Chap. 3 3. An Expofition upon the Poor, of Joe. Verf. 24. 413 of them canby anymeans redeems hisbrother, nor give to God a ranfomefor him. In forre cafes, as Solomon fairh, ( Prov. 13. 8.) The ranfome of amans life are his riches. As a mans riches doe often endangerhis life ( all the fault of fome men for } ich they have fuffered as deep asdeath,hath beenonly this,they were rich) foa manby his riches may redeeme his forfeited or endangered life, he may buy off the wrath of man, and fo ranfome his life by his riches. But all the riches in the world cannot buy his lifeout of the hand of ficknefs ; though a man would lay out all hisfub- fiance, and fpend all that he bath upon Phyfitians (as the poor woman in the Gofpel did) yet thatcould not doe ir. We need the blood of Jefus Chrifi to help us out of a lick bed, and from temprall fufferins as well as from hell and everlafting fuffer- ings. And the more fpirituall any are,the more they have recourfe to the blood of Chriff for all they would have, whether it be freedome from this or that evill, or enjoyment of this orthat good. Therefore, Firn, Whenwe hear of a ranfome let us remember that we are all naturally captives. Here is a ranfome for our fouls and a ranfome for our bodies, we are ranfomed from hell, and ranfomed from death, furely then, we are (through fin) made captives to all thefe. Secondly, In that the ranfome is exprenby aword, that notes hiding or covering, it fhould mind us, shat, 3efus Chrifi by his blood (which is our ranfome) hath covered all our bloody fins ; and furely the blood of our fns will appeare not only to our lhame, but to our confufion, unleffe the blood of Chrifi cover them. Thirdly, We may hence infer, The Lord [hail beno loafer by Paving the worft offinners. His Son hath 'taken care for that-, he hath undertaken to fee his Honour faved, and his Juflice fa tisfied. Fourthly, In all your outward aflliElions and fickneffes; apply to the blood of Chrifit for healing , for helpe and deli- uerance. Fifthly, Being delivered from going down to the pit;from deathby ficknefs, blebs Chrifi for hie blood. We are ref-cued from thearrefi of death, from Deaths Sergeant, fickneffe,by the blood of Chri.. And remember that as Chrifi ranfomes us from going downs.
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