Sermon 40

Isaiah 53, Verse 10. He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

It may be thought, and that very justly, that there must be some great and glorious design driven in the contrivance of the work of redemption; that was executed by such a means, as is the suffering of the Son of God; and that there must be some noble and notable thing following on it, that moved the Father to send his Son, and the Son to come for this work. This part of the text answers, and tells us, what is the design: He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, etc. He shall communicate life to many that were dead, and shall beget a generation, that shall have life derived from him, as a seed have from their parents: and so this is a third answer, for removing of that stumbling objection, proposed in the beginning of the verse; to wit, how it came to pass, that the innocent Son of God, who had done no violence, and who had no guile in his mouth, was put to such sufferings? We show that there were three grounds laid down, in answer to this. 1. It pleased the Lord to bruise him — it was the Father's good pleasure. The 2nd is, from the nature of his sufferings, which were to be a sin-offering, or an offering for sin, not for his own, but for the sins of the elect. The 3rd is, that his sufferings should have notable fruits, and effects following them, set down in three expressions; which are partly prophecies; telling, what should be the effects of the sufferings of the Mediator; partly promises made to the Mediator; telling what should be his reward and hire (to speak so) for his sufferings. 1. He shall see his seed; that is, many shall get good of his sufferings. 2. He shall prolong his days — that is, he shall outlive these his troubles and sufferings, and shall have a glorious outcome, and reign. 3. The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand — that is, the work that was given him to do, and to finish shall thrive well; and no part of it shall fail, or miscarry. In the first promise made to him, or in the first effect that should follow on his sufferings, in these words, He shall see his seed; we have these three. 1. A relation implied between Christ and believers; they are his seed; such as in the next verse, are said to be justified by him; it is in short, many shall get pardon of sin, and justification by his death; in this respect, it is said, (Psalm 45, second to last verse), In place of your fathers, shall be your children, whom you may make princes in all the earth. 2. A prophecy, and foretelling of the event, that should follow Christ's sufferings, and so it holds out this; that our Lord Jesus should not only have a seed, but a numerous seed, that should be made sure to him, and it seems to be in allusion to that which is spoken of Abraham, and of others in the Old Testament, of whom it is said, that they should have seed; that is, that many should descend of them; but there is more here; for, whereas others, while they are living, or in their lifetime beget a seed, which begetting, is interrupted by death; the death of our Lord Jesus begets his seed, or his seed are begotten by his death. 3. Considering the words as a promise, they hold out this, that though our Lord Jesus suffer, and die, yet he shall not only have a seed, but he shall see his seed. He shall outlive his sufferings, and death; and shall be delighted in seeing of them, who shall get the good of his sufferings; as it is said of Job, that he saw his children, or [reconstructed: seed] of the third and fourth generation; that is, he lived long, and saw [reconstructed: many] that came of him; even so though our Lord came to death, and to the grave; yet he should not only have a numerous seed, many children, but he should live, and see them; and that not only for three, or four, or for ten generations; but for very many generations: and his dying, should neither hinder his begetting, nor the seeing of them: and this seeing of his seed, is opposed to such parents as are dead; and who, though their children, and posterity be in want, yet they know it not. From the first of these, observe, that believers are our Lord Jesus his seed; they are come of him; whatever their meanness and lowness be, in the world; and though they could not claim kindred to any of externally honest rank and quality; yet they are his seed: to this purpose, the Apostle bespeaks the believing Corinthians, (1 Corinthians 1:27-28), You see your calling brethren, how that not many mighty, not many wise men, after the flesh, not many noble are called; but God has chosen the foolish things of this world, to confound the wise, etc. that no flesh should glory in his presence: though you are not of any high rank or quality in the world; yet of him are you in Christ Jesus — who of God is made to us, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption: in this respect Christ is called the everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6), for he is the Father of all believers; that ever had, or shall have life; who are, (Psalm 45, second to last verse) called, his children.

