DISCOURSE M. 601 glory of his labours and his sufferings. And indeed this volun- tary consent of his to become incarnate and to suffer, is plainly . represented in several places in scripture ; Psul. xl. 6, 7. Heb. x. 6. Sacrifice and ofering thou didst not desire; these were not sufficient to expiate the sin of man ; thou host prepared a body for me; then said 1, lo I come, that is, to dwell in this body, to undertake this work ; I delight to do tAy will, O my God." And these two expressions ; Peal. xl. 6, 8. My ears hast thou bored, and thy law is in my heart, are more proper, saith Dr. Goodwin, vol. III. book iv. pages 142, 143. to apply to the soul of this human nature, and to be understood to be the voice.of his human nature, rather than of the divine : He was willing and obedient to do God's will, as a servant to do his master's." And this great author thought this consent so necessary, that he rather ventures to introduce a most miraculous scene, than to have this early consent of Christ as man omitted ; and therefore he sup- poses that in a miraculousway the human soul of Christ did give itself up to this work from his very birth. His own free consent appears plainly in these words, Ile humbled himself; Phil. ii. 7. He emptied himself of glory when he became man, and died for sinners. And he himself took part of flesh and blood with this design, that he mightdie, " that he might through his death destroy the works of the devil ;" Heb. ii. 14. He declares further his own free consent ; John vi. 38. 1 came dozen from heaven to do my Father's will. And John x. 17, 18. ThereforeBoth my Father love me, because I laydown my life that I "rraay take it again. No man taketh my life from me, that is, against my free consent ; but I lay it down of myself, that is, of my own choice and voluntary engage- ment. " This thought I propose, says the defender of Bishop Fowler's Discourse, to be well considered by all free and inge- nuous minds, and by all those who would not in the least dero- gate from the honour of their blessed Mediator Christ Jesus," and the amazing love that appears in his mighty undertaking. II. " The covenant betwixt God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ for the redemption of mankind, is represented in scripture as being made and agreed upon from or before the foundation of the world. Is it not then most proper that both real parties should be actually present, and that this should not be transacted merely within the divine essence by such sort of distinct personalities as have no distinct mind and will ? The essence of God is generally agreed by our protestant divines to be the same single numerical essence in all three personalities, and therefore it can be but one conscious mind or spirit. Now can one single understanding and will make such a covenant as scripture represents ?" I grant the divine nature which is in Christ from eternity
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