Sermon 46

Isaiah 53:11. 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.

The bargain of redemption is a great bargain, and we may say, that it is a good bargain, wherein the greatest things that ever were imagined are transacted; the sum of which is in these two. 1. What shall be the satisfaction, that must be given to the infinite justice of God, or what shall be the amends that must be made to God for the satisfying of His justice, for the sins of all the elect? and that is summed up in these words, The travail of Christ's soul, that is the condition, or these are the terms, on which only the Lord Jehovah will covenant, (to speak so) and He will covenant on no other terms. 2. What shall be the satisfaction that the Mediator shall have for all His sufferings, and soul-travail? And this is summed up in these words, He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied, upon which two stands the covenant of redemption; and hence it is, that all things relating to the salvation of the elect, are so sure and firm, that there is no possibility of the misgiving, or failing of whatever is here transacted upon.

We have spoken somewhat of the price, which the Son, the Mediator was to give, and of the soul-travail which He underwent in the paying of it: we shall now speak of the words as they hold out the promises made to the Mediator, and it is twofold. 1. He shall see of the travail of his soul, which words being an explication of the former, and looking also to these which follow, there is a word to be supplied, which will link in both, and it is fruit, He shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul, that is, He cannot but have a seed, and a numerous offspring, because of His soul-travail, in bringing them forth; and so the promise in this respect shows the certainty of the effect, that is, that He shall most certainly bring forth in His travelling. The 2. Promise is, that He shall see the fruit of His soul-travail; or His seed; it is much to have a seed, but it is more to see it; it is not only this, that Christ shall have a numerous issue, but that He shall outlive death, to see and oversee, and be a tutor to them, though by His death He purchased life to them.

We shall from the first promise take two observations, the 1. is this, that our Lord Jesus, by His suffering and soul-travail, shall certainly attain the fruit He aims at in it; His death and sufferings shall not be fruitless, but shall certainly have the intended fruit; whatever we take the fruit to be, whether we take it out of the former words, it is a seed that he shall see, or have; or whether we take it out of the following words, it is the justifying of many; both these come to the same thing, and it shall certainly come to pass, and be made effectual in the upshot of it; as the Lord Himself says (John 12:24), Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone, but if it die, it brings forth much fruit, where He compares His own death, to the sowing of seed, which, when sown does rot, and then springs up, and has fruit, so (as if He had said) my death shall be a seed, or seed-time, whereon abundant fruit shall follow for the good and salvation of many. This doctrine supposes, 1. That our Lord Jesus had a respect in the laying down of His life, to the salvation of His own elect people, or thus, that our Lord Jesus, in the laying down of His life, had a design and purpose to save the elect; as often He says, I lay down my life for my sheep; and here, they are called a seed, and fruit, and such as are justified in due time. 2. That this purpose should by His sufferings be certainly made effectual; this being the Father's promise to Him, He shall see His seed, or the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied. It cannot be frustrated; and we may further confirm it from these grounds. 1. Because it is a covenanted, and transacted business between the Father and the Son, and is here promised; if therefore there cannot be a failing of the transaction and bargain it must certainly have the full effect. 2. Because the Mediator has faithfully fulfilled His part of the covenant; and if He has been so faithful on His side; then Jehovah on the other side of the covenant, who has in it promised satisfaction to Him, for the travail of His soul, cannot but perform His part also; the Mediator performed His part, even till it came to these sweet words uttered by Him on the cross, It is finished; and therefore as I said, the other part, that he shall see the fruit of his soul-travail, must also be performed. 3. It is also clear from the end and design of the covenant of redemption, between the Father and the Son, and of Christ's laying down His life, which was to bring about life to, and to make it forthcoming for all them that the Father had given Him, and to, and for no more, nor to, and for no fewer; therefore He says, All that the Father has given me shall come to me, and, I give them eternal life, and will raise them up at the last day; now, this being the end of the covenant, and of Christ's death, and the means whereby the glory of grace is manifested, that life might not only be purchased to the elect, but also actually conferred on them, according to the Father's and the Mediator's design in the covenant; Christ Jesus cannot but have the promise made good to Him, there being an engagement of, and on the Godhead (to speak after the manner of men) as to the reality, certainty and success of the performance, and for making out this promise to the Mediator.

