100 WORK or THE HOLY of himself unto God in his agony, when he ered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears, Heb. 5. 7. which declares not the matter, but the man- ner of his offering. 5. In all that ensued, all that followed hereon, unto his giving up the ghost, he offered himself to God in and by those actings of the grace of the Holy Spirit in him, which accompanied him to the last. And theseare diligently to be considered, because on him depends the efficacy of the death of Christ, as to atonement and merit, as theywere enhanced and rendered excellent by the worth and dignity of his person. For it is not the death of Christ merely, as it was penal, and undergone by the way of suffering, that is the means of our deliver- ance, but the obedience of Christ therein, which con- sisted in his offering of himself through theeternal Spirit unto, God, that gave efficacy and success unto it. We may therefore inquire what were those principal graces of the Spirit which he acted in this offering of himself unto God: and they were, (I.) Love to mankind, and compassion towards sin- ners, This the holy soul of the Lord Jesus was then in the highest and most inconceivable exercise of. This, therefore is frequently expressed, where mention is made of this offering of Christ; Gal. ii. 20. Who loved me. and gave himselffor me; Rev. i. 5. Who loved us, and washedus in his own blood. And compassion is the first grace required in an high priest or sacrificer, Hob. v. 2. God beingnow upon a design of love, (for it was in the pursuit of eternal love that Christ was sent into the world, John iii. 15,. Tit. iii. 4, 5, 6.) This love that was now in its most inconceivable advancement in the heart of Christ, was most grateful and acceptable unto him. And this intenseness of love did also support the mind of Christ under all his sufferings, asJacob through the greatness of his love unto Rachel, made light of the seven years service that he endured for her, Gen. xxix. 20. And so did the Lord Christ endure the cross, anti despise the shame, for the joyof saving his elect which was set before him, Heb. xii. 2. And this was one grace of the eternal Spirit, whereby he offered him- self unto God. 2. That which principally actuatedhim inthe whole, was his unspeakable zeal for, and ardency of affection unto the glory of God. These were the coals, which with a vehement flame, as it were conyumed the sacri- SPIRIT IN AND ON fice. And there were two things that he aimed at with respect unto the glory of God. (1.) The manifestation of his righteousness, holiness, and severity against sin. His design was to repair the glory of God, wherein it had seemed to suffer by sin, Psal. xl. 6, 7, 8. and Heb. x. 5, 6, 7. He came to do that with full desire of soul, (expressed in those words, to I come,) which legal sacri- fices could not do, namely, to make satisfaction to the justice of God for sin, to be a propitiation to declare his righteousness, Rom. iii. 25. And this he sloth as to the manner ofit with inexpressible ardency ofzeal and affections; ver. 8. I delight to do thy tedl,' O my God, yea thy law is in the midst ofmy bowels; he doubles the expression of the intenseness of his mind hereon. And, therefore, when he was to prepare himself in his last passover for his suffering, he expresseth the highest en gagement of heart and affections unto it: Luke xxii. 1.5. With desire have I desired toeat this passover with you before I syffir. As with respect unto the same work he had before expressed it. I have a baptism tobe bap- tized withal, and how am I straitened, orpained, till it be accomplished? Luke xii. 50. His zeal to advance the glory of God in the manifestation of his righteous- ness and holiness, by the offering up himself as a sin- offering to make atonement, gave him no rest and ease until he was engaged in it, whence it wrought unto the utmost. (2.) The exercise of his grace and love. This he knew was the way to open the treasures of grace and love that they might be poured out on sinners to the everlasting glory of God. For this was the design of God in the whole, Rom. iii. 24, 25, 26. This zeal and affection unto the glory of God's righteousness,faithful. ness, and grace, which was wrought in the heart of Christ by the eternal Spirit, was that wherein princi- pally he offered up himself unto God. 5. His holy submission and obedience unto the will of God, which were now in the height of their exercise,_ and grace advanced unto the utmost in them, was ano- ther especial part of this his offering up himself. That this was wrought in him by the Holy or Eternal Spirit, was before declared. And it is frequently expressed as that which had an especial influence into the efficacy and merit of his sacrifice. Phil, ii. 8. Ile hetmbled himself, and became obedient unto death, the death of the cross, And when he offered up prayers and supplications, though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=