is therefore justly called the Lamb of God, that taketh away the Sins of the World.

The first Design of all Sacrifices was to take away Sin; and we are affured in almost every Page of the New Testament, that the Son of God was pleased to affume our Nature, to free us not only from the Punishment, but from the Guilt and Dominion of it. His own most gracious Invitation is, Come unto me all that are weary and heavy laden, and ye shall find Reft to your Souls. And his Apostle declares it to be a faithful, that is, a moft true Saying, that Chrift Jefus came into the World to Jave Sinners. John the Baptift affirms in the Text, that he would take away the Sins of the World; and we are affured, That there is now no Condemnation to them that are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit.

Again, the other Design of Sacrifices was to fubftitute the Animal in the room of the Offender, and thereby make Satisfaction for the Offence. And we are told in numberless Paffages of the facred Writings, that the blessed Jefus fubftituted himself in the room of his offending Creatures, underwent the Punishment due to them, and thereby made full Satisfaction to his Father's Juftice for all the Sins of the whole World. He fays himself, (Matt. xx. 28.) that he came not to be miniftred unto, but to give his Life a Ranfom for many. And (Matt. xxvi. 28.) calls his Blood the New Teftament,

Teftament, which was fhed for many for the Remiffion of Sins. (Eph. i. 7.) The Apostle to the Ephefians fays, That we have Redemption through his Blood, the Forgiveness of Sins, according to the Riches of his Grace. (Heb. ii. 9.) The Apostle to the Hebrews expreffly declares, that he tafted Death for every Man. And (Chap. ix. 11, 12, &c.) that Chrift being become an High Priest of good Things to come, not by the Blood of Bulls or Goats, but by his own Blood, bath obtained eternal Redemption for us. And St. Peter (1 Pet. i. 18, 19.) to the fame Effect obferves, that we are not redeemed with corruptible Things, as Silver and Gold, but with the precious Blood of Chrift, as of a Lamb without Blemish and without Spot. Because (1 Pet. ii. 21, 24.) Chrift fuffered for us, and his own felf bare our Sins in his own Body on the Tree.

Words cannot be more exprefs and clear, either as to the Defign of his Sufferings, or the Success of them. We fee here every Particular neceffary to a proper and perfect Atonement. The Perfon fuffering does it voluntarily, He gave himself freely for us: The of fended Deity accepts the Offer, He fent him into the World. What the only-beloved Son: did, could not but be agreeable to the Father; and no Merit, ftrictly fo called, could be. wanting in a Work undertaken and performed by God himself. Strange indeed and as much beyond our Comprehenfion as Merit!

But

But fuch was the Goodness of the Almighty, fuch the Love of his eternal Son, who has infallibly revealed it to us; and what then remains for redeemed Mortals to do, but to believe, admire, obey, and love?

And as to the Jews, our bleffed Redeemer suffered on the very Day and Hour that the Pafchal Lamb was offered up; and all the other Particulars pointed by that, and all the other Ceremonies and Sacrifices of their Law, were fo wonderfully and punctually fulfilled in him, as must have long fince convinced them that he was their promised Meffiah, if they had not obftinately refolved not to hear the Voice of the Charmer, charm be never fo wifely.

Thus have I fhewn the Origin and Defign of expiatory or bloody Sacrifices in general, and that of the Pafchal Lamb in particular; proved that none of them were fufficient of themselves to answer the Defign of those that offered them; and demonftrated, that what was wanting in them has been fupplied by the one great Sacrifice of the Son of God.

And now give me leave in very few Words to mention fome of the Ufes to be made of thefe Truths, and for which the whole was defigned. And,

1. Behold this Lamb of God. Look back on the Divine Oeconomy of our Redemption. Befides the numberless Victims that have been VOL. II.

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flain

flain ever fince the Foundation of the World, as pointing to his Death, and centring in it; confider the whole State of the Jews, their Laws, Priefts, Sacrifices, Tabernacle, and Temple, as all inftituted to prepare the Way for his coming, fo many hundred Years before the Fulness of Time; and the Confequence will be, exalted Conceptions of the Riches of the Goodness of God, and a full Conviction, that as no less a Perfon than the Son of God could deserve to be usher'd into the World with all this Pomp and Magnificence, fo nothing less than infinite Goodness could contrive and conduct this wonderful Difpenfa

tion.

2dly, Confider the great Merit and certain Efficacy of this fingle Sacrifice, which was a full, perfect, and fufficient Sacrifice, Oblation, and Satisfaction for the Sins of the whole World. He has, fays the Apoftle to the Hebrews, (x. 16.) by one Offering perfected for ever them that are fanctified, and obtained Remiffion of their Sins; and where Remiffion of thefe is, there is no more Offering for Sin, ver. 18. For Christians then to pretend to offer other Sacrifices, or renew the fame, (as in the Mafs) is not only needless, but impious, derogatory from our Lord's Honour, or crucifying him afresh.

Laftly, Let it be daily and hourly remembered, that this Lamb of God hath taken away the Sins of the World; that he was wounded for our Tranfgreffions, and bruised for

our

our Iniquities; and that we are healed through bis Stripes, who is now fat down on the right Hand of the Majesty on high, Angels, Principalities, and Powers being made fubject unto him. And to him therefore, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed and pay'd, as is most due, all Honour, Glory, Power, Obedience, and Love, both now and for ever

more.

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