An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ,…

The Doctor tells us, ¹That in Christ God hath manifested the Naturalness of his Justice in punishing Sin, in that it was impossible that it should be diverted from sinners without the interposing of a Propitiation; that is, God ⟨p. 46⟩is so just, that he cannot pardon without Satisfaction. Now this is such a Notion of Justice as is perfectly new, which neither Scripture nor Nature acquaints us with.

1. 1Mr. Sherlock.

Perfectly new!¹ how so? How many grave Divines and worthy Champions against the Socinians have affirmed, That God, such is his infinite Sanctity and Righteousness, cannot pardon sin without a Recompense or Satisfaction? And how strongly have they urged it out of Scripture and Reason! In Scripture God is set forth as a Righteous God, a Judge of the World, who will do right; one who cannot look upon iniquity, who will by no means clear the guilty; his punishing sin is attributed not merely to his Will or Decree, but to his just Nature. Thus the terrible Tempest comes down upon the wicked, because the righteous Lord loveth righteousness, Psal. 11.6, 7. Thus the vials of wrath are poured out, because God is righteousness, Revel. 16.5. In God an hatred of Sin is as essential as a love of Holiness; and in this hatred is tacitly included a veil punire, as some Divines speak; and upon that account sin cannot go unpunished. The Subjection of a Rational Creature to ⟨p. 47⟩its Creator is indispensable, and this Dependence, so far as it is broken off by sin, must be salved up by punishment. Should God punish merely from his Will, then it seems, Sin or no Sin, is all one to him. God is in his own Nature no more moved with Impieties and hellish Blasphemies, than if there were none; the punishing them or absolving them is but an indifferent thing. Socinus upon that Text, absolvendo non absolvet, saith, That God, as propense as he is to mercy and forgiveness, absolves no rebels and impenitent persons remaining in that estate: Yet, if he might pardon without a Satisfaction, might he not do it without Repentance also? The very Pagans knew [Greek or Hebrew], the just judgment of God, or that he would punish sin; and this not from the revealed Will of God, but from the natural Principles and Sculptures graven in their hearts; which shows that the punishment is not merely from God's Will. If Sin could have been pardoned without Satisfaction, why was the only beloved Son of God made a Curse? Why did he fear, and tremble, and bow, and sweat, and pray, and die upon a Cross, as the Dr. pathetically expresses his Passion? It seems all