A26796:366
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.
The Scripture distinctly represents the Love of God in giving his Son, and the Love of Christ in giving Himself to die for Man, and both require our deepest consideration.
The Father expressed such an excess of Love, that our Saviour himself speaks of it with admiration: God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, 1but have everlasting Life. If Abraham's resolution to offer his son,2 was in the judgment of God a convincing Evidence of his Affection, how much more is the actual sacrificing of Christ the strongest proof of God's Love to us? For God had a higher ⟨p. 180⟩Title to Isaac than Abraham had: The Father of Spirits hath a nearer claim, than the Fathers of the Flesh. Abraham's readiness to offer up his son was Obedience to a Command, not his own choice; 'twas rather an act of Justice than Love, by which he rendered to God what was his own. But God Spared not his own Son in whom he had an Eternal Right: And He was not only free from Obligation, but not sued to for our Salvation in that wonderful way. For what Love of Men, or of the most charitable Spirits in Heaven could have conceived such a thought, that the Son of God should die for our Redemption? It had been an impious Blasphemy to have desired it; so that Christ is the most absolute gift of God to us. Besides, The love of Abraham is to be measured by the Reasons that might excite it; For according to the amiableness of the object, so much greater is the love that gives it. Many endearing circumstances made Isaac the joy of his father, yet at the best he was an imperfect mortal creature, so that but a moderate affection was regularly due to him. Whereas our Redeemer was not a mere Man, or an Angel, but God's only begotten Son, which Title signifies his unity with him in his state and perfections, and according to the Excellency of his Nature such is his Fathers Love to him. In this was manifested the Love of God to us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world,