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

1. That it was a free and voluntary engagement on his part. He was under no tie of natural necessity to do this work. He was a person at full and free liberty in himself to be engaged or not engaged for us. It was at his own pleasure whether he would become a Surety, and give himself up for our Redemption: Hence that Joh. 10 18. I have Power, &c. the word implies a Liberty or a Right to a Thing. He was a Divine Person, and therefore enjoined in himself the highest Liberty and Sovereignty over his own actions. If he had refused to do this for us, he had ⟨p. 158⟩not injured us at all. And needs must it be a very great bond which is laid upon us, by one that doth us the greatest kindness, who was no farther obliged to it, than he himself pleased to make himself to be: for the more free the love is, the greater doth it appear to be.

1. That it was a free and voluntary engagement on his part. He was under no tie of natural necessity to do this work. He was a person at full and free liberty in himself to be engaged or not engaged for us. It was at his own pleasure whether he would become a Surety, and give himself up for our Redemption: Hence that Joh. 10 18. I have Power, &c. the word implies a Liberty or a Right to a Thing. He was a Divine Person, and therefore enjoyned in himself the highest Liberty and Soveraignty over his own actions. If he had refused to do this for us, he had ⟨p. 158⟩not injured us at all. And needs must it be a very great bond which is laid upon us, by one that doth us the greatest kindness, who was no farther obliged to it, than he himself pleased to make himself to be: for the more free the love is, the greater doth it appear to be.

2. That he thus engaged for us before we desired it of him. He did not tarry to be asked by us; he did not wait for our petitions to be put up to him requesting him that he would put in for us, and become our Propitiation: but before we had a being, or were in any capacity of enquiring after him, he then put in, undertook, and made himself fast by a Covenant and a Promise. It had been incomparable love for him to have undertaken such a thing for us, upon our most ardent and importunate entreaties: yea it would have looked like a thing that was unreasonable, for us ever to have requested him to engage himself in our behalf: but for him to interpose, and take up our cause, and become responsible for us, Unsought! this carries the greatest Force in it,