The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

But I somewhat wonder how others can make use of his Inventions in this kind, who if they considered aright their proper tendency, they will find them to be absolutely destructive of what they seem to own. So it is in this present Objection against the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ; If it hath any force in it, as indeed it hath not, it is to prove that the satisfaction of Christ was impossible; and so he intended it. But it will be easily removed.

I answer first in general; that the whole fallacy of this Objection lies in the opposing one part of the design and method of Gods grace in this mystery of our Justification, unto another; or the taking of one part of it to be the whole, which as to its Efficacy and Perfection depends on somewhat else. Hereof we warned the Reader in our previous discourses. For the whole of it is a supposition, that the satisfaction of Christ, if there be any such thing, must have its whole effect, without Believing on our part, which is contrary unto the whole Declaration of the will of God in the Gospel. But I shall principally respect them who are pleased to make use of this Objection, and yet do not deny the satisfaction of Christ. And I say

1. When the Lord Christ died for us, and offered himself as a Propitiatory Sacrifice, God laid all our sins on him. Isa. 53.6. And he then bare them all in his own body on the Tree, 1 Pet. 2.24. Then he suffered in our stead, and made full satisfaction for all our sins; For he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself, Heb. 9.26. and by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are Sanctified, Chap. 10.14. He whose sins were not actually and absolutely satisfied for, in that one Offering of Christ, shall never have them expiated unto Eternity. For henceforth he dieth no more, there is no more Sacrifice for sin. The Repetition of a Sacrifice for sin, which must be the Crucifying of Christ afresh, overthrows the foundation of Christian Religion.