Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20

Secondly, Let us next consider the Use and Intention of these Sufferings of Christ, and how this also demonstrates the earnestness of his desires after Conjugal union with us. Now there was a double Use and End of the Sufferings of Christ. 1. To make us free, that we might be capable of Espousals. 2. To win our Affections by the argument of his Sufferings.

I. One End of Christs death was to purchase our Freedom, that we might be capable of being Espoused to him; for you must know that we were not in a capacity whilst under the curse of the Law, to be married unto Christ; the Apostle, Rom. 7. 2, 3, 4. compares the Law to a Husband, to whom the Wife is bound as long as he liveth, and not capable of a second marriage until her Husband be dead. The Death of Christ was the Death of the Law, as a Covenant of Works holding us under the bond of a Curse of it, and so it gave us a manumission or freedom from that bond, and a capacity of espousals to Christ, as vers. 4. Wherefore my brethren, ye also are become dead to the Law by the Body of Christ, that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead. A Slave to another is not capable of being disposed in marriage, until made Free; you were in bondage to the Law, the slaves of of Sin and Satan: Christ bought out your liberty (for his Blood is called a ransom, Matth. 20. 28.) and so put you into a capacity of being espoused unto himself; here you see Christ loved you not ⟨p. 193⟩for any advantage he could have by you, for you had nothing to bring him; nay, he must purchase you, and that with his own Blood, before he can be united to you. O incomparable love! O fervent desires!

I. One End of Christs death was to purchase our Freedom, that we might be capable of being Espoused to him; for you must know that we were not in a capacity whilst under the curse of the Law, to be married unto Christ; the Apostle,