The Mystery of the Gospel Vindicated and Socinianism Examined, Commentary on text · Chapter 16 – Chapter 17
CHAP. XVI.
Of Salvation by Christ.
Mr Biddles 6th Chapter Considered.
THis is a short Chapter, and will speedily receive its Consideration. That Christ is a Saviour, and that He is so called§. 1. in Scripture, is confessed on all hands. M. B's Masters were the first, who directly called into question amongst Christians, on what account principally he is so called. Of his Faith in this businesse, and theirs, we have the Summe, with the Reasons of it, in the Book of their great Apostle, De Jesu Christo Servatore. This Book is Answered throughout with good successe, by Sibran…us Labba…us. The Nerves of it cut by Grotius, De satisfactione Christi; and the reply of Crell…us thereunto throughly removed by Essenius in his Triumphus Crucis. The whole Argumentative part of it, summ'd up into five heads, by Michael Gittichius, is answered by Ludovicus Lucius, and that Answer vindicated from the Reply of Gittichius. And generally those who have written upon the Satisfaction of Christ have looked upon that Book, as the main Master-piece of the Adversaries, and have made it their businesse to remove its Sophistry, and unmaske its pretensions.
M. B. is very slight and overly in this businesse, being not able in the method of Procedure imposed on himselfe, so much as to deliver his mind significantly, as to what he does intend. The deniall and rejection of the satisfaction, and merit of Christ, is that which the man intends, as is evident from his Preface, where he denys them name and thing. This he attempts▪ partly in this Chapter, partly in that concerning the Death of Christ, and also …hat of Justification. In this he would attempt the notion of Salvation, and referre it only to deliverance from death, by a glorious Resurrection. Some brief Animadversions may possibly rectify the mans Mistakes. His first Question we passe, as a principle in the termes of it on all sides confessed, namely, that Christ is our Lord and Saviour.
His Second is.
Q. Is Christ our Saviour originally, and of himselfe; or because he §. 2.was given, exalted, and raised up by another to be a Saviour?
Ans. Act. 4. 12. & 5. 31. & 13. 23.
The intendment of this Quere is, to pursue the former insinuations of our Catechist against the Deity of Christ; as though his appointment to his Office of Mediation, were inconsistent with his Divine Nature: the vanity of which pretence hath been sufficiently already discovered. In briefe, Christ is considered either absolutely, with respect to his Divine Nature, and Person, as he is God in himselfe: and so he is a Saviour originally, of himselfe: For as for our Redeemer the Lord of Hosts is his Name, the Holy one of Israel, Isa. 47. 4. For thy Maker is thine Husband, the Lord of Hosts is his Name, the Holy one of Israel, Ch. 54. 5. In this sence was Christ a Saviour originally, and of himselfe; But as He took flesh, to accomplish the work of our Redemption, by tasting death for us, though his own mercifull and gratious Will did concurre therein, yet was he eminently designed to that work, and given by his Father, in Love, and Mercy, contriving the work of our Salvation. And this latter is mentioned not only in the places cited by our Catechist, but also in an hundred more, and not one of them lying in the least subserviency to M. B's designe.
His last Quere is.§. 3.
Q. How do the Saints expect to be saved by Christ?
Ans. Rom. 5. 10. Philip. 3. 20, 21.
