5. That he died for sin, and sinners, to expiate the one, and in the stead of the other:— Rom. iv. 25, "He was delivered for our offences." Chap. v. 10, " When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son." 1 Cor. xv. 3, " Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures." 2 Cor. v. 14, '_' For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead," 1 Thess. v. 9, 10.
6. Hence, on the part of God it is affirmed, that " he spared him not, but delivered him up for us all," Rom. viii. 32; and caused " all our iniquities to meet upon him," Isa. liii. 6.
7. The effect hereof was, —
(1.) That the righteousness of God was glorified. Rom. iii. 25, 26, " Whom God hath set foi-th to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins." (2.) The lawfxdfilled and satisfied, as in the places before quoted, chap, viii. 3, 4; Gal. iii. 13, iv. 4, 5. (3.) God reconciled. 2 Cor. v. 18, 19, " God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." Heb. ii. 17, " He made re- conciliation for the sins of the people." (4.) Atonement tvas made for sin. Rom. v. 11, "By whom we have now received the atonement;" and peace was made with God. Eph. ii. 1 4, 1 6, " For he is our peace,
who hath made both one, . that he might reconcile both unto God
in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." (5.) [He] made an end of sin. Dan. ix. 24, " To finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness." The glory of God in all these things being exalted, himself was well pleased, righteousness and ever- lasting redemption, or salvation, purchased for sinners. ^ Heb. ix. 14, For in that " the chastisement of our peace was upon him," and that
424? OF THE SATISFACTION OF CHRIST.
" by his stripes we are healed," he being punished that we might go free, himself became a captain of salvation unto all that do obey him. I have fixed on these particidars, to give every ordinary reader an instance how fully and plainly what he is to believe in this matter is revealed in the Scripture. And should I produce all the testi- monies which expressly give witness unto these positions, it is known how great a part of the Bible must be transcribed. And these are the things which are indispensably required of us to believe, that we may be able to direct and regulate our obedience according to the mind and will of God. In the explanation of this doctrine unto farther edification, sundry things are usually insisted on, which ne- cessarily and infallibly ensue ujDon the propositions of Scripture before laid down, and serve to beget in the minds of believers a due appre- hension and right understanding of them ; as, —
1. That God in this matter is to be considered as the chief, supreme, absolute rector and governor of all, — as the Lord of the laiu, and of sinners; but yet so as an offended ruler: not as an offended person, but as an offended ruler, who hath right to exact punishment upon transgressors, and whose righteousness of rule requires that he should so do
2. That because he is righteous and holy, as he is the supreme Judge of all the world, it is necessary that he do right in the punish- ing of sin ; without which the order of the creation cannot be pre- served. For sin being the creature's deduction of itself from the order of its dependence upon, and obedience unto, the Creator and supreme Lord of all, without a reduction of it by punishment, confu- sion would be brought into the whole creation.
3. That whereas the law, and the sanction of it, is the moral or declarative cause of the punishment of sin, and it directly obligeth the sinner himself unto punishment; God, as the supreme ruler, dis- penseth, not with the act of the law, but the immediate object, and substitutes another sufferer in the room of them who are principally liable unto the sentence of it, and are now to be acquitted or freed ; — that so the law may be satisfied, requiring the punishment of sin ; justice exalted, whereof the law is an effect; and yet the sinner saved.
4. That the person thus substituted was the Son of God incarnate, who had power so to dispose of himself, with will and readiness for it; and was, upon the account of the dignity of his person, able to answer the penalty which all others had incun-ed and deserved.
5. That God, upon his voluntary siisception o/this office, and con- descension to this work, did so lay our sins, in and by the sentence of the law, upon him, that he made therein y"??// satisfaction for A\hat- ever legally could be charged on them for whom he died or suffered.
6. That the special way, terms, and conditions, whereby and