To clear this a little, you shall take it in these four or five respects, or considerations, in which believers are said to be Christ's seed, or be descended of Him. 1. In this respect, that as believers they have their being of Him, as children descended from their parents, as to their natural being; so believers, as they have a spiritual being, descend from Him; and hold their being of Him; without whom they had never been believers: and in this respect they are His seed. 1. Because He meritoriously purchased life to them; which is the thing here mainly understood; as following immediately on the back of His sufferings. 2. Because they have life from Him efficiently, as He works it in them, and by the gospel begets them; therefore He is said (1 Timothy 1:10) to have brought life and immortality to light, through the gospel, which was not known in many parts of the world, till Christ brought it forth; in this respect, believers are Christ's seed; we are not born believers of our parents, nor have the faith which we have, of the ordinances, nor of ministers, as efficient causes thereof; but it is from our Lord Jesus, who is believers' Father, thus believers have an affinity, and near relation to Christ, even to be His children: and any that would lay claim to faith, or spiritual life, would see well, that it be this way kindly, and (as we use to say) loyally come, from Jesus Christ, and that they be in His debt, and common for it. 2. They are His seed, in respect of the likeness that is between Him and them, or in respect of the qualifications that are in them; as they are said (2 Peter 1:4) by the exceeding great and precious promises, to be made partakers of the divine nature; they have of the same Spirit, for the kind that He, as Mediator, has in Him; and it is in this respect, that (Song of Solomon 7:1) the believer is called the princess's daughter, which especially looks to the spiritual, generous, and noble qualifications, that are derived from Christ, to the believer; hence, believers are said to have the spirit of sons, when all others, though they be the greatest in the world, have but the spirit of servants, and their generosity is nothing to that of believers; who are made partakers of the divine nature; we have not, says the Apostle, received the spirit of fear, but of faith and love, and of a sound mind; ah, there are many that claim kindred and relation to Christ, that are very unlike Him. 3. They are called Christ's seed, in respect of the care that He has of them. Never was a mother more tender of the sucking child, than He is of His believing children; therefore, says the Lord (Isaiah 49:15), a mother may forget her sucking child; but I will not forget you: hence, is that phrase, even as to visible professors in the church, who refuse to listen to the call of the gospel; which is much more eminently verified in believers; (Matthew 23) how often would I have gathered you as a hen does her chickens under her wings? So tender and respectful is He to His children; as the mother is tender to the sucking child, or as the hen is of her newly hatched, and young chickens; for they are, in some respect, come out of His own bowels; His blood was shed to purchase them; so it is said (Isaiah 40:11), He gathered the lambs with his arm, he carries them in his bosom, and gently leads those that are with young. And, O, what massive consolation have such words as these, in them; and what confidence may believing sinners have to come to this Mediator; that is a mother, a father, a brother, and a parent, that has begotten us out of His own bowels; and in some respect, (as we are believers) has as a mother conceived us in His own womb. 4. They are called His seed, in respect of the portion which they get from Him; the Apostle says, that parents provide for their children; it is indeed eminently so here, believers come under His care, oversight, and tutelage; and as a man provides for his household, his children, and servants meat in due season (and the Apostle says, he is worse than an infidel that provides not for them of his own house) even so our Lord Jesus, as He gives believers their spiritual life, so He sustains that life; provides for them, and trains them up, and on, till he enters them into the possession of eternal life; they are made by Him princes (Psalm 45:16), entitled to a kingdom; yes, all His children are kings, and sit with him on his throne (Revelation 2, last verse), and are made partakers of His glory; and (to speak so) they fare as He fares, they dwell as He dwells, and behold His glory; O, is not this much; that the poor debtor, that has not a penny left him, nor to leave to another, should be thus dignified, as to have a claim to Christ's kingdom, to be an heir, and a joint heir with Him, who is the heir of all things? For so we come to be [reconstructed: declared heirs], (to speak so) and so be declared heirs to all things; as it is (Revelation 21:7), he that overcomes shall inherit all things; and it goes on this ground (Hebrews 1:2), that the Mediator, is appointed heir of all things; with whom, being joint heirs; we are heirs too, and are made to inherit all things. 5. They are called His seed, because of the manner of their coming to the possession of that, which through Him they have a claim to; for they have claim to nothing, but by being heirs to, and with Him; and by believing in Him; they are heirs of the promise, in some respect, as Isaac was: so then briefly to recapitulate all these, would you know the way that believers are Christ's seed. 1. He begets them, and they have their spiritual life of Him. 2. He is tender of them, as of His own children. 3. They are furnished with qualifications, and dispositions suitable to Him. 4. They have a rich portion from Him, and are well provided for. 5. What good they get, is for His sake, who is their Father; here we may allude to that word (Romans 11), they are beloved for the Father's sake, by a right and title to Him; they come to have a good and goodly portion; they claim not their portion; because of this or that thing in themselves; but by their being declared heirs to Christ, being come of Him, they come to get a right to what is His.

