Christs eternal existence, and the dignity of his person asserted and proved in opposition…

2. The honour of his governing Justice was to be secured, and freed from any blemish, that the awe of God might be kept up in the World. In the mystery of our Redemption we must not look upon God only as pars laesa, the wronged party; but as Rector Mundi, God was to carry himself as the Governor of the World. Now there is a difference between a private person and a governor: private persons may pass by offences as they please, but a governor must do right, and what conduces to the public good. There is a twofold notion that we have of public right, Justum est quod fieri debet, and justum est quod fieri potest. That which ought to be done or we are unjust, as for instance to punish the righteous equally with the wicked, that Abraham pleadeth, Gen. 18.25. That be far from thee to do after this manner to slay the Righteous with the wicked, and that the ⟨p. 228⟩Righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee, shall not the Judge of all the earth do right. Not that Abraham mindeth God of his Office but he was confidently assured of the nature of God, that he could not do otherwise. But now there is justum quod fieri po•est, which if it be done or if it be not done, the party is not unjust, the first part of Justice is paying of debts, the second exacting or requiring of debts. Now the Judge of the World doth all things wisely and righteously, the question is therefore whether God passing by the offences of the World without any satisfaction required doth deal justly? As a free Lord he may make what Laws he pleases, but as a just Judge with respect to the ends of government, he doth that which is for public good. The right of passing by a wrong, and the right of releasing a punishment are different things, because punishment is a common interest, and is referred to a common good to preserve order and government, and for example to the future. The Government of the world required it that God should stand on the satisfaction of Christ, and the submission of the sinner: that he may be owned and reverenced, as the just and holy Governor of the World ⟨p. 229⟩a valuable compensation is insisted on for this end, Rom. 2.25, 26. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood, to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God.