they would have no hand in it: They Worta could not do it; The Devils had rather fee them damned, than they would wish them the leaft Good; thus Chrift looked, and there was none to help; though the Burthen lay ever fo heavy upon his Shoulder, he must bear it himself; for there was none befides himself to uphold, or fo much as to step in to be bound, to fee the Conditions (before mentioned) fulfilled, neither in whole, nor in part (Ifa. 63. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.) So that he muft not be only he, with whom the Covenant was made, but he muft alfo become the Bonds-man, or Surety thereof; and fo ftand bound to fee, that all and every particular thing conditioned for, fhould be both in Manner, and Matter at the Time and Place, according to the Agreement, duly and orderly fulfilled. Is not this Grace?

Now as touching the Nature of a Surety and his Work (in fome things) it is well known to moft Men; therefore I fhall be very brief upon it.

First, You know a Surety is at the Bargains making; and fo was Chrift. Then was I by him, Prov. 8. 30.

Secondly, A Surety must confent to the Terms of the Agreement, or Covenant; and fo did Chrift Jefus.

Now that which he did ingage fhould be done. for Sinners, according to the Terms of the Cove nant, it was this..

First, That there fhould be a compleat Satiffaction given to God for the Sins of the World, for that was one great thing that was agreed upon, when the Covenant was made, Heb. 10. 5.

Secondly,

Secondly, that Jefus Chrift fhould (as aforefaid) bring in an everlafting Righteoufnefs to Cloath (his Body) the Saints withal, Dan. 9. 24, 25. Here is Grace.

Thirdly, That he would take in Charge to fee all thofe forth-coming without Spot or Wrinkle, at the Day of his glorious appearing from Heaven to Judgment, and to quit them before the Judgment-Seat.?

Again, Thirdly, in the Work of a Surety, there is required by the Creditor, that the Surety fhould ftand to what he is Bound; and on the Sureties, there is a Confenting thereunto.

ment.

However it is

in other Ingagements yet it is thus

in this.

*First, the Creditor looks, that in Cafe the Debtor proves a Bankrupt, that then the Surety fhould ingage the pay Is not this Grace? Secondly, the Creditor looks that Surety fhould be an able Man: Now our Surety was, and is, in this Cafe very fuitable; for he is Heir of all Things.

Thirdly, the Creditor appoints the Day, and alfo looks that the Covenant fhould be kept, and the Debt paid according to the Time appointed; and it is required of Sureties (as well as Stewards) that they be found faithful, namely, to pay the Debt according to the Bargain; and therefore it is faid, When the fullness of time was come, God fent forth his Son made under the Law, to redeem them that are under the Law (according to the Suretifhip) Gal. 4. 4, 5. thus comes Grace to Saints..

Fourthly, The Creditor looks that his Money fhould be brought into his House, to his own Habita

Habitation. Jefus our Surety, in this alfo is faithful; for by his own Blood, which was the Payment, he is entered into the holy Place, even into Heaven it felf, which is God's dwelling Place, to render the Value and Price that was agreed upon for the Salvation of Sinners, but I fhall fpeak more of this in another Head; therefore I pass it.

*Though the Dehter, together with the Sure

ty, is liable to pay the Debt by the Law of Man yet Chrift our Surety only by the Co venant of Grace.

* Again, fourthly, If the Surety ftands bound, the Debtor is at Liberty,and if the Law do iflue out any Procefs to take any, it will be the Surety; and O! how wonderful true was this accomplished, in that when Chrift our Surety came down from Heaven, God's Law did fo feize upon the Lord Jefus, and fo cruelly handle him, and fo exact upon him, that it would never let him alone, until it had accused him, and condemned him, executed him, and fcrewed his very Heart's Blood out of his precious Heart and Side; nay, and more than this too, as I fhall fhew hereafter.

But, fecondly, in the next Place, after that Jefus Christ had ftood Bound, and was become our Surety in Things pertaining to this Covenant, his next Office was to be the Messenger of God touching his Mind, and the Tenor of the Covenant, unto the poor World; and this d.d the Pr phet forefee long before, when he faith, Be hold, I will fend my Meffenger, and he fhall prepare thy Way before thee, (peaking of John the Baptitt:) And he bill prepare thy Way before thee: (And then he fpeaketh of Chrift to the People, faying,) And the Lord whom ye jeek, hall fuddenly

come

come to his Temple: Who is he? Even the Meffenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in: (that is Chrift) Behold he fball come, faith the Lord of Hofts, Mal. 3. 1.

I.

Now the Covenant before made before between the Father and the Son, and Jefus Chrift becoming bound to fee all the Conditions fulfilled; this being done, he comes down from Heaven to Earth, to declare to the World what God the Father and He had concluded on before, and what was the Mind of the Father towards the World, concerning the Salvation of their Souls; and indeed, who could better come on fuch an Errand than he that ftood by when the Covenant was made? than he that book Hands with the Father in making of the Covenant? than he that was become a Surety in the Behalf of poor Sinners, according to the Terms of this Cove

nant?

Now, you know, a Messenger commonly when he cometh, he doth bring fome Errand to them. to whom he is fent, either of what is done for them, or what they would have them, whom they fend unto, do for them, or fuch like. Now what a glorious Meage was that which our Lord Jefus Chrift came down from Heaven withal to declare unto poor Sinners, and that from God his Father? I fay, how glorious was it? and how fweet is it to you that have seen yourselves loft by Nature? and it will alfo appear a Glorious one to you, who are a feeking after Jefus Chrift, if you do but confider thefe following things about what he was fent.

First, Jefus Chrift was fent from Heaven, to declare unto the World, from God the Fa

ther.

ther, that he was wonderfully filled with Love to poor Sinners. First, In that he would forgive the Sins. Secondly, In that he would fave their Souls. Thirdly, In that he would make them Heirs of his Glory. For God fo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son. For God fent not his Son into the World to condemn the World; but that the World, through him might be faved, John 3. 15, 16, 18.

Secondly; God fent Jefus Chrift to tell the poor World, how that he would do this for poor Sinners, and yet be juft, and yet do his Justice no Wrong; and that was to be done by Jefus Chrift his dying of a curfed Death in the Room of poor Sinners, to fatisfy Justice, and make way for Mercy; to take away the ftumbling Blocks, and fet open Heavens Gates; to overcome Satan, and break off from Sinners his Chains; to fet (Luke 4. 18.) open the Prifon Doors, and to let the Prifoners go free, Ifa. 61. And this was the Meffage that Chrift was to deliver to the World by Commandment from his Father; and this did he tell us when he came of his Errand, where he faith, I lay down my Life for my Sheep No Man taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of my felf: I have Power to lay it down, and to take it up again: and this Commandment have I received of my Father, John 10. 15, 16, 17, 18. even this Com• mandment hath my Father given me, that I fhould both do this Thing, and alfo tell it unto you.

1, 2, 3.

Thirdly, he was not only fent as a Meffenger to declare this his Fathers love, but also how dearly he himself loved Sinners, what a Heart he had to do them good, where he faith, All that the Father hath given me shall come to

me