The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

7. Known unto God are all his Works from the foundation of the World. In the constitution of this order of things he made it possible, and foresaw it would be future, that man would rebel against the preceptive power of this Law, and disturb that order of things wherein he was placed under his moral Rule. This gave occasion unto that effect of infinite Divine Righteousness, in constituting the punishment that man should fall under upon his Transgression of this Law. ⟨p. 343⟩Neither was this an effect of Arbitrary will and pleasure, any more than the Law it self was. Upon the supposition of the Creation of man, the Law mentioned was necessary from all the Divine Properties of the nature of God; And upon a supposition that man would Transgress that Law, God being now considered as his Ruler and Governor, the Constitution of the punishment due unto his Sin and Transgression of it, was a necessary effect of Divine Righteousness. This it would not have been, had the Law it self been Arbitrary. But that being necessary, so was the penalty of this Transgression. Wherefore the constitution of this penalty, is liable to no more change, alteration, or abrogation, then the Law it self, without an alteration in the state and relation between God and man.

7. Known unto God are all his Works from the foundation of the World. In the constitution of this order of things he made it possible, and foresaw it would be future, that man would rebell against the preceptive power of this Law, and disturb that order of things wherein he was placed under his moral Rule. This gave occasion unto that effect of infinite Divine Righteousness, in constituting the punishment that man should fall under upon his Transgression of this Law. ⟨p. 343⟩Neither was this an effect of Arbitrary will and pleasure, any more than the Law it self was. Upon the supposition of the Creation of man, the Law mentioned was necessary from all the Divine Properties of the nature of God; And upon a supposition that man would Transgress that Law, God being now considered as his Ruler and Governour, the Constitution of the punishment due unto his Sin and Transgression of it, was a necessary effect of Divine Righteousness. This it would not have been, had the Law it self been Arbitrary. But that being necessary, so was the penalty of this Transgression. Wherefore the constitution of this penalty, is liable to no more change, alteration, or abrogation, then the Law it self, without an alteration in the state and relation between God and man.