Cont. 28. Is it not unjust to punish him that Christ died for, even one sin twice?
Ans. No, Unless it were the same person that suffered, or the very same punishment that was due (and all that was due) were expected again; and unless it were against our mediators will. But all is contrary in this case. 1. The Law bound no one to suffer but the offender. 2. Therefore Christ suffering was not the same punishment which the Law did threaten, but it was Satisfaction instead of it; which is the Tantundem, not the idem quod debitum suit, but redditio æquivalentis aliàs indebiti, as the Schoolmen call it. For noxa caput sequitur; the Law threateneth not a surety, but only the sinner, and ubi alius solvit, simul aliud solvitur. 3. And Christ himself never satisfied with any other intent; and therefore it is according to his will, that they that tread under foot the blood of the Covenant wherewith they were Sanctified, as an unholy thing, and do despite to the Spirit of Grace, should suffer the far sorer punishment, Heb. 10. Yea it is Christ himself that will have it so, and that doth so judge, them, and inflict this punishment for the contempt of grace.
And it is his will that his own members be punished by correction, notwithstanding his sufferings: As many as he loveth he doth rebuke and chasten: And Christ doth not wrong himself: The end of his suffering never was to execute the redeemed from all suffering, nor to make believers lawless.
Richard Baxter, The Scripture Gospel defended, and Christ, Grace and Free Justification Vindicated Against the Libertines […] In Two Books […] (London: Printed for Tho. Parkhurst, at the Bible and Three Crowns, at the lower end of Cheapside, 1690), 1:47–48. See also Richard Baxter, Catholick Theologie: Plain, Pure, Peaceable: For Pacification Of the Dogmatical Word-Warriours […] In Three Books. […] (London: Printed by Robert White, for Nevill Simons at the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1675), 1.2.68–69; §148–151.
Error 5. ‘That God were unjust if he laid any degree of punishment on those that Christ died for; or (say others) on the justified; because he shall punish one sin twice.’Richard Baxter, The Practical Works of the Rev. Richard Baxter, 23 vols. (London: James Duncan, 1830), 12:315–16.
Contr. It is certain, that God punisheth the justified in some degree (much more the elect before conversion), and it is certain that God is not unjust. Therefore it is certain that the ground of this accusation is false; for it was not our deserved punishment itself, or the same which was due in the true sense of the law which Christ endured: but it was the punishment of a voluntary sponsor, which was the ‘equivalens,’ and not the ‘idem’ that was due; and did answer the ends of the law, but not fulfil the meaning of the threatening; which threatened the sinner himself, and not another for him: seeing then it was a satisfaction, or sacrifice for sin, which God received for an atonement and propitiation, and not a solution or suffering of the sinner himself in the sense of the law, the charge of injustice on God is groundless.
Bio:
No comments:
Post a Comment