3. I have proved in the same place that faith, which is this condition, is itself procured by the death of Christ for them for whom he diedj to be freely bpsto^^•ed on them, without the prescription of any such condition as on whose fulfilling the collation of it should depend.
These things being considered, as I hoped they would have been by every one that should undertake to censure any thing, as to this business, in that treatise (they being there all handled at large), it is apparent what I intended by this actual deliverance, — namely. That the Lord Jesus, by the satisfaction and merit of his death and oblation, made for all and only his elect, hath actually and abso- lutely purchased and procured for them all spiritual blessings of grace and glory ; to be made out unto them, and bestowed upon them, in God's way and time, with- out dependence on any condition to be by them performed, not absolutely procured for them thereby ; whci'eby they become to have a right unto tlie good things by him purchased, to be in due time possessed, according to God's way, method, and appointment.
From a faitliful adherence unto this persuasion, I see nothing as yet of the least efficacy or force to dissuade me ; and am bold to tell those concerned therein, that their conditional satisfaction, or their suspending the fruits of the death of Christ upon conditions, as though the Lord should give him to die for us upon condition of such and such things, is a vain figment, contrary to the Scriptures, inconsistent in itself, and destructive of the true value and virtue of the death of Christ: which, by the I^ord's assistance, I shall be ready at any time to demonstrate.
My intention in the place excepted against being cleared, I shall now tender my thoughts to these two things : — .
THE ACTS OF GOD'S WILL TOWARDS SINNERS. 451
1. The distinct consideration of the acts of the will of God, before and after the satisfaction of Christ, as also before and after our believing, towards us, as unto justification.
2. The distinct estate of the sinner upon that consideration, with what is the right to the fruits of the death of Christ which the elect of God have before be- lievins:.
CHAPTER VI.
Of the acts of God's will towards sinners, antecedent and consequent to the satisfaction of Christ— Of Grotius' judgment herein.
The distinct consideration of the acts of God's will in reference to the satisfac- tion of Christ and our beUeving, according to the former proposal, is the first thing to be considered.
Grotius, who with many, and in an especial manner with Mr Baxter, is of very great account, and that in theology, distinguisheth (as himself calls them with a school term) " three moments" or instances of the divine will : —
1. " Before ^the death of Christ, either actually accomplished, or in the purpose and foreknowledge of God. In this instance," he saith, " God is angry with the sinner, but so as that he is not averse from all ways of laying down his anger."
2. " Upon 2 the death of Christ, or that being supposed ; wherein God not only purposeth but also promiseth to lay aside his anger."
3. " When ^a man by true faith believeth in Christ, and Christ, according to the tenor of the covenant, commendeth him to God. Here now God lays aside his anger, and receiveth man into favour." Thus far he.
Amongst all the attempts of distinguishing the acts of God's will in reference unto Christ and sinners, whatever I considered, I never found any more slight, atheological, and discrepant from the truth than this of Grotius.
To * measure the Almighty by the standard of a man, and to frame in the mind a mutable idol, instead of the eternal, unchangeable God, is a thing that the fleshly re:!sonings of dark understandings are prone unto ; — to feign the Lord in one instant angry, afterward promising to cease to be so, then in another instant laying down his anger, and taking up a contrary affection : and you seem to me to do no less.
What it may be esteemed in law, which was that author's faculty, I know not ; but suppose in divinity that (notwithstanding the manifold attempts of some ax/vjjra xinTv in most heads of religion) *the ascribing unto the Most Holy things alien and opposite unto his glorious nature, is, by common consent, accounted no less than blasphemy.*' Whether this be here done or no, may easily appear. I hope, then, without the ofPence of any, I may be allowed to call those dictates of Grotius to the rule and measure of truth.
I. " Before the foresight of the death of Christ," saith he, " God is angry with sinners, but not wholly averse from all ways of laying aside that anger." To which I answer, —
1. That God should be conceived angry after the manner of men, or with any
1 " Distinguenda sunt tria momenta divinse voluntatis. Primum est, ante Christi mortem positam aut re ipsa, aut in decreto Dei et praescientia. lu hoc momento iratus peccatori est Deus, sed ita, ut non aversetur omnes ine deponend» vias, ac rationes."
2 " Secundum momentum est, posita jam Christi morte, in quo Deus jam non constituit tantum, sea et pvomittit iiam se depositiirum."