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

2. That in this Decree of Election, God hath appointed for his Chosen, not only the end to which he will bring them, which is Glory; but also the means which are requisite in order thereunto. For this reason it is called the Counsel of his Will, Eph. 1.11. now Counsel hath a proper and next reference unto the means. Counsel according to our conception of the thing, ⟨p. 13⟩is a deliberate enquiry after the most suitable way for the accomplishing of a Design which one hath in his thoughts; and is ascribed to God after the manner of men. Wise Agents will contrive their Business in order to their setting about it. Gods Purposes are displayed unto us under the consideration of end and means. He determines with himself, both what to do, and how to do it: and this properly refers to the Eternal Idea of his; and for this reason he assures his people that he knows what his own thoughts are, Jer. 29.11. i. e. what methods he hath contrived for the management of their Affairs.

3. Gods ultimate end in this Design, being the advancement of the glory of his Grace; hence by a wise and blameless Counsel, he ordered the permission of man to fall into such a State of Misery, as to put him into an absolute need of a Redeemer. That mans Fall came within the compass of the Decree, must needs be concluded, except we will assert some things to come to pass against or beside Gods Will; which is to deny his actual Supremacy over the whole Creation; or how is that Eph. 1.11. true? Man therefore had not Fallen, if he had not purposed to permit it; In which he acted ⟨p. 14⟩his holy Sovereignty beyond the capacity of any Impeachment by the Creature. His spotless Holiness so ordered it, that no Iniquity could be laid to his Charge on this account, Psal. 141.17. That the glory of his Grace was the end of this, so far as his Elect were involved in it, herein appears, because he took the occasion from hence, for the Illustration of that precious Attribute,