The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

First. As a Punishment inflicted on him for Sin. This will appear by considering,

1. That Man by his Rebellion against God was capitally guilty: He stood sentenced by the Law to Death.

2. Christ with the allowance of the Supreme Judg, interposed as our Surety, and in that relation was made liable to Punishment. Sins are by resemblance called Debts. As a Debt obliges the Debtor to payment, so Sin doth the Sinner to Punishment. And as the Creditor hath a right to exact the Payment from the Debtor,¹ so God hath a right to inflict Punishment on the guilty. But with this difference, the Creditor by the mere signification of his will may discharge the Debtor, for he hath an absolute power over his estate: whereas public Justice is concerned in the Punishment of the guilty. This is evident by many instances. For 'tis not sufficient that a Criminal satisfy his Adversary, unless the Prince, who is the Guardian of the Laws, give him ⟨p. 240⟩Pardon. The interest of a private Person, who hath received an injury, is so distinct from that of the State, that sometimes the injured party solicits the Pardon of the offender without success. Which shows that principally 'tis not to satisfy the particular person, that the Crime is punished, but to satisfy the Law, and prevent future Disorders.

2. Christ with the allowance of the Supreme Judg, interposed as our Surety, and in that relation was made liable to Punishment. Sins are by resemblance called Debts. As a Debt obliges the Debtor to payment, so Sin doth the Sinner to Punishment. And as the Creditor hath a right to exact the Payment from the Debtor,