obedience in order to their ruin. This is our con dition by nature, and if ever any needed to be redeemed, 'tis we. 2. Such is the grace of our Lord Jesus Chrift that he stoops into a near relation to us; becomes by incarnation our kinsman after the flesh, that he might have right to redeem. If ever we are recovered, the same nature that finn'd must also fuffer. Wherefore forafmuch as the children to be redeemed were partakers of flesh and blood, be also himself likewise took part of the Same, that being Emmanuel, God-with-us, we might not be left without help or hope, Heb. ii. 14. 3. Being enter'd into the relation, be performs the part of a kinsman, redeeming us from our state of bondage and misery, and this two ways. viz. By { price and power. (1.) By paying the price of our redemption, and this the greatest that ever was laid down: For we were not redeemed with corruptible things, as filver and gold; but with the precious blood of Chrift, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot, I Pet. i. 18. Without blood there is no remission, Heb. ix. 22. and his only is available to make atonement for fin, and merit the happiness we had forfeited as finners; and this being shed, peace is made, the covenant of grace confirm'd, and therein pardon and life freely offer'd to such as were by nature children of wrath, Eph. ii. 3. who hereupon are exhorted to turn into their strong hold, as prisoners of hope, Zec. ix. 12. to flee to the Lord Jesus Chrift as as their only refuge, in whom we have redemption thro' his blood, the forgiveness of fin, Col. i. 14. (2.) To compleat our recovery and fulfil his office, he alfo rescues us by power from the tyranny of Satan; compelling that potent malicious enemy to let his captives go. Christ's fatisfaction to his Father, whom we had fo greatly offended, made way for his conqueft over the powers of darkness, by which we were overcome and brought into bondage, I Pet. ii. 19. that we might no longer be led captive by the Devil at his will, 2 Tim. ii. 26. but they whom the Son makes free might be free indeed, John viii. 36. This was the end and fruit of his assuming our nature in order to fuffer, that by death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil, Heb. ii. 14. overthrow his authority as the executioner of wrath, and prevent the ruining effects of his malice and rage, as to all that believe. He spoiled principalities and powers, expofing them to shame, and publickly triumphing over them upon the cross, Col. ii. 15. and being now afcended up on high, exalted to be a prince and a Saviour, he pursues the victory by opening finners eyes, and turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, Acts xxvi. 18. binds the strong man armed, and takes his goods, which he unjuftly detain'd, and kept in destructive peace, Mat. xii. 29. Thus by price and by power, as a lamb and as a lion, appeasing God and conquering Satan, purchafing heaven and delivering from hell, is the great Emmanuel become our Redeemer; thanks be to God that help is laid upon one so mighty to fave. II. Believers will and ought to betake themselves to Chrift the living Redeemer for relief and comfort under all their troubles. They are sensible of their neceffity and obligation to do so. In that 1. As fallen creatures, there is no coming unto the Father but thro a mediator, in the name of a Redeemer, in Job's language, a days-man between us, to lay his hand upon us both, Job. ix. 33. 2. Christ is the only Mediator between God and man; fuch a redeemer as there is no other. To him therefore we are to look for deliverance from evil, or support under it, with whatever other mercies we defire or need. As he is head over all things to the church, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 3. He is provided and exalted of God to this very end, that the weary and heavy laden, under whatever burden, might apply to him for ease and rest, and hereby honour the Son as they honour the Father. Immediately on the fall, when man was in the deepest distress, he is promised, as our recovering head, the refuge and hope of helpless finners: such are invited and encouraged by himfelf to come to him, and the promise stands firm, whosoever believeth on him shall not be left ashamed, 1 Pet. ii. 6. 4. To them that believe he is precious, from the experience they have had of his power and grace, 1 Pet. ii. 7. They have often found his promise fulfil'd, that tho' trouble was what they were to expect in the world, in him they should have peace, John xvi. 33. which draws forth their defires after after him, fixes their eyes upon him, confirms their trust in him, as able and ready to fuccour: and save whatever distress they may be in; and should they be afk'd upon any occafion, if they would turn their Backs upon him, and go to any other, how readily would they answer with Pener, Lord, to whom should we go! Thou hast the words of eternal life. John vi. 66. III. 'Tis of powerful use to the confolation of believers, in looking to the provided Redeemer, to know that he liveth, and that he is theirs. 1. That he liveth. as Emmanuel, God-man. 1. As God, or with reference to his divine nature, he is from'everlasting to everlasting, the second perfon in the glorious trinity, equal and one with the Father and Holy Spirit, the fame eternal, only living and true God. The word was God, as well as with him, John i. 1. and having in the covenant of redemption undertaken our recovery, he speaks of himself as fet up from everlasting, Prov. viii. invested with the office he still wears, and appointed to the work, which in the fulness of time he came to finish. In this respect Job speaks of him, my Redeemer liveth, without any distinction of time past or to come, intimating the eternal existence, and therein the deity of him in whom he trusted for salvation, which as fuch an act of faith evidently implies, so he after expresses it too, in my flesh shall 1 fee God. In regard of his divinity, Christ says of himself, before Abraham was, I am, John viii. 58. N 3 58. it being always true of him as God, that he is, and now likewife. 2. As Emmanuel, God with us, it may be apply'd to him, our Redeemer liveth. He that appeared in the flesh, and died upon the cross, being risen and afcended, has fent us this reviving message, 1 am he that liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, amen, Rev. i. 18. And how much this conduceth to a believer's comfort, may appear from such confiderations as thefe. (1.) As it speaks the value and efficacy of his death and facrifice; that what he has done and fuffer'd is well-pleasing to God, and available for the recovery of fallen man. He was deliver'd for our offences, and raised again for our Justification, Rom. iv. 25. that our faith and hope might rise with him, as made perfect through his own fuffering, to succour us under, and deliver us from ours, Heb. v. 9. (2.) His living again confirms the truth of bis doctrine and promises, as to what he was, and would bestow on his believing followers, in this life and in another. Tho' he was crucified and put to death as a mortal man, a vile malefactor, he is now declared to be the Son of God with power, in his being raised from the dead, Rom. i. 4. and we may fafely rely upon him for temporal and eternal salvation, being reconciled to God by the death of bis Son, much more shall we be saved by his life, Rom. V. 10. (3.) 'Tis no fmall addition to a chriftian's comfort, that Christ lives in heaven. He has regain'd the cœleftial paradife that we had loft, and is gone |