The 1st use serves for instructing and clearing of us, in several things disputed by unsound men; for, if this be a truth, that our Lord's sufferings and soul-travel cannot but have fruit, and the fruit that He aimed at therein, then, 1. There is a definite particular, and certain number elected, to partake of the benefit of Christ's sufferings; because there is only such a particular number that is given to Christ, to be redeemed by Him, and that do actually partake of the benefit of His sufferings, which cannot fail. 2. That Christ's sufferings are not intended as a price and satisfaction for the sins of all and every one; for so He should not see the fruit of the travel of His soul, but should in a great part miss and lose it, if He had intended that the travel of His soul should have been undergone for Judas, as well as for Peter. 3. There is here a ground, for the certainty, and efficacy of the grace of God in converting elect sinners, for Christ Jesus cannot lose these who are committed to Him to be redeemed, more than He can lose the fruit of His suffering, then sure faith is not left pendulous on man's free will, but is put out of question, as to all His own, through His undertaking. As He says, that no man can come to me, except the Father draw him, so He says, these that are given me, shall and must come to me; there is a pull, or powerful draft of the Spirit of God, which is nothing else, but the efficacy of His grace, by which this is made infrustrably sure, and not left contingent. 4. See here the truth of the perseverance of elect, and regenerate saints, who are appointed to be the fruit of His soul-travel, and a satisfaction to Him for the same; for, if they should fail, and not persevere to the end, the promise here made to the Mediator should be cast loose, and not be necessarily performed, and fulfilled. 5. See here how the salvation of elect sinners depends on the engagement between God and the [reconstructed: Mediator]; their redemption depends on [reconstructed: His] paying of the price, and their attaining the benefit of it depends on God's engagement to the Mediator; therefore we are said, (1 Peter 1) to be kept by the power of God through faith to salvation: it serves withal to clear the sovereignty of God, and the freeness of His grace, when sinners cannot pretend to have any hand in the work, to mar the beauty and efficacy of grace that shine therein.

Use 2. There is here, 1. something for the encouragement of such as would fain believe in Christ. And 2. Somewhat for comfort to, and for confirmation of them, who have betaken themselves by faith to Christ. 3. It serves withal, to encourage them, who would be at believing, and find difficulty in the way, while they are breathing after Him: it is certainly promised, that He shall have a seed, and shall see of the fruit of the travel of his soul, such therefore may expect, that they shall come speed, who would fain be at that which is the fulfilling of God's engagement to the Mediator; for it was transacted in the covenant of redemption, that His suffering should be for the good of elect sinners, and that the Father should make application of His purchase made thereby to them. Secondly, it serves to comfort, encourage and confirm such as are fled to Christ, and find their own difficulty, how to win through, for they have a good cautioner to make out their faith, and what concerns their salvation; God's promise to the Mediator shall not be for nothing, nor in vain, but shall have its accomplishment. If poor sinners were [reconstructed: left] to their own guiding, the bargain should never take effect, nor be made out; but it may encourage, and comfort the poor believer, though it should also humble him, that the business is put in another and better hand than his own. This has strengthened the wavering hearts of many believers before, that both sides of the covenant, as to their forthcoming, and performance, depend on the Father, and on the Mediator; the Mediator undertaking the payment of their debt, and the Lord Jehovah undertaking to draw them in to the Mediator, and by His power to bear them through, till they get all that the Mediator has purchased for them, conferred on them.

