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

For although the guilty Conscience were secure from Wrath to come, yet those fierce unruly Passions, the generation of Vipers that lodge in the breast of the Sinner, would cause a real Hell. Till these are mortified there can be no ease nor rest. Besides, Sin is the true dishonour of Mans Nature, that degrades him from his excellency, and changes him into a Beast or a Devil. So that to have a licence to wallow in the mire, to live in the practice of Sin, that defiles and debases him, were a miserable Privilege. The Scripture therefore represents the curing of our corrupt Inclinations, and the cleansing of us from our Pollutions, to be the eminent effect and blessed work of Saving Mercy. Accordingly St. Peter tells the Jews, that God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, ¹in turning away every one of you from his Iniquities: that is, Christ in his glorified state gives the Spirit of Holiness to work a sincere thorough Change in men, from all presumptuous reigning Sins to universal Holiness. An unvaluable benefit, that equals if not excels our Justification. For as the evil of Sin is in its own nature worse than the evil of Punishment, so the freeing us from its dominion is a greater Blessing than mere impunity. The Son of God for a time was made subject to our Miseries, not to our Sins. He devested himself of his Glory, not of Holiness. And the Apostle in the ecstasy of ⟨p. 398⟩his affection desired to be made unhappy for the Salvation of the Jews, not to be unholy. Besides, the end is more noble than the means: Now Jesus Christ purchased our Pardon, that we might be restored to our forfeited Holiness. He ransomed us by his Death, that he might bless us by his Resurrection. He gave himself for us, ²that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and to purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Sanctification is the last end of all he did and suffered for us.

For although the guilty Conscience were secure from Wrath to come, yet those fierce unruly Passions, the generation of Vipers that lodg in the breast of the Sinner, would cause a real Hell. Till these are mortified there can be no ease nor rest. Besides, Sin is the true dishonour of Mans Nature, that degrades him from his excellency, and changes him into a Beast or a Devil. So that to have a licence to wallow in the mire, to live in the practice of Sin, that defiles and debases him, were a miserable Priviledg. The Scripture therefore represents the curing of our corrupt Inclinations, and the cleansing of us from our Pollutions, to be the eminent effect and blessed work of Saving Mercy. Accordingly St. Peter tells the Jews, that God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you,