Use: As all relations between Christ and believers speak out much consolation; so does this, if we were in case to apply it; this one word has in it, and holds forth a good condition, and is a very broad charter.

See here then, first, what we are in Christ's common and debt, who are believers: it's much to be made a friend, to be freed from the curse of God, and to have all our debt paid; but this is more — to be His seed, to be His own children; to have our life of Him, to have our provision and portion from Him. It's really a wonder that we wonder not more at this, and other relations that are between Him and believers; as namely, He is the believer's Father, and takes them to be His sons and daughters; He is the believer's Brother, and is not ashamed to call them brothers; He is the believer's Husband, and they are His spouse; He is their Bridegroom, and they are His bride. Such relations as these are pitched upon, and made choice of, to fill (if I may speak so) the faith of the believer, and that the believer may feed sweetly and delicately on them, till the time come that the veil of similitudes be taken away, and they be brought to see Him as He is, even face to face; and that thereby they may be helped to win to read their advantages and privileges which they have in Him. What can be the reason then that so few think and esteem suitably of the excellent and desirable condition of believers, and that words of this kind relish not? Here is the reason: He of whom they hold all these privileges, and by whom they are put into this notable and none-such condition, is not suitably esteemed of, and accounted precious; therefore, believers in Him are thought the less of. Our hearts should melt in love to Him, and in sorrow for offending Him, at the reading and hearing of such expressions with which the Scriptures of God are stuffed full.

Second, are there any that would have a good and happy condition summed up and summarized? Here it is: even to have our Lord Jesus to be a Father, and to be His seed, to come in as sons and daughters to Him. I appeal to you all, if any condition can be put in the balance with this: is there any honor and dignity like it, or comparable with it? Who can claim to be come of such a parent as is He, who is King of kings, and Lord of lords, the Prince of the kings of the earth, the Father of glory, His eldest and only begotten Son, by an eternal and unspeakable generation, who in all things has the preeminence? What is your pedigree, who will say and boast that you are of such a landowner's or lord's house, and of such an ancient family and stock — indeed, though you were of blood royal, what is it to this? What will become of men's gentility or nobility of birth, indeed of royalty of birth, in that day, when Christ shall set His throne in the clouds? To have this relation to Christ will be more valuable and honorable in that day than to have been great commanders, landowners, lords, marquesses, dukes, princes, and kings, who will all in that day stand upon the same level with the poorest peasants, and when all honors and dignities, which are now so much thought of and thirsted after, will be laid in the dust. Therefore learn to think of this as the noblest birth and descent, which is through faith in Christ Jesus; and covet, and be holily ambitious, to have the qualifications of His children. Look to the qualifications, parts, endowments, and accomplishments that use to accompany or follow any houses of the [reconstructed: bravery] of natural men: are there any of them comparable to the qualifications of believers? Is there a stock or race of people in all the world so truly generous and noble as believers are, who are come of Christ, and are made valiant through the exercise of faith in Him, against all occurring difficulties; regardless of worldly things, and taken up with and busied about high and noble projects and designs — even to have heaven, and glory, and God Himself; who undervalue and holily disdain the things of the world, which earthworms so much seek after? Their qualifications show themselves especially in this: that their designs are heavenly, their minds elevated to and set on the best things, and that they have a truly magnanimous and valorous way of prosecuting them, by studying the mortification of sin and conformity to God, when others cannot endure to break with and abandon a lust. They holily scorn and account it below them to have their peace standing or falling with the ebbing and flowing of creature comforts, which the men of the world place their happiness in. Their study is to be pure, as Christ is pure. O, is there any portion like theirs? Many of you think but little of it now, but you will think more of it in that day, when the earth and all things in it shall be burnt up with fire. What will the earth-portion signify then? You that now have your variety of fine and delicate meats with your ale and wine at every meal, who shall be found out of Christ, shall not get a drop of cold water to cool your tongue under your exquisite and hellish torments; when the poor body that believed, and had a hard life of it here, shall be in Abraham's bosom, and with Christ at His table, indeed, and on His throne with Him. And it is upon the account of their having a title to Christ that they come to all that glory and happiness. O, is there any right and title like the believer's, which is founded on Christ's right and title, which is, or may be called, the original right of the believer, who is kept by the power of God through faith to salvation? If these be the true and faithful sayings of God, what is the reason that men think so little of them? Why is an interest in Christ [reconstructed: so] undervalued? Believe you that such and so much good is to be gotten by being Christ's seed and children? If you say that you believe it, how comes it to pass that so few have it for their design, and that your designs are so much for this and that in a present world, and that this is so much slighted, and that there is so much boasting and glorying in other things, and so little holy boasting and glorying in this?

