A Further Defense of the Report, Defense · Section 1

A Further Defense of the Report · Defense · Section 1

p. 2Section 1.

I will begin with what he objects againſt the … porter, and my ſelf.

His firſt Objection.

That the Reporter has left out of his ſubſtance the Goſpel, Regeneration, Converſion, Repentan… Holineſs, Sanctification, a New Heart, and New O… dience, Good Works, &c. A bleſſed Report for t… Countrey. You are eaſed at leaſt of one Moity … your Work.

Reply.

In my Return, I will give you the Paſſage … which he refers as it is in the Report, and then con… der what Reaſon Mr. A. had for this Objection.

In the Report it's thus; That all, Who belief might eſcape the Wrath to come, and have Everlaſti… Life, the Lord Jeſus Undertakes for us, by maki… ſatisfaction to Punitive and Remunerative Juſtic… and, that he might do ſo, he did put himſelf in our Place, State and Condition; ſo that whereas v… were Sin, and under a Curſe, by this Bleſſed Chan… Chriſt is made Sin, and a Curſe, and we deliver… from Sin, and the Curſe, 2 Cor. 5.21. Gal. 3.13.

This is the ſubſtance of the Goſpel of Chri… this the Ground, and Foundation of our Faith.

Out of this Paſſage it is, that Mr. Alſop fetche… the Reaſon, why he chargeth the Reporter for l… ving out his Subſtance of the Goſpel, Regeneratio… Repentance, &c. To which I anſwer.

1. That 'twill be very hard for them, who kno… the Perſon, that is thought to be the Reporter, … think it poſſible for Mr. A. to believe one word of h… own Charge againſt him, it being in his own Conſcience ſo contrary to Truth, and can therefore … no leſs than a Calumny, as Calumnia eſt cùm quis … p. 3…ta Scientia, & dolo injuſtè agit, & excipit. But it …ſt be further obſerv'd;

2. That this Paſſage of the Reporter was only …out Chriſt's Satisfaction, as it is an Article of …ple Belief, and of diſtinct Conſideration, either …m Matters of Practice; or, ſuch Works, as are …ought in us by the Holy Spirit.

3. That Matters of Simple Belief have been ever, … the Churches of God, placed in a Formula, by …mſelves. And, if there be any ſtrength, in the …jection, it muſt lye in this, That whenever a …mula is given of the Credenda, there muſt be …ed with it an Exact Catalogue of the Agenda; … that whoever Compoſes a Summary of Matters Simple Belief, without inſerting in it the Agenda, Matters of Practice, doth thereby Reject out of Subſtance of the Goſpel Repentance, Good Works, &c. …e, I ſay, lyeth the ſtrength of his Objection, …ch if of any force at all againſt the Reporter, muſt …g all the Churches of Chriſt from the Begin… under the ſame Condemnation, becauſe they had … Credenda in a Formula by themſelves.

The Reporter had in his Summary a word more …is in many of the Antient Creeds. For, he ſaith, …at all, who Believe might eſcape the Wrath to …me, and have Everlaſting Life, &c. thereby …ing Faith, which ſuppoſes Regeneration, and in…es within it the Entire Nature of Evangelical …tance, and is Prolifick of Good Works, neceſ… to Salvation; and therefore ſo long as this …ge, viz. [That all who Believe might eſcape Wrath to come, &c.] continues in his Summa… there will not be the leaſt pretence for the Hor… Noiſe he has made about it. But.

Mr. A. as one, whoſe Conſcience had, whilſt … as making this Objection, check'd him for it, … add, [ But ſuppoſe this were intended only as p. 4the Substance of the Goſpel ſo far as we ar… to Believe what Chriſt has done and ſuffered fo… Sinners without them, &c.] Well then, let us ſu… poſe it, and ſee what will follow. Really, as for m… part, I can obſerve in it nothing leſs than a Fu… Anſwer to his own Objection. For, if the Report … intended no more than the Subſtance of what w… are to Believe concerning what Chriſt has done a… ſuffered for Sinners without them and with God (… really he did not) he was under no Obligation … mention Regeneration, Converſion, Repentanc… Good Works, &c. which are wrought in, and up… Sinners, and the not mentioning 'em cannot be … Reaſon a Rejecting'em.

The Reporter was writing of the Subſtance … the Goſpel ſo: far as it concern'd the Article … Chriſt's Satisfaction: 'Twas no part of his Provin… to entreat of Regeneration, Converſion, Rep… tance, &c. And Mr. A. might have blamed h… for not opening the Nature of Faith, Regenerati… or Repentance, as well as for not mentioning eith… them, or the Order in which they are wrought. A… would it not be very wiſely urged, The Reporter … dertook to diſcourſe of the Subſtance of one th… and therefore not ſpeaking a word of another, t… of a diſtinct Nature, he muſt be interpreted to … ject that other, as if he who writes of Botannicks, m… be look'd on as a denyer of the Exiſtence of … nerals, becauſe he confines his Diſcourſe to … matter in hand.

6. This Objection muſt be either the moſt T… fling one that ever was ſtarted; or be moſt Fer… of Blaſphemous Abſurdities. For, if when we … courſe of what Chriſt hath done, and ſuffered for … ners, without them, the not mentioning Regen… tion, Converſion, Repentance, &c. be a Rejec… them, it muſt be becauſe theſe things are Eſſen… p. 5P…rts of Chriſt's Obedience and Sufferings; what …ore evident than that if Regeneration, Repen…ce, Good Works, &c. be not Eſſential Parts of …at Chriſt has done and ſuffered for Sinners, the …orter, when he gave the Subſtance of what we … to believe of Chriſt's Obedience, and Sufferings, … he did not mention Regeneration &c. cannot … juſtly eſteemed a Rejecter of them; whence … good Man's pretences for his Charge againſt the …orter (tho' on it, as is ſaid by many, the Sub…ce of his late Rhapſodie depends) dwindles into …hing, and the Objection appears to be a moſt …fling one. But,

1. If Regeneration, Converſion, Repentance, … Obedience, &c. be eſſential Parts of what …riſt has done and ſuffered for Sinners without …, then 'twill follow, 1. That a Man may be …nerated, converted and ſanctified; as well as …ified and adopted by a mere external or relative …ange: And Regeneration, Sanctification, &c. …port no more an internal Phyſical Change on the …art and Life than Juſtification doth. For if they … the Eſſentials of what only is done without us, Chriſts Obedience and Sufferings are acknowledg… to be in this Place, by Mr. A — himſelf, they … be as perfect in their own Nature, without … as Chriſts Satisfaction is, which is a Notion, if …ad been true, that would have been very uſeful … the Libertines, Ranters and Debauchees of the Age; …, tho' they make no Conſcience of what they … write or do; do nevertheleſs, pleaſe themſelves …th the conceit of their being in a bleſſed State, as generated, converted and ſanctified; which, ac…ding to the natural and eaſie Conſequence, that …es from what ſtrength Mr. A's. Objection has in … may be without a work wrought in them. And …t be thus, then Chriſt in doing and ſuffering for p. 6Sinners, regenerated, converted, ſanctified them, &c. an… all this without them; they ſtill remaining in themſelve… as Vile and as Vicious as ever. Again, 'twill follo…

2. That if the Substance of what Chriſt hath do… and ſuffered for Sinners, without them, cannot … given in a Formula, unleſs there be the mentio… made of Regeneration, Converſion, Repentan… new Obedience, good Works, &c. then our Fait… Repentance, new Obedience, &c. are included … what Chriſt hath already done and ſuffered for Si… ners, without them, as if Chriſt had believed and … pented for us, yea, as if he had done whatever w… neceſſary for us to have done, in order to our actu… Juſtification, Pardon, and entrance into the etern… Glory.

This is the way of my Adverſary, who fears no… to run upon the moſt dangerous Precipices, nor … give Advantage to the moſt malignant Heretick … how ridiculouſly ſoever, when he fancies 'tw… make againſt his Oppoſers. But,

