3. To this sending of the Son of God to this purpose, there is evidence and security added from the Manner wherein he was sent. How was this? Not in Glory, not in Power, not in an open discovery of his Eternal Power and Godhead. Had ⟨p. 211⟩it been so, we might have thought, that he had come merely to manifest and glorify himself in the world. And this he might have done without thoughts of mercy or Pardon towards us. But he came quite in another manner: He was seen in the likeness of sinful flesh, Rom. 8 3. In the form of a servant, Phil. 2. 10. Being made of a woman, made under the Law, Gal. 4. 4. What he endured, suffered, underwent in that state and condition, is in some measure known unto us all. All this could not be merely, and firstly for himself. All that he expected at the close of it, was to be glorified with that glory which he had with the Father before the world was, John 17. 5. It must then be for our sakes; and for what? to save and deliver us from that condition of wrath at present, and future expectation of Vengeance, which we had cast our selves into by sin; that is, to procure for us the forgiveness of sin. Had not God designed Pardon for sin, he would never have sent his Son in this manner, to testify it: And he did it, because it could no other way be brought about, as hath been declared. Do we doubt whether there be forgiveness with God or no? or whether we shall obtain it, if we address our selves unto him for to be made partakers of it? Consider the Condition of his Son in the world; review his Afflictions, Poverty, Temptation, Sorrows, Sufferings; Then ask our souls, To what end was all this? And if we can find any other design in it, any other Reason, Cause, or Necessity of it, but only and merely to testify and declare, that there is forgiveness with God, and to purchase and procure the Communication of it unto us, let us abide in, and perish under our fears. But if this be so, we have sufficient warranty to assure our souls in the expectation of it.
3. To this sending of the Son of God to this purpose, there is evidence and security added from the Manner wherein he was sent. How was this? Not in Glory, not in Power, not in an open discovery of his Eternal Power and Godhead. Had ⟨p. 211⟩it been so, we might have thought, that he had come meerly to manifest and glorifie himself in the world. And this he might have done without thoughts of mercy or Pardon towards us. But he came quite in another manner: He was seen in the likeness of sinful flesh, Rom. 8 3. In the form of a servant, Phil. 2. 10. Being made of a woman, made under the Law, Gal. 4. 4. What he endured, suffered, underwent in that state and condition, is in some measure known unto us all. All this could not be meerly, and firstly for himself. All that he expected at the close of it, was to be glorified with that glory which he had with the Father before the world was, John 17. 5. It must then be for our sakes; and for what? to save and deliver us from that condition of wrath at present, and future expectation of Vengeance, which we had cast our selves into by sin; that is, to procure for us the forgiveness of sin. Had not God designed Pardon for sin, he would never have sent his Son in this manner, to testifie it: And he did it, because it could no other way be brought about, as hath been declared. Do we doubt whether there be forgiveness with God or no? or whether we shall obtain it, if we address our selves unto him for to be made partakers of it? Consider the Condition of his Son in the world; review his Afflictions, Poverty, Temptation, Sorrows, Sufferings; Then ask our souls, To what end was all this? And if we can find any other design in it, any other Reason, Cause, or Necessity of it, but only and meerly to testifie and declare, that there is forgiveness with God, and to purchase and procure the Communication of it unto us, let us abide in, and perish under our fears. But if this be so, we have sufficient warranty to assure our souls in the expectation of it.
