A brief declaration and vindication of the doctrine of the Trinity as also of…

Moreover, as was said, this hath been variously exemplified among the Nations of the world; whose actings in such cases, because they excellently shadow out the general notion of the death of Christ for others, for sinners; and are appealed unto directly by the Apostle to this purpose, ⟨p. 238⟩Rom. 5. 7, 8. I shall in a few Instances reflect upon.

Moreover, as was said, this harh been variously exemplified among the Nations of the world; whose actings in such cases, because they excellently shadow out the general notion of the death of Christ for others, for sinners; and are appealed unto directly by the Apostle to this purpose, ⟨p. 238⟩Rom. 5. 7, 8. I shall in a few Instances reflect upon.

Not to insist on the voluntary surrogations of private Persons, one into the Room of another, mutually to undergo dangers and death for one another, as before mentioned, I shall only remember some public Transactions in reference unto communities, in Nations, Cities, or Armies. Nothing is more celebrated amongst the Ancients than this; that when they supposed themselves in Danger, from the Anger and displeasure of their Gods, by reason of any guilt or crimes among them, some one person should either devote himself, or be devoted by the people, to dye for them, and therein to be made as it were an expiatory Sacrifice. For where sin is the cause, and God is the object respected, the making of satisfaction by undergoing punishment, and expiating of sin by a propitiatory Sacrifice, are but various expressions of the same thing. Now those whoso devoted themselves, as ⟨p. 239⟩was said, to dye in the stead of others, or to expiate their sins, and turn away the Anger of the God they feared by their death, designed two things in what they did. First, That the Evils which were impendent on the people and feared, might fall on themselves, so that the people might go free. Secondly, That all good things which themselves desired, might be conferred on the People; which things have a notable shadow in them of the great expiatory Sacrifice concerning which we treat, and expound the Expressions wherein it is declared. The Instance of the Decii, is known; of whom the Poet, Plebeiae Deciorum animae, plebeia fuerunt Nomina; pro totis legionibu hitamn, & pro Omnibus auxiliis, atque omni plehe Latins. Sufficiunt Diis infernis.