A Christian Library, Section 19
Sect. XIX
But this being a main fundamental point, which every man is bound to know: I will more particularly and fully explain it, as thus:
Man being in a most miserable, and undone condition; by reason of Original and actual sin, and of the curse due to both, being liable to all miseries in this life, and adjudged to suffer eternal torments in hell-fire after death, having no possibility to escape the fierce wrath of Almighty God; who had already pronounced sentence upon him; VVhen neither Heaven, Earth, nor Hell, could have yeilded any satisfactory thing besides Christ; that could have satisfied Gods justice, and merited Heaven for us: then, O then! God of his infinite wisdome and goodness, did not onelyonly find out a way to satisfie his justice, and the Law: but even gave us his own Son, out of his bosome, and his Son gave himself to die, even the most shameful, painful and cursed death of the Cross to redeem us, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life; Iohn 3.16. A mercy bestowed, and a way found out; that may astonish all the sons of men on earth, and Angels in Heaven. VVherefore wonder at this, you that wonder at nothing! that the eternal God would die, to redeem our worse then lost souls; that we might not die eternally? O the deepnesse of Gods love: O the unmeasurable measure of his bounty! O Son of God who can sufficiently admire thy love, or commend thy pity, or extol thy praise! It was a wonder that thou madest us for thy self; more that thou madest thy self man for us, but most of all that thou shouldest unmake thy selfe, that thou shouldest dye to save us.
VVhichWhich salvation stands, in two things. First, in freeing and delivering us from Hell; Secondly, In the possession of Heaven, and eternal life. Christ by his death, merits the first for us: and by his obedience, fulfilling the law, merits the second. The parts of our justification are likewise two: the remission of our sins, and the imputation of Christs righteousnesse; whereby we have freedom from all evill here, and the perfection of all good and happinesse in heaven. Insomuch that all those Millions of mercies that we have received, from, before, and since, we were born, either for soul or body; (even to the least bit of bread we eat) or shall enjoy to eternity: Christ of his free grace hath purchased for us, with the price of his own precious blood. For which see Psal. 68.19. and 145.15, 16. and 75.6, 7.
Hear this all you that care to be saved! God will pardon all your sins, he will give you an eternall crown of glory in heaven, if you unfainedly repent, and wholly rely upon Christ for your salvation by a lively faith; and that because he is just: for although the Lord cannot in justice let sin go unpunished; (for the wages of sin is eternal death, Rom. 6.23. death in the person, if not in the surety.) Yet Christ hath sufficiently satisfied for all the sins of the faithful, and paid their dept even to the utmost farthing; as is evident by Isai. 53.4, 5. 2 Cor. 5.21. Heb. 9.26. 1 Pet. 2.24. Rom. 3.25, 26. 1 Ioh. 1.7, 9. and sundry other places. As, are we bound to perform perfect obedience to the Law? Christ performed it for us. VVet… we for disobedience subject to the sentence of condemnation, the curse of the Law, and death of body and soul? He was condemned for us and bore the curse of the Law; he died in our stead an ignominious …. Did we deserve the anger of God? he endured his Fathers wrathful displeasure, that so he might reconcile us to his Father, and set us at liberty. He that deserved no sorrow, felt much; that we who deserved much, might feel none. And by his wounds we are healed, Isai. 53.5. Adam eat the apple, Christ paid the price. In a word, whatsoever we owed, Christ discharged; whatsoever we deserved, he suffered, if not in the self-same punishments (for he being God, could not suffer the eternal torments of Hell) yet in proportion, the dignity of his Person, (he being God and Man) giving value unto his temporary punishments; and making them of more value and worth, then if all the world should have suffered the eternal torments of Hell. For it is more for one that is eternal to die: then for others to die eternally. Therefore was the Son of God made the Son of man: that the Sons of men might be made the Sons of God: and therefore was he both God and man: lest being in every respect God, he had been too great to suffer for man; or being in every respect man, he had been too weak to satisfie God. And so much for explication of the Third Principle, mentioned in the beginning.