第60章

Salvationofasinnersupposethaprecedentredemption；forhethatisonceguiltyofsinisobnoxioustothepenaltyofthesame；

andmustpay，orsomeotherforhim，suchransomashethatisoffended，andhashiminhispower，shallrequire。AndseeingthepersonoffendedisAlmightyGod，inwhosepowerareallthings，suchransomistobepaidbeforesalvationcanbeacquired，asGodhathbeenpleasedtorequire。Bythisransomisnotintendedasatisfactionforsinequivalenttotheoffence，whichnosinnerforhimself，norrighteousmancaneverbeabletomakeforanother：thedamageamandoestoanotherhemaymakeamendsforbyrestitutionorrecompense，butsincannotbetakenawaybyrecompense；forthatweretomakethelibertytosinathingvendible。Butsinsmaybepardonedtotherepentant，eithergratisoruponsuchpenaltyasGodispleasedtoaccept。ThatwhichGodusuallyaccepted，intheOldTestament，wassomesacrificeoroblation。Toforgivesinisnotanactofinjustice，thoughthepunishmenthavebeenthreatened。Evenamongstmen，thoughthepromiseofgoodbindthepromiser；yetthreats，thatistosay，promisesofevil，bindthemnot；muchlessshalltheybindGod，whoisinfinitelymoremercifulthanmen。OurSaviourChristthereforetoredeemusdidnotinthatsensesatisfyforthesinsofmen，asthathisdeath，ofitsownvirtue，couldmakeitunjustinGodtopunishsinnerswitheternaldeath；butdidmakethatsacrificeandoblationofHimself，atHisfirstcoming，whichGodwaspleasedtorequireforthesalvationatHissecondcoming，ofsuchasinthemeantimeshouldrepentandbelieveinHim。AndthoughthisactofourredemptionbenotalwaysinScripturecalledasacrificeandoblation，butsometimesaprice；yetbypricewearenottounderstandanythingbythevaluewhereofHecouldclaimtoapardonforusfromhisoffendedFather；butthatpricewhichGodtheFatherwaspleasedinmercytodemand。

THEWORDChurch(ecclesia)signifiethinthebooksofHolyScripturediversethings。Sometimes，thoughnotoften，itistakenforGod’shouse，thatistosay，foratemplewhereinChristiansassembletoperformholydutiespublicly；as，“Letyourwomenkeepsilenceinthechurches“：*butthisismetaphoricallyputforthecongregationthereassembled，andhathbeensinceusedfortheedificeitselftodistinguishbetweenthetemplesofChristiansandidolaters。TheTempleofJerusalemwasGod’shouse，andthehouseofprayer；andsoisanyedificededicatedbyChristianstotheworshipofChrist，Christ’shouse：andthereforetheGreekFatherscallitKuriake，theLord’shouse；andthenceinourlanguageitcametobecalledkirk，andchurch。

*ICorinthians，

Church，whennottakenforahouse，signifieththesamethatecclesiasignifiedintheGrecianCommonwealths；thatistosay，acongregation，oranassemblyofcitizens，calledforthtohearthemagistratespeakuntothem；andwhichintheCommonwealthofRomewascalledconcio，ashethatspakewascalledecclesiastes，andconcionator。Andwhentheywerecalledforthbylawfulauthority，itwasecclesialegitima，alawfulChurch，ennomosEkklesia。*Butwhentheywereexcitedbytumultuousandseditiousclamour，thenitwasaconfusedChurch，Ekklesiasugkechumene。

Itistakenalsosometimesforthementhathaverighttobeofthecongregation，thoughnotactuallyassembled；thatistosay，forthewholemultitudeofChristianmen，howfarsoevertheybedispersed：aswhereitissaidthat“Saulmadehavocofthechurch“：*andinthissenseisChristsaidtobeHeadoftheChurch。

AndsometimesforacertainpartofChristians；as，“SalutetheChurchthatisinhishouse。“*(2)Sometimesalsofortheelectonly；as，“A

gloriousChurch，withoutspotorwrinkle，holyandwithoutblemish“；*(3)whichismeantoftheChurchtriumphant，orChurchtocome。Sometimes，foracongregationassembledofprofessorsofprofessorsofChristianity，whethertheirprofessionbetrueorcounterfeit，asitisunderstoodwhereitissaid，“TellittotheChurch，andifheneglecttoheartheChurch，lethimbetotheeasaGentile，orpublican。“*(4)

AndinthislastsenseonlyitisthattheChurchcanbetakenforoneperson；thatistosay，thatitcanbesai