ower sinners might come, and be safe, and by
which they might really ascend into heaven. Some do by these words "for
sin," understand the occasion and reason of Christ's coming, that it was,
because sin had conquered the world, and subjected man to condemnation,
therefore, Jesus Christ came into the world to conquer sin and condemn it,
that we might be free from condemnation by sin. And this was the special
cause of his taking on flesh. If sin had not entered into the world,
Christ had not come into it, and if sin had not erected a throne in man's
flesh, Christ had not taken on flesh,--he had not come in the likeness of
sinful flesh. So that this may administer unto us abundant consolation. If
this was the very cause of his coming, that which drew him down from that
delightful and blessed bosom of the Father, then he will certainly do that
which he came for. He cannot fail of his purpose, he cannot miss his end:
he must condemn sin, and save sinners. And truly this is wonderful love,
that he took sin only for his party, and came only for sin, or against
sin, and not against poor sinners. He had no commission of the Father but
this, as himself declares, John iii. 17; for "God sent not his Son into
the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be
saved." As one observes well, Christ would never have hinted at such a
jealousy, or suggested such a thought to men's minds, had it not been in
them before. But this we are naturally inclined unto,--to think hard of
God, and can hardly be persuaded of his love, when once we are persuaded
of our enmity. Indeed the most part of the world fancy a persuasion of
God's love, and have not many jealousies of it, because they know not
their own enmity against God. But let a man see himself indeed God's
enemy, and it is very hard to make him believe any other thing of God, but
that he carries a hostile mind against him. And therefore Christ, to take
off this, persuades and assures us, that neither the Father nor he had any
design upon poor sinners, nor any ambushment against them; but mainly, if
not only, this was his purpose in sending, and Christ's in coming,--not
against man, but against sin; not to condemn sinners, but to condemn sin,
and save sinners. O blessed and unparalleled love, that made such a real
distinction between sin and sinners, who were so really one! Shall not we
be content to have that woful and accursed union with sin dissolved? Shall
not we be wil