filled, in their Room and Stead, the Whole of the broken Covenant of Works, by giving Obedience to the Precepts of it, in doing all the Father commanded him; and by fatisfying the Threatnings of it, in fuffering that Chaftisement, Curfe and Punishment the Father laid upon him, and which was due to them because of their Tranfgreffions (y). By which, as in their Room, he gave complete Satisfaction to all, that either the Law-Covenant, or Juftice of God, could require of them, in Order to their Salvation: So hereby be put an End to Sin, made Reconciliation for Iniquity, and brought in everlasting Righteouf nefs (z), purchased to elect Sinners, and to them only, a complete Deliverance from the Curfe of the Law, and Wrath of God, from Sin, Satan, the World, Death, and the Sting of it (a). By this álfo he procured a Reftoration of every Thing neceffary to the eternal and complete Happiness of his People, to the Favour and Image of God, of Accefs unto God, and Communion with him; fo as that he becomes a God unto the poor, but now believing Sinner, his reconciled Father, and Portion for ever (b). In him the naked, deftitute, weak and difobedient Sinner, but made willing in a Day of his Power, has a complete and perfect Righteoufnefs; which being imputed to him, in a Way of Grace, comes to be juftified in the Sight of God the Judge of all the Earth; and thereby has a fure and inviolable Title to the promifed Life (c) Our glorious Redeemer hath alfo purchased for all his A 3 Gal: (y) Gal. 3. 13. Rom. 5. 18, 19. Rom: 8. 3, 4. (*) 4:4, 5, 6. Ifaiah 53, 5. Dan: 9. 24. John 19. 30. 1 John 3.8. (4) Gal: 3. 13. Titus 2. 14. Gal. 1.4.1 Theff; 1. 10. John 3. 16. Job 33, 24. (b) Eph. 5: 25, 26. Eph: 2: 18. Rom: 5:2. Col: 1: 20, 21. 2 Cor: 5:19. Heb: 7:22. with Heb: 8; 10. (c) Ifaiah 45: 24. Philip: 3:7, 8, 9. Rom: 3:21, 22. Rom: 4: 6. Rom: 5: 1. Rom: 5. 17, 18. Rom; 3. 24. Rom: 4.25. Rom. 5. 9. John 3. 16, 36. Inferences en Grace, Seed Adoption, or their being admitted into his From what hath been now offered, we may from this. learn the unspeakable Value of immortal Souls, the high and infinite Price that was paid for thefe, the matchlefs and boundless Love of Christ. And feeing Christ hath thus purchased and paid for all, then furely thefe Bleflings, thus purchased, cannot be convey'd to Sinners, but in a Way of the purest and freeft Grace. (e) John 1. 12. Rom. 8. 16, 17. (f) Eph. 2. 21. I Pot. 2. 29. 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15. Gal. 2. 20. John 19. 28. (g) Heb. 5.9.1 John 3. 2, 3. 1 Theff. 4. 17. 1 Cor. 15. 54, 55, 56, 57.1 Cor. 13. 12, (b) John 16. 7, 8, 9. Eph. 4. 8. Rom. 8. 9. 1 Cor. 2. 4, 12. 2 Cor. 4. 13. Rom. 8. 16, 26, 27. Ezek. 36. 27. Zech. 12. 10. Gal. 3. 2. (i) Zech. 6. 13. Ifaiah 53. 10, 11. John 6. 37. John 10, 26, 27. Rom. 11. 7. Eph, 1. 3, 4, 5. As allo, we may hence oblerve the exact Suitablonels of the Remedy to the Sinners Malady, and of purchased Mercies to his Miferies; and what great Encouragement Parents have,oto bring their Children to the Lord Jefus Christ, and to his complete Obedience, perfect Satisfaction and Righteoufnefs; for, tho' our Babes come miferable to the World, altogether incapable to do any Thing for their own Relief or Happinefs; yet here, in Chrift is all that's neceffary to their complete Redemption and Salvation, and all this in a Way of free, fovereign, and rich Grace, With what Joy then, may Parents bring their Infants hither, feeing it is to a Saviour who died for fuch; who in the Days of his Flefh took them in his Arms and blessed them; and now when he's afcended into Heaven, will not and does not reject them! Seeing it is to a God in Chrift reconciling the World to himself who hath extended his Covenant of Grace to then, and fo promises to be their God; and to an holy and divine Spirit; who, in his own Time and Way, effectually renews and fanctifies them, as well as thofe who are come to riper Age, 9 and Secu 4thly, Redemption and Salvation being now The Appurchafed, GOD, according to his eternal Pur- plication pofe, and the Promife of his Covenant of Grace, rity of doth apply thefe, or put his People in Poffeffion this Salof them, by Means of his Appointment, accor- vation. ding to their Capacity, and the effectual Operation of his Holy Spirit; fo as they come to be favingly and actually brought into Covenant, and have all the Bleffings thereof convey'd and fecured to them, to the Praife of the Glory of his Grace (k). And God being willing to give the Heirs of Salvation the fulleft Security imaginable, A 4 (k) Rom. 8. 