The intendment of this Question, must be to Answer the generall proposall, in what sence Christ is our Saviour, and how his People are saved by him. Now however that be true in it selfe, which is here asserted, and is the exurgency of the Question & Answer, as connected, the Saints expecting Salvation by Christ, in the compleat accomplishment of it by his Power in Heaven, yet as here proposed to give an account of the whole sence, wherein Christ is our Saviour, is most false and deceitfull. Christ is a Saviour principally, as he was promised, and came to save his people from their Sinnes, whence he had his name of Jesus, or a Saviour, Mat. 1. 21. and that by his death, Heb. 2. 14, 15. or laying downe his life a Ransome for us, Math. 20. 28. and giving himselfe a price of Redemption for us, 1 Tim. 2. 6. by whom we have Redemption by his blood, even the forgivenesse of sinnes, Eph. 1. 7. so saving or delivering us from the wrath, that is for to come; 1 Thes. 1. last. The Salvation, which we have by Christ, which this Chapter in Title pretends to discover, is from Sinne, the World, Satan, Death, Wrath, Curse, the Law, bearing of us unto Acceptation with God, Peace, Reconciliation, and Glory. But that the Doctrines before mentioned, without which these things cannot once be apprehended, may be obscured or lost; are these wholly omitted. Of the sence of Rom. 5. 10. and what is there intended by the Life of Christ, I shall farther treat, when I come to speak about Justification: and of the whole businesse under our Consideration of the death of Christ.
CHAP. XVII.
IN his Seventh Chap. he proposeth two Questions in generall,§. 1. about the Mediation of Christ: Answering first, that he is a Mediator, from 1 Tim. 2. 5. 2. That he is the Mediator of the New Covenant, Heb. 8. 6. & 12. 24. But as to his work of Mediation, what it is, wherein it doth consist, on what account principally Christ is called our Mediator, whether he be a Mediator with God for us, as well as a Mediator with us for God; and how he carries on that work; wherein he knows the difference between us, and his Masters, about this matter doth lye, he speaks not one word, nor gives any occasion to me, to enter into the consideration of it. What I suppose necessary to offer to this head, I shall do it in the ensuing discourse of the Death of Christ, the ends thereof, and the satisfaction thereby.
And therefore I shall hereunto adde his Ninth Chapter also,§. 2. which is concerning Bemission of Sinnes by Jesus Christ. The difference between his Masters and us, being about the meritorious and procuring Cause of Remission of Sinnes by Christ, which here he mentions not; What is farther to be added thereabout, will fall in also under our Consideration of the Death of Christ, and our Justification thereby.
His first Question is altogether out of Question, namely, Wh… §. 3.shall have remission of sins by Christ? It is granted, All, and only Believers. He that believeth shall be saved, and he that believeth not, shall be damned, Mark. 16. 16. To as many as receive him, power is given to become the Sons of God, even as many as believe in his name, Joh. 1. 12.
To his next Question an Answer may be given, that will§. 4. suit that following also; which is the whole of this Chapter; The Question is; Doth not Christ forgive sinnes? Ans. Christ forgave you, Col: 3. 13.
That Christ forgives sinnes, is taken for granted; And yet forgivenesse of Sin is the supreamest Act of Soveraigne Divine Power, that God exerciseth in the World. Now Christ may be considered two waies. 1. Absolutely, as God over all, blessed for ever; So he forgave sinnes by his own Originall Authority and power, as the Law-giver, who is able to save and to destroy. 2. As Mediatour, God and Man; and so his Power was delegated to him by God the Father, as himselfe speakes: All power is given unto me, in Heaven and in Earth, and Mat. 9. he saith, that he had Power on earth to forgive sinnes, i. e. given unto him. Now forgivenesse of sinnes, is either Autheritative, or declarative. The latter Christ delegated to his Apostles, and all their successors in the Work of Preaching the Gospell: and it is such a Power, as a meer man may be invested withall. Forgivenesse of sins, which we terme Authoritative, being an act of Soveraign Divine Power, exercised about the Law, and Persons concerned therein, may be said to be given to Christ two waies. 1. As to the possession of it: And so he hath it from his Father, as God; as he hath his Nature, Essence, and Life from him. Whence whatever workes the Father doth, He doht likewise; quicken, as he quickens; Pardon, as he Pardons; as hath been declared. 2. As to the Execusion of it, for such an end and purpose; as the carrying on of the Work of Mediation committed to him. And so it is given him in Commission from the Father, who sent him into the World to do his will; and in this sence had He, the Son of Man, power to forgive sins, whilest he was in the Earth. And to Mr B's Ninth Chapter this may suffice.