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

1. From hence we may discover the Perfection and Completeness of the Redemption, that our Saviour purchased for us. He fully repairs what was ruined by the Fall. He was called Jesus, ¹because He should save his People from their Sins. He ⟨p. 396⟩reconciles them to God, and redeems them from their vain conversation. He came by Water and Blood, to signify the accomplishment of what was represented by the Ceremonial Purification, and the Blood of the Sacrifices; Satisfaction and Sanctification are found in Him. And this was not a needless Compassion, but absolutely requisite in order to our Felicity. Man in his guilty, corrupt state may be compared to a condemned Malefactor, infected with noisome and painful wounds and diseases, and wants the Grace of the Prince to pardon him, and Sovereign Remedies to heal him. Supposing the Sentence were reversed, yet he cannot enjoy his Life, till he is restored to health. Thus the Sinner is under the condemnation of the Law, and under many spiritual, powerful Distempers, that make him truly miserable. His irregular Passions are so many sorts of Diseases, not only contrary to Health but to one another, that continually torment him. He feels all the effects of Sickness. He is inflamed by his Lusts, and made restless, being without power to accomplish or to restrain them. All his Faculties are disabled for the Spiritual Life, that is only worthy of his Nature, and whose operations are mixed with sincere and lasting Pleasure. Sin as 'tis the Disease, so 'tis the Wound of the Soul, and attended with all the evils of those that are most terrible. The whole head is sick, the whole heart is faint, from the sole of the foot, even to the head, ²there is no soundness in it, but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores. Now our Redeemer as he hath obtained a full Remission of our Sins, so he restores Holiness to us, the true health and vigour of the Soul. He hath made a Plaster of his living Flesh, mixed with his Tears and Blood, those ⟨p. 397⟩divine and powerful Ingredients to heal our Wounds. By the Holy Spirit 'tis applied to us, that we may partake of its virtue and influence. His Grace that pardons us, doth also purify the Conscience from dead works, that we may serve the Living God. Without this the bare exemption from Punishment, were not sufficient to make us happy: