[Chrysammoi] Golden sands, or, A few short hints about the riches of grace. Part I begun to be opened from the words of the Apostle, in Eph. 2,7 ... : dedicated to the royal bud of our English hopes, Princesse Elizabeth / by John Bachiler ...

CHAP. V.

The Ransom which Grace layes down for the Saintss

THirdly, consider the Ransome which Free Grace lay's downe for the Saints. The best of them before conver∣sion

are under a double bondage. 1. In the hands of a most cruell Tyrant. 2. Of a most exacting Creditor.

First, of a most usurp∣ing tyrant, Sinne, which exerciseth dominion o∣ver them, and to which they also for a time yeeld themselves as servants to obey it, Rom. 6.6,—20. Sin reign's like a Lord of mis-rule, the most Prince∣ly Off-springs of heaven, the most royall births a∣mong the Saints, have known the sorrows of vassals under it. They also, till a Deliverer com's,

are sold under sin, Rom. 7.14. as slaves are sold for a base price, and to doe base work. And as for the Devill with his fel∣lowes, all the while the poore Saints are in this kind of bondage under sinne, they are but the tyrants executioners: bloody ones indeed they are; for besides the hor∣rid threats of death and hell with which they scare them, how sorely do they whip them to all those cruell services in which they are employ∣ed by sin? Beleeve it, they strike smartly, who

will take off, they lay on most deadly blowes, scourges that draw blood apace, and cut deepe, even to the very bone. As the task-masters of Egypt made the Children of Israel serve with rigour & hard bondage, and made their liv's bitter, what with their work, and their sore beating them, Exod. 1.13, 14. Thus these Diabolicall tor∣menters lay about them most severely, using the precious sons of Zion, as if no better then the Skullions of hell. Nor wil they suffer a moments

rest to them, but make them work even in the very fire, among fiery temptati∣ons, to allude to that of the Prophet Hab. 2.13: Now so long as the Saints are under such a mercilesse tyrant, and such Dragon-lawes, so fiercely imposed and executed, how great a bondage is it?

Secondly, they are in the hands also of a most exacting Creditor, Divine Justice; for what∣ever Free-grace please to doe, in bearing its owne losses, and forgiving its owne debts; yet Justice

will not be so satisfied, neither for it selfe, nor for all those other At∣tributes which have been as much wronged as ever Grace it selfe was; the Saints are as much behind hand with Justice, Wisdome, Faith∣fulnesse, Goodnesse, Patience, and all the rest; there∣fore Justice serv's an Ar∣rest upon them, and that not only in its own name, but in the name of all the other Creditors; yea & it keeps them in safe cu∣stody without bayle or main-prize; and to pri∣son they must goe, there

to lye, till they have answered for all wrongs, and pay'd all debts, even to the utmost farthing; which if they can never attain, the wrath of God seizeth on them in pains unutterable for ever∣more, Mat. 5.25, 26.

In this most miserable double bondage, in the state of unregeneracie, doe the poore Saints lie; and are like to continue so, unlesse freegrace com's in for their reli••se, which at one time or other it is sure to doe, and with so powerfull an hand too, that immediately it re∣scu's

them from all these miseries at once. And the meanes by which Grace doth this, is by laying downe a Ransom, (even the same which before we told you went for the price of a pur∣chase also) the life-blood of Christ. He is the great Lord Treasurer of heaven, Free-grace her Cash kee∣per, at whose onely ap∣pointment 'twas (for in this businesse she rul's all) that he came downe from his glory, with all the fulnesse of the God∣head in him bodily. He brought all his wealth

with him, that he might be sure to take off all rec∣konings before his re∣turn. Well, when he did come, and that by free-grace her sending, what was the work she set him about? was it not to performe her promises, and make good her en∣gagements for the poore Saints? Goe, saith Grace to him, goe downe from heaven, goe and ransome such and such whom I have elected. Loe I am ready, saith Christ, Psal. 40.7, 8. I goe willingly: and as he said, he did; ac∣cording to all the Com∣mission

that Grace gave him, he most punctually perform's. Grace or∣der's him to lay down a ransome, and he doth so, and that such a ransome, as is every way, and to all purposes, effectually sufficient. He gave his life a ransome for many. Mat. 20.28. the word imports a double ransome, answerable to the dou∣ble bondage mentioned. First, a ransome by power, whereby the captive with strong hand is re∣scued from the oppres∣sor. Secondly, a ransome by price, whereby full sa∣tisfaction

is made to the Creditor, either in ready money, or something else equivalent, and so the Prisoner set free both from the gaole and the debt too. Now in both these senses the death and blood-shed of Jesus Christ is become a ran∣some to the Saints. First, it sets them free from the power of sinne, the Devill, death and hell, by conquering and trium∣phing over them. Who gave himselfe for us, that he might redeeme us from all iniquity, Tit. 2.14. As Grace before delivered

from sinne, in respect of the guilt of it, by forgi¦ving it, and therein de∣clared the riches of it, as the Apostle tells us, Eph. 1.7. By whom (speaking of Christ) we have the forgivenesse of sins, accord¦ing to the riches of grace; so here also it deliver's from the dominion of sin, even through the re∣demption of his blood, as we there also have it. And by the same blood he sav's from death and hell too, yea and him that hath the power of them both, which is the devil, Heb. 2.14. Through death

he destroyed death, Colos. 2.15. Having spoiled Prin∣cipalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them. He speaks it of those princi∣palities and powers, which are also called spi∣rituall wickednesses, Ephes. 6.12.

Secondly, yet that was not the onely ransom that was laid down, for Grace pay's the Creditors also, even all that they can demand; whatsoever it is, that the Saints are endebted to any Credi∣tor in heaven or in earth, Grace dischargeth all;

for the vastest summes it makes such ample satisfa∣ction, not only for Prin∣ciple, but for Interest, even to an hour's forbearance, that more in justice can∣not be required. There∣fore 'tis said of Christ, that he saveth to the ut∣most, Heb. 7.25. because he hath paid the utmost farthing, as 'tis phrased, Mat. 5.26. so that none of the Creditors, no not Justice it self, as exacting as it is, hath any thing to doe now to keepe the Prisoner any longer, but looketh graciously, & saith, Deliver him from going

down into the pit, I have found a ransom, Job 33.24 The Gaoler what ever he be must open doores, and let his prisoner out; yea and more then so, he must deliver up the keyes also, even all that bunch of keyes with which the poore Saints were locked in. And if you aske, into whose hands these keyes are given? 'tis into the hands of Grace, who ha∣ving them at her dispose, she againe put's them in∣to Christ's hands to keep. Rev. 1.18. I have the keys, saith he, of hell and death. A priviledge which he

may well injoy, having been the pay-master of all the debts, and the setter of the Prisoners free: though still indeed it must be remembred, it was with Free-Grace her money.

And alas! what a case had the poor Saints beene in, if free grace, besides the bearing so great losses, and for∣giving such mighty debts due unto it selfe, had not done this also? even made an end and gotten a full acquittance from all the other cre∣ditours? How did the

Saints groan under their many obligations; and what feares were they in continually? stil looking for new arrests every hour. Justice for its part, and the other creditors with it, stood upon it, nor would they hearken to any compositions, or make abatements in the least. As for suretyes, or undertakers; the whole creation could not afford them. Should they have crav'd the helpe of Angels, alas! their baile would never have beene taken, be∣cause their riches would

never have amounted to any considerable part of payment, they might soone have crack'd their credits, have broken and undone themselves upon it, but could never have taken off the debts: The poore Saints, in meane time, stand ga∣zing upon each other, with palenesse in their fa∣ces, with floods of teares in their eyes, and as ma∣ny sorrowes in their hearts, while they thinke of this their help∣lesse and most hopelesse condition. But behold! in this most pittifull and

deplorable a distresse, just in the very nick of it, Free grace com's in with her bags of untold gold, I say free grace (who had enter'd into bonds before) she lay's downe the whole debt, in man∣ner as hath beene said. An act of bounty which not only out-went the former ten times over in the multiplications of new summes, because so many creditors had their owne from it; but most of all, in that it procured a full delive∣rance: take an instance to cleare it. If a man be

endebted to me ten thousand pounds, and be also endebted to ma∣ny other creditors, and to each of them as much as to my selfe; for me to forgive him mine owne debt, and that so great an one, even every penny of it, you will say 'tis a very bountifull and friendly act; but to pay downe so much ready money also in his behalf unto his other creditors, without which (not∣withstanding my forgi∣ving him as concerning my selfe) he must have lay'n and rotted in pri∣son,

you will acknow∣ledge this is far greater bounty, and a more ex∣cellent kindnesse then the former. For perhaps you might suppose, I forgave him mine own debt, be∣cause I could never hope to get it of him; but to answer for his debts to others also, and that in ready money, out of mine owne purse; all that heare it, will conclude, this is a strange piece of most singular liberality; yea & as unparallel'd a love al∣so. And thus hath Grace done for the poor Saints, pay'd all (as hath been

said) with good gold and silver, shall I say? nay with that which is farre more precious then such corruptible things, the blood of Christ, 1 Pet. 1.18, 19. Hence it is, that the Saints are said to be bought with a price, 1 Cor. 6.20. with an honourable price, as the word is. Yea, they are bought twice over, with a double price, they are twice ran∣som'd, with a ransom so great as hath satisfied all parties, and perfectly de∣livered from all bonda∣ges. And which yet add's to all the rest, 'tis not a

ransome for the present onely, but a most full and satisfying ransome to all eternity. Indeed if a Gally-slave of Turky, or any other tyrant captive be once ransomed, and so delivered, yet if he be taken againe, he cannot be redeemed without a new ransome; or if a deb∣ter be once discharged, and run into new debts, he must make new pay∣ments, or else to prison againe. But here the case is far otherwise; the ran∣some is everlasting, the satisfaction is for ever. Heb. 9.12. The blood of

Christ offered once for all, having obtained eternal re∣demption. So that though sinne in the dominion of it, may have mind enough to seize on the Saints, and embondage them againe, yet 'tis more then it can ever doe: And though Justice may seem to come again upon them, & take them by the throat, in the severall afflictions & sufferings they encoun∣ter with: yet let there be no mistake here, for it is not properly from the hand of Justice that the sorest troubles at any time befall the Saints, as

though thereby it would receive some satisfaction from them, and pay it self out of their sufferings. No verily, there can be no ground for such a thought as this; Justice being already fully and eternally satisfied, as con∣cerning the Saints, through the death of Christ. It is from the hand of Grace rather, (who we may be sure will never lash too hard) that all these lashes come; and that for ex∣cellent intents and pur∣poses: as Parents when they correct their chil∣dren,

it is not out of un∣appeased wrath or hatred to their persons, but out of tenderest care & love. Heb. 12.5,—12. Well then, we have seen som∣what more of the riches of Grace in the ransome it lay's down for the Saints. The ransome of a mans life are his [owne] riches, saith Solomon, Pro. 13.8. but the ransome of the Saints lives, are the Riches of Grace.

Notes

• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 à 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 solvo, to pay, or to loose, as when one unty's bands or fetters.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.