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

2. The Death of Christ is the price which redeems us from our woeful Captivity. Mankind was fallen under the dominion of Satan and Death, and could not obtain freedom by escape, or mere power. For by the order of Divine Justice we were detained Prisoners; So that till God the Supreme Judg is satisfied, there can be no discharge. Now the Lord Christ hath procured our deliverance by his Death, according to the testimony of the Apostle, We have Redemption through his Blood, ¹even the forgiveness of sins. His Blood is congruously called a price, because in consideration of it our Freedom is purchased. He is our Redeemer by Ransom;² He gave himself a Ransom for all: and that signifies the price paid for the freeing of a Captive. The word used by the Apostle [Greek or Hebrew], hath a special Emphasis, it signifies an exchange of conditions with us, the redeeming us from Death, by dying for us. As the [Greek or Hebrew], who devoted themselves to Death, for the rescuing of others. Our Saviour told his Disciples that the Son of Man came to give his Life a ransom for many:³ [Greek or Hebrew] signifies a commutation or exchange, with respect of things, or persons: Thus we are commanded to render to none Evil for evil: ⁴And if a Son ask of his Father a Fish will he give him a Serpent for a Fish? When 'tis used in respect of persons, it imports a substitution in another's place.⁵ Archelaus reigned instead of his Father Herod and Peter paid tribute for Christ, that is, representing Him: the effect therefore of our Saviours words, that He gave his Life a Ransom for many, is evidently this, that he died in their stead; and his Life as a Price intervened to obtain their Redemption. 'Tis for this Reason the Glorified Saints ⟨p. 248⟩sung a Hymn of Praise to the Divine Lamb, saying, Thou art worthy for thou wast slain, ⁶