482 nVIN AND RECOVERY, &c. the-holy scriptures were written for the common use of mankind, and their general meaning is obvious and plain, why should we rack every syllable, and put every expression to the torture to make it confess what we have a mind to have it speak according to the different parties under which we list ourselves. If weconsider that account which scripture gives us of all mankindfalling under sin, and the legal or penal consequences thereof by the sin of Adam; or if we consider Christ's taking upon leine the sins of men, bearing their sins, and sufferingfor them as a surety orsacrifice ; or if we consider righteousness imputed to thosethat believe, or even the righteousness or obedi- ence of Christ imputed to penitents and believers; I think we should find nogreat difficulty to adjust our ideas of these things, if we would but suffer ourselves to form our sentiments of these mattersby the plain, natural and common expressions and ideas of men about these subjects, and in a candid manner receive the obvious meaning of such language. In order to confirmwhat I have said, I desire to make these three remarks : L That there are several such histories in the bible, wherein instances of 'the 'like kinds among the transactions of men are delivered down to us in such sort of expressions or words of the saine import. Abraham's eminent obedience to God in bringing his son Isaac to the altar, was rewarded, not only in blessings to Abraham himself, but tò his seed. Gen. xxii. 10-18. Thy seed shall possess thegate of his enemies, and in thy seed shall.all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice. Here it maybe said, that Abraham's obedience, at least in the result and ;consequences of it, is imputed to his seed. This same promise is repeated again to Isaac, and assigned to his posterity, for the sake of Abraham's eminent piety and obedi- ence Gen. xxvi. 4, 5..I will perform the oath that I swore unto Abraham thy father, and 1 will make My seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and I will give unto thy seed, all these countries, because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, mystatutes and my laws. Abraham's righteousness was thus imputed to Isaacand his seed. Piiinehas the son of Eleazar was zealous for the Lord among the children of _Israel, and God gave him and his seed after Inns the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he nets zealous for his God, and slew the criminals in Israel ; Numb. xxv. 11. This eminent act of righteousness was so far imputed to his children, as that they received the reward of it as well as himself. Achan who had stolen the silver and the rich garment and the wedge of goldfrom among the spoils of Jericho, pro- voked the Lord to auger; and his crime, by the appointment of God, was so far imputed to his children, that they wereall stoned for the sake of Lus crime. The guilt or punishment of it was im
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