A27064:31
Universal redemption of mankind, by the Lord Jesus Christ stated and cleared by the…
Universal redemption of mankind, by the Lord Jesus Christ stated and cleared by the late learned Mr. Richard Barter [sic] ; whereunto is added a short account of Special redemption, by the same author.
London: printed for John Salusbury, 1694
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.
I Consider, 1. What Christ did: 2. Why he did it.
1. That which he did was 1. In sensu Naturali, to Suffer and Die. 2. In sensu Legali vel Morali, It was, 1. In General, to be Punished: 2. In Special, it was A voluntary bearing in the person of a Mediator in the stead of fallen Mankind that punishment in weight which for their Sin the Law of works ⟨p. 7⟩Obliged them to bear. Or to speak in the Scripture phrase (which it were well if men had been contented with) it is the offering himself a Sacrifice for Sin, and so to take them away as a Ransom for Atonement and Propitiation.
1. That which he did was 1. In sensu Naturali, to Suffer and Die. 2. In sensu Legali vel Morali, It was, 1. In General, to be Punished: 2. In Special, it was A voluntary bearing in the person of a Mediator in the stead of fallen Mankind that punishment in weight which for their Sin the Law of works ⟨p. 7⟩Obliged them to bear. Or to speak in the Scripture phrase (which it were well if men had been contented with) it is the offering himself a Sacrifice for Sin, and so to take them away as a Ransom for Attonement and Propitiation.
2. Why Christ did this, must be answered from the Efficient and Final Causes. In general, Gods will is the Principal Efficient and Ultimate Final Cause of this, and all things. More particularly, 1. God was the Author or first Cause in committing this work to his Son, and sending him to do it. 2. Gods Mercy and Compassion (speaking after the manner of Men) was the Impulsive Cause. 3. Mans misery was the Occasion. 4. Mans sin was another occasion, as being loco Causae Meritoriae; for properly there was no Meritorious Cause. 5. The Laws Curse or Obligation was another occasion, as being Miseriae Causa removenda. 6. Christs Voluntary Sponsion or Consent was the Moral Obliging Cause, supplying the place both of a Meritorious and of a Legal Obliging Cause. 7. Christ himself was the Voluntary Patient. 8. God himself was the Principal moral Efficient, so far as it had rationem boni: (For he cannot be a morally deficient Cause, nor an Efficient of Punishment so far as it hath in it rationem very mali.) 9. Satan was the Principal Author of it, as it was Evil. 10. Wicked men were the Instruments.