There are two or three marks, which we may gather from the words, that may help to show, when this claim is warrantably made, and which may evidence the groundlessness of the claim of many. And 1. Christ's seed have another original than that which they bring with them into the world; there is in them a change of the ground of their hope; and that on a new account; folk comes into the world sinful, children of sinful parents; but when they come to be believers they get a new life, which men cannot give; and this new life has new actings and fruits; Ah! How many dream of a right to Christ; who know no other birth or being, but that which is natural? 2. They who are Christ's seed carry along with them the impression of an obligation to, and an acknowledgement of Him, in whatever good they have gotten; they think themselves much obliged to Christ, and they acknowledge Him for their life, as it is (Malachi 1): If I be a father, where is my honor? and if a master, where is my fear? A son honors his father, etc. A natively and genuinely disposed child acknowledges his father as his father, and reverences and loves his father as his father, but there are many that pretend to a being from Christ, who think not themselves in His debt, and common for it, and who know not what it is to walk under the conviction of their obligation to Christ, for their supposed spiritual life and being. 3. They who are Christ's seed have in them a likeness to Him, as they did once bear the image of the earthly; so now they bear the image of the heavenly Adam: not that they come up in all things to be exactly like to the pattern, but it is their aim, and other things that disconform them to Him are deformed, loathsome, and ugly in their sight; their old inclination is burdensome to them; and is the continual ground of an inward contest and wrestling; and in a manner, they are troubled at the very heart, how to keep down what is opposite to Christ; and when their corruption overmasters them, they are the more discomposed, and disquieted; they discern something in them, that is not like to Christ, and they abhor that, though it be never so near and dear to them, their very self; they see something also like to Christ in them; and they cherish, and make much of it; they would fain be at more of it, and to have His image more deeply impressed on their spirits, which they reckon their greatest, indeed, their only beauty.

The 3rd use is for direction to believers; if you be Christ's seed, you must be other sort of folks in your designs, and in your deportment and carriage; kings' children ought not to carry as others; it would be highly unsuitable; indeed, even abominable to see them walk so trivially, and lightly as every base, ill-bred beggar's child does; it is no less incongruous, and unbecoming, that believers should be taken with this and that vanity, that mere worldlings are taken with, and hunt after.

The 4th use speaks a word of consolation to believers; and holds forth the greatness of the privilege of being Christ's seed; it will be much to persuade a poor sinner, duly sensible of sin, to believe this; and that the Lord is in earnest, when He speaks thus; that such a one, who has betaken himself to Christ for life, and humbly claims right to nothing, but by virtue of Christ's right (the main thing, that our union with Him is bottomed upon) who is content to be in Christ's common for life, and goes not about to establish his own righteousness, but leans to His righteousness, for life and salvation, should be His seed, and have all the privileges of sons derived to him; and yet it is the Lord's faithful word; neither has eye seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man to conceive, what good things are laid up for such a person; and that are summed up in these expressions of our relation to Christ Jesus.

Use 5. It may be also a quieting and comforting word to some believers, who are in affliction, poverty, and straits in the world; that our Lord Jesus is a kindly affectionate parent; more kindly and tenderhearted than the tenderest father or mother; and indeed it may sufficiently quiet them, that they have such a kindly overseer and provider, who is also a cordial sympathizer with them, whatever their condition be, He will not deny His offspring and seed, whom He laid down His life to purchase.

