Discourses, or, Sermons on several Scriptures

Secondly, An effectual Application of that Benefit to us. The Purchase of Mercy was made by the Death of Christ, by which a full Price was paid down to the Justice of God. But the effectual Application of Mercy is by the Life and Resurrection of Christ, Wherefore if Christ had only dyed, and not risen again; if he had not overcome ⟨p. 117⟩Death within its own Empire, and triumphed over the Grave in its own Territories, it would have been to his Disappointment, and not at all to our Salvation. The Loss of Christ's Life would not have procured Life for us, unless as he laid it down with Freedom; so he had again restored it with Power. Our hope of Salvation otherwise would have been buried in the same Grave with himself; but what he died to procure, he lives to confer. It was Ignorance of Christ's Resurrection from the Dead, ¹that so staggered the two Disciples going to Emmaus: They tell Christ himself a sad Story of one Jesus of Nazareth, that was condemned and crucified, who, while he lived among us, by his Word and Works testified himself to be the true Messiah, we little thought of his Dying; ⟨p. 118⟩and when he told us of his Death, he likewise foretold us of his Resurrection the third Day; and behold, the third Day is already come, and yet is there no Appearance of this Jesus: Verily, we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel; but now our Hopes grow faint, and languish in us; for certainly, there can be no Redemption for Israel by him who cannot redeem himself from Death. There was nothing in the World did so much prejudice the Gospel, and hinder its taking place in the Hearts of Heathens in the Primitive Times, as this of the Cross and Death of Christ; for believing that he was lifted up upon the Cross, but not believing that he was raised up from the Dead, they assented to their Natural Reason, which herein taught them, that it was Folly to expect ⟨p. 119⟩Life from him who could not either preserve or restore his own.

Secondly, An effectual Application of that Benefit to us. The Purchase of Mercy was made by the Death of Christ, by which a full Price was paid down to the Justice of God. But the effectual Application of Mercy is by the Life and Resurrection of Christ, Wherefore if Christ had only dyed, and not risen again; if he had not overcome