Serm.LXVIII. the Condition ofSalvation. q.95 4thly, The Neceffity of this Obedience, in order to Eternal Life and Happiness. And 5thly, I (hall thew that this is no Prejudice to the Law of Faith, and the free Grace and Mercy of God, declared in the Gofpel. ' afß, We will confider how, andby what Means Chriji is the Author of our Salva- tion and this is contain'd in thefe words, Being made perfetl`, he became the Author ofEternal Salvation, that is (as I told you before) having finith'd his Courte which was accomplifh'd in his laft Sufferings ; and having received theReward of, them, being exalted at the Right-hand ofGod, he became the Author of Eternal Salvation to us ; fo that by all he did, and fuffer'd for us, in the Days of his Fle(h, and in the State of his Humiliation, and by all that he (till continues to do for us, now that he is inHeaven at the Right-hand of God ; he hath effe&ed and brought a- bout the great Work of our Salvation. His Doctrine and his Life, his Death and Sufferings, his Refurre &ionfrom the Dead, andhis powerful Interceffion for us at the Right-hand of God, have all a great influence upon the Reforming,and Saving of Mankind ; and by all thefe Ways and Means, he is the Author andCaufe of our Salvation; as a Rule, and as a Pattern, as a Price and Propitiation, and as a Pa- tron and Advocate that is continually pleading our Caufe, and interceding with God on ourbehalf, for mercy andgrace to help in time of need. And indeed our condition requir'd an High Prieft who was qualified in all thefe refpe&s, for the recoveryof Mankind out of that corrupt and degenerate Sate into which it was funk ; an High Prieft whofe lips should preferve knowledge, and front whole mouthwe might learn the Lawof God ; .whofe Life hhould bea perfe&Pat- tern ofHolinefs to us, and his Death a propitiation for the fins of the whole World; and by whofe Graceand Affllance, we (hould be endowed with Power andStrength tomortifie our Lul's, and toperfe&Holinefs in the Fear ofGod , and thereforefilch anHigh Priefl became us, who was holy, harmlefr, undefiled, andfeparate fromSinners, whomight have compafon on the ignorant, and them that are out of the . way, and beinghimfelfcompafl with infirmities, might have the feelingofours,being in all points tempted as weare, only without fin; and in a word, might be able to fave to the utmofi all thofe that come to God byhim, teeing heever liveth to makeintercefonfor us. By thefeQualifications our High Priest is defcribed in this Epistle ; and by thefe he is every way fuited to all our Defects and Infirmities, all our Wants and Ne- cefiities; to in(eruet our Ignorance by his Do&sine, and to lead us in the Path of Righteotafnefs by his molt Holy and moft ExemplaryLife ; to expiate the guilt of our Sins by his Death ; and toprocure Graceand Affìftance for us, by hisprevalent Interceffiononour behalf. By all thefe ways, and in all thefe refpe&s, he is Paid to be the Author of EternalSalvation. rft, By the Ho and Purity ofhis Do&ripe, whereby we are perfeflly inftru- eted in the Will of God and our Duty, and powerfully excited and perfwaded to the pra&ice ofit. The Rules and Dire&ions ofa Holy Lifewere very obfcúre before, and theMotivesandEncouragements to Virtue but weakand ineffe&ual, in compari fon of what they are now render'd by the Revelation of the Gofpel. The general corruption of Mankind, and the vicious Pra&ice of theWorld, had in a great mea- fureblurr'd and defac'd theNatural Law; fo that theHeathenWorld, for many A- ges, had but avery dark and doubtful knowledge oftheir Duty, efpecially as to fe- veral instances of it. TheCullom offeveral Vices had fo prevail'd among Mankind, asalmoft quite to extinguifh theNatural Senfe of theirEvil and Deformity. And the Jews, who ehjoy'd a considerable degree of Divine Revelation, had no ftri& re- gard to the Morality of their A&ions; and contenting themfelves with Come kind of outward Conformity to thebareLetter of theTen Commandments, were almoft wholly takenup with little Ceremoniesand Obfervances, in which they placed, the main of their Religion, almoft wholly negle&ing the greater Duties and weightier Mattersof the Law. And therefore our Bleffed Saviour, to free Mankind from thefe Wandrings and Uncertaintiesabout theWill ofGod, revealed the Moral Law, and explained the full force and meaning of it, 'clearing all Doubts, and Cupplying all the Defe&s of it by a more particular and explicite Declaration ofthe feveral parts of our Duty, and by Precepts of greater Perfe&ion, than the World was fufficiently acquainted with- al before; of greater Humility and moreUniverfal Charity; of abftaìningfrom Re- venge,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=