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

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.

If Man had been only restor'd 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 preserv'd him innocent, than to recover him from ruine. 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 daies spent in woful 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 offer'd 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 restor'd 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 enricht 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.