A26796:765
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.
1. The Quality of his Person required it. For He was a Heavenly Man without Guilt, therefore immortal by the original Constitution of his Nature. Death that is the wages of Sin had no power over him. He was subject to it not by the Law of his Conception, but the Dispensation of his Love, not to satisfy Nature, but purchase our Salvation. Therefore the Eternal Law that annexes Immortality to Innocence, would not suffer that He should remain in the state of Death.
1. The Quality of his Person required it. For He was a Heavenly Man without Guilt, therefore immortal by the original Constitution of his Nature. Death that is the wages of Sin had no power over him. He was subject to it not by the Law of his Conception, but the Dispensation of his Love, not to satisfie Nature, but purchase our Salvation. Therefore the Eternal Law that annexes Immortality to Innocence, would not suffer that He should remain in the state of Death.
2. The Nature of his Office made it necessary. As the Economy of our Redemption required, that He should descend from Heaven the Seat of his Glory, that by dying He might expiate our Sins, so after his lying in the Grave so long as to attest the reality of his Death; 'twas necessary he should rise again in order to his dispensing the glorious Benefits He had purchased. The Apostle tells the Corinthians, If Christ be not risen, then our preaching is in vain, 1and your faith is also in vain. For the Faith of Christians hath a threefold reference. 1. To the Person of Christ, that he is the Son of God. 2. To his Death, that 'tis an all-sufficient Sacrifice for Sin. 3. To his Promise, that He will raise Believers at the last Day. ⟨p. 412⟩Now the Resurrection of Christ is the Foundation of Faith in respect of all these.
2. The Nature of his Office made it necessary. As the Oeconomy of our Redemption required, that He should descend from Heaven the Seat of his Glory, that by dying He might expiate our Sins, so after his lying in the Grave so long as to attest the reality of his Death; 'twas necessary he should rise again in order to his dispensing the glorious Benefits He had purchas'd. The Apostle tells the Corinthians, If Christ be not risen, then our preaching is in vain,