SERM. II. 2. To confider the other great End of Chrift's Sufferings and Death, viz. our Santtification, whereby we are reconciled to GOD, expreffed in those Words, by his Stripes we are healed. That is, the Distempers of our Soul are healed: the Power of Sin fubdued, as well as the Punishment thereof removed; and we at once delivered from the Dominion and Condemnation of our Iniquities. For the Blood of Chrift is often reprefented in Scripture, as having a cleansing as well as an atoning Virtue. It purges the Confcience, as well as expiates the Guilt of it. Which was typically represented by those legal Sacrifices which were offered by way Purification to which the Apostle refers, when he faith, that almost all Things are by the Law purged with Blood. It was there fore neceffary that the Patterns of things in the Heavens (i. e. of the Gospel-state) should be purified with thefe, but the heavenly Things themfelves (i. e. thofe under the Gospel Difpenfation) with better Sacrifices than these (r). Again, the Bodies of thofe Beafts, whofe Blood is brought into the Sanctuary by the HighPrieft for Sin, are burnt without the Camp. Where of (r) Heb. ix. 22, 23. II. Wherefore Jefus alfo, that he might fanctify SERM. the People with his own Blood, fuffered without the Gate (s). This End of Chrift's Death is more immediately effected by the renewing Influences of the Holy Spirit, which were the Purchase of Chrift's Death; but more remotely, by the moral Influence of those Motives to Holiness which arife from the Confideration of the feveral Ends of his Death; viz. to set us a perfect Example of all those pasfive Virtues of Patience, Meekness, Humility, and intire Refignation to the Will of GOD, wherein he requires us to imitate him; to testify his invincible Compaflion to our miserable Race, fo proper to awaken all our Gratitude and Love to him; and to be our Propitiation by the Appointment of his Father, wherein GOD hath discovered to us the infinite Malignity of Sin, (which nothing could atone but the precious Blood of his own Son) and his infinite Mercy to Sinners, which induced him to be at that amazing Expence for our Redemption; than which what can excite us to hate Sin or love God more? Thefe Confiderations have a power VOL. IV. E (s) Heb. xiii. 11, 12. SERM. a powerful Influence in their own Nature to II. fanctify and reconcile us to GOD; and when seriously attended to, and by the Grace of GOD fet home upon their Heart, they will have that effect. And thus by the Sacrifice and Mediation of Chrift is the Reconciliation effected on both Sides; GOD reconciled to Man, and Man to God. Thus the Chaftisement of our Peace was upon him, and by his Stripes we are healed. By his Suffering as our Subftitute, and dying as our Sacrifice, he hath at once fatisfied the Juftice of GOD, repaired the Honours of his violated Law, and thereby reconciled GOD to us: and by the fanctifying Grace of his Spirit (purchased by his Death) and by the Influence of thofe Motives to univerfal Holinefs, conveyed by the great Ends of his Death, he heals our Souls. of Sin, and fo reconciles us to GOD; in all which he is of GOD made to us Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption (t). I shall now conclude with a practical Improvement of this fruitful and important Subject. (t) 1 Cor. i. 30. 1. Let 1. Let us adore the Wifdom and Goodnefs of GOD in contriving this wondrous Way of our Redemption by the Sufferings and Sacrifice of his own Son. By this divine Scheme of Grace, (wherein the Wisdom, Righteousness, Mercy, Juftice, Truth, and Goodness of GOD, fhine forth in all their united and amazing Glory) we are recovered from the Ruins of our Apoftacy; the believing Penitent is faved, and all the Attributes of GOD magnified in his Salvation. It is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our Eyes (u). 2. Let us no lefs adore the infinite Condefcenfion and Love of Chrift, who affumed our Nature, and willingly fubmitted to fo much Reproach and Suffering to purchase our Peace with GOD. When we read, both in Prophecy and Hiftory, how he bore our Griefs and carried cur Sorrows, was wounded for our Tranfgreffions, and bruifed for our Iniquities; that the Chafifement of our Peace was upon him, and by his Stripes we are healed, how fhould it fire our Hearts with Love for his Perfon, and Zeal for his Intereft! How can we fupprefs the facred E 2 Rap SER M. II. (4) Pfal. cxviii. 23. SERM. Rapture, or forbear to utter the Fulness of II. our Joy in the triumphant Song of Angels! faying, Worthy is the Lamb that was flain to receive Bleffing, and Honour, and Power! Glory and everlasting Dominion be to him. that hath loved us, and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood. Let us exprefs our Love for his Perfon by a wife Zeal for his Interest and Honour; and by an inflexible Attachment to his Gospel, as our only Foundation of Hope and Rule of Faith; whatever Contempt or Perfecution it may expofe us to from the Pride of Infidels, or the Rage of Bigots. This is the most acceptable Token and return of Love we can make him; and fuch Fidelity he hath promifed graciously to remember and reward another Day. Laftly, What hath been faid upon this Subject should put us all upon seriously confidering, whether those two forementioned Ends of Chrift's Death be accomplished in us. Whether GOD be reconciled to us, and we to him, by the Blood of his Cross. GOD hath fhewn himself reconcileable to the World by fending his Son to die for it: and if by the renewing Grace of the Spirit the Enmity in Our |