Secondly, Observe, That all the benefits and advantages that any have ever gotten, or shall get, that lead to Life Eternal, and which concur to promote the Work of their Salvation, are the Fruits of Christ's Purchase, by His Soul-travel. Is a Sinner brought to Believe? It's a Fruit of His Suffering. Is a Sinner Glorified? It's the Fruit of the same. And therefore, when in the one word it is said, He shall see his seed, it's said in the next word, He shall see of the fruit of the travel of his soul; to show, that a Soul's engaging to Christ by Faith, whereby the Person becomes one of His Seed, flows from His Suffering, and is a Fruit of the Travel of His Soul. As it is, 2 Corinthians 5:21: He was made sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God through him, or in Him; where our righteousness, and what conduces to our Justification, is derived from His being made Sin or a Sin-offering for us. And Galatians 3:13: It's said, that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, that the blessing of Abraham might come on us Gentiles. Whatever is comprehended under that Blessing as taking in both the land and Means by which we come by it, flows from His being a curse for us, and from His being brought under sad Suffering, and sore Soul-travel for us. In this Doctrine, you would consider something for clearing of it, or rather take the Doctrine itself several ways, and it will help to clear itself. First, Then, when we speak of the Fruit of Christ's Sufferings, we mean, not only that our Justification, the Pardon of our Sins, and our entry into Heaven, are Fruits of it; but that our Believing, Repentance, Holiness, and every thing that leads to that end, are Fruits of it also. Therefore it's promised to Christ in Psalm 110:3: Your people shall be willing in the day of your power. And that those that are given to Christ shall come, is a Promise as well as it's a Promise, that those that come shall be Justified, and the one follows upon Christ's Engaging, and performing of the Engagement as well as the other. Second, If we take the Doctrine thus, That there is nothing that a Sinner gets that leads to Life and Salvation, but it's a Fruit of Christ's Purchase; we get neither Repentance, nor Faith, nor Holiness, nor any other such thing, but on the account of Christ's Satisfaction. Or Thirdly, Take it thus, Whatever is needful for completing of those that are Christ's Seed, whom He has Purchased, whatever they want, or stand in need of, whether Righteousness, Holiness, Repentance, Faith, Hope, etc., all are purchased by Him, and are the Fruits of His Death, and Soul-travel. This rises clearly from the Words, He shall see of the fruit of the travel of his soul, that is He shall see Sinners believing on Him, and repenting for sin, as well as He shall see them Glorified. This will be clear, if we consider these two Reasons. First, The nature of the Covenant, wherein all the Promises concerning Sinners' Salvation are comprehended; there being but one Covenant of Redemption, and that being a Promise of this Covenant, to circumcise the heart to love God, and to write his law in it, as well as to pardon Sin; and all the Promises of the Covenant depending on Christ's Stipulation, and these things in the Promises flowing from the Covenant between God and the Mediator, Sinners can have no Right to any thing that is Promised, but by a Covenant, neither can they have any access to them, but through Christ's Suffering. Second, It's clear from the End of the Covenant that whatever Sinners have need of, they must be in Christ's debt for it; now, if we had Faith, or Repentance, or any other Grace from ourselves, or on our own account, we should not be in His debt, and indebted to Him for all that we need, as indeed we are, according to that, 1 Corinthians 1:30-31: He is made of God to us, wisdom, to be our Guide, and Teacher, righteousness, to be our Justifier, and the meritorious Cause of it, sanctification, to be the Worker and the Procurer of it; and in a Word, complete Redemption. And this is subjoined as the Reason of all, That he that glories, or rejoices, may glory, or rejoice in the Lord; that is, Whether there be a looking to Faith, or Repentance, or any other Grace, there may be no cause to be vain or proud of it, but that knowing these to be from Christ, and Fruits of His Purchase, all the praise of them may be to Him alone.

The use of this is large, it speaks something more generally to them that are strangers to Christ, and who think that they would be at Him; and something to them that are in Him; and something to both. And the first thing that it speaks is this (which we have often heard of, but cannot hear of it too often,) even the great and glad tidings, and very good news, which we have to speak of through Jesus Christ, that redemption is purchased by Him to poor sinners, and that through Him there is access to life, and peace, and reconciliation with God, from which through sin we had fallen, and run ourselves under a forfeiture of, and from which we had been barred up eternally except He had suffered. There was a wall of separation, and partition standing between God and us, which by His sufferings was demolished and broken down, and thereby a door of access to God struck up, even through the veil of his flesh. These should be refreshing and fresh news to us every day, as indeed they would be, if we rightly knew, and believed the benefit of God's friendship, and what were our hazard, in lying still in nature, and what was the price that Christ laid down to purchase for sinners friendship with God, and delivery from His curse; that it behooved to cost Him severe soul-travail, before any special grace could be bestowed on sinners; and that this same gospel that is preached to you, is a fruit of the travail of His soul; and that in making the Covenant of Redemption, this same was a part of the indenture (to speak so) that these good news might be published in this same place, and these glad tidings spoken of among you. And therefore, secondly, put a greater price on the means that may further your salvation; on repentance, faith, holiness, peace with God, etc. For they are the fruits of a very dear purchase, and the results of a great and severe conflict, which the Mediator had with the justice of God, before there could be access for a sinner to any of them. There was not so much paid to get the world created, as was paid to buy faith, repentance, access to God, and an entry to heaven, to runaway sinners: nothing was paid for the one, but a mighty great price for the other. And therefore, thirdly, we would expostulate with many of you, how it comes to pass, that you think so little of these things that Christ has purchased, that you think so little of faith in Him; and that so many of you take a counterfeit for it; try not if you have it; trouble not yourselves though you want it; and that other things of little value are much esteemed of, and over-valued by you. Is there any thing comparable to that, which Christ has put such a price on, that He gave His own life for it, and that God has put such a price on, that He promised it to Christ, as a part of the satisfaction for the travail of His soul? And yet it is lightly valued by many, yes, by most men and women; the day will come, when you will think faith to be of more value, and will think the pardon of sin, and an interest in Christ's blood, to be valuable above the whole world, though you had it, when you shall be brought to reckon with God for the slighting thereof. And therefore, fourthly, seeing this is a truth, that every thing that leads to life eternal, is a fruit of Christ's purchase, take the right way to attain it. The exhortation implies these two: first, that you make a right choice of, and put a just value on these things, that you should choose and value; second, that you take the right way for attaining of these things. First, then, would you know what is to be valued and chosen? It is certainly these things, that God and the Mediator esteem of, and that the Congregation of the First-born esteem of; the things that Christ has purchased, and which are the fruits of the travail of His soul, are most excellent; and therefore, mind, study, and seek after these things, that may lead your souls in to life eternal; seek after faith, and repentance, to have your peace made with God, to have the heart purified, to be of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God are of great price, as the Apostle Peter speaks; to have pardon of sin, and holiness, for adorning the gospel of God, and to have glory, that you may see God and enjoy Him. These things are the best things, this is undoubtedly the better part which will never be taken from them whose choice through grace it is. God will give great estates, countries and kingdoms in the world, to men, to whom He will not give so much faith as is like a grain of mustard seed, nor a dram of true holiness; because He thinks much less of the one than of the other, and because the one is not so like God, nor will it have such abiding fruit as the other.

