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

Now though Reason enslaved by prejudice, and corrupted by Passion, despises the Gospel, yet when 'tis enlightened by Faith, it discovers such a wise economy in it, that were it not true, it would transcend the most noble created Mind to invent it: 'Tis so much above our most excellent Thoughts, that no Humane Understanding would ever attempt to feign it, with confidence of persuading the world into a Belief of it. How is it possible that it should be contrived by natural Reason, since no man can believe it sincerely when 'tis revealed, without a supernatural Faith. To confirm our Belief of these great and saving Mysteries, I will show how just it is, that the Understanding should resign itself to Divine Revelation which hath made them known. In order to this, we must consider,

Now though Reason enslav'd by prejudice, and corrupted by Passion, despises the Gospel, yet when 'tis enlightned by Faith, it discovers such a wise oeconomy in it, that were it not true, it would transcend the most noble created Mind to invent it: 'Tis so much above our most excellent Thoughts, that no Humane Understanding would ever attempt to feign it, with confidence of persuading the world into a Belief of it. How is it possible that it should be contriv'd by natural Reason, since no man can believe it sincerely when 'tis reveal'd, without a supernatural Faith. To confirm our Belief of these great and saving Mysteries, I will shew how just it is, that the Understanding should resign itself to Divine Revelation which hath made them known. In order to this, we must consider,

1. There are some Doctrines in the Gospel, the Understanding could not discover, but when they are revealed, it hath a clear apprehension of them upon a rational account, and sees the characters of Truth visibly stamped on their Forehead. As the Doctrine of Satisfaction to Divine Justice, that Pardon might be dispensed to repenting Sinners. For our natural conception of God includes his infinite Purity and Justice; And when the design of the Gospel is made known, whereby he hath provided abundantly for the honour of those Attributes, so ⟨p. 133⟩