(1.) For his Oblation and Sacrifice; he must offer up himself, one for all, and that but once, and that to expiate Sin, and procure the Favour of God for ever; now who could do this but God? And he must offer up himself; he must be Priest as well as Sacrifice, therefore must have a Power over his own Life, to lay it down, and take it up; and that no Creature hath: for whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. And thus had Jesus Christ an absolute Power of Life and Death over that Nature he assumed: therefore it is said, Heb. 9.14. Who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without Spot to God. Then one must be offered for all, 2 Cor. 5.14. If one died for all, then were all dead. Therefore that Person which suffered, was to be virtually all those for whom he suffered, that is, infinitely as good and better than all. Look as they said to David, Thou art better than ten thousand of us; so Jesus Christ that was given one for all, must be such a Person as is better than all Men. A General given in Ransom will redeem thousands of private Soldiers; so the Worth of Christ's Person made him equivalent in Dignity to the Worth of all those, whose Persons he sustained. In all Ages his Death is a standing Remedy; God had more Satisfaction than if Angels and Men had been made a Sacrifice. And mark, it was done but once. The Wages of Sin was eternal Death; now something there must be to recompense and countervail the Eternity of the Punishment, and nothing could counterpoise this, but the Infiniteness and Excellency of Christ's Person; therefore we are said to be redeemed by the Blood of God: Acts 20.28. Feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own Blood; that is, with the Blood of that Person that was God. It was necessary he should come out of his Sufferings; for if he were always suffering, we could have no Assurance that God was satisfied. If our Surety were not taken from Prison and Judgment, how should we know the Debt was paid? Isa. 53.8. How shall this be reconciled; that he is to suffer but once, and but a while, and yet to do that which should countervail Eternity? It was because of the Value of his Person, as a Payment in Gold takes up lesser room than if paid in Silver. Then his Aim in all was to expiate Sin, and nothing but an Infinite Good could remedy an Infinite Evil. The Person wronged is Infinite, so is the Person suffering;
(1.) For his Oblation and Sacrifice; he must offer up himself, one for all, and that but once, and that to expiate Sin, and procure the Favour of God for ever; now who could do this but God? And he must offer up himself; he must be Priest as well as Sacrifice, therefore must have a Power over his own Life, to lay it down, and take it up; and that no Creature hath: for whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. And thus had Jesus Christ an absolute Power of Life and Death over that Nature he assumed: therefore it is said, Heb. 9.14. Who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without Spot to God. Then one must be offered for all, 2 Cor. 5.14. If one died for all, then were all dead. Therefore that Person which suffered, was to be virtually all those for whom he suffered, that is, infinitely as good and better than all. Look as they said to David, Thou art better than ten thousand of us; so Jesus Christ that was given one for all, must be such a Person as is better than all Men. A General given in Ransom will redeem thousands of private Souldiers; so the Worth of Christ's Person made him equivalent in Dignity to the Wor•h of all those, whose Persons he sustained. In all Ages his Death is a standing Remedy; God had more Satisfaction than if Angels and Men had been made a Sacrifice. And mark, it was done but once. The Wages of Sin was eternal Death; now something there must be to recompense and countervail the Eternity of the Punishment, and nothing could counterpoise this, but the Infiniteness and Excellency of Christ's Person; therefore we are said to be redeemed by the Blood of God: Acts 20.28. Feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own Blood; that is, with the Blood of that Person that was God. It was necessary he should come out of his Sufferings; for if he were always suffering, we could have no Assurance that God was satisfied. If our Surety were not taken from Prison and Judgment, how should we know the Debt was paid? Isa. 53.8. How shall this be reconciled; that he is to suffer but once, and but a while, and yet to do that which should countervail Eternity? It was because of the Value of his Person, as a Payment in Gold takes up lesser room than if paid in Silver. Then his Aim in all was to expiate Sin, and nothing but an Infinite Good could remedy an Infinite Evil. The Person wronged is Infinite, so is the Person suffering;
