Turrettin on the atonement of Christ

Front matter

TUREETTIN

ATONEMENT OF CHRIST.

TRANSLATED BY

Preface

questions relating to the atonement are still discussed with frequency and earnestness. The constant faith of the Church on the subject continues to be firmly held by the general body of the Reformed; but it is exposed to incessant attacks in every generation, generally from without, but sometimes from within, the pale of orthodox communions. And while contemporary authorship has furnished some admirable presentations of the common faith on this important point, it is doubted whether any other work of the same compass presents so clearly and forcibly the truth of God as to the Nature, Truth. Perfection, Matter, and Extent of the Satisfaction made by the blessed Saviour. The lucid arrangement of topics, compact argumentation, fairness of statement, and constant appeal to the law and the testimony, leave the careful reader little to desire.

The translation as issued by Dr. Willson was iu the main faithful and accurate. In some cases, however, the learned divine, by an oversight, failed to express the exact sense of his author; while in many more the carelessness of the proofreader did him great injustice. Tains have been taken to collate the vision line by line with the original, so as to amend any inaccuracies. Nothing i< claimed on the score of rhetorical finish or the niceties of verbal expression, but the work as now published is believed to present in simple and perspicuous English the exact line of thought and argument presented by the great Genevan professor. It only remains to be added, that while the Board of Publication approves of the work as a whole, it is not to be considered responsible for every shade of opinion on minute points, or every interpretation of quoted Scripture.

At the editor's special request, a pleasing biographical sketch of Dr. Willson has been furnished by a member of his family. That of Turrettin is a condensation of an article in the twentieth volume of the " Princeton Review."

Contents

PAGE

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Willson ix

Biographical Sketch of Tcrrettin 1

Chapter I. The Necessity Of The Atonement

Three Opinions on the Subject 14

Preliminary Remarks 15

1. As to the Nature of Sin *. 15

2. The Satisfaction required 15

3. The Relations of God to the Sinner 17

4. The Qualifications of the Substitute 20

and Conditions of Substitution 22

Arguments : ; 24

I. God's Vindicatory Justice 25

II. The Nature of Sin 25

III. The Sanction of the Law 26

IV. The Preaching of the Gospel 27

V. The Greatness of God's Love 29

VI. The Glory of the Divine Perfections 29

Chapter II. The Truth Of The Atonement

Statement of the Question 31

Arguments: 33

I. Christ redeemed us with the Price of his Blood 33

II. He died in the Stead of his People 36

ill. He bore their Sins 38

IV. He offered Sacrifice on the Cross 44

Three Objections considered 46

V. II' 1 made Reconciliation with God 49

An ' Objection considered 50

Another " 52

VI Tin' Nature of his Death •. 53

VII. Th" Perfections of God 55 vi CONTENTS.

PAGB

Objections answered: 56

That the Word Satisfaction is not used in Scripture 56

That Christ's Sufferings were Exemplary 57

That Satisfaction and Remission are inconsistent with each other

That Christ makes Satisfaction to Himself 58

That he did not suffer eternal Death 59

That he did not suffer Despair 60

That the Death of One cannot answer for Many 60

That Atonemeni is opposed to Ezek. xviii. 20 62

And that it leads to carnal Ease 63

CHAPTER m.

THE PERFECTION OF THE ATONEMENT.

Statement of the Question 64

Against Romanists 64

Against Armiuians 67

In Itself 68

Arguments: 69

I. The Dignity of Christ's Person 69

II. The Oneness of his Offering 70

HI. The Approval of God the Judge 70

IV. Its Effects 72

Romish Dogma of supplementary Satisfactions 72

Arminiau Doctrine of a nominal Atonement 75

Objections answered: 75

That the Apostles suffered for the Church 76

That Paul completed Christ's Sufferings 76

That Sins are broken off by Repentance 77

That Believers still suffer in this Life 78

That they are liable to Death 81

That Judgment begins at the House of God 81

That Jewish Saints had to offer Sacrifices 82

That by Mercy and Truth Iniquity is purged 82

CONTENTS.

Chapter IV. The Matter Of The Atonement

PAGB

Statement of the Question 85

Preliminary Remarks 88

1. Christ's atoning Sufferings extended through his whole Life 88

2. They are to be distinguished as to Substance and Form. . 90

3. His Obedience has a twofold Efficacy 91

Socinus's Objection to this 95

4. The Law contains both Precepts and Sanctions 96

5. There is a threefold Subjection to the Law 96

Arguments for the Orthodox View 99

I. From Romans v. 9 99

H. From Philippians ii. 8 100

HI. From Romans viii. 3, 4 101

TV. From Christ's doing whatever was due from us 102

V. From Romans i. 17; iii. 21; v. 18 103

VI. From the Indivisibility of his Righteousness 104

Objections answered: 105

That our Redemption is ascribed to Christ's Death 105

That our Blessedness is attributed to Pardon 105

That the Obedience of Christ's Death was sufficient 106

That he owed Obedience for Himself 106

That if he obeyed for us, we are no longer bound to obey . . 108

That Christ's Death is a perfect Fulfilment of the Law 110

Quotations from Calvin's Institutes Ill

Quotations from the Gallic Synods 113