B10086:177
The safety of appearing at the day of judgement, in the righteousness of Christ
The safety of appearing at the day of judgement, in the righteousness of Christ: opened and applied. By Solomon Stoddard ...
Boston: printed by Samuel Green for Samuel Phillips, 1687
Title page typeset from the transcription.
The Safety of Appearing in the Righteousness of Jesus Christ. › Chapter 4 › Argument 3: Argument 3.
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.
2. The next thing to be observed is, the force of the Apostles consequence; he argues from Gods love in sending Christ to dye for us, the certain salvation of those that are reconciled by his death: and there is no scruple to be made of their salvation, though they have many enemies that seek their ruin, though they have much sin remaining in them, and have been many ways failing of walking up to that exactness which God requires: all those that Christ died for, and are first or last instructed in his death, shall be saved by him.
2. The next thing to be observed is, the force of the Apostles consequence; he argues from Gods love in sending Christ to dye for us, the certain salvation of those that are reconciled by his death: and there is no scruple to be made of their salvation, though they have many enemies that seek their ruine, though they have much sin remaining in them, and have been many ways failing of walking up to that exactness which God requires: all those that Christ died for, and are first or last instructed in his death, shall be saved by him.
1. If God had so great love as to send his Son to bear such great sufferings to purchase our salvation: then he will not fail to do what ever else is necessary for our salvation: he will not stick to do what is else to be done for the completing of our salvation: he that has done the greater will do the less; if love overcame the difficulty that was in the way of our redemption it will also overcome whatever difficulty is in the way of the application of redemption: it is unreasonable to think that God should have love enough to send his Son, to do that which can't be done without pain, and sorrow, and death, and not have love enough to do that which he can do with the speaking of a word: the great difficulty in the way of our salvation, was the purchasing of it: there was wrath to ⟨p. 83⟩be born, a curse to be endured; but love broke through that difficulty, the rest that remains is easy to God, the mortification of sin, the quickening of grace, the repelling of temptation, and giving the actual possession of glory, may be effected by God without any difficulty, and therefore he won't stick at that, Rom. 9.32. If God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things: it is true that God does but by little and little carry on in us the work of sanctification: but the reason of that is not that it is any ways difficult unto him: but because that suits the design that is upon his heart: neither is it from any unwillingness to help us: but because his design is to carry on the work of sanctification, so that we shall have continually need of justification: we find it difficult to do our part in order to our salvation, but it is not difficult to God to do his part: God carries on the work without difficulty, yet so that we shall find difficulty: as a Parent with ease helps the child to go, yet so that the Child finds difficulty to go: it is no burden to God to uphold Grace: he that upholds the frame of nature with the word of his power, can easily uphold grace: what ever stands as an impediment in the way of our salvation, may be removed by God without any trouble: God puts forth thousands of acts of omnipotency to effect things that are less upon his heart. than the salvation of those that he has redeemed. and it is no pain nor weariness unto God to be daily carrying on the work of our salvation:
1. If God had so great love as to send his Son to bear such great sufferings to purchase our salvation: then he will not fail to do what ever else is necessary for our salvation: he will not stick to do what is else to be done for the compleating of our salvation: he that has done the greater will do the less; if love overcame the difficulty that was in the way of our redemption it will also overcome whatever difficulty is in the way of the application of redemption: it is unreasonable to think that God should have love enough to send his Son, to do that which can't be done without pain, and sorrow, and death, and not have love enough to do that which he can do with the speaking of a word: the great difficulty in the way of our salvation, was the purchasing of it: there was wrath to ⟨p. 83⟩be born, a curse to be endured; but love broke through that difficulty, the rest that remains is easie to God, the mortification of sin, the quickening of grace, the repelling of temptation, and giving the actual possession of glory, may be effected by God without any difficulty, and therefore he won't stick at that, Rom. 9.32. If God spared not his emn Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things: it is true that God does but by little and little carry on in us the work of sanctification: but the reason of that is not that it is any wayes difficult unto him: but because that suits the design that is upon his heart: neither is it from any unwillingness to help us: but because his design is to carry on the work of sanctification, so that we shall have continually need of justification: we find it difficult to do our part in or•er to our salvation, but it is not difficult to God to do his part: God carries on the work without difficulty, yet so that we shall find difficulty: as a Parent with ease helps the child to go, yet so that the Child finds difficulty to go: it is no burden to God to uphold Grace: he that upholds the frame of nature with the word of his power, can easily uphold grace: what ever stands as an impediment in the way of our salvation, may be removed by God without any trouble: God puts forth thousands of acts of omnipotency to effect things that are less upon his heart. than the salvation of those that he has redeemed. and it is no pain nor weariness unto God to be daily carrying on the work of our salvation:
