomach rise, when but the fat calf was killed for the prodigal? But the eldest, only begotten Son of God, must sacrifice himself for enemies (not the sacrificing of worlds would serve, whereof he could have created enough), and yet not a thought did arise contrary to his Father's will. So his own words, in answer to the former call of his Father, do shew, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God,' Heb. x. 7. The psalmist, from whence the words are borrowed, hath it, I delight to do thy will,' Ps. xl. 8. Lo, I come' (says Christ); I am as ready, as forward, O God, as thou to have me; not willing only, but glad; I delight to do thy will. As the sun rejoiceth to run his race, so the Sun of righteousness to run his, for he was anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows,' Ps. xlv. 7. He was as glad to do this work as ever he was to eat his meat: John iv. 34, Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.' 'With desire' (saith he) have I desired it:' Luke xxii. 15, And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer.' He longed as much, and was as much pained, as ever woman with child longed to be delivered, till this work was accomplished. Luke xii. 50, But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished.'

It was well for us that his Father struck thus strongly in. For, take the

business in itself, you know how unwelcome it must needs be to Christ : Father, if it be possible' (says he), let it pass;' yet because it was his Father's will, he submits, 'Not my will, but thine be done,' Mat. xxvi. 39. As it was his Father's will, he had no reluctancy, neither would simply all our cries or mediation have ever moved him, no more than straws can move a mountain; but that it was his Father's will, it was enough. For besides that reason for it, John x. 30, 'I and my Father are one' (saith he), and so have one will and agree in one, there is another thing in it most prevalent, seeing that his Father entreats him thus to do it. The Father resolves to hear him in all things; and should not he then hearken to his Father, especially when his request is made upon his birthday (This day have I begotten thee '), when all requests are rendered more easy and facile to be granted; as Herod on his would give to the half of his kingdom? What, and as he was his Father and he his Son,-Thou art my Son,'this overcame him. John x. 17, 18, Though he had life in his own hand, yet (says he) I lay it down, because my Father loves me. Surely his Father being so earnest in it, he would not deny him, especially when he added a command to it. This is the reason he likewise gives, John x. 18, 19, I have power to lay down my life, and this command I have received of my Father.' It had stuck with him from the first, and he remembered it still. His Father had power (as other fathers have, to dispose of the calling of their sons) to dispose of him; and though he was so great a Son, equal to so great a Father, yet, being a Son, he is not exempted from obedience. Philip. ii. 8, And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.' Heb. v. 7, 8, Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears, unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared: though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. And when his Father shall add an oath to it also (that is an end of all controversies between man and man, Heb. vi. 16, much more between the Father and Son), and last of all sets his seal to it, it must stand good, for his seal stands sure, 2 Tim. ii. 19, there is no breaking of it; and therefore all these made Christ fully willing.

And this is therefore to be in a more especial manner taken notice of; that we may consider for whose sake principally Christ did die, and undertake it, and thus see whom so much we are beholden to. Though Christ did it out of love to us, yet chiefly for his Father's entreaty and command, and out of love to him. So Christ says, John xiv. 31, That the world may know that I love the Father, and that as he gave commandment, so I do. He spake this when he was to go to suffer, for, saith he, Arise, let

us go hence.'

In the sixth place, as his Father recommended the business to him, so also he gave especial recommendation of the persons for whom he would have all this done; for he gave those of the sons of men unto Christ whom he would have reconciled, and this with a charge to bring them to salvation. Hence Christ, when he was to offer up himself, he commits and commends them at his death again to his Father and to his love, upon this great ground and motive, that he himself gave them first to him; alleging that he himself came to have a share in them, by his gift and commendation: John xvii. 6, Thine they were, and thou gavest them me.' A strange gift it was, which he must yet pay for, and must cost more than they were worth, and yet he takes them as a gift and favour from his Father; which

also when he had bought, he likewise begged at his Father's hands, in John xvii. 20, 21, 24.

And observe that they were first his Father's; first thine, and then mine by thy gift; and this was not a late or new acquired propriety of God's in them, but an ancient one, which Christ puts him in mind of, 'Thine they were.' So that as the Father gave him his work he was to do, ver. 4, so he gave to him the persons for whom he should do it; ver. 6, so as both things and persons, all things whatsoever thou hast given me, are of thee,' ver. 7. As he doeth nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do; so as mediator (and though mediator) he saves not a man but whom his Father did give him, nor puts a name in more than were in his Father's bill. John vi. 37, 38, I came not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.' And this is spoken in relation, not to the business only he was to do, but of the persons also that were to be reconciled; for it follows, ver. 39, This is his will, that of all which he hath given me I should lose none.' And they are not said to be then given to Christ only when they are called and begin to believe, but before, even from everlasting (of which transaction we now speak); for, John vi. 37, All the Father giveth me shall come to me;' therefore they are not then said first to be given when they came, but before.

