An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

In the third general place, The Socinians, they blame all the Orthodox, as evacuating the mercy of God, because, we say, that the Justice of God being satisfied through the blood of Christ as a ransom, we thereby obtain remission of sins. Now (they say) how absurd and contradictory is this, God is satisfied by a just payment to pardon sin, and yet it's the mere mercy of God to forgive it?

In the third general place, The Socinians, they blame all the Orthodox, as evacuating the mercy of God, because, we say, that the Justice of God being satisfied through the bloud of Christ as a ransome, we thereby obtain remission of sinnes. Now (they say) how absurd and contradictory is this, God is satisfied by a just paiment to pardon sinne, and yet it's the meer mercy of God to forgive it?

But to this we answer, That though the pardon of sin be of Justice to Christ, yet it is wholly of mercy to us. It is not any thing we could do, that might procure pardon; if we could merit or satisfy the Justice of God by the works we do, then indeed it would not be of grace and mercy to us; but this Justice is only between Christ and the Father: So that it's wholly of mercy to us, both in respect that he hath found out a Saviour for us, as also in applying the benefits of Christs death. For though Christ become into the world, yet how many eternally perish? It is therefore unspeakable mercy to thee, that thy sins are pardoned, that thou art converted, and so many thousands abide under the power of Satan and sin. Therefore when Gods mercy is spoken of in pardoning of sin, it is perpetually in respect of us, not of Christ. Thus you see, judging of Gods mercy without Scripture-light, into how many Doctrinal errors it may plunge us.

But to this we answer, That though the pardon of sinne be of Justice to Christ, yet it is wholly of mercy to us. It is not any thing we could do, that might procure pardon; if we could merit or satisfie the Justice of God by the works we do, then indeed it would not be of grace and mercy to us; but this Justice is only between Christ and the Father: So that it's wholly of mercy to us, both in respect that he hath found out a Saviour for us, as also in applying the benefits of Christs death. For though Christ become into the world, yet how many eternally perish? It is therefore unspeakable mercy to thee, that thy sins are pardoned, that thou art converted, and so many thousands abide under the power of Satan and sinne. Therefore when Gods mercy is spoken of in pardoning of sinne, it is perpetually in respect of us, not of Christ. Thus you see, judging of Gods mercy without Scripture-light, into how many Doctrinal errors it may plunge us.