A supplement to the several discourses upon various divine subjects

(4.) The continuance of it. Thou art pardoned, and yet thou sinne•; but Christ hath paid and never runs more upon the score. Thou art pardoned and dost •aily forfeit, and needest a daily renewal; but Christ hath purchased, and never sins away his purchase. God exacted a price suitable to the debt he foresaw men would owe him, for he knew how much the Sum would amount unto. When he gave Christ, he intended him for the justification of many offences, Rom. 5.16. The free gift is of many offences unto justification, speaking of the gift of God, v. 15. And therefore since God cannot be mistaken in the greatness of the Sum, because of his infinite knowledge, it had been a greater act of wisdom not to provide any remedy at all, than not to do it thoroughly. If the continuance of that imperfect remission of Adam and the Patriarchs was drawn out for above 3000 years and more, and the enjoyment of happiness made good to them merely upon Christs undertaking, surely it will be much more upon his actual performing, Rom. 3.25. There was then a [Greek or Hebrew], now an [Greek or Hebrew], they had a continuance of freedom from punishment by his mediatorship, and sponsion, much more shall Believers have a continuance of pardon by his actual Sacrifice, upon which the validity of all the former mediatory acts did depend: Since now there is no more remembrance of Sin by the continuance of legal sacrifices, his being so absolutely complete. Therefore God hath erected a standing Office of Advocacy for Christ, 1 Joh. 2.1. in Heaven, for the representing of his wounds and satisfaction, and bespeaking a continuance of grace to us. He is said to be the lamb ⟨p. 108⟩that taketh away the sins of the world, John 1.29. not [Greek or Hebrew] hath taken, or [Greek or Hebrew] will take, but [Greek or Hebrew] which notes, actum perpetuum, the constant effect of his death. And since as I said before, Christ hath an higher portion than others, because he loved righteousness, in this portion he hath a joy and gladness; but his joy would certainly be sullied, if pardon should not be continued to those for whom he purchased it.