In General, of the End of the Death of Christ, as It Is in the Scripture Proposed

i In 1 general of the end 2 the death of Christ, as it aS U7 the Scripture proposed. my

“1. By the end of the deathrot Christ, we mean in general, both first, that which his Father and himself intended n ‘it and, secondly, that which was effectually fulfilled and accomplished by it. Concerning either, we may take a brief view of the expressions used by the Holy Ghost.

Ist. For the first: Will you know the end wherefor, and the intention wherewith Christ came into the world? Let.us ask himself, (who knew his own mind, as also all the secréts of his Father’s bosom, ) and he will tell us, that the Son of man came to save that which was lost, A/atth. Xvill. 2, to recover and save poor lost sinners; jlae vest his intent and design,. as is again asserted, Luke xix. 10, Ask also his Apostles, who know his mind, and they will tell you the same. So Paul, 1 Tim. i. 15, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. Now, if you will ask who these sinners are, towards whom he hath this racious intent and purpose, himself tells you, Matth. xx.

«

28.*that he came to give his life a ransom for many; in other places called us, believers, distinguished from the world; for he gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from the present evil world, according to the will of God. and our Father, Gal. i. 4.. That was the will and intention of God, that he should give himself for us, that “| we might be saved, being separated from the world. They are his church, Eph. v. 25, 26, 27. He loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it, with the washing of water, by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. Which last words express|also the very aim and end of Christ, in giving himself/for any; even that they may be made fit for God, and brotght nigh unto him: the like whereof is also asserted, Tit. ii. 14. he gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. ‘Thus clear then and apparent, is the intention and design of Christ and his Father in this great work; even what it was, and towards whom, viz. to save us, to deliver us from this evil world, to purge and wash us; to make us holy, zealous, fruitful in good works; to render us acceptable, and to bring us unto God, for through him we have access into this grace wherein we stand, Rom. v. 2. 2dly. The effect also, and actual product of the work itself, or what is accomplished and fulfilled by the death, bloodshedding, or oblation of Jesus Christ, is no less clearly manifested; but is as fully, and very often more distinctly expressed.

“As, 1. Reconciliation with God, by removing and slay- ing the enmity that was between him and us: for when we were enemies, we were reconciled unto God by the death of his Son, Rom. v. 10. God was in him reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses + unto them, 2 Cor. v. 19. yea he hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, ver. 18. And if you would know how this reconciliation was.effected, the Apostle will tell you, that He abolished in his flesh the enmity, the law of commandments consisting in ordinances, for to make in o;

Chap. I. + + As eternally intended. Bi

himself of twain one new man, for making peace: arid that he might reconcile both unto God, in one body by: the cross; having slain the enmity thereby, Ephes. ii. 15. 16. so that he is our peace, ver. 14.

2. dustificalion; by taking away the guilt of sins, procuring remission and pardon of them, redeeming us ‘from their power, with the curse and wrath due unto us for them: for by his own blood he is entered into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Heb. ix. 12. He redeemed us from the curse, being made a-curse for us. Gal. iii. 13. His-own self-bare our sins in his own body on the tree. 1 Pet. ii. 24... We-have all sinned and come short of the glory of God; but are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ; whom God hath sent forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the re- “mission of sins, Rom. ili. 23. 24, 25, for in him we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins; Cols i. 14,

3. Sanctification; by the purging away Kot the uritead: ness and pollution of our sins, renewing in us the image of God, and supplying us with the graces of the spirit of holiness: for the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, purgeth our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God, Heb. ix. 14, yea the blood of Jesus’ Christ cleanseth.us from all sin, 1 John i. 7. by himself he purged our sins. Heb. i. 3. That he might sanctify the people with his own blood, he suffered without the gate; Hed. xiii. 12. he gave ‘himself for his church, to sanctify and cleanse it, that it ‘should be holy and without blemish, Eph. v. 25, 26, 27- peculiarly amongst the graces of the spirit, it is given to us inip Xess, for Christ’s sake, to believe on him, PAzi. i. 29, God blessing us in him, with all oe itual aia In yet places. Eph. i. 3.

doption; with that evangelical herp bese all those eferfota privileges which appertain to the sons of God: For God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the — ha we ue receive 5 1 eon na Gal. Iv. 4. Bi aia

4 HD ares ted oie Oneal 5. Neither do the effects of the death of Christ rest here; they leave us not until we are settled in heaven, and glory

and immortality for ever; our inheritance is a purchased

possession. Eph. i. 14. And for this cause he is the Me-

diator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for

the redemption of the transgressions that were under the

first Testament, they which are called might receive the

promise of eternal inheritance. Heb. ix 15. The sum of all is, the death and bloodshedding of Jesus Christ hath wrought, and doth effectually procure, for all those that are concerned in it, eternal’ redemption, consisting in grace here, and glory hereafter. oe

II. Thus, full clear,» and evident are these expressions in the Scripture concerning the end and effects of the death of Christ; that a man would think, every one might run and read: but we must stay. Among all things in Christian religion, there is scarce any thing more questioned

‘than this, which seems to be a most fundamental principle: a spreading: persuasion there is, of a general ransom paid by Christ for all, that he died to redeem all and every one; not only for many, his church, the elect of God, but for every one also of the posterity of Adam. Now, the masters of this opinion do see’ full well and easy, if: that be the end of the death of Christ, which we have from the Scripture asserted, — if those before recounted be the 1mmediate fruits and products thereof, that then of these two things will necessarily follow: that either, first, God and Christ failed of their end proposed, and did not accomplish that which they intended, the death of Christ being not a fitly proportioned mean for the attaining of that end, (for any other cause of failing cannot be assigned;) which to

assert, seems to us blasphemously injurious to the wisdom, power and perfection of God, as likewise derogatory

to the worth and value of the death of Christ: or else, that all men, all the posterity of Adam, must be saved, purged, sanctified, and glorified; which surely they will not maintain, at least the Scripture, and the woful experience of millions, will not allow.. Wherefore, to cast a tolerable

colour upon their persuasion, they must and do deny, that

God, or his Son, had any such absolute aim or end in the death or bloodshedding of Jesus Christ; or that any such

Chap. II. 4s eternally intended. 23

thing was immediately: procured and purchased by it, as we before recounted: but, that God. intended nothing, neither was any thing effected by Christ, that no benefit ariseth to any immediately by his death, but what is common to all and every soul, though never so cursedly unbe- heving here, and eternally damned hereafter, until an act of some, not procured for them by Christ, (for if it were, why have they it not all alike?) to wit, faith, do. distinsuish them from others. Now, this. seeming to me.to enervate the virtue, value, fruits, and effects of the satisfaction and death of Christ; serving besides for a basis and foundation to a dangerous, uncomfortable, erroneous persuasion, I shall, by the Lord’s assistance, declare what the scripture holds out in both these things; both that assertion which is intended to be proved, and. that which. is brought for the proof thereof; desiring the Lord by his Spirit to lead us into all truth, to give us understanding in all: things; and if any one. be otherwise minded, to: rev eal - that also unto him. y

== p Gee