N00556:160
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.
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, Rom. 9.2•, 22. If God Decree, he cannot do […] otherwise than as God; But yet he useth his holy pleasure in it.
5. There was Gods absolute Soveraignty 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⟩Supream absolute Liberty was asserted: and therefore the Apostle reduceth the answer to all the Disputes and Uprisings 〈…〉 mens hearts, unto this, Rom. 9.2•, 22. If God Decree, he cannot do 〈…〉 otherwise than as God; But yet he useth his holy pleasure in it.
6. That the Punishment of Sin must have some reference to the person, and terminate there. If we consider Sin abstractly and separately, as it is an obliquity, we cannot conceive how or after what manner it can be punished: The penalty ▪ of it therefore must bring it under the consideration of a Guil• which it leaves upon the Sinner, and by virtue of it exposeth him to punishment. The Sinner is the guilty person, and the Sin is his, and therefore if Sin be necessarily punished, it would consequently follow, that the Sinner in person must be punished, because the Sin i his, and the pot of it cannot be Translated. If then this Guilt may be removed to another, it argues that there is an arbitrariness in the punishing of it.