N00556:87
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.
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.
2. That Gods design in his Decree ⟨p. 38⟩was his own Glory; and that which Election had a peculiar respect to, was the Glory of his Grace. All Gods works of Efficiency were to set forth his perfections, and thereby exalt his Declarative Glory; which he accordingly disposed in his Eternal Decree, and hath a respect to in his Efficiency, Prov. 16.4. In the choice which he made of men to Salvation, he contrived the advancement of that precious Attribute of Grace. This is pointed to as the end of all, Eph. 1.4, 5, 6. It was to the praise of the Glory of his Grace.
2. That Gods design in his Decree ⟨p. 38⟩was his own Glory; and that which Election had a peculiar respect to, was the Glory of his Grace. All Gods works of Efficiency were to set forth his perfections, and thereby exalt his Declarative Glory; which he accordingly disposed in his Eternal Decree, and hath a respect to in his Efficiency,