Uf the death of Chrlft. 9 ,", ilri.1= C H A P. IX. A dtgrefon concerning the immediate efeel of the death of Chràft. k?oteoe L 7' is one of the greatefi and noblfi queflions in our controverted divinity, what are the immediate effeEhe of Chr j's death ? He that ran rightly e; f aer this, is I vi a divine indeed ; and by help of this, may expedite moll other controverter about '^'ti'xhi bs redemption, and juflifioation. In a word ; the f bbs of redemption undertaken, could not be upon a-fubjeil not yet exillent, and fo no fubjeíl, though it might be ihr them. None but Adam and Eve were then exflent : yet as foon at we do exß, we re- ceive benefit from it. 7'he fufpending of the rigorous execution of the fentence of the law, is she aloft obfervable immediate 0E7 of the death of Chrß ; which fufpendun i3 fcne kind of deliverance from it. Thus far Mr. Baxter, rhff 9. explicat. pap. uy. There are fcarce more lines, than miftakes in this difcourfe : fome of them maybe touched on. r. Efeetsare to be conftdered with refpeft to their caufes. Caufes are real, or moral. Real, or phyfical caufes, produce their effe&s immediately, either im- oeediatione fappof:ti, orvrrtutir : unto them the fubjeft mull- be exiftent. I (peak not of creating power, where the act produceth its cbj&. Moral caufes do never immediately a&uate their own eife&s,, nor have any immediate influence into them. There is between fuck caufes, and their efe&s, the intervention of fome third thing, previous to thesis both, viza proportion, conftitution, law, covenant, which takes in the calif; and lets out the cleft'. And this for all circumflances of where, how, when, fuitable to the limitations in them expreffed, or implied: with the nature of the things themfelves. The death of Chrift is a moral caufe, in refpe& of all its efebts. Whether theft fubje&s ón which it is to have its efeets, be exillent, or not exilent at the time of its performance, is nothing at all confiderable: if it wrought focally, and efficiently, the exilence of the fubje&s on which it wereto work; were requifite. It is altogether in vain to enquire of the immediate effe&s of Chrift's death upon an extlent fubjeft. By the way, that Adam and Eve only were exilent, when -Chrift undertook the work of redemption, to the is not clear: no, nor yetthe following affertion, that as foon as we do exift, we re- ceiee benefit by it : taking benefit, for a benefit a&ually collated, as Mir. Baxter . doth, not for a right to a benefit, or the purpofe of bellowingone, .which will operate in its due time. This is eaftly affirmed : and therefore eadem facilitate is denied. I,have no fancy to Drive to carry the bell, and to be accounted a divine in- deeel, -by_attempting; at this time a right Dating of, and ánfwer to this queftion propofed : I am not altogether,._ignorant ofthe endeavour of others even at this particular; And have formerly fpoken fomething that way tnyfelf. Mr. Baxter teems here to underland by this queftion, wez.. What is the isitme- diate,efE1 of the death of Chrf, what is the led benefit, which from the death of Chrift, accrueth unto them for whom he died ? not what is the firI thing, that covey particular perfon is a&ually in his own perfon, in his own time made par- takerof : but a benefit generallyelablifhed, and in being, upon the defignment of the work of redemption, which every one for whom Chrift died hath á Iltare .of And of this he poltively affirms, that the fufpendingof the rigorous execution of the fattener of the law, is the molt obfviable, immediate efeît of the death if Chill : and fo deferves the title of a divineindeed. New truly, though not to contend for the bell with Mr. Baxter, whereof I confefs ntyfelf utterly unworthy, and willingly for many commendable parts af- cribe it unto him, I cannot clofe with him, nor alent unto that alfertion : very gladly would I .fee Mr. Baxter'sarguments for this ; but thole, as in moll other controverted things in this book, he is plcas'd to conceal : and therefore though it might fafhce ose, to give id my ¿ bicot, and -fò waft for further proof ; yet that it may be apparent' that I do not deny this merely becaufe it's faid, net H proved
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