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

GOD by his infallible Prescience (to which all things are eternally present) viewing the Fall of Adam, and that all Mankind lay bleeding in him, out of deep compassion to his Creature, and that the Devil might not be finally victorious over him, in his Counsel decreed the Recovery of Man from his languishing and miserable state. The design and the means are most worthy of God, and in both his Wisdom appears.

GOD by his infallible Prescience (to which all things are eternally present) viewing the Fall of Adam, and that all Mankind lay bleeding in him, out of deep compassion to his Creature, and that the Devil might not be finally victorious over him, in his Councel decreed the Recovery of Man from his languishing and miserable state. The design and the means are most worthy of God, and in both his Wisdom appears.

This will be made visible by considering, that all understanding Agents first propound an end, and then choose the means for the obtaining of it. And the more perfect the Understanding is, the more excellent is the end it designs, and the more fit and convenient are the means it makes use of for the acquiring it. Now when God whose Understanding is infinite, (and in comparison of whom the most prudent and advised are but as dark shadows) when he determines to work, especially in a most glorious manner, the end and the means are equally admirable.

First, The end is of the highest Consequence. Were it some low inconsiderable thing, it were unworthy one thought of God for the effecting it. To be curious in the contriving how to accomplish that which is of no importance, exposes to a just imputation of Folly; But when the most excellent Good is the end, and the difficulties which hinder the obtaining of it are insuperable to a finite understanding, it then becomes the only wise God to discover the Divinity of his Wisdom,