an111.11111 202 /MIN AND RECOVERY, Etc. animals, according to the common law of creation andpropaga. tion, viz. that every creature should produce its own likeness in natureand quality : And the offspringare exposed to the misera- ble consequences of those diseases, or sickly qualities which the parent animal communicatesto them together with their natures. And if it should be thòught hard or unjust, that a race of intel- ligent beings should be naturally subject to these laws of animal propagation, together with all the sinful and miserable conse- quences of it, yet the supposition of the first man being set up as a representative, a surety, or federal head of his posterity, as well as he was their natural father, will do muchr toward the removal of all remaining' appearances of injustice in this part of the providence and government of God. And indeed, I most confess, it is my present opinion, that the mere doctrine of the animal propagation of man, according to the natural law of creation, is not a sufficient relief to this difficulty, without supposing the first father of mankind to be a common federal head and representative of his posterity, as well as the natural spring and fountain of them. And the reason is this ; Because if this scene of misery arise merely from the first parent being the natural spring of his race, it seems to impeach the goodness and equity of God, who has constituted this na- ture by a mere arbitrary act of his will : But if it arise front this federal headship, then it is owing to man's sin and God's rectoral justice and wisdom, punishing that sin according to this covenant*. But these two suppositions put together, I, think; do best absolve and clear the conduct of providence, and the divine government from all imputations of injustice; especially if we consider and reitnember the following things : 1. Happiness might have been secured to all mankind by this constitution, as well as forfeited and lost. If there was on one side so great a risk as the innocence, welfare and happiness of mankind entrusted with one person, so that sin and 'misery would be brought upon millions if he sinned and lost the image of God and his favour, there was as great an advantage allowed on the other side to all mankind, 'even the everlasting security of their innocence, welfare and happiness, if this one person continued hi his obedience, and preserved himself in the image and favour of his Maker : And there appears, so far as we can judge, to be so much equity in this constitution, that if wehad no intimation of this account of things from scripture, yet the reason of the thing inclines us to believe, that this might * If it should be objected, that this federal headship is an act of God's arbitrary will as well as the natural headship, and so both cases are alike ; I an- swer, that the federal headship is a most eligible thing to all their p.isterity, if all had been present to give their consent to it ; and for that reason 1 call it fede- ral , But a mere arbitrary act of the God of nature seems to carry a barter imputation on God.
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