3. Consider Christ died to purchase positive as well as negative godliness for men; and wilt thou disappoint him of the Fruits of his Death? Indeed, if it had been possible for him to have bought mans deliverance from sin, without the re-impression of Gods Image on the Soul, he had been but half a Saviour, and made us at the most but half happy: But according to the Apostles phrase, he saves perfectly, or to the utmost, upon all accounts, and in all respects, Heb. 7.25. and in order thereunto, bought man off from sin, and unto the Service of God. He redeems us from sin: We are redeemed, saith the ⟨p. 297⟩Apostle, from our vain Conversation received by tradition from our Fathers. Not with corruptible things, as Silver and Gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without spot and blemish, 1 Pet. 1.17, 18, 19. He redeems also unto his own Service, Chap. 3. vers. 18. of the same Epistle, He suffered, the Just for the Unjust, to bring us to God. He died, that we might die to sin; and he died, that we might live to God. He suffered, to bring us off from our cursed loathsome Lusts; and he suffered, to bring us to the Fear, and Love, and Service of the blessed and glorious Lord. We have both these ends of our Saviours Sufferings mentioned in Tit. 2.14. Who gave himself (his Death is called a giving himself, because it was voluntary, and a freewill Offering) for us, (here is his Passion; but what ends had he in his eye? truly both these,) that he might redeem us from all Iniquity, (make us negatively religious, in freeing us from the bondage of sin) and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works; i. e. make them positively holy. None are purified without positive qualifications, ⟨p. 298⟩and gracious habits in the Soul. To be purified unto himself, is to be thus qualified for the honour and service of Christ. And to make it more plain, the Apostle tells us, To purify unto himself a peculiar people, (a people that shall disown all other Lords, and all other Work, and shall be his Servants, and do his Work only,) zealous of good works. He did not die only to make men good, and to enable men to do good; but also to cause them to do good with heat, and heart, and fervency of Spirit. Nay, it is evident, that to make men positively pious, was the main and principal end of his Passion;
3. COnsider Christ died to purchase positive as well as negative godliness for men; and wilt thou disappoint him of the Fruits of his Death? Indeed, if it had been possible for him to have bought mans deliverance from sin, without the re-impression of Gods Image on the Soul, he had been but half a Saviour, and made us at the most but half happy: But according to the Apostles phrase, he saves perfectly, or to the utmost, upon all accounts, and in all respects, Heb. 7.25. and in order thereunto, bought man off from sin, and unto the Service of God. He redeems us from sin: We are redeemed, saith the ⟨p. 297⟩Apostle, from our vain Conversation received by tradition from our Fathers. Not with corruptible things, as Silver and Gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without spot and blemish, 1 Pet. 1.17, 18, 19. He redeems also unto his own Service, Chap. 3. vers. 18. of the same Epistle, He suffered, the Just for the Ʋnjust, to bring us to God. He died, that we might die to sin; and he died, that we might live to God. He suffered, to bring us off from our cursed loathsome Lusts; and he suffered, to bring us to the Fear, and Love, and Service of the blessed and glorious Lord. We have both these ends of our Saviours Sufferings mention'd in Tit. 2.14. Who gave himself (his Death is called a giving himself, because it was voluntary, and a freewill Offering) for us, (here is his Passion; but what ends had he in his eye? truly both these,) that he might redeem us from all Iniquity, (make us negatively religious, in freeing us from the bondage of sin) and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works; i. e. make them positively holy. None are purified without positive qualifications, ⟨p. 298⟩and gracious habits in the Soul. To be purified unto himself, is to be thus qualified for the honour and service of Christ. And to make it more plain, the Apostle tells us, To purifie unto himself a peculiar people, (a people that shall disown all other Lords, and all other Work, and shall be his Servants, and do his Work only,) zealous of good works. He did not die only to make men good, and to enable men to do good; but also to cause them to do good with heat, and heart, and fervency of Spirit. Nay, it is evident, that to make men positively pious, was the main and principal end of his Passion;
