262. Tpe partionpoftieZítíuedttiíbntcß Chap. 14. the only Propitiation for fins committed before his com- v v s ming. The Apoffle tells us, He was not obliged to fa Heb° g :5,26. himfelf often, as the High-Friefl entered into the Holy glace every year, with the Blood ofotherr, but now once in the endoftheVYorld bathheapeared toput awayfin, by the Sacrifice ofhimfelf. The direet fenfe of the Words is, that the virtueof his Sacrifice extended it felf to all times : for otherwife in regard Men have always need- ed propitiation, He muff have Suffered often fnce the Creation of theWorld. And ifit be askt,how His Death had a faving influence before He actually Suffered the anfwer is clear : We muff confider the Death of Chrift not as a Natural but Moral caufe : 'cis not as a Medicine that heals, but as a Ranfom that frees a Cap- tive. Natural Caufes operate nothing before their real exiftence;but'tis not neceffary that moral Caufes fhould have an actual being : 'tis fuflicient that they fhall be, and thattheperfon with whom they are effedual,accept thePromife.As aCaptive is releaff upon affurancegiven thathe will fend his ranfom,though 'tis not aaually de- pofited. Thus the death ofChrift was available to pur- chafepardon for Believers before his coming forhe in- terpafed as their Surety, and God, towhom all things are prefent, knew the accomplifhment ofit in the ap- rom pointed tthefoundation ofthe ro ld; not only in refpe of God's Decree,but his Efficacy. The falvation we derive from him, was ever inhim.He appeared under the Empire of Auguflus,anddyed under Tiberius,buthewas a Redeemer I car. 25 z,, in all Ages, otherwife thecomparifon were not juft,that as by Adam all die, fo by Chrfl all are madealive. 'Tis true, under the old. Teftament they had not a -clear knowled'g of him,yet they enjoyed the benefit of his unvalued Sufferings. For themedium by which the benefits our Redeemer purchafed,are conveyed toMen, is
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