But yet they could not reconcile it to his Justice, or Will to punish Sinners. And all their Apprehensions of the Pardon of Sin were but Probabilities, and what was wrought to procure Merit was ridiculous, or else barbarous and unnatural, giving their First-born for the Sin of their Soul, Mic. 6. 7. And all those Notions they had about this apprehended Expiation were too weak to change the Heart or Life of Man, or ⟨p. 20⟩to reduce him to God. Come we now to the Jews. The Jews had many Sacrifices of God's own Institution, but such as did not make the Comers thereunto perfect, as pertaining to the Conscience, Heb. 9. 9. And the Ransom that was to be given to provoked Justice was known but to a few. They saw much of the Patience and Forbearance of God, but little of the Righteousness of God, and which was the great Propitiation. Till God set forth Jesus Christ to be a Propitiation, through Faith in his Blood, to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of Sins that are past, through the Forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time, his Righteousness, that he might be just, and the Justifier of him that believes in Jesus, Rom. 3. 25, 26. Their Ordinances and Sacrifices were rather a Bond acknowledging the Debt, or presignifying the Ransom that was to be paid; and their Sacrifices did rather breed Bondage; and their Ordinances were called an Hand-writing of Ordinances, that were against them. The Redemption of Souls was then-spoken of, as a great Mystery, but sparingly revealed. Psal. 49. 3, 7. My Mouth shall speak of Wisdom, and the Meditation of my Heart shall be of Understanding. I will incline mine Ear to a Parable, I will open my dark Sayings upon the Harp. What was that Wisdom? What was that dark Saying? The Redemption of Souls is precious, it ceaseth for ever. As it lies upon mere Man's hand, none can give a Ransom for his Brother. Eternal Redemption by Christ was a dark Saying in those days, only they knew no mere Man could do it. And in more early times, in Job's time, he was an Interpreter, One of a Thousand, that could bring this Message to a distressed Sinner, that God had found out a Ransom. This Atonement then, that lies at the bottom of Pardon of Sin, was a rare thing in those days. Let us bless God for the clear and open Discovery of this Truth, and free Offer of Grace by Jesus Christ.
But yet they could not reconcile it to his Justice, or Will to punish Sinners. And all their Apprehensions of the Pardon of Sin were but Probabilities, and what was wrought to procure Merit was ridiculous, or else barbarous and unnatural, giving their First-born for the Sin of their Soul, Mic. 6. 7. And all those Notions they had about this apprehended Expiation were too weak to change the Heart or Life of Man, or ⟨p. 20⟩to reduce him to God. Come we now to the Iews. The Iews had many Sacrifices of God's own Institution, but such as did not make the Comers thereunto perfect, as pertaining to the Conscience, Heb. 9. 9. And the Ransom that was to be given to provoked Justice was known but to a few. They saw much of the Patience and Forbearance of God, but little of the Righteousness of God, and which was the great Propitiation. Till God set forth Iesus Christ to be a Propitiation, through Faith in his Blood, to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of Sins that are past, through the Forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time, his Righteousness, that he might be just, and the Iustifier of him that believes in Iesus, Rom. 3. 25, 26. Their Ordinances and Sacrifices were rather a Bond acknowledging the Debt, or presignifying the Ransom that was to be paid; and their Sacrifices did rather breed Bondage; and their Ordinances were called an Hand-writing of Ordinances, that were against them. The Redemption of Souls was then-spoken of, as a great Mystery, but sparingly reveal'd. Psal. 49. 3, 7. My Mouth shall speak of Wisdom, and the Meditation of my Heart shall be of Understanding. I will incline mine Ear to a Parable, I will open my dark Sayings upon the Harp. What was that Wisdom? What was that dark Saying? The Redemption of Souls is precious, it ceaseth for ever. As it lies upon meer Man's hand, none can give a Ransom for his Brother. Eternal Redemption by Christ was a dark Saying in those days, only they knew no meer Man could do it. And in more early times, in Iob's time, he was an Interpreter, One of a Thousand, that could bring this Message to a distressed Sinner, that God had found out a Ransom. This Atonement then, that lies at the bottom of Pardon of Sin, was a rare thing in those days. Let us bless God for the clear and open Discovery of this Truth, and free Offer of Grace by Jesus Christ.
