2 "Nulla justitia projji-ie esse jiotest, ubi nulla intcroedit oblisitio ; Deus autr'm nulla obligatione tenetur, autequam ipse iitlem suam astrinuat ; ergo ante promiisiouem nulla justitia ctiam Uistrilm- tiva in Deo lepei-itur."— Vas. n. 1, q. 21, a. 1, <iisp. tO.
STATE AND RIGHT OF THOSE FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED. 465
out grace and glory, liberty and beauty, unto those for whom he died, upon con- dition they do so or so, —
[1.] Leaves no proper place for the merit of Christ.
[2.] Is very improperly ascribed unto God. La^^^'ers tell us that all stipula,- tions about things future are either sub conditione or sub tennino. Stipulations or engagements upon condition, that are properly so, do suppose him that makes the engagement to be altogether uncertain of the event thereof. Stipulations sub termino are absolute, to make out the things engaged about at such a season. Upon the very instant of such a stipulation as this, an obligation follows as to the thing, though no action be allowed to him to whom it is made, until the term and time appointed be come.
In those stipulations that are under condition, no obligation ariseth at all from them, it being wholly uncertain whether the conchtion will be fulfilled or no. Only in two cases doth such an engagement bring on an immediate obligation: —
\st, If the condition required be in things necessary and unalterable ; as if Caius should engage himself unto Tilius to give him a hundred pounds for his house on the morrow if the sun shine. Here ariseth tin immediate obligation, and it is the same as if it had been conceived only sub termino, without condition at all.
2(:Ui/, If by any means he that makes the stipulation knows infallibly that the condition will be fulfilled, though he to whom it is made knows it not, in this re- spect, also, the stipulation sub conditione introduceth an immediate obligation, and in that regard is coincident with that which is only sub termino.
Whether an engagement upon condition properly, Avithout the former respects, — that is, a stipulation to an event dubious and uncertain, — can be ascribed unto God, is easy to determine. To assert it oppugns the whole nature of the Deity, and overthrows the properties thereof, immediately and directly. All other stipulations under condition are coincident, as I said before, with that which is sub termino only, from whence ariseth an immediate obligation for the performance of the thing stipulated about, though there be not an immediate action granted him unto whom it is made.
Surely they are wide, if not very wild, who affirm that all the stipulations on the part of God, upon the death of Christ, are upon a condition which he himself knows to be imjjossible for them to perform to whom they are made; which amongst wise men are always accounted nugatory and null.
This being, then, so vain, I say that the merit of Christ, flowing from the free purpose and compact of God, resteth on his justice thence also arising, fixing thereon an obligation to make out all the fruits of it unto them for whom he died sub tennino only ; whereby a present right is granted them thereunto, though they cannot plead for present enjoyment.
CHAPTER XI.
More particularly of the state and right of them for whom Christ died, before believing.
The former assertions about the death of Christ being in some measure cleared, we may hence have light into the state and condition of those for whom Christ died, in their several generations, before believing.
To make this the more fully appear, we must distinguish between their present state or possession, and their present right. Their state is not changed because all the procurements of the death of Christ are to be made out unto them by virtue of a stipulation sub termino, that term or season being not come. So that still, in present actual state, I leave theiu as before, not justified, not sanctified, not entered into covenant.
VOL. X. 30
4GG OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
Right also is twofold: —
1 . In re ; — as the father hath a right to his estate. And this jus in re holds, though the estate be unjustly or forcibly detained from him.
2. Ad rem; — so the son hath a right to the estate of his father, being to enjoy it at his death.
The first right is presently actionable upon any detainment ; the latter not so. The^rst we do not ascribe to the elect in this condition, — namely, that which is hi re, and instantly actionable; but that which is ad rem and suh termino.
This being that which I aimed at, and being by Mr Baxter opposed, I will farther consider it, that it may appear whether any thing in this assertion be justly blamable.
I said that by the death of Christ we have actual right to the good things pur- chased by that death. That right which is not actual (to speak a word to that term) is not. The contradistinct affection hereunto is potential ; and tliis is totally destructive to the nature of a right. All right is actual, or not at all.
To evince the main assertion, I shall, — 1. Show the nature and quality of this right; 2. The bottom or foundation of it; and, 3. Prove the thesis.