The A ature of Chr's Suretlf hip. 2 5 9 refpe&s the defect of the perfon for whom any one becomes a furety. Such an one is Sponfr, or Fidejuifor, in all Good Authors and common ufe of fpeech. And if any one be of abf lute credit himfelf, and of a Reputation every way un- queflionable, there is no need of a furety, unlefs in cafe of mortality. The words of a furety in the behalf of another whole Ability or Reputation is dubious, are, ad me recipio, faciet, ant faciam. And when y- u©- is taken adjeFtively, as fometimes, it lignifies fatifdationibus obnoxius ; liable to pay- ments for others, that are non folvent. 2. God can therefore have no furety properly, becaufe there can be no Imagination of' any defect on his part. There may be indeed a Queftion whether any Word or Promife, be a Word or Promife of God. To affure us hereof, it is not the Work of a furety, but only any one, or . any means that may give evidence that fo it is, that is, of a Witnefs. But upon a fuppofition that what is propofed is his Word or Pro - mile, there can be no Imagination or fear of any defect on his part, fo as that there lhould be any need of a furety for the performance of' it. He loth therefore make ufe of Wit- reps to confirm his Word; that is, to teftifie that fuch Pro - miles he hath made, and fo he will do. So the Lord Chrift was his Witnefs, ffä. ,43. io. Te are my Witnefs faith the Lord, and my Servant whom I have chofen. But they were not all his fureties. So he affirms, that he came into the World to bear witneß unto the Truth, yoh. 18. 37. that is, the Truth of the Promifes of God ; for he was the Miner of the Cir- cumcilion: for the Truth of. the Promifis of God unto the Fa- thers,Rot.i. 15. 8. But a furety for God, properly fo called, he was not, nor could be. The diftance and difference is wide enough between a witnef and a furety. For a furety muff be of more Ability, or more Credit and Reputation than he or `thofe . for whom- he is a furety; or there is no need of his fureti fhip ; or at leaft he muff add unto their credit, and make L1 2 it
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