The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 1 · sin · Question 11
Queſt. 11. Is not God therefore mercifull?
Anſ. Yea verily he is mercifull,aExo. 34.6, 7. and 20.6. but ſo, that he is alſo juſt.bPſal. 10.7. Exod. 20.5. & 23▪ 7 & 34.6. Pſal. 5.56. Nah. 1.2, …. Wherefore his juſtice requireth, that the ſame which is committed againſt the divine Majeſty of God, ſhould alſo be recompenced with extreme, that is, everlaſting puniſhments both of body and ſoule.
The Explication.
THis queſtion of the Catechiſme is an objection againſt that doctrine, That God puniſheth all and every ſin with everlaſting paines; and thus it is framed. Object. It is the property of him that is exceeding mercifull, to remit ſomewhat of extreme juſtice; but God is exceeding mercifull: Therefore he will remit ſomewhat of extreme juſtice, and will not puniſh ſin with eternall paines. Anſw. We anſwer to the Major on this wiſe: It is the point of him that is mercifull to remit ſomething, but without breach of juſtice, if he be exactly juſt. Now God is ſo exceeding mercifull, that he is alſo exactly juſt: Therefore he will ſo exerciſe mercy, that not withſtanding he will not impaire his juſtice. And the juſtice of God exacteth, that all ſins committed againſt his ſoveraigne majeſty ſhould be puniſhed with moſt exquiſite, that is, everlaſting paines both of body and ſoule, that there may be ſome proportion between the crime and the penalty. Repl. 1. Exceeding ſtrict juſtice doth not ſtand with exceeding mercy; in God there is exceeding mercy: Therefore in God exceeding ſtrict justice ſtandeth not with it. Anſw. The Major is denied. Repl. Thus it is proved, Exceeding mercy admitteth mitigating equity; but ſtrict and exact juſtice, ſuch as is in God, admitteth not this: Ergo, &c. Anſ. Yes, the juſtice of God admitteth mitigating equity and favourableneſſe, not by omitting, but by transferring the puniſhment on ſome other. Repl. 2. With him that followeth extreme or ſtrict juſtice, mercy and equity hath no place; but God doth ſtrictly execute his Law: Therefore with him mercy hath no place. Or thus, He who remitteth nought of extreme right, he is not mercifull, but only juſt; but God remitteth nought of his right, becauſe he puniſheth all ſin with ſufficient puniſhment. Anſ. 1. We deny the Minor: For God remitteth a great deale of his ſtrict right, though he puniſh ſins with eternall paines. For, as touching the reprobate, he uſeth much favourable dealing towards them, whiles he both now deferreth their puniſhments, & inviteth them by many benefits unto repentance, and in the eternity it ſelf of their puniſhment wil puniſh them more mildly then they deſerved. And as touching the elect, he uſeth much toleration againe towards them, becauſe he giveth us his Son, and ſubjecteth him unto puniſhment on our behalf of his meer mercy, obliged & bound thereto by no right or merit of ours. 2. The Major is denied as falſe in reſpect of him, who for his wiſdome knoweth means of exerciſing mercy without breach of his juſtice: alſo in reſpect of him, who whileſt he executeth his juſtice, yet rejoyceth not in the deſtruction of man, but had rather he were ſaved: As, when a Judge condemneth a robber to the wheele, and yet rejoyceth not in his puniſhment; hee though hee ſeem to execute the extremity of Law, yet uſeth lenity. Much more God mingleth marvellous equity with his juſtice: For he is not delighted with the deſtruction of the ungodly (becauſe hee will not the death of a ſinner) and though hee puniſh all ſins with everlaſting paines,Ezek. 33.11. yet he alſo taketh pity on us, in deriving the puniſhment from us, and laying it on his Son. Repl. 3. The Prophet Jeremy ſaith, Forgive not their iniquity, neither put out their ſinne from thy ſight: The mercy therefore of God is not extended to the Reprobate. Anſw. 1. It is true, when God denieth his mercy unto them repenting;What mercy God extendeth to the wicked. and except hee have juſt cauſe why hee doth not ſave all. But God hath moſt juſt cauſe why he ſuffereth them to periſh, even the manifeſtation of his juſtice and power in puniſhing the wicked. 2. It is to be underſtood of that degree of his mercy, which hee ſheweth towards his choſen, even of his mercy, whereby he giveth them remiſſion of ſinnes, his holy Spirit, and life everlaſting: but it is not to be granted, concerning that generall mercy, whereby he guideth and governeth all creatures. Repl. 4. The Lord ſaith in Iſaiah: Ah, I will eaſe mee of mine adverſaries: Therefore God is delighted with the destruction of his enemies. Anſw. Theſe and the like ſpeeches are ſpoken after the order of men, by an Anthropopathy, or humane affection, and by them is ſignified, that God will the execution of his juſtice, but is not delighted with the death or deſtruction of men, as being his creatures. Repl. 5. Nay, neither on the penitent doth God exerciſe mercy: For if God puniſh all ſins with ſufficient puniſhment in Christ, hee is not mercifull. Anſw. I deny the conſequence of this Propoſition, becauſe he gave us his Son freely, who ſhould ſatisfie for us. This ſatisfaction did the Goſpel adde.