Secondly: he is Jesus, which signifieth a Saviour; now Christ is a Saviour positively as well as privately, he giveth us spiritual blessings, as well as freedom from misery, Joh. 3. 17. That they should not perish but have everlasting life. Again, he is a Saviour, not only by way of deliverance but by way of prevention, he doth not only break the snare, but keep our feet from falling: He is as a Shepherd to lead the flock, as well as a Physician to heal the diseased: We do not take notice of preventive mercies, and yet prevention is better than escape. Again, he is a Saviour by merit, and by power; for he hath not only to do with God but with Satan; God is to be satisfied, and Satan overcome, and therefore he rescueth us out of the hands of Satan, and redeemeth us out of the hands of Gods Justice. To rescue a condemned Malefactor, and take him by force out of the Executioners hands, is not enough, the Judge also must be satisfied, and pass a pardon, or the man is not safe: Christ hath pulled us out of the power of darkness, Col. 1. 13. and in him the Father is well pleased, Mat. 3. 17. There needeth also power to work upon our hearts, as well as merit to satisfy God. Before his Exaltation he redeemed us, then he deserved it, and therefore 'tis said, We have salvation by his death, 1 Thes. 5. 9. After his exaltation he worketh it, and so we are saved by his life, Rom. 5. 10. So that living and dying he is ours, that living and dying we may be his; we have the power of his Exaltation as well as the merit of his humiliation. Once more, he saveth us not only for a while, but for ever, and therefore 'tis called an eternal salvation, Heb. 5. 9. not only from temporal misery but from hell and damnation, not only the body is saved but the soul, and the soul not only from hell but the fear of hell, Heb. 2. 14. from the fear as well as the hurt, from despair and want of hope, as well as from the misery it self. Yet again, he saveth us not only from the evils after sin but the evil of sin, Mat. 1. 21. He shall save his people ⟨p. 228⟩from their sins, there is the chiefest part of his salvation. He doth not only save us in part, but saves us to the uttermost, Heb. 7. 25. He giveth us life, and all things necessary to life. Well then,
Secondly: he is Jesus, which signifyeth a Saviour; now Christ is a Saviour positively as well as privately, he giveth us spiritual blessings, as well as freedom from misery, Joh. 3. 17. That they should not perish but have everlasting life. Again, he is a Saviour, not onely by way of deliverance but by way of prevention, he doth not onely break the snare, but keep our feet from falling: He is as a Shepheard to lead the flock, as well as a Physitian to heal the diseased: We doe not take notice of preventive mercies, and yet prevention is better than escape. Again, he is a Saviour by merit, and by power; for he hath not only to doe with God but with Sathan; God is to be satisfied, and Sathan overcome, and therefore he rescueth us out of the hands of Sathan, and redeemeth us out of the hands of Gods Justice. To rescue a condemned Malefactor, and take him by force out of the Executioners hands, is not enough, the Judge also must be satisfied, and passe a pardon, or the man is not safe: Christ hath pulled us out of the power of darknesse, Col. 1. 13. and in him the Father is well pleased, Mat. 3. 17. There needeth also power to work upon our hearts, as well as merit to satisfie God. Before his Exaltation he redeemed us, then he deserved it, and therefore 'tis said, We have salvation by his death, 1 Thes. 5. 9. After his exaltation he worketh it, and so we are saved by his life, Rom. 5. 10. So that living and dying he is ours, that living and dying we may be his; we have the power of his Exaltation as well as the merit of his humiliation. Once more, he saveth us not onely for a while, but for ever, and therefore 'tis called an eternal salvation, Heb. 5. 9. not onely from temporal misery but from hell and damnation, not only the body is saved but the soul, and the soul not onely from hell but the fear of hell, Heb. 2. 14. from the fear as well as the hurt, from despair and want of hope, as well as from the misery it self. Yet again, he saveth us not only from the evils after sin but the evil of sin, Mat. 1. 21. He shall save his people ⟨p. 228⟩
