2. In the way which he hath contrived to bring about the forgiveness of Sinners. The right consideration of this, will show us how deeply Gods heart was engaged for it in the days of Eternity, and how unchangeably it is fixed on it, in as much as he laid it out before time, and pursued it to effect in the fullness of time; and truly this is that which hath surprised the Holy Angels themselves with astonishing wonder, and they still gaze upon it with greatest admiration; the Psalmist observeth, Psal. 130.4. With thee there is forgiveness; but how comes it to be with him? how came he to have a stock of pardoning mercy laid up by him? It is true, nothing is more free than forgiveness, it ⟨p. 254⟩cannot be bought by, but must be given to the Subject: but there must a door be opened for the extending of this; though God is prone to pardon, Psal. 86 5. Yet there was that which lay in the way of it, which must be removed, else there could have been no application of it; the Justice of God which was concerned in, and by which the First Covenant was ratified, had righteously doomed man to die for sin, and the truth of God had declared that he would stand by his own Law; yea, and his Holiness, by which he is bound for his own Glory, would not admit that that Covenant should be baulked, Mat. 5.18. How then shall the Sentence be Executed, and yet the Sinner be pardoned? There was but one way in which this could be brought about, and that was by the interposition of the Eternal Son of God, undertaking to be substituted in the Sinners room, and to answer all the demands of the Law in his stead, that so Justice, being satisfied, might conspire with Mercy in the Sinners Salvation, Psal. 85.10. In which affair the Son of God must become man, and be humbled to death, and bear all the weight of Divine Displeasure, even all the penalties of sin, Isa. 53.4, 5, 6. Nor was Salvation possibly to be had in any other way, Acts 4.12. And yet such was the kindness of God, that all this should not obstruct the matter, but he would rather make all wonders to meet in one, and not Spa•e his own Son, but give him for us, that so he might express his kindness to us in pardoning our sins. And what greater discovery of good will could there be?
2. In the way which he hath contrived to bring about the forgiveness of Sinners. The right consideration of this, will shew us how deeply Gods heart was engaged for it in the days of Eternity, and how unchangeably it is fixed on it, in as much as he laid it out before time, and pursued it to effect in the fulness of time; and truly this is that which hath surprized the Holy Angels themselves with astonishing wonder, and they still gaze upon it with greatest admiration; the Psalmist observeth, Psal. 130.4. With thee there is forgiveness; but how comes it to be with him? how came he to have a stock of pardoning mercy laid up by him? It is true, nothing is more free than forgiveness, it ⟨p. 254⟩cannot be bought by, but must be given to the Subject: but there must a door be opened for the extending of this; though God is prone to pardon, Psal. 86 5. Yet there was that which lay in the way of it, which must be removed, else there could have been no application of it; the Justice of God which was concerned in, and by which the First Covenant was ratified, had righteously doomed man to dy for sin, and the truth of God had declared that he would stand by his own Law; yea, and his Holiness, by which he is bound for his own Glory, would not admit that that Covenant should be baulked, Mat. 5.18. How then shall the Sentence be Executed, and yet the Sinner be pardoned? There was but one way in which this could be brought about, and that was by the interposition of the Eternal Son of God, undertaking to be substituted in the Sinners room, and to answer all the demands of the Law in his stead, that so Justice, being satisfied, might conspire with Mercy in the Sinners Salvation, Psal. 85.10. In which affair the Son of God must become man, and be humbled to death, and bear all the weight of Divine Displeasure, even all the penalties of sin, Isa. 53.4, 5, 6. Nor was Salvation possibly to be had in any other way, Acts 4.12. And yet such was the kindness of God, that all this should not obstruct the matter, but he would rather make all wonders to meet in one, and not Spa•e his own Son, but give him for us, that so he might express his kindness to us in pardoning our sins. And what greater discovery of good will could there be?
