A89732:237
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. Though the notions of a Mediator and a Malefactor are clearly distinct in themselves, yet your distinguishing between Christ dying as a Mediator and as a malefactor is unsound; because it implieth that in dying as a Mediator, he died not as a Malefactor, no not imputatively; whereas to be a malefactor imputatively was (for the times) a part of his Mediatorly office, and essential to the death of the Mediator.
Answ. Though the notions of a Mediatour and a Malefactour are clearly distinct in themselves, yet your distinguishing between Christ dying as a Mediatour and as a malefactor is unsound; because it implieth that in dying as a Mediatour, he died not as a Malefactor, no not imputatively; whereas to be a malefactor imputatively was (for the times) a part of his Mediatorly office, and essentiall to the death of the Mediator.
The Dialogue makes him a malefactor, in respect of mens false imputations only, but denies any imputation of sin unto him by God.
Dialogu. He bare our sins in his body upon the tree, 1 Pet. 2.24. Peter means he bare the punishment of sin (inflicted according to the sentence of Pilate) in his body on the tree: sin is often put for the punishment of sin.