by Jesus Christ, is this, it is an eternal, a permanent, a lasting, yea, an everlasting redemption: Heb. ix. 12, 'Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.' Kedemption is in general a freeing one out of thraldom, Exod. vi. 6. Now this is done three ways — (1.) By interceding and pacifying wrath. Thus the prophet Oded, 2 Chron. xxviii. 9, &c., procured redemption for the captives of Judah by his intercession. (2.) By force and might. Thus Abraham redeemed his brother Lot, and the people that were captives with him, by overcoming their enemies, Gen. xiv. 16. (3.) By ransom, or paying a price. Thus a Hebrew that was sold a slave to a stranger might be redeemed by one of his brethren. Lev. xxv. 48, 49. The last of these is most agreeable to the notation of the several words, which in the three learned languages do signify to redeem, though the last be especially intended. In that, mention is made of a price, namely, Christ's blood ; yet the other two are not altogether exempted, for Christ hath all those three ways redeemed his people. This will more clearly appear if we duly weigh the distinct kinds of bondage in wliich we were by reason of sin — (1.) We were debtors to divine justice. Mat. vi. 12 ; (2.) We were children of wrath, Eph. ii. 3 ; (3.) We were slaves to Satan, Heb. ii. 14, 15. (1.) As debtors, Christ hath paid a ransom for us; (2.) As children of wrath, Christ makes intercession for us; (3.) But though divine justice be satisfied and divine wrath pacified, yet the devil will not let his captives go ; therefore Christ by a strong hand wrests us out of Satan's power, ' and destroys him that had the power of death, that is, the devil,' Heb. ii. 14, 15. The ransom which Christ paid was the ground of man's full and eternal redemption, for by satisfaction of justice way was made to pacify wrath ; both which being accompHshed, the devil lost his right and power over such as he held in bondage. This redemption is a full freedom from all misery, and compriseth under it reconciliation, justi- fication, sanctification, and salvation. By this redemption divine justice is satisfied, wrath pacified, grace procured, and all spiritual enemies vanquished. The perfection of this redemption is hinted in this word eternal. The eternity here meant hath a special respect to the continual duration thereof without end, yet also it respecteth the time past, so as it looks backward and forward. It implieth a virtue and efficacy from the beginning of the world, for Christ was ' a lamb slain from the foundation of the world,' Rev, xiii. 8. Christ himself is, Rev. i. 8, ' Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, and which was, and which is to come.' Now that which is spoken of the person of Christ may very well be applied to our redemption by Christ. This epithet eternal is here added to redemption, in opposi- tion to the legal purifications, which were momentary and temporary. They had a day, and endured no longer than the ' time of reforma- tion.' On this ground, by just and necessary consequence, it followeth that the redemption wrought by Christ is absolutely perfect, and that there is no need of any other. This being eternal, all that have been, all that shall be redeemed, have been and shall be redeemed by it ; and they who are redeemed by it need no other means. The liberty whereinto Christ Jesus brings the elect is permanent and lasting, it
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abides irremoveable and unchangeable to all eternity. The Jews which had sold themselves to be servants were to be set free at the jubilee, yet the jubilee lasted but for one year ; therefore the same persons might afterwards become bondmen ■ again, Lev. xxv. But this 'acceptable year of the Lord's redeemed,' Isa. Ixi. 2, and Ixiii. 4, is an everlasting year, it shall never end ; therefore they shall never be subject to bondage any more. It is observable that when the Lord would comfort the Jews with hopes of a return from Babylon, he usually annexed evangelical promises respecting the deliverance of poor sinners from the slavery of Satan, whereof that captivity was a type, some of which promises do plainly express the perpetuity of that spiritual freedom which they shall enjoy. Take a taste : i Isa. xxxv. 10, ' And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads : they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.' Isa. li. 6, ' Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath ; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like man- ner : but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.' Isa. Ix. 19, 20, ' The sun shall be no more thy light by day ; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee : but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down ; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.' Jer. xxxi. 11, 12, ' For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and their soul shall be as a watered garden, and they shall not sorrow any more at all.' But,