Second, what way may people come to make this choice, and to attain these best and most valuable things? No other way, but that which this doctrine holds out: if all things that lead to life and salvation be fruits of Christ's purchase, then sure it is by virtue of Christ's purchase alone, that you must come by them. Pardon of sin comes by the blood of sprinkling; peace with God, grace and more grace, the exercise of grace, and growth in holiness, faith in all its exercises and advances, and every other grace, come by His sufferings, as also does glory; because He has purchased these graces of the Spirit, as well as pardon of sin, and heaven. Often Christ is overlooked, and passed by here; many think that they shall obtain pardon of sin, and go to heaven without Him; others, though they will not own that, yet fail in the second, and would make use of Him for pardon of sin, and for paying of their debt, if they could repent and believe in Him; but till they find these in themselves, they shrink from coming to Him. Whereas the sinner that is convinced of sin and of his danger, would lay down this as the first step of his way in coming to Christ: any repentance and believing, and the making of the heart willing to close with, and to cleave to Him, is the fruit of Christ's purchase, and I must be in His common for it, for there is no other possible way to get it. The first direction (to speak so) that a wakened and sensible sinner should look to, for pardon and peace, for repentance, faith, and all things, would be to Christ, and His sufferings, from where all these come. Sinners at first are disposed to take too far a look, and so mistake in the order of things; therefore, when the sense of sin pinches them, and they set about to believe, and find that their hearts are very averse from believing, and can hardly be brought to it, then they are faint, when they consider, and find that, if it stood but on this, even to consent to take Christ, they cannot do it. But then, and in that case, the Lord minds that they should be much in His common for faith, and repentance, and for a soft and tender heart, and that they should seek these from Him, as well as pardon of sin, considering that all this is Christ's purchase; and that there is a possibility to come to it this way, when they can come to it no other way. If you would take this way, even to eye and look to Christ as the author, and finisher of faith, and be in His common for it, through His grace it should go better with you. This is it which the Apostle has, Hebrews 12, where he calls to lay aside every weight, and the sin that easily besets, and to run the race with patience that is set before us. And if it should be said, how shall that be done, even by looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; and then follows, who, for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, and despised the shame. Thus leading people into His sufferings, as the solid foundation of their faith.

