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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. He must be one whose Obedience must be of equivalent worth to that of all those for whom he became a Surety, and whatever may be pleaded in point of Active Obedience, that that of a mere man might answer the Covenant; for the First Adams would have done, if he had stood, who was but a mere man: yet as to Passive Obedience or Suffering, Adam could not expiate his ⟨p. 85⟩own Guilt by suffering, much less that of his posterity, who are every one of them become guilty. It could not be any less a personage that might engage on this account than the Son of God, the Law else could not have been satisfied, but violence must have been done to Relative Justice, if the Debtor be discharged before all his Debts are paid. He must be one that could put an Infinite merit into his Obedience, who could do this: and who but the Son of God had this ability?
2. He must be one whose Obedience must be of equivalent worth to that of all those for whom he became a Surety, and whatever may be pleaded in point of Active Obedience, that that of a meer man might answer the Covenant; for the First Adams would have done, if he had stood, who was but a meer man: yet as to Passive Obedience or Suffering, Adam could not expiate his ⟨p. 85⟩own Guilt by suffering, much less that of his posterity, who are every one of them become guilty. It could not be any less a personage that might engage on this account than the Son of God, the Law else could not have been satisfied, but violence must have been done to Relative Justice, if the Debtor be discharged before all his Debts are paid. He must be one that could put an Infinite merit into his Obedience, who could do this: and who but the Son of God had this ability?
3. Hence he must be one able to bear and not sink under the weight of all the wrath which man had pulled down upon himself by his Sin. Now this was Infinite Wrath, and therefore the power that was requisite for the sustaining of it, must needs exceed that of a mere Creature. This was the Glory of his Redemption, that the Work was lid upon one who was mighty to Save,