the opposition that is made to it is nothing to omnipotency, Isai. 40.28. The Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary. 2. If God had such love to us as to send his Son to dye for us, when we had grievously offended him: he will now he is reconciled do what remains in order ⟨p. 84⟩to our salvation: when provocations lay in the way, yet he drove on this design of our salvation, therefore he will do it much more, now those provocations are removed: when he looked upon us as offenders he did much in order to our blessedness; therefore now he looks upon us as friends, he will not think much to effect what remains: if he was not willing that we should dye, when we were guilty sinners, he will not be willing that we should dye now our guilt is removed: when he was angry he spared no cost for our salvation; we may be sure then he will not now he is pacified: now there is no obstruction in the way of Gods love to hinder the course thereof: Justice is now satisfied: Gods anger is done away by Christ: the sacrifice of Christ has pleased God, Eph. 5.2. Christ Jesus has wrought out full reconciliation for us, Col. 1.20. Gods anger is turned away through the mediation of Christ: God has satisfied himself to his own content for the wrongs that they have done him, so that there is no offence to lye as a Bar in the way of their Salvation. 3. If God had so much love as to give his Son to dye for our salvation, when he might justly have damned us, surely he will save us when he cant justly damn us, but is bound in justice to save us: when he might righteously have destroyed us, he put himself to great cost for our salvation: then he will not break rules of righteousness to destroy us: God that would not take the opportunity to destroy us when we were in his hands, and he might fairly have done it, will not now destroy us, when he himself has brought us into such a condition, that he cannot righteously do it: God now stands bound unto Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ has suffered the Law, and therefore God is bound to save all those that Christ died for: upon what account should they sear that God will damn them? not upon ⟨p. 85⟩account of their sins; they have been fully punished already:
the opposition that is made to it is nothing to omnipotency, Isai. 40.28. The Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary. 2. If God had such love to us as to send his Son to dye for us, when we had grievously offended him: he will now he is reconciled do what remains in order ⟨p. 84⟩to our salvation: when provocations lay in the way, yet he drove on this design of our salvation, therefore he will do it much more, now those provocations are removed: when he looked upon us as offenders he did much in order to our blessedness; therefore now he looks upon us as friends, he will not think much to effect what remains: if he was not willing that we should dye, when we were guilty sinners, he will not be willing that we should dye now our guilt is removed: when he was angry he spared no cost for our salvation; we may be sure then he will not now he is pacified: now there is no obstruction in the way of Gods love to hinder the course thereof: Justice is now satisfied: Gods anger is done away by Christ: the sacrifice of Christ has pleased God, Eph. 5.2. Christ Jesus has wrought out full reconciliation for us, Col. 1.20. Gods anger is turned away through the mediation of Christ: God has satisfied himself to his own content for the wrongs that they have done him, so that there is no offence to lye as a Bar in the way of their Salvation. 3. If God had so much love as to give his Son to dye for our salvation, when he might justly have damned us, surely he will save us when he cant justly damn us, but is bound in justice to save us: when he might righteously have destroyed us, he pnt himself to great cost for our salvation: then he will not break rules of righteousness to destroy us: God that would not take the opportunity to destroy us when we were in his hands, and he might fairly have done it, will not now destroy us, when he himself has brought us into such a condition, that he cannot righteously do it: God now stands bound unto Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ has suffered the Law, and therefore God is bound to save all those that Christ died for: upon what account should they sear that God will damn them? not upon ⟨p. 85⟩account of their sins; they have been fully punished already:
