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

2. To make trial of Mans Obedience in a matter very congruous to discover it.¹ If the Prohibition had been grounded on any moral ▪ internal evil in the nature of the thing it self, there had not been so clear a testimony of God's Dominion, nor of Adam's Subjection to it. But when that which in it self was indifferent, became unlawful merely by the Will of God, and when the Command had no other excellency, but to make his Authority more sacred, this was a confining of Man's liberty, and to abstain was pure Obedience.

2. To make trial of Mans Obedience in a matter very congruous to discover it.¹ If the Prohibition had been grounded on any moral ▪ internal evil in the nature of the thing it self, there had not been so clear a testimony of God's Dominion, nor of Adam's Subjection to it. But when that which in it self was indifferent, became unlawful meerly by the Will of God, and when the Command had no other excellency, but to make his Authority more sacred, this was a confining of Man's liberty, and to abstain was pure Obedience.

1. 1In minimis obedientiae periculum faciunt Legislatores, quia Legislatoris ad Obedientiam obligantis potius habenda est ratio, quam rei de qua lex lata est.

Besides, The restraint was from that which was very grateful and alluring to both the parts of Mans compounded Nature.¹ The Sensitive Appetite is strongly excited by the Lust of the Eye; and this fruit being beautiful to the sight, the forbearance was an excellent exercise of virtue in keeping the lower ⟨p. 21⟩