toCantribinl r ettf,1 tleboription. 2 And after His giving a Law, and declaring that accord- Cha ing to the tenor of it, He would difpenfe Rewards and Punifhments, if Sin were unrevenged, it would leífen the facrednefs of his Truth in the efteem of Men. So that theLaw, and Law-giver would be expofed to con- tempt. By all which it appears, that the Honour of God was infinitely Concerned in His requiring fatisfav&i- on for the breach of his Laws. Temporal Magiftratesare bound to executewifeand equal Laws, for the prefervation ofpublíck order, and civil focieties. 'Tis true, there be fome cafes wherein the Law-giver may be forced to difpenfe with the Law, as when the fparing of an offender is more advantage to the State than his punishment : Betides, there is a fuperiour Tribunal to which great Offenders are ob- noxious, and good Magiftrates, when through weak- nefs they are fain to fpair the guilty,refer them to God's judgment. But 'tis otherwife in the Divine Govern- ment: For God is infinitely free from any neceffity of Compliance. There is no exigency of Govern- ment that requires, that any Offenders thould efcape his Severity. Neither is there any juftice above his, which might exad Satisfaction of them. Betides, the Majefty ofhis Laws is more Sacred than of thofewhich preferve Earthly States, and ought to be more invio- lable. The fum is this, to declare God's hatredof Sin which is effential to his nature, to preferve the ho- nour of the Law which otherwife would be fecurely defpifed, and lofe its effe6t, to prevent fin by keep- ing up in Men an holy fear to offend God, an eternal refpe& in the rational Creature to Him, 'twas mofa fit that the prefumptuous breach of Gods Command should not be unpunifhed. Nov when the Son of God was made a Sacrifice for Sin, and by a bloody Death made expiation of it, the World is convinced how E e 2 infinitely
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