A30167:479
Light for them that sit in darkness, or, A discourse of Jesus Christ, and that he undertook to accomplish by himself the eternal redemption of sinners also, that the Lord Jesus addressed himself to this work, with undeniable demonstrations that he performed the same : objections to the contrary answered / by John Bunyan.
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.
Ans. No Man may teach God Knowledge, he knoweth best how to deliver his Mind in such words and terms as best agree with his Eternal Wisdom, and the Consciences of these that are truly desirous of Salvation, being over-burdened with the guilt of Sin. Perhaps the Word Satisfaction will hardly be found in the Bible; and where is it said in so many words, God is dissatisfied with our Sins? Yet 'tis sufficiently manifest, that there is nothing that God hateth but sin, and Sinners for the Sake of sin. What meant he by turning Adam out of Paradise, by drowning the Old World, by burning up Sodom with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven? What meant he by drowning of Pharaoh, by causing the Ground to swallow up Corah and his Company, and by his destroying Israel in the Wilderness, if not to ⟨p. 93⟩show that he was dissatisfied with Sin? That God is also satisfied, yea, more than satisfied by Christ's Sufferings for our Sins, is apparent: For granting that he died for them, as these Scriptures declare, Isa. 53. 1 Cor, 15. 1, 2, 3, 4. Gal. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 5. 8. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Gal. 3. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Chap. 3. 18. 1 Joh. 2. 2. Chap. 3. 16. Chap. 4. 14. Revel. 1. 5. Chap. 5. 9. Isa. 49. 4, 5, 6.
Ans. No Man may teach God Knowledg, he knoweth best how to deliver his Mind in such words and terms as best agree with his Eternal Wisdom, and the Consciences of these that are truly desirous of Salvation, being over-burdened with the guilt of Sin. Perhaps the Word Satisfaction will hardly be found in the Bible; and where is it said in so many words, God is dissatisfied with our Sins? Yet 'tis sufficiently manifest, that there is nothing that God hateth but sin, and Sinners for the Sake of sin. What meant he by turning Adam out of Paradise, by drowning the Old World, by burning up Sodom with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven? What meant he by drowning of Pharaoh, by causing the Ground to swallow up Corah and his Company, and by his destroying Israel in the Wilderness, if not to ⟨p. 93⟩shew that he was dissatisfied with Sin? That God is also satisfied, yea, more than satisfied by Christ's Sufferings for our Sins, is apparent: For granting that he died for them, as these Scriptures declare, Isa. 53. 1 Cor, 15. 1, 2, 3, 4. Gal. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 5. 8. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Gal. 3. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Chap. 3. 18. 1 Joh. 2. 2. Chap. 3. 16. Chap. 4. 14. Revel. 1. 5. Chap. 5. 9. Isa. 49. 4, 5, 6.
1. It is apparent, because it is said; That God smelled in that Offering of the Body of Christ for our Sins, a Sweet-smelling Savour. He gave himself for us an Offering, and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling Savour, Ephes. 5. 2.
1. It is apparent, because it is said; That God smelled in that Offering of the Body of Christ for our Sins, a Sweet-smelling Savor. He gave himself for us an Offering, and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling Savor, Ephes. 5. 2.
2. It is apparent, because it is said expressly, That God for Christ's Sake doth now forgive. Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's Sake bath forgiven you, Ephes. 4. 32.
2. It is apparent, because it is said expresly, That God for Christ's Sake doth now forgive. Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's Sake bath forgiven you, Ephes. 4. 32.
3. It is apparent that God is satisfied with Christ's Blood for our Sins, because he hath declared, that he can justify those that believe in, or rely upon that Blood for Life, in a way of Justice and Righteousness. Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ; whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through faith in his Blood, to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of sins, that are past through the forbearance of God. To declare, I say, at this time his Righteousness, that he might be just, and ⟨p. 94⟩the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus, Rom. 3. 24, 25, 26.
3. It is apparent that God is satisfied with Christ's Blood for our Sins, because he hath declared, that he can justifie those that believe in, or rely upon that Blood for Life, in a way of Justice and Righteousness. Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ; whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through faith in his Blood, to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of sins, that are past through the forbearance of God. To declare, I say, at this time his Righteousness, that he might be just, and ⟨p. 94⟩the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus, Rom. 3. 24, 25, 26.
Now, I say, to object against such plain Testimonies, what is it, but
1. To deny that Christ died for Sin; or to conclude, 2. That having so done, he is still in the Grave: Or, 3. That there is no such thing as Sin: Or, 4. No such thing as Revenging Justice in God against it: Or, 5. That we must die our selves for our Sins: Or, 6. That sin may be pardoned without a satisfaction: Or, 7. That every man may merit his own Salvation.
But without shedding of Blood there is no Remission, Heb. 9. 22.
To avoid therefore these cursed Absurdities, it must be granted that Jesus Christ by his Death did make satisfaction for sin.
But the word Satisfaction may not be used by the Holy Ghost, perhaps, for that it is too short and scanty a Word to express the Blessedness that comes to Sinners by the Blood of Christ.
1. To make satisfaction amounts to no more than completely to answer a legal Demand for harms and injuries done. Now this when done to the full, leaveth the Offender there where he was ⟨p. 95⟩before he committed the Injury. Now if Christ had done no more than this, he had only paid our debt, but had not obtained eternal redemption for us.
1. To make satisfaction amounts to no more than compleatly to answer a legal Demand for harms and injuries done. Now this when done to the full, leaveth the Offender there where he was ⟨p. 95⟩before he committed the Injury. Now if Christ had done no more than this, he had only paid our debt, but had not obtained eternal redemption for us.
2. For a full Satisfaction given by this Man for harms done by another, may neither obtain the Love of the Person offended, nor the smallest Gift which the Person offending hath not deserved. Suppose I owe to this Man ten thousand Talents, and another should pay him every Farthing, there remaineth over and above, by that complete Satisfaction, not one single half-Penny for me. Christ hath therefore done more than to make satisfaction for sin by his Blood. He hath also made us Kings and Priests to God and his Father, and we shall reign with him for ever and ever, Revel. 1. 5, 6. Chap. 22. 5.
2. For a full Satisfaction given by this Man for harms done by another, may neither obtain the Love of the Person offended, nor the smallest Gift which the Person offending hath not deserved. Suppose I owe to this Man ten thousand Talents, and another should pay him every Farthing, there remaineth over and above, by that compleat Satisfaction, not one single half-Penny for me. Christ hath therefore done more than to make satisfaction for sin by his Blood. He hath also made us Kings and Priests to God and his Father, and we shall reign with him for ever and ever, Revel. 1. 5, 6. Chap. 22. 5.
But take a few more Scriptures for the Proof of the Doctrine before asserted.
First, We have redemption through his Blood, Col. 1. 14.
