And this is that which they have to make good their charge against the common faith, that "it is false, erroneous, and pernicious" ! Such worthy foundations have they of their great superstruction, or rather so great is their confidence and so little is their strength for the pulling down of the church built upon the Rock !
They proceed to consider what testimonies and proofs (they say) we produce for the confirmation of the truth contended for. What (they say) we pretend from reason (though indeed it be from in- numerable places of Scripture), I have vindicated not long since to the full in my book of the vindictive justice of God,^ and answered all the exceptions given thereunto, so that I shall not translate from thence what I have delivered to this purpose, but pass to what follows.
Question 12 they make this inquiry: —
Q. Which are the scriptures out of luhich they endeavour to confirm their opinion ?
A. Those which testify that Christ died for us, or for our sins, also that he re- deemed us, or that he gave himself or his life a redemption for many ; then that he is our mediator ; moi'eover, that he reconciled vis to God, and is a propitiation for our sins ; lastly, from those sacrifices which, as figures, shadowed forth the death of Christ. 2
So do they huddle up together those very many express testi- monies of the truth we plead for which are recorded in the Scripture ; of which I may truly say that I know no one trutli in the whole Scripture that is so freely and fully delivered, as being, indeed, of the greatest importance to our souls. What they except in particular against any one of the testimonies that may be referred to the heads
1 De .Tustit. Divin. Diatrib. vol. x.
2 "Qiise vero sunt scriptunc e quibus illi opinionem suam adstrucre conantur? — Ea) qiuTC testantur Cliristum vel pro puccatis nostris mortuuni, dcinde, quod nos redcniit, aut dedit semctipsum ct animani suam redcraptionem pro niultis ; turn quod noster mediator est. Porro quod nos recouciliarit Deo, et sit propitiatio pro pcccatis nostris. Deniquc, ex illis sacrificiis quoe mortum Chvisti sou figursB adurabi'avcrunt. "
548 VINDICI^ EVANGELIC JS.
before recounted (except those wliich have been already spoken to) shall be considered in the order wherein they proceed.
They say, then, —
For what belongeth unto those testimonies wherein it is contended that Christ died for us, it is manifest that satisfaction cannot necessarily be therein asserted, because the Scripture witnesseth that we ought even to lay down our lives for the brethren, 1 John iii. 16; and Paul writes of himself. Col. i. 24, "Now I rejoice in my affliction for you, and fill up the remainder of the affliction of Christ for his body, which is the church : " but it is cei'tain that neither do believers satisfy for any of the brethren, nor did Paul make satisfaction to any for the church.
Q. What then is the sense of these ivords, " Christ died for us f"
A. That these words "for us" do not signify in our place or stead, but for us, as the apostle expressly speaks, 1 Cor. viii. 11, which also alike places do show, where the Scripture saith that Christ died for our'sins; which Avord cannot have this sense, that Christ died instead of our sins, but that he died for our sins, as it is expressly written, Rom. iv. 25. Moreover, these words, " Christ died for us," have this sense, that he therefore died, that we might embrace and obtain that eternal salvation which he brought to us from heaven; which how it is done you heard before.'
Ans. Briefly to state the difference between us about the meaning of this expression, " Christ died for us," I shall give one or two ob- servations upon what they deliver, then confirm the common faith, and remove their exceptions thereto: —
1. Without any attempt of proof, they oppose " vice nostri"' aiid " propter nos," as contrary and inconsistent, and make this their argument that Christ did not die " vice nostri," because he died " propter nos,'' when it is one argument whereby we prove that Christ died in our stead, because he died for us in the sense men- tioned 1 Cor. viii. 11, where it is expressed by did, because we could no otherwise be brought to the end aimed at.
2. Our sense of the expression is evident from what we insist upon in the doctrine in hand. " Christ died for us," — that is, he under- went the death and curse that was due to us, that we might be delivered therefrom,
8. The last words of the catechists are those wherein they strive to hide the abomination of their hearts in reference to this business. I shall a little lay it open: —
1 " Quod attiilet ad ilia testimonia in qiiibus habetm- Christum pro nobis mortuum, ex iis satisfactionem adstrui necessario non posse hinc manifestum est, quod Scriptura testetur etiam nos pro fratribus animas ponere debere, 1 John iii. 16 ; et Paulus de se scribat. Col. i. 24, JV^mhc gaudco, etc. Certum autem est, nee fideles pro fratribus cuiquam satisfacere, neque Paulum cuiquam pro ecclesia satisfecisse.
" At horum verborum, Christum pro nobis esse mortuum, qui sensus est ? — Is, quod hsec verba pro nobis non significent loco vel vice nostri, verum propter nos, uti etiam apostolus expresse loquitur, 1 Cor. viii. 11, quod etiam similia verba indicant, cum Scriptura loquitur pro peccatis nostris mortuum esse Christum, qua verba eum sen- sum habere nequeunt, loco seu vice nostrorum peccatorum mortuum esse, verum prop- ter peccata nostra esse mortuiun, uti Rom. iv. 25, manifeste scriptum legimus. Ea porro verba, Chrislum pro nobis mortuum 'esse, banc habent vim, eum idcirco mortuum, ut nos salutcm tcternam quam is nobis coelitus attulit amplecteremur et consequemur, quod qua ratione fiat paulo super! us accepisti."