The display of glorious grace, or, The covenant of peace opened in fourteen sermons…

For should a Creditor find a Surety for the Debtor, all must confess it is in his choice how and when the Debtor should be actually acquitted. Moreover, 'tis evident, that we had no actual Existence when Christ struck Hands for us; besides, it was for such that he foresaw would fall under Sin, Wrath, and Condemnation, and Christ did not become a Surety to keep the Elect from falling under Wrath, and the Sentence of Death, but to recover them out of that State; Justification presupposeth we were once Charged and Condemned.

For should a Creditor find a Surety for the Debtor, all must confess it is in his choice how and when the Debtor should be actually acquited. Moreover, 'tis evident, that we had no actual Existence when Christ struck Hands for us; besides, it was for such that he foresaw would fall under Sin, Wrath, and Condemnation, and Christ did not become a Surety to keep the Elect from falling under Wrath, and the Sentence of Death, but to recover them out of that State; Justification presupposeth we were once Charged and Condemned.

2. A Surety and Debtor among Men, both enter into the same Bond, and the Debtor is looked upon the principal Bondsman.

2. A Surety and Debtor among Men, both enter into the same Bond, and the Debtor is look'd upon the principal Bondsman.

But Christ's single Bond, in this Covenant, is accepted for all; here is a Change of Persons, God leaves out our Names, and puts in Christ's Name, that the Debt, Satisfaction, and Curse might fall upon him alone. See Dr. Goodwin: ¹He was made Sin for us—Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law, being made a Curse for us; he was wounded for our Transgressions—And now Jesus Christ here by putting his Name unto this Bond, is become the principal Debtor, and is wholly obliged to pay, and satisfy for all the Sins of God's Elect; his Suretyship hath swallowed up the offending Debtors Obligation, to satisfy Law and Justice.