I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

But Secondly: If Christs Merits were thus Conditional, relating to the performance of some Condition, as of Faith, Repentance; and Obedience; then Faith, Repentance, and our Obedience, were not merited by the Death of Christ: the contrary hath been proved already; look whatever Christ laid down his life for, that he merited; but he laid down his life to redeem us from our vain Conversation, and from all Iniquity; therefore from Unbelief, hardness of heart, and from all the Disobedience of our Lives, and therefore he merited our Redemption from these.

But Secondly: If Christs Merits were thus Conditional, relating to the performance of some Condition, as of Faith, Repentance; and Obedience; then Faith, Repentance, and our Obedience, were not merited by the Death of Christ: the contrary hath been proved already; look whatever Christ laid down his life for, that he merited; but he laid down his life to redeem us from our vain Conversation, and from al Iniquity; therefore from Unbelief, hardness of heart, and from al the Disobedience of our Lives, and therefore he merited our Redemption from these.

Thirdly: If Christs merits were thus Conditional, then the Will of God the Father must be pendulous, wavering, uncertain, and undetermined, till it be determined by some act of Mans; for if man do perform the Condition, then he is to give out the blessing, which Christ hath merited; and if man do not perform the Condition, he is not to give it out: When a Man therefore, doth perform the Condition, then is Gods Will determined. But as God is the first Being, the first Agent, and the first Mover; so he is the first Determiner, and his Will cannot be determined by any thing without himself; for as himself is the most perfect Being, than which, nothing can be imagined to be more perfect; so his Will is the most perfect, than which, no will can be imagined to be more perfect; but it is a greater perfection to be determined by it self, than by another; and to determine mans will, is more perfect than to be determined by m•ns will. Bradwardin observes well: A man, a King,