Of the Death of Christ, Discourse · Chapter 1
CAP. I.
The Occaſion of this DISCOƲRSE, with the Intendment of the whole.
A Few words will briefly acquaint the Reader with the Occaſion of this Diſcourſe enſuing: It is now about 2 yeers ſince I Publiſhed a Treatiſe about the Redemption, and Satisfaction that is in the blood of Chrſt: My aym was to hold out the whole Work of Redemption, as flowing from the Love of the Father, diſpenſed in the bloud of the Son, and made effectual by the application of the Spirit of Grace: And becauſe in this whole Diſpenſation, and in all the Method of Gods proceedings to make us nigh to himſelf in the bloud of Jeſus: There is no one thing ſo commonly Controverted, as the object of that Redemption in reſpect of the extent of it: That in the whole, I did ſpecially intend.
What by the grace of him (who ſupplieth ſeed to the Sower) was attained in that undertaking, is left unto the Judgement of men, upon the Iſſue of his Bleſſing thereunto; altogether I am not out of hopes, That, that Labor in the Lord was not in vain.
The Univerſality of Redemption (one thing in that Treatiſe mainly oppoſed) having of old, and of late got room in the minds of ſome men, otherwiſe furniſhed with many precious Truths, and eminent Gifts, I was not without expectation of ſome oppoſition to be made thereunto: Something alſo (I have been informed) hath been attempted that way; but I am yet at ſo much quiet in that regard, as an utter neſcience of them, can afford.
Only whereas many other queſtions are incidently, and by the way handled therein, as about the Satisfaction, and Merit of Chriſt, &c. It pleaſed Mr Baxter, a learned Divine, in an Appendix to a Treatiſe of Juſtification by him lately Publiſhed, to turn aſide in the Cenſure of ſome of them, and oppoſition to them.
Indeed moſt of his Exceptions do lie rather againſt Words, then Things; Expreſſions, then Oppinions; wayes of Delivering things, then the Doctrines themſelves, as the Reader will perceive; ſo that of this labour I might eaſe my ſelf with this juſt Apology; That I was deſired, and preſſed to handle the things of that Diſcourſe, in the moſt popular way they were capable of, and in the beſt accommodation to vulgar Capacities; ſo that it is no wonder, if ſome Expreſſions therein, may be found to want ſome grains of Accurateneſs (though they have not one dram the leſs of Truth) in a Scholaſtical ballance:
Notwithſtanding, becauſe
1 I am not as yet convinced by any thing in M. Baxters Cenſure, and Oppoſition, that there was any ſuch blameable deviation as is pretended, but rather the words of Truth, and Sobriety, cloathing a Doctrine of wholſomeneſs; and eſpecially, becauſe the things pointed at are in themſelves weighty, and needing ſome exactneſs in the delivery, to give a right Apprehenſion of them: I was willing once more to attempt whether the Grace of God with me, who am leſs then the leaſt of all Saints, might give any further light into the right underſtanding of them according to the Truth, to the advantage of any that love the Lord Jeſus in ſincerity.
The true nature of the ſatisfaction of Chriſt, with the kind of Payment of our Debt by him made and accompliſhed, is doubtleſs worthy of our moſt ſerious enquiry: The right Conſtitution of the immediate Effects of the Death of Chriſt, the relation of men to the Election of God, and the Redemption of Chriſt, with their ſeveral ſtates and Conditions in reference unto thoſe Works of Grace, ought to be of no leſſe eſteem: And that not only for the nature and excellency of the things themſelves, but alſo becauſe a right diſpoſal of them, gives more light into the ſtating and ſettling many other Controverted Truths about Faith, Juſtification, Vocation, and the like: Theſe are the Subjects about which I am called forth in my own, or rather Truths defence.
For the Treatiſe, and Subject thereof, whoſe latter part gives Riſe to this; I ſhall ſay no more, but as there are in it many footſteps of Commendable Learning, Induſtry, and Diligence; ſo to my preſent Apprehenſion the chief Intendments of it, with very many occaſional Expreſſions of the Authors Judgement in ſundry Particulars, are obnoxious to juſt Oppoſition from Truth it ſelf.
It is not at all in my thoughts, to engage my ſelf into the chief Controverſie there agitated; though I could deſire, That ſome to whom Providence hath given more leaſure, and opportunities for ſuch employments, would candidly examine thoſe Aphoriſmes, for the further advantage of Truth and Light.
But whereas the learned Author hath to make ſtreight the work he had in hand, endeavoured to caſt ſome part of the Doctrine of the Satisfaction, and Redemption of Chriſt, as by me delivered, into a crooked Frame, and that with ſome ſuch paſſages of Cenſure, as might have been omitted, without loſing the leaſt Grace of his Book, or Stile: I ſhall with the Lords aſſiſtance, endeavour to reinforce what of Truth hath been thereby aſſaulted in vain, and more eſpecially take occaſion from thence further to unfold thoſe Myſteries, which to our apprehenſion, are wrapped up in no ſmall darkneſs: there being in them ſome things difficult, and hard to be underſtood.
The Firſt thing then, which that learned Divine choſe to ſtand in diſtance from me in, is concerning the nature of the payment made for ſin by the bloud of Chriſt; Whether it be ejuſdem, or tantidem; and of the Senſe of thoſe Expreſions, is our Firſt Debate: In handling whereof, I hope I ſhall not only ſatisfie the Reader as to the Truth of what I had before written; but alſo further cleer the whole Doctrine of Satisfaction, with eſpecial reference to the kind of the Payment that Chriſt made, and Puniſhment which he underwent.
The other Head wrappeth in it ſelf many particulars concerning the immediate Fruit, or Effects of the Death of Chriſt, the ſtate of Elect Redeemed ones before actual Believing, the nature of Redemption, Reconciliation, the differencing of Perſons in Gods eternal Purpoſes; to the Conſideration of all which, and ſundry other particulars, I have occaſion offered me, in defence of the Truth impugned.
Theſe now and the like, being things in themſelves weighty, and the difference about them being for the moſt part rather as to the way of the delivery, then as to things themſelves: In the handling of them, I could not attend meerly to the advantage offered by M. Baxters Diſcourſe, but chuſe rather to caſt them into another method, which might be diſtinct, cleer, and accommodate to the things themſelves: So that I hope the Reader may (with ſome Profit) ſee the whole diſpenſation of the Love of God to his Elect through Chriſt, with the relation of the Elect in ſeveral Conditions, unto the ſeveral actings of God in that diſpenſation ſuccinctly laid down.
The Accommodation alſo of All delivered, to many weighty Controverſies, I have added.
If the way of handling theſe things here uſed, be blamed by any, I hope the judicious will ſee, That it is ſuch as the matter it ſelf will bear.
There hath not been many things in my whole enquiry after the Mind of God in his Word, which have more exerciſed my thoughts, then the right ordering, and diſtinct diſpoſal of thoſe whereof we treat; If the Lord hath diſcovered any thing unto me, or made out any thing by me, that may be for the benefit of any of his, I ſhall rejoyce; it being always in my deſire, That all things might fall out to the advantage of the Goſpel: and ſo I addreſs my ſelf to the matter before me.