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crucified.* As, to Adam's sin, procuring a resurrection to all mankind, subjected to death in consequence of his first transgression, Rom. v. 18, 19. 1 Cor. xv. 21, 22. It extended also to the sins of the Jews

The efficacy of levitical sacrifices was limited, and therefore they were offered annually. And had the efficacy of our Lord's sacrifice been so limited; had there been a necessity that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entered every year into the holy place with blood, then must he often have suffered from the beginning of the world. [See Heb. ix. 25, &c.] But now once for all in the end of the ages, hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. This plainly intimates, that the virtue of his sacrifice, with respect to the putting away of sin, reaches to the beginning of the world. For his offering himself once is supposed to be as efficacious for putting away sin from the beginning of the world, as if he had offered himself every year from the beginning of the world. And (ver. 27) as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this, they shall not enter upon another state of trial, where they may sin again and die again, and so by contracting new guilt, may stand in need of another atoning sacrifice; but the next thing which will follow after their death is the judgment, between which and death there is no place left for sinning: So Christ having offered himself once for all, to bear, or take away the sins of mankind committed in this present life, shall appear the second time (Ver. 28) not to offer himself again a sacrifice for sin committed after death, but to complete the final salvation, of all those that by faith and a holy life look for him. Christ, the lamb by whose precious blood we were redeemed, was foreknown as such before the foundation of the world, 1 Pet. i. 19, 20.

under the law. Acts xiii. 39, And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. The law of Moses could not justify from the curse of the law, [Cursed is every one that continueth not, &c.] but all the Jews died under the curse of it. Gal. iii. 13, but Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, i. e. by hanging on a tree, or by his sufferings and death. Heb. ix. 15, By means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant [the Mosaic covenant] they which are called [both under the Jewish and gospel dispensations] might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

135. This may serve to explain those expressions. Dan. ix. 24,-to finish [stay, stop, confine as in a prison] the transgression, and to make an end of [to seal up, Cant. iv. 12. Isa. xxix. 11.] sins. For by abolishing the law, as it subjects to death for every transgression, and by introducing the grace of the gospel, which pardons the penitent, he hath put a stop to, and sealed up, the transgression, Tagawa, and the sins against the rigour of the law; not only to

the future living, who, in this world to the end of it shall not be under law, but under grace; but also to the dead, that died under the curse of the law, who shall be restored to life again, [111.] Thus Christ hath redeemed the transgressions under, or against the first [or Mosaic] covenant. See my Paraphrase on Rom. v. 20, and the note upon it: as also the note on chap.

vii. 8.

136. And (Rom. iii. 24, 25) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, God declared his righteousness [pardoning mercy] for the remission of sins that were past among the gentiles; so far, that those sins were no bar to his conferring upon them antecedent blessings, or the privileges of his church in this world. Thus we are to understand his not imputing to them their trespasses, 2 Cor. v. 19. And thus, by pardoning past sins, and granting us admission into his kingdom, God reconciled us unto himself, who before were enemies and aliens. See Paraphr. on Rom. in the note upon chap. v. 11. And

137. V. Our being thus reconciled to God is ascribed to the death, cross, and blood of Christ. Rom. v. 10, For if when

we were enemies [while we were unconverted heathens*] we were reconciled to God, by the death of his Son; much more being actually reconciled by our receiving the gospel preached to us, we shall be saved by his life. 2 Cor. v. 18, All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing to them their trespasses. Eph. ii. 13, But now in Christ Jesus ye [Gentiles] who sometimes were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.-Ver. 16, 17, And that he might reconcile both [Jews and Gentiles] unto God in one body, by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And [then] came and preached peace to you that were afar off, and to them that were nigh. Col. i. 20, 21, 22, (And having made peace through the blood of his cross) by him [Gr. by it, i. c. by his cross] to reconcile all things to himself. And you [Gentiles] who were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your minds by wicked works, yet now hath he

See my paraphrase and notes on Rom. v. 6.

reconciled, in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable. 1 Pet. iii. 18, Christ hath also once suffered, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Rev. v. 9, Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed [bought] us unto God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people.

138. VI. Another effect ascribed to Christ's sufferings and death is our sanctification, spiritual healing, or deliverance from the power of sin. Isa. liii. 5, By his stripes we are healed. Rom. viii. 3, 4, For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God, by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, &c. 2 Cor. v. 15, Christ died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again. Gal. i. 4, Who gave himself for us, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. 1 Pet. i. 18, We were not redeemed from a vain [heathenish] conversation with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of

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