28 Of the death of Chrbft. Therefore that principle much ufed, and relied on by Mr. Baxter in the butì- nefs of fatisfacton, to obviate this very difficulty, of a not immediate dif- charge, if Christ paid the debt, viz. That the fatisfaftion of Chrift is a refu- table payment; whichhe preffeth page ¡49, tyo. is neither true in it felt, nor accommodate to this difficulty. Not true : For, The fuffering of Christ may be confidered, either, (r.) Abfolutely, as in .itfelf, ab traeiing from the confideration of any cove. cant, or compati thereabout ; and fo it cannot be Paid to be a refutable pay- ment, not becaufe not refutable, but becaufe no payment. That any thing thould have any fuch reference unto God as a payment, or fatisfaftion, whether refutable or otherwife, is not from its felt, and its own nature, but from the conftitution of God alone. Between God, and the creature there is noequality, not to much as of proportion. Chrift in refped of his humane nature, though united to the Deity, is a creature, and fo could not abfolutely fatisfy, or merit any thing at the hand of God: I mean with that kind of merit, which arifeth froman abfolute proportion of things. This merit, can be foundonlyamong crea- hures; and the advancement of Chrift's humanity takes it not out of that number. Neither in this-fettle can any fatisfaftion be made to God for fin. The finner's own undergoing, the penalty, neither is fatisfaftion in the fence whereof we (peak, neither can it properly be Paid to be fo at all; no more than a thing tobe done, which is endlelly in doing. (a.) It may be confideredwith reference unto God's eoniitution, and deter- mination, predefiinating Chrift unto that work, and apointing the work by him to be accomplilhed, to be fatisfa&or , equalling by that confitütion theend, and themeans. And thus the fatisfaftionof Christ in the jul$ce of God was not refutable ; thé wifdom, truth, jufice, and fuitable púrpofe of God, being engaged to the contrary. This diftinetion is not accommodate to this difficulty; the tole reafon thereof being what was held out before, of the inteieft of God's fovereign right to the befiowing of purpofed, purchafed, promifed blefings, as to times, and foafon , according to the free counfel of his own will. Hence then it is, that God in the Scriptureupon the deathOf Chrift is Paid to be reconciled, to be returned unto peace with them for whom he fo died, the enmity being flain, and peaceactually made, Eph. x. 54, h 5, 16. Colof t. zo. becaufe he now will, and may, fuitably to his juftice, wifdom, andappointment, make out unto them, for whom the atonementwas made, all fruits of love, peace, and amity, Hob. x. ty. Rom. y. to, tr. a Co-. . 5. 19. The objedlion untothis, How then canGod deny to the prefent poß0'on ofHeaven ? ufed by Mr. Baxter, page r y y. is not of any force, the whole difpofal of hcfe things, being left to his own pinafore. And this is the Scheme, which upon the death of Chrift, we align unto God .s he is atoned, appeafed, actually reconciled, at peace with thofe for wh Christ died, and in due time for his fake will beftow upon them all thy fruits, and iffues of love, and renewed friendfhip. This poffibly may give Tome light into the immediate effett of the death of Chrift; which though I (hall not purpofely now handle, yet Mr. Baxter with much diligencehaving employed himfelf in the invefiigation thereof, I !hall turn alide a little to confiderhis affertions in this particular. C H A P.
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