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

1. The last end of it was for the advancement of Rich Grace. Eph. 1.5.6. and the very Satisfaction made unto Justice in order to it, puts a great lustre upon this Grace, in as much as Christ was to remove that obstacle out of the way by his obedience which mans sin had thrown into it. It was that God might express his free and undeserved favour to a number whom he had Chosen to be made partakers in it: that he might bestow upon man a Salvation which he never Laboured for; bring him to an heaven he never earned; enrich him with a portion which he could never have Purchased; and free him from a Misery which would else have Swallowed him up for ever, & which he had Procured to himself.

2. Hence all the means which were agreed upon between these parties for this ⟨p. 45⟩end, were the contrivances of this Grace. The whole Plot was so laid out, that in all of it there should be the Beams of Divine-Love and Favour shining forth: for,

1. The whole provision of a Redeemer was of Grace: whether we consider it on the Fathers part Proposing the thing, & accepting of the way: He was under no necessity to offer such a Proposal; it was absolutely free, yea, that he would be reconciled to sinners in such a way, was Grace The case is Criminal, man by his fall becomes a Delinquent; justice might have fallen upon him, and refused to have taken any other in Exchange. Though the Satisfaction be valuable enough, yet the receiving it thus is voluntary, therefore it is Grace. Had God said the sinner himself shall Die, it had been just: or if we consider it on the Sons part undertaking it; he had no obligation lying upon him by any kind of necessity; he was God blessed for ever before: his Divine Essential Glory could not be augmented by it in the least, he had no Consanguinity to move him, for it was the Son of God that Covenanted, he took up the kindred or relation by Covenant: see for this Phil 2.6.7. it was therefore of mere grace.