The 6th use may be for incitement and provocation to all that would be happy, to place it here; interest in Christ Jesus, by believing on Him, brings us to have interest in the enjoying of Him, and all that is His; and can there be any more sought after, or wished for? Are there any, but would think it a good life, to be here? And who are they, of whom He speaks so? It is not of some sort of strange and odd folk, that were once in the world, but are now all out of it; and of whom there are none now in it; it is not such as want sin, and derive their life from their own works; but it is such as are, 1. as considered in themselves dead in sins and trespasses, and without spiritual life and being; and who know that all the pains that they can take, will not acquire it; and who it may be, are quite dead to their own apprehension and sense oftentimes; and who have judged themselves, and have the sentence of death in themselves. 2. It is such as look to Him for the obtaining of life, and who acknowledge Him for any life, or liveliness they have; and who expect it, and enjoy it, by virtue of His purchase; which is that on which all their plea for life is founded.

Now I know, that all this will not readily clear some; there are so many things that look counterfeit like. But I am now speaking to them, who have some stirrings of spiritual life, which yet are not so lively, as they can discern them to be the stirrings and stirrings of life; and they have a body of death in them, which is ready to extinguish that life; and often they think it is extinguished already. They have convictions of their own deadness, and that things are wrong in their condition, and are quite out of all hopes of righteousness, from and by themselves, or from anything that they have done, or can do. And they have some confused looks to Christ; but they cannot rid their feet in the matter of their faith; and duties go not so with them as they expected, and would have them. To such I shall speak a word or two and close. 1. I would [reconstructed: ask], from where comes that stirring of life or feeling of that body of death? What is the origin of it? Will nature discover the corruption of nature, and bring folks to be out of love with corrupt nature? Certainly, where this is, it is not like nature, but is the life of Christ; especially, when it puts folks to discern, and take up their own deadness; to quit their own righteousness, and to be content to lay their mouth in the dust and to betake themselves to the righteousness of Christ, if they could win to be distinct in it. This looks to be from Christ, whose Spirit convinces the world of sin, and of the sin of unbelief in particular; and of righteousness, as being only to be had in Christ; and of judgment, that is, of the reasonableness, that He should have a dominion over them, and that they should walk in holiness. Yet, notwithstanding all this, they are hanging in a kind of suspense and hover; and know not whether to look on themselves as believers or not. They know well that it is not right with them; that they are lost in themselves, and that no other way will do their turn, but faith in the righteousness of a Mediator. The thing at which they stick and halt, is, that they know not how to [reconstructed: go through with], and maintain the consent that they have given; and they cannot think, that their faith is true faith, because they know not how to follow forth the exercise of it; though they have renounced their own righteousness, and laid their reckoning, to be in Christ's debt and common, for righteousness and life; if ever they come by them. All their difficulty, is, how to go through their believing. Now it is not to the founding of life, that we are here speaking, but to the exercise of life, and to the finding out of life; and we say, that such an exercise supposes life to be, though it be not discernible in its exercise, to the soul itself. There are many poor creatures born and brought forth into the world, that can neither talk nor walk, but must be carried and kept tenderly, and that are some way, as if they were not brought out of the womb. So is it with many believers, and it were good to be in Christ's common, as for life, so for bringing life to exercise, and by diligence and waiting on Him, in the use of His own appointed means, to seek to come to some distinctness in [reconstructed: noting], and exercising of any life, that He has given. And it is no small encouragement to this; that Christ shall see His seed, that He must have saints and believers in Him; which should make poor souls, that have no life in themselves, with the more confidence to commit themselves to Him, upon this very ground, that the Father has engaged to Christ, that He shall have many such for His seed. The which promise is performed to Him, in the gathering in of poor confused, and mind-perplexed sinners, to be in His debt, for life, and to hold their life of Him forever. It will sure be no small part of the ground of saints' praise in heaven, that He not only bought life for them, but that He made application of life to them; and trained them on, till He got them fitted to speak to His [reconstructed: Praise]; wherein the body of death makes many a sad stop, and makes poor believers to stammer, as it were, while they are here. But it is good news that Jesus Christ has bought life, and brought it to light; and that by this gospel, He is making application of it, and declaring that He is content to bestow it freely, on all them that will be in His common for it.