>< s 31:0e parmonp ettbe Attríbttíeo, Chap. I. the reafonable Creature violates the Law, it neceflà- #'v- .J rily contra&s an obligation to puni(hment. So that if the Sinner who deferves death (hould enjoy life, with- out fatisfa&ion for the offence, or Repentance to qualifie him for pardon, ( both which were without the compafs of the, rill Covenant) this would infringe the unchangeable rights of Juftice, anddifparage the Divine Purity. In the first Covenant there was a fpecial claufe, which refpe&ed Man as the- inhabitant of Paradif, Gen. z. 17. that he (hould not eat of the Tree of Knowledge ofgood and evil upon pain of Death. And this Prohibition was upon molt wife and juf reafons. T. To declare God's Sovereign Right in all things. In the quality of Creator he is supreme Lord. Man enjoyed nothing but by a derived title fromhis Bounty and Allowance, and with an obligation to render to him the Homage of all. As Princes when they give Elates to their subjecis, Rill retain the Royalty, and receive a'fmall Rent, which though inconfiderable in its value, is an acknowledgment of dependance upon them: So when God placed Adam in Paradife, he refer- ved this mark of hisSovereignty, that in the free ufe of all other things Man Ihould ab(tain from the forbid- denTree. Yn minimis o- 2. To make trial of Man's Obedience in a matter bedientiæ pe- very congruous to difcover it. If the Prohibition had grounded any on nt egiílato- m fact- been moral internal' evil in the na- res, quia Le- ture of the thing it Pelf, there had not been fo clear bdoris ad am a teftimon of God's Dominion, nor ofAdam's Sub ebflgantts je&ion to it. But when that which in. it Pelf was in- eft aben- different , became unlawful meerly by the Will of da eft ratio, quam rei de God, and when theCommand hadno other excellency eft, tex it but to make his Authority_ more facred; this was a confining ofMan's liberty,aud to abftain waspure Obe- dience. Betides,
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