A89732:180
A discussion of that great point in divinity, the sufferings of Christ; and the…
A discussion of that great point in divinity, the sufferings of Christ; and the question about his righteousness active, passive : and the imputation thereof. Being an answer to a dialogue entitled The meritorious price of redemption, justification, &c. / By John Norton teacher of the church at Ipswich in New-England. Who was appointed to draw up this answer by the general court.A discussion of that great point in divinity, the sufferings of Christ; and the question about his righteousnesse active, passive : and the imputation thereof. Being an answer to a dialogue intituled The meritorious price of redemption, justification, &c. / By John Norton teacher of the church at Ipswich in New-England. Who was appointed to draw up this answer by the generall court.
London: printed by A.M. for Geo. Calvert, 1653
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. We are to distinguish between the sufferings which are of the essence or substance of the curse, and those the inflicting whereof in particular is not of the essence of the curse. Bodily diseases, Putrefaction, the duration of punishment for ever, are not essential to the curse; because the wrath of God may be suffered where these are not: The Devils are not sick, the reprobate that shall not die but be changed (therefore not see corruption) yet shall suffer the wrath of God. No reprobates endure all miseries formally and individually, yet all suffer the wrath of God. Eternal death is an evil, not in kind but in value: not formally but virtually: As the enjoyment of blessedness doth not presuppose all temporal good things enjoyed in kind, so neither doth the suffering of the wrath of God suppose the suffering of all temporal evils in kind.
Answ. We are to distinguish between the sufferings which are of the essence or substance of the curse, and those the inflicting whereof in particular is not of the essence of the curse. Bodily diseases, Putrefaction, the duration of punishment for ever, are not essentiall to the curse; because the wrath of God may be suffered where these are not: The Devils are not sick, the reprobate that shall not die but be changed (therefore not see coruption) yet shall suffer the wrath of God. No reprobates endure all miseries formally and individually, yet all suffer the wrath of God. Eternall death is an evill, not in kinde but in value: not formally but virtually: As the enjoyment of blessednesse doth not presuppose all temporall good things enjoyed in kinde, so neither doth the suffering of the wrath of God suppose the suffering of all temporall evils in kinde.
Duration of punishment for ever is not of the substance of punishment, but is an adjunct following upon the inability of the Patient to satisfy justice; as continuance in prison is no part of the debt, but the consequent of the debtors inability to pay the debt; the punishment of the damned continueth for ever, because they can never satisfy divine justice; The punishment of Christ endured but a time, because he satisfied justice: The sufferings of Christ were eternal in value, though temporal ⟨p. 30⟩