7. That I may follow this witty Gentlema… ſomewhat further, I will go on to conſider wh… Uſe he makes of this Suppoſition, which carries … it the genuine Senſe of the Reporter, which he giv… in theſe words. Here's ſomething ſaith he in th… Draught that gives cauſe of Suſpicion, to tho… who are of no jealous Inclinations: For; where… he informs us that Chriſt ſuffered and ſatisfied, th… all who believe might e…cape Wrath to come, and ha… everlaſting Life: Here's no neceſſity of Faith in … der to Juſtification; no believing neceſſary to Pard… of Sin, or Peace with God; no Faith needf… to Union with Chriſt, that we may have an I… tereſt in his Righteouſneſs, but only to eſcape Wrat… to come and the having everlaſting Life. To this … anſwer. 1. What is here urged, being upon Suppoſition, that the Reporter intended only a ſummar… p. 7… what Chriſt has done and ſuffered for Sinners with …, and with God, and not of the Order between …th, and Juſtification, or Pardon; there is no …re room for ſuſpicion in this Draught than there … the antient Symboles, in which not a word of …h's precedence to Juſtification or Pardon. And …ld an Antinomian imitate this learned Man, in …way of arguing, would he not be as able to vin…e his moſt licentious Principles from the Apo… Creed, as Mr. A. is to faſten his Charge on the …ter, and after his manner, profeſſing an extra…ary Zeal for that Creed? preſs it, that there is …eceſſity of Faith in order to Juſtification; becauſe … word of it in that Symbole, though it contains … the ſum and ſubſtance of the Goſpel. For, if … is not mentioned in the Formula, compoſed by Reporter muſt be look'd on as rejected, becauſe mentioned in it, then what is not in the Formula …he Apoſtles, muſt be alſo look'd upon as reject… them, as if they had held, that Faith doth …antecede Juſtification, and is not neceſſary to …on or Peace with God. But 2. Why doth he Here's no believing neceſſary to Peace with God? … he think that a Man may eſcape the Wrath to …e and have everlaſting Life, tho' his Peace with … be not made? When it's ſaid in Scripture, that … who believe eſcape the Wrath to come and have ever…ng Life? I thought nothing leſs could be meant, that they had on their believing, Peace with God; is, (as Beza, Piſcator, Tolet, Eſtius, Pareus, in Poole) … Reconciliation; or (as Vatablus (ubi ſupra) are re…ed into Favour with God. 3. The Godly learned …heir general Diſcourſes about theſe Points, have … thought it ſufficient to ſecure themſelves from … ſlanderous Accuſations, as Mr. A—would faſten the Reporter; if they did but mention believing, as …ſſary to our Deliverance from eternal Wrath, or p. 8to our having everlaſting Life. I might give a large catalogue of learned men on this occaſion, but will only inſtance in the learned Grotius, who, in the Summary he gave of the Catholick Faith in this very Point has it thus, at nos intercedente vera Fide, a Poena Mort… aeternae liberaremur. This great Man, writing to Chriſts Satisfaction, ſaith, that Chriſt did it, that o… the Intervention of true Faith, we might be delivere… from the Puniſhment of eternal Death. But 4. The Reporter has one Paſſage more than Grotius, (wh… was never thought to reject the neceſſity of Faith in order to Juſtification) namely, and have everlaſting Life. Thus much the Reporter took care to inſer… into the ſubſtance of the Goſpel in this Article, having a regard to that Place in John 3.36. He that be lieveth on the Son hath everlaſting Life. That is, hat… a Right to everlaſting Life. Habet, i. e. certo habituru… eſt, as Lucas Brugenſis, in Poole, who refers us unto John 1.12. where 'tis thus, Jus ad haereditatem quod & Haereditatis nomine interdum venit, ſicut qu… credit (nempe ſicut oportet credere; viva ſide,) di… citur habere vitam aeternam. C. 3.36. Sic Juris con… ſulti, is qui actionem habet ad rem ipſam, rem habere videtur. Well then, the import of what the Reporter has here ſaid, is, That Chriſt ſuffered, that they who believe may have a Right to eberlaſting Life, and ſeeing Juſtification carries in it a Right to Life eternal; it is as if it had been ſaid, That they who believe may be juſtified. (5.) That this is the manifeſt intendment of the Reporter, may be ſeen by comparing the preſent Paragraph with the fore going, which is,

We are all by Nature under the Curſe of the Law, and deſtitute of a Righteouſneſs entitling to eternal Life.—That Vindictive Juſtice, which is eſſential unto God, makes it neceſſary, that the wrath be inflicted, and that there be no Right to eternal p. 9Life without a perfect meritorious Righteouſneſs. This is our State and Condition: This is the Place, in which we are, in which if we dye, we are eternally undone.

The Reporter having ſhown into what a deploable Condition we are brought by Sin, and urging the neceſſity of an Intereſt, in a perfect meritorious Righteouſneſs; he proceeds to ſhow, how we may obtain ſuch a Righteouſnes, as is meritorious of eternal life, to the end we may obtain a right thereunto, …ying, 'That all who believe might eſcape the Wrath to come, and have everlaſting Life; the Lord Jeſus undertakes for us; thereby clearing it, …hat they who believe having an Intereſt in Chriſts Righteouſneſs, may have a Right to everlaſting Life, that is, may be juſtified, ſo that here is an aſſerting of faith as neceſſary to Juſtification, Pardon and Peace with God. (6.) The Reporter in giving this brief account of the Doctrine of Chriſts Satisfaction, hath followed the bleſſed Jeſus, and the …oly Apoſtles as his Guides; for our Lord when …e ſent out his Diſciples to preach the Goſpel, bids them declare, That whoever believe and are baptized …hall be ſaved, and they who believe not ſhall be damned. In this Summary, though not one word expreſly of Regeneration, Converſion, Repentance, &c. nor a word of the Precedence of Faith to Juſtification or Pardon of Sin; yet are all theſe included in it. The …reaching of the Apoſtles was frequently the ſame, Believe and thou ſhalt be ſaved. But, (7.) If there had been any Strength in this Objection, Mr. A. doth make, not only the Author of the Reaſonableneſs of Chriſtianity, and the rankeſt Socinians, but the very Mehometanes would be very much beholding to him for it. For, if the not mentioning every Article of the Chriſtian Faith particularly in the Letter, where our Lord gives a Summary of p. 10the Goſpel, muſt import a Rejection, or at leaſt an Indifference about the Points not mentioned; then to believe that Jeſus is the Meſſiah, is ſufficient, and we may burn our Syſtems, Catechiſms and larger Confeſſions of Faith.

But (8.) If he ſaith, it's mentioned by our Lord Jeſus and his Apoſtles elſewhere, I grant it, and from thence I infer, that as our Lord's not mentioning theſe things, in a ſummary, is not a Rejecting them; ſo the Reporter, tho' he ſpake not a word of them in his ſummary, cannot without the greateſt Injuſtice, and wrong done him, be charged, as a Rejecter of them. And (9.) It's not unworthy our obſervation, that the Lord Jeſus did in Mark 16.15, 16. give a ſummary of the whole Goſpel without the mention of the particulars ſpecified by my Adverſary; but the Reporter only of the ſubſtance of the Goſpel ſo far as we are to believe what Chriſt has done, and ſuffered for Sinners without them, and with God, in which he hath inſiſted on the neceſſity of Faith, in order to our eſcaping the Wrath to come, and our having Everlaſting Life, which paſſage importing the neceſſity of Faith to our actual Right unto Glory, is as much as if it had been ſaid, that it's neceſſary to our Juſtification and Pardon.

But Mr. A. it's likely, not thinking himſelf under thoſe Bonds which oblige to a ſtrict adherence unto Truth, in what he either ſaith, or writes, I have Reaſon to believe, that he hath charged the Reporter for Rejecting what he himſelf believes in his Conſcience he holds, and that he hath done thus much, upon a Reaſon, which he is perſwaded has nothing of ſtrength in it; ſo dangerous a thing it is for a Man, who in his own Opinion, is a Great Wit, to enter on a Controverſie, with a deſign to load his Oppoſers with Falſe and Reproachful Charges, tho' it be to the coſt and expence of his own Reputation, p. 11and in an Inſtance wherein he cannot expoſe the Reporter, but by caſting dirt on the Cathick Church, and on his own Underſtanding too, giving …ountenance to nothing ſo much as unto the vain …retences of ſuch Debauched Hereticks as the Licentious Antinomian, and Libertines of the Age are.

Thus, we ſee, whither ſomewhat has hurried his Man, and how he has brought himſelf into ſuch Circumſtances, as may move a Chriſtian Temper …o Pity and Compaſſion, for which reaſon I'll ſay …o more to this Objection, but go on to a ſecond.

The ſecond Objection.

Be pleaſed to obſerve. He inſtructs you, That we are all by Nature under the Curſe of the Law, and deſtitute of a Righteouſneſs, that may intitle us to Eternal Life, and that this was our Place, State and Condition.

Reply.

And was not this our Place, State, and Condition? Will Mr. A. deny it? No, he dares not; for, ſaith …e, This we all own, and lament as too true. Where …hen is his Objection? It is in the following words.

But then he inſtructs you alſo, That Chriſt put himſelf into our Place, State, and Condition: Will you not, muſt you not conclude from hence, That Chriſt alſo was deſtitute of a Righteouſneſs to entitle him, and if himſelf, us too, to Eternal Life.

Reply.

1. That I may ſhow how Mr. A. trifles in raiſing his Objection, I will propoſe the Sentiments of the Reporter about a Commutation of Perſons between Chriſt, and us; which was the Occaſion of what was ſaid about our being deſtitute of a Righteouſneſs. And it muſt be obſerv'd, that the Reporter had his Eye on the Manuſcript, in which its Author, ſpeaking of a proper Commutation, ſaith, That it is the ſame with a proper Surrogation, where the Surety p. 12[or Surrogate] puts on the Perſon, and ſtands in the Quality, State, and Condition of the Debtor, and lies under the ſame Obligation he did to anſwer for him. Not that he apprehended the Agreement there is between Chriſt's Suretiſhip, and that amongſt Men to be adaequate, and full; nor did he allude unto a Creditor and Debtor to inſinuate, that whatever may be truly affirmed of them, in Humane Courts, might be ſafely applied unto God, and Sinners, as to Chriſt acting the part of a Surety: But, to explain how Chriſt came under the ſame Obligations, we ſtood; and by his Satisfaction, and Merit Redeems us from that miſerable ſtate and condition our ſin had caſt us into, and procures for us a Right to Eternal Life; And therefore in Obedience to the Holy Scriptures, he conſidered Jeſus Chriſt as a Surety that came into the State, Quality, or Condition of Sinners, ſo far, and no further, than to come under the ſame Obligations, and Bonds with us, to anſwer for us, and do, on our behalf, what was impoſſible to be done by our ſelves. And that he might make this the more clear, he repreſented unto us that State, in which we all are by Nature, affirming, That we are all under the Curſe, deſtitute of a Righteouſneſs, that may entitle us to Eternal Life. And, that, except Satisfaction be made both to Punitive, and Remunerative Juſtice, it's impoſſible for us to be ſaved. For, ſeeing the Law, under which we were Created is of Everlaſting Obligation, we ſtand bound thereby both to Obedience, and the Puniſhment, and until this Debt be paid, we cannot be Relieved.

This is our State, this is our Condition, and that they who believe may be brought out of this Place, State, and Condition, and have Everlaſting Life, Chriſt came into this Place, into this State, and Condition, that is, he came under thoſe Bonds, and Ob…igations p. 13that lay on us, that, by anſwering them, we …ight be the Redeemed, and Saved.

But, ſaith Mr. A. if it be thus, Christ muſt be de…itute of a Righteouſneſs; to which I reply, By no …eans; and if we conſider how it is between a Surety and a Debtor, in our Courts, we may ſoon ſee …he contrary. For, when one becomes Surety for another, he comes into the Place, State and Condition …f that other, that is, under the ſame Bonds and Obligations to pay for him, what he could not do for himſelf. But, would any Man of Senſe ſay, that the Surety coming into the ſame State and Condition of the Debtor, to pay his Debts for him, muſt be thereupon deſtitute of what is neceſſary in order thereunto? He comes into the Place of one who is Inſolvent, but muſt he therefore be himſelf Inſolvent, and yet pay what neither the Debtor nor himſelf can pay? Thus you ſee what Mr. A's. Objection is at laſt come to. But,

2. The Righteouſneſs of which our Diſcourſe is, anſwers that Law, which ſaid, Do this and live; In the day thou ſinneſt thou ſhalt die; and it is to make Satisfaction both to Punitive and Remunerative Juſtice. For whatever ſome may impertinently object, it may be very ſafely ſaid, that Juſtice diſtributes Rewards and Puniſhments, and therefore is rightly denominated Remunerative and Punitive. For though it's ſaid, That Puniſhment is merited by, or is rather the Demerit of ſin; and that the Sinner, when he bears the Puniſhment due unto him for his Iniquity, partakes of the Reward of Ʋnrighteouſneſs; yet none can with the leaſt pretence to Reaſon, ſay, That Punitive and Remunerative are Terms in all reſpects Coincident. For, it's moſt notorious, that when Believers are, for the ſake of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs rewarded with Eternal Life, they are not then puniſhed; though Remunerative Juſtice is then glorified, yet Punitive Juſtice is not ſo

p. 14But, being aſſured, that Mr. Alſop ſaith, theſe Terms of Remunerative and Punitive Juſtice are Coincident; I will give the Senſe of ſome learned Proteſtants about it. Gilbertus Voet, a Man of good Learning and a right Calviniſt, diſcourſing of the Juſtice of God, ſaith, that Juſtitia Dei eſt vel in Dictis, vel in Factis. Posterior duplex ſcilicet Regiminis, & Judicii. Justitia Judicii eſt, quae ſecundum Opera Mercedem retribuit. Eſt que haec duplex, vel, Remunerativa ſeu Praemians ſecundum Promiſſionem erga bene agentes; vel Correctiva erga male agentes. Quae etiam diſtinguitur in Caſtigantem erga Filios, & Vindicantem, ſeu Punitivam proprie, & ſtricte ſic dictam erga Reprobos. Voet. Select. Diſput. Paſ. 1. Diſp. de Jure & Juſtitia pag. 357, 358. And the learned Doctor Owen, in his Diatribe de Juſtitia Divina, ſaith the ſame, affirming it to be the general Senſe of Modern Divines, not one of them who writ on the Divine Attributes, being of a different Opinion: And in the Margine, he makes particular mention of Zanchy, Voet, Mareſius and others; directing us alſo unto Doctor Ames his Caſes of Conſcience; who in the ſecond Chapter of his fifth Book, reſolves this Queſtion viz. Whether Remuneration or Punition belongs, to Communicative or to Distributive Juſtice? Whether Mr. A. underſtood theſe things or not, is not in my Opinion very material, it being ſufficient to my purpoſe, that in the Judgment of wiſer Men than himſelf theſe Terms are not ſo Coincident, as it's ſaid he doth inſinuate.

But to return, The Lord Jeſus undertaking to make Satisfaction both to Punitive and Remunerative Juſtice, that is to ſay, the obliging himſelf to ſuffer the Puniſhment due to us; for the Satisfaction of Punitive Juſtice, and render Obedience to the ſame Law, to merit the Reward we had p. 15…oſt; the Righteouſneſs the Reporter ſpake of, lieth … bearing the threatned Curſe, and in obeying the Pre…pts of that Law we violated. And I demand of …r. Alſop, Whether the Lord Jeſus was always …oſſeſs'd of this Righteouſneſs? Had he it the …rſt Inſtant of his undertaking? or when he firſt …ame into our Place, State and Condition?

That there was no Guile in the Mouth, nor De…it in the Heart of the bleſſed Jeſus; That he …as ever, even whilſt he was in a State of Exa…nition without Spot, Holy, Harmleſs, Undefiled, …parate from Sinners, and at the greateſt diſtance …om the leaſt Pollution or Impurity, we do firmly …elieve: And though he had not actually a ſatisfying-…eritorious Righteouſneſs before, he did by his Pae…l Sufferings, and his perfect Obedience to the vio…ted Law ſatisfy and merit; yet was he at no in…ant of time deſtitute, of what in that inſtant it …ecame him to have. But its like, nothing will …tisfie Mr. A. but the granting, That either be…re, or at his undertaking; or at leaſt the firſt …ment of his entring on the work of our Redemp…on, he was actually poſſeſs'd of a ſatisfactory …eritorious Righteouſneſs, as if he believed, that Chriſt before he obeyed and ſuffered, did perfect… obey and fully ſatisfie. How elſe can he make …hideous a Noiſe, about the Reporters holding, at Chriſt was deſtitute of a Righteouſneſs, enti…ng himſelf and us too, to eternal Life? Once more. 3. Mr. A— blames the Reporter for ſuggeſting if Chriſt had not a Righteouſneſs, entitling himſelf … eternal Life. To which I anſwer,

1. That the Reporter, ſpake not about Chriſts ha…ng, or not having a Righteouſneſs entitling himſelf … eternal Life. But, 2. Seeing Mr. A. doth inſi…nate, That Jeſus Chriſt hath wrought for himſelf Righteouſneſs, that he might by it be entitled p. 16to Eternal Life, I will conſider the Import and Tendency of ſuch an Aſſertion.

1. As for its Import, it cannot be any thing leſs than that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt was once in a ſtate of Tryal, and made under the ſame Law for himſelf, that we were for our ſelves, and that Obedience was required of him, to the end that he merit Eterna… Life for himſelf: Whence it follows, That when the Promiſe of Eternal Life was propoſed, for the Encouragement of his Obedience, he had no Right nor Title to Eternal Life; no, not for himſelf: But that to get a Title thereunto, he was under the Obligation of the ſame Law, that we were; and to ſpeak moſt modeſtly of Mr. A's. Notion, The Lord Jeſus Chriſt, God-Man, was antecedently to his rendring Obedience to the Law, which ſaid, Do this and live. He was as deſtitute of a Right to Eternal Life, as Adam was on his firſt Creation. Thus, whilſt he would faſten on the Reporter the groundleſs Charge of making Chriſt deſtitute of … Righteouſneſs; he makes our Bleſſed Lord deſtitute of Eternal Life, ay, of a Right thereunto: But le… us conſider,

2. The Tendency of this Notion; and that I may do it with the greater clearneſs, I will deliver what I deſign to offer on this occaſion; as preſſed by the Learned, Judicious and Holy Doctor Owen▪ who in his Day excelled moſt Men in theſe Studies And whoever will conſult his Diſcourſe of Juſtification from page 366 to page 378. will ſee, That this great Man in confuting the Socinians, and their next of Kin in the Doctrine of Chriſt's Satisfaction and our Juſtification, doth with much concern, declare and ſtrongly prove, That Chriſt came not under the Law for himſelf, but for us.

To ſet this Important Point in the clearer Light it muſt be obſerved, That the Controverſie is not, p. 17whether the Humane Nature of Chriſt, as it is a Ra…ional Creature, be ſubject unto the Law of Crea…ion, and eternally obliged from the Nature of God, …d its Relation thereunto, to Love him, Obey him, …epend upon him, and to make him its End, Bleſſed-…ſs, and Reward. For as the Dr. admirably wel …preſſeth it; 'The Law of Creation, thus conſidered, doth not reſpect the World, and this Life only; but the Future State of Heaven, and Eternity. But the Point here controverted is, Whe…er Chriſt be under the Law, as it is impoſed on …reatures by eſpecial Diſpenſation, for ſome time, …d for ſome certain End, with ſome Conſiderations, …les, and Orders, that belong not eſſentially to the …w, as before deſcribed, as it is preſented unto us, …t abſolutely and eternally, but whilſt we are in this World, and that with this ſpecial End, that by Obe…nce thereunto, we may obtain the Reward of …ternal Life?

To this the Dr. anſwers; That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt was not made under the Law, under this …nſideration, for himſelf, to the end he might get a …ale unto Eternal Life. For, (ſaith the Doctor) upon the firſt Inſtant of the Ʋnion of his Natures, being holy, harmleſs, undefiled, and ſeparate from Sinners, he might, notwithſtanding that Law, he was made ſubject unto, have been ſtated in Glory. For, he that was the Object of all Divine Worſhip, ceded not any New Obedience to procure for him ſtate of Bleſſedneſs. And a little before. Setting ſide (ſaith the Doctor) the conſideration of the Grace, and Love of Chriſt, and the Compact be…ween the Father and the Son, as to the Undertaking …or us, which undeniably proves all that he did in purſuit of them to be done for us, and not for …imſelf. I ſay, ſetting aſide the conſideration of p. 18theſe things, and the Humane Nature of Chriſt, b… vertue of its Ʋnion with the Perſon of the Son … God, had a Right unto, and might have immed… ately been admitted into the Higheſt Glo… whereof it was capable, without any Anteceder Obedience unto the Law. And this is appare… from hence, in that from the Firſt Inſtant of th… Ʋnion, the whole Perſon of Chriſt, with our Natu… Exiſting therein, was the Object of all Divi… Worſhip from Angels and Men, wherein conſiſ… the Higheſt Exaltation of that Nature. So f… Dr. Owen.

Here then you ſee a difference between this Lea… ned Dr. and Mr. A. Mr. A. ſuggeſts as if Chri… were under the Law, which ſaith, Do this and liv… for Himſelf, as well as for us, that he might be e… titled to Eternal Life; but the Dr. denies it up… the weightieſt conſideration. Beſides, the Doct… is the more poſitive in his Opinion, as it doth mo… effectually ſubvert the Notion of Socinus, which … That our Lord Jeſus Chriſt was for himſelf, or on … own account, obliged unto all that Obedience, which … performed, and therefore could no more obey, a… ſatisfie for others, than any other perſon. But th… Doctor proves, That Chriſt's Obedience unto t… Law was for VsUs, and not for Himſelf; and ther… by doth moſt effectually enervate the ſtrength … Socinus his Argument, which upon Mr. A's. Notio… receives new Life, and Vigour.

Whoever deſires a ſuller underſtanding of th… Controverſie, will do well to conſult the Doct… himſelf; who, in the pages referred unto, hath … fully, and clearly ſtated this Doctrine, as to obvia… Objections, made againſt it by the Remonſtrant Socinians, and others; but what I have here ſaid … ſufficient to ſhew Mr. A's. Miſtake, and what countenance p. 19it gives the Socinians, and how much reaſon … hath to be more in his Study conſulting, not …ay-Books for the ſake of fooliſh Jeſts, but the …oly Scriptures, and the Learned Writings of D. O. …d other Orthodox Divines, that for the future, …rough inadvertency, or otherwiſe, he give not thoſe …dvantages to the common Enemies of our Holy …eligion, he hath too oft done. But I paſs on to third Objection.

The Third Objection.

We are ſin, (ſaith the Reporter) and under a Curſe: Can you, with all your Penetration, Divine the …eaſon, why it's ſaid, we are ſin? —but how …e we ſin?—why muſt it be phraſed thus, we are …? It was Poetically and Satyrically ſaid, That …lexander the ſixth, was non tam vitioſus, …àm vitium, non tam ſceleſtus quàm ſcelus: but …e need to be taught how Man was ſin? ſin it …lf?

Reply.

1. That Mr. Alſop is ſo very much at a loſs to …d out the genuine meaning of the word Sin, …en it's ſaid we are Sin, as if it had been never …uſed in Scripture, doth not a little ſurprize; it …ng ſo common for the Holy-Ghoſt to expreſs the …erlative Degree by the Abſtract, not only in …er Inſtances, but even in this, that doth ſo puz… and confound him. For, as the Devils, whoſe …s are exceeding great, are called, foreign or ſpiritual wickedneſs, ſo wicked Men are cal… Wickedneſs, particularly, in 1 Cor. 6.9, 10, 11. …ere is an enumeration of ſundry ſorts of Sinners, … render it, [And ſuch were ſome of you] foreign, …t is, as may be ſeen in Poole; talia ſcelera eratis, …th Wickedneſſes were ſome of you; and as Ca…arius, ut cum Sceleratum dicimus Scelus. The p. 20like alſo in Epheſians 5.8. ye were Darkneſs, that is, as Zanchy, ut Scelus pro ſceleſtiſſimo; and Biſhop Reynolds obſerves, on Pſalm 110. The Lord, to ſignifie that his People were moſt Rebellious, ſaith, that they were Rebellion it ſelf, Ezek. 2.8. and many other inſtances of this kind might be given, which may move ſome of no jealous Inclinations, to ſuſpect, that the Objector hath been more converſant with the Poets, than with the Prophets and Apoſtles.

2. Well then, by comparing Scripture with Scripture, the ſignification of the word [Sin] is very obvious, denoting the greatneſs of Wickedneſs we are Sin; we are Sin in the Abſtract, we are Sinners in the higheſt degree. But,

3. Doth not this Interpretation give advantage to the Objector, who ſaith, you ſhall ſee the myſtery of his Phraſeology; it was to miſlead you, into that Abomination, that Chriſt was ſinful, that h… was a Sinner; for, if Chriſt was Sin in the ſame Acceptation, that we are, then he was ſinful, h… was a Sinner, and the greateſt Sinner, that eve… was in the World. To this I anſwer, That whatever is here ſuggeſted, my Interpretation of the word [Sin,] gives not the leaſt advantage to th… Objector. For,

1. If the word [Sin] has a Senſe in the Superla… tive Degree, in which it is true, not only of us, bu… of Christ, without making Chriſt inherently ſinful or perſonally guilty; all this noiſe is to no purpoſe.

2. That Chriſt was Sin in an Acceptation, tha… we are Sin without being Inherently Sinſul, i… evident; as the word [Sin imports Guilt, I mea… Legal Guilt, and a proper Puniſhment conſequen thereupon. Sin in Scripture oft imports the ſam… p. 21with Legal Guilt, in the Senſe deſcribed by the …arned Biſhop of Worceſter, and it alſo oft-times …gnifies Puniſhment. My Sin, and ſometimes my …uilt, at other times my Puniſhment; and when …uilt and Puniſhment are expreſſed by the word Sin, …e are not only directed to our Sins as the merito…us Cauſe, but to the dreadful and diſmal Effects. We are Sin, we are upon the account of our Tranſ…reſſions exceeding Guilty, and the Puniſhment they …ſerve is exceeding great. But,

3. If Chriſt be not Sin in ſome of the ſame Ac…ptations, in which we are Sin, then the Guilt of …r Sins was never transferred upon Chriſt, nor the …uniſhment thereof inflicted on him; which is a …ry liberal giving up the Controverſie to the Soci…ans, who deny Chriſt to be made Sin in any one …enſe, in which we are Sin, and ſo will not own …at our Guilt was laid upon him, or a proper Pun…ent inflicted on him.

