A history of the work of redemption. Containing the outlines of a body of…

The virtue that Christ exercised in the work he did, may be divided into three sorts, v•z the virtues which more immediately respect God, those which immediately respect himself, and those which immediately respect men.

The virtue that Christ exercised in the work he did, may be divided into three sorts, v•z the virtues which more immediately respe•t God, those which immediately respect himself, and those which immediately respect men.

1. Those virtues which more immediately respect God, appeared in Christ in the work that he did for our redemption. There appeared in him an holy fear and reverence towards God the Father. Christ had a greater trial of his virtue in this respect than any other had, from the honourableness of his person. This was the temptation of the angels that fell, to cast off their worship of God, and reverence of his majesty, that they were beings of such exalted dignity and worthiness themselves. But Christ was infinitely more worthy and honourable than they; for he was the eternal Son of God, and his person was equal to the person of God the Father: and yet, as he had taken on him the office of mediator, and the nature of man, he was full of reverence towards God. He adored him in the most reverential manner time after time. So he manifested a wonderful love towards God. The angels give great testimonies of their love towards God, in their constancy and agility in doing the will of God; and many saints have given great testimonies of their love, who, from love to God, have endured great labours and sufferings▪ but none ever gave such testimonies of love to God as Christ has given; none ever performed such a labour of love as he, and suffered so much from love to God. So he manifested the most wonderful submission to the will of God. Never was any one's submission so tried as his was. So he manifested the most wonderful spirit of obedience that ever was manifested.