all,” Isa. liii. 6, so in due time “he bare our griefs, and carried our sorrows.  He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him.  He was cut off out of the land of the living, and stricken for the transgression of his people; he made his soul an offering for sin, and bare the iniquities of his people.  Pouring out his soul unto death he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors,” Isa. liii. 4, 5, 10, 11, 12.  So “that what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, for sin (or by a sacrifice for sin) condemned sin in the flesh,” Rom. viii. 3, “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,” verse 4.  Thus “he made him sin (or a sacrifice for sin) that we might become righteous,” 2 Cor. v. 20; and “he was once offered to bear the sins of many,” Heb. ix. 28; and “he, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God,” verse 14, and “his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,” 1 Pet. ii. 24.  There must, I say, be some knowledge of, and acquaintance with this great mystery of the gospel, wherein is declared “the manifold wisdom of God,” Eph. iii. 10, and with the noble design of God, in sending his Son, after this manner, to die the death, that condemned sinners might live, and return to the bosom of God; as redeemed “not with gold or silver, or corruptible things but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,” 1 Pet. i. 18.  And being “so redeemed by blood, to become kings and priests unto God,” 1 Pet. ii. 2.  Rev. v. 9, 10.  The man must not be ignorant of this, else all will be in vain.  I do not determine how distinct and full this knowledge must be; but sure there must be so much knowledge of it, as will give the soul ground of hope, and, in expectation of salvation by this way, cause it turn its back upon all other ways, and account itself happy if it could once win here.

6.  There must be a persuasion of the sufficiency, completeness and satisfactoriness of the way of salvation through this crucified Mediator, else the soul will not be induced to leave its other courses, and betake itself to this alone.  He must be sure that salvation is only to be had this way, and that undoubtedly it will be had this way, that so with confidence he may cast himself over on this way, and sweetly sing of a noble outgate.  And therefore he must believe, that Christ is really God as well as man, and a true man as well as God; that he is fully furnished for the work of redemption, having the Spirit given to him without measure; and endued fully and richly with all qualifications fitting for all our necessities, and enabling him to “save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him,” Heb. vii. 25; that “he is made of God to us wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification,” 1 Cor. i. 30; that “all power in heaven and in earth is given unto him,”