A history of the work of redemption. Containing the outlines of a body of…

HAVING shown how the work of redemption was carried on through the first period, from the fall of man to the incarnation of Christ▪ I come now to the second period, viz. the time of Christ's humiliation, or the space from the incarnation of Christ to the resurrection. This is the most remarkable article of time that ever was, or ever will be. Tho' it was but between 30 and 40 years, yet more was done in it than had been done from the beginning of the world to that time. We have observed, that all that had been done from the fall t• the incarnation of Christ, was only preparatory for what was done now. It may also be observed, that all that was done before the beginning of time, in the eternal councils of God, and that eternal transaction there was between the persons of the Trinity, chiefly respected this period. We therefore now proceed to consider the second proposition, viz.

That during the time of Christ's humiliation, from his incarnation to his resurrection, the purchase of redemption was made.

Though there were many things done in the affair of redemption from the fall of man to this time, though millions of sacrifices had been offered up; yet nothing was done to purchase redemption before Christ's incarnation: no part of the purchase was made, no part of the price was offered till now. But as soon as Christ was incarnate, then the purchase began immediately without any delay: And the whole time of Christ's humiliation, from the morning that Christ began to be incarnate, till the morning that he arose fro• the dead, was taken up in this purchase. And then the purchase was entirely and completely finished. As nothing was done before Christ's incarnation, so nothing was done after his resurrection, to ⟨p. 138⟩