Use 2. See here ground for quashing the natural pride that is among men and women as to spiritual things. How so? Where is the ground for this? Here it is: because all is Christ's purchase, which may also give a check to these, who, because they have nothing in themselves, think not that they shall come to speed upon this ground; as it does to these others, who have gotten something, and are proud of it. To clear it a little, we would consider, that there is a pride in people, before they come to Christ: they cannot well endure to be in Christ's debt for every thing; they will take pardon of sin from Him, but they would have faith and repentance of themselves, as some money in their purse to bring with them to Him, that they may buy it. But, where will you, I pray, get faith, or repentance, if not from Him? Are they not His gifts, and fruits of His purchase? Which, if it were well considered, there would be no access to the proud reasonings of unbelief. Do you say, but these things are the fruits of Christ's sufferings, and His gifts? And if so, must you not be in His common for them? And as it silences the reasonings of unbelief, so it stops the mouth of the sinner, and humbles him much more, than if he had these things in or from himself, and were only to be in His common for righteousness and justification. 2. We would consider, that there is often some pride, and conceit in them that have faith, disposing them to think themselves to be better than other people. But, if you have faith, from where is it? Or who has made you to differ? Is it not a fruit of Christ's purchase? And will you be vain, or conceited of that which is the purchase of another? This is a spiritual poor pride, that stinks in the nostrils of the holy Lord, so to abuse His goodness, as to be proud, because He has bought and bestowed that which you could never have procured, nor attained yourselves. If then people have nothing, it is good to mind this, that Christ has purchased what sinners stand in need of, and that it may be had in and from Him. And if people have anything, they should not be proud or conceited of it, but mind that what they have, is a fruit of Christ's purchase, and that therefore there is no ground to be proud of it.

The 3rd use serves to show what great obligation lies on sinners that get any special good from God: [reconstructed: it] is Christ that has purchased all, and therefore they ought to improve all that they have gotten for Him who has bought all; As it is (1 Corinthians 6:20): You are not your own, you are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your bodies, and in your spirits which are God's. Whatever you have of faith, or repentance, of holiness, or of ability to serve and honor God in your station, it's bought with a price, and a dear price, and therefore glorify God in the right use-making, and managing of it. We would think it no little progress and advancement in religion, if you were brought to walk under the suitable impression of your engagement to Christ, as holding all that you have, and that serves for your through-bearing of Him. For, what do we, or can we do? It's Christ that buys all, and that confers all; we can do nothing of ourselves but abuse His purchase. And were it not, that the [reconstructed: sureness] and stability of our covenanting depends on the first covenant, even the covenant of redemption, transacted between these two responsible parties, Jehovah, and the Mediator, we would [reconstructed: quite more], and break all the bargain between God and us, and cast all loose every day, if not every moment.

The other promise is, that He shall see His seed, and as we hinted before, it's one thing to have a seed, another thing to see a seed. The former promise looks to His having of a seed, and this to His seeing of that seed. From this, observe that not only is there a seed promised to Christ, but also the seeing of a seed; not only fruits, but the improving and managing of these fruits. Or thus: not only is there a seed promised to Christ, but the overseeing of that seed is also promised. He shall have no other tutor (to speak so) to leave His children to but Himself. He shall die, and shall by His death beget a seed, and yet by His death He shall become the overseer of that same seed, that by His death is begotten. There is much of the dignity of Christ's office, and of the comfort of believers here: that Jesus Christ is not only the procurer of our life, but the overseer of it. From this comes that conclusion of the Apostle (Hebrews 7:25): Therefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, forasmuch as he lives forever to make intercession for them. He has not only purchased life, and many good things to believers, but He is living to make the application of His purchase to them; and therefore is able to save to the uttermost, all that come to God by Him. Indeed, if He had been prevailed over by death, there might have been great hazard and doubt, if not utter despair of ever attaining His purchase, and a great crack (to say so) or breach in our consolation. But when He is executor of His own testament, and by His Spirit makes the application, what is, or can be wanting? We shall say no more, but that here it is clear, that we have a living Mediator as Himself says (Revelation 1:18): I was dead, and am alive, and live for evermore. And therefore sinners, step forward to His sufferings, and seek the application of His purchase, since He lives to make it. It will, no doubt, be great ground of challenge against you, who slight His sufferings, and keep at a distance from Him, since He is alive, and since what is much accounted of by Him, even the fruit of His sufferings, is by you set at nothing, who neglect, refuse, or despise Him, and the [reconstructed: benefit] of His sufferings. O, what an [reconstructed: aggravation] of your guilt will this be? When He is looking on, to see what comes of the fruit of His sufferings, and [reconstructed: Soul-travail]; to be found thus to slight, and in a manner to affront Him? He knows and takes notice of the breathings of faith, where they are; and is well pleased with them, and with the least inclinations toward it. He knows also, who despise Him, and refuse to believe in Him, and has all put on record. God give us wisdom, to make the right choice.