A26796:246
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.
7. The Divine Wisdom appears in laying the design of the Gospel in such a manner, as to provide for the comfort, and promote the holiness of Man. This is Gods signature upon all heavenly Doctrines, which distinguishes them from carnal Inventions, they have a direct tendency to promote his Glory, and the real benefit of the rational Creature: Thus the way of Salvation by Jesus Christ, is most fit as to reconcile God to Man by securing his Honour, so to reconcile Man to God by encouraging his Hope. 'Till this be effected, he can never be happy in communion with God: For that is nothing else but the reciprocal exercise of Love between God and the Soul. Now nothing can represent God as amiable to a guilty Creature, but his inclination to Pardon. Whilst there are apprehensions of inexorable Severity, there will be hard thoughts burning in the Breast against God: Till the Soul is released from terrors it can never truly love him. To extinguish our Hatred, He must conquer our Fears, and this He hath done by giving us the most undoubted and convincing Evidence of his Affections.
11. By contracting the most intimate alliance with Mankind. In this God is not only lovely, but Love; and his Love is not only visible to our Understandings, but to our Senses: The Divine Nature in Christ is joined to the Humane, in an union that is not typical or temporary, but real and permanent. The Word was made Flesh. 2And in him dwells the ⟨p. 103⟩Fullness of the Godhead bodily. Now as Love is an Affection of Union, so the strictest union is an Evidence of the greatest Love. The Son of God took the Seed of Abraham,3 the original element of our Nature, that our interest in Him might be more clear and certain. He stooped from the height of his Glory to our low embraces, that we might with more confidence lay hold on his Mercy.