194, FORGIVENESS OF SIN. he might be glorified in them ; and which, as the event manifests, he hath done accordingly. For what reason can be imagined why God will be glorified in one essen- tial excellency of his nature and not in another I Espe- cially must this be affirmed of those properties of the nature of God which the event manifests his principal glory to consist in and arise from, and the knowledge of which is of the greatest benefit to the children of men, in reference to his design towards them. 6. These things being so, let us consider how it stands in reference to that which is under consideration. God, in the creation of all things, glorifiedor manifested his greatness, power, wisdom and goodness, with many other of his attributes. But his sovereignty, righteous- ness and holiness, how are they declared hereby ? Either not at all, or not in so evident a manner as is ne- cessary, that he might be fully glorified in them; or for them. What then doth he do 'I Leave them in darkness, veiled, undiscovered, satisfying himself in the glory of those properties which his work of creation had made known I Was there anyreasonwhy he should do so, since he designed to do all things for himself, and for his own glory No ;- here he gave his holy law as a rule of obe- dience to Yuen and angels. This plainly reveals his so- vereignty,or authority over them, his holiness and righ- teousness in the equity and purity of things he required of them; so that in and by these properties also he may be glorified. As he made all things for himself, that is, for the manifestation of his greatness, power, wisdom and goodness, so he gave the law for himself, that is, for the manifestation of his authority, holiness and righ- teousness. But is this all i Is there not remunerative justice in God, in a way of bounty I Is there not vindic- tive justice in him, in a way of severity i There is so, and in the pursuit of the design mentioned they also are to be manifested, or God will not be glorified in them.
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