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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.
These considerations seem to have their weight. But it must be confessed that Gods Judgments are a great deep, and Sobriety becomes us in our enquiry into the grounds and causes of them. Sin is nothing less because God pardons it, and the necessity of the interposing of a Surety for the procuring of this pardon, will be built upon another sure Hypothesis, which the Scripture is full for, and this leads to the next thing, viz.
2. Positively; there is a Connex or Conditional Necessity of this Covenant, which ⟨p. 78⟩which we may take the account of in a few Conclusions.
1. That God, by his Relative Justice, stands firmly engaged to punish Sin. Here let it be observed.
1. That there is a Rule of Justice. Justice appears in doing that which is right. There must be something that must fix the bounds betwixt right and wrong, or else there is no scope for Justice to exert it self. Justice appears in the manifestation of Gods Righteousness: but that cannot be manifested, nor can the Creature be brought to confess it to him, in respect of his Works, but by being convinced that he doth that which is right: and that must be by reducing it to a Rule of Righteousness. God in Sovereignty may do what he will with the Creature; and that is Just in it self, because he can do no wrong. But Justice is here considered in distinction from his Arbitrary Supremacy, and therefore must have respect to a Rule; this is implied, in