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* 1.1As Christ dyed to sanctifie his people. So he dyed also to con∣firm the New Testament to all those sanctified ones. So it was in the Type, Exod. 24.8. And so it is in the truth. This is the New Testament in my blood, Matth. 26.28. (i. e.) ratified and con∣firmed by my blood. For where a Testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the Testator, Heb. 9.16. So that now all the blessings and benefits bequeathed to believers in the last Will
and Testament of Christ, are abundantly confirmed and secured to them by his death. Yea he died on purpose to make that Testament in force to them. Men make their Wills and Testaments, and Christ makes his.* 1.2 What they bequeath and give in their Wills is a free and voluntary act, they cannot be compell'd to do it. And what is bequeathed to us in this Testament of Christ is altogether a free and voluntary donation. Other Testators use to bequeath their Estates to their Wives, and Children, and near relations; so doth this Testator, all is settled upon his Spouse the Church. Upon believers, his children. A stanger intermedles not with these mercies. They give all their goods and estates that can that way be conveyed to their friends that survive them, Christ giv∣eth to his Church in this New Testament three sorts of Goods.
How the death of Christ confirmed the New Testament is worth our Enquiry. The Socinians, as they allow no other end of Christs death but the confirmation of the New Testament, so they affirm he did it only by way of Testimony, or witness bearing in his death. But this is a vile derogation from the efficacy of Christs blood, to bring it down into an equality with the blood of Martyrs. As if there were no more in it, than was in their blood.
But know, Reader, Christ died not only or principally to con∣firm the Testment by his blood as a witness to the truth of those things, but hi•• death ratified it as the death of a Testator, which makes the New Testament irrevocable. And so Christ is called in this Text. Look as when a man hath made his Will and is dead, that Will is presently in force, and can never be recall'd. Besides the will of the dead is sacred with men. They dare not cross it. It's certain the last will and Testament of Christ is most sacred, and God will never annul or make it void. Moreover, it is not with Christ as with other Testators who die and must trust the performance of their wills with their Executors, but as he died to put it in force, so he lives again to be the Executor of his own Testament. And all power to fulfill his Will is now in his own hands, Rev. 1.18.
End 4.
Nullo praesentis metu pericu••i. Co••kes Instit. lib 3. cap. 10.