If Christs death satisfied God for our sins,1 how unparalleled is the love of Christ to poor sinners! 2It's much to pay a pecuniary debt, to free another; but who will pay his own blood for another? We have a famous instance of Zaleucus, that famous Locrensian Lawgiver, who decreed and Enacted, that whoever was convicted of Adultery, should have both his eyes put out. It so fell out, that his own Son was brought before him for that crime; hereupon the people interposing, made suit for his pardon. At length, the Father partly overcome by their importunities, and not unwilling to show what lawful favour he might to his Son; he first put out one of his own eyes, and then one of his Sons; and so showed himself both a merciful Father, and a just Lawgiver. ⟨p. 176⟩So tempering mercy with justice, that both the Law was satisfied, and his Son spared. This is written by the Historian as an instance of singular love in this Father, to pay one half of the penalty for his Son. But Christ did not divide and share in the penalty with us, but bare it all. Zaleucus did it for his Son, who was dear to him; Christ did it for enemies, that were fighting and rebelling against him. Rom. 5.8. while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. O would to God (said an holy one) I could cause Paper and Ink to speak the worth and excellency, the high and loud praises of our brother-ransomer! Oh the ransomer needs not my report; but oh if he would take it, and make use of it. I should be happy if I had an Errand to this world, but for some few years; to spread proclamations, and out-cries, and love-letters of the highness [the highness for evermore] of the ransomer, whose clothes were wet, and dyed in blood; how be it, that after that, my soul and body should go back to their mother nothing.
If Christs death satisfied God for our sins,1 how unparallel'd is the love of Christ to poor sinners! 2It's much to pay a pecuniary debt, to free another; but who will pay his own blood for another? We have a famous instance of Zaleucus, that famous Locrensian Lawgiver, who decreed and Enacted, that whoever was convicted of Adultery, should have both his eyes put out. It so fell out, that his own Son was brought before him for that crime; hereupon the people interposing, made suit for his pardon. At length, the Father partly overcome by their importunities, and not unwilling to shew what lawful favour he might to his Son; he first put out one of his own eyes, and then one of his Sons; and so shewed himself both a merciful Father, and a just Lawgiver. ⟨p. 176⟩So tempering mercy with justice, that both the Law was satisfied, and his Son spared. This is written by the Historian as an instance of singular love in this Father, to pay one half of the penalty for his Son. But Christ did not divide and share in the penalty with us, but bare it all. Zaleucus did it for his Son, who was dear to him; Christ did it for enemies, that were fighting and rebelling against him. Rom. 5.8. while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. O would to God (said an holy one) I could cause Paper and Ink to speak the worth and excellency, the high and loud praises of our brother-ransomer! Oh the ransomer needs not my report; but oh if he would take it, and make use of it. I should be happy if I had an Errand to this world, but for some few years; to spread proclamations, and out-crys, and love-letters of the highness [the highness for evermore] of the ransomer, whose cloaths were wet, and dyed in blood; how be it, that after that, my soul and body should go back to their mother nothing.
- 1Infer. 3.
- 2Val•rius. lib. 6. c. 5.
