A26796:241
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is showed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is shewed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.
London: printed by J. Darby for Nathaniel Ranew and Jonathan Robinson and Brabazon Aylmer, 1674
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
6. The Wisdom of God appears in ordaining ⟨p. 98⟩such contemptible, and in appearance opposite means, to accomplish such glorious effects. The Way is as wonderful as the Work. That Christ by dying on the Cross, a reputed Malefactor, should be made our eternal Righteousness, that descending to the grave, He should bring up the lost World to Life and Immortality, is so incredible to our narrow Understandings, that He saves us, and astonishes us at once. And in nothing 'tis more visible, That the Thoughts of God are as far above our thoughts, 1and his ways above our ways, as Heaven is above the Earth. 'Tis a secret in Physic to compound the most noble Remedies of things destructive to Nature, and thereby make one Death victorious over another: But that Eternal Life should spring from Death, Glory from Ignominy, Blessedness from a Curse, is so repugnant to Humane Sense, that to render the belief of it easy, 'twas foretold by many Prophesies, that when it came to pass, it might be looked on as the effect of God's eternal Counsel. The Apostle tells us that Christ crucified was to the Jews a stumbling block, 2and to the Gentiles foolishness. The grand Sophies of the world esteemed it absurd and unreasonable to believe, that He who was exposed to Sufferings could save others, but those who are Called discover that the Doctrine of Salvation by the Cross of Christ, which the world counted folly, is the great Wisdom of God, and most convenient for his end. A double reason is given of this method.3
6. The Wisdom of God appears in ordaining ⟨p. 98⟩such contemptible, and in appearance opposite means, to accomplish such glorious effects. The Way is as wonderful as the Work. That Christ by dying on the Cross, a reputed Malefactor, should be made our eternal Righteousness, that descending to the grave, He should bring up the lost World to Life and Immortality, is so incredible to our narrow Understandings, that He saves us, and astonishes us at once. And in nothing 'tis more visible, That the Thoughts of God are as far above our thoughts,