Introduction

Mankind by Nature lies under the Ruins of the Fall; both as Guilty and as Sinful. We are guilty in our Persons, and exposed to the divine Anger, as well as sinful in our Natures, and ever ready to break his holy Law. Whosoever therefore becomes our complete Savior must relieve us under both these Distresses.

As we are guilty in the Sight of God, we are condemned in the Court of his Law and Justice, we are liable to bear the Punishment due to our Sins, and we have lost all Pretense of Right to the Favor of God and Eternal Life. Now our blessed Lord Jesus Christ, who has undertaken the Work of our Salvation, is an all-sufficient Savior in every Respect; by his Obedience, Death and Intercession, he relieves us from the Guilt of Sin, and so delivers us from all Obligations to the Punishments of Hell. He reconciles us to God, and gives us a Right to Life and Salvation in the heavenly World.

As we are sinful Creatures we are ever ready to offend God afresh, and are utterly unfit for his heavenly Presence. And Christ saves us in this Respect, by changing our vicious Nature and Temper, sanctifying us by his Grace or Holy Spirit, so that we may be prepared for the Enjoyment of God in heavenly Places.

In these two things the Substance of our Salvation chiefly consists. And since these divine Affairs could not be so well understood by us, according to those sublime Ideas by which God the Father and his Son transact them in their Eternal Counsels and their subsequent Dispensations, therefore God has been pleased to reveal them to us under such Ideas or Representations, and in such Forms of Language, as are borrowed from our common Affairs in human Life; and that not only by one Figure or Emblem, but by many Representations thereof, that we might view them on all Sides, and have a fuller Knowledge of them, so far as is sufficient for our present State, or necessary to our Salvation.