Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

As, 1. The Brazen Serpent had not power in if self to cure, as Christ hath. 2. The Serpent cured the Israelites but for a time,¹ to die again; but whomsoever Jesus cures in a Spiritual sense, he cures for ever; they shall never die. 3. The serpent also had its time of curing; it did not always retain its virtue, but during the time they were in the Wilderness; only Jesus Christ, our Brazen Serpent, doth ever retain his power and virtue to the end of the world; and hence it is, that in the Ministry, Christ is still held forth as lifted up, that all that will but look on him by faith, may live. 4. The Serpent, sometimes a remedy against poison, was after turned even to poison the Israelites, which made Hezekiah to crush it, and brake it, and stamp it to powder; but Jesus Christ ever remains the sovereign and healing God; he is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever. He is unchangeable in his goodness, as he is in holy and divine nature; he can never be defaced, nor destroyed, but he abideth the saviour of sinners to all eternity; why then let us rather look unto Christ, and believe in Christ as lifted up, (i.e.) as he was crucified, and died on the Cross. In this respect he is made a fit object for a sinner's faith to trust upon, and rest upon, Christ as crucified, as made sin, and a curse for us, it the object of our pardon. O this is it that makes Christ's death so desirable; why therein is virtually and meritoriously pardon of sin, Justification, redemption, reconciliation, and what not? Oh! cries a sinner, where may I set my foot? how should I regain my God? my sin hath undone me, which way should I cast for pardon? why now remember that in seeking pardon,² Christ was crucified; Christ as dying, is principally to be eyed and looked at: Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that dyed, Rom. 8.34. No Question Christs active Obedience, during his Life, was most exact, and perfect, and meritorious; yet that was not the expiation of sin: only his passive obedience (Christ only in his sufferings) took away sin, the guilt of sin, and punishment for sin; We have redemption through the blood of Christ, ³even the forgiveness of sins.

As, 1. The Brazen Serpent had not power in if self to cure, as Christ hath. 2. The Serpent cured the Israelites but for a time,