The Fountain of Life Opened

We also with like detestation reject that doctrine which makes the satisfaction of Christ either impossible, or fictitious, and inconsistent with grace, in the free pardon of sin. Many are the cavils raised against Christs satisfaction; the principal are such as these that follow.

¹The Doctrine of Christs Satisfaction is absurd, for Christ (say we) is God; if so, then God satisfies himself; then which, what can be more absurd to imagine?

1. 1Object.

¹I Answer, God cannot properly be said to satisfy himself, for that would be the same thing as to pardon simply,² without any satisfaction. But there is a twofold consideration of ⟨p. 173⟩Christ. One in respect of his Essence and divine nature, in which sense, he is the object both of the offence, and of the satisfaction made for it. Another in respect of his person, and economy,³ or office: in which sense he properly satisfies God, being in respect of his manhood another, and inferior to God. Joh. 14.28. the blood of the man Christ Jesus is the matter of the satisfaction. The divine nature dignifies it, and makes it of infinite value. A certain family hath committed treason against the King, and are all under the condemnation of the Law for it; the Kings Son moved with pity and love, resolves to satisfy the Law, and yet save the Family; in order whereunto he marries a daughter of the family, whereby her blood becomes Royal blood, and worth the blood of the whole family whence she sprang; this Princess is by her Husband executed in the room of the rest. In this case the King satisfies not himself for the wrong, but is satisfied by the death of another, equivalent in worth to the blood of them all. This similitude answers not to all the particulars, as indeed nothing in nature doth or can, but it only shows what it was that satisfied God, and how it became so satisfactory.