For the first: I presume he owns the satisfaction of
Christ, and I will suppose it until he directly denies it; therefore, also,
he owns and grants that God would not pardon any sin, but upon a
supposition of a previous satisfaction made by Jesus Christ. Here, then,
lies all the difference between us; — that I say God could not, with
respect unto his holiness and justice, as the author of the law and
governor of the world, pardon sin absolutely without satisfaction: he says,
that although he might have done so without the least diminution of his
glory, yet he would not, but would have his Son by his death and suffering
to make satisfaction for sin. I leave it now, not only to every learned
and impartial reader, but to every man in his wits who understands common
sense, whether the blasphemous consequences, which I will not again defile
ink and paper with the expression of, do not seem to follow more directly
upon his opinion than mine. For whereas I say not that God requireth any
thing unto the exercise of grace and mercy, but what he grants that he doth
so also; — only I say he doth it because requisite unto his justice; he,
because he chose it by a free act of his will and wisdom, when he might
have done otherwise, without the least disadvantage unto his righteousness
or rule, or the least impeachment to the glory of his holiness. The odious
blasphemies mentioned do apparently seem to make a nearer approach unto his
assertion than unto mine. I cannot proceed unto a farther declaration of
it, because I abhor the rehearsal of such horrid profaneness. The truth
is, they follow not in the least (if there be any thing in them but odious
satanical exprobrations of the truth of the satisfaction of Christ) on
either opinion; though I say this author knows not well how to discharge
himself of them.