The safety of appearing at the day of judgement, in the righteousness of Christ

His Righteousness was efficacious for the ages before his coming: though it was not then actually wrought out in former Generations, this righteousness was available for justification: as a man may be discharged of a Debt because of the Bond of his Surety, before the money is paid: so Christ was preached as the way of Salvation from the very fall of Adam, Gen. 3.15. The seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpents head: the way that the Patriarchs were justified, was by Faith in Christ, Rom. 4.3. hence they are said to be saved by Grace, Act: 15:11: the Covenant which was made with Abraham, was made in consideration of the righteousness of Christ, Gal: 3:17: The covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ: Christ was actually slain after the World had stood about four thousand years: but he was reckoned as slain from the foundation of the World, Rev: 13:8: the virtue of his blood reached unto the first ages of the world: that is implied Heb. 9.25, 26. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the High Priest entereth every year into the holy place with the blood of others, for then must be often have suffered since the foundation of the World; but now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to ⟨p. 57⟩put away sin by the sacrifice of himself: Hence there was through him remission of the sins that were past, Rom: 3: 25. he died for the redemption of transgressions that were under the first Testament, Heb: 9:15; the means of the salvation of the Fathers was accomplished in the days of the Gospel: they were saved before, but the price of this Salvation was payed when Christ died: that is intended by that expression, Heb. 11:40: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

His Righteousness was efficacious for the ages before his coming: though it was not then actually wrought out in former Generations, this righteousness was available for justification: as a man may be discharged of a Debt because of the Bond of his Surety, before the money is paid: so Christ was preached as the way of Salvation from the very fall of Adam,