The truly blessed man

3. Learn hence the necessity of Christ's passive Obedience, in order to our forgiveness. If he had not suffered, we could not have been pardoned: for such is our relation to the Law of Justice, that if once we have contracted Guilt to our selves, there is a Law Imputation of it to us: and to the •aking that off again, nothing less can be necessary than that the Law be answered; and that requires satisfaction, and will not take up without it. Nor was there any to be found that was able to give in this satisfaction for us, but the Son of God in our nature: if he had not done it, no other could; so that we must have remained under the charge, how then could God have been Just, and yet Justify us? Rom. 3.26 to him then are we to acknowledge this wonderful benefit.

3. Learn hence the necessity of Christ's passive Obedience, in order to our forgiveness. If he had not suffered, we could not have been pardoned: for such is our relation to the Law of Justice, that if once we have contracted Guilt to our selves, there is a Law Imputation of it to us: and to the •aking that off again, nothing less can be necessary than that the Law be answered; and that requires satisfaction, and will not take up without it. Nor was there any to be found that was able to give in this satisfaction for us, but the Son of God in our nature: if he had not done it, no other could; so that we must have remained under the charge, how then could God have been Just, and yet Justifie us? Rom. 3.26 to him then are we to acknowledge this wonderful benefit.

4. This tells us that forgiveness should not take away, but increase our self loathing. When God cometh to forgive us, he finds us Sinners, else we should not need forgiveness; and in forgiving he doth not take away the being of the sin he forgives, or make us inherently righteous, though together with it he ever Sanctifies us; but withdraws the Imputation from it; but still there