A Golden Chain

let them prove it if they can. Others, not content with this their former answer say, that our satisfactions do nothing derogate from the satisfaction of Christ; because our works have their dignity and merit from Christs satisfaction: he meriting that our works should satisfy Gods justice for temporal punishments. But this is also absurd and false, as the former was. For if Christ did satisfy that man might satisfy, then Christ doth make every believer to be a Christ, a Jesus, a Redeemer, and a Priest in the same order with his own self. But to make sinful man his own redeemer, though it be but from temporal punishments, is a doctrine of devils. For the holy Ghost teacheth that the priesthood of Christ is incommunicable, and can not pass from him to any other.¹ Now to make satisfaction for sin or any part of the punishment thereof, is a duty, or a part of Christ his priesthood, and therefore to make satisfaction is a work that can not pass from his person to the person of any man. Again, if Christ by his satisfaction give power to man to satisfy, then man doth satisfy by Christ, and Christ beside his own satisfaction upon the cross, must daily satisfy in man to the end of the world: but this can not be: for Christ upon the cross, when death was upon him, said, It is finished, that is, I have fully satisfied for all the sins of mankind, both in respect of ⟨p. 947⟩the fault and punishment. As for Christs burial and resurrection which followed his death, they served not to satisfy but to confirm the same. Again Paul saith, 2. Cor. 5.12. He that knew no sin, was made sin for us, that is, the punishment of sin for us: but if the Church of Rome say true, that Christ doth daily satisfy, then Paul spake too short, and should have said further, that Christ was made sin for us, and in us too: and that God was not only in Christ but also in us, reconciling the world to himself. But Paul never knew this learning: and therefore let them turn themselves which way they will, by putting a supplement to Christs satisfaction, they do indeed annihilate the same.

let them prooue it if they can. Others, not content with this their former answer say, that our satisfactions doe nothing derogate from the satisfaction of Christ; because our workes haue their dignitie and merit from Christs satisfaction: he meriting that our workes should satisfie Gods iustice for temporall punishments. But this is also absurd and false, as the former was. For if Christ did satisfie that man might satisfie, then Christ doth make euery beleeuer to be a Christ, a Iesus, a Redeemer, and a Priest in the same order with his owne selfe. But to make sinnefull man his owne redeemer, though it be but from temporall punishments, is a doctrine of deuills. For the holy Ghost teacheth that the priesthood of Christ is incommunicable, and can not passe from him to any other.