101 / 808
V
HR.7,
Ephefians,Chap.e.
89
of
the devill, holding
us
under
the
curfe ; from
the power
of
our con
-
fcience
jufily condemning
us,
from the power
offinne,
commanding
as
King,
how
much more
is
this
to be extolled
e
This
mercy
was
not
(hewed to the Angels, creaturesmore excellent then our
felves.
Should
one
fct us free
from the
ftate
of
Villenage, or ranfome
us
from the
Gallies,
we
could not thinke our
felves
thankfull enough
to
them
;
much
leffe can we
ever be thankfull enough
for this benefit.
It fhould
flirre up fpirituall
joy
:
Looke,
Ira.
44.
23.
where the
infen-
fible creatures are called upon
to rejoyce,
for the redemption
of
Gods
people, when they
were
redeemed from
Babel;
the joy did putthem
into
an
extafie,
they
knew
not whether they were
afleepe
or
awake.
Let
us
pray to
God
to
move the
fcales
from
our eyes, and take the vaile
from our
hearts,which will not
let
us
rejoyce
in fo
excellent mercy.
It
followeth:
Through
his
blood.]
Obferve, what
it
is
by which
wee
are
ranfomed,even
the
blood
of
Chri
ft;This
was
it,which
in
the bloud
of
all
the
Sacrifices was prefigured
:
We
are
redeemed,
faith Peter,
not
with
filver
or
gold,
but
with the
blood
yChriff,
a lambe undefiled.
When
any
are captive here and there, we have but
two
waies ufually,
by which
we
redeeme
them
;
The fief
is
by
force
of
armes,
when we
powerfully
refcue
them,
the other
is
by
courfe
of
j
urfite,, when we
fend
fome ranfome,
and
by
way
of
change
fet
them free.
Now
it
is
in vaine
to
difputc
what God might
have done
by abfolute
power;
for God
may out
of
his
abfolute foveraignty, not have
punifhed Adams fin,
both
becaufe
it was
againft himfelfe,
not others, to whom
he
is
tyed to doe
juflice;
and
efpecially, for that the demonflration of
his revenging
juflice
fpringeth not from the
neceffity
of
his nature ,
but
from
his
voluntary
difpofition,
as
well
as
the giving
life
perpetual!,
to
obedience for
a
certaine fpace performed ; And finally, becaufe
God
is
able, were
he pleafed
to
fhew this
power, to turne
it
to
his
glory;
which
mens impotency
not attaining, maketh them
that
they cannot
alwaies
with
juftice forgive, even
that
in
which themfelvcs
are tref-
paffed
:
Yet
feeing
God bath determined
that
his juflice (hall take
her
revenge,
if
by breach
of
covenant
fhe
be
wronged,
hee can
-.
not but execute punifhment, neither may he
fet
us
free
from the fame,
but
fo
as
wronged
juflice may receive fatisfaElion.
Againe,
we know
which maketh
the
Scripture fay,
it
wasmeete
and
neceffary
that Chrift
fhould be
confecrated, through
fuffering,
that
he fhould fuller, and
fo
enter
his
glory
;
See,
Luke
24.26.Heb.2.i7.
Death corporali and fpirituall,
fuch
as
is
a
punifhment
of
Gnne,
but
not
finfull.
Defertion, not
in
regard
of
union and
fuftentation, but
of
confolation. Impreffion
of
wrath, death
being made
as
ferviceable
for
our good, and the
feare
of
it
being taken away
by
him
who bath
farted
it
for us,
and
fwallowed
it up into vidiory.
We
know that he
hath by
way
of
ranfome redeemed
us,
as
being
the fitteft
way, both
to deliver us, out
of
his
grace,
freely,
and
yet
to
Phew
himfelfe
juft, info juffifyingor redeeming
of
us;
See,
Rom.
3,
f
25. For further opening
this
point:
Marke
two
things.
a.
What
I
3
is
Yfea<
rot
with
-draw
that
voluntary
cove'aant,who
doubteth
but
that
had
the
creature
kept
his
Innocency
a
thoufand
yeares,
God
was free
to
have
annihila.
fed him
?