Arg. 1 Either Christ suffered the justice of God in stead of the Elect, denounced against sin, Gen. 2.17. or God might dispense with the execution thereof without violation of his justice: But God could not dispense with the execution thereof without the violation of his justice. What was sometimes spoken of the Law of the Medes and Persians, holds true at all times concerning the Law of God, that it altereth not; for the confirmation of this truth Christ solemnly engageth his truth, Verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no ways pass from the Law till all be fulfilled, Matth. 5.18. This sentence was universal given to Adam as a public person, and holds all his posterity, whether elect or reprobate in case of sin, guilty of death. Hereby the omnipotent hath so limited himself, as that now he cannot do that which else he could do, in respect of his absolute power. The command being given out for Lots preservation, God could not destroy Sodom till Lot was secured, Gen. 19.22. for the Decree being passed, and the word gone out of his mouth, God cannot deny himself; Hence in the case of execution of justice, 'tis not only a truth, that God spared not the Angels, 1 Pet. 2.4. nor the old world, vers. 5. but it is also a truth that he spared not his Son, Rom. 8.28. Unto this ⟨p. 11⟩purpose Piscator well interprets those words of our Saviour [If it be possible, &c.] Matth. 26.39.1 That is, saith he, If in respect of the righteous will of God the father there could be any other way found to save the Elect, without Christs suffering of the wrath of God for their sin, he prayeth that then the cup might pass from him, but because that could not be, he submits his will to his Fathers will, the sum whereof is, God showeth by the example of his Son, that he having constituted his Law, the rule of relative justice, between him and man; the dispensation, with the exemption from punishment in case of sin was impossible.
Arg. 1 Either Christ suffered the justice of God in stead of the Elect, denounced against sin, Gen. 2.17. or God might dispense with the execution thereof without violation of his justice: But God could not dispense with the execution thereof without the violation of his justice. What was sometimes spoken of the Law of the Medes and Persians, holds true at all times concerning the Law of God, that it altereth not; for the confirmation of this truth Christ solemnly engageth his truth, Verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth passe, one jot or one tittle shall in no waies passe from the Law till all be fulfilled, Matth. 5.18. This sentence was universal given to Adam as a publick person, and holds all his posterity, whether elect or reprobate in case of sin, guilty of death. Hereby the omnipotent hath so limitted himself, as that now he cannot do that which else he could do, in respect of his absolute power. The command being given out for Lots preservation, God could not destroy Sodom till Lot was secured, Gen. 19.22. for the Decree being passed, and the word gone out of his mouth, God cannot deny himself; Hence in the case of execution of justice, 'tis not only a truth, that God spared not the Angels, 1 Pet. 2.4. nor the old world, vers. 5. but it is also a truth that he spared not his Son, Rom. 8.28. Unto this ⟨p. 11⟩purpose Piscator well interprets those words of our Saviour [If it be possible, &c.] Matth. 26.39.1 That is, saith he, If in respect of the righteous will of God the father there could be any other way found to save the Elect, without Christs suffering of the wrath of God for their sin, he praieth that then the cup might passe from him, but because that could not be, he submits his will to his Fathers will, the summe whereof is, God sheweth by the example of his Son, that he having constituted his Law, the rule of relative justice, between him and man; the dispensation, with the exemption from punishment in case of sin was impossible.
- 1Confer. Piscat. Analys. & Observ. in Matth. 26. Davenant in Col. 1.20. p. 105.
