A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

And this was the execution of Gods decree, in respect of mans creation, fall, and misery. Unto which, we must adjoin the knowledge of our recovery out of this wretched condition. To which purpose we must know, that when we were thus deeply plunged into this state of death and condemnation; and in respect of our selves, or any means of our own, hopeless, and helpless, for our recovery, it pleased the Lord, of his mere grace and free mercy, to send his Son into the world, to take our nature upon him, and therein to work that great work of our redemption. The which he did perfectly perform, both by his merits and efficacy. The former he did by satisfying Gods justice, both by his active obedience, in fulfilling the Law for us, and by his passive obedience, in suffering death in his body, and the anger of God in his soul. The which is a sufficient price of redemption for all that do apply it, because he that did this for us, was God and man. And so as his humane nature made him capable of these sufferings, so the divine nature, which was the Altar upon which this sacrifice was offered, sanctified the gift, and gave unto it infinite value and dignity, so as it became a sufficient and fit satisfaction for sin. For as sin being nothing in it self but a privation, became of infinite guilt, in respect of the infinite Majesty of God, offended by it; so ⟨p. 36⟩the sufferings of Christs humane nature, though temporary, became of infinite value, in respect of the dignity of the person who suffered, being God and man. And as thus Christ saved us by his merits, so also by his efficacy, applying the virtue of his merits unto us by his Spirit and Word; which begetting in us a lively faith, that bringeth forth the fruits of unfeigned repentance, we perform thereby the Covenant of grace, and so are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits, which are therein promised. For in the preaching of the Gospel, this covenant is proclaimed, and we are effectually called to the knowledge and participation thereof, God giving Christ unto us to be our Saviour, and us to Christ to be saved by him, yea, uniting us unto him in one mystical body, whereof he is the Head, and we his members, by virtue whereof, as we are partakers of him, so have we also right and interest unto all his benefits.