But it is pleaded, “ That the intention of the expression here- used is to plead for mercy, that the just should not be utterly destroyed with the unjust; and that we improve the testimony unto a contrary
4
end, namely, to prove that God must punish all sin.” But all that ~
is hence aimed at is no more but that God is denominated just and righteous from that righteousness whereby he punisheth sin ; which therefore can be no free act of his will, but is an essential property of his nature. -And-if so, then doth that righteousness of his require that sim be punished; for God doth right as a judge, and a judge cannot acquit the guilty without injustice. And what an external law is to a subordinate judge, that God’s righteousness and holiness is unto him, as he is the judge of all the earth. And this appeal
112 NECESSITY OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST [EXERC. XXIX.
of Abraham unto the righteousness of God as he is a judge is founded in a principle of the light of nature, and as such is repeated by our apostle, Rom. iii. 5, 6. And unto this end is God, as the ruler of the world, represented as on a throne, executing justice and judgment; the introduction of which solemnity is of no use unless it instruct us that God governeth the world as a righteous judge, and that justice requireth that he inflict punishment on sinners: Ps. ix. 7, 16, xcvii. 2, 3, Ixxxix. 14, “Justice and judgment are the habita- tion of thy throne;” that is, they always dwell and reside there, because God on his throne acts according to the justice and righte- ousness of his nature. And hence he is both denominated righteous, and declared so to be, in and by the punishment of sin, Rev. xvi. 5, 6. See Rom. i. 32; 2 Thess. i. 6; Exod. ix. 27; which places I have to the same purpose pleaded and vindicated elsewhere.
15. The whole of what hath been thus far pleaded may be re- duced unto the ensuing heads:—
(1.) God is naturally and necessarily the supreme governor of his rational creatures with respect unto their utmost end, which is his own glory. Upon the supposition of his being and theirs, an imagi- nation to the contrary would imply all sorts of contradictions,
(2.) The law of obedience in and unto such creatures ariseth naturally and necessarily from the nature of God and their own; for this original law is nothing but that respect which a finite, limited, dependent creature hath unto an absolute, infinitely wise, holy, and good Creator, suited unto the principles of the nature which it is endued withal. Therefore it is indispensably necessary.
(8.) The annexing of a penalty unto the transgression of this law was nothing but what the righteousness of God, as the supreme ruler of his creatures, did make necessary, as that without which the glory and holiness of his rule could not be preserved upon the entrance of sin. .
(4.) The institution of punishment, answerable unto the sanction of the law, is an act of justice in God, and necessary unto him as the supreme governor of the universe.
16. And this is the first ground whereon the necessity of the satis- faction of Christ, and of the atonement he was to make as our high priest, is founded; for on supposition that God, in infinite grace and mercy, would eternally save sinners, the punishment due unto their sins was to be undergone by him who interposed himself between them and the justice of God which required it: Now, as there are some who believe the satisfaction of Christ, on the abundant testi- monies given unto it in the Scripture, and yet resolve the reason of it into the infinite wisdom and sovereign pleasure of God only,—with whom I do not now expressly deal, because although we differ about
_ SECT. 15-17.] ON THE SUPPOSITION OF SIN AND GRACE. 113
the way, we agree in the end,—so the Socinians employ the chief of — their strength in opposition unto this righteousness of God, as know- ing that if it be maintained, they are cast in their whole cause. I shall therefore: remove all those objections which they principally fortify themselves with against the evidence of the truth asserted, and their exceptions also which they put in to the testimonies and arguments wherewith it is confirmed, and thereby put an end unto this Exercitation.
17. He whom I shall first begin withal is Socinus himself, who in all these things laid that foundation which his followers have built upon. And as in almost all his other works he casually reflects on this righteousness of God, so in that, De Jesu Christo Servatore, he directly opposeth it in two chapters at large, lib. i. cap. i, lib. iii. cap. 1. In the first place he designeth to answer the arguments pro- duced by his adversary for it, and in the latter he levieth his objec- tions against it. And in the first place, he proceedeth solely on the supposition that the righteousness which we here plead for, and that mercy whereby God forgiveth sins, are contrary and opposite unto one another, so that they cannot be properties of his nature, but only external acts of his will and power.