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IX.

ift, He hath vindicated the honour ofS ER M. God's laws by taking upon himself the punishment of their Sins; and 2dly, He fits at the right hand of God, ready to come in the glory of his Father with his holy Angels, actually to deliver them from That punishment of Sin, which fhall finally be inflicted on them that would not be delivered from the dominion of it; even on those who know not God and obey not the Gospel; i. e. who either embraced not the Gospel at all, when it was preached to them; or pretending to embrace it, yet obeyed it not. ft, He has vindicated the honour of God's laws, by taking upon himself the punishment of their Sins, who repent and embrace the terms of the Gospel. He condefcended to be made Sin for us, who himself knew no Sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. v. 21. to be made Sin for us, i. e. to be made a Sacrifice for our Sins, that we through that expiation might become subjects capable of the mercy of God. He took upon him our Nature, and was clothed in flesh, partly in

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SER M. deed that he might preach the Will of IX. God to mankind in a nearer and more

condefcending converfation with them; but principally, that he who in the form of God could not fuffer, might become capable of fuffering by being made in the likeness to Man. He lived a moft innocent and spotlefs life, that he might indeed fet us an example that we fhould follow his steps; but chiefly, because as it was required that the typical Sacrifices under the law should be whole and without blemish; fo it was neceffary that he, who was to be the real expiatory Sacrifice for the Sins of others, fhould have none that needed expiation of his own; For fuch an High priest became us, who is boly, harmless, undefiled, feparate from finners, and made higher than the heavens, Heb. vii. 26. He fuffered a fhameful and ignominious Death upon the Cross, that he might indeed give us an example of patience and readiness to fuffer; but the principle design of it was, that he might put away Sin by the facrifice of himself, and obtain eternal redemption for us through

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IX.

through Faith in his Blood. His Refur- SER M. rection, was the demonftration of this Sacrifice's being accepted by God; and his Afcenfion into Heaven, was in order to plead the merits of his Sufferings before God, and intercede for those, who according to the terms of the GofpelCovenant should be capable of receiving the gracious benefits purchased by his Death: Wherefore 2dly, He now fits at the right hand of God, ready to appear in the glory of his Father with the Holy Angels, actually to deliver all those from the punishment of Sin, who have before been delivered by him from the dominion thereof. This fitting at the right hand of God, fignifies his having fubdued all his enemies, and his being fully instated in his Regal power; All things being actually made fubje&t unto him, always excepting him, as St Paul directs, who did put all things under him. All power both in heaven and earth is now committed unto him being exalted far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named not

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SER M. only in this world, but alfo in that which IX. is to come; God having put all things under his feet, and given him to be the head over all things to the Church. When therefore this his Mediatorial kingdom fhall be finished, and the number of his Elect accomplished, then unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without Sin unto falvation, Heb. ix. 28. Then fhall he redeem his Elect from death, and ranfom them from the power of the grave: Then shall the Sea give up the dead that are in it, and Death and Hell fhall deliver up the Dead that are in them, and death fhall be fwallowed up in victory; O Death, where is thy fting! O Grave, where is thy victory! But this deliverance from the firft and natural Death, fhall be common both to the Juft and Unjuft. 'Tis the Second death that fhall be properly and finally the punishment of Sin; and from This, the Fut only fhall be delivered. Whosoever believeth on me, fhall never die, Joh. xi. 26. that is, (as the words may more properly be rendred,) fhall not die for ever.

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IX.

the Juft the Second death fhall have no S ER M. power, but they shall be priests of God and of Chrift; they fhall be made compleatly happy both in Body and Soul, and shall reign with him for ever and ever.

THE application I fhall make of what hath been said, shall be only in these two brief inferences: 1ft, If Chrift delivers no man from the punishment of Sin, who is not first delivered from the service and dominion of it; then no man who continues in the fervice and dominion of Sin, can expect to be delivered from the punishment thereof. Chrift has indeed given himself a propitiatory Sacrifice, a full, perfect and fufficient Oblation for the Sins of the whole World; but 'tis not that the whole world, or that any particular perfons fhould abfolutely and unconditionately be thereby excufed from the punishment of Sin; but that all those who by true Repentance turn from Sin and become righteous, fhould obtain Remiffion and Reconciliation with God: For he did not die, that he might indulge men in Sin, but that he might save them

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