Amos 5. 21, 22. Isa. 1. 13, 14. And what is more convenient then to testifie how much sinne is displeasing unto him, which is done most conveniently by punishment, Exod 32. 10, 11. Numb. 11. 1. & 16. 22. Joh. 3. 36. Impunity hath this in it, that it makes that sinnes be lesse esteemed: as feare of punishment is a ready way to keepe men in awe. They that have written of the relaxation of Lawes doe note, that those relaxations are best, to which some commutation or recompence is annexed:Proxima sunt idem ac tantundem. because by that meanes the authority of the Law is preserved, and obedience given to that reason, which was the cause of the Law.
And hence we may gather a second reason, why God would not pardon sinne without satisfaction, sc. his truth and the Law which he had established against sinne, which he will in no wise abolish: one jot or title shall in no wise passe from the Law, till all be fulfilled, Matth. 5. 18. For it is altogether undecent, especially to the wisedome and righteousnesse of God, that that which provoketh the execution, should procure the abrogation of his Lawes, that that should supplant and undermine the Law, for the alone preventing whereof the Law was before established.
Also God will have men alwayes to tremble before him, and by his terror to be perswaded from sinning, 2 Cor. 5. 10, 11. and therefore he reserveth to himselfe entire the punishment of sin, that men might alwayes feare before him, Matth. 10. 28. Luk. 12. 4. The omission of punishment after the publication of the Law, doth detract somewhat from the authority of the Law, with the subjects: God therefore willing to shew mercy to the creature fallen, and with all to maintaine the authority of his Law, tooke such a course as might best manifest his clemency and severity, his hatred of sin, care to stablish the Law, and tender compassion towards them that had gone astray. And hereby the love of God towards them that are spared is the more illustrious, that he spared them, who rather then he would not punish sinne, would give his only begotten Sonne to die for sinne.
It is objected againe, that God doth freely remit and pardon sinne, therefore he willed not that Christ should make satisfaction: because free remission will not stand with satisfaction. And most sure it is, that God is favourable to our iniquities, Ier. 31. 34. but God hath set forth Christ to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud. Rom. 3. 25. Act. 10. 43. Luk. 1. 68, 69, 70.There
