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GOD'S LOVE TO MAN IN THE GIFT

OF HIS SON.

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Rom. viii. 32.

To think worthily of God we must conceive of him as a Being of universal benevolence: he spared not his own Son, but delivered him up to accomplish our deliverance from sin and misery. What may we not expect after such an instance of love? So the apostle ar gues; and is not his argument like the melody of heaven? Does it not awake every feeling of hope, love, and devotion? Does it not touch every tender spring of the heart?" He that spared not," &c.

I. Illustrate the meaning of the expression, "God spared not his own Son."

1. These words express the awful procedure of God towards a person related to him in the most endearing manner. Christ is the Son of God, his own Son, his only Son. John i, 14; Heb. i. 3.

2. Not that the Father withdrew his love from him; for as Christ was always perfectly amiable, so the Father's love to him is perfectly steady.

3. Nor that he behaved to him, as some earthly pa rents do towards their children; in a cruel, unjust and tyrannical manner.

4. But, that the Father did not withhold his Son, when the circumstances of man required such a Mediator.

5. That he abated nothing of the punishment

which Christ, as our Mediator, voluntarily undertook to bear. (Isa. liii. 5.) And so made an atonement for the sins of the whole world. 1 John ii. 2.

II. In what sense God delivered up his Son for us all.

1. It may apply to his incarnation: he was then delivered to an humble condition. The word was made flesh. John i. 14.

2. Delivered to mean circumstances in our nature, poverty, and want. (Matt. viii. 20.) Persecution. Isa. liii. 3.

3. To unspeakable agony of mind. Matt. xxvi. 38.

4. Into the hands of malicious men, who bound, scourged, buffeted, crowned him with thorns, and spit upon him.

6. To death, the death of the cross; shameful, painful. All this came to pass by the appointment of God, in consequence of his friendly intentions to

man.

7. For us all; in our stead; for our benefit; that we might be justified, sanctified, glorified. 1 Peter iii. 18; Heb. ii, 10.

II. The inference drawn from the divine conduct as expressed in the text. If God gave up his Son for us all, we may depend upon it, that he will give us all things together with him.

1. All things temporal, as God sees necessary, and as will be most conducive to our present and eternal happiness.

2. All spiritual blessings, illumination, pardon, justification, adoption, sanctification, peace, love, joy, hope, eternal glory; and the certainty of receiving these things arises,

3. From the immutability of God's goodness. The apostle's meaning is, that so great an expression of love, as God's delivering his Son, infers every other expression.

4. From God's giving his Son power to give all things. Matt. xxviii. 18.

5. From the promise of God. Ps. lxxxiv. 11.

Improvement.

1

1. Let the benevolence of the Father, in delivering up his Son for us all, excite us to acts of charity to the poor and needy.

2. Let it excite the warmest emotions of love and gratitude to God for his boundless love.

3. Let that love and gratitude appear in a jealous devotedness to his service and glory.

4. Let it encourage our entire dependance on God in Christ, for present salvation, and eternal glory.

CHRIST'S LOVE TO MAN IN DYING
FOR HIM.

The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. 2 Cor. y. 14,

In the former verse the apostle represents himself and his brethren discharging their duty with so much zeal and ardour, as might be construed madness by superficial and inconsiderate minds. In the text he accounts for this conduct, and tells us what principle it was that thus actuated them. The love of Christ, &c. This kindles an internal fire in our minds; this offers a moral violence to our wills and affections, and

makes a kind of necessity, the agent in performing his pleasure.

I. Describe the love of Christ in dying for men. Four things exhibit this love in the most advantageous light, and recommend it by whatever can endear or persuade.

1. The dignity of the person who loved us, the Son of God, who is God over all. John i. 1; Rom. ix. 5.

2. The nature of his sufferings and death. He was poor, persecuted, rejected, scourged, crowned with thorns and crucified. Phil. ii. 7, 8.

3. The noble and blessed end for which he died; to leave us a pattern of patience and resignation, of integrity and benevolence; to deter men for ever from sin; to induce to holiness; to raise our souls to God, by the charms of such love; to prevent our dying for ever; to shut the gates of hell; open heaven; replace man in paradise, that he might be the author of salvation to all that obey him.

4. The character of those for whom he died. The impure, the guilty, the ungodly, enemies to God. (Rom. v. 8. 10.) The unjust. 1 Peter iii. 18.

II. In what sense all were dead, when Christ died for all.

1. All mankind were subject to natural death through the original transgression. Rom. v. 10.

2. Were morally dead; destitute of every good and gracious principle; dead in sin. Ephes. ii. 1. 3. Were liable to the second death. (Rev. xxi. 8.) Condemned to suffer it. John iii. 18.

III. Consider the returns to which this great love obliges men.

1. To express the most grateful sense of his loving

kindness: by loving him (1 John iv. 19.); imitating him in sincerity, beneficence, justice, devotion, mildness, peaceableness, mercifulness. 1 Peter ii. 21.

2. To obey his government over us, by consulting his will as revealed in the Scriptures; and cheerfully complying with his commands. John xiv. 15.

3. To prepare for his second appearing; to be found of him in peace, without spot (Ephes. v. 27.); with confidence and joy. 1 John ii. 28.

CHRIST'S INCARNATION.

Behold a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a Son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel; which being interpreted, is God with us. Matt. i. 23.

WE read in the ancient poets, of the gods descending to this earth, and occasionally visiting the sons of men: what they tell us on this subject is mere fable ; it is the poet's own invention, contrived to animate his story. But the gospel delivers to us a matter of fact; it celebrates the actual descent of God to our world, to dwell among men; to refine their grovelling nature; to lead them beyond the grave to scenes of immortality. The coming of Jesus Christ is a visit from heaven, a visit from the Prince of heaven: it is more, it is God himself entering into the strictest union with human nature. This is the meaning of that great name, by which our Lord is dignified in my text.

I. Consider in what sense Christ is Emmanuel, and in what respects he answers that name.

1. He is literally so: God with us; he is God united to man. God veiling the splendour of his di

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