CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Fifthly, In that Christ is said to be sent, there is implied, that the fountain from which our salvation doth arise, is the mere good-will and pleasure of God the Father. So that although our Justification, Sanctification and Glorification be to be attributed to the merits of Christ, and it's for Christs sake that we enjoy them, yet the sending of Christ into the world, and giving him to become our Mediator, is wholly from the absolute good pleasure of God; Christ did not merit his Incarnation, he did not merit that he should be sent into the world: No, this is said to be Gods love; Not that hereby we are to make comparisons, as if the second Person loved us less then the first, as the Socinian would divide, but to admire the great love of either in their distinct operations. That conceit also is vain of some, that say, God upon the fore sight of the will of Christs humane nature, to become our Saviour, and presupposing this determinate choice, did therefore appoint him to be our Mediator: This, they think, will reconcile Christs necessary Obedience, and his free-will together; but then the Scripture would not have attributed it to Gods love, and to the Fathers love, but Christs love as a man, which yet it doth not.

Fifthly, In that Christ is said to be sent, there is implied, that the fountain from which our salvation doth arise, is the meer good-will and pleasure of God the Father. So that although our Justification, Sanctification and Glorification be to be attributed to the merits of Christ, and it's for Christs sake that we enjoy them, yet the sending of Christ into the world, and giving him to become our Mediator, is wholly from the absolute good pleasure of God; Christ did not merit his Incarnation, he did not merit that he should be sent into the world: No, this is said to be Gods love; Not that hereby we are to make comparisons, as if the second Person loved us lesse then the first, as the Socinian would divide, but to admire the great love of either in their distinct operations. That conceit also is vain of some, that say, God upon the fore sight of the will of Christs humane nature, to become our Saviour, and presupposing this determinate choice, did therefore appoint him to be our Mediator: This, they think, will reconcile Christs necessary Obedience, and his free-will together; but then the Scripture would not have attributed it to Gods love, and to the Fathers love, but Christs love as a man, which yet it doth not.