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The doctrine of the covenant of redemption. Wherein is laid the foundation of all…
The doctrine of the covenant of redemption. Wherein is laid the foundation of all our hopes and happiness. Briefly opened and improved. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Three lines from Psalms]
Boston: printed by Benj. Harris over against the Old-Meeting-House, 1693
Chapter 10: The necessity of this Covenant, in order to Mans Salvation.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. Hypothetical or Conditionate Necessity is, when upon the supposition of one thing to be done, there is something necessary in order to it without which it cannot be done: so that though it be not necessary to do the thing, yet if he will do it, he must needs do thus or so in order to the accomplishing of it; and this necessity flows from the connection of things one with another. An end is not attained without the use of means; and there are means that are proper, on which the attaining of the end hath dependence, or without which it cannot be reached; so that if he will not miss of his design, a person must necessarily use the means that are so connected unto it; and when there are various means or divers ways to compass ⟨p. 67⟩the design, the necessity is more loose and disjunct, it being indifferent as to this or that, but yet it must of necessity be one of them. But when the Medium is but one, it is then a restrained necessity; either this way or not at all. Now the Necessity under consideration is not of the first sort, or Absolute, but of the Second, viz. Conditionate.
2. Hypothetical or Conditionate Necessity is, when upon the supposition of one thing to be done, there is something necessary in order to it without which it cannot be done: so that though it be not necessary to do the thing, yet if he will do it, he must needs do thus or so in order to the accomplishing of it; and this necessity flows from the connexion of things one with another. An end is not attained without the use of means; and there are means that are proper, on which the attaining of the end hath dependance, or without which it cannot be reached; so that if he will not miss of his design, a person must necessarily use the means that are so connected unto it; and when there are various means or divers ways to compass ⟨p. 67⟩the design, the necessity is more loose and disjunct, it being indifferent as to this or that, but yet it must of necessity be one of them. But when the Medium is but one, it is then a restrained necessity; either this way or not at all. Now the Necessity under consideration is not of the first sort, or Absolute, but of the Second, viz. Conditionate.