SERM. When the Even was come, they brought unto II. bim many that were poffelfed of Devils: And he caft out the Spirits with a Word, and bealed all that were fick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Ifaiah the Prophet, Saying, Himfelf took our Infirmities and bore our Sickneffes. A fhrewd Objection this might be in the Mouth of a modern Infidel; who would doubtless infift upon it, that either the Prophet or the Evangelift must be mistaken. Whereas the Truth of the Matter is thisSt. Matthew does not say that this was the original, intended Senfe, much less the only Senfe, of this Prophecy; but only that in this Senfe thofe Words of Isaiah may be looked upon as fulfilled or verified: nothing being more common than for the facred Writers of the New Testament, and the Fathers of the firft Ages after them, to quote Scripture in this general Manner, only by way of Reference or Accommodation. It is common for all Writers to do the fame; that is, when any Scripture may be aptly accommodated to any particular Event, for the fake of that Accommodation, to quote it in a different Senfe from that which was originally in tended II. n tended by the facred Writer. It is what is SERM. often done by Chriftians now. When they fay, "Such a Scripture is fulfilled in me, or "thofe Words are verified in my Cafe; they don't mean that the inspired Writer intended their particular Cafe in these Words; but that they may be properly adapted or fitly applied to it. Which is all that St. Matthew means by the forementioned Quotation; and is, I think, a fufficient Answer to the Objection. Two Things are afferted in the Text which require a particular Confideration. I. That the Meffiah fhould fuffer not for his own Sins, but for ours. Surely he bath born our Griefs, and carried our Sorrows: yet we did efteem him ftricken, Smitten of GOD, and afflicted. But be was wounded for our Tranfgreffions, be was bruifed for our Iniquities. II. That the End and Design of his Suffering for our Sins was to make our Peace with GOD. This is expreffed in the following Words, The Chaftifement of our Peace was upon him, and with bis Stripes we are healed. All we like Sheep SERM. II. Sheep have gone aftray: we have turned · every one to bis own way: and the Lord bath laid on him the Iniquity of us all, 1. That the Meffiah should fuffer not for his own Sins, but for ours. Surely, be bath born our Griefs, and carried our Sorrows, he was wounded for our Tranf greffions, he was bruifed for our Iniquities. This indeed is what his Enemies would deny, esteeming him fricken, Smitten of GOD, and afflicted, for his own Sins, his Impofture, Ufurpation and Blafphemy. Accordingly we find that they counted him a Malefactor, and as fuch crucified him between two Thieves; declaring to Pilate the Roman Governor, that if he were not a Malefactor they would not have brought him before his Tribunal (d). But if we perufe the History of his Life we shall find, that the Sum of all they had to lay to his Charge, was his prefuming to act in a Character which really did, (but which they would not believe did) belong to him. That the whole Course of his Behaviour exemplified (d) John xviii. 30. II. fied the most perfect Integrity of Heart and SERM. Life: and fhewed, what his Apostles declared him to be, viz. the spotlefs Lamb of Gon (e), in whom there was no fin (f), who did no Evil, neither was Guile found in bis Mouth (g); but was koly, harmless, undefiled, and feparate from Sinners (b). That is, from their finful Actions, fo as not to communicate or partake with them therein. Hence it follows then (what the Prophet here foretold) that he must have fuffered for the Sins of others. For what he fuffered was either the natural Confequences of a mortal Condition, and of his converfing in a World of finful Men; or what was inflicted upon him by the immediate Hand of Gop. And in this laft mentioned Way, it is undeniable, he did fuffer. For it pleafed the Lord to bruife him, and put him to grief; ver. 10. The Hiftory of his Life and Death confirms it; and he himself acknowledged it when he cried out, My GoD, my GOD, why hast thou forfaken me? But now in this way he could not have fuffered confiftently with Juftice, but either on Account of his own (e) John i. 36. (g) i Pet. ii. 22. (f) John iii. 5. SERM. Own Sins, or of the Sins of others. But I II. have already proved that he had no Sins of his own to fuffer for. It neceffarily follows then (what the Text fo plainly afferts) that he suffered from the Hand of GOD only for the Sins of others; or that when he was fricken and Smitten of GOD and afflicted, he was wounded for OUR Tranfgreffions, and bruifed for OUR Iniquities. And that the Meffiah fhould fuffer and die for the Sins of others, was foretold not only by the Prophet Isaiah, but expressly by Daniel, Dan. ix. 26. After fixty-two Weeks the Meffiah fhall be cut off, but not for himself. Agreeable to which prophetic Declarations is the concurrent Testimony of the Apostles, that Chrift was delivered for our Offences (i); that he died for our Sins according to the Scriptures (k); and that, he bore our Sins (i.e. the Punishment of our Sins) in his own Body on the Tree (1.) For Chrift is said to bear our Sins by bearing the Punishment due to them; nor is it poffible he should bear them in his Body any other way than by fuffering for |