as it was an act of justice in God to punish Christ upon the account of imputed sin, so it is an act of Justice to save those that have an interest in Christ on the account of imputed righteousness: Justice requires that they that are righteous, whether by personal obedience or imputed righteousness should have life: Christ has paid a ransom for us, Mat 20.28. and therefore we must in justice be set free. 4. If God had such love as to send Christ to dye for us, which mercy he was never satisfied for: surely he will do what else is requisite for our salvation, being fully satisfied for that: it would be strange if God that has done such a thing as to give us his Son to dye out of mere grace without any recompense; should deny other things to us needful to complete our salvation which he has taken satisfaction and recompense for: he that had such a dear love for us to do that which could not be payed for without any price: will do the rest seeing he has received the price of it: God has taken a price for our justification, sanctification and salvation, Tit. 2.14. Eph, 1.14. all covenant blessings are purchased. 5. God that had such love as to send his Son to dye for our Salvation, when he would have been no loser if we had not been saved: he will complete our salvation, seeing if he do it not now, he would be a loser: he would lose this cost that he has been at for our salvation: if he should suffer those to perish that Christ died for, then the death of Christ would be in vain: time was he might have let sinners have perished and have lost nothing by it; but now if he should let them perish that Christ died for, he would lose the glory of that undertaking: he would dishonour himself; he ⟨p. 86⟩has laid a foundation with great cost, if he should not finish his work, his expenses would be lost, and Christs death would be in vain: but without doubt God that has gone so far in this work, and has expended treasure of mercy in order to it, will yet lay out what ever shall be further requisite for the completing of it.
as it was an act of justice in God to punish Christ upon the account of imputed sin, so it is an act of Justice to save those that have an interest in Christ on the account of imputed righteousness: Justice requires that they that are righteous, whether by personal obedience or imputed righteousness should have life: Christ has paid a ransome for us, Mat 20.28. and therefore we must in justice be set free. 4. If God had such love as to send Christ to dye for us, which mercy he was never satisfied for: surely he will do what else is requisite for our salvation, being fully satisfied for that: it would be strange if God that has done such a thing as to give us his Son to dye out of meer grace without any recompence; should deny other things to us needful to compleat our salvation which he has taken satisfaction and recompence for: he that had such a dear love for us to do that which could not be payed for without any price: will do the rest seeing he has received the price of it: God has taken a price for our justification, sanctification and salvation, Tit. 2.14. Eph, 1.14. all covenant blessings are purchased. 5. God that had such love as to send his Son to dye for our Salvation, when he would have been no loser if we had not been saved: he will compleat our salvation, seeing if he do it not now, he would be a loser: he would lose this cost that he has been at for our salvation: if he should suffer those to perish that Christ died for, then the death of Christ would be in vain: time was he might have let sinners have perished and have lost nothing by it; but now if he should let them perish that Christ died for, he would lose the glory of that undertaking: he would dishonour himself; he ⟨p. 86⟩has laid a foundation with great cost, if he should not finish his work, his expenses would be lost, and Christs death would be in vain: but without doubt God that has gone so far in this work, and has expended treasure of mercy in order to it, will yet lay out what ever shall be further requisite for the compleating of it.
Argument 4.
From the Exaltation of Christ: because Christ who was our surety is exalted by God; it is safe for us to appear before God in his righteousness.
Jesus Christ was a surety for us, Heb. 7.22. Jesus was a surety of a better Testament: Jesus Christ was our undertaker, stood bound to satisfy our debt, and to satisfy the justice of God for the wrongs that we had done unto him: and therefore he was made a curse for us, Gal. 3.13 our guilt was translated unto him: God laid on him the iniquities of us all, Isai. 53.6. and the punishment that was inflicted on him was properly our punishment, Surely he hath bore our grief and carried our sorrow, Isai. 53.4. it was that punishment that firstly did belong unto us: he suffered upon the account of his public Office and undertaking: as Mediator he gave himself a ransom for us.
Jesus Christ was a surety for us, Heb. 7.22. Jesus was a surety of a better Testament: Jesus Christ was our undertaker, stood bound to satisfie our debt, and to satisfie the justice of God for the wrongs that we had done unto him: and therefore he was made a curse for us, Gal. 3.13 our guilt was translated unto him: God laid on him the iniquities of us all, Isai. 53.6. and the punishment that was inflicted on him was properly our punishment, Surely he hath bore our grief and carried our sorrow, Isai. 53.4. it was that punishment that firstly did belong unto us: he suffered upon the account of his publick Office and undertaking: as Mediator he gave himself a ransom for us.
