I'romfi d of Old. glorified his Greatnefs, Power, Wifdom and Goodnefs. His Soveraignty, Righte- oufnets , and Holinefs , he had in like manner revealed in that Holy Law which he had prefcribed unto Angels and Men for the Rule of their Obedience , and in the Allignation of their Reward. Upon the Sin of Angelsand Men , he had made known his Severity and VindiEiive yufiice , in the Curfe and Punifhment inflicted on them. But there were yet remaining undiftovered in the Abyff of his Eternal Efferìce, Grace, and Pardoning Mercy , which in none of his Works had as yet exerted themfelves r or manifefted their Glory. And in cafe no Re- medy be .provided' for mankind under the Evils mentioned, and their utter ruine, as theymull have perifhed accordingly, fo thofe glorious Properties ofthe natureofGod, all wayes of exerting their properand peculiar Acts being feduded, all objets of them ' removed ;'could not have been equally glorified with his other Holy Attributes. The creatures know nothing in God, but asit manifefted in its Effeéts. His Effence in its felt dwells in Light inaccellible. Hadnever any flood in need ofGraceor Mercy, ordo- ingfo, had never beenmade partakers of them, it could not have been 'known that there was that kind ofGoodneß in his Nature, whichyet it is his defign principally to glorifie himfelf in. The necefty therefore oftheManifeftation of thefe'Properties of God, his Goodnefs,Grace, Mercy, and Readinefs to Forgive, which can only be exer- ' cifed about finners, and that in their Relief andSalvation from Sin and Mifery do re- quire that the Deliveranceenquired after be admitted and juflly expe bed. And this Expedation is'fo much the inure jug} and firmly grounded in that there is nothing in himfelfwhich the Lord more requireth'ourConformity unto himfelf in, than in this Condefcenfion, Goodnefs,.Grace,andReadinefs to forgive, which manifefis how dear the glory of them is unto him. Secondly, To what End than we conceive the Providence and Patience ofGod to he exercifed towards the Race of Mankind, for fo long a feafon in the Earth ? We fee what is the general Iffüe and Event of the continuance ofMankind in the world; God faiv it and cófnplained of it long ago, Gen.6. v.5, 6. Shall we now think that God hath no other Defign in his Patience towards mankind for fo many Generations, but meerly to fuffer themAll, andEvery one without exception, to fin,againfi him, dif- honour him, provoke him, that fo He may at length everlaflingly defiroythem ? That this indeed is the Event with many, with the molt; through their own perverfe'wick- ednefs, blinduefs, and love of the pleafitres of fin, cannot be denyed. But to fuppofe that God hath soother defign at all, but meerly byhisPatience to forbear them awhile in their folly, and then to avenge himfelf upon them, isunfuitable untohis Wifdom and Goodnefs.' It cannot be then, but that he would long finer have cut off the whole Race, if there wereno way for them tobe delivered out of this perifhing condition. And although this waywhat ever it be, is not Efttual towards All, yet for theirfakes towards whom, through the, grace of Godit is, and fhall be fo, is thePatienceof God exercifed towards the wholeRace ofMankind, and their Being is' continued in this world. Other Reafou of this Difenfationof Divine Wifdom- and Goodnefs can none be afsigned. Thirdly, That there is a way ofDiliverancéfor Mankind,theEvent hath manifefted in /two remarkable'and undeniableInlfanres. Firfl, In that fundryPerfons whowere as others by nature children ofWrath, andun- der the Curfe, have obtained an undoubted and infallible intereft in the love and favour of God, and this TeJiimony that theypleafed him. What were theAffurances they had hereof, I !hall not now debate. But I take it now for granted, which may be farther confirmed as occafiori !hall require, that fome Perfons in all Generations, have en- t joyed the Friendibip,Love and Favour ofGod ; which they could never have done, un- lefs there had been fome way for their Deliverance out of the !lateof Sin and Mifery before defcribed. For therein every man upon a juft account will find himfelf in the !late ofAdam, who when heheard the voice of- Godwas afraid. Secondly, Godhath been pleafed to require frommen aRevenue of Glory by a wayof Worfhip prefcribed unto them afterthe Entranceof fin. This he hathnot done unto the Angels that finned ; not could it have been done in a continencywith Righteoufneß unto menwithout a Suppofitionof aPoffibility ofDeliverance from under hisWrath. For' in everyPrefcription ofDuty, God propofeth himfelf as a Rewarder,which he is onlyunto 'them that pleafe him ; and to pleafe God without the Deliverance enquired after is impofsible. Betides that Godis actually glorified in the world; by the Way of War- Jhip requiredon this fuppotition, !hall be elfewhere declared, and Arguments added in full 79
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