30. 1 Cor. r. 30. John 6. 37. Ephef. 1. 3, to 12. Ephef. 4. 11, 12, 13. ble, and to fhew the Immutability of his Counfel, it hath pleafed him to confirm the fame, First, By his Oath, whereby he pledges his glorious and infinite Perfections, for the Accomplifhment of his Promife (1). 2dly, By the Indwelling of his Holy Spirit; working in his People, and witneffing to them their Intereft in Chrift, their Title to this purchased Redemption, and Right to all the Promises of the well ordered and everlafting Covenant; and that upon Scripture Evidence (m). And, 3dly, God doth visibly and externally feal all the above-named Bleffings, by his Gofpel Sacraments, as inftituted vifible Signs and Pledges thereof (n). InferenFrom this we may be informed, of the furprices from fing Care that an infinitely gracious God hath, this. not only of the Salvation, but also of the Comfort of his People. For, as he hath found out an eternal Happiness for them, and in the most immutable Manner fecured this to them, fo he freely gives them all thefe Things; by which, they may come to a perfonal and fubjective Certainty of this; that fo they may have strong Confolation, who have fled for Refuge to lay Hold upon the Hope Set before them. And as if this was too little, how doth he alfo provide for their Comfort, as to the eternal Happiness of their tender infants; in that, as he promises to be their God, fo to be the God of their Seed after them; and by his Oath, his Spirit, and Sacraments, gracioufly fealeth and ratifieth the fame to them; fo that they may have good Hope through Grace, as to the Salvation of their Children, yet ftill, in the moft fubmiffive and holy Manner, adoring and ftooping to divine Sovereignty.. stbly () Heb. 4. 13, to 18. (m) Titus 3. 5, 6. Rom. 8. 15, 16. Eph. 1. 13. Eph. 4. 30. (2) Rom. 4. 11. Coloff. 2. 11. Rom. 6. 4. 1 Pet. 3.21. Matth. 26. 26, 27. 1 Cor. 11. 24, to 29. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Philip. 3, 3. Matth, 5, 9, 1 John 3. 10, 14. 1 John 5, 2. ment what. sthly, We would know, That a Sacrament is A Sacraan Holy Ordinance inftituted by Chrift, wherein, by fenfible Signs, Chrift, and the Benefits of the new Covenant, are reprefented, Sealed and applied to Believers. As to which, thefe few Things may be briefly noticed; : First, That God alone is he, who doth inftitute, or hath Power and Authority to appoint God only Sacraments. For, ift, He only can and does ap- Sacrapoint all Kinds, Parts and Acts of his own Wor- ments. fhip He only is the fupream Lawgiver, and none but himself, and thofe to whom he reveals his Will, can understand what that Service is, which shall be well pleafing and acceptable to him (). 2dly, God only can give and does beftow, the rich Grace, and gracious Bleflings, fignified by Sacraments (p). And, 3dly, Becaufe he only can and does Place fuch a Connection betwixt the Signs, and the Bleffings or Things fignified, as that Things fignified are really reprefented, applied and fealed by thefe Signs. And fo a fure Foundation laid, for the Faith of his People, in the Ufe of them (q). ces from From this it is evident, That the Five Ba Infererftard Popish Sacraments, viz. Confirmation, Or- this dination, Pennance, Marriage, and Extream Unction, are really no Sacraments, feeing they want the Appointment and Inftitution of God: And the Boldness or Prefumption of Men cannot but be justly condemned, who dare of themselves to appoint Signs, and annex thereto Things fpiritual, as fignified thereby; or, who take upon them to appoint Worship which the Great God hath not commanded; or to alter or add to what he hath inftituted: For this is more than what (0) Jer. 19. 5. Matth. 15. 9. Matth. 28. 19. Ifaiah 1.12. Eph. 5. 10. (p) Jer. 31. 33. 34. 11, 12. Ezek, 36. 25, 26, 27, 28. Mark 2. 7. 23. Heb. n. 6. Rom. 14. 5. Ifaiah 8, 20. Angela 1 Cor. 11.23. Heb. 8. 10, (9) Rom. 14. |