sin, Heb. x. 4.  That blood shed according to the law did cleanse ceremonially, but it is only the blood of Jesus, typified by that, which cleanseth really; so that we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all, Heb. x. 10.  No pains or labour of ours can avail here.  The Lord will not be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil.  “He will not take our first-born for our transgression, nor the son of our body for the sin of our soul,” Micah vi. 7.  Ordinance and means will not do it, nor any invention of our own:  “no man can by any means redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom for him; for the redemption of the soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever,” Psal. xlix. 7, 8.  He alone hath laid down the price; all our sufferings, prayers, tears, labours, penances, and the like, signify nothing here; they cannot satisfy justice for one sin.

As to the fourth particular, viz., the singularity of this way, those things make it manifest and apparent: 

1.  This is such a way as can discover itself, and make itself known unto the erring traveller.  Christ Jesus is such a way as can say to the wandering soul, “this is the way, walk ye in it,” Isa. xxx. 25.  No way can do this.  This is comfortable.

2.  This way can not only discover itself to the wandering traveller, but also it can bring folk into it.  Christ can bring souls unto himself, when they are running on in their wandering condition.  He can move their hearts to turn into the right way, put grace in their soul for this end, begin resolutions in them, and sow the seed of faith; and so stay their course which they were violently pursuing, and make them look about and consider what they are doing.  As the former was good news to poor, blind, and witless creatures that were wandering and knew not whither they were going; so this is good news to poor souls that find their heart inclining to wander, and loving to go astray.

3.  This way can cause us walk in it.  If we be rebellious and obstinate, he can command with authority; for he is given for a leader and commander, Isa. lv. 4.  How sweet should this be to the soul that is weighted with a stubborn, untractable, and unpersuadable heart, that he, as a king, governor, and commander, can with authority draw or drive, and cause us follow and run?

4.  This way is truth, as well as the way; so that the soul that once entereth in here is safe for ever; no wandering here.  “The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err in this way,” Isa. xxxv. 8.  “He will bring the blind by a way that they knew not, and lead them in paths that they have not known; he will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight; those things will he do unto them, and not forsake them,” Isa. xlii. 16.