4. If Chriſt be in no Senſe Sin, in which we …e Sin, then our Sins were never imputed unto …hriſt, nor did he, in a proper ſenſe, bear our Guilt, … Puniſhment, nor was he, nor could he be a Proper …crifice for ſin. To ſay, that Chriſt was a Sacrifice … ſin, in a proper ſenſe, and yet not ſin in any one …ſe, in which we are ſin, is to ſay he had not the …uilt, nor the Puniſhment of ſin upon him, and that …e was not a proper Sacrifice for ſin; for it's eſſen…al to a proper Sacrifice for ſin, to have the Guilt, …d Puniſhment of ſin laid upon it. Upon this ac…unt it is that amongſt the Hebrews the word foreign is uſed for ſin, the Guilt, the Puniſhment, and …crifice. And amongſt the Greeks, and Latines the …ne word ſignifies a wicked man, and an Expiatory …crifice. Thus foreign is. as Dr. Owen againſt Biddle, cap. 22. obſerves, Homo pia cularis pro Luſtratione, p. 22& Expiatione Patriae devotus; whence the word is often uſed, as ſcelus in Latin for a wicked man, a man fit to be deſtroyed and taken away Agreeably hereunto, Budaeus renders that place o… the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 4.13. foreign— nos tanquam piacula—we as as the accurſed thing of the World, and Sacrifices for the People; it being, a may be ſeen in Poole in loc. the Cuſtom of ſom… Countries, in the day of their Calamity, to take th… vileſt amongſt the People, and Sacrifice them, wh… by the Athenians were called foreign; ſo common hath it been for the Sinner, and the Sacrifice to bea… the ſame Name even amongſt the Heathen; but i… the Holy Scriptures nothing more evident, becauſe the Sin, for which the Sacrifice was to be offered was laid upon it in the Old Teſtament, whereby the Laying of our ſins on the Lord Jeſus, which wa… a neceſſary antecedent to his Death, as he was a Sacrifice, was prefigured. But,

5. Mr. A. writes, as if he had either never known or had quite forgot what is ſo very obvious to moſ… Divines; and therefore what he ſaith on this occaſion is to be the leſs regarded, and to be conſidered as what can ſerve no other ſort of People, tha… the Socinians, and their Allies, tho' I ſtill charitably hope, that he abhors their Tenents, even when hi… Writings do, in too many inſtances, favour thei… Cauſe.

The Fourth Objection.

That it is a miſtake to conclude from Chriſt… being called Surety, that therefore he came unde… the Sanction of the Law of Works. And the rather becauſe being ſtiled the Surety of a better Teſtament can reſpect only the Covenant of Grace.

Reply.

1. I do not ſay that this is an Objection of Mr. p. 23Alſop's framing, nor will I anſwer it as ſuch. The Epiſcopianiſm, and Socinianiſm, that is in it, is ſo clear …n evidence of its being formed by a Well-wiſher …o the Errours of our Adverſaries, that I'll not …aſten it on one in whoſe Writings I have not met …ith it. But that 'tis of the ſame nature with …hat Mr. W. hath advanced, is to me moſt certain.

2. Whatever this Objector hath, with a boldneſs …ommon amongſt our Adverſaries, aſſerted, I muſt …ave leave to ſuggeſt, that by this way of arguing, …d by theſe Aſſertions, he hath left out Orthodox Writers, and is gone over to the Tents of Limborch, …rcellaeus, Schlictingtons, and Crellius.

3. That herein the Objector has forſaken the Or…odox, I will evince by ſetting down the Senti…ents of ſome of the moſt Eminent amongſt them. …nd that I may be the more convincing in what I …, I muſt obſerve, that the hinge of this Contro…erſie turns on a ſound determination of this Que…on, viz. Whether Chriſts Suretiſhip belongs to his Prieſtly …ffice, or not? For, if it belongs unto the Prieſtly Of…e, 'twill unavoidably follow, that as our Surety, …e Lord Jeſus offered up himſelf a Sacrifice to God … the Expiation of the Guilt of our ſins, that to …is end he took on him our Guilt, and bore the …uniſhment due to us, which he could not do but by …ming under the Sanction of the violated Law. The …nnection there is between Chriſt's Prieſthood, …d his offering up a proper Sacrifice, between his …eing a proper Sacrifice, and his bearing the Guilt, …d Puniſhment of our ſins; and between his bear…g the Guilt, and Puniſhment of our ſin, and his …eing under the Sanction of the violated Law, is ſo …oſe, ſo firmly fixed, and inviolable, that, on the …anting, that Chriſt's Suretiſhip belongs to him, as …ieſt, the whole here mentioned neceſſarily follows. p. 24The Links are too ſtrog to be broken. If then our Divines hold, that the Suretiſhip mentioned in Heb. 7.22. belongs to Chriſts Prieſtly Office, if they produce this Text to prove, that Chriſt as our Surety took on him the Guilt and Puniſhment of our ſins, to ſatisfie God's Juſtice for them, then they do run counter herein, unto the Epiſcopians and Socinians, in holding that Chriſt came under the Sanction of the Law.

4. That, in what I have delivered, I have given the ſenſe of the Orthodox is manifeſt. The Learned Biſhop Reynolds on Pſal. 110.4. p. 417. ſaith, That Chriſt, being a Prieſt, muſt of neceſſity be a Mediator, and Surety between Parties, that he might have one, unto whom, and others, for whom, and in whoſe behalf to offer a Sacrifice. Every Prieſt muſt be a Mediator to ſtand between God and the People, and to intercept, and bear the Iniquity o… their Holy things— But every Mediator is not preſently a Prieſt, for there is a Mediator only by way of Intreaty and Prayer, &c. And there are Mediators by way of Satisfaction, as Sureties are between the Creditor and the Debtor; and ſuch a Mediator was Chriſt; not only a Mediator, but alſo a Surety of a better Covenant, Heb. 8.6. Heb. 7.22. He was not to procure Remiſſion of our ſins by way of Favour and Requeſt, but he was ſet forth to declare the Righteouſneſs of God, Rom. 3.25. and ſuch a Mediator between God and Us muſt needs be a Prieſt too. For the Debt, which we Owed unto God was Blood. Without ſhedding of Blood there is no Remiſſion, Heb. 9.22. Eſſenius, who is applauded for his Defence of Grotius, de Satisfactione, by Lutherans, as well as Calveniſts, ſaith the ſame; Quantum ad Locum, Heb. 7.22. rationes à Crellio, allatas cur Chriſtus Sponſor Novi Foederis vocetur minimè p. 25ſufficere oftendimus, Sect. 1. hujus Libri. Imò in an…ecedentibus, & conſequentibus agitur de Sacerdotio Chriſti quo ipſe non fungitur nomine Dei apud bomines; ſed nontine Hominum, apud Deum, cui ſe victimam obtulit. At que Ita Sponſorem egit pro hominibus apud Deum. Eſſen… Triump. Crucis, …. 2. ſect. 3. cap. 1. p. 500. Judicious Mr. Strong, his Diſcourſe of the two Covenants, lib. 2. cap. 2. …ct. 1. § 2. p. 128. has it thus; 'The Lord Chriſt, by becoming a Surety, did give his hand; that is, be did enter into Covenant with the Lord, and ſo his Name is put into our Bond, Gal. 4.4, 5. He is ſaid to be made under the Law, and that as a Covenant; and when the Apoſtle ſaith, He is the Surety of a better Covenant, whereas the main of Chriſt's Suretiſhip refers unto the firſt Covenant, the Covenant of Works broken, and therefore, in reſpect of our Debt, he is the Surety of the firſt Covenant; yet the Apoſtle doth not ſo expreſs it, but of the better Covenant, becauſe the Commutation of the Perſon, the bringing in of a Surety, doth properly belong unto the Covenant of Grace, and it is a part of the Covenant of Grace, that there ſhould be foreign, or a Propitiation, one to ſtand in our ſtead, or to make Satisfaction to the Juſtice of God for the Breach of the Covenant of Works; and therefore the whole Suretiſhip of Chriſt doth refer unto the Covenant of Grace, of which his ſtanding in our ſtead, and paying our Debt, is a principal part. To this of Mr. Strong I will add what Mr. Alſop with about the Covenant of Grace, in his Anti-Sozzo, 717, &c. The Covenant of Grace may be conſidered, either in its Conſtitution, or Execution:— In the Execution of the fixed Conſtitution—the Redeeming Mediator Vndertakes with God as a Righteous Judge—and therefore becomes a Prieſt, a p. 26Sacrifice, a Price, a Ranſom, a Curſe, to ſatisf… the Iudge and his Law—Chriſt himſelf is promiſed in the Covenant as the Great Comprehenſive Bleſſing of the Covenant, Iſa. 49.8, 9. So that Chriſ… being given in the Covenant of Grace, to Redeen us by his Death, and Sufferings, by his ſatisfying th… Judge, and his Law, from that Miſery, our ſins ha… brought upon us, he might very well be ſtiled by th… Apoſtle, Heb. 7.22. a Surety of a better Covenant, o… Teſtament, which ſhows the vanity of that part o… the Objection, which ſaith, Chriſt cannot be ſaid to come under the Sanction of the Law of Works, becauſe being ſtiled the Surety of a better Teſtament, cat… reſpect only the Covenant of Grace. Once more.

