Now as it is in the case of a debtor and of his surety, so it is betwixt God and us in this matter. Though the debtor being a mere bankrupt, cannot possibly ⟨p. 76⟩discharge his own debt, yet if his surety have already made payment of all his debts, or fully discharged them, he is safe enough from danger: So, though we be utterly destitute of all ability to satisfy for our sins, and to deserve pardon of them; yet if our surety Jesus Christ have fully satisfied for them, as he hath, there is hope enough of our being pardoned. For our Lord Jesus Christ was both God and man, a person infinitely more excellent then all men, ⟨p. 77⟩and therefore his sufferings and obedience are of such infinite worth and value, that by him the wrath of God is fully appeased towards us. For it was a great demonstration of Gods justice to punish him his only begotten Son for our sins in such sort as he did, as if he had punished us to all eternity. Suppose divers debtors, one owing 10000 lb. another 5000 another 1000 another 100 lb. some more, some less, but each one more then his substance could ⟨p. 78⟩possibly satisfy: yet if some able person had laid down divers Jewels of far greater value then all their debts did amount unto, then were their debts sufficiently answered for, neither need they be discouraged at the greatness of them. Even so, when we have committed innumerable sins, deserving eternal death, and can no way satisfy for our selves, yet so long as he hath perfectly fulfilled the law for us, being made under the law in our steed, and hath ⟨p. 79⟩perfectly satisfied the justice of God by bearing the curse for us; our estate is good enough in him, though never so irrecoverable in our selves. Wherefore compare thy sins to Christs merits, and think, is not he my Saviour? hath not he discharged my debt? hath not he answered for mine offences? are not his death, sufferings, and obedience, much more able to pacify Gods anger, then my transgressions to provoke it? Doubtless it is so: no man that professeth ⟨p. 80⟩Christian Religion will deny it, and therefore by his blood peace of conscience may come unto the greatest sinner.
Now as it is in the case of a debtor and of his surety, so it is betwixt God and us in this matter. Though the debtor being a meere banquerupt, cannot possibly ⟨p. 76⟩discharge his owne debt, yet if his surety have already made payment of all his debts, or fully discharged them, he is safe enough from danger: So, though we be utterly destitute of all ability to satisfie for our sinnes, and to deserve pardon of them; yet if our surety Iesus Christ have fully satisfied for them, as he hath, there is hope enough of our being pardoned. For our Lord Iesus Christ was both God and man, a person infinitely more excellent then all men, ⟨p. 77⟩and therefore his sufferings and obedience are of such infinite worth and valew, that by him the wrath of God is fully appeased towards us. For it was a great demonstration of Gods justice to punish him his onely begotten Sonne for our sinnes in such sort as he did, as if he had punished us to all eternity. Suppose divers debtors, one owing 10000 lb. another 5000 another 1000 another 100 lb. some more, some lesse, but each one more then his substance could ⟨p. 78⟩possibly satisfie: yet if some able person had laid downe divers Iewels of farre greater valew then all their debts did amount unto, then were their debts sufficiently answered for, neither need they be discouraged at the greatnesse of them. Even so, when we have committed innumerable sinnes, deserving eternall death, and can no way satisfie for our selves, yet so long as he hath perfectly fulfilled the law for us, being made under the law in our steed, and hath ⟨p. 79⟩perfectly satisfied the justice of God by bearing the curse for us; our estate is good enough in him, though never so irrecoverable in our selves. Wherefore compare thy sins to Christs merits, and thinke, is not he my Saviour? hath not he discharged my debt? hath not he answered for mine offences? are not his death, sufferings, and obedience, much more able to pacifie Gods anger, then my transgressions to provoke it? Doubtlesse it is so: no man that professeth ⟨p. 80⟩Christian Religion will deny it, and therefore by his bloud peace of conscience may come unto the greatest sinner.
