Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. Could there be any thing in this Fallen Creature, to allure God to the Expression of his Goodness? Was there any good action in all his Carriage, that could plead for a readmission of him to his former State? Was there one good quality left, that could be an Orator to persuade Divine Goodness to such a gracious Procedure? Was there any Moral Goodness in Man after this Debauch, that might be an Object of Divine Love? What was there in him, that was not rather a provocation, than an allurement? Could you expect that any Perfection in God, should find a Motive in this ungrateful Apostate, to open a Mouth for him, and be an Advocate to support him, and bring him off from a just Tribunal? Or after Divine Goodness had begun to pity and plead for Man, is it not wonderful that it should not discontinue the Plea, after it found Mans Excuse to be as black as his Crime^*; and his Carriage upon his Examination, to be as disobliging as his first Revolt? It might well be expected, that all the Perfections in the Divine Nature, would have entered into an association eternally to treat this Rebel according to his deserts. What attractives were there in a silly Worm, much less in such complete Wickedness, inexcusable Enmity, infamous Rebellion, to design a Redeemer for him, and such a Person as the Son of God to a Fleshy Body, an Eclipse of Glory, and an ignominious Cross? The meanness of Man was further from alluring God to it, than the dignity of Angels.

2. Could there be any thing in this Fallen Creature, to allure God to the Expression of his Goodness? Was there any good action in all his Carriage, that could plead for a readmission of him to his former State? Was there one good quality left, that could be an Orator to perswade Divine Goodness to such a gracious Procedure? Was there any Moral Goodness in Man after this Debauch, that might be an Object of Divine Love? What was there in him, that was not rather a provocation, than an allurement? Could you expect that any Perfection in God, should find a Motive in this ungrateful Apostate, to open a Mouth for him, and be an Advocate to support him, and bring him off from a just Tribunal? Or after Divine Goodness had begun to pity and plead for Man, is it not wonderful that it should not discontinue the Plea, after it found Mans Excuse to be as black as his Crime^*; and his Carriage upon his Examination, to be as disobliging as his first Revolt? It might well be expected, that all the Perfections in the Divine Nature, would have entered into an association eternally to treat this Rebel according to his deserts. What attractives were there in a silly Worm, much less in such compleat Wickedness, inexcusable Enmity, infamous Rebellion, to design a Redeemer for him, and such a Person as the Son of God to a Fleshy Body, an Eclipse of Glory, and an ignominious Cross? The meaness of Man was further from alluring God to it, than the dignity of Angels.