The Learned Dr. Owen, in oppoſition to the Interpretation given of Heb. 7.22. by Schlictingius Curcellaeus, and Hammond, (and I may juſtly add to that given by Mr. W.) declares. That the generality of Expoſitors, Antient, and Modern, of the Roman, and Protestant Churches, on the place, affirm, that the Lord Chriſt, as the Surety of the Covenant, was properly a Surety, or Ʋndertaker unto God for us; and not a Surety, or Ʋndertaker unto us for God. And becauſe this is a matter of great importance, wherein the Faith and Conſolation of the Church is highly concerned, I ſhall (ſaith he) a little inſiſt upon it—It is the Priesthood of Christ that the Apoſtle treats of in this place, [viz. Heb. 7.22.] and that alone. Wherefore he is a Surety as he is a Priest, and in the diſcharge of that Office, and therefore is ſo with God on our behalf—He undertook, as the Surety of the Covenant, to anſwer for all the ſins of thoſe, who are to be, and are made Partakers of the Benefits of it; that is, to undergo the Puniſhment due unto their ſins; to make Attonement for them p. 27by offering himſelf a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the Expiation of their ſins, Redeeming them by the …ice of his Blood from their ſtate of Miſery, and Bondage under the Law, and the Curſe of it. Iſa. 53.4, 5, 6, 10. Matth. 20.28. 1 Tim. 2.6. 1 Cor. 6.20. Rom. 3.25, 26. Heb. 10.5, 6, 7, 8. Rom. 8.2, 3. 2 Cor. 5.19, 20, 21. Gal. 3.13. And his was Abſolutely Neceſſary, that the Grace and Glory prepared in the Covenant, might be communicated to us. This, and much more to the me purpoſe hath the Learned Dr. in his Diſc. of …ſtif. p. 256, &c. To whom I will only add what …e Learned Author of the Interest of Reaſon in Re…ion offers on this Point. 'Whereas Christ is ſtiled ſaith he) the Surety of a better Covenant, it i… becauſe the Enacting of the Covenant of Grace reſpects his Undertaking to he made ſin, and to undergo the Curſe as the Moral Cauſe and Condition; without which there had been no Overtures of Mercy made to the Sons of Men, p. 537, 538.

5. What theſe Great Men have here delivered, …oth not only teſtifie to the Truth of what I have …ffirmed about the Oppoſition the Or. hodex have …ade againſt the Interpretation given of Heb. 7.22. …y Mr. W. Curcellaeus, and the Socinian; but it alſo doth. …oſt convincingly prove, that Chriſt's Suretiſhip belongs to his Prieſthood, that in his Acting the part of Surety, or in the Execution of his Prieſtly Office, …e Offered up himſelf a Sacrifice, took on him our …uilt and Puniſhment, and, to this end, came under …he Sanction of the violated Law. For,

6. The connection the Apoſtle affirms to be be…ween Chriſt's Suretiſhip and his Prieſtly Office is …uch, that a denying Chriſt to be a Surety, under…aking to bear the Guilt and Puniſhment of our ſins, …or that he came under the Sanction of the Law, to p. 28ſatisfie God's Juſtice for us, hath a direct tendency to ſubvert the true Notion of the Prieſtly Office. Of this Schlictingius was ſo ſenſible, that he could think on no way (as Dr. O. obſerves) to ſolve the Apoſtles mention of Chriſt's being a Surety in the Deſcription of his Prieſtly Office, but by overthrowing the Nature of that Office alſo. Of Juſtif. p. 261, 262, 263. Have we not then reaſon enough to be concern'd to ſee any, amongſt our ſelves, turning aſide from the Common Faith delivered to us from the Lord Jeſus, and his Apoſtles, and falling in with the Inveterate Enemies of our Saviour's Satisfaction? One thing more I muſt note,

7. That the Notion, Paraphraſe, and Expoſition, given by Socinians, and a few other Authors, of Chriſt's being made, and called our Surety, becauſe of his Ʋndertaking to be Pledge, and Guarranty for God to Sinners, that upon their Repentance and Faith he will both pardon, and beſtow upon them Eternal Life, is no ways either conſiſtent with, or to be reconciled unto what the ſame Apoſtle had declared, chap. 6. p. 16, 17. where, tho' he had been diſcourſing of Chriſt's Prieſtly Office, he doth nevertheleſs expreſly, and poſitively affirm, that God's Word of Promiſe, accompanied, and ratified by his Oath, is the whole, and that praecluſive of all other means of Security, and Aſſurance, which we either need; or, that God hath in this matter been pleaſed to afford us, in order to the ſtedfaſtneſs of our Faith, the Fulneſs of our Conſolation; God being willing more abundantly to ſhew unto the Heirs of Promiſe the Immutability of his Counſel confirm'd it by an Oath, that by two Immutable things, in which it was impoſſible for God to lye, we might have a ſtrong Conſolation, who have fled for Refuge, to lay hold upon the Hope ſet before us. So that the Reaſon of his being ſtyled p. 29the Surety of the better Teſtament is, becauſe of his …ffering and performing thoſe great Things for us …owards God, without which the Teſtamental Inhe…tance bequeathed in that better Testament, would …ot have been upon any Terms acruable unto, …nd claimable by us.

The Fifth Objection.

That by ſaying Chriſt ſuſtained the Perſon of Sinners, Mr. L. muſt be thought to acknowledge, That he dyed for the Reprobate, as well as for the Elect, and that it favours the Nestorians, who maintain, That Chriſt was conſtituted of two Perſons.

Reply.

1. What is objected againſt me in theſe words, … as much againſt the generation of the Orthodox, …ho uſe the ſame Phraſes which I do. Not that …intend only the Lutherans in this Inſtance, who are …ieſly concern'd in the firſt part of the Objection, or I uſe it in no other ſenſe than the Reformed …nerally do.

2. The Conffuſion which the Author of this Objection is fallen into, in his oppoſing the Phraſe … Chriſts ſuſtaining the Perſon of Sinners, has …oved ſome to fear, that all things are not Right …ith him. For one while this Phraſe can ſignifie …othing leſs than that Christ puts on the Diſguiſe of …inners (Horreſco referens) and Acts the part of a …age-Player; at another time, it muſt import Ne…ianiſm, as if Chriſt had taken on him the Natu… Perſon of Sinners; And again, the Enquiry is, …hether the Perſons of Sinners are not Ʋnited, …nd to be conſidered as One Perſon, and whether …hriſt did not die and ſatisfie for that One Perſon, …hat is for all equally, which he doth not believe to …e our ſenſe, as he declares. But,

p. 303. The ſenſe, in which we uſe this Phraſe, is known to Divines of the leaſt accquaintance with theſe Studies, ſo that unleſs there had been a fault ſomewhere, the Objector could not have been thus puzzled, for it hath been cleared in my Defence, that when its ſaid Chriſt ſuſtained the Perſon of Sinners, it's not meant that the Perſon he took on him, was either a Feigned or a Natural Perſon, that it was only a Legal Perſon; ſo that, did he underſtand what is moſt plain and eaſie, he could not but ſee that he had not the leaſt Pretence for his Blaſphemous Repreſentation of our bleſſed Saviour's Acting the part of a Stage-Player; nor for his charging us with Neſtorianiſm.

4. As for his Endeavour to infer from this Phraſe of [Chriſts ſuſtaining the Perſon of Sinners] the Doctrine of Univerſal Redemption, is ſo deſtitute of the leaſt colour of Reaſon, that as he believes we do not hold it, ſo it hath no Foundation for its ſupport: For the Phraſe of [Christ ſuſtaining the Perſon of Sinners] and that other o… [Christs dying for Sinners] is of one and the ſame Extent, and the Interpretation given by the Orthodox of the one, is ſufficient to vindicate the other from his trifling Cavils. But,

5. When we ſay, That Chriſt ſuſtained the Perſon of Sinners, we mean it of thoſe Sinners, who are given by the Father to the Son, whom the Father will draw unto him, who come to the Father by the Son, do believe are Converted, Regenerated and Saved. In a word, we mean it of Elect Sinners.

The Sixth Objection.

That it is both Scandalous and Blaſphemous to ſay▪ That Pestilent Doctrines have been oftentimes Communicated in the Language of Scripture.

p. 311. When I wrote my Defence of the Report, ob…erving how zealous Mr. W's and his Subſtitute, …ere for ſtrict Adherences unto Scripture words, …nd how much againſt the uſe of ſome Terms and …hraſes (choſen by the Orthodox, to explain the Truth) becauſe not in the Letter of Scripture, I …ought it neceſſary to ſuggeſt in my Defence, as did, p. 59. That it hath been the way of the Here…cks to Quarrel with ſuch Terms and Phraſes as …he Church had choſen, becauſe not found in the …etter of Scripture; adding, That amongſt many …thers, it's well obſerv'd by the Learned Mr. Norton …f New-England, That the most Pestilent Doctrines …ve been Communicated in the Language of Scripture; …on which (as I am told) Mr. Alſop briskly deli…ers his charitable Cenſure, vix. That to ſay ſo is …oth Seandalous and Blaſphemous. But,

2. What Mr. Norton ſaid is Matter of Fact, in Point whereof the Truth is too Notorious to be …nyed. And may we not tranſmit to Posterity the …retched and villanaous Practices of Vile Hereticks, …ithout falling under the cenſure of being both …andalous and Blaſphemous?

