The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

Suppose a Prince redeem all his captive subjects from the Turkish slavery, and one half of them so love their state of bondage, or some harlot or ill company there (yea if all of them do so, till half of them are persuaded from it) that they will not come away. It is no improper nor unusual language to say that he hath redeemed them, and given them a release, though they would not have it. That may be given to a man, which he never hath, because he refuseth to accept it; when the Donor hath done all that belongeth to him in that relation of a Donor; though perhaps as a Persuader he might do more.

Suppose a Prince redeem all his captive subjects from the Turkish slavery, and one half of them so love their state of bondage, or some harlot or ill company there (yea if all of them do so, till half of them are perswaded from it) that they will not come away. It is no improper nor unusual language to say that he hath redeemed them, and given them a release, though they would not have it. That may be given to a man, which he never hath, because he refuseth to accept it; when the Donor hath done all that belongeth to him in that relation of a Donor; though perhaps as a Perswader he might do more.

This is the sense of Heb. 1.3. When he had by himself purged our sins (or made purgation of our sins) he sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; that is, when he had become a sacrifice for sin, and sealed the Covenant by his blood.] For actual personal pardon was not given by him before our acceptance.

This is the plain sense of 2 Cor. 5.18, 19, 20. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their trespasses (that is, purchasing and giving them a pardoning Covenant) and hath committed to us the word, and ministry of reconciliation: Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christs stead to be reconciled to God.