N00556:159
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.
4. Hence all the Works of Efficiency are the Executions of a Free, Decree, Eph. 1.11. It refers to all Gods Dispensations both of Creation and Providence: whatsoever God doth by necessity of nature, needed not to have past into a Decree. The Decree is acknowledged by all the Orthodox, to be a voluntary Deliberation and Determination of a most free agent, prescribing to himself an Idea or method for the order and way in which he will carry on those Affairs he intends to manage, and although there is a sort of freedom which is consistent with necessity; yet a thing cannot be both naturally necessary, and yet arbitrary, because these two are contradistinct.
4. Hence all the Works of Efficiency are the Executions of a Free, Decree, Eph. 1.11. It refers to all Gods Dispensations both of Creation and Providence: whatsoever God doth by necessity of nature, needed not to have past into a Decree. The Decree is acknowledged by all the Orthodox, to be a ••luntary Deliberation and Determination of a most free agent, prescribing to himself an Idea or method for the order and way in which he will carry on those Affairs he intends to manage, and although there is a sort of freedom which is consistent with necessity; yet a thing cannot be both naturally necessary, and yet arbitrary, because these two are contradistinct.
5. There was Gods absolute Sovereignty or Lordship in making of the Decree. We may see Infinite Wisdom, Holiness, Justice, Grace, in the contrivance it self: and reason good, for it was contrived on purpose for the Declaration of these: but in the contrivance it self, his ⟨p. 75⟩Supreme absolute Liberty was asserted: and therefore the Apostle reduceth the answer to all the Disputes and Uprisings […] mens hearts, unto this,