Heaven upon earth in the serene tranquillity and calm composure, in the sweet peace…

For it were blasphem•e to imagine such a covenant, so laid down, and for such an end, and not to be most real and effectual for reaching the end; This covenant being most sure, and this being the end of it, as it is • Cor. 5. ult. viz. To make him sin for us who kn•w no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him: by the same covenant and good will of God, Father, Son ⟨p. 352⟩and Spirit, concurring to lay down this way of Salvation, Christ was made sin for us, not against his will, but with his will, (for he was most willing to undergo the work: as is clear from, Psal. 40. compared with Heb. 10. And this was the reason, or rather end, for which he was made sin for us; even That we might be made the righteousness of God in him; That he being found the sinner, and dealt with as the sinner, we might be declared righteous; not as if we had never sinned, but that by imputation of his righteousness, and Gods gracious accepting of it for us, we are reckoned free, as if we had payed the debt our selves, in our own persons: and if the covenant betwixt God and the Mediator, had a real effect on Christ Jesus the Cautioner; if he really took on our nature, and in that nature suffered, and payed our debt; if our iniquities in the punishment of them did meet on him, As it is▪ Isa. 53. The Lord laid on him the iniquities of us all; If he drank the bitter cup that we should have drunken, and satisfied justice for us; then sure the covenant must have a real effect on the other side▪ as to us; and we have good and sufficient warrant to believe, that God will accept of that satisfaction for believing sinners, that lay hold thereon for making their peace; and that he will as really keep that part of the bargain, viz. To m•ke the application of Christs satisfaction forth-coming to them, as he did the other, in exacting that satisfaction from him: as many as are now before the Throne, are joyful witnesses, and glorious Monuments of the reality of this part of the covenant; and indeed there is no more legality (to speak so) in the imputing of our sin to Christ, then there is legality in imputing his righteousness to us, in giving us absolution, and declaring us righteous through him: for there was no ground for justice to have any claim against Christ, but the will of God, and the covenant of Redemption, wherein Christ undertakes the debt;