N00556:99
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.
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.
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 meer grace.