The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

2. 'Twas very fit that Adam should be first in a state of trial, before he was confirmed in his Happiness. The reason of it is clear, he was left to his own judgment and election, that Obedience might be his choice, and in the performance of it, he might acquire a title to the reward. A determining virtue over him had crossed the end of his Creation, which was to glorify God in a free manner. Therefore ⟨p. 46⟩in Paradise there were amiable objects to allure the lower Faculties, before they were disordered by Sin. The forbidden Fruit had beauty to invite the Eye, and sweetness to delight the Palate. And if upon the competition of the Sensual with the Intellectual Good he had rejected the one and chose the other, he had been raised to an unchangeable state; his Innocence had been crowned with Perseverance. As the Angels who continued in their Duty, when the rest revolted, are finally established in their Integrity and Felicity. And the Apostle gives us an account of this order, when he tells us, That was first which was natural, ¹then that which is spiritual and supernatural ▪ Man was created in a state of perfection, but 'twas natural, therefore mutable, the confirming of him immediately had been Grace, which belongs to a more excellent Dispensation. Now to bring Man from not being to a supernatural state, without trial of the middle state of Nature, was not so congruous to the Divine Wisdom.

2. 'Twas very fit that Adam should be first in a state of trial, before he was confirm'd in his Happiness. The reason of it is clear, he was left to his own judgment and election, that Obedience might be his choice, and in the performance of it, he might acquire a title to the reward. A determining vertue over him had crost the end of his Creation, which was to glorifie God in a free manner. Therefore ⟨p. 46⟩in Paradise there were amiable objects to allure the lower Faculties, before they were disordered by Sin. The forbidden Fruit had beauty to invite the Eye, and sweetness to delight the Palate. And if upon the competition of the Sensual with the Intellectual Good he had re•ected the one and chose the other, he had been rais'd to an unchangeable state; his Innocence had been crown'd with Perseverance. As the Angels who continued in their Duty, when the rest revolted, are finally establisht in their Integrity and Felicity. And the Apostle gives us an account of this order, when he tells us, That was first which was natural,