A brief discourse of justification. Wherein this doctrine is plainly laid down according to…

1. What was done by God the Father in order to the bringing of it about, and that was, he made a proposal of the work to him, and exhibited before him a promise of this reward on the condition of his performance of it; ⟨p. 35⟩those are the words of the Father, Isai. 53.13 when he shall make his soul an offering for sin, his soul shall see his seed; and they are a declaration of the terms of the Covenant: the Apostle assures us that he took not this Office upon him without a special call given him unto it, Heb. 5.4, 5. and there was a great deal of reason for this; for fallen man was Gods Prisoner, and it was at his pleasure whether he would accept of an atonement for sinners at the hand of another in their behalf. It was not a matter of mere Debt, where if the money be paid, the Creditor hath no reason but to be satisfied, and cannot trouble his Debtor any further; but the case was properly Criminal, man had forfeited himself, his life to divine Justice, and it lies in the breast of the Judge whether he will take another in exchange to die for him, and let him go free; if he refuseth such a Ransom, and resolve that he who hath offended shall in person suffer the smart of it, none can lay injustice to his charge: If therefore there had not been an agreement about this between the Father and Son, there had been no efficacy of it.

1. What was done by God the Father in order to the bringing of it about, and that was, he made a proposal of the work to him, and exhibited before him a promise of this reward on the condition of his performance of it; ⟨p. 35⟩those are the words of the Father, Isai. 53.13 when he shall make his soul an offering for sin, his soul shall see his seed; and they are a declaration of the terms of the Covenant: the Apostle assures us that he took not this Office upon him without a special call given him unto it, Heb. 5.4, 5. and there was a great deal of reason for this; for fallen man was Gods Prisoner, and it was at his pleasure whether he would accept of an attonement for sinners at the hand of another in their behalf. It was not a matter of meer Debt, where if the money be paid, the Creditor hath no reason but to be satisfied, and cannot trouble his Debtor any further; but the case was properly Criminal, man had forfeited himself, his life to divine Justice, and it lies in the breast of the Judge whether he will take another in exchange to dy for him, and let him go free; if he refuseth such a Ransom, and resolve that he who hath offended shall in person suffer the smart of it, none can lay injustice to his charge: If therefore there had not been an agreement about this between the Father and Son, there had been no efficacy of it.