A26796:314
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.
1. From the Eternal Reward which God hath promised. And,
2. From the Internal Beauty of an honest action, which the Philosopher affirms, doth exceed any loss that can befall us. For if one dyes for his Friend, yet he loves himself most, for he would not choose to be less virtuous than his Friend, and by dying for him he excels him in Virtue, which is more valuable than Life it self. But to the Son of God no such advantage could accrue; for being infinitely holy and happy in his Essence, there can be no addition to his Felicity or Virtues by any external emanation from him. His Love was for our profit, not his own.
2. From the Internal Beauty of an honest action, which the Philosopher affirms, doth exceed any loss that can befal us. For if one dyes for his Friend, yet he loves himself most, for he would not chuse to be less vertuous than his Friend, and by dying for him he excels him in Vertue, which is more valuable than Life it self. But to the Son of God no such advantage could accrue; for being infinitely holy and happy in his Essence, there can be no addition to his Felicity or Vertues by any external emanation from him. His Love was for our profit, not his own.
2. The freeness of Gods Mercy is evident by considering there was no •ye upon him to dispense it. Grace strictly taken differs from Love: for that may be a Debt, and without injustice not denied. There are inviolable obligations on Children to Love their Parents; and duty lessens desert: the performance of it doth not so much deserve praise, as the neglect merits censure and reproof. But the Love of God to Man is a pure, free, and liberal Affection, no way ⟨p. 151⟩