A Threefold Consideration With Which Faith Relieves The Soul From Terror of God’s Justice 4/5

Consideration 2.  Faith doth not only bear witness to the justice of God, that he may pardon a poor believing sinner, and yet be just; but it shows that he may advance the honour of his justice by pardoning the believing soul, more than in damning the impenitent sinner.  And surely God had no less design in the gospel-covenant than this.  He that would not the death of a sinner but to vindicate his justice, would not certainly have consented to the death of his only Son, but for the higher advance and further glorifying of his justice in the eye of his crea­ture.  Christ saith he came not only that we sinners ‘might have life,’ but that we might ‘have it more ab­undantly,’ John 10:10—that is, more abundantly than we should have inherited it from innocent Adam. May we not therefore say, that Christ did not die that God might only have his due debt, but that he might have it more abundantly paid by Christ, than he could have had it at the creature's hands?  But more partic­ularly the justice of God will appear here clothed with four glorious circumstances, that cannot be found in the payment which the sinner by his own personal sufferings makes unto it.

           (a) If we consider the person at whose hand divine justice receives satisfaction.  When the sinner is damned for his own sins, it is but a poor sorry crea­ture that is punished; but, when Christ suffereth, the debt is paid by a more honourable hand: God hath it from one who is near to himself, yea, equal with him­self.  ‘Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts,’ Zech. 13:7.  Who will not say a judge gives more eminent testimony of his justice, when he condemns his own son, than when he arraigns a stranger?  Here God indeed declared his utmost hatred to sin, and inflexible love to justice, in that he spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all.

           (b) If we consider the manner how the debt is paid.  When the sinner is damned, it is in a poor beg­garly way by retail; now a few pence, and then a few more.  He is ever paying, but never comes to the last farthing, and therefore must for ever lie in prison for non-payment.  But, at Christ’s hands God receives all the whole debt in one lump, so that Christ could truly say, ‘It is finished,’ John 19:30—as much as if he had said, There are but a few moments, and the work of redemption will be finished.  I ave the sum now in my hand to pay God his whole debt, and as soon as I have bowed my head, and the breath is once out of my body, all will be finished.  Yea, he hath his dis­charge for the receipt of the whole sum due to God’s justice from the mouth of God himself, in which we find him triumphing.  ‘He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me?’ Isa. 50:8.  Yea, still more, Christ hath not only discharged the old debt, but by the same blood hath made a new purchase of God for his saints; so that God, who was even now the cred­itor, is become the debtor to his creature, and that for no less than eternal life, which Christ hath paid for, and given every believer authority, humbly to claim of God in his name.  See them both in one place.  ‘But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified,’ Heb. 10:12-14.  He hath not only crossed the debt-book for believers, but per­fected them for ever; that is, made as certain provi­sion for their perfection in glory, as for their salvation from hell’s punishment.  From which he exhorts them to ‘draw near in full assurance of faith,’ ver. 22.  Let us not fear but we shall receive at God’s hands what Christ hath paid for.