By ROBERT ASTY of Norwich
(and from a sermon published in 1683).
Now, do but consider the attributes of God apart, and you will find that they are no way relieving out of Christ; but in Christ they are full of grace, and they are all exhibited and revealed through him as saving.
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As to the justice of God. Why, the justice of God out of Christ is terrible. To consider that God is a most exact, righteous God, that will give everyone their due, and will mete out a portion to everyone according to his desert. This is most terrible to consider God out of Christ, and what may we expect but as Psalm xi, 6, “Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest; this shall be the portion of their cup.” This will be the portion of all those that God hath to do with out of Christ. But now in Christ Jesus this attribute is atoned, and all that wrath, and justice, and vengeance had to execute, is poured out upon Christ Jesus. Justice dealt with the Lord Jesus in its utmost severity, and received satisfaction in him and from him; so as now, says the apostle, in I John i, 9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins”; and so Rom. iii, 26: “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Why, justice hath nothing to say against thee, but it speaks all for thee, because God is a righteous God, therefore he will love thee; and therefore he will bless thee with all blessings, because he hath received full satisfaction from Jesus Christ thy Surety.
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Consider the power of God out of Christ, and it is enough to fill thy heart with terror. “Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong in the days that I shall deal with thee, I the Lord have spoken it” (Ezek. xxii, 14). Hast thou a strength to grapple with me, or canst thou set thy foot against me? No, verily; what are all the nations of the earth? They are less than a crawling worm before the foot of the great God; thou canst not stand before it. But now in Christ Jesus this attribute is atoned too, and the mighty power of God is engaged to carry on, and to manage a salvation design in thee. Therefore, says the apostle, “That ye may know what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power” (Eph. i, 19). So as let the power of God be ever so great, it is a power engaged for thee to manage and carry on salvation work in thee; whatever be the opposings that it meet with, either from thy own heart or from others.
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If you consider the attribute of God’s wisdom, it is not relieving out of Christ. That God is so infinitely wise, and so deep, the soul may think all this is against me, and what is he now doing but contriving new torments, that are more fierce and exquisite for me? And surely there will be no end of these torments? But now in Christ Jesus the wisdom of God is employed in such a design of salvation, that the angels are said to pry into it; they are astonished at the design that is brought to light by the wisdom of God.
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If you consider the patience of God out of Christ; it is no way relieving. For what will it advantage a soul that God does bear with it a while, when under all, there is wrath treasuring up for him against the day of wrath. “What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction” (Rom. ix, 22). So that the patience of God is exercised in bearing with a sinner a little while till he increase his sins; but God will come in upon him notwithstanding all, though he bear a little while. But now in Christ Jesus the patience of God is reconciled. “The
Lord is not slack concerning his promises, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter iii, 9). Why, God in Christ Jesus is patient; and God glorifies his patience, that he might be known to be gracious.
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The love and goodness of God out of Christ are not relieving; for they are at an end. The soul may think, Well, his love is at an end; he hath no more love for me; I am his enemy. Man, when he had sinned, must turn out of paradise. See my face no more, says God. But now in Christ Jesus is the love, goodness, and mercy of God revealed.
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The immensity and benignity of God, out of Christ, are not relieving. What though God may give considerable portion in the world, he may fill thine hands with wealth, and thy house with treasure, and fill thy chest with store: but all this may be given to those with whom God is displeased. There is the curse of God upon all thy store and plenty; this will not at all avail thee. But now in Christ Jesus the immensity and benignity of God is reconciled, and how doth it speak out love and grace! God is an immense God, and he gives out according to his own immensity. And what then are the gifts of his love and grace? They are such as cannot be weighed; they are such as cannot be measured; there is a height, and depth, and length, and breadth, in all his goodness that cannot be fathomed. And all this he is to the soul through Christ.
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If you consider his eternity out of Christ, it is no way relieving. That God is my enemy, says the soul, and is an everlasting God; he will be my enemy for ever, and all that is in God will be engaged against me for ever. His justice, his wisdom, and his power, and all his attributes will be engaged against me for ever. But now in Christ Jesus, the eternity of God is matter of great comfort to thee; because he is an eternal God, being thy God, he will be thy God for ever, thy dwelling-place for ever, and thy portion for ever. He will never depart from thee; he will never leave thee; he will never cease to be what he hath promised to be, because he is an everlasting God.
Thus you may run over all the attributes of God, the glory and the fullness of them are exhibited and unfolded, published and revealed by Christ Jesus unto us. And hence it is in Scripture that the mercy and kindness of God to sinners through and with respect to Christ Jesus is mentioned: “Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. i, 3). And hence it is said, that we with open face behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (II Cor. iii, 18); and “God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Cor. iv, 6). And hence it is that Jesus Christ is said to be “the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express image of his person” (Heb. i, 3). So that here is another thing that is an abiding ground of joy and rejoicing for us in Christ Jesus, he is the exhibiter, revealer, and unfolder of the fullness of all the blessed and glorious properties of God’s nature in a way of salvation. Hence, when God comes to enter into covenant with a believer, he doth not enter into covenant with him absolutely, but in and through Christ Jesus; and hence is it that all the promises of the covenant that are God’s gifts of grace to
us, are yea and amen in Christ Jesus. Now, do but consider this, and you may see that Christ is one your souls may take comfort in. Consider the glory of his person as he is Mediator, and consider the graciousness of his nature as he is full of love, and consider how he is the exhibiter and unfolder of the fullness of all the blessed and glorious attributes of God in a saving way. And whatever discouragement, christian, thou hast here below, look up to Jesus, and you may see God in him engaged to be your God; God’s power engaged for you, God’s mercy, God’s name, and God’s glory, all engaged for you. Thus as to the first particular, what Jesus Christ is.