Temporal Magistrates are bound to execute wise and equal Laws, for the preservation of public order, and civil societies. 'Tis true, there be some cases wherein the Lawgiver may be forced to dispense with the Law, as when the sparing of an offender is more advantage to the State than his punishment: Besides, there is a superior Tribunal to which great Offenders are obnoxious, and good Magistrates, when through weakness they are fain to spare the guilty, refer them to God's Judgment. But 'tis otherwise in the Divine Government: For God is infinitely free from any necessity of Compliance. There is no exigency of Government that requires, that any Offenders should escape his Severity. Neither is there any Justice above his, which might exact Satisfaction of them. Besides, the Majesty of his Laws ⟨p. 227⟩is more Sacred than of those which preserve Earthly States, and ought to be more inviolable. The sum is, to declare Gods hatred of Sin which is essential to his nature, to preserve the honour of the Law which otherwise would be securely despised, to prevent sin by keeping up in Men an holy fear to offend God, which should be an eternal respect of the rational Creature to Him, 'twas most fit, that the presumptuous breach of Gods Command should not be unpunished. Now when the Son of God was made a Sacrifice for Sin, and by a bloody Death made expiation of it, the World is convinced, how infinitely hateful Sin is to him, the dignity of the Law is maintained, and Sin is most effectually discouraged. There is the same terror, though not the same rigour, as if all mankind had been finally condemned. Thus it appears how becoming God it was, to accomplish our Salvation in such a manner, that Justice and Mercy are revealed in their most noble and eminent effects, and operations.
Temporal Magistrates are bound to execute wise and equal Laws, for the preservation of publick order, and civil societies. 'Tis true, there be some cases wherein the Lawgiver may be forced to dispense with the Law, as when the sparing of an offender is more advantage to the State than his punishment: Besides, there is a superior Tribunal to which great Offenders are obnoxious, and good Magistrates, when through weakness they are fain to spare the guilty, refer them to God's Judgment. But 'tis otherwise in the Divine Government: For God is infinitely free from any necessity of Compliance. There is no exigency of Government that requires, that any Offenders should escape his Severity. Neither is there any Justice above his, which might exact Satisfaction of them. Besides, the Majesty of his Laws ⟨p. 227⟩is more Sacred than of those which preserve Earthly States, and ought to be more inviolable. The sum is, to declare God•s hatred of Sin which is essential to his nature, to preserve the honour of the Law which otherwise would be securely despised, to prevent sin by keeping up in Men an holy fear to offend God, which should be an eternal respect of the rational Creature to Him, 'twas most fit, that the presumptuous breach of Gods Command should not be unpunished. Now when the Son of God was made a Sacrifice for Sin, and by a bloody Death made expiation of it, the World is convinced, how infinitely hateful Sin is to him, the dignity of the Law is maintained, and Sin is most effectually discouraged. There is the same terror, though not the same rigor, as if all mankind had been finally condemned. Thus it appears how becoming God it was, to accomplish our Salvation in such a manner, that Justice and Mercy are revealed in their most noble and eminent effects, and operations.