3. If it be Blaſphemous to relate a Matter of this …ature, ſome of the moſt Judicious and Learned …iſtoriographers and Fathers of the Church, ſuch Euſebius, Theodoret, Gregory Nazianzen, St. Jerom, … Auſtine, and many others, who have faithfully …elated, with much clearneſs detected the Frauds …d confuted the deteſtible Errors of Hereticks …e Guilty. And whoever will eſcape this Mans …enaces and Threatings, whilſt they behold the …afty Methods of the Enemies to our Holy Religion, tho' ſubverſive of the Truth, and ruinous … the Souls of Men, muſt tamely look on, and not p. 32ſpeak one word of them, becauſe they deliver thei… Pernicious Doctrines in Scripture Language. Bu…

4. As in all ages of the Church, Hereticks hav… had their Advocates to plead their Cauſe, or at lea… to extenuate and ſpeak favourably of their Errors in like manner, there have not been wanting ſome who tho' to the hazard of their Liberty, their Reputation and Lives, becauſe of malitious Intreagues an… Invidious Deſigns of Erroneous Delators, have di… covered the Cheat, oppugned the Errour, and defended the Truth.

5 That it hath been the way of Hereticks t… act deceitfully, and communicate their Peſtilen… Notions in Scripture Language; I will, for the ſak… of the Objector, and ſuch as want either Ability o… Opportunity to conſult Church Hiſtory, or the Fathers, ſhow out of Kracanthorp, who, in his Treatiſe of the fifth General Council, held at Conſtantinopl… under the Emperor Juſtinian, making a very ſtric… ſearch into theſe matters, comes at laſt to this Concluſion, viz. That the Neſtorians ſpake like Catholicks, but thought otherwiſe: Their Words wer… holy, and Orthodoxal, but their Senſe and Meaning was Blaſphemous, and Heretical. Neither wa… this any New Policy of the Neſtorians; the Ar… ans, the Pelagians, almoſt all Hereticks have practiſed the like. Out of them all (ſaith he) I wil… here alledge but one Example. Vitalis, a Presbyter of Antioch was accuſed unto Damaſus to maintain in ſome part the Hereſie of Apollinaris, as denying Christ to have a Soul or Mind; at the motion of Damaſus he delivered in Writing a Confeſſion of his Faith—In this Confeſſion Vitalis had placed the very words of the Scripture, not depraved not any way changed, neither the Order, nor th… Writing of them being corrupted. But, when Vitalis p. 33came among his own Fellows, to them he …pened his ſecret meaning and his Fraud. Whence …akanthorp obſerves, That an Heretical Profeſſion …y be made in the very words of holy Scripture; …hich is, as if it had been ſaid, Peſtilent Doctrines …y be communicated in Scripture Language. And muſt add,

6. That as it hath been a common practice of …reticks, to keep moſt rigidly to the Letter of Scrip…re; and from time to time, provoke their Ortho…x Oppoſers thereunto; ſo, the Church, to the end …e might the more effectually diſcover the Hereſie, & …retick, explain and defend the Truth, did always uſe apt Words, Terms, and Phraſes, from which the …amour of Hereticks could never prevail with her … turn.

Doctor Owen, in the Preface to his Anſwer unto …ddle, ſpeaks very fully unto this Point, declaring, …t it has been his obſervation, That ſuch Words … Expreſſions, as are not foreign found in Scripture, …e Questioned and Rejected by none but ſuch as …y their Rejection intend and aim at the Removal …f the Truth it ſelf, which by them is expreſſed …nd plentifully revealed in the Word. Hence when Valens the Arian Emperor, ſent Modeſtus the Praetorian Praefect, to perſuade Baſil to be an Arian, the Man intreats him not to be ſo rigid as …o diſpleaſe the Emperor, and trouble the Church, for … Over-ſtrict Obſervance of Opinions; it being but …e Word, indeed one Syllable, that made the Difference. And he thought it not Prudence to ſtand ſo much upon ſo ſmall a Buſineſs. The Holy Man …eply'd, However Children might be ſo dealt withal, thoſe who are bred up in the Scriptures, or nouriſhed with the Word, will not ſuffer one Syllable of Divine Truth to be betrayed. The like attempt of this of p. 34Valens and Modestus upon Baſil, was made by the Arian Biſhops at the Council of Arminum, who pleaded earneſtly for the Rejection of one, or two Words, not found in Scripture, laying on the Plea much weight, when it was the Everſion of the Deity of Chriſt, which they intended and attempted Thus Doctor O. ubiſupra. p. 21.

7. After the ſame manner, in the preſent Controverſie, my Adverſaries make an amazing Noiſe crying out that the Quarrel is only about ſome Words, Terms, Phraſes and Expreſſions, ſuch as Chang… of Perſons, Chriſts ſustaining the Perſon of Sinners, &c. which are neither in Scripture, nor in any Publick Confeſſions, and thus make a horrid ſtrife about Words, when there is an agreement in things; calling upon us, to ſhow the Scripture, that hath the controverted Words and Phraſes literally in them, which you ſee from what I have urged out of Dr. Owen is an old Practice of Hereticks: I will further ſhow out of the Learned Dalley, who in his Demonſtration of Faith from Scripture, gives a particular account of the Reaſonings of the Antient Hereticks, and of what Anſwers the Fathers returned unto them.

This great Man Notes it as the Practice of Arians and other Hereticks, to provoke to the Expreſs Letter of Scripture, for the uſe of thoſe Terms and Phraſes that were then controverted. For inſtance▪ Where is it (ſay they) in the Letter, that the Son is Conſubſtantial with the Father, where in ſo many Words and Syllables? Away with your Syllogiſms, and ſhow where nakedly and literally it… ſaid, that the Son is the True God. So Paſcentius Comes an Arian, in St. Auſtin, In what Text is the word Omoouſios, or Conſubſtantial? And in Victor Vitenſis, its ſaid, that Hunnericus, an Arian p. 35King of the Vandals, in an Edict, by which he commanded the Catholick Biſhops of the Affrican Churches to meet with Men of his own Opinion about Matters of Faith, would have them ſhow the Faith of the Omoouſians to be in ſo many Letters and Syllables of Scripture. But,

8. This way of Arguing was exploded by the …athers, as Abſurd and Fooliſh, who conſtantly …ſſerted, That altho' what they belived was not to … found in ſo many expreſs Words and Syllables, … was it very clearly and manifeſtly deduced from …ain Scriptures. And as Athanaſius expreſſed it, …o matter whether what, we believe be in ſo many words the Scriptures, ſo long as the Truths themſelves are …erein Contained. That is ſaid to be Written, altho' foreign, in the very Letter, if the Senſe of it there. So Chryſoſtom. To which add, that of …regory Nazianzen, there are ſome things in Scripture intended, which are not Literally expreſſed; …ere are other things Literally mentioned but are not really intended, &c. Thus though it is not in …e Letter ſaid, That God is Impaſſible, without …inning, &c. Yet theſe things are by other words …ended: Again, altho' it be in the Letter, that …od ſleeps, awakes, moves, yet are they not really …eant. Dal. Ʋbi. ſup. Cap. 7. and 8.

9. This Learned Perſon induceth ſundry other authorities, and at laſt refers to his Appendix, in which is a Treatiſe of Theodoret (which has been …ſerted in the Works of Athanaſius) againſt 'em, …o are for a rigid, and ſtiff Adherence unto the …ry words of Scripture, without any regard to their Contſonancy, or Diſſonancy unto Reaſon, or …e Analogy of Faith; or Myſteries of the Goſpel, which the Father doth thus expoſtulate with 'em. What ſhall I believe with my Heart unto Righteouſneſs? p. 36What ſhall I confeſs with my Mouth unto Salvation? when it's maliciouſly objected, That the Father who hath ſent me is greater than I? ſhall I haſtily aſſent unto it as thus ſimply Delivered, and boldly deny the Son to be equal with the Father? Muſt I not at all weigh the matter, nor conſider that this is to be underſtood in regard to the Oeconomy and Diſpenſation? May I not obſerve what is ſaid elſewhere of the Father and the Son's being one, and that we muſt honour the Son as we honour the Father?

10. To gather up what hath been briefly ſuggeſted, tis manifeſt that Hereticks have communicated Peſtilent Doctrines in Scripture Language; that they have been for a rigid Adheſion unto the very words, ſyllables and letter of Scripture; That they would Reject thoſe Terms and Phraſes, uſed by the Orthodox to explain the Truth, and diſtinguiſh it from Errour; becauſe not in the Letter of Scripture; That the Church would not part with a word, a ſyllable, nor with a Letter, that was neceſſary to expreſs the Truth. The Council of Nice would not gratify the Arians nor Neſtorians in a Letter, ſaith Dr. Manton on Jude p. 163. That the Oppoſers of Orthodox Terms and Phraſes, always did it with a deſign to ſubvert the Truth. But, if it be Blaſphemous to detect the fraudulent Practice of Hereticks, what Fence can we have againſt a Vitalis, a Biddle, a Socinian or Arian? I might enlarge and expoſe, but I will forbear, and Apply my ſelf to the Conſideration of the next.

The Seventh Objection.

Mr. Lobb leaves out a conſiderable word in his tranſlating a part of the Scotch Confeſſion p. 81. — There's word [QUASI] which he did not think for his purpoſe to Engliſh. He ought to p. 37have ſaid, And to appear [as it were] in our Perſon, that is, that Chriſt appeared not properly in our Perſon.

Reply.

