2. The second thing eminent in it is, an act of supreme sovereignty and dominion, rec^uiring the punishment of Christ, for the full, com- plete answering of the obligation and fulfilling of the law, Rom. viii. 3, X. 4.
Now, these things being thus at large unfolded, we may see, in brief, some natural consequences following and attending them as they are laid down; as, — First, That Wie full and due debt of all those for whom Jesus Christ Avas responsible was fully paid in to God, according to the utmost e<xtent o^ the obligation. Secondly, That the Lord, who is a just creciitijrf, ought in all equity to cancel the bond, to surcease all suits, actions, and molestations against the debtors, full payment being made unto him for the debt Thirdly, That the debt thus paid was not this or that sin, but all the sins of
AEGUMENTS AGAINST UNIVERSAL REDEMPTION. 273
all those for whom and in whose name this payment was made, 1 John i. 7, as was before demonstrated. Fourthly, That a second payment of a debt once paid, or a requiring of it, is not answerable to the justice which God demonstrated in setting forth Christ to be a propitiation for our sins, Rom. iii. 25. Fifthly, That whereas to receive a discharge from farther trouble is equitably due to a debtor who hath been in obligation, his debt being paid, the Lord, having accepted of the payment from Christ in the stead of all them for whom he died, ought in justice, according to that obligation which, in free grace, he hath put upon himself, to grant them a dischai'ge. Sixthly, That considering that relaxation of the law which, by the supreme power of the lawgiver, was effected, as to the persons suffer- ing the punishment required, such actual satisfaction is made thereto, that it can lay no more to their charge for whom Christ died than if they had really fulfilled, in the way of obedience, whatsoever it did require, Rom. viii. 32-34.
Now, how consistent these things (in themselves evident, and clearly following the doctrine of Christ's satisfaction, before declared) are with universal redemption is easily discernible; for, — First, If the full debt of all be paid to the utmost extent of the obligation, how comes it to pass that so many are shut up in prison to eternity, never freed from their debts? Secondly, If the Lord, as a just creditor, ought to cancel all obligations and surcease all suits against such as have their debts so paid, whence is it that his wrath smokes against some to all eternity? Let none tell me that it is because they walk not worthy of the benefit bestowed ; for that not Avalking worthy is part of the debt which is fully paid, for (as it is in the third infer- ence) the debt so paid is all our sins. Thirdly, Is it probable that God calls any to a second payment, and requires satisfaction of them for whom, by his own acknowledgment, Christ hath made that which is full and sufficient? Hath he an after-reckoning that he thought not of? for, for what was before him he spared him not, Rom. viii. 32. Fourthly, How comes it that God never gives a discharge to innumerable soufe, though their debts be paid? Fifthly, Whence is it that any one soul lives and dies under the condemning power of the law, never released, if that be fully satisfied in his behalf, so as it had been all one as if he had done whatsoever it could require? Let them that can, reconcile these things. I am no Oedipus for them. The poor beggarly distinctions whereby it is attempted, I have already discussed. And so much for satisfaction.
VOL. X. 18
27-4 THE DEATH OF DEATH. [BOOK III.
CHAPTER VIII.
A digression, containing the substance of an occasional conference concerning tlie satisfaction of Christ.
Much about the time that I Avas composing that part of the last argument which is taken from the satisfaction of Christ, there came one (whose name, and all things else concerning him, for the respect I bear to his parts and modesty, shall be concealed) to the place where I live, and, in a private exercise about the sufferings of Christ, seemed to those that heard him to enervate, yea overthrow, the satisfaction of Christ : which I apprehending to be of dangerous consequence, to prevent a farther inconvenience, set myself briefly and plainly to oppose; and also, a little after, willingly entertained a conference and debate (desired by the gentleman) about the point in question : which being carried along with that quietness and sobriety of spirit which beseemed lovers of and searchers after truth, I easily per- ceived not only what was his persuasion in the thing in hand, but also what was the ground and sole cause of his misapprehension ; and it was briefly this : — That the eternal, unchangeable love of God to his elect did actually instate them in such a condition as wherein they were in an incapacity of having any satisfaction made for them : the end of that being to remove the wrath due unto them, and to make an atonement for their sins ; which, by reason of the former love of God, they stood in no need of, but only wanted a clear manifestation of that love unto their souls, whereby they might be delivered from all that dread, darkness, guilt, and fear, which was in and upon their consciences, by reason of a not-understanding of this love, which came upon them through the fall of Adam. Now, to remove this, Jesus Christ was sent to manifest this love, and declare this eternal good- will of God towards them, so bearing and taking away their sins, by removing from their consciences that misapprehension of God and their own condition which, by reason of sin, they*iiad before, and not to make any satisfaction to the justice of God for their sins, he being etei-nally well-pleased with them. The sum is, election is asserted to the overthrow of redemption. What followed in our conference, with what success by God's blessing it did obtain, shall, for my part, rest in the minds and judgments of those that heard it, for whose sake alone it was intended. The things themselves being, first, of great weight and importance, of singular concernment to all Christians; secondly, containing in them a mixture of undoubted truth and no less undoubted errors, true propositions and false inferences, asser- tions of necessary verities to the exclusion of others no less necessary ; and, thirdly, directly belonging to the business in hand, — I shall