our Rags; that He who thought it no robbery to be equal with God, should take on him the form of a Servant, and be found in the fashion and likeness of finful Flesh; this astonishes not only Men, but Angels themfelves: for he took not on himself the Nature of Angels, nor appeared for their Refcue and Deliverance, who had left their first Manfions of Glory; but was pleased so far to humble himself, as to undertake the Cause and Patronage of us vile Worms, finful Duft and Ashes, even whilft we were Enemies, Traytors and Rebels to his Divine Majefty, and utterly unworthy of the leaft gracious Look from him, tho we had never fo earneftly befought it. In our behalf it was, that he did mediate and intercede, he step'd in between guilty wretched Us and God's Juftice; perfected our Redemption, procured our Liberty, and purchased eternal Life and Happinefs for all fuch Men, on the eafy and pleafant Conditions of the Gospel. And thou shalt call his name Jefus; for he shall fave his People from their Sins.

In my Discourse on these words I fhall only,

I. Shew you how, or by what means the Son of God became our Jefus, or did fave Men from their Sins.

II. Draw fome plain Inferences from it.

I. How, or by what means the Son of God became our Jefus, or did fave Men from their Sins.

Now

Now in order to the Salvation of Sinners, the great End of our Saviour's Incarnation, thefe two things were neceffary to be done : one of which principally refpects God, the other Sinners themselves.

1. In order to the Salvation of Sinners, it was neceffary to obtain and purchase the Pardon of their Sins, and Reconciliation with God.

2. It was farther neceffary that Sinners themselves should be reform'd, and turned from their Sins to the Love and Practice of true Righteousness and Goodness; that so they might be in fome measure qualified and dispofed for God's Grace and Mercy.

1. In order to the Salvation of Sinners, it was neceffary to obtain and purchase the Pardon of their Sins, and Reconciliation with God. It is true indeed, that God Almighty, by the unlimited Goodness and Compaffionatenels of his own Nature, is infinitely inclined to all Acts of Favour and Pity; and he might without wrong to any one (if he had seen it fit) abfolutely have pardoned the Sins of Mankind, without any other Confideration than their Repentance: but out of his infinite Wif dom he rather chose to difpenfe his pardoning Grace after fuch a manner as fhould not at all seem to reflect upon his exact Justice, immacu late Holiness, and unchangeable Truth; and might not give the leaft Encouragement to Sinners, to prefume farther upon his Mercy and Goodness, as it would have done for God lightly

lightly and easily to have paffed by fuch notorious Offences, and without any Satisfaction to have receded from all his Threatnings. He would not therefore propound Terms of Reconciliation with Mankind, without fome publick Reparation of the Divine Honour and Authority, and open Manifestation of his just Displeasure against Sin and Disobedience.

(1.) In order to our Reconciliation with God, it was neceffary that fome publick Reparation fhould be made of the Divine Honour and Authority. The Sins of the World were an unfpeakable Affront to the Divine Majesty, and an open Scorn put upon his most excellent Laws and Government. Now our merciful Creator inclined to forgive the Sons of Men that great Debt which they were never able themselves to discharge, yet would fo contrive it, that his Clemency fhould no ways obfcure or impair the Glory of his Sovereign Dignity, Juftice and Holiness. It was most highly congruous, that whilst he pardoned the Offenders, his Government hould be acknowledged, the Righteousness of his Laws vindicated, his Honour and Authority fecured.

All which was most effectually done by our Bleffed Saviour, the Son of God's negotiating our Peace in our Nature, putting himself into the place of Sinners, and anfwering all Demands for us. By this the infinite Holiness of God's pure Nature was declared to all the World, in that he would have no Intercourse

with, nor ever receive into his Favour fuch vile unworthy Wretches as we were, but on ly in and through fo holy, so perfect a Media tor. By this it appear'd, that God at first upon good Reasons established his Laws, and propounded his Threatnings, fince he would not, without fuch a glorious Compenfation, go back from them. We have now the greateft caufe given us to tremble at his severe Juftice, to adore his Sovereign Power and Domi nion, even whilft we admire and feel his Love and Kindness to us; fince no other Confidera tion could prevail with God to remit our Of fences, but the powerful Interpofition of his only-begotten Son, and his fuffering in our Nature thofe Pains and Torments which were due to our Sins.

(2) By this Appearance of the Son of God, was God's Hatred and grievous Difpleasure as gainst Sin most abundantly manifested, in that he would not hear of, nor offer any Pardonor Merdy without fuch a valuable Satisfaction. Here God poured forth his utmost Vengeance against Sin, when he delivered up to fuch a cruel and curfed Death that Perfon that was most dear to him, and leaft deferved any fuch Treatment from him, before he would forgive it. Can we now poffibly think, that there is but little Evil, in, or that God is not much offended with that which could no of ther ways be expiated but by fuch precious Blood? Can any Man imagine, that it is a cheap thing to fin, when God himself in our Flefa.

I

Flesh was bruised and buffeted, crown'd with Thorns, and nailed to the Crofs for it? That furely was no Trifle or indifferent Matter that caused the Son of God to bleed and die. That Sore was deadly that could be cured by no Balsam but his Blood. If any thing could fhew the Fierceness of God's Wrath against Sin, furely it must be the gaping Wounds and bleeding Side of our Saviour. Look on this his wonderful Humiliation; fee the Pits that were digged in his Hands and Feet, and the Furrows that were made on his Back; and then tell me what an accursed thing must that be, that made God fo difpleafed, and faftned our Blessed Lord to the Gibbet. So that by our Saviour's Incarnation, obedient Life, and patient Death, the Divine Honour was more illuftriously repair'd, his Authority more clearly vindicated, his Juftice and Severity against Sin more openly declared, Difobedience more highly difgraced and condemned, than if all the Sons of Adam had perished eternally in their Rebellion. But this being once done by the Son of God's appearing in our behalf, this great Propitiatory Sacrifice being offer'd for the Sins of the World, God now thought it fit and consistent with the Glory of all his Attributes, and the End of Government, to tender Life and Peace to Sinners upon the most equal and reasonable Conditions of the Covenant of Grace.

This is the admirable Temperament and Expedient found out by the Wisdom of God,

Q

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