The doctrine of the covenant of redemption Wherein is laid the foundation of all…

3. That the first Covenant made with Adam, and the Law therein given him, was an express of this Decree concerning the duty of men, and the rewards of Obedience and Sin. It was because God had purposed thus to proceed with man, that ⟨p. 80⟩he published to him this Law, with the Sanctions of it; wherein he assured him, that if he obeyed he should live, but if he transgressed, he should die, Gen. 2. 17. and therefore what God hath said on this account, he is resolved to pursue it, Ezek. 18. 4. This Transaction is represented under the notion of a Covenant, to signify that there was a mutual obligation: not only did God oblige man in it, but himself too; and here was, as it were, a publication of the Edict or Decree, that man might know what God was resolved on, and upon what ground he himself stood.

4. Hence man by his fall coming under a Law of Death, Justice is strongly engaged to see the Law Executed, according to the true intent of it. God having given to man a Law, according to which he was to stand or fall, he must in Justice judge him by the Law. Now Gods Holiness, Justice, Truth, Righteousness, Immutability stand all concerned in it. Upon this account, Christ assures us of the necessity that not one syllable, Letter, or point of the Law must fall to the ground, in Mat. 5. 18. yea, God himself swears that he will do Justice, Deut. 32. 40. &c. and indeed, because ⟨p. 81⟩God was resolved to make sin a foil, on which he would draw the Colours of his Holiness, in the displays both of his Justice and Grace, he therefore inviolably fixed this Law or Covenant.