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

1. That it hath procured Pardon for sins committed in all ages of the World. Without the intervention of a Sacrifice God would not Pardon, and the most costly that were offered up by sinners, were of no value to make compensation to Justice: but the Blood of Christ was the only propitiation for sins committed before his coming. The Apostle tells us, He was not obliged to offer himself often, ¹as the High-Priest entered into the Holy place every year, with the Blood of others, but now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin, by the Sacrifice of himself. The direct sense of the Words is, that the virtue of his Sacrifice extended it self to all times: for otherwise in regard Men have always needed propitiation, He must have Suffered often since the Creation of the World. And if it be asked how His Death had a saving influence before He actually Suffered? the answer is clear: We must consider the Death of Christ not as a Natural but Moral cause: 'tis not as a Medicine that heals, but as a Ransom that frees a Captive. Natural Causes operate nothing before their real existence; but 'tis not necessary that moral Causes should have an actual being; 'tis sufficient that they shall be, and that the person with whom they are effectual, ⟨p. 278⟩accept the Promise. As a Captive is released upon assurance given that he will send his ransom, though 'tis not actually deposited. Thus the death of Christ was available to purchase pardon for Believers before his coming; for he interposed as their Surety, and God, to whom all things are present, knew the accomplishment of it in the appointed time. He is therefore called the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world;² not only in respect of God's Decree, but his Efficacy. The salvation we derive from him, was ever in him. He appeared under the Empire of Augustus, and dyed under Tiberius, but he was a Redeemer in all ages, otherwise the comparison were not just, that as by Adam all die, ³so by Christ all are made alive.

1. That it hath procured Pardon for sins committed in all ages of the World. Without the intervention of a Sacrifice God would not Pardon, and the most costly that were offered up by sinners, were of no value to make compensation to Justice: but the Blood of Christ was the only propitiation for sins committed before his comming. The Apostle tells us, He was not obliged to offer himself often,