The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

1. Man is a captive to sin. He is fallen from the hand of his counsel, under the power of his passions, Love, Hatred, Ambition, Envy, Fear, Sorrow, and all the other stinging Affections, (of which is true what the Historian speaks of the several kinds of Serpents in Africa, Quantus nomivum tantus mortium numerus) exercise a tyranny over him. And if no man can serve two Masters, ¹as the Oracle of Truth tells us, how wretched is the slavery of Man, whose passions are so opposite, that in obeying one, he cannot escape the lash of many imperious Masters. He is possest with a Legion of impure lusts. And as the Demoniac in the Gospel was sometimes cast into the fire, and sometimes into the water; so is he hurried by the fury of contrary passions. This servitude to sin is in all respects complete. For those who serve are either born servants, or bought with a price, or made captives by force: and sin hath all these kinds of title to man.² He is conceived and born in sin: he is sold under sin: and sells himself to do evil. As that which is sold passes into the possession of the buyer,—so the sinner exchanging himself for the pleasures of sin, is under its power. Original sin took possession of our nature, and actual of our lives. He is the servant of corruption by yielding to it: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same he is brought in bondage. ³The condition of the most wretched bond-•lave is more sweet and less servile than that of a sinner. For the severest tyranny is exercised only upon the body,⁴ the soul remains free in the midst of chains; but the power of sin oppresses the Soul, the most noble part, and defaces the bright character of the ⟨p. 163⟩Deity that was stamped upon its visage. The worst slavery is terminated with this present life.⁵ In the grave the Prisoners rest together, they hear not the voice of the Oppressor. The small and the great are there, and the Servant is free from his Master. But there is no exemption from this servitude by death, it extends its self to Eternity.