A discourse of the saving grace of God

But if it were otherwise, yet those who would have us to ascribe to the Death and Obedience of Christ nothing but this, would not have us Obliged to ascribe to it either Satisfaction or Merit. No Satisfaction, unless it be to his Fathers Will, not to his Justice in this sense. The Obedience and Death of Christ was so fully satisfying, so very acceptable to his Fathers Will, he was so well pleased with it, that hereupon he entered into this Covenant. There was no need of other Satisfaction ⟨p. 93⟩than this; it was enough, if he did Merit it; sufficient, if his Righteousness did deserve such a Promise for us.

But if it were otherwise, yet those who would have us to ascribe to the Death and Obedience of Christ nothing but this, would not have us Obliged to ascribe to it either Satisfaction or Merit. No Satisfaction, unless it be to his Fathers Will, not to his Justice in this sense. The Obedience and Death of Christ was so fully satisfying, so very acceptable to his Fathers Will, he was so well pleased with it, that hereupon he entred into this Covenant. There was no need of other Satisfaction ⟨p. 93⟩than this; it was enough, if he did Merit it; sufficient, if his Righteousness did deserve such a Promise for us.

Nay, there was no need of Merit: For, as the Lord was so well pleased with Abraham's Faith and Obedience, as for his sake he vouchsafed his Posterity many Favours, though the Patriarch did not merit so much; so the Lord might be so well pleased with the Obedience and Sufferings of Christ, as for his sake to make such a Promise, without any Merit obliging him to it. Thus way is made, to strip Redemption both of Satisfaction and Merit, without which it is, it can be no Redemption indeed; the Name may be retained, but the Thing denied; all necessity of it, and all advantage by it too, but what is left to the arbitrement of Freewill.

Nay, there was no need of Merit: For, as the Lord was so well pleased with Abraham's Faith and Obedience, as for his sake he vouchsafed his Posterity many Favours, though the Patriarch did not merit so much; so the Lord might be so well pleased with the Obedience and Sufferings of Christ, as for his sake to make such a Promise, without any Merit obliging him to it. Thus way is made, to strip Redemption both of Satisfaction and Merit, without which it is, it can be no Redemption indeed; the Name may be retained, but the Thing denyed; all necessity of it, and all advantage by it too, but what is left to the arbitrement of Freewill.