Book 1: The Doctrine of Application

To omit the further consideration of the first part of the description, as that which contains the common [illegible] of this part, as in reference and coherence with [illegible] other: That wherein the pith lies, and which [illegible] our purpose may be resolved into these two [illegible] and observations.

First, that Christ has purchased all spiritual good for his.

Secondly, all that spiritual good that Christ has purchased for his, he does undoubtedly put them into the possession of it, and make it theirs.

For the first of these the doctrine is, that Christ has purchased all spiritual good for his: [illegible] be three particulars to be attended for the [illegible] of this point.

- 1 What this spiritual good is. - 2 Why Christ purchased it, and how. - 3 For whom.

This spiritual good intended, is the heap of grace [illegible] happiness, with all those sweet fruits and [illegible] which are either in preparation to it, or [illegible] upon it; the whole estate, and portion, and patrimony of a Christian, the riches and revenues of [illegible] gospel, what is in hand, what is in hope, what [illegible] possession, what in expectation, the whole mass [illegible] inventory of those everlasting treasuries which [illegible] stored up from all eternity for the welfare of his. David thus discovers it (Psalm 31:19): "Oh! How [illegible] is that goodness which you have wrought for them, and laid up for them, and laid out for them [illegible] trust in you before the sons of men!" So the Apostle also (Ephesians 1:7): "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace wherein he has abounded towards us."

I would not, I should not, in a way of orderly proceeding descend to particulars, for that were to [illegible] things out of place; I am now only in the general doctrine, which lies open in a community for the [illegible] of it to all that comes after, and therefore nothing proper to this place but that which carries that community with it; the several items I shall reserve to their particular places. Only thus much we may say [illegible] the further manifestation: all that spiritual good we lost, all that we do want or can need, all that [illegible] can desire, all that we can receive for our everlasting welfare — this is that plentiful redemption which [illegible] meant here (Psalm 130:7).

Why is it said that Christ has purchased [illegible] good? Because there is a price laid down for it, [illegible] that of equal worth, and of valuable consideration [illegible] that which is desired and obtained, and that in a righteous way of just proceeding; and the price that [illegible] laid down is expressly named in the text to be the [illegible] blood of Jesus. You were redeemed, says [illegible] Apostle, not with silver and gold (these were [illegible] too mean quality, and too base a condition, being [illegible] and transitory things, and therefore no [illegible] answerable to those everlasting, and spiritual, and [illegible] good things we look for), but with the [illegible] blood of Christ, which is of endless, infinite, and [illegible] virtue and efficacy, and in which the Lord rests [illegible]; this is a full purchase.

For any power by strong hand to wrest away [illegible] sinner from under the almighty hand of God it [illegible] impossible, for justice to lay aside itself and not [illegible] have her [illegible] righted in a righteous way was [illegible]; therefore that God's justice might [illegible], and our good procured, there was necessity [illegible] an equal price should be laid down for it, and [illegible] was the blood of Christ. In a word, the [illegible] obedience of Christ was the full purchase; the [illegible] out of justice is bound to manifest the glory of [illegible], because that is to give every one his own; and [illegible] must require satisfaction where any breach [illegible] been made by any transgression and swerving [illegible] the righteous will of God. While therefore [illegible] Savior by his death satisfied the breach of the [illegible], and for all the sins that ever any of his should [illegible] guilty of; and by his obedience fulfilled all [illegible], and perfectly pleased God: he fully [illegible], by way of purchase and complete payment made [illegible] divine justice, the removal of all that evil we [illegible] deserved, and the enjoyment of all that good we [illegible], and could desire; and that by a valuable [illegible] tendered into the hands of divine justice in [illegible] behalf.

Thus we are said (1 Corinthians 6:20) to be bought with a [illegible]. And (Job 33:24) the Lord is said to set free the [illegible] through the righteousness of his Son; he [illegible], "Deliver him because I have found a ransom." [illegible] the ransom and payment is tendered to divine [illegible], for to it the soul stands prisoner; as the [illegible] is the king's prisoner not the jailer's, so the [illegible] stands bound to divine justice, and is God's [illegible]; he is neither the prisoner of Satan (who is [illegible] jailer) nor of sin (which is the prison properly) [illegible] so far as they receive commission from [illegible] to require satisfaction in her behalf. And [illegible] when justice is satisfied neither of them has right [illegible] power to retain the soul.

Therefore the Scripture styles them redeemed from [illegible] earth (Revelation 14:3). And he gave himself that he [illegible] deliver us from this present [illegible] world (Galatians 1:4). And again (Revelation 5:9), he was slain and [illegible] bought us [illegible] his blood to God the Father. So that by way of purchase he has bought us from ourselves — that is, redeemed us from the tyranny, authority, and [illegible] sovereignty of our own lusts to which we were [illegible] bondage (1 Corinthians 7:23). He has bought us [illegible] price from being the servants of men: that is, [illegible] the slavery and servitude of men's humors and [illegible]. When the law is satisfied, the dungeon and [illegible] can detain the prisoner no longer.

