Universal redemption of mankind, by the Lord Jesus Christ stated and cleared by the…

Who is meant by [Christ] we are all agreed: and who by [Men:] and that therefore we extend not the Question to Angels; though that with some be a great dispute, whether Christ dyed not in some ⟨p. 2⟩sort for them. By his [Dying] we mean, His whole Humiliation, of which his Death is so principal a part; that as the Scripture takes most notice of it, so must we. Amesius thinketh that the Assumption of the Human Nature, is no part of this Humiliation; his reason is, because it was an Act of the Sole Deity: And the Godhead cannot suffer. But I think we need not be of that Opinion; For, 1. The Holy Ghost seems to me to contradict it, making it part of Christs Humiliation, To make himself of no Reputation and take upon him the form of a Servant, and be made in the likeness of Men, when he was in the form of God, and equal with God, Phil. 2. 6, 7. 2. And though the Godhead cannot suffer the Loss of any Real Good, or suffer any Pain, yet in a Relative Sense he may be said to suffer while he is disesteemed and dishonoured. Mans Obedience addeth nothing to him, nor can it properly be said to do Good to God; yet is it in Bonum Dei Reputavitè as Aquin. speaks: It is Good and due to God from us; and when we deny it him, we deprive him of his due: Gods Glory is dear to him, or else Divines would not so use to affirm it his Sole End: (which saying yet needs Caution:) And as Relative and Reputative he enjoyeth and delighteth in his Honour and our Praises as good, so Relative and Reputative he suffereth when he is Dishonoured. And so the Condescension was so great (indeed to the astonishment of Angels and Men,) that it may well be taken for part of Christs Suffering; that ••od should by assuming so mean a Nature, become Man: It is the point that so surpasseth Human Reason, and seemeth so improbable to it, that it puts Faith harder to it, (and consequently ennobleth it more) ⟨p. 3⟩than any other in the World; which occasioned the whole Moral work of Faith, containing divers Physical Acts; to be all entitled or denominated hence, by the name of Belief. So that I am readier to think that the Eclipsing of the Glory of the Godhead in so strange a Condescension and Humility, not only in his Assumption of the Human Nature, but in the Life and Death of Christ, was the greatest part of his Sufferings: