CHAPTER X.
Of the merit of Christ, and its immediate efficacy— What it effoeteth— In what it resteth— With the state of those for whom Christ died in reference to his doatli, and of their riglit to the fruits of his death before believing.
That they for whom Christ died have a right to the things which he purchased thereby, — that is, an actual right, for so men may have to what they have not in actual possession, — is no singular conception of mine. Our divmes freely express themselves to this purpose.
Even the commender and publisher of Grotius' book of " Satisfaction," the learned Vossius, himself affirmeth that Christ by his death purchased for us a double right, — first, a right of escaping punishment, and then a right of obtain- ing the reward. By the Ava}', I. cannot close with his distinction in that place, of some things that Christ by his life and death purchased for us, and others that he daily bestoweth; for the things he daily bestoweth are of them which by his death he purchased.
My expressions then, alone, are not subject to the consequences charged on them, for asserting a right to life and sah'ation in them for -whom Christ died, even before believing. Yea, some have gone farther, and affirmed ' that those for whom Christ died are in some manner restored into saving favour; not to mention some of them, to whose judgment Mr Baxter seems to accede, who assert universal justification and restoration into grace upon the death of Christ. But I lay no weight upon these things.
To clear my thoughts in this particular, two things must necessarily be inquired into and made out: —
1 . Seeing the i-ati.'.faction and merit of Christ do tend directly for the good of them for whom he died, and that there is a distance and space of time between that death and their participation of the good things purchased thereby, wherein lieth or in what resteth the efficacy of that his deatli, with the principle of the certain futurition of the sjjiritual things so procured, which those for whom he died shall assuredly in due time enjoy ?
2. Wlierein lies the obligation unto death, hell, and wrath, which, before believ- ing, the Scripture iifiirms to be upon the elect, seeing Christ hath actually pur- chased for them freedom from these things? And this, without more ado, will be cleared in the former.
' "Omncs illi, pro quibus Christus ox intentione Dei satisfecit, sunt Deo reconciliati, i. e., in favorem salutiferum ali<iuo modo restituti." — Ames. Aiitisyuod., p. 104.
THE MERIT OF CHRIST. • 463
For the first, then, upon the issue of the death of Christ, something being supposed in God beyond his mere purpose (of Avhich before), some things being actually procured and purchased by it, -which yet they for whom they are so pur- chased neither do nor possibly can, upon the purchase, immediately possess and enjoy, it is inquired wherein resteth the efficacy of his death which in due time causeth the making out of all those spiritual blessings which by it are so procured?
I^ow, this must be either in those for whom he died, or in himself as mediator, or in his Father who sent him.
1. That it is not in them for whom he died is apparent. Upon the death of Christ, in purpose and promise, when first its efficacy took place, they were not ; I mean, actually existent. True, they were potentially in the purpose of God ; but will that make them a meet subject for the residence of this right and merit whereof we speak ? As is the thing, such are all its affections and adjuncts ; — but possible, if it be no more. This is something actual whereof we speak.
2. That it is not in Christ as mediator is no less evident. He that makes satisfaction and he to whom it is made, he who meriteth any thing and he at whose hands he meriteth it, must be distinguished. The second person, under the notion of performing the work of mediation, receiveth not satisfaction. The power Christ receiveth of the Father, because he is the Son of man, to give eternal life to those given him of his Father, is of later consideration to that we have in hand, being a result and consequence thereof.
3. It must, therefore, be in the Father, or God, as receiving satisfaction.
Of all the attributes of God, where this may be placed, to speak after the manner of men, one of these four must needs be the proper seat of it, power, will, justice, truth : —
(1.) His power. And then it must be, not that God hath any addition of powei*, for that cannot be to him who is omnipotent, but that a way is made for the exer- cise of his power, which before, by somewhat from himself, was shut up.
And, as some suppose, it is no otherwise; that whereas the Lord could not make out grace and favour unto sinners, because of his justice necessarily inchning him to their punishment and destruction, now, that justice being satisfied in Christ, he can collate any spii'itual blessings upon them, as he seeth good.
But this I have disproved elsewhere, and manifested, —
[1.] That the foundation of this apprehension (being an impossibility in God to forgive sin without satisfaction, because of the contrariety of it to the properties of his nature) is a groundless assertion ; and, —