And hence, by reason of his Father's giving of them to him, he calls them his sheep, and that before they are called, which as yet were not of the fold, but which were yet to bring in; John x. 16, And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.' Yea, and he calls himself such a shepherd, whose own the sheep are; John xvi. 2, 3, 4, They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that, when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.' Ver. 11, 12, Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.' He was owner of them (as all shepherds are not), and delighteth to use a phrase of propriety. His own sheep they are. How his own, but by gift from his Father, and by special love and care of his own? And their names he knows. John x. 14, I am the good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.' As God by name is said to know who are his; and therefore their names are said to be written in the Lamb's book as well as in his Father's: Rev. xiii. 18, Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six; yea, they are written in his heart. And as the high priest had the names of all the tribes written on his breastplate, so had Christ the names of all his written in his heart, by a pen of adamant, by the will of his Father, written with ever-living and everlasting love; so as the letters can never be worn out.

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And as he gave them to be his, so also with a special charge to bring them to salvation, to lose not one of his tale and number. John vi. 38, 39, This is my Father's will, who sent me,' says Christ, for which I came down from heaven, that of all that he hath given me, I should lose nothing.' As Laban required his tale of Jacob, so doth God of Christ. When he sent him he gave him that charge, This is the will of him that sent me.'

I come with this errand, charge, and message, which therefore Christ had still in his eye, yea, and looks at it as a duty enjoined him; Them I must bring,' says he, John x. 16, which hath relation to that command laid on him.

And as Judah became a surety to Jacob his father for his younger brother Benjamin, to bring him safe to him out of Egypt-Gen. xliii. 9, 'I will be a surety for him, and if I bring him not unto thee, and set him not before thee, let me bear the blame for ever'-so did Christ for his younger brethren, whom God, through him as their captain and chief leader, would bring to glory: Heb. ii. 10, 11, For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.' Who therefore had the charge of conducting them, and to that end he took flesh, and in regard to it gives an account to his Father of them; Behold I and the children which God hath given me.' And you may observe how careful he was in this his account, and how punctual in it: John xvii. 12, Those thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition.' He is exact in his account, as appears in that he gives a reason for him that was lost, that he was a son of perdition,' and so excuseth it; and to this end God also gave him, as he was mediator, power over all flesh, that he might be enabled to give eternal life to those God gave him: John xvii. 3, And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.'

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CHAPTER IX.

That upon Christ's accepting this agreement, God the Father, to reward him, engages to bestow all the blessings which he should purchase to those redeemed by him.—That all these blessings of grace and eternal life were promised to us in Christ from all eternity.

Christ thus willingly undertaking to die, and to fulfil his Father's will, his Father, to gratify him, enters into a covenant with him, and binds himself to him to bestow the worth and value of all his obedience in all spiritual blessings (both of grace and glory, which that his death should purchase), to those whom he had given him, and that he and his children should have it out in everlasting revenues of grace and glory. As Christ undertook to God, so God undertakes to Christ again, to justify, adopt and forgive, sanctify and glorify those he gives him. All the blessings his love intended, Christ was to purchase them; and all the blessings Christ's death did purchase, he promiseth Christ to bestow on those whom he purchased them for, so as his labour should not be in vain.

This you may observe out of many places; as, in general, Isa. liii. 10-12, 'Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto

death and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors;' where God makes a promise unto Christ that he should see his seed, and see the travail of his soul, and should be satisfied; for my righteous servant shall justify many, and thus because he underwent so much sorrow and grief so willingly, as it is in the former part of the chapter, and the joy of this was it that made him undergo it so willingly: Heb. xii. 2, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.' And that his joy was this, that he should prolong his days, and though he died in the travail, yet should see the travail of his soul; as though a woman be in great pains, yet her joy is, that a manchild is brought forth into the world. And so it was with Christ; his joy is, that many children should be brought to glory, and by this he should be satisfied, namely, that many should be justified by him, as it follows there (for nothing else will satisfy Christ), and that he should divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death,' ver. 12. That is, he triumphed over hell and death, and by the conquest spoiled principalities and powers, and obtained heaven and everlasting righteousness, by which himself is not of himself made the richer. God therefore allows him to divide it and give it away to others. And God considered also how that in this work he was his servant, My righteous servant,' says he, 'shall justify many.' He was his servant, and did his business in it, and should he have no wages nor rewards? Yes he should; and the only reward he seeks for, is the salvation and justification of his elect, and of those whom God hath given him. And therefore we find this very covenant bargain-wise struck up, and by way of a most elegant dialogue expressed to us, Isa. xlix., which chapter is, as I may call it, the draught of the covenant, or deed of gift, betwixt Christ and his Father for us; wherein Christ first begins and shews his commission, as the ground of the treaty between them; intimating unto his Father that he had called him to this great work: ver. 1, 'Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.' And fitted him for it: ver. 2, And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me.' He therefore expects what fruit and reward he should have of all his sufferings.

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His Father offers (as it were) low at first, and mentioneth but Israel only as his portion; Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified,' ver. 3. Then he, as thinking them too small an inheritance, too small a purchase for that great price, foreseeing the hardness of their hearts, and how few of them would come in, not worth his coming into the world for, so that if the gleanings of them were all, he says, 'He should labour in vain, and spend his strength for nought,' ver. 4. Though, however, he satisfies himself with this, 'My work is with thee, O Lord,' &c. ; namely, that his main end of undertaking it was for his Father's sake, and in obedience unto him.

God therefore answers him again, and enlargeth and stretcheth his covenant further with him: says he, 'It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Israel,' &c. I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth,' ver. 6. And, ver. 8, I will give thee for a covenant to the people,'