374 NECESSITs' OF hereunto, as God doth design them, so he effecteth ho liness in all believers, by virtue of the oblation and in- tercession of Jesus Christ; wherefore, although the im- mediate actings of that office respect God alone as their proper object, yet the virtue and efficacy of them ex- tend themselves unto our sanctification and holiness. Titus ii. ii. He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself "' a peculiar people, zealous of good works," His giv- ing hineselffht' ors, is the common expression of hisoffer- ing himself a sacrifice to God as a priest, Eph. v. 2. And this he did, not only that he might redeem acs from iniquity, from the guilt dour sins, and punishment due unto them, which are regarded in redemption, but also that he might purify us to himself; sanctify us, or make tie holy and fruitful, or aealous of good works. his blood, as through the eternal Spirit, he offered himself unto God, purgeth our consciences from dead works, to serve the living God, Heb. ix. 14. There is a purging of sin, which consists in the legal expiation of it, in making atonement, Heb. i. 3. But the purging of a sinner, or of the conscience, is by real efficiency, in sanctification, which is here declared to be one end of the oblation of Christ. So, where he is said to wash usfrom our sins in his ose01 blood, namely, as shed and offered for us, Rev. i. 5. it is not only the expiation of guilt, but the purification of filth that is intended. Sect, 4. The way and manner how holiness is com- inunicated unto us by virtue ofthe death and oblation of Christ, I have shewed before at large, and shall not therefore here again insist upon it. I shall only observe, that holiness being one especial end for which Christ gave himself for us, or offered himself unto God for us, without a participation thereof, it is impossible that we should have the least evidence of an interest in his obla- tion as to any other end of it. And as for those who are never made holy, Christ never died or offered him- self for them. I cannot understand what advantage it is unto religion, to affirm, that the most of them for whom Christ died as a Wriest, or offered himself an oblation to God, shall have no benefit thereby as to grace or glory; and incomparably, the most of them without any especial fault of their own, as never hearing of him. Neither can I find in the scripture à double design of Christ, in giving himself for mankind; towards some, that they may be redeemedf'om all iniquity, and puri- HOLINESS FEORI fled to be his peculiar ones; towards others, that they - may yet be left under the power and guilt of their sins. And it evacuates the force of the motive unto the ne- cessity of holiness, fromthe consideration of the obla- tion of Christ, where men are taught that Christ offered himself a sacrlfce for them who are never made holy. Wherefore, 1 say, no unholy person can have any cer- tain evidence that he bath an interest in the oblation of Christ, seeing he gave himself to purify them for whom he was offered. Sect. 5. The intercession of Christ, which is these- cond sacerdotal act, bath also the same end, and is effectual to the same purpose: it is trite, he doth inter- cede with God for the pardon of sin, by virtue of his oblation; whence he is said to be our advocate with God, to comfort us in caseof surprisals by sin, 1 John i. 1, 2. But this is riot all he designeth therein; he intercedes also for grace, and supplies of the Spirit, that we may be made and kept holy. See John xvii, 15, 17. Sect. 6.Seeondlz, As to the prophetical office of Christ, the church, or men alone, are its immediate object, and of all the acts and duties of it. He is therein God's legate and ambassador, his apostle and messen- ger unto us. Whatever he doth as aprophet, he doth it with us and towards us in the name of God. And there are two parts or works of Christ in this office, re4 lating only to the doctrine he taught: (1.) The reve- lation of God, in his name, and love, in the mystery of his grace, and goodness, and truth, by his promises, that we may believe in him. (2.) The revelation of God in his will and commands, that we may obey him. For the first, wherein indeed his prophetical office was principally exercised. See John i. 18. Chap. i. 2. John xvii. 6. The revelation of the preceptive will of God made by Jesus Christ, may be considered two ways: 1. As he was peculiarly sent to the house of Israel, the minister of the circumcisionfor the truthof the promises of God unto the fathers, Rom, xv. 8. (2.) With re= spect unto the whole church of all ages. (1.) The first, which took up much- of his personal ministry in the flesh, consisted in the declarations, es- position, and vindication that he gave unto the church of all divine precepts for obedience which had been given before. God had, from the beginning, and in an especial manner at the promulgation of the law on
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