Consider 2: Sin Wounded Christ

CONSIDER. II.

The sins of men have exposed the Son of God to all these bitter sorrows and death which He suffered. They were the procuring cause of it. I do not say, that we were the crucifiers of Christ as the Jews were, or that the guilt of His death does lie upon us as it does on them: but this I say, that our sins were the cursed weapons which wounded Christ to death. How then can we look on sin with a pleasant countenance? It is reported that when some of Caesar's friends showed the people his bloody robes, saying, Here is the blood of your Emperor, they were filled with rage against the men that had murdered him. Our sins have been the murderers of the Prince of Life: we may see them dyed with the blood of Christ: and shall not the thought of that fill us with an holy rage against sin? The works of our hands drove the nails into His; our feet being so swift to sin, have caused His feet to be nailed to the cross. If you are one that shall be saved, every one of your sins has had a stab at Christ: not one of your sins but the soul of the Son of God has had a stab for it. He felt that for your sins which made Him to swear blood. If you should see the knife that had murdered your dearest friend, would you not be filled with indignation at the sight of it? Sin is the sword that has pierced the heart of the best friend that ever you had in the world. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5). Oh then abhor to have any more to do with sin. When some did with the hazard of their lives fetch water for David to drink, he willing to let the world see that he valued the lives of his subjects more than the satisfaction of his own sensual appetite, refused to drink thereof, and said, Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives (2 Samuel 23:17)? And shall the waters of sin be sweet to you, when they have cost the Son of God His life to save you from them? Will you so undervalue His blood? Shall He die to redeem you from all iniquity, and shall any iniquity be sweet to you? Then never call yourselves Christians, for though you may be so in name, I am sure you are not so in heart and in truth. Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.