captivity captive," Eph. iv. 8; Psal. lxviii. 18; "and spoiling the
strongman's house; for he is come to destroy the works of the devil," 1
John iii. 8; "and he spoileth principalities and powers," Col. ii. 15.
Thus, as a captain of salvation, he leadeth them out as a conqueror;
having paid the price, he delivereth also by power and authority from
the hand of this jailor.

And thus we see how he answereth our case and necessity, and is a fit
way for us; and though this be not questioned, yet little is it believed
and considered, and less put in practice.

And as for the third particular, that he alone is this way, and
answereth our case herein, it needeth not be much spoken to, since it is
clear and manifest, confirmed by the experience of all generations, and
the disappointments of fools who have been seeking other ways. Angels in
heaven cannot do our business, they cannot satisfy justice for us, nor
have they any power over our heart to turn it as they will; nay, they
are not acquainted with our secret thoughts, that cabinet is kept close
from them, and reserved as the peculiar privilege of God alone. The
blood of bulls and of goats cannot do it; for the apostle tells us, that
it is impossible for that to take away 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