1. When I did, in anſwer to the Requeſt of ſeveral learned and judicious Brethren, undertake to …amine the Writings of Mr. W. I found his Attempts to be ſo like, what had been uſed by Men …ound in the Faith, who have made it their Buſineſs, for a while to conceal their own Notions, and …em to quarrel rather with the Terms and Phraſes …oſen by the Orthodox to Explain the Truth; than …ith the Truth it ſelf; that I could do no leſs than …ke notice of it to my Brethren, who having not …en ſo forward, as I think they ſhould, to give …eck to his Career, have (though not deſignedly) …couraged him and his Partizans, to make further …curſions on the controverted Terms and Phraſes. …d inſinuate, that the whole conteſt is but about …ords.

2. This being the way and method of my Oppo…s, I did in my Defence, carefully endeavour to …ulcate it, that we contend for the controverted …raſes, only, as they are expreſſive of what is eſ…tial to a real, proper and plenary Satisfaction to Gods …tice for our Sins, ſo that in good earneſt, the …ontention is about the great and neceſſary Doctrine … Chriſts Satisfaction, and for the Terms and Phraſes … otherwiſe than as they are expreſſive of this …octrine.

3. That I might bring our true and genuine …nſe into ſo clear a Light, as not to leave the leaſt …adow of Reaſon for one doubting thought, …out what it was I expreſly declared, That if I did but direct to the Confeſſion, where either a …roper Satisfaction is aſſerted, or, where 'tis ſaid, p. 38that Chriſt, as our Surety ſuffered for us; or that Chriſt ſuffered in our Place and Stead, or ſtood in our Perſon when he died; it might I hoped, ſatisfy any unprejudiced Perſon; that the Phraſes contended for, are in our Confeſſions, that is, The thing they ſignify, and for which we plead, is there; thereby ſhewing, that it is the Doctrine, which theſe Terms and Phraſes do moſt aptly, and with the greateſt Clearneſs and Diſtinction, convey unto our Underſtandings, that we are for.

5. That theſe Termes and Phraſes are not of our Invention, but have been (as I have in my Defence unanſwerably proved) uſed by the Orthodox in their Oppoſition unto the Arminians and Socinians, in a Senſe known both to our Divines and their Adverſaries. And that it hath been the trick of Hereticks and their Favourers, to raiſe Doubts and Scruples about their meaning and uſefulneſs; As, on the other hand, it hath been the conſtant Practice of the Church (as I have already ſuggeſted) to defend them, — as they are moſt apt to explain the Truth, and diſtinguiſh it from Errour.

For which Reaſon, as ſoon as I have cleared my Tranſlation of the Scotch Confeſſion, and detected the Impertinence and Folly of ſome other Cavils, I will go on to the ſecond Point I have propoſed to diſcourſe of, and ſhow, that the Controverſie I have with Mr. W. is about the Doctrine of Chriſts Satisfaction; that the Difference is Real, in an Article that affects the Vitals of Religion. But,

6. The Phraſe of [Christs ſuſtaining our Perſon] has been generally received by the Orthodox, as expreſſive of whats Eſſential, unto a real and Proper Satisfaction, even of what Chriſt did, to the end, he might appear before Gods Tribunal, under the Guilt of our Sins, and bear a proper Puniſhment for p. 39them. To ſuppoſe the Lord Chriſt to be guilty in … his own Perſon, is as if it had been ſaid, He had been in himſelf a Sinner, unclean, unholy: But to conſider him as our Surety, ſuſtaining the Perſon of Sinners, and ſo to charge on him the Guilt of …r Sins, cannot in the leaſt defile or pollute his …oly and righteous Soul. It hath been therefore …firmed by the Orthodox, that the Lord Jeſus …ſtained his own and our Perſon. As conſidered in his own Perſon, he is moſt remote from the Guilt …d Filth of Sin. As ſtanding in our Perſon, ſo he was covered with the Guilt of our Iniquities, tho' …ot touch'd with the leaſt Moral Filth.

7. The Phraſe of Christs ſustaining our Perſon, …uſt be taken in Senſu forenſi in Law-Senſe, importing, that as a Surety doth in foro ſoli, repreſent the …ebtor, ſo the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, when at the …ribunal of the Father, repreſented thoſe Sinners, …hoſe Redemption and Salvation he had undertaken, …d whether it be ſaid, that Chriſt doth put on, or …lain, or bear our Perſon; the meaning is the ſame, …nd they who ſpeak, as if theſe three words of [puting on, bearing and ſustaining] the Perſon of Sinners, had as many different meanings; do talk as … they underſtood not the genuine Import of the …hraſe. The ſame is true of the Latin Phraſe, Chriſtus ſuſtinuit Perſonam noſtram; Chriſtus ſuſtinuit quodammodo, ſeu, quaſi Perſonam nostram ] or the Engliſh, [Christ did ſustain our Perſon, Chriſt ſuſtain… as it were our Perſon] the ſignification is the ſame, …or whether quodammodo or quaſi be added or not, the meaning is, That Chriſt did in Senſu forenſi bear …ur Perſon. Take the word [Perſon] in Law-Senſe …nd there is no need of the word quodammodo or quaſi; but if the word Perſon, Import a natural …r proper Perſon, then to aſcertain the meaning to p. 40be Forenſic, it's requiſite to add, either quaſi or quodammodo: For, Perſona moralis eſt quaſi Perſona propria. And accordingly our Divines, do indifferently uſe the Phraſe, with or without quaſi or quodammodo; for whether they uſe either of theſe words or not, the Senſe is known to be the ſame, and the meaning of them who have it, and who have it not is, That Chriſt took on him our Perſon in Senſu forenſi, in Law Senſe, as I have cleared it in my Defence p. 24, 25, &c. ſo that I have not the leaſt reaſon to ſcruple the adding that conſiderable word [quaſi,] and for the ſake of a weak Brother am content to do it, at any time when deſired. For,

8. If the words [Christ ſuſtained our Perſon] ſignifie ſomewhat really different from [Chriſts ſuſtaining as it were our Perſon] then it muſt be owned, that many Orthodox Divines, who have been thought to be of a mind, do really differ in this Point from each other. And many learned Perſons, who expreſs themſelves with the greateſt accuracy and caution, affirming ſometimes, that Chriſt ſuſtained our Perſon, and at other times as it were our Perſon, do really differ from themſelves, particularly Calvin, who on 2 Cor. 5.21. ſaith, [That Chriſt did ſuſciper… quodammodo perſonam nostram] and on Gal. 3.13▪ [perſonam noſtram ſuſceperat,] quarrell'd with himſelf or at leaſt either the Reverend Mr. Poole, or Marlorat did miſrepreſent Calvin on 2 Cor. 5.21. For as Marlorat gives the Senſe of Calvin thus, perſonam noſtram quodammodo ſuſcepit Chriſtus, ut Reus noſtr… nomine fieret, & tanquam Peccator judicaretur, no… propriis ſed alienis Peccatis; ſo Mr. Poole thus, Chriſtus autem Perſonam noſtram ſuſcepit, ut Reus noſtr… nomine fieret, & tanquam Peccator judicaretur. So that the learned Mr. Poole is fallen into the very Error, Mr. W. and his Defendor charge on me; for p. 41as I am accuſed for leaving out that conſiderable word [quaſi.] Mr. Poole has left out as conſiderable a quodammodo. But whether Mr. P. or theſe Gentlemen be the moſt skill'd in the Latin Tongue and the Civil Law, is not over difficult to determine. Once more,

9. My Learned Adverſary, Mr. W. adds, that I ought to have ſaid. [And to appear [as it were] in our Perſon, that is, Chriſt appeared not properly in our Perſon.] To which I anſwer,

1. What he means by this Paſſage [Chriſt appeared not properly in our Perſon,] is not eaſy to underſtand. If he means, that Chriſt did not take upon him, nor appear in our natural or proper Perſon, I have over and over ſaid it, it being moſt manifeſt, that he appeared only in our Legal Perſon, which is what Mr. W. doth expreſly oppoſe. The thing he is againſt is, Chriſts taking on him our Perſon, in Senſu forenſi, in Law Senſe.

2. This word therefore [properly] if he will in Oppoſition unto me, abide by his Notion, that Chriſt did not take on him our Perſon in Law Senſe, muſt be tacked to [Chriſts appearing,] as if he had ſaid, Chriſt did not properly appear before the Judgment Seat of God to anſwer for our Sins, but only improperly, or Metaphorically. But,

10. Had it been ſaid, That Chriſt did as it were, take on him our Legal Perſon, 'twould have been to his purpoſe, and have ſignified no more than that Chriſt did not really and truly take on him our Legal Perſon. But not a word of this in the Scotch Confeſſion. There it is clear, that the Lord Jeſus did appear before the Judgment Seat of the Father in our Legal Perſon, which was the point for which I produced it. And altho' the [quaſi] is in the Latin, and [as it were] in the Engliſh, yet p. 42the Doctrine therein contained, is moſt oppoſite to what is advanced by Mr. W. and his more learned and upright Coryphaeus, as I hope, to the Conviction of an unbyaſſed Reader to evince. For the differences amongſt us are real, in matters of the biggeſt Importance, and neareſt Concernment to our Immortal Souls.