The doctrine of the covenant of redemption. Wherein is laid the foundation of all…

1. The Covenant between God the Father and God the Son, was that which opened the way for his Covenanting with his people. Had not that Covenant been first made, this would never have been heard of. The Covenant which God Indents with his people is wholly of Grace, in all the parts of it, as it is made by him: from the foundation to the top-stone of it, there is no other voice to be heard but that of Grace. Now, had there not been an Antecedent Covenant, which man had some relation ⟨p. 96⟩unto, this might immediately, and without any previous p••pi•ation have entered into. Grace is free, else it were not Grace; and God might have expressed it to whom he saw meet. But when we consider how it was with man when this Covenant was declared; viz. that he stood under an Old Covenant of Works, and was related to it as a Transgressor; the Pre••pt of it being violated by him, and the Curse of it having taken place on him, and the Justice of God standing obliged to the fulfilling of the Articles in that Covenant which God had engaged in: it stood up as an high Wall of Separation between God and Man, and called for vengeance to be executed upon him according to his Earnings; nor could it be appeased without full satisfaction given to it for the Injuries done it by the sinning Creature. All mankind stood thus Condemned, and Men of Death. Hence it was necessary, that without a Covenant of Reparation interposing, there could not be a Covenant of Salvation. Had not this great Transaction past, the Covenant of Works must of necessity have taken place, and we must have been judged and condemned, and for ever destroyed by it. God must ⟨p. 97⟩be Just, in being gracious: he must not deny himself or any of his Attributes: Mercy and truth must correspond; and how could that be as the case stood, had there not been such a transaction as this? If Justice had not interposed, Grace might have proceeded without any more ado; but because God must be Just in Justifying a sinner, there must be provision made that he may be so: So that this Covenant of Redemption may be looked upon as the procuring cause of the Covenant of Grace: it opened the door to it, removed the obstructions that would else have impeded it, and made the way for God to be gracious to poor sinning man, and save him, without any injury done to his justice, or violence offered to his law.