A65285:1020
A Body of Practical Divinity
A body of practical divinity consisting of above one hundred seventy six sermons on the lesser catechism composed by the reverend assembly of divines at Westminster : with a supplement of some sermons on several texts of Scripture / by Thomas Watson ...
London: printed for Thomas Parkurst, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Branch 2. See in this as in a transparent Glass, the Love of Christ to the Elect, he came to redeem them: these he dyed Intentionally for. Were it not great Love for a King's Son to pay a great Sum of Money to redeem a Captive, but that he should be content to be a Prisoner in his stead, and dye for his Ransom; this were Matter of Wonder. Jesus Christ hath done all this, he hath written his Love in Characters of Blood:—It had been much for Christ to speak a good word to his Father for us, but he knew that was not enough to redeem us: Though a Word speaking made a World, yet it would not redeem a Sinner, Heb. 9.22. Without shedding of blood is no remission.
Branch 2. See in this as in a transparent Glass, the Love of Christ to the Elect, he came to redeem them: these he dyed Intentionally for. Were it not great Love for a King's Son to pay a great Sum of Money to redeem a Captive, but that he should be content to be a Prisoner in his stead, and dye for his Ransom; this were Matter of Wonder. Jesus Christ hath done all this, he hath written his Love in Characters of Bloud:—It had been much for Christ to speak a good word to his Father for us, but he knew that was not enough to redeem us: Though a Word speaking made a World, yet it would not redeem a Sinner, Heb. 9.22. Without shedding of bloud is no remission.
2. Use of Trial: If Christ came to purchase our Redemption, then let us try whether we are the Persons whom Christ hath redeemed from the Guilt and Curse due to Sin. This is a needful Trial, for, let me tell you, there is but a certain Number whom Christ hath redeemed. O say, Sinners, Christ is a Redeemer, and we shall be saved by him! Beloved, Christ came not to redeem all; then we overthrow the Decrees of God. Redemption is not as large as Creation. I grant, there is a Sufficiency of Merit in Christ's Blood to save all; but, there's difference between Sufficiency and Efficiency. Christ's Blood is a sufficient Price for all, but it is effectual only to them that believe: A Plaster may have a sovereign Virtue in it to heal any Wound, but it doth not heal unless applied to the Wound. And if it be so that all have not the Benefit of Christ's Redemption, only some, then it is a necessary Question to ask our Souls, Whether we are in the Number of them that are redeemed by Christ, or no?