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dation of the whole building not so much as once discovered. It was always upon my desires, that some one would undertake the main, and unfold out of the word from the bottom, the whole dispensation of the love of God to his elect in Jesus Christ, with the conveyance of it through the promises of the gospel, being in all the fruits thereof purchased and procured by the oblation and intercession of Jesus Christ; by which it could not but be made apparent, what was the great design of the blessed Trinity in this great work of redemption, with how vain an attempt and fruitless endeavour, it must needs be, to extend it beyond the bounds and limits assigned unto it by the principal agents therein; that arguments also might be produced for the confirmation of the truth we assert, in opposition to the error opposed; and so the weak established and dissenters convinced,-was much in my wishes. The doctrine of the satisfaction of Christ, his merit, and the reconciliation wrought thereby, understood aright by few, and of late oppugned by some, being so nearly related to the point of redemption, I desired also to have seen cleared, unfolded, vindicated by some able pen; but now after long waiting, finding none to answer my expectation, although of myself I can truly say with him in the Comedian, Ego me neque tam astutum esse, neque ita perspicacem id scio,' that I should be fit for such an undertaking; the counsel of the poet also running much in my mind,

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Sumite materiam vestris, qui scribitis, æquam,

Viribus et versate diu, quid ferre recusent
Quid valeant humeri."

Yet, at the last, laying aside all such thoughts, by looking to him who supplieth seed to the sower, and doth all our works for us, I suffered myself to be overcome unto the work, with that of another, Ab alio quovis hoc fieri mallem quam a me: sed a me tamen potius quam a nemine :' 'I had rather it should have been done by any than myself, of myself only, rather than of none;' especially considering the industrious diligence of the opposers of truth in these days.

-Scribunt indocti doctique

Ut jugulent homines, surgunt de nocte latrones:

Ut teipsum serves non expergisceris."

Add unto the former desire, a consideration of the frequent conferences I had been invited unto about these things,

Hor. De Art. Poet. ver. 38. Hor. Epist. lib. ii. Epist. i. 117. lib. 1. Epist ii. 32.

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the daily spreading of the opinions here opposed, about the parts where I live, and a greater noise concerning their prevailing in other places, with the advantage they had obtained by some military abettors, with the stirring up of divers eminent and learned friends, and you have the sum of what I desire to hold forth as the cause of my undertaking this task. What the Lord hath enabled me to perform therein, must be left to the judgment of others; altogether hopeless of success I am not; but fully resolved that I shall not live to see a solid answer given unto it: if any shall undertake to vellicate, and pluck some of the branches, rent from the roots and principles of the whole discourse, I shall freely give them leave to enjoy their own wisdom, and imaginary conquest: if any shall seriously undertake to debate the whole cause, if I live to see it effected, I engage myself by the Lord's assistance, to be their humble convert, or fair antagonist. In that which is already accomplished, by the good hand of the Lord, I hope the learned may find something for their contentment, and the weak for their strengthening and satisfaction; that in all some glory may redound to him whose it is, and whose truth is here unfolded; by the unworthiest labourer in his vineyard,

J. O.

BOOK I.

THE

DEATH OF DEATH

IN

THE DEATH OF CHRIST:

A TREATISE OF THE REDEMPTION AND RECONCILIATION THAT IS IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, WITH THE MERIT THEREOF, and SATISFACTION WROUGHT THEREBY.

CHAP. I.

In general of the end of the death of Christ, as it is in the
Scripture proposed.

By the end of the death of Christ, we mean in general, both first, that which his Father and himself intended in 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.

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For the first. Will you know the end wherefore, and the intention wherewith, Christ came into the world? Let us ask himself (who knew his own mind, as also all the secrets of his Father's bosom), and he will tell us, that the Son of man came to save that which was lost;' Matt. xviii. 11. to recover and save poor lost sinners; that was 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 gracious intent and purpose, himself tells you; Matt. 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 this present

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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 -27. He loved his 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 brought 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 the 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 the grace wherein we stand;' Rom. v. 2.

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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 first, Reconciliation with God, by removing and slaying 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 sins 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 himself, the enmity, the law of commandments consisting in ordinances, for to make in himself of twain, one new man, so making peace. And that he might reconcile both unto God, in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby;' Eph. ii. 15, 16. so that he is our peace; ver. 14. Secondly, Justification, by taking away the guilt of sin, procuring remission and pardon of them, redeeming us from

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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. 13. ‘he redeemed us from the curse, being made a curse for us ;' Gal. iii. 13. his own self bearing 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 set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins ;' Rom. iii. 23-25. for 'in him we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins;' Col. i. 13. Thirdly, Sanctification, by the purging away of the uncleanness 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 unto God, purgeth our consciences from dead works, that we may serve the living God; Heb. ix. 14. yea, the blood of Jesus Christ, cleanseth us from all our sins;' 1 John i. 7. by himself he purged our sins; Heb. i. 3. ' to sanctify the people with his own blood he suffered without the gate; Heb. 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. Peculiarly amongst the graces of the Spirit, it is given to us' vπèp Xplorou ' for Christ's sake. to believe on him;' Phil. i. 29. God blessing us in him, with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places;' Eph. i. 31. Fourthly, Adoption, with that evangelical liberty, and all those glorious 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 law, that we might receive the adoption of sons;' Gal. iv. 4, 5. Fifthly, Neither do the effects of the death of Christ rest here, they leave us not until we are settled in heaven, in glory, and immortality for ever, our inheritance is a 'purchased possession;' Eph. i. 14. 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 may 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 effec

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