A26796:178
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.
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.
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 preferr'd 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.
2. Man cannot make satisfaction by Suffering. For the Punishment must be equal to the Offence, which derives its guilt from the dignity of the Person offended, and the indignity of the offender. Now God is the Universal King, his Justice is Infinite, which Man hath injured, and his Glory, which Man hath obscured; and Man is finite. And what proportion is there between finite and infinite? How can a worthless Rebel that is hateful to God expiate the offence of so excellent a Majesty? If he sacrifice himself, he can never appease the Divine Displeasure, for what doth he offer but a lump of Rebellion and Ingratitude? He can make no other Satisfaction but that of the Devils, which continues for ever, and is not completed.