The saints everlasting rest

Yet understand this rightly: not that this highest glory was in the strictest sense purchased, so as that it was the most immediate effect of Christ's death; we must take heed that we conceive not of GOD as a tyrant, who so delighteth in cruelty, as to exchange mercies for stripes. GOD was never so pleased with the sufferings of the innocent, much less of his Son, us to sell his mercy properly for their sufferings. But the sufferings of Christ were primarily and immediately to satisfy justice, and to bear what was due to the sinner, and so to restore him to the life he lost, and the happiness he sell from: but this dignity, which surpasseth the first, is as it were, from the redundancy of his merit, or a secondary fruit of his death. The work of his redemption so well pleased the Father, that he gave him power to advance his chosen to a higher dignity than they fell from; and to give them ⟨p. 47⟩the glory which was given to himself; and all this according to the good pleasure of his own will.

2. The second pearl in the saint's diadem, is, that it is free. This seemeth as Pharaoh's second kine, to devour the former. But the seeming discord, is but a pleasing diversity which constitutes the melody. These two attributes purchased and free, are the two chains of gold, which make up the wreath for the heads of the pillars in the temple of GOD. It was dear to Christ, but free to us. When Christ was to buy, silver and gold were nothing worth; prayers and tears could not suffice; nor any thing below his blood; but when we come to buy, our buying is but receiving: we have it freely, without money and without price. Nor do the gospel-conditions make it the less free; if the gospel-conditions had been such as are the laws, or payment of the debt required at our hands; the freeness then were more questionable. Yea, if GOD had said to us, Sinners, if you will satisfy my justice for one of your sins, I will forgive you all the rest, it would have been a hard condition on our part, and the grace of the covenant not so free, as our disability doth require. But if all the condition be our cordial acceptation, surely we deserve not the name of purchasers. Thankful accepting of a free acquittance, is no paying of the debt. If life be offered to a condemned man, upon condition that he shall not refuse the offer, the favour is nevertheless free. Nay, though the condition were, that he should beg, and wait before he have his pardon, and take him for his LORD who hath thus redeemed him, this is no satisfying the justice of the law: especially when the condition is also given by GOD; surely then e is all free: if the Father freely give the Son, and the Son freely pay the debt; and if GOD freely accept that way of payment, when he might have required it of the principal; and if both Father and Son freely offer