Remains of that excellent minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Joseph Alleine being a collection…Remaines of that excellent minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Joseph Alleine being a collection…

Secondly, Again, as the sin of man hath given occasion to the advancing of Gods glory, so for the promoting of mans good. By this man is raised to a higher state of happiness and felicity than ever he should have been. Now there is a nearer conjunction between God and man, than ever was before the fall, or ever should have been had it not been for the sin and fall of man. Before it was said, that man was made a little lower than the angels: but now it may be truly said, that he is so much higher than the Angels: more nearly joined to God. Had man continued in innocence, he had had only a lengthening out of his temporal life in ⟨p. 191⟩paradise but now by his sin Christ hath opened the door of heaven to him. O then wonder at the power of Christ!

Secondly, Again, as the sin of man hath given occasion to the advancing of Gods glory, so for the promoting of mans good. By this man is raised to a higher state of happiness and felicity than ever he should have been. Now there is a nearer conjunction between God and man, than ever was before the fall, or ever should have been had it not been for the sin and fall of man. Before it was said, that man was made a little lower than the angels: but now it may be truely said, that he is so much higher than the Angels: more nearly joyned to God. Had man continued in innocence, he had had onely a lengthening out of his temporal life in ⟨p. 191⟩paradise but now by his sin Christ hath opened the door of heaven to him. O then wonder at the power of Christ!

Fifthly, Perfect justice, raging against perfect innocence. You know that God is perfect in his Righteousness and justice. A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. And yet notwithstanding, his perfect Justice was set against his own son, in whom there was nothing but perfect innocence. He was the Lamb of God: a lamb without spot and blemish; full of grace and truth. No guile was sound in his mouth; and yet you know how the wrath of God brake out upon him. It brake out upon him to the very uttermost: that if he would but put himself into the room of man, he must dye for it, tho Justice it self said I find no fault in him, yet he must die: all could not save him: but if he will stand between God & offending man, and take our sins upon himself, though he had none of his own, yet justice takes hold of him. Let me say as the Apostle behold the goodness & severity of God. Goodness to thee, but severity unto Christ. O what had come upon you, if you had been to bear the blow! you see how Justice runs upon the Son of God, and falls upon him, and tears him to the ground, and lets out his blood, and would not spare him, though he were the only beloved Son of God. O consider, how fearful a thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God!