Atonement

 The person who makes the atonement is here to be considered. As sin is to be viewed in the three-fold light of debt, enmity, and crime; and God in the three-fold light of creditor, party offended, and judge; so Christ must put on a three-fold relation corresponding to all these. He must sustain the character of a Surety, for the payment of the debt. He must be a Mediator, a peace-maker, to take away the enmity of the parties and reconcile us to God. He must be a Priest and victim, to substitute himself in our room, and make atonement, by enduring the penal sanction of the law. Again, that such an atonement may be made, two things are requisite:—1. That the same nature which sins shall make restitution. 2. That the consideration given must possess infinite value, in order to the removal of the infinite demerit of sin. In Christ, two natures were necessary for the making of an atonement: a human nature, to suffer, and a divine nature, to give the requisite value to his sufferings. Francis Turretin

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