Page:Christ the saviour of the world (1).pdf/7

This page has been validated.
Chriſt the Saviour of the world.
7

5. Laſtly, The ſalvation of loſt ſinners of the world of mankind, is very acceptable to the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus, as well as to himſelf, otherwiſe he had not ſent his Son Saviour of the world, I Tim. ii. 3. 4. 'For this is good and acceptable in the ſight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be ſaved.' Hence it is called 'The pleaſure of the Lord,' Iſa. liii. 10. 'The pleaſure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.' So he is ſaid to make the marriage for his Son, and to ſend forth to bid to that marriage, Matth. xxii. Whence it is evident, that there is no impediment to the ſalvation of ſinners by Jeſus Chriſt, on Heaven's part; it is pleaſing to the Father, to his Son, and to his Spirit,

II. I ſhall open this character, 'Saviour of the world,' in which Christ was ſent; and if that end enquire into two things' I. In what ſenſe Chriſt is the Saviour of the world, 2. What is the buſineſs committed to him as ſuch.

Firſt, In what ſenſe, Chriſt is the Saviour of the world. A Saviour is a name of honour, and a name of buſineſs. It is an honourable thing to ſave and help the miſerable; to be deſtined, appointed, and called to that employment: But the honourable poſt has buſineſs annexed to it; it will not do without activity, which ſucceſs is expected to attend, as in the caſe of a teacher, phyſician, and the like. Now, one may be a ſaviour,