CHAP. IV. JESƲS CHRIST Crucified.

§. 1. AND as Jesus Christ indefi∣nitely taken is set down to be this Foundation,* so elsewhere is Jesus Christ Crucified, 1 Cor. 1.23. & 2.2. and accordingly the whole Gospel is styled 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the word which is of the Crosse of Christ, c. 1.18. and that (supposing it be be∣lieved) sufficient to superstruct on it the conversion of the whole world to a new and Christian life, and accor∣dingly it is there styled 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to those that escape out of the deluge of infidelity, the very power of God, & ver. 24. the power of God, and the wisdome of God, the powerfullest and wisest method to∣ward the accomplishing of this work, which is farther explained Rom. 1.16. by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the power of God to salvation to every one that be∣lieveth, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. If this doctrine of the Crosse be once received, there is no more wanting to engage and oblige all rational men to that renovation of Page  36 their lives, which is oft called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉saving or delivering them out of their evil waies, and will assuredly bring them to salvation, in the noti∣on, wherein we vulgarly take it.

*§. 2. That the crosse of Christ hath this propriety may appear by these five effects or branches of it, 1. it is the highest confirmation imaginable of the truth of all that he had deli∣vered from his Father, He laid down his life for the testifying of it. 2. It is the exemplifying (and that is the most Rhetorical argument, the most powerful way of perswading) the highest and hardest part of the Chri∣stian's duty, that of laying down our lives for the truth, resisting unto blood in our 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉our spiri∣tual Olympicks, our striving against sin. 3. It is a sealing that Covenant betwixt God and us, which he came to preach, a Covenant of mercy, and pardon, and everlasting salvation to all that perform the condition of it, and to none else, and that is of all o∣thers the greatest and most effectual engagement to that performance. 4. It is the sacrifice for the sinnes of the whole world, the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or means of Page  37expiation or pardon, upon our un∣feigned return and change, and that is absolutely necessary to found our hope, as that hope is necessary to excite our indevours, 5. It was the ceremonie of consecrating Christ our high Priest, to his great Melchisedekian office of blessing us, in which as his resurrecti∣on instated him, so that was by way of reward to his sufferings, Phil. 2.9. and so all that sufficiencie of strength which is required for the turning eve∣ry one from iniquity, Act. 3.25. be∣ing an effect of that blessing of his, the doctrine of his death, from the merit whereof this quickning power doth flow, is a foundation of all cheer∣full attending on his service, to which he is so sure to afford his assistance.