Say not so, for by this death of Christ, free grace, and justice are both thy friends. How ere some do, yet certainly thou needs not to appeal from the court of justice to the Mercy-seat; in this mystery of Godliness there may be as much comfort in standing before the Bar of justice, as at the Mercy-seat, (i.e.) by standing therein, and through the Lord Jesus Christ, yea, this is the Gospel-way, to go to God the Father, and to tender up to him the active and passive righteousness of Christ his Son for an atonement, and satisfaction for our sins, in this way is the comfort of justification brought; if we go to God in any other way than this, it is but in a natural way, and not in a true Evangelical way. A man by nature may know thus much, that when he hath sinned, he must seek unto God for mercy, but to seek unto God for pardon with a price in our hands, to tender up the merits of Jesus Christ for a satisfaction to Divine justice, here is the mystery of Faith; and yet I speak not against relying on God's mercy for pardon, but what need we to appeal from justice to mercy, when by faith we may tender the death of Christ, and so find acceptance with the justice of God it self? come soul, and let me tell thee for thy comfort, if thou hast any share in the death of Christ, thou hast two tenures to hold thy pardon and salvation by, Mercy, and justice; free-grace, and righteousness; mercy in respect of thee, and justice in respect of Christ; not only is free-grace ready to acquit thee, but a full price is laid down to discharge thee of all thy sins: so that now when the Prince of this World comes against thee, thou mayest say in some sense as Christ did. He can find nothing in me, for how can he accuse me, seeing Christ is my Surety? seeing the bond hath been sued, and Christ Jesus would not leave one farthing unpaid? as Paul said to Philemon concerning Onesimus, if he have wronged thee, or owe thee any thing, put it on my account; so doth Christ say to God, if these have wronged thy Majesty, or owe thee any thing, put it on me. Paul indeed added, I Paul have written it with mine own hand, but Christ speaks thus,1 I Jesus have ratified and confirmed it with my own blood.
Say not so, for by this death of Christ, free grace, and justice are both thy friends. How e're some do, yet certainly thou needs not to appeal from the court of justice to the Mercy-seat; in this mystery of Godliness there may be as much comfort in standing before the Bar of justice, as at the Mercy-seat, (i.e.) by standing therein, and through the Lord Jesus Christ, yea, this is the Gospel-way, to go to God the Father, and to tender up to him the active and passive righteousness of Christ his Son for an atonement, and satisfaction for our sins, in this way is the comfort of justification brought; if we go to God in any other way than this, it is but in a natural way, and not in a true Evangelical way. A man by nature may know thus much, that when he hath sinned, he must seek unto God for mercy, but to seek unto God for pardon with a price in our hands, to tender up the merits of Jesus Christ for a satisfaction to Divine justice, here is the mystery of Faith; and yet I speak not against relying on God's mercy for pardon, but what need we to appeal from justice to mercy, when by faith we may tender the death of Christ, and so find acceptance with the justice of God it self? come soul, and let me tell thee for thy comfort, if thou hast any share in the death of Christ, thou hast two tenures to hold thy pardon and salvation by, Mercy, and justice; free-grace, and righteousness; mercy in respect of thee, and justice in respect of Christ; not only is free-grace ready to acquit thee, but a full price is laid down to discharge thee of all thy sins: so that now when the Prince of this World comes against thee, thou mayest say in some sense as Christ did. He can find nothing in me, for how can he accuse me, seeing Christ is my Surety? seeing the bond hath been sued, and Christ Jesus would not leave one farthing unpaid? as Paul said to Philemon concerning Onesimus, if he have wronged thee, or owe thee any thing, put it on my account; so doth Christ say to God, if these have wronged thy Majesty, or owe thee any thing, put it on me. Paul indeed added, I Paul have written it with mine own hand, but Christ speaks thus,1 I Jesus have ratified and confirmed it with my own blood.
- 1Gen. 2.17.
