and not amply executed? Search the Scriptures; there you see abundantly, that the Sacrifice of this Lamb taketh away the Sin of the World (g); that GoD accepteth it, as a Propitiation, an Offering to him of a fweetfmelling Savour (b); in Confequence hereof, that Chrift hath the Keys of Death and Hell(i); and that all Power in Heaven and Earth is given to him (k). True then it is, that Sin fball not be unpunished; that the Wages of it is Death; that the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against it. All this is the certain, the unchangeable Decree of the Almighty; nor fhall one Tittle of it fail. But behold the Garden, and the Crofs; confider well the Agony, and the Execution; remember whofe Cries you hear, and who it is that expires; and then fay, if Sin hath not been punifhed, if Death hath not been endured, if the Cup of Wrath hath not been drank even to the very Dregs, if all is not finished. For he was not only a Man, whose Sufferings were full of Bitterness, and Pain, and Reproach; though this were pitiable: Not barely One he was, who was innocent of the Crimes for which he fuffered; though this might justly double our Compaffion: But he was a Man, pure in Heart and Life, as Adam in the Moment of Creation; he was alfo (e) John i. 29. *) Rev. ii. 16. (b) Eph. v. 2. One One perfonally united to the Eternal Word. Thus innocent, thus dignified, be bore our Griefs and carried our Sorrows; was ftricken, fmitten of God, and afflicted; was wounded for our Tranfgreffions, and bruised for our Iniquities; bis Soul was made an Offering for Sin (1.) It was his Union with the divine Word, which enabled him to endure all the Load of Wrath, which Sin had provoked: It was this, which made that Endurance a fufficient Satisfaction. Thus united, GoD could neither demand, nor we deferve more of Vengeance than he could pay. Thus united, he was capable of fuffering; and this Suffering was to the full Satisfaction of Divine Juftice: Wherefore alfo be is able to fave Sinners to the uttermoft (m). SAY now, upon thefe Views, what Power hath not CHRIST to fave? He hath Salvation to bestow: For in his Death all the Confequences of Sin are done away. This vindicates God's Glory, opens a Way to Communion with Gop, and Sanctification of our Hearts through the Spirit, and averts the fearful Curfe of God's Wrath. He is able to fuccour us. And he is willing to impart to us all the Benefits of this valuable Purchase. BUT ftop, thou finful Man, and confider the Value of thy Soul. He who beholdeth (2) Ifa. liii. 4, 5, 10. (m) Heb. vii. 25: the Things which are not, as if they were; who comprehendeth Eternity, and takes it up at a Thought; who hath fixed the Depth of Hell and the Height of Heaven, and measures in his Mind the Mifery of one and the Happiness of the other; who, knowing the exact Worth of this World and the next, hath fent his only begotten Son to rescue thee from Destruction, and to refit thy ruinous Soul for Glory: What doft thou read of the Value of thy Soul in this his Dealing? Were a Prophet or an Angel fent to thee of exprefs Meffage from GOD, with a Miracle in his Hand; did a well-known Friend come to thee from the Dead; it would bear no equal Conviction with it, could a waken no fuch folemn Impreffion; as the Condefcenfion of the Eternal Word to take upon him thy Nature, and therein to make Atonement, is fuited to do. Haft thou understood thefe Things? Haft thou learnt the Importance of thy Soul, whilft thou haft been confidering the holy One of God manifefted to render Glory to GOD, to raise thy defiled Nature to Holiness, and to redeem thee from the Curfe? Haft thou been fearching after the various Steps of this adorable Myftery with a trembling Concern? And haft thou felt a glad and fatisfying Joy and Confolation springing up within thee, and growing more quick and lively, as the Mystery hath hath been unfolding, and Conviction of the Redeemer's Power to fave and fuccour thee, hath grown ftronger and clearer upon thy Heart? It is well: Such as thefe are the anxious Diftreffes of the self-condemned Soul; fuch the awful Importunity, with which it waits upon the Rifing of the Sun of Righteousness. As this Light advances, the Soul enlarges its Profpect; pierces upward to God, and forward to Eternity, and downward to Hell; extends its Views abroad upon the miserable State of Man, intimately confiders itself, and is mightily engaged in the Caufe of its eternal Interefts. For the Sacrifice of Chrift is fo inftructive every Way; it fo warns us of the horrid Guilt and Danger of Sin, of the Excellence of eternal Glory, and of the Terrors of God's Wrath, and withal of our own Weakness and Infufficiency; that whoever attends to it with perfonal Application, fhall affuredly find the Value of his Soul, and infenfibly fall into that awakened Frame of Concern which the Apostle fo ftrongly expreffes, when he bids us work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling (n). SAY now, have you thus weighed the Sacrifice of Chrift? Hath it taught you, either to tremble under the vast Importance of your Salvation, or to rejoice in the affured (7) Philipp. ii. 12. Ability Ability of the Redeemer to fave you? Hear then yet farther. Secondly, HE is willing to make you Partaker of all thefe Fruits of his Sacrifice. A full Hand avails nothing to the Relief of the Neceffitous, unless the Poffeffer be also of a bountiful Difpofition. But the Heart of our Redeemer is inlarged, as his Hand is plenteous. He is as willing to fave, as he is able. Nor fhall I need fet about any long Iluftration of that, which wants Obfervation more than Evidence. That Chrift is willing you should reap the Fruits of his Sacrifice, requires little Proof, but much Perfuafion upon the Mind. And here let all his Condefcenfions and his Love confirm you, how ready, how pleased he would be to fave you, to give you the Peace he hath purchased, the Grace he hath to bestow, and the Glory he is in Poffeffion of. Should a Man forego his Eafe and Quiet, go through Toil and Labor, endure all Difficulties, and run the Risk of his Life to promote your Welfare, you would be left without all Doubt of his Readinefs to ferve you. And did the Son of Gop freely leave the Bofom of his Father,. and clothe himself with your Flesh; did he fubmit to the Cradle and the Manger, to Poverty and Perfecution, to a Life of Labor, and a Death of Shame; did he deserve nothing of all which he underwent, when malicious |