And Jesus Christ, who was our Surety, after he had suffered for sinners was gloriously exalted by God: God has advanced him unto an estate of glory: this exaltation of Christ does consist in three degrees.
First, His resurrection from the dead: this has been confirmed from the testimony of Angels, those holy creatures which would not deceive us, Mar. 16.6. Luk. 24.4, 5, 6. from the testimony of his friends, who ⟨p. 87⟩were well acquainted with him, and could not easily be deceived, Acts 2.32. Acts 10.40, 41: from the testimony of adversaries, men who would have been glad if it had been otherwise, men that were under no temptation to lye for Christ, Mat. 28.11. and this was according to the predictions of the Old Testament, 1 Cor. 15.4 God put his soul into him again, and brought him out of the Sepulchre, this was accomplished on the third day after his death: this time of his Resurrection was foretold of old, and that in sundry places, Luke 24.34, 5, 6. it was foretold in the books of Moses, Gen. 22.24. compared with Heb. 11.19. in the Prophets, namely in Jonah 12. Mat. 40. in the Psalms, Psal. 16.10. compared with Acts 2.31. Secondly, His ascending into heaven, his soul had been in heaven at the time of his death, but forty days after his resurrection, when he had confirmed his disciples in the truth of his resurrection, and instructed them in other things pertaining to the kingdom of God, his whole humane nature was taken into heaven: he is said to ascend above all beavens, Eph. 4.10. that is, into that heaven that is above the airy and starry heavens. Thirdly, his sitting down at the right-hand of God, Heb. 3. this phrase denotes glory, it is a metaphor taken from Monarchs: to sit at the right-hand of the Prince, is to set in the second place of dignity; the throne being the highest, the Lord Jesus is advanced unto greater glory in heaven as he is man, then any angel in heaven: in special, besides other particulars, in having the administration and government of all things in his hands.
First, His resurrection from the dead: this has been confirmed from the testimony of Angels, those holy creatures which would not deceive us, Mar. 16.6. Luk. 24.4, 5, 6. from the testimony of his friends, who ⟨p. 87⟩were well acquainted with him, and could not easily be deceived, Acts 2.32. Acts 10.40, 41: from the testimony of adversaries, men who would have been glad if it had been otherwise, men that were under no temptation to lye for Christ, Mat. 28.11. and this was according to the predictions of the Old Testament, 1 Cor. 15.4 God put his soul into him again, and brought him out of the Sepulchre, this was accomplished on the third day after his death: this time of his Resurrection was foretold of old, and that in sundry places, Luke 24.34, 5, 6. it was foretold in the books of Moses, Gen. 22.24. compared with Heb. 11.19. in the Prophets, namely in Jonah 12. Mat. 40. in the Psalms, Psal. 16.10. compared with Acts 2.31. Secondly, His ascending into heaven, his soul had been in heaven at the time of his death, but forty days after his refurrection, when he had confirmed his disciples in the truth of his resurrection, and instructed them in other things pertaining to the kingdom of God, his whole humane nature was taken into heaven: he is said to ascead above all beavens, Eph. 4.10. that is, into that heaven that is above the airy and starry heavens. Thirdly, his sitting down at the right-hand of God, Heb. 3. this phrase denotes glory, it is a metaphor taken from Monarchs: to sit at the right-hand of the Prince, is to set in the second place of dignity; the throne being the highest, the Lord Jesus is advanced unto greater glory in heaven as he is man, then any angel in heaven: in special, besides other particulars, in having the administration and government of all things in his hands.
This Exaltation of Christ is a clear evidence of Gods accepting that sacrifice that he offered up for us […] and being fully satisfied for our sins by the sufferings of Jesus Christ:
This Exaltation of Christ is a clear evidence of Gods accepting that sacrifice that he offered up for us 〈…〉 and being fully satisfied for our sins by the sufferings of Jesus Christ:
And there are three things therein, that serve to convince us hereof.
