The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

In our present enquiry into the nature of this Suretyship of Christ, the whole will be resolved into this one question, namely, whether the Lord Christ was made a Surety only on the part of God unto us, to assure us, that the Promise of the Covenant on his part should be accomplished; or also and principally an undertaker on our part, for the performance of what is required, if not of us, yet with respect unto us, that the Promise may be accomplished. The first of these is vehemently asserted by the Socinians, who are followed by Grotius and Hammond in their Annotations on this place.

In our present enquiry into the nature of this Suretiship of Christ, the whole will be resolved into this one question, namely, whether the Lord Christ was made a Surety only on the part of God unto us, to assure us, that the Promise of the Covenant on his part should be accomplished; or also and principally an undertaker on our part, for the performance of what is required, if not of us, yet with respect unto us, that the Promise may be accomplished. The first of these is vehemently asserted by the Socinians, who are followed by Grotius and Hammond in their Annotations on this place.

The words of Schlictingius are, Sponsor foederis appellatur Jesus, quod nomine Dei nobis spoponderit, id est fidem fecerit, Deum foederis promissiones servaturum. Non vero quasi pro nobis spoponderit Deo, nostrorumve debitorum solutionem in se receperit. Nec enim nos misimus Christum sed Deus, cujus nomine Christus ad nos venit, foedus nobiscum panxit, ejusque promissiones ratas fore spopondit & in se recepit; ideoque nec sponsor simpliciter, sed foederis sponsor nominatur; spopondit autem Christus pro foederis divini veritate, non tantum quatenus id firmum ratumque fore verbis perpetuo testatus est; sed etiam quatenus muneris sui fidem, maximis rerum ipsarum comprobavit Documentis, cum perfecta vitae innocentia & Sanctitate, cum divinis plane quae patravit operibus; cum mortis adeo truculentae, quam pro Doctrinae suae veritate subijt, perpessione. After which he subjoins a long Discourse about the Evidences which we have of the veracity of Christ. And herein we have a brief account of their whole Opinion concerning the Mediation of Christ. The words of Grotius are; spopondit Christus, i.e. Nos certos Promissi fecit, non solis verbis, sed perpetua vitae Sanctitate, morte ob id tolerata & miraculis plurimis; which are an Abridgement of the Discourse of Schlictingius. To the same purpose Dr. Hammond expounds it, that he was a Sponsor or Surety for God unto the confirmation of the Promises of the Covenant.