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

The Third Consideration which makes the Love of God so admirable to lapsed Man, is, the excellency of that state to which he is advanced by the Redeemer. To be only exempted from Death is a great favour: The grace of a Prince is eminent in releasing a condemned Person from the punishment of the Law. This is sufficient for the Mercy of Man, but not for the Love of God: He pardons and prefers the guilty; He rescues us from Hell, and raises us to Glory; He bestows Eternity upon those who were unworthy of Life. The excellency of our condition under the Gospel will be set off, by comparing it with that of innocent Man in Paradise. 'Tis true he was then in a state of Holiness and Honour, and in perfect possession of that Blessedness which was suitable to his Nature; yet in many respects our last state transcends our first, and redeeming Love exceeds creating.

THe Third Consideration which makes the Love of God so admirable to lapsed Man, is, the excellency of that state to which he is advanc'd by the Redeemer. To be only exempted from Death is a great favour: The grace of a Prince is eminent in releasing a condemned Person from the punishment of the Law. This is sufficient for the Mercy of Man, but not for the Love of God: He pardons and prefers the guilty; He rescues us from Hell, and raises us to Glory; He bestows Eternity upon those who were unworthy of Life. The excellency of our condition under the Gospel will be set off, by comparing it with that of innocent Man in Paradise. 'Tis true he was then in a state of Holiness and Honour, and in perfect possession of that Blessedness which was suitable to his Nature; yet in many respects our last state transcends our first, and redeeming Love exceeds creating.

If Man had been only restored to his forfeited Rights, to the enjoyment of the same Happiness which was lost, his first state were most desirable; And it had been greater Goodness to have preserved him innocent, than to recover him from ruin. As ⟨p. 187⟩he that preserves his Friend from falling into the hands of the Enemy, by interposing between him and danger, in the midst of the Combat, delivers him in a more noble manner, than by paying a Ransom for him after many days spent in woeful Captivity. And that Physician is more excellent in his Art, who prevents Diseases, and keeps the Body in health and vigour, than another that expels them by sharp Remedies. But the Grace of the Gospel hath so much mended our condition, that if it were offered to our choice, either to enjoy the innocent state of Adam, or the renewed by Christ, it were folly like that of our first Parents, to prefer the former before the latter. The Jubilee of the Law restored to the same Inheritance, but the Jubilee of the Gospel gives us the Investiture of that which is transcendently better than what we at first possest. Since The Day-spring from on High hath visited us in tender mercy, we are enriched with higher Prerogatives, and are under a better Covenant, and entitled to a more glorious Reward, than was due to Man by the Law of his Creation.