Secondly, An eternal act of God's will, immanent in himself, puts no change of condition into the creature. See what the Scripture says of the elect notwith- standing this, Eph. ii. 3 ; John iii. 36. Let not the word be despised nor corrupted. Be not wise above what is written. " Though an angel," etc.. Gal. i. 8. Until he draws us, the fruit of his death is kept for us In the justice and fidelity of God.
Thirdly, These things being premised, to clear the truth in this point, I desire a fair and candid answer to these queries: —
First, What Is the meaning of that phrase, Heb. ii. 17, eJ? ro 'iXianKTSat ras a/^ecfrias toZ XaoZ, " To make reconciliation for the sins of the people," and this being done as a priest towards God, Heb. v. 1, — whether the meaning of it be declared love from God to man ?
Secondly, Is not the end of sundry tj'plcal sacrifices to make an atonement with God on their behalf for whom they w«re sacrifices? Exod. xxix. 33, 36, xxx. 10, 1.5, 16 ; Lev. vi. 7; Num. xvl. 46, and very many other places ; — and whether this were to turn away the wrath of God, or to reconcile men to him ?
Thirdly, Is not the death of Christ a proper saci-ifice? Eph. v. 2; Heb. ix. 26, 28 ; John I. 29 ; the antitype of all sacrifices, in which they have their ac-
1 The reverend licenser being informed of this book of Mr Sprigge, disclaimeth the licensing of any more thereof than that Serm. on Cant. i. 1.
428 AN APPENDIX TOUCHING ERROKS, ETC.
complishment? And did it not really effect what they carnally and typically figxired? Ileb. ix. 11-14, etc., x. 1-7, etc. And was it not offered to God?
Fourthly, Was not Jesus Christ a priest for his people, in their behalf to deal ■with God, Ileb. ii. 17, v. 1, 2, vii. 26, 27; as well as a prophet, to deal with them in the behalf of God ? and whether the acts of his priestly office do not all of them immediately tend towards God for the procuring good things for those in whose behalf he is a priest ?
Fifthli/, Whether Christ by his intercession doth appear before God to declare the love of God to his ? or whether it be to procure farther fruits of love for his ? Rom. viii. 84 ; Heb. vii. 25, ix. 24.
Sixthly, Did not Christ, by and in the oblation of himself, through tlie eternal Spirit, pay a ransom, or valuable price of redemption, into the hand of his Father for the sins of the people? Matt. xxvi. 28; ]\Iark x. 4^; 1 Tim. ii. 6; Eph. v. 2; Job xxxiii. 24. And whether a ransom be a price of deliverance, arguing a com- mutation? Exod. xxi. 30, xxx. 12. Or whether Christ paid a ransom to his Father for the souls and sins of his people, thereby to declare to his people that there was no need of any such thing ? And what think you of the old saying of TertuUian, " Omnia in imagines vertunt, imaginarii ipsi Christiani ? "
Seventhly, Did not Christ in his death bear our sins? John i. 29; 1 Pet. ii. 24; Isa. liii. 6, 11 ; 2 Cor. v. 21. And whether to bear sin in the Scripture be not to bear the punishment due to sin? Lev. v. 1, etc. And is not to undergo the punish- ment due to sin, to make satisfaction for sin?
Eighthly, Did not Christ, as our surety, undergo all that is anywhere threatened against sin, and by the justice of God is due unto it? Heb. vii. 22, iv. 15; Gal. iii. 13; 2 Cor. v. 21; Heb. v. 7; Luke xxii. 44, etc.
Ninthly, Is there not a purchase and procurement of good things assigned to the death of Christ? Isa. hii. 5; Heb. ix. 12; Acts xx. 28; 1 Thess. v. 9; Luke i. 74; Rom. v. 10; Eph. ii. 16, etc.
2'enthly, Seeing that place of Rom. v 11, "By whom we have now received the atonement," is urged to disprove the purchase of peace and reconciliation with God for us, whether by " the atonement" there be meant our reconcihation to God ? and whether it be proper to say we have received or accepted of our conversion or re- conciliation ?
Eleventhly, Whether to affirm that all that was done in and by Christ was but a sign and representation of what is done spiritually in us, be not to overthi-ow the first promise, Gen. iii. 15, yea, the whole gospel, and to make it, as it is called, a "childish thing?"
Ttuel/thly, Whether it be fair and allowable, for men professing the name of Christ, in the trial of truth, to decline the word of God ? And whether such de- clension be not an invincible demonstration of a guilt of falsehood ? Deut. iv. 2, xii. 32: Josh. i. 7; Ps. xix. 7; Prov. xxx. 6; Isa. viii. 20; Lukei. 4, xvi. 29; John v. 39, XX. 30, 31 ; Gal. i. 8, 9 ; 2 Thess. ii. 2; 1 Tim. vi. 20; 2 Tim. iii. 16,17; 2 Pet. i. 19, etc.
Tluis much, courteous reader, I thought good to premise unto thee, though something out of order, upon the discovery of a new opposition made to a precious truth of God, which thou wilt find explained and asserted in the foregoing trea- tise; and this liberty I hope I have assumed without the offence of any. It is not about trifles th;\t I contend (I abhor such ways), but for the faith once delivered to the saints. Now, "Peace be to the brethren, and love with faitli, from God tlie Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them tliat love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen."