THat satisfaction ought to be made vnto men, either by restitution, as Zache∣us restored that which hee had wrongfully gotten: or by reconciling our selues to those, whom wee haue offended, as Matth. 5.24. wee doe willingly grant: but that the wrath of God may be appeased and satisfied for our sinnes, or the punishment due vnto the same by any worke of ours, it is a great blasphe∣mie, and cleane contrarie to the course of Scripture.
Argum. 1. That it is sufficient to returne vnto God by true repentance and amendement of life, without any satisfaction, either for our sinne, or the pu∣nishment of sinne: the Prophet Ezechiel sheweth, where speaking of the con∣uersion of a wicked man, he saith, His iniquities shal no more be mentioned, or laid to his charge, chap. 18.22. But if after the sinne remitted, there should re∣maine some punishment behinde, his sinnes should still bee remembred and mentioned: there is therefore no satisfaction for the punishment of sinne, be∣cause none remaineth.
Argum. 2. Isai. 43.25. I am he that putteth away thine iniquities for mine owne sake. Likewise, 53.4. He hath borne our infirmities, and carried our sor∣rowes: the chastisement of our peace was vpon him, and with his stripes are we healed. God of his free mercie doth forgiue our sinne: Christ also hath fully sa∣tisfied for vs: Ergo, there is no satisfaction in vs: wee are made whole by his stripes, and not our owne.
Argum. 3. Our praiers, fastings, almes, and what workes soeuer, are neither meritorious, nor satisfactorie: for when we haue done all, we are but vnprofita∣ble seruants, and we did no more then was our duetie, Luk. 17.10.
* 1.1Augustine saith, Peccasti in fratrem? fac satis, & sanatus es. Hast thou offen∣ded thy brother? satisfie him, and thou art healed. Qui multos offendit peccando, placare multos debet satisfaciendo: He that hath offended many in sinning, must appease many by satisfying them. These kindes of satisfaction both publikely and priuately we acknowledge: but satisfaction to God, neither hee, nor we ac∣knowledge. Lachrymas lego, satisfactionem non lego: I reade of Peters teares, saith he,* 1.2 but of no satisfaction.