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V. The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he, through the eternal Spirit, once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of his Father; and purchased not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father bath given unto him.1

VI. Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof, were communicated unto the elect in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein he was revealed and signified to be the seed of the

V. k Rom. v. 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners: so, by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Heb. ix. 14, 16. How much more shall te blood of Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself vthout spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. Heb. x. 14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Eph. v. 2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. Rom. iii. 25, 26. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. To declare, I say, at this time, his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believed in Jesus.

Dan. ix. 24, 26. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come, shall destroy the city, and the sanctuary, and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the war desolations are determined. Col. i. 19, 20. For it pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell. And (having made peace through the blood of his cross) by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Eph. i. 11, 14. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. John xvii. 2. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. Heb. ix. 12, 15. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. And for this cause he is the Mediator 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,

woman, which should bruise the serpent's head, and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world, being yesterday and to-day the same, and for ever.m

VII. Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both natures: by each nature doing that which is proper to itself yet, by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature, is sometimes in scripture attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.o

VIII. To all these for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same ;P making intercession for them; and revealing unto them, in and by the word, the mysteries of salvation; effectually persuading them by his Spirit to be

VI. m Gal. iv. 4, 5. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Gen. iii. 15. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Rev. xiii. 8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Heb. xiii. 8. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.

VII. n Heb. ix. 14. (See letter k, scripture the second.) 1. Pet. iii. 18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, (that he might bring us to God) being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.

o Acts xx. 28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. John iii. 13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man, which is in heaven. 1 John iii. 16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

VIII. p John vi. 37, 39. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. John x. 15, 16. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. q 1 John ii. 1, 2. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Rom. viii. 34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

r John xv. 13, 15. Greater love hath no man than this, that a mah

lieve and obey; and governing their hearts by his word and Spirit; overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such manner and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.t

lay down his life for his friends. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you. Eph. i. 7, 8, 9. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Wherein he hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself. John xvii. 6. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

s John xiv. 16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Heb. xii. 2. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 2. Cor. iv. 13. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken: we also believe, and therefore speak. Rom. viii. 9, 14. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Rom. xv. 18, 19. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed. Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God: so that from Jerusalem and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. John xvii. 17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

t Psal. cx. 1. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 1 Cor. xv. 25, 26. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed, is death. Mal. iv. 2, 3. But unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet, in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. Col. ii. 15. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Chapter IX.

OF FREE-WILL.

God hath endued the will of man with that natural li berty, that is neither forced, nor by any absolute necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.a

II. Man, in his state of innocency, bad freedom and power to will and to do that which is good and well pleasing to God; but yet mutably, so that he might fall from it.

III. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, bath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation :d so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin,f is not able, by his own

I. a Mat. xvii. 12. But I say unto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. James i. 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Deut. xxx. 19. call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

II. b Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Gen. i. 26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. c Gen. ii. 16, 17. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree in the garden thou mayest freely eat. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. Gen. iii. 6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise; she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.

III. d Rom. v. 6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom. viii. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. John xv. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing.

e Rom. iii. 10, 12. As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one. They are all gone out of the way; they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no not one.

ƒ Eph. ii. 1, 5. And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ; (by grace ye are saved.). Col. ii. 13. And you, being dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.

strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself there

unto.g

IV. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin, and by his grace alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good ;i yet so as that, by reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not perfectly nor only will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.k

go John vi. 44, 65. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me, draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. Eph. ii. 2 to 5. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us: even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ; (by grace ye are saved.) 1 Cor. ii. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Tit. iii. 3,4, 5. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared; not by works of -righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

IV. h Col. i. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. John viii. 34, 36. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

i Phil. ii. 13. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do, of his good pleasure. Rom. vi. 18, 22. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

k Gal. v. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Rom. vii. 15, 18, 19, 21, 23. For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. For I know, that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not. For the good that I would, I do not but the evil which I would not, that I do. I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members.

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