EVIDENCES OF FORGIVE\ESS. 197 dom, that is, of the Son of God. When was this done'? " Then I was with him"before the mountains were settled, " whilst as yet he had not made the earth nor the fields ;" that is, before the creation of the world, or from eternity, ver. 25, 26. But how then could he re- joice in the habitable parts of the earth? and how could his delight be with the sons of men, seeing as yet they were not ? I answer, it was the counsel of peace to- wards them before mentioned, in accordance with which he was to be sent to converse amongst them on the earth. He rejoiced in the fore-thoughts of his being sent to them, and the work he had to do for them. Then, with his own consent and delight, was he fore- ordained to his work, even before the "foundation of the world," 1 Pet. 1 : 20; and received of the Father " the promise of eternal life, even before the world be- gan," Tit. 1 : 2, that is, to be given to sinners, by way of forgiveness through his blood. So is this whole counsel expressed, Psalm 40 : 7,, .8. Whence it is madé use of by the apostle,."Then said I, Lo, I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O God." Thy law is in my heart. Heb. 10: 5, 6, 7. There is the will of the Father in this matter, and the law of its performance ; and there is the will of the Son in answer thereunto, and his de- light in fulfilling that lawwhich was prescribed to him. Let us now consider to what purpose was this eter- nal counsel of peace, this agreement of the Father and Son from eternity, about the state and condition of mankind. If God would have left them all to perish under the guilt of their sins, there had been no need at all of any such thoughts, design or counsel. God had given to them a law, righteous and holy, which if they transgressed, he had threatened them with eternal de- struction. Under the rule and power of this law he might have righteously left them to stand or fall, no-
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