Thus, however it is out of free mercy and [illegible] grace that redemption is given to us (for it is out [illegible] mercy that Christ is given, that he gave his life, [illegible] both are bestowed upon us and not upon the world), yet in regard of the Lord Jesus [illegible], and the [illegible] payment he has laid down out of his own [illegible] cost and charges — his own blood — it is justice, it [illegible] be bestowed upon him, and by justice it may be challenged as that which he has [illegible] in a [illegible] proceeding.

Instruction. We may here see, how great and [illegible] a work it is, to obtain the least spiritual good that appertains to the everlasting welfare of our souls, were it but the guilt of the least sin that should be removed, were it but the power of the least [illegible] that should be brought under, one smile of God's countenance, and one blessed look of his face and favor toward a poor wretch, were it but a saving and a heavenly thought of a man's mind, the least spiritual motion or stir of our hearts in any sincere affection to the Lord: It is not all the policy or parts of men that can procure it, not all the power of created nature in heaven or earth that can accomplish it, not all the [illegible] of pearls, mines of gold and silver in the [illegible] that can purchase this; no, if it were [redeemed] from a vain conversation, from a tradition, from a delusion, you must be redeemed from it by the precious blood of Christ: So the text. God will not [give] any good of the covenant of grace, but he [will be] well paid for it, and it comes at such a rate that all [men] and all creatures are not able to reach the [price] (Psalm 49:8). The redemption of the soul is [illegible], it ceases for ever: men and angels must [leave] it alone, only the Lord Jesus the God of glory in [whom] all the treasures of grace are hid, he is able to [make] the purchase, and it has cost him [illegible] full dear, no less than his very heart blood.

Reproof. It checks a double practice.

First of those that have interest in this purchase and [illegible] want the exercise, of that heavenly skill, or care, [or] confidence, or all, to improve it for their best [advantage].

They sit down appalled and [illegible] with the [illegible] their sins so [illegible], so loathsome, with the [illegible] of God's holiness, and [illegible] as that they dare not believe it, dare [not] think it, that either the pardon of their sins, [or the acceptance of] their persons, [or] the least look of God's love [could] be vouchsafed to them. Another while they sit [down] discouraged under the pressure and pursuit of [illegible] and policy, the violence and strength of [their] own corruptions, their sins live and are mighty, [and] therefore they conclude they can never overcome: They stagger again in the assurance of God's love, and [yet] they dare not say but they would be Christ's, and [that] his death and [blood] shed is theirs, they will not [cast] away that. Why? Have you laid down the purchase? Take possession then into your hand: Have you tendered the payment? Take the commodity, [it] is your own; nay, your due. Say, Lord, I and all [that] I have, and all I can do are worthless and vile, I am [a] base sinful creature, that needs all spiritual good and comfort, and yet deserves nothing but the contrary; But here is the precious blood of your Son which you [have shed] upon me, it is a full purchase every way answerable to your justice, this precious blood is [the price] of precious faith, precious peace, [saving] grace, its pardoning, purging, pacifying blood; [I] beseech you therefore, though I be a sinful [and wretched] creature, through the blood of Jesus pity me; though polluted and loathsome through the [power] of the blood of Jesus cleanse me. So the [text], Let us draw near with a true heart, in full [assurance] of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an [evil] conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22). Eye the worth of this blood above all our unworthiness; the holiness of this above all the unholiness of our hearts and lives. He that knows [well] what the purchase will come, and has the sum in sight and under his hand, he can lay it down upon the [table], pay it, take it, here is one there's the other.

So Paul (Romans 8:34), Who shall lay any thing [to] the charge of God's elect? it is Christ that [has] died: Here's the blood of Jesus which you are well pleased with, has accepted of, therefore Lord give me my due, that comfort, that peace, that wisdom, that assurance, which I stand in need of. So again (Galatians 6:14), [Far] be it from me that I should rejoice in any thing [but] in the cross of Christ: He rejoiced in nothing but this, therefore far be it from him, that he should [illegible] rejoice in this.

It crushes the confidence, and dashes the [hopes] and delusions of presumptuous wretches, who out of a brazen-faced kind of boldness, will be scrambling for their own comfort, catching at grace, and mercy, and peace, when it belongs not to them: True, say they, our sins, persons, conditions, are such and so vile, but the Lord is gracious and merciful, and therefore they doubt not but to be accepted and saved, and conclude that peace and happiness is theirs; they take the good, but tender no purchase; lay hold upon their comfort, [but] never lay down the payment; a way that God [never] appointed, a course that justice never permits, [yea], mercy itself will not allow; There's no precious [grace] without precious blood, no redemption from [the] blood and filth in which we lie by reason of our [own] evils (when I saw you in your blood, I said, [Live]) but only by the blood of Jesus. So the Apostle (Hebrews 9:22), The book, the people, the tabernacle, [the] vessels, the ministry, all things by the law was [sprinkled] with blood, and without shedding of blood [there is] no remission, no entering into the Holy of [Holies] but by the blood of Jesus: Mercy itself through [the] virtue of the blood of Christ is communicated, [grace] itself through the virtue of the blood of Christ [is applied]; unless therefore you can bring the [price], the payment, the blood of Jesus with you, [never] dream to receive any good at the hands of the [Lord].