A26796:585
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.
There are but two ways of appearing before the Righteous and Supreme Judg.
There are but two waies of appearing before the Righteous and Supreme Judg.
1. In Innocence and sinless Obedience; or by the Righteousness of Christ: The one is by the Law, the other by Grace. And these two can never be compounded, for he that pleads Innocence, in that disclaims Favour; and he that sues for Favour, acknowledges Guilt. Now the first cannot be performed by us. For entire Obedience to the Law supposes the integrity of our natures, there being a Moral impossibility that the Faculties once corrupted should act regularly: But Man is stained with Original Sin from his Conception. And the form of the Law runs universally, Cursed is every one that obeys not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them. 1In these Scales one evil work preponderates a thousand good. If a Man were guilty but of one single Error, his entire Obedience afterwards could not save him; for that being always due to the Law, the payment of it cannot discount for the former Debt. So that we cannot in any degree be justified by the Law, for there is no middle ⟨p. 302⟩between transgressing, and not transgressing it. He that breaks one Article in a Covenant, cuts off his claim to any benefit by it.
1. In Innocence and sinless Obedience; or by the Righteousness of Christ: The one is by the Law, the other by Grace. And these two can never be compounded, for he that pleads Innocence, in that disclaims Favour; and he that sues for Favour, acknowledges Guilt. Now the first cannot be performed by us. For entire Obedience to the Law supposes the integrity of our natures, there being a Moral impossibility that the Faculties once corrupted should act regularly: But Man is stain'd with Original Sin from his Conception. And the form of the Law runs universally, Cursed is every one that obeys not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them.