A26796:177
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is showed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is shewed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.
London: printed by J. Darby for Nathaniel Ranew and Jonathan Robinson and Brabazon Aylmer, 1674
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. Supposing that Man could perform exact Obedience after his Fall, yet that could not be satisfaction. 'Tis essential to Satisfaction, that the action by which 'tis made, be in the power of the person that satisfies. A Servant as a Servant cannot make satisfaction for an injury done to his Lord, for whatsoever service he performs was due before the offence, and is not properly a restitution, because 'tis not of his own. Now the complete Obedience of the Creature is due to God. He is the Lord of all our Actions, and whatever Man doth is but the payment of the original Debt. The Law requires a perpetual reverence of the Law-giver, and express Obedience to his Will in all things. So that 'tis impossible that the highest respect to it afterwards, should compensate for the least violation of it.
1. Supposing that Man could perform exact Obedience after his Fall, yet that could not be satisfaction. 'Tis essential to Satisfaction, that the action by which 'tis made, be in the power of the person that satisfies. A Servant as a Servant cannot make satisfaction for an injury done to his Lord, for whatsoever service he performs was due before the offence, and is not properly a restitution, because 'tis not of his own. Now the compleat Obedience of the Creature is due to God. He is the Lord of all our Actions, and whatever Man doth is but the payment of the original Debt. The Law requires a perpetual reverence of the Law-giver, and express Obedience to his Will in all things. So that 'tis impossible that the highest respect to it afterwards, should compensate for the least violation of it.
Besides, To make Satisfaction for a Fault, 'tis necessary the Offender do some voluntary act, that may be as honourable to the person, and as much above what he was before obliged to, as the contempt was dishonourable and below that which was due. Unless God receive that which is as estimable in the nature of Obedience, as the injury he received is in ⟨p. 72⟩the nature of Contempt, there can be no Satisfaction. Now there is a greater dishonour brought to God by the commission of one Sin, than there is honour by the perfect Obedience of all the Angels: For in their Obedience God is preferred by the Creature, before things infinitely beneath him, which is but a small honour, but by one Sin he is disvalued in the comparison, which is infinite Contempt.