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of eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him; For he is able to fave them to the uttermost that Ch. vii. 25. come to God by Him, feeing he ever liveth to make Interceffion for them. In a word, On this account are the Sacraments of the Chriftian Religion Memorials of a Propitiation already made, and Applications of its Efficacy, and Teftimonies of our Faith and Thankfulness: Not any Offering of Christ again, but an Offering of our Selves to God, by, and for, him.

There is yet one Argument behind, which the Apoftle infifts upon with great force, taken from the Reafon and Nature of the Thing. For thus we find him confining the Effect of Bulls and Goats flain in Sacrifice, to the purifying of the Flesh, but afcribing Cb. ix. 13, 14. to the Blood of Christ alone that of cleansing the Confcience from dead works. And, in Terms yet more expreffive and peremptory, pronouncing it not poffible, that the Blood of Bulls and Goats should take away Sin. The Strength and Ground of which Affertion we fhall beft underftand, by obferving what is meant in Scripture by taking away Sin, and then by that Impoffibility of doing fo, which the Legal Sacrifices are here concluded under.

Cb. x. 4.

Now to take away Sin is a Phrafe, which, in Scripture Language, denotes the freeing any Perfon from the Guilt of Sins already committed, fo as that they fhall not any more be charged to him in Account, or he fuffer the Punishment otherwife due for them. And when, as here it is, applied to Sacrifices, the meaning is, that fuch Punishment is so far inflicted on Them; that God accepts the Death of the Sacrifice, and, in confideration of this, remits the Death of the Offender, in whose behalf and ftead fuch Sacrifice was flain. That then, which the Apostle afferts, comes to thus much. That Chrift, by Offering himself, and Dying for Mankind, hath releafed us from the Guilt and Pu-, nishment

I

nishment of our Sins: But, that the Beasts flain in Sacrifice under the Law, did not by Their Death release Men, nay that they could not poffibly do fo.

By which Expreffion, as I have lately had occafion to explain it, we need not, we must not, understand an abfolute Impoffibility; as if God could not either remit Sins without any Satisfaction at all; or accept any, that he thought fit, how mean and worthlefs foever in it felf. For, Who fhall prefume to limit the Supreme Governor's Prerogative, or prefcribe to the Goodness and Wisdom of a Being, Infinite in every Perfection? But the meaning is, that, according to the Scheme, upon which God all along hath acted, and, confidering him in the Quality of a Lawgiver and a Judge, a Nobler Compenfation was neceffary. And, for the Blood of Beasts to have been accepted, in lieu of the Punishment due for the Sins of Men, had been extremely incongruous; and fuch a method of Remiffion, as the Ends and Measures of Government could not have been anfwered by.

The Defign of every Wife Governor is to contain Men in their Duty, by enacting fuch Laws, as may be a Rule for their Obedience; and, by enforcing those Laws with fuch Punishments, as fhall render the Breach of them terrible and exemplary; that fo Others may be deterred from doing the like, that They, who have already offended, may be afraid to do fo again; and that a juft Reverence for the Conftitution may be preferved and maintained.

To thefe purposes Almighty God, having made Man Immortal, gave him a Law, the Tranfgreffion whereof he threatned with Death, of which we all have naturally the utmoft Abhorrence and Dread. That Law being broken by our First Parents, They, and in The Human Nature, became obnoxious to the Curfe. To preferve his Workmanship in fo noble a part of the Creation from perifhing, it pleafed God to

accept

to Immortality? No. The Sacrifice, that takes away Sin, muft not only die, but live again: Must be able to give it felf Immortality, before we can be Immortal by virtue of it. And This proves, that fuch Sacrifice must at least be Man, must be an innocent Man, muft indeed be much more than Man, must be God, as well as Man. For the Scripture is exprefs that God only bath Immortality. And it is evident to common Senfe, that a Being, which it felf hath not Immortality, cannot give it to others.

1 Tim. vi. 16.

By this time, I hope, the Apostle's reasoning is clear, even to a Demonftration, wherein he afferts the Weakness and Inefficacy of the Levitical, and every other Sacrifice; and the Sufficience and Perfection of Christ's, the Evangelical, the only efficacious, the only true One. And, how can we enough admire the Riches of that Grace, which chofe this Method of making his Glory fo confpicuous, in every adorable Attribute, concerned in this great Work? Moft truly does the Apostle declare, that Jefus Christ is become to us Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, as well as Redemption. these kind Intentions be accomplished in every Soul, and may that God of Peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jefus Christ, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant ; make us perfect in every goad Work, to do his Will, working in us that which is well pleafing in his fight, through Jefus Chrift; to whom be Glory for ever and ever.

1 Cor. i. 30.

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Heb. xiii. 20,

21.

Amen.

The

The GOSPEL.

St. Luke xxii.

OW the feaft of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Pafs

over.

2. And the chief priests and scribes fought bow they might kill bim, for

they feared the people.

3. Then entred Satan into Judas, firnamed Ifcariot, being of the number of the twelve.

4. And he went bis way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, bow be might betray kim unto them.

5. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

6. And be promijed, and fought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of

the multitude.

7. Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

8. And be fent Peter and John, saying, Go, and prepare us the paffover, that we may eat.

9. And they faid unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

10. And be faid unto them, Behold, when ye are entred into the city, there fhall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the boufe where be en

treth in.

11. And ye fall fay unto the good man of the house, The mafter faith unto thee, Where is the gueft-chamber, where I fhall eat the paffover with my Difciples?

12. And be fall fhew you a large upper room furnished, there make ready.

13. And they went, and found as be bad faid unto them, and they made ready the pallover.

bim.

14. And when the hour was come, be fat down, and the twelve Apostles with

15. And he faid unto them, With defire I bave defired to eat this pasover with you before I fuffer.

16. For Ifay unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

17. And be took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among your felves.

18. For I fay unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God fhall come.

19. And be took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you, this do in remembrance of me.

20. Likewife alfo the cup after fupper, faying, This cup is the New Teftament in my blood which is joed for you.

21. But behold the band of him that betrayeth me, is with me on the table.

22. And truly the fon of man goeth as it was determined, but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed.

23. And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

24. And there was also a ftrife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they that exercife authority upon them are called benefactors.

26. But ye shall not be fo; but be that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and be that is chief, as be that doth ferve.

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27. For whether is greater, be that fitteth at meat, or be that serveth? Is not be that fitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that ferveth.

28. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

29. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father bath appointed unto me :

30. That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and fit on Thrones judg ing the twelve tribes of Ifrael.

31. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, bebold Satan bath defired to have you, that be may fift you as wheat:

32. But I bave prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, frengthen thy brethren.

33. And be faid unto bim, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prifon, and to death.

34. And he faid, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knoweft me.

35. And be faid unto them, When I fent you without purse, and scrip, and fosci, lacked ye any thing? And they faid, Nothing.

36. Then faid be unto them, But now be that bath a purse, let bim take it, and Likewife bis fcrip: and be that bath no fword, let him fell bis garments and buy one. 37. For I fay unto you, That this that is written must yet be accomplished in ; And be was reckon'd among the tranfgreffors: For the things concerning me basi

an end.

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38. And they faid, Lord, behold, bere are two fwords. And be said unto them, It is enough.

39. And be came out, and went as he was wont to the mount of Olives; and bi Difciples also followed him.

40. And when he was at the place, be faid unto them, Pray, that ye enter not inta temptation.

41. And he was withdrawn from them about a ftones caft, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42. Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, my will, but thine be done.

43. And there appeared an Angel unto him from heaven, ftrengthening him.

44. And being in an agony, be prayed more earnestly: and his fweat was as it wer great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to bis difciples, be found them Sleeping for forrow,

46. And faid unto them, Why fleep ye? Rife, and pray, left ye enter into temp

tation.

47. And while be yet fpake, behold, a multitude, and be that was called Juda, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jefus to kiss him.

48. But Jefus faid unto him, Judas, betrayeft thou the son of man with a kiss? 49. When they which were about him, faw what would follow, they faid unte bim, Lord, fhall we fmite with the fword?

50. And one of them fmote the fervant of the bigh priest, and cut off bis right ear. 51. And Jefus answered, and faid, Suffer ye thus far, and be touched bis ear asi

bealed bim.

52. Then Jefus faid unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders which were come to bim, Be ye come out as against a thief, with fwords and Staves?

53. When I was daily with you in the temple, ye ftretched forth no bands agai me: but this is your bour, and the power of darkness.

54. Then they took him, and led him, and brought him into the high prieft's bou st, and Peter followed afar off

55. And when they bad kindled a fire in the midst of the ball, and were fet dow together, Peter fat down among them

56. E

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