SERMON VI.

1 Epift. of JOHN ii. 1, 2.

Thele Things write I unto pou, that pe fin not. And if any Man fin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jefus Chzilk the Righteous. And he is the Propitiation fo2 our Hins, and not foz ours only, but also for the Sins of the whole Wozld.

T

HE Death of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift hath been variously interpreted as to the Ufe and Intent of it, according to the various Tempers of Men, and their different Degrees, of Honesty, or Understanding.

SOME, having fet afide what they call the * vulgar Doctrine of its being a Satisfaction

* Socini Oper. Edit. Irenop. Chriftianæ Relig. Inftitut. P. 665-667.

for

for our Sins (as one Error naturally begets another) have attempted to affign, as the chief Reafons for our Saviour's Paffion, Things, which, though they may refult from it as Confequences, yet were never of Weight fufficient to have occafioned it, or at all adequate to the Greatness and Importance of the Action.

SOME again, allowing the Doctrine of a SATISFACTION, have erred concerning the Extent and Univerfality of the Benefit.

ONE SORT, measuring it by their own selfish and narrow-spirited Apprehenfions, have confined his Favours, in whom all the Kingdoms of the Earth are bleed, to their own particular Sect or Party, excluding from any Share in a Saviour all that are not of this, or that Denomi nation; though, in the mean Time, they may be far better than themselves, and more deferving in the Eye of Heaven.

WHILST OTHERS, leaning to a contrary Extreme, would make the Univerfality of Chrift's Satisfaction an Occafion of finning, that Grace may abound; not confidering, that though the Satisfaction of Chrift be UNIVERSAL in its DE

SIGN, yet it is, as to its APPLICATION, 'conditional; nor concerning themselves what thofe Conditions may be, or whether they are performing them or not.

THESE are all Enemies of the Cross of Christ, which the Text doth directly combat.

THE Error of THE FIRST (the * Socinians) is twofold, in that they allow not the Doctrine of Chrift's Satisfaction, and affign others as the principal Causes of his Death, which have no neceffary Connection with it.

THEIR SCHEME is overthrown by this Propofition, Chrift is a Propitiation for our Sins ; which implies both that Chrift is a Satisfaction, and that, in order to be this, was the principal Cause of his Death.

THE Error concerning the Universality of Chrift's Satisfaction is alfo twofold.

SOME are too felfish and partial in their Notions of it. Against these it is affirmed, that Chrift is a Propitiation, not for our Sins only, but also for the Sins of the whole World.

Socinus, ubi fupra.

SOME

SOME AGAIN, are as extravagant in an unbounded and unconditional Extent of it; the Apostle, therefore, as though he had a peculiar Eye upon this fort of People, ufhers in the very Account of our Saviour by an Anticipation of their Error. Sin not faith he; and if any Man fin, &c. i. e. you are to endeavour at a perfect Obedience, and never to commit Sin: Where this is the Cafe, if you chance to fall, you are not to be discouraged; for, becaufe endeavoured not to fin, you will have an Advocate with the Father, Jefus Christ the Righteous, and he is the Propitiation for our Sins, and not for ours only, but for the Sins of the whole World.

any

you

IN difcourfing upon which Words, I fhall confider,

First, THE IMPORT of that PROPOSITION, be is a Propitiation for our Sins; and from thence maintain, against the Socinians, the Doctrine of Chrift's Satisfaction, and shew them what was the chief End, or firft FINAL Caufe, of his Death.

Secondly, I SHALL confider the EXTENT of this PROPITIATION, ftate the Universality

of

of it, and confirm it, and guard it against Mifapplication.

First, I AM to confider the Import of that PROPOSITION, he is a Propitiation for our Sins, and from thence to maintain, against the Socinians, the Doctrine of Chrift's Satisfaction, and to fhew them what was the chief End, or firft final Caufe, of his Death.

THE Greek Verb which we render to propitiate, fignifies to appeafe by Sacrifice: This is its genuine Meaning; and, in * any ancient Language, which our Adversaries may please to appeal to, its correfpondent Words will youch the fame.

εγειν θ ̓ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην

Now

Ες Χρύσην τότε κέν μιν ἱλασσάμενοι πεπίθοιμεν. Iliad i. 100. ν.

Again, κελόμην Θεὸν ἱλάσκεσθαι. Ib. 386.

- Φόιβῳ θ' ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην

Ρίξαι ὑπὲρ Δαναῶν ἀφ ̓ ἱλασσώμεθ ̓ ἄνακλα. Ib. 44.3

The Similitude between the Language of the oldest GREEK Writers and that of the HEBREWS, is very remarkable; befides that the Verb indoua, exactly expreffeth D; the Verbia is a direct rendering of wy in the

עשה זבח Senfe of

+ How the Verb is understood in the Old Teftament, and rendered by Interpreters, may be feen, Lev. i. 16.

where