Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/268

 256 devill, Heb. 2. 14, 15. conquer death, 2 Tim. 1. 10. destroy and kill sinne, Rom. 6. 10. sanctifie his people through the truth, Joh. 17. 19. give life unto the world, Joh. 6. 33. redeeme us from the curse of the Law, Gal. 3. 13. and from all iniquity, Tit. 2. 14. obtaine eternall redemption, Heb. 9. 12. that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him, 2 Cor. 5. 21. that he might deliver us from this present evill world, Gal. 1. 4. that being dead unto sinne, and alive unto God, Rom. 6. 4, 5, 6. we might not live to our selves, but unto him which died for us, and rose againe, 2 Cor. 5. 15. and that we might receive the adoption of sonnes, Gal. 4. 5. And it is absurd to reason it selfe, that Christ by the decree of God should purchase that for men which is not given unto them; that he should acquire what they obtaine not: that by divine imputation Christ should die for every man, when the merits of Christ be not communicated unto them: that the promised seed should be given to Abraham, no blessing or multiplication following. If Christ have purchased a new Covenant, faith, redemption, reconciliation for every man, without question they are or shall be delivered from the condemnation and dominion of sinne; the Spirit is given or shall be given to abide with them; they are or shall be renewed after the Image of God. If Christ be a King, he hath a Kingdome, subjects and territories, wherein he doth exercise his regall power. He is a King not only in personall right, or to punish enemies; but a King to feed and rule a people. God hath given his Sonne the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession, and shall men with-hold it? Shall God give men unto Christ, and shall they detaine themselves from him? If Christ came to destroy the workes of the devill, (that is sinne, as the Apostle shewes, 1 Joh. 3. 8. Joh. 8. 41, 44.) and to deliver men from the feare of death and the devill, shall we not thinke, that Satan is cast downe, and death abolished? Christ is a Saviour as in merit so in efficacy, else should his purchase be in vaine, the end of his comming into the world be uncertaine, his purpose in laying downe his life be frustrate, and Christ should merit by the appointment of God, what God doth not give: therfore the impetration of righteousnesse must not be plucked from the application, nor doth the giving of benefits purchased by the death of Christ depend upon the pleasure of men any more then the acquisition doth. Betwixt the purchase and application of Christs death,