An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ,…

But still there is a more glorious Discovery behind, that is, ¹The glorious end whereunto Sin is appointed and ordained, (I suppose the Dr. means by God) ⟨p. 58⟩is discovered in Christ, viz. for the demonstration of God's Vindictive Justice in measuring out to it a just recompense of reward, and for the praise of Gods glorious Grace in the pardon and forgiveness of it; that is, It could not be known how just and severe God is, but by punishing sin; nor how good and gracious God is, but by pardoning it: And therefore lest his Justice and Mercy should never be known to the World, he appoints and ordains Sin to this end, that is, Decrees that men shall sin, that he may make some vessels of wrath, and others vessels of mercy: This is a Discovery which Nature and Revelation could not make; for Nature would teach us, that so infinitely a glorious Being as God is, needs not sin and misery to recommend his Glory and Perfections; and that so holy a God, who so perfectly hates every thing that is wicked, would not truckle with Sin and the Devil for his glory; and that so good a God had much rather be glorious in the happiness and perfection and obedience of his Creatures, than in their sin and misery: And Revelation tells us the same thing, That God delights not in the death of a sinner, but rather that he should return and live, that is, He had rather there were ⟨p. 59⟩no occasion for punishing, than be made glorious by such acts of vengeance: Vindictive Justice and pardoning Mercy are but secondary Attributes of the Divine Nature, and therefore God cannot primarily design the glorifying of them; for that cannot be without designing the sin and misery of his Creatures, which would be inconsistent with the goodness and holiness of his Nature. And afterwards pag. 57. He appointed sin for the glory of his Justice and Grace, and (since nothing can withstand the Decrees of God) it pleased God that Man should sin, but when he hath sinned, he is extremely displeased with it, and now his Justice must be satisfied: This falls hard on those miserable Wretches, whose ill fortune it was, without any fault of theirs, to be left out of the Roll of Election, and who have no way to satisfy divine Justice, but by their eternal torments.

But still there is a more glorious Discovery behind, that is,