1. By Christs Exaltation, he is delivered from that suffering estate which our sins brought him into: he is hereby set free from that state of humiliation, which he was in for our sins: vengeance had taken hold of Christ as our surety, the justice of God seized him, he was apprehended as one liable to the Law, and God took vengeance on him, and soured out wrath on him; but now by his Exaltation, he is set at liberty: justice has dismissed him, God has done exacting any more punishment on him, which is a clear evidence that he is wholly discharged of that guilt that was upon him: Christ subjected himself to the wrath of God, and God punished him as much as he pleased, Christ bore the curse, till God laid it was enough, In his resurrection God opened the prison door, and let him out; God sent an Officer to deliver him from his grave, Mat. 28. 2. The angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door. Gods delivering of Christ, evidenceth the satisfaction that he has received by his sufferings: if Christ were not risen, it would be an argument that sins were not satisfied for, 1 Cor. 15.17. If Christ be not risen, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins: but his resurrection shows, that Gods demands are answered; and therefore when Christ was raised from the dead, he is said to be justified: God gave him a legal acquittance ⟨p. 89⟩and discharge from that guilt which he had taken upon him, 1 Tim. 3.16. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, the Apostle Peter expresses it thus: he was quickened in the spirit, 1 Pet: 3.18: so that when he was quickened, he was justified; Christ could never have been delivered out of the hands of Justice, if he had not paid the uttermost farthing. Hence we are said to have a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ, 1 Pet. 1.3. God has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead: this consideration is a means by Gods blessing to beget a lively hope in us: the ground of our hope is the resurrection of Christ; it might better be rendered a living hope: the same word is rendered living, 1 Pet. 2.4. this is such an hope as will abide and continue, the hope that is built upon the foundation, will never fail; other hopes may dye away, but this is a living hope, a parallel Scripture to this is, 1 Pet. 3.18.
1. By Christs Exaltation, he is delivered from that suffering estate which our sins brought him into: he is hereby set free from that state of humiliation, which he was in for our sins: vengeance had taken hold of Christ as our surety, the justice of God seized him, he was apprehended as one liable to the Law, and God took vengeance on him, and soured out wrath on him; but now by his Exaltation, he is set at liberty: justice has dismissed him, God has done exacting any more punishment on him, which is a clear evidence that he is wholly discharged of that guilt that was upon him: Christ subjected himself to the wrath of God, and God punished him as much as he pleased, Christ bore the curse, till God laid it was enough, In his resurrection God opened the prison door, and let him out; God sent an Officer to deliver him from his grave, Mat. 28. 2. The angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door. Gods delivering of Christ, evidenceth the satisfaction that he has received by his sufferings: if Christ were not risen, it would be an argument that sins were not satisfied for, 1 Cor. 15.17. If Christ be not risen, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins: but his resurrection shews, that Gods demands are answered; and therefore when Christ was raised from the dead, he is said to be justified: God gave him a legal acquittance ⟨p. 89⟩and discharge from that guilt which he had taken upon him, 1 Tim. 3.16. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, the Apostle Peter expresses it thus: he was quickned in the spirit, 1 Pet: 3.18: so that when he was quickned, he was justified; Christ could never have been delivered out of the hands of Justice, if he had not paid the uttermost farthing. Hence we are said to have a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ, 1 Pet. 1.3. God has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead: this consideration is a means by Gods blessing to beget a lively hope in us: the ground of our hope is the resurrection of Christ; it might better be rendred a living hope: the same word is rendred living, 1 Pet. 2.4. this is such an hope as will abide and continue, the hope that is built upon the foundation, will never fail; other hopes may dye away, but this is a living hope, a parallel Scripture to this is, 1 Pet. 3.18.
we have the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: a well-informed conscience is satisfied with this: when a mans conscience accuses him of sins, they are manifest, and he can't deny them, heinous and he can't excuse them: yet this silences those accusations that Christ is risen.
Conscience sees in the resurrection of Christ, the satisfactoriness of his sufferings, and has peace on that account that the debt is paid; and upon the same account it is that Paul attributes power to the resurrection of Christ, Phil. 3.10. that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, when God sets this consideration home upon the heart, it has a mighty comforting power: this will raise up a drooping spirit: when a man is distressed indeed with the guilt of sin, the world has no power to comfort him, his ⟨p. 90⟩privilege cannot, his duties cannot, but this thing set home, has power to ease his heart, refresh his soul, silence his conscience: the sense of this brings great comfort to a christian, and the Apostle mentions this consideration as the security of christians against condemnation; and as that which adds further encouragement to that which rises from his death, Rom. 8.34, Who is he that condemneth, it is Christ that dyed, yea rather is risen again.
Conscience sees in the resurrection of Christ, the satisfactoriness of his sufferings, and has peace on that account that the debt is paid; and upon the same account it is that Paul attributes power to the refurrection of Christ, Phil. 3.10. that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, when God sets this consideration home upon the heart, it has a mighty comforting power: this will raise up a drooping spirit: when a man is distressed indeed with the guilt of sia, the world has no power to comfort him, his ⟨p. 90⟩priviledge cannot, his duties cannot, but this thing set home, has power to ease his heart, resiesh his soul, silence his conscience: the sence of this brings great comfort to a christian, and the Apostle mentions this consideration as the security of christians against condemnation; and as that which adds further encouragement to that which rises from his death, Rom. 8.34, Who is he that condemneth, it is Christ thao dyed, yea rather is risen again.
2. By Christs Exaltation, he is rewarded for his sufferings: God presently upon his sufferings took him up into heaven, and bountifully rewarded him for his undertaking: some seem loth to grant that Christ did merit for himself, but there is no danger in affirming that according to compact, God did gloriously recompense Christ for his Obedience and sufferings for us; the primary design of Christs undertaking, was to merit for us: but it was every way suitable, that this service of his should be rewarded, 2 Phil. 8.9. he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, the death of the cross, wherefore also God hath highly exalted him: God took wonderful contentment in it, that Christ would lay down his life for us; that is the intendment of that expression, therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, John 10.17. God did highly approve of it, and took a complacency in it, and in Christ by reason of it; and manifested his approbation by rewarding it: Christ has a glorious reward in heaven: and this is an evidence that he has gone through his undertaking: that he has not failed in the work that God committed to him.
2. By Christs Exaltation, he is rewarded for his sufferings: God presently upon his sufferings took him up into heaven, and bountifully rewarded him for his undertaking: some seem loth to grant that Christ did merit for himself, but there is no danger in affirming that according to compact, God did gloriously recompence Christ for his Obedience and sufferings for us; the primary design of Christs undertaking, was to merit for us: but it was every way suitable, that this service of his should be rewarded, 2 Phil. 8.9. he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, the death of the cross, wherefore also God hath highly exalted him: God took wonderful contentment in it, that Christ would lay down his life for us; that is the intendment of that expression, therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, John 10.17. God did highly approve of it, and took a complacency in it, and in Christ by reason of it; and manifested his approbation by rewarding it: Christ has a glorious reward in heaven: and this is an evidence that he has gone thorow his undertaking: that he has not failed in the work that God committed to him.
If Christ had failed of righteousness, not only we, but he also would have failed of glory: Christs own ⟨p. 91⟩had a dependence upon his working out of perfect righteousness as well as ours: his happiness and ours were embarked together: if he had not run the race, he had not been crowned, if he had not been a conqueror, he had not received the prize: if he had sunk under the work, and not completed our redemption, God would not have bestowed this reward upon him; but since he has received a glorious reward, we may conclude he has done his work, and performed the Office of a surety: this argument the spirit of God makes use of: John 16.8, 9, 10. the comforter will convince of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more: the way whereby Christ came to sit down on the right-hand of the majesty on high, was the purging of our sins with his blood, Heb. 1.3. the thing whereby Christ came to be admitted into the holy place, Was the obtaining of eternal redemption for us, Heb. 9.12.
If Christ had failed of righteousness, not only we, but he also would have failed of glory: Christs own ⟨p. 91⟩had a dependance upon his working out of perfect righteousness as well as ours: his happiness and ours were imbarked together: if he had not run the race, he had not been crowned, if he had not been a conquerer, he had not received the prize: if he had sunk under the work, and not compleated our redemption, God would not have bestowed this reward upon him; but since he has received a glorious reward, we may conclude he has done his work, and performed the Office of a surety: this argument the spirit of God makes use of: John 16.8, 9, 10. the comforter will convince of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more: the way whereby Christ came to sit down on the right-hand of the majesty on high, was the purging of our sins with his blood, Heb. 1.3. the thing whereby Christ came to be admitted into the holy place, Was the obtaining of eternal redemption for us, Heb. 9.12.