" Then he must come to God and ask mercy for some great
wickedness which he had committed; for this is also one of our steps
thither.
But again, we will consider it the other way.
"Every step." Then we cannot come to heaven before we first be made
accursed of God; for so was he before he came thither.
"Every step." Then we must first make our body and soul an offering
for the sin of others; for this did he before he came thither.
"Every step." Then we must go to heaven for the sake of our own
righteousness; for that was one of his steps thither.
O, sir, what will thy gallant, generous mind do here? Indeed, you
talk of his being an expiatory sacrifice for us, but you put no more
trust to that than to baptism or the Lord's supper; counting that
with the other two but things indifferent in themselves.
You add again, that "this Son of God being raised from the dead and
ascended to heaven, is our high-priest there." But you talk not at
all of his sprinkling the mercy-seat with his blood, but clap upon
him the heathens' demons, negotiating the affairs of men with the
supreme God, and so wrap up [Footnote: That is, dismiss the
subject.] with a testification that it is needless to enlarge on the
point.
What man that ever had read or assented to the gospel, but would
have spoken more honorably of Christ than you have done? His
sacrifice must be stepped over; his intercession is needless to be
enlarged upon.
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