Spiritual Bondage and Freedom, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Concerning the excellent price with which this Freedom was purchaſed.
THE Third thing for the making out the excellency of this Freedom, is the conſideration of the excellent Price with which it was purchaſed. Now that which I ſhall ſpeak upon this, ſhall be to open two things.
1. That this Freedom was purchaſed: And,
2. That it was purchaſed with an excellent price.
1. This Freedom is a purchaſed Freedom. Perſons that are in Bondage, cannot come to be Free, but it muſt be by one of theſe ways, Either their Freedom muſt be given them, or it muſt be bought; and if it cannot be bought by thenſelves, then it muſt be by another for them. Now the truth is, we come to have our Freedom by Chriſt, both theſe ways; By Gift in reſpect of us, but by Purchaſe in reſpect of Chriſt: Or to expreſs it a little otherwiſe; It is given to us upon the account or conſideration that it was purchaſed by Chriſt for us, and ſo it muſt be purchaſed by Chriſt, that it might be given to us, See Rom. 3. 24. Being juſtified freely by his Grace, through the Redemption that is in Jeſus Chriſt. Mark, it comes to us freely and by grace, that is, as a meer Gift, which we could neither buy nor deſerve; but yet 'tis through the Redemption that is in Chriſt, that is, he purchaſed it for us: and therefore Eph. 1. 14. all the company that do truly belong to Chriſt, are called the purchaſed Poſſeſſion; for ſo the beſt Expoſitors do underſtand theſe words, as nor meant of Heaven, or bleſſed Immortality, but of the Church of Chriſt; not of the place of Glory, to which they ſhall come; but of the people that ſhall come to the place; they are a purchaſed Poſſeſſion; ſo particularly Calvin upon the place. And ſo 1 Cor. 6. 20. when the Apoſtle is ſtirring of them up to glorify God in their body, and in their ſpirit, he makes uſe of this Argument, That they were bought with a Price; and this is the meaning of all thoſe places of Scripture, in which believers are called Servants of God, and Servants of Chriſt; particularly, ſee that place Joh. 12. 26. When you meet with this word (as you may often), you muſt underſtand of what kind of Servants this is meant; and for this you muſt know, that there were (among other diviſions that might be made of them) two ſorts of Servants: Either hired Servants, that agreed to dwell with ſuch a Maſter for ſuch Wages, and for ſuch a time, and then were gone again, and and at their own diſpoſe: Others there were, that were bought Servants, bought with money, as Abraham had many of them in his houſe. Now theſe kind of Servants were much more under the power, and at the pleaſure of their Maſters, than thoſe who were but hired; they might uſe a far greater Soveraignty over them. Now I ſay, when you read that believers are called the Servants of Chriſt, you muſt underſtand it in this latter Senſe, that they are his bought Servants (for Chriſt doth not care for hirelings), and ſo he hath a full and abſolute right to them, as a man hath to any thing which he hath bought with his money. Now here I would a little Anſwer to three Queſtions, about this purchaſed Freedom, which may profitably be raiſed.
Queſt. 1. How can this Freedom be ſaid to be purchaſed? For it may be many of us cannot tell how to conceive that there ſhould be ſuch kind of things done here, as uſe to be in the making of a purchaſe. The Anſwer may be twofold.
1. Beloved, whatever darkneſs there is in our underſtanding of things, yet to be ſure the language of the Scripture is very proper and ſuitable; and the fault is not in the Scriptures expreſſion, but in our conception, that's weak, and ſhort, and dull. Nicodemus could not conceive aright of what Chriſt ſaid about being born again; he was ready to think that Chriſt did ſpeak nonſenſe, how can theſe things be? ſaith he; and yet Chriſt ſpake moſt properly and ſuitably; and 'twas Nicodemus was the fool in the things of God. So now this is the Scripture Expreſſion, that this Freedom is the purchaſe of Chriſt, whether we can underſtand it or no. And how many other things doth the Scripture ſpeak of, which it may be we can underſtand no more than we do this, and yet are very clear in themſelves, tho not to us? I'll only ſay this, The leſs we can underſtand the things of God, the more cauſe we have to be humbled for our Ignorance, and to cry to God, ſo to teach us, that we may be in the number of thoſe to whom 'tis given to know the Myſteries of the Kingdom of God. But,
2. Yet why may we not very fitly, and ſomewhat more eaſily conceive of this Freedom under the notion of a purchaſe; if we ſhould but ſpeak of it according to the cuſtom that is amongſt men? How doth it uſe to be amongſt men in the matter of purchaſe? conſider that; and you ſhall find there was the like here, tho in a more glorious manner. Now for this, I will turn you to one Scripture, where you ſhall read there was a purchaſe made, and then ſee how things will agree. The place is in Jer. 32. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. In this purchaſe there are divers things.
