Chapter 1: Occasion and Introduction

A few words will briefly acquaint the reader with the occasion of this discourse ensuing: it is now about 2 years since I published a treatise about the redemption, and satisfaction that is in the blood of Christ: my aim was to hold out the whole work of redemption, as flowing from the love of the Father, dispensed in the blood of the Son, and made effectual by the application of the Spirit of Grace: and because in this whole dispensation, and in all the method of God's proceedings to make us nigh to himself in the blood of Jesus: there is no one thing so commonly controverted, as the object of that redemption in respect of the extent of it: that in the whole, I did specially intend.

What by the grace of him (who supplies seed to the Sower) was attained in that undertaking, is left to the judgement of men, upon the issue of his blessing thereunto; altogether I am not out of hopes, that that labor in the Lord was not in vain.

The universality of redemption (one thing in that treatise mainly opposed) having of old, and of late got room in the minds of some men, otherwise furnished with many precious truths, and eminent gifts, I was not without expectation of some opposition to be made thereunto: something also (I have been informed) has been attempted that way; but I am yet at so much quiet in that regard, as an utter nescience of them, can afford.

Only whereas many other questions are incidently, and by the way handled therein, as about the satisfaction, and merit of Christ, &c. it pleased Mr. Baxter, a learned divine, in an appendix to a treatise of justification by him lately published, to turn aside in the censure of some of them, and opposition to them.

Indeed most of his exceptions do lie rather against words, than things; expressions, than opinions; ways of delivering things, than the doctrines themselves, as the reader will perceive; so that of this labor I might ease myself with this just apology; that I was desired, and pressed to handle the things of that discourse, in the most popular way they were capable of, and in the best accommodation to vulgar capacities; so that it is no wonder, if some expressions therein, may be found to want some grains of accurateness (though they have not one dram the less of truth) in a scholastical balance.

Notwithstanding, because

1 I am not as yet convinced by any thing in Mr. Baxter's censure, and opposition, that there was any such blameable deviation as is pretended, but rather the words of truth, and sobriety, clothing a doctrine of wholesomeness; and especially, because the things pointed at are in themselves weighty, and needing some exactness in the delivery, to give a right apprehension of them: I was willing once more to attempt whether the grace of God with me, who am less than the least of all saints, might give any further light into the right understanding of them according to the truth, to the advantage of any that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity.

The true nature of the satisfaction of Christ, with the kind of payment of our debt by him made and accomplished, is doubtless worthy of our most serious enquiry. The right constitution of the immediate effects of the death of Christ, the relation of men to the election of God, and the redemption of Christ, with their several states and conditions in reference to those works of grace, ought to be of no less esteem: and that not only for the nature and excellency of the things themselves, but also because a right disposal of them, gives more light into the stating and settling many other controverted truths about faith, justification, vocation, and the like. These are the subjects about which I am called forth in my own, or rather truth's defence.

For the treatise, and subject thereof, whose latter part gives rise to this; I shall say no more, but as there are in it many footsteps of commendable learning, industry, and diligence; so to my present apprehension the chief intendments of it, with very many occasional expressions of the author's judgement in sundry particulars, are obnoxious to just opposition from truth itself.

It is not at all in my thoughts, to engage myself into the chief controversy there agitated; though I could desire, that some to whom Providence has given more leisure, and opportunities for such employments, would candidly examine those aphorisms, for the further advantage of truth and light.

But whereas the learned author has to make straight the work he had in hand, endeavoured to cast some part of the doctrine of the satisfaction, and redemption of Christ, as by me delivered, into a crooked frame, and that with some such passages of censure, as might have been omitted, without losing the least grace of his book, or style: I shall with the Lord's assistance, endeavour to reinforce what of truth has been thereby assaulted in vain, and more especially take occasion from there further to unfold those mysteries, which to our apprehension, are wrapped up in no small darkness: there being in them some things difficult, and hard to be understood.

The first thing then, which that learned divine chose to stand in distance from me in, is concerning the nature of the payment made for sin by the blood of Christ; whether it be ejusdem, or tantidem; and of the sense of those expressions, is our first debate: in handling whereof, I hope I shall not only satisfy the reader as to the truth of what I had before written; but also further clear the whole doctrine of satisfaction, with especial reference to the kind of the payment that Christ made, and punishment which he underwent.

The other head wraps in itself many particulars concerning the immediate fruit, or effects of the death of Christ, the state of elect redeemed ones before actual believing, the nature of redemption, reconciliation, the differencing of persons in God's eternal purposes; to the consideration of all which, and sundry other particulars, I have occasion offered me, in defence of the truth impugned.

These now and the like, being things in themselves weighty, and the difference about them being for the most part rather as to the way of the delivery, than as to things themselves: in the handling of them, I could not attend merely to the advantage offered by Mr. Baxter's discourse, but chose rather to cast them into another method, which might be distinct, clear, and accommodate to the things themselves: so that I hope the reader may (with some profit) see the whole dispensation of the love of God to his elect through Christ, with the relation of the elect in several conditions, to the several actings of God in that dispensation succinctly laid down.

The accommodation also of all delivered, to many weighty controversies, I have added.

If the way of handling these things here used, be blamed by any, I hope the judicious will see, that it is such as the matter itself will bear.

There has not been many things in my whole enquiry after the mind of God in his Word, which have more exercised my thoughts, than the right ordering, and distinct disposal of those whereof we treat. If the Lord has discovered any thing to me, or made out any thing by me, that may be for the benefit of any of his, I shall rejoice; it being always in my desire, that all things might fall out to the advantage of the Gospel: and so I address myself to the matter before me.