A Fresh Antidote Against Neonomian Bane, Postscript – Errata 1
A POSTSCRIPT.
BEcauſe we are ſo highly reproached by our Adverſaries for Antinomians in the great Point of Juſtication, I thought it very needful to tranſcribe ſome few Paſſages out of the Writings of that renowned Servant of Jeſus Chriſt Mr. Tho. Shephard, whom none of our bittereſt Opponents can call an Antinomian.
He ſhews how Chriſt redeems, 1. By Satisfaction. 2. By ſtrong Hand. 1. By Satisfaction, in paying a Price for us, 1 Cor. 6. ult. Hence Chriſt ſatisfieth Juſtice.
1. By ſtanding in the room of all them whom Mercy decreeth to ſave. A Surety ſtandeth in the room of a Debtor, Heb. 7.22. As the firſt Adam ſtood in the room of all Mankind fallen, ſo Chriſt ſtandeth in the room of all Men riſing, or to be reſtored again.
2. By taking from them, in whoſe room he ſtood, the eternal Guilt of all their Sins, and by aſſuming the Guilt of all their Sins unto himſelf, 2 Cor. 5.22. Hence Luther ſaid Chriſt was the greateſt Sinner by Imputation.
3. By bearing the Curſe and Wrath of God kindled againſt Sin; for God is ſo holy, that when he ſeeth Sin ſticking only by Imputation to his own Son, he will not ſpare him, but his Wrath and Curſe muſt he bear, Gal. 3.13. Chriſt drinks up the Cup of all the Elect at one Draught, which they ſhould have been ſipping, and drinking, and tormented with Millions of Years.
4. By bringing into the Preſence of God perfect Righteouſneſs, Rom. 5.11. For this alſo God's Juſtice required Perfection, Conformity to the Law, as well as perfect Satisfaction, in ſuffering for the Wrong offered to the Lawgiver. Juſtice requiring theſe Four Things, Chriſt ſatisfies Juſtice, by performing them, and ſo pays the Price.
2. Chriſt is a Redeemer by a ſtrong Hand. The firſt Redemption by Price finiſhed in Chriſt's Perſon at his Reſurrection, the ſecond is begun by the Spirit in Man's Vocation, and ended at the Day of Judgment, &c. Sinc. Conv. p. 102, 103.
By Satisfaction I underſtand the whole Obedience of Chriſt unto the very Death, both Active and Paſſive, by which we are juſtified, Heb. 10.10. Phil. 2.8. &c.
This Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, is not that of the Godhead; (for then what need was there for Chriſt to do or ſuffer?) but that which was wrought in the Manhood: And hence it is finite in it ſelf, tho' infinite in value, in that it was the Righteouſneſs of ſuch a Perſon.
This Righteouſneſs of God may be conſider'd two ways. 1. Abſolutely in it ſelf. 2. Reſpectively, as done for us.
Chriſt's abſolute Righteouſneſs is not imputed to us, as he is Mediator, Head of the Church, having the Spirit without meaſure, &c. Theſe things are applied for our Good, but are not imputed as our Righteouſneſs. Here the Objections [ſuch as theſe, if Chriſt's Righteouſneſs be imputed to us, then we are Mediators, Heads of the Church, &c.] vaniſheth.
2. The reſpective or diſpenſative Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, which ſome call Juſtitia fide juſſoria, [Suretiſhip Righteouſneſs] is that whereby Chriſt is juſt for us, in fulfilling the Law, in bearing God's Image we once had, and have now loſt by Sin. And thus we are truly ſaid to be as Righteous as Chriſt by Imputation, becauſe he kept the Law for us; and here obſerve, that the Queſtion is not, whether all that Chriſt did or had is imputed to us as our Righteouſneſs? But whether all that he did for us as a Surety, in fulfilling the Law, be not in Subſtance our Righteouſneſs? Becauſe then we are juſtified by his working Miracles, preaching Sermons, &c. Which is to caſt Stumbling-blocks before the Blind; ſo that tho' Chriſt doth not beſtow his Perſonal Wiſdom and Juſtice upon another, yet what hinders but that which Chriſt doth by his Wiſdom and Righteouſneſs for another, the ſame ſhould ſtand good for him for whom it is done? For thus it is among Men.
Chriſt's Eſſential Righteouſneſs, Infinite Wiſdom, Fulneſs of the Spirit without Meaſure, &c. is not imputed to us, yet theſe have conſpired together to do that for us, and ſuffer that for us, whereby we come to be righteous before God, Jer. 23.6. This Righteouſneſs therefore imputed to us juſtifies us, Rom. 5.18. we are ſaid to be made righteous in him, not the Righteouſneſs of God, whereby God is juſt, but whereby we are juſt, oppoſed to the Righteouſneſs of Man, called our own, Rom. 10.3. Rom. 1.17. Not Righteouſneſs from him, (as the Papiſts dream) but Righteouſneſs in him. Sound Believer, p. 265, 266.
ERRATA.
PAge 14. l. 2. ab. ult. r. appealed. p. 15. l. 5. r. what neceſſary. p. 16. l. 13. r. not taken. p. 20. l. 5. ab. ult. r. ponitur. p. 23. l. 6. ab. ult. r. not found. p. 24. l. 22. f. Men, r. more. p. 43. l. 13. r. to the Sinner. p. 49. l. 1. r. Gods. p. 61. l. 8. r. Acquaints. p. 69. l. 18. r. meritorious. p. 76. l. 7. r. ſo as to bare. l. 16.19.20. r. foreign and foreign. l. 21. r. foreign. p. 87. l. 6. r. 23.21. l. 9. dele, at Sins. l. 21. r. ſo as,