In general, significes the act of giving complete or perfect pleasure. In the Christian system it denotes that which Christ did and suffered in order to satisfy divine justice, to secure the honours of the divine government, and thereby make an atonement for the sins of his people. Satisfation is distinguished from merit thus: The satisfaction of Christ consists in his answering the demands of the law on man which were consequent on the breach of it. These were answered by suffering its penalty. The merit of Christ consists in what he did to fulfil what the law demanded, before man sinned, which was obedience. The satisfaction of Christ is to free us from misery, and the Merit of Christ is to purchase happiness for us.
See ATONEMENT and PROPITIATION. Also Dr. Owen on the Satisfaction of Christ; Gill's Body of Div. article Satisfacction; Stillingfleet on Satisfaction; Watts's Redeemer and Sanctifier, p. 28, 32; Hervey's Theron and Aspasio.