A26796:352
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.
Where can be found an Example of such Love? Some have favourable Inclinations to help the distressed, and will express so much Compassion as is consistent with their state and quality: But if in order to the relieving of the miserable, one must submit to what is shameful, who hath an affection so strong and vehement as to purchase his Brothers Redemption at the loss of his own Honour? Yet the Son of God descended from his Throne, and put on our vile Mortality: He parted with his Glory that He might be qualified to part with his Life for our Salvation. How doth this exalt his Compassion to us?
And further, He took our Nature after it had lost its Primitive Innocency. The natural distance between God and the creature is infinite, the moral between God and the sinful creature, if possible, is more than infinite: Yet the Mercy of our Redeemer overcame this distance. What an ecstasy of Love transported the Son of God so far as to espouse our Nature, after it was defiled and debased with Sin? He was essential Innocence and Purity, yet He came in the similitude of sinful flesh, 1which to outward view was not different from what was really sinful. He was the Holy Lawgiver, yet He submitted to that Law, which made Him appear under the character and disreputation of a Sinner.2 He paid the bloody Tribute of the Children of wrath, being circumcised as guilty of Adam's Sin; and he was baptised as guilty of his own.
And further, He took our Nature after it had lost its Primitive Innocency. The natural distance between God and the creature is infinite, the moral between God and the sinful creature, if possible, is more than infinite: Yet the Mercy of our Redeemer overcame this distance. What an extasie of Love transported the Son of God so far as to espouse our Nature, after it was defiled and debased with Sin? He was essential Innocence and Purity, yet He came in the similitude of sinful flesh, 1