THE

ANTI-SATISFACTIONIST, &c.

PART THE FIRST.

CONTAINING

Chapter 1. The doctrine of Satisfaction stated in the words of its defenders, and refuted by the words of scripture.

Chap. 2. The doctrine of Satisfaction refuted by argument. Chap. 3. An attempt to account for the rise of the doctrine among christians, and its continuance to the present day.

Chap. 4. The Salvation of sinners by the free grace of God.

THE

ANTI-SATISFACTIONIST, &c.

PART THE FIRST.

CHAPTER FIRST.

The doctrine of Satisfaction stated in the words of its defenders, and refuted by the words of scripture.

IT must be of great importance to understand on what ground God will accept sinners, and receive them to the enjoyment of his favor. Important as this point is christians have long been, and still are, divided in their opinions respecting it: consequently it must be allowed that some wrong notions, concerning the way of salvation, still remain among the professors of the gospel. We ought not hastily to conclude on which side the mistake lies; but to compare, with the utmost candor and diligence, the opinions of christians, of different parties, with what God hath revealed in the sacred writings, that we may clearly understand the path of life for ourselves. To point out what, upon the most careful examination, we think the errors of our christian brethren, with candor and moderation, ought to give no disgust; on the contrary it should excite fresh attention to the gospel, and may lead to the further knowledge

of truth. My design in this chapter is to state what I conceive to be a grand mistake among the followers of Jesus, and to exhibit the contrary doctrine in the words of the sacred penmen. But I would first premise three things.

1. We can judge of the sentiments maintained by any class or description of christians only by the language they generally use to express their views of religious truth; nor can it be contrary to candor and liberality to understand them to mean what their own words, fairly construed, seem naturally to convey: consequently it cannot be unfair to place before the reader the notion of Christ's making satisfaction for the sins of men in the words of its acknowledged advocates.

2. We are not to draw a representation of the opinions of any denomination of christians from the language of a few obscure individuals who may call themselves of that denomination; but from the writings of their current and esteemed authors. From such authors I propose making extracts, that it may be seen what the doctrine is which this work is intended to expunge. It should be remembered that the doctrine of satisfaction is not confined to one denomination of christians; but is generally maintained by the great body of those who, in modern times, have taken upon them to monopolize to themselves the title of orthodox and evangelical: and I undertake to prove that the orthodoxy and evangelism of the New Testament stand opposed to such reputed orthodoxy and evangelism.

3. I totally disavow every thing invidious, all personal reflections, on the good men whose errors I think it my duty to expose. The integrity, zeal, and usefulness of the men I greatly respect; but, whatever respect we owe to men, we owe none to their mistakes. A blind veneration for celebrated names has retarded the progress of truth, and perpetuated the influence of the errors of former times. The opinions of the wisest and best of men ought not to be adopted implicitly; they ought to be brought to the test of scripture and reason, and nothing to be admitted as true but what will bear such a test.

That the reader may perceive the striking contrast which exists between the doctrine of satisfaction, or the popular notion of atonement, and what the oracles of God teach respecting the way of salvation and acceptance with God, he is presented in one column with extracts from reputed orthodox writers, in the other with passages of scripture. He may hence learn that modern christians speak in very different language, of the ground of a sinner's acceptance with God, from that used by the Prophets, Jesus, and his Apostles, when speaking on the same subject.