1. There was ſomething to be purchaſed, i. e. the Field that was in Anothoth, in the countrey of Benjamin. 2. The perſon ſelling it, and that was Hanameel, Jeremiahs Ʋncles Son. 3. The perſon buying it, was Jeremiah: And I bought the Field, &c. 4. Here was theſe two perſons being together and treating about this buſineſs, v. 8. Hanameel mine Ʋncles Son came to me,—and ſaid unto me, buy my Field, &c. 5. Here's a ſufficient ſolid Reaſon, why Jeremiah ſhould be the man that ſhould buy it; for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine, i. e. becauſe he was the next Kinſman. 6. Here is the Price at which it was to be ſold, and that was ſeventeen ſhekels of ſilver, and this was paid down, he weighed him the money, v. 9. 7. Here was the writing drawn, or the Evidence, or Conveyance for this, and Jeremiah Subſcribes and Seals to it. And then 8. There were Witneſſes to it, v. 10. and ſo he takes it to himſelf and diſpoſes of it as he pleaſes, it being now his own. Now if we ſhould go over theſe things again, and ſee how it was in the buſineſs we have in hand, certainly we may well ſay, that this was a purchaſe; for here was ſomething alſo to be purchaſed, and that was Freedom for poor ſinners that were in Bondage; then here is the Perſon that was to ſell this, and that is God the Father; then here's the Perſon buying this Freedom, and that is Chriſt the Son: then here's theſe two Perſons being together and treating about this buſineſs; ſo they did in Heaven: then the like Reaſon holds why Chriſt ſhould be he that ſhould buy this Freedom for us, he was (to be) our near Kinſman, and ſo the right of Inheritance would be his. And then for the Price at which it was to be ſold, which was paid down by Chriſt in full weight; we ſhall come to that in its place. And then for the Conveyance or Evidence for this, one of which in Jeremiah's caſe was ſealed, and the other open (as the manner then was among the Jews, to have two writings, one ſealed up, that they kept to themſelves; and the other open, that any body might read it); why there was the Covenant between God and Chriſt alone; that's the ſealed Evidence; and then there was to be the Book of the Scriptures, wherein this Covenant of Grace is unfolded; this is the open Evidence that all may look into: And then Chriſt ſubſcribed, as it were, and ſealed to this Covenant or Conveyance, by giving his full conſent to all that was in it, and binding himſelf by Promiſe to his Father, to perform what he undertook in it. And then as for Witneſſes, the truth is, there was no creature by when this was done; for 'twas done before the World began: But, beloved, they were Witneſſes to one another; and as we uſe to ſay, God is more than a Thouſand Witneſſes. And 'tis enough to tell you, that the faithfulneſs of theſe perſons is ſuch, that their agreement together muſt needs ſtand; See Tit. 1. 2. So I have done with that 1ſt Queſtion.
Queſt. 2. But why did it not pleaſe God, that this Freedom ſhould he given to us, and there an end? Why muſt it firſt he purchaſed by Chriſt? Why did God carry it thus here by poor ſinners in bondage, they ſhall be ſet free, if you will pay the price?
Anſw. Two things to this: 1. In thoſe things which God doth, it were a ſufficient Reaſon (if we knew none other) to ſay, that God would have it ſo. So was his will and pleaſure: And if no other Reaſon could be given, we were to reſt ſatisfied, and ro be ſilenced with this, as the higheſt Reaſon of all. This Reaſon you ſhall find is given for things that are above our reach; as namely, why ſome ſhould be elected, and others paſt by, Eph. 1. 5. and why the great things of God and the Goſpel ſhould be revealed to poor ſimple creatures, and hid ftom the wiſe and prudent, Matth. 11. 25, 26. and why ſuch and ſuch ſhould be ſaved, and others left in their damnable condition, Rom. 9. 18. Now beloved, if we had nothing elſe to ſay, to be ſure we may ſay this, It was the will of God, that Chriſt ſhould purchaſe this Freedom; that you have expreſly in Joh. 10. 17, 18. And therefore Chriſt knowing that it was the will of his Father; to be ſure, being ſuch an obedient Son as he was, he would do it: He would by no means have his will to lye croſs to his Fathers will. But,
2. There is another great Reaſon for it; and we have more to ſay in this caſe than ſo; and that is this, That God was ſo to carry on this buſineſs of our Freedom, as not only to have reſpect to our Good, but alſo and chiefly to his own Glory. While he was to ſee the one ſecured, he muſt ſee that the other did not ſuffer. Now you muſt know, that God could not have all his Glory, but in this way. There were Two great Attributes amongſt all the reſt, which God did intend to glorifie, and that is his Mercy and his Juſtice. His Mercy would have been pleaſed well enough, if ſinners had been ſet free without the purchaſing of their Freedom. But then his Juſtice would have been offended ſtill: How ſhould that have been quieted and ſatisfied? Therefore this muſt be ſo done, as that mercy and truth might meet together, and that righteouſneſs and peace might kiſs one another. Juſtice would have made a loud cry, that Heaven would have rung of it again, if all ſhould have been ſwallowed up in mercy, and in giving away all, without any conſideration had to it. For Law and Juſtice could ſay, We have a curſe againſt theſe ſinners; and they are as legally condemned, as ever were any Traitors: And therefore pray let us be heard; for they ſhall not, nor cannot go free, if the Debt be not paid. And therefore if they be not able to redeem themſelves, where's the Surety that muſt do it for them, that we may come upon him for all? This now makes it neceſſary that Chriſt muſt purchaſe this Freedom, Acts 17. 3.—He muſt needs have ſuffered. Why needs? Becauſe here was Juſtice to be glorified as well as Mercy.
Queſt. 3. But if we are thus purchaſed by Chriſt, may believers ſay, Then it may ſeem that God the Father, hath quitted his intereſt in us (for ſo 'tis in the manner of purchaſing amongſt men; he that ſells to the purchaſer, quits all his right and title to that which is bought), and we are very ſorry for that: we would be Chriſts, but we would be the Fathers too?
Anſ. And ſo you are for all this; See John 17. and compare ver. 6. and 10. together. In ver. 6. ſaith Chriſt, Thine they were, and thou gaveſt them me: This looks now, as if the Father had quitted all his intereſt in them. But 'tis not ſo; for in ver. 10. and all mine are thine. Still they are thine, and thine are mine too, ſaith he: As if he ſhould ſay, We have a mutual intereſt in them; their being mine, doth not hinder them from being thine, as well as their being thine doth not hinder them from being mine. God had an intereſt in you upon the account of Creation, and that he keeps ſtill; and which is more, upon the account of Election, or of everlaſting love to you, and that he keeps ſtill: and Chriſt he hath a right to you upon the account of Redemption: And tho that doth enter you into a new relation to him, yet it doth not break off your former relation to God the Father. He loves you, and delights in you as much as ever he did; and your happineſs by Chriſts buying of you, is no way diminiſhed, but increaſed. For both have an intereſt in you, and both love you, John 14. 21.
Now for the Second thing, That this Freedom was purchaſed with an excellent price. Here I ſhall do Two things: 1. I ſhall labour to make the truth of this appear to you, That 'twas an excellent, moſt excellent price that Chriſt paid for it. 2. I ſhall draw ſome profitable Conſiderations from it.
Firſt, For the truth of it: Beloved! Jeſus Chriſt paidwell for this Freedom. God did not deal with Chriſt in this caſe, as you read Ephron the Hittite would have dealt with Abraham, if he would have let him, when he would purchaſe his Field, and the Cave that was in it, for a Burying-place, Gen. 23. he would have given it him, ver. 11. He tells him indeed the Land was ſo much worth, Four hundred Shekels of Silver, if it ſhould be ſold to the full value of it; but, ſaith he, what is that botwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead, ver. 15. And thus he would even have forced it upon him for nothing: But Abraham notwithſtanding he ſtood upon it, that if he had it, he would lay down as much money as it was worth, ver. 9. and ſo he did in ver. 16. Nor did the Father ſay to Chriſt, as Ornan the Jebuſite did to David, when he would purchaſe the place of his Threſhing-floor, that he might there build an Altar to the Lord, that the Plague might be ſtayed: Take it to thee, ſays he, I give thee all, 1 Chron. 21. 22, 23. tho David would not accept of it. So ver. 24. Nay, verily I will buy it for the full price. So he did, ver. 25. But God ſtood upon his price, his full price with Jeſus Chriſt. He held him up, without any abatement of what this Freedom was worth. He paid to the worth of it. 'Tis true, 'tis a worthy precious Freedom; but yet I may ſafely ſay, Chriſt gave enough and enough for it. Oh the price that he paid for it! He did not buy of his Father as we may buy of him, without price, Iſa. 55. 1. but he came, as I may ſay, to a dear Market, when he came to make his purchaſe.
Queſt. Well, then you will ſay, pray what was the Price which Chriſt paid for this Freedom?
Anſ. Here I ſhall ſpeak that which may make you wonder, and that is this: Truly beloved, he did not pay one farthing for it; there did not go a penny out of his Purſe. Now it may be that which will be next in you thoughts, will be this; truly then 'twas even cheap enough of conſcience; here's a Price indeed, we expected that you would have named ſome vaſt ſum of Silver and Gold, that would have been ſo great as to have beggar'd any man in the World to give it. No, I have not one ſuch word to ſpeak to you; but this I have to ſpeak to you about it, that Chriſt had been as good to have brought a company of Pebbleſtones to his Father for this Freedom, as all the Gold and Silver in the World, and one would have done as much as the other; but he and his Son muſt drive another manner of trade than this, to make poor ſinners Free; there muſt be anothergheſs Price; Why what was it? Oh that which was infinitely beyond all the treaſures of this World. If theſe would have ſerved, Chriſt by his power could have rained them down from Heaven for a thouſand years together. But beloved, there muſt be (as I may ſo expreſs it) another rain; it muſt rain Blood, and Blood from the ſide and heart of Jeſus Chriſt, i. e. he muſt come down from Heaven, and ſhed his Blood to make a Ranſome for us, ſee Acts 20. 28. Feed the Church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his own blood; there's the Price that he paid. Now mark a little, while I ſhew you in a few things, that this was a Price indeed, an excellent Price. The Blood of Chriſt to be ſure is precious, as you find it called in 1 Pet. 1. 19. For this weigh but theſe four things well, and you'l ſay 'tis precious Blood.
1. This Blood of Chriſt is the great Seal of the Covenant of Grace; 'tis called the Blood of the everlaſting Covenant, Heb. 13. 20. Now in the Covenant of Grace, God promiſed a World of mercies, yea, no leſs than an eternal World of mercies to his people; and the ſum of this Covenant is this, I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people: But this he branches out into many exceeding great and precious Promiſes, wherein he ſaies he will do thus and thus, and all that is needful for his people. Take all the Promiſes of the Goſpel together, and there you have the whole Covenant of Grace unfolded and explained; and oh, what a glorious Covenant 'tis! how much doth, even one of the Promiſes of this Covenant carry in it! ſo that we may ſay, Bleſſed, and for ever bleſſed are all they, who are partakers of them, that are the heirs of all thoſe great things that are contained in them; they have Portion enough that have part in the Promiſes. But beloved, all this Covenant, and all the Promiſes of it, would be as nothing, were it not for this Blood of Chriſt, by which God Seals all to believers; 'tis true, indeed, that the Sacraments of the New Teſtament, are now the Signs and Seals of this Covenant of Grace; but theſe are but Seals of a ſecond nature, outwardly and Viſibly; but that which is repreſented, and ſignified by the Water in Baptiſm, and by the Wine in the Lords Supper, is the Blood of Chriſt; this is the firſt and great Seal. And therefore 'tis ſaid, 2 Cor. 1. 20. that all the Promiſes of God in him are yea, and in him Amen. You know when there is a Covenant or Conveyance made, a man makes great account of the Conveyance; but why? Becauſe it hath the Seal to it, for 'tis that which makes it to be all of force; if the Seal were gone, what were all elſe worth? Now when Jeſus Chriſt came to redeem his people, he was fain, as I may ſo expreſs it, to pawn his great Seal for us; that which ratifies and confirms all that ever God hath ſaid he will do for them that fear him.
2. You will ſee the excellency of this Blood of Chriſt in this too, That no Service or Duty that ever was performed ſince the fall of man, or ſhall be to the end of the World, ever was, or ever will be accepted at the hands of God, but upon the account of this Blood. I ſay, ſince the fall, becauſe before that, God dealt with Adam upon another ſcore; he was to be accepted in the way of perfect obedience to the Law; but ſince that, if ever God did accept of one Service, or one Sacrifice, or of one Duty, it was always, and altogether for the ſake of this Blood: What was the Blood of all the Beaſts that were offered in Sacrifice, tho in never ſo great abundance? as you read there, in 1 Kings 8. 63. There were two and twenty thouſand Oxen, and an hundred and twenty thouſand Sheep, offered at one time; yet I ſay, what was all this to God, had it not been for this Blood of Chriſt? And ſo what's all that we do, or can do in any Service, if we don't look to this Blood in the Performance of it? and if God doth not look upon us, and our beſt works in this blood, 'tis but Abomination to him. That's a notable place in Heb. 10. 19, 20, 21, 22. Having therefore, brethren, boldneſs to enter into the holieſt by the blood of Jeſus, &c. Ver. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full aſſurance of faith, i. e. let us come and preſent our Perſons, and our Services before the Lord, and that with boldneſs, noting that there is acceptance for us: But how? by the Blood of Jeſus; without that all would be nothing. Now what a precious thing muſt this Blood of Chriſt be, that puts value to all the Services of the Saints throughout the World? And therefore take heed how you go to any Duty, without looking at it; and pray that God would not look upon any Duty of yours, without ſprinkling this Blood upon it. And by the way, what a caſe are you in, that reſt in your Duties, and don't look to Chriſt in them, but think 'tis well enough if you do but take a Bible and read, or down upon your knees and pray, and a hundred ſuch things▪ but you have no Faith in the Blood of Chriſt in what you do; you may think you have done ſome great matter now: and oh, this muſt needs▪ be accepted; whereas God never did, nor ever will accept of any mans perſon or work, but upon the account of this Blood. I pray mind that Scripture well, there is much in it to this purpoſe, Rev. 8. 3, 4. And another Angel came and ſtood at the Altar, having a golden Cenſer, and there was given unto him much Incenſe, that he ſhould offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar, which was before the throne. And the ſmoke of the Incenſe which came with the prayers of the Saints, aſcended up before God out of the Angels hand. Mark ſome things. 1. This Angel is Chriſt. 2. His ſtanding at the Altar, is his being, as it were, ready for us, whenever we go to Duty; for on the Altar, under the Law, were the Sacrifices offered. 3. He hath a golden Cenſer in which there was much Incenſe, which is his own righteouſneſs. 4. And with this he offers their prayers; he perfumes their Duties with his own ſpiritual Incenſe. 5. They are not the prayers barely of men, but of Saints: Gods own Children, whoſe prayers are more pure and heavenly then others are▪ even their Duties muſt have this perfume. 6. Nor of ſome Saints, but all. 7. And then that which makes them aſcend before God, that is, be accepted of him, is becauſe the ſmoke of this Incenſe went up with them: without that they would never be a ſweet ſavour unto God.
3. This Blood of Chriſt is ſuch a precious thing, that it makes God amends for ſin. If we did but know what unſpeakable wrong ſin doth to God, and what unſpeakable diſhonour God hath by it, we ſhould even be ready to ask this queſtion, How is it ever poſſible to make his bleſſed Majeſty the leaſt ſhadow of amends for it? Beloved, if you wrong or trepaſs your Neighbour, you can put that to an Arbitration, and make him amends for it; but who is there of you, that can make God a recompence for the ſins which you have commited againſt him; yea, for the leaſt tranſgreſſion? ſee Mic. 6. 6, 7. All your Tears and Blood can never quench that fire of Gods Wrath which is kindled againſt it, 1 Sam. 2. 25. When you have ſpoken but one idle word, or thought but one vain thought; if you have no more help to get off the Curſe and Condemnation that is due to it, than Men and Angels can afford you with all their utmoſt ability, you are undone for ever; it makes ſuch a breach between God and you, as the whole Creation cannot make up: But now there is one thing, and but one, that can make God amends, and full amends for ſin, yea, for all manner of ſins, and for never ſo many, and never ſo great ſins, and that is this Blood of Chriſt, 1 Joh. 1. 7. and 2. 1, 2. Tho thou haſt been never ſo vile, and ungodly; yet if thou can'ſt but get this Blood ſprinkled upon thee, through Faith in it, it will make God himſelf to ſay, deliver him, for I have found a Ranſom; this will make amends for thy Swearing, and for thy Drunkenneſs, and for thy Uncleanneſs, and for all the wicked Abominations of thy heart and life: Oh what a precious Blood is this then! And take but one thing more for it, which is,
4. The dreadful Vengeance which God doth take upon men, wherever the Guilt of this Blood of Chriſt lies. If he doth but come once to avenge the blood of a man, he doth that ſeverely; if any one hath committed wilful murder upon his Neighbour, God is reſoved that that man ſhall be ſurely put to death for it, Numb. 34. 31. but when he comes to take vengeance for the Blood of his Son, here the Vengeance is dreadful beyond all others: You have divers Inſtances that I might give you of it in Scripture. How terribly did God deal with Judas for the betraying of this innocent Blood? he filled him with that horror of conſcience, that he muſt be his own Executioner, Matth. 27. 5. and in the hanging of himſelf, he fell headlong, and burſt aſunder in the midſt, and all his bowels guſhed out, Acts 1. 18. And after all this, he ſent him to his own place, and that was a ſad one, verſ. 25. So the people of the Jews that brought upon themſelves the Guilt of Chriſts Blood, Matth. 27. 25. they have been under the Curſe of God for this, theſe Sixteen hundred years. And ſuch as are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord, by eating and drinking unworthily in the Sacrament; you ſee what Vengeance God ſaith he will take of them, 1 Cor. 11. 27, 29. And if any Profeſſor ſhall prophane this Blood by ſinning wilfully, after he hath received the knowledg of the truth; you may ſee what a dreadful doom God denounceth againſt him, in Heb. 10. v. 26. There remains no more ſacrifice for ſins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, &c. to the end of v. 31. Well now, beloved, this blood which is the great ſeal of the Covenant of Grace, and without which no ſervice or duty ever was, or ever ſhall be accepted from the hands of any man, and which is the blood of Atonement for all manner of ſins; and the guilt of which God will ſo dreadfully avenge wherever it ſhall be found to lye; I ſay, this blood was the price wherewith the Lord Jeſus Chriſt purchaſed this Freedom: And therefore, your ſelves being Judges, Was it not an excellent price; and hereupon, is not this Freedom an excellent Freedom, ſince Chriſt may well ſay of it, as the chief Captain did to Paul, Acts 22. 28. With a great ſum attained I this freedom? Now I will end this with but Two Conſiderations briefly.
1. Conſider from hence this, for your inſtruction, you that are Believers: Be often thinking, What ſhall I do for this Chriſt that hath done ſo much for me? Obj. But it may be you'l ſay, What, doth Jeſus Chriſt look for a requital? Alas! then we are undone on t'other ſide. I anſwer, No: Whatever you do for Chriſt, you muſt be ſure you do nothing upon the account of requiting of him; as who ſhould ſay, you are greatly in his debt, and you'l do what you can to come out of it. 'Tis not a recompence that I call upon you for (you are never able to do that); but the manifeſtation of your gratitude to him, by an obediential fruitfulneſs. Do but live as thoſe that are his, and that's all he deſires. Why now, ſhall he that hath paid this great price for you, require any duty at your hands, and will you not do it? or call you to any difficulty for his ſake, and will you ſtick at it? Remember Chriſt obſerves how you walk after ſuch great things as he hath done for you, and don't give him cauſe to ſay to you by your unfaithfulneſs to him, as Abſalom ſaid to Huſhai concerning David, Is this thy kindneſs to thy friend? Why wenteſt thou not with thy friend? 2 Sam. 16. 17. Oh! keep with your friend.
2. Conſider this from hence, for your conſolation: This Jeſus Chriſt who hath bought you, will never ſell you. You know men many times after they have bought a Purchaſe, and made it their own, they ſell it again. Something or other is in it that they do not like, and ſo they'l part with it. But I am ſure, and be you ſure, that Chriſt will never deal thus with you. Obj. But you'l ſay, We have ſuch great ſins, that we fear he will. Anſ. Yea, but you know, that after a Man hath married a Wife (unleſs ſhe offend him ſo by Adultery, as utterly to break the bond of Wedlock, which Chriſt will never ſuffer true Believers to do), tho ſhe hath a great many faults, yet he reſolves he won't put her away. The Law of the Land won't let him; nor, which is more, the Law of his Love won't let him. He thinks, when he looks upon her, with all her failings, Ay, but ſhe is mine; I have made her mine tho. So is it here. See 1 Sam. 12. 20, 22. And Samuel ſaid unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all all this wickedneſs, yet turn not aſide from following the Lord, but ſerve the Lord with all your heart: For the Lord will not forſake his people for his great name ſake: becauſe it hath pleaſed the Lord to make you his people.