N00556:85
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
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.
1. Because of the Sublapsarians, who though they acknowledge the Eternal ⟨p. 37⟩Predestination of men to an Everlasting State of Happiness or Misery, do yet place it in order after mans Apostasy, and build it upon that.
2. Because of the forementioned Judgment of those who presuppose the Decree of Christs Incarnation, in order to the making of this Covenant with him considered as God and Man; wherein they do evidently make that Decree Antecedent to, and wholly distinct from this Covenant. Both of these do certainly misplace the Covenant, and give it a wrong station.
As to the former of these it may suffice to make these few Remarks.
1. That he who will rightly conceive of a Decree, must reduce all that refers to it to the two heads of End and Means. There is nothing that belongs to any Purpose, but it is either the thing purposed, or the way in which it is to be compassed: and therefore one of these two will take in whatsoever can be mentioned concerning it. But this is a principle against which I apprehend no rational objection can be made, being adapted to the common sentiments of Mankind.