is finished and therefore his blood is named, as fuppo fing the other parts of his obedience and fufferings; as if one fhould fay, that a man is delivered from prifon, by one's paying the utmost farthing for him.

4. For whom this redemption was purchafed. The ranfom paid was fufficient for the redemption of all mankind but the elect only were actually redeemed, it was defigned for them only; John x. 15. I lay down

my life for the beep. Chap. xvii. 9. I pray not for the world, but for them which thou haft given me. It is certain that many perish, and that fatisfaction is exacted of themselves for their own debt; fo that if Chrift died for them, he fo far died in vain, Gal. ii. 21. as I have formerly fhewn at large.

II. As to the application of this redemption, confi der,

1. What this application is. It is the actual interefling us in it, invefting us in the poffeffion of it, and making it effectual to us for the ends for which it was purchafed; and therefore the text calls it a faving us. So the immediate confequent of this application is twofold.

1st, Deliverance from fin and the wrath of God, Rom. vi. 18. Being made free from fin. Chap. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Chrift Jefus. The chains of guilt binding over the finner to God's wrath are broken off; the cords are loofed, and thrown away from the prifoner; he is freed from the flavery and reigning power of lufts, and fo brought out of Satan's prifon.

adly, Refloration to peace with, and the favour of God, and to a right and title to heaven, and in a word, being entitled to all the benefits of Chrift's purchase, and actual enjoying them in cur own perfons. This is the effectual application of it to us, even as a falve applied heals the fore.

2. The neceffity of this application. It is fo neceffary that none can have faving benefit by it until it be

applied, John i. 12. In contemplation of the purchased redemption, the lives of the elect are fpared, and they have means of grace given them, till they be brought in to Chrift. But ftill in the mean time they are in a ftate of wrath, their fins are unpardoned, and they are without actual right to the inheritance of the faints, As a remedy cannot recover a man unless it be applied; fo men muft die eternally, notwithtanding of the death of Chrift, unless his redemption be applied to them in particular, for their recovery.

3. Who applies this redemption. It is the office of the Holy Spirit to apply it. The Father fent our Redeemer; the Son purchased our redemption; and the Holy Spirit applies it, as fays the text. Qur Lord Je fus is the royal Bridegroom; who offers himfelf and all his benefits unto finners, upon their marriage with him; it is the Holy Spirit that gains the finner's confent, and fo brings the foul to Chrift, whereby it has intereft in his purchafc, Now,

1, The outward means the Spirit makes ufe of for this end is the miniftry of the word, 1 Cor. iii, 5. This is fuited to the nature of rational creatures, wherein their fin, danger, and need of Chrift, his ability and willingness to lave, are laid before them, and they are invited and perfuaded to accept of the Redeemner, who thereby comes to their prifon-doors, offering them liberty; and to their bed fides, offering healing. And faith comes by hearing.

2dly, There is a powerful operation of the Spiric on alf the faculties of the foul that accompanies it, 1 Theff. i. 5. 6. Qur gefpel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much affurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your fake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much af fiction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. Hereby the prifons doors are made to fly open, and the fetters to fly off like Samfon's green withs from the devil's captive. A new light is let into the mind, the foul is made wills

ing to be made the Lord's only, wholly, and for ever, Pfal. cx. 3. Phil. ii. 13. The confcience is quickened, the affections are fpiritualized, and the whole foul is affected, fo as with heart and good will to embrace Chrift. And this is the proper work of the Lord's Spirit. Who elfe can do it? who can take of Chrift's, and give to poor finners, but the Spirit of Chrift? John xvi. 26.

4. Whom does he apply it to. He applies it to thofe and thofe only for whom it was purchased; that is, to the elect, Acts xiii. 48. As many as were ordained unto eternal life, believed, The Holy Spirit knows the deep things of God, was privy to the counfel of peace that pafled betwixt the Father and the Son from eternity; the book of life is open to him, and agreeable thereto he manages his application. Such as fall away may have flight touches of the enlightening Spirit, but they never had the Spirit of fanctification refting on them, for this application.

The bargain betwixt Chrift and an elect foul may get many backfets; fometimes it may feem to be going fair on, and fometimes to be broken off, without hope of ever coming to again: but he will never let it blow up for altogether, but will purfue it till it be an effectual match. We may fay of the Spirit in this cafe as Naomi did to Ruth, The man will not be in reft, until he have finished the thing, Ruth iii. ult.

5. Lastly, Whether this application be completed at once or not. It is certain, that a whole Chrift with all his benefits is at once made over to the finner. But as certain it is, that there are many of thefe benefits which they are not prefently put in poffeffion of. And therefore the complete application comes not until the laft day, which therefore is called our redemption-day, Eph. iv. 30. Rom. viii. 23. Hence the Spirit is still at work in believers carrying on this work, and will never leave it, till he have perfectly united them with him, and taken away every thing that occafions diftance.

APPLICATION.

USE I. of information. This lets us fee,

1. We are poor miferable creatures without Chrift, Rev. iii. 17. That we need to be faved, speaks us to be loft; that we need to be redeemed, fpeaks us to be in bondage. O Enner, know, that while thou art out of Chrift, thou art not a free man. Nay, (1.) Thou art the prifoner of juftice; for thou haft broken the law, and thou art taken and bound as in a prifon, and canft not escape, If. lxi. 1. (2.) Thou art Satan's captive, ib. Satan made war againft heaven, and engaging with innocent Adam, took him captive, and all of us in his loins; and behold, thou art born and liveft in captivity. (3) Thou art the flave of fin, 2 Pet. ii. 19. Thou canft do nothing but fin, and go the round from one fin to another; for that is the only work which Satan's captives get leave to work, Rom, vi. 20.

2. See the need ye have of the application of Chrift's redemption. Ye need to have an intereft in Christ, to have Chrift applied to your fouls, as much as ever a poor captive needs the applying of a ranfom, or the fick man of a remedy; without which the former muft die in the pit, and the latter of his disease without remedy. The ranfom may be paid, and the remedy provided; but if they be not applied, it is all one to the captive and fick, as if there had been no ranfom nor remedy.

3. See the happinefs of the faints who are converted by the Spirit. Chrift and all his purchase is theirs, 1 Cor. iii. 22. 23. We may fay of them as of the prodigal, they were loft, but now found; dead, but now alive; prifoners, but now at liberty, &c. Their guilt is now removed, the power of fin in them is broken, and the indwelling power thereof fhall be taken away. Herven is theirs, the mortgaged inheritance is bought back, and they are infeft in it.

4. The Holy Spirit is a divine perfon, not a divinę attribute; for it his office to apply Chrift's redemption

to finners, which cannot agree but to a perfon. He is the third perfon in the Godhead, to whom we owe the fame faith, worship, and obedience, as to the Fa ther and the Son. And therefore it is a more justifi able way of speaking of the Spirit to speak of the Spirit as a perfon, he, than as of a thing, it.

5. There is an abfolute need of the Spirit's powerful working on our fouls, in order to falvation. Re demption is purchased by Chrift; but unlefs the Spirit apply it to us, we cannot have faving benefit by it. We cannot move towards the Lord in converfion, but as we are moved; for we are dead, and it is the Spirit that quickeneth, John vi. 63. We are in darkness, it is the Spirit that enlightens, We are wayward and will not turn, we must be made willing in a day of power. Therefore we have much need to feek the Spirit.

6. How juft is the deftruction of those that refift the Holy Ghoft, whofe office it is to apply Chrift? If men will not have a remedy applied, they muft die of their disease, If a captive will not have the ransom applied to him, he muft die in the pit, fince he refufes to be loofed. They that fight against the Spirit in ftifling their convictions, finning over the belly of light, their damnation is most juft, They run a moft dangerous risk.

7. What a glorious and great work is the work of man's falvation! At the making of man there was, as it were, a confultation of the Trinity, but the work was foon done, Gen. i. 26. 27. Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. So Gel created man in bis qwn image. But at the recovery of man, all hands were fet to work (so to speak.) The Father acts his part in chufing a certain number of the loft race to be partakers of his glory, giving them unto his Son for a people, and him to them for a Redeemer. The Son takes on their nature, and redeems them with his blood, and purchases eternal falvation for them. The Holy Spirit applies that purchase unto them, renewing