DISCOURSE IX. 2137 ,coming, to seek and save that which was lost ; Luke xix. 10. And he must be willing tokeep that Which he undertakes to seek and to save. It was his love and willingness to take care of sinners, that brought him down from heaven to an incarnation, and veiled the dignityof his divine glory in' the lowly and debased figure of a man, in the likeness of sinful flesh. A believerreads his willing- ness in the very features of his manhood; and every poor painful circumstance of his life writes his love still in fairer cha- racters. What mean all his labours, and wearisome travels ? His preachings and pleadings with obstinate men all the day, in towns andvillages ? And hismidnight wrestling with God upon the cold mountains ? What mean his kind invitations, and his melting language, Oh, every one that thirsteth, let himcome unto me, and drink? Comeunto me all ye that are weary, and Iwill giveyou rest ; Mat. xi. 28. Come to the physician, ye that are sick and I will heal you. Comeye that are heavy laden, and I will releaseyou. He that çometh unto me shall in no wise be cast out ;. John vi. 37. What can be the design of all these tender expressions, but to acquaint us with his willingness to:take careof thosesinners that commit their souls to him ? What means his submission to cruel sufferings, and bitter reproaches ? his agonies in the garden ? The convulsions of his nature, and the tortures ofhis soul? Tortures that drew cries and tears from the Son of,God ? And his soul was exceeding sorrowful, even to astonishment and death. What do all those speak, if not love and willingness to save ? What is the language of his arms, when spread naked on the cross, but come unto sue, sinners, and Iwill embrace you? This is the voice of every wound of his body, while his breath ex- pired amidst blood and groans. Nor canwe understand any thing by all these scenes of woe, ifwe cannot read love in them, and a hearty willingness to secure believing sinners fromthe wrath to come. 4. He bath perfect righteousness, and atoning blood. So that the most guilty soul may trust himsafely ; forhe has obeyed, and he has suffered :. Ile has procured pardon for sin, and justi- fication unto eternal life : He has made satisfaction for the vilest ofcrimes, and for the chief ofsinners. Hehad a human nature that could die, and the in-dwelling divinity, that could put infi- nite dignity into his death, and render it a full atonement for the heaviest guilt : He, has paid our immense debts, and justice ac- knowledges the receipt in full: He has fulfilled' the commands of God's perfect law, which wecould never fulfil : and he has borne the cursewhich would have made us for ever miserable : And all this not for himself, but in our stead ; and that with this design, that lie might redeem us from the curse of the law, and prese
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