Fourthly, The consequent benefits.
1- Relative privileges, pardon, justification and adoption. Pardon : Eph. i. 7, ' In whom we have redemption through his blood, the for- giveness of sins.' To have sin pardoned, which is the great make- bate, which is the worm that eateth out the heart of all our comforts, the venom that embittereth all our crosses ; surely this is the great effect of God's love to us. Justification : Eom. v. 1, ' There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.' To be at present upon good terms with God, freed from fears of hell and the wrath of God, which is so deservedly terrible to all serious persons : Rom. v. 9, ' Being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.' Oh, how should we love the Lord Jesus, who hath procured such privileges for us. So for adoption, to be taken into God's family : Gal. iv. 5, ' When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.' Assured of welcome and audience in all our needs, as children are when they come to their father, to wait for present provision, and hereafter for a child's portion.
2. Positive inherent graces, to have our natures sanctified, healed, and freed from the stains of sin ; all which is done by virtue of the death of Christ : Eph. v. 26, ' He gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it;' Titus ii. 14, 'Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works ; ' and so fitted for the service of God :
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Kev, i. 5, 6, 'Who hath loved ns, and washed us in his blood, and made us kings and priests unto God.' Surely to have a nature divine and heavenly, to be made like God, serviceable to God, is a mercy not easily valued according to its worth. Nay, further, to be fortified against the enemies of our salvation. The devil: Col. ii. 15, 'And having spoiled principalities and powers, he hath made a show of them openly, triumphing over them.' The world : Gal. i. 4, ' He gave liimself that he might redeem us from this present evil world.' The flesh: Gal. v. 24, 'They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts thereof;' Rom. vi. G, 'Knowing that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin may be destroyed ; ' 1 Peter ii. 24, ' Who his own self bare our sins in his own body upon the tree, that we, being dead unto sin, might live unto righteousness.' They are distempered and diseased souls that are not affected with these kind of mercies, and value worldly greatness before them ; as swine take pleasure in the mire, and ravenous beasts feed on dung and carrion. Surely these greater mercies, which tend to the perfecting and ennobling our natures, should endear Christ to us.
3. Eternal blessedness and glory ; this is also the fruit of his laying down his life for us ; for it is said, 1 Thes. v. 10, ' He died for us, that whether we sleep or wake, we should live together with him ; ' and again, Heb. ix, 15, ' He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressors that were under the firet testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.' That is the consummate benefit, when we shall be brought nigh to the throne of God, and shall be companion.s of the holy angels, and for ever behold our glorified Redeemer, and our nature united to the Godhead ; and for our persons, we shall have the nearest intuition and fruition of God that we are capable of, and live in tlie fullest love to him and delight in him, and the soul shall for ever dwell in a glorified body, which shall not be a prison, but a temple to it ; and be no more troubled with infirmities, necessities, and diseases, but for ever be at rest with the Lord, and glorify his name to all eternity. Thus we see what love God hath showed us in Christ, or Christ hath showed to us in dying for us.
Fifthly, That love doth shine forth more in our redemption by Christ than in any other way whereby God hath discovered himself to the creature. That we have a good God is otherwise manifested, and there is nothing comes from him but shows forth something of his goodness : Ps. cxix. 68, ' Thou art good, and doest good ; teach me thy statutes.' He discovered love in our creation, when he gave us a reasonable nature, and made us a little lower than the angels ; but he showeth more love in our restoration, when he giveth us a divine nature, and advanceth our nature in the person of Christ far above principali- ties and powers. He might have made us toads and serpents ; he might have left us devils. He showeth love to us in his preservation and daily providence, that he maintaineth us at his own expense, though we do him so little service, yea, do so often offend him ; but he shows more in pardoning our sins, and adopting us into his family, and giving us eternal life. A word made us, and his providential word keepeth us : ' For